The idea of building a six-figure online course business might feel like a distant dream to many creators. Brian Kouhi, co-founder of TOAnimate, felt the same way at first. But through smart strategies and persistence, he turned that dream into reality.
In this article, we’ll dive into how Brian got started, validated his idea, and grew his business into a success. Whether you’re a seasoned creator or just starting out, you’ll walk away with actionable insights to help you build and grow your own online education business.
8 Strategies to hit six figures as a creator
Brian Kouhi, co-founder of TOAnimate Academy, took his passion for animation and transformed it into a thriving six-figure business.
Brian Kouhi
After working with over 400 artists on a Netflix top 10 animation, he spotted a gap in Blender education and turned it into a golden opportunity.
Here are the eight strategies he used to hit six figures — each one packed with actionable steps to help you turn your skills into a successful online course business too.
Strategy 1: Identify a challenge you’ve overcome and build a business around it
Spotting a gap in the market lets you offer something unique that meets an unmet need, positioning you as a leader in your niche.
Brian’s journey started with a deep love for animation, mastering software like Blender and Maya. He worked on high-profile projects like "Maya and the Three," showcasing his ability to adapt to different animation tools.
Despite some initial bumps, Brian found Blender surprisingly powerful and more user-friendly than its pricey counterpart, Maya. That’s when the idea for TOAnimate Academy clicked — a response to the lack of quality educational content for Blender.
His frustration with a formal education that left him $40,000 in debt and without industry-ready skills fueled his desire to create a better solution for aspiring animators.
“There wasn’t much educational content on Blender... so we decided to put our knowledge into a laser-focused curriculum for aspiring animators.” — Brian Kouhi
Tip: Think about a unique challenge you’ve overcome and create a course to help others overcome the same obstacles, guiding them to achieve the transformation you’ve experienced.
Strategy 2: Validate your idea with crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is a great way to get the funds you need to start your business while also validating your ideas by proving there’s demand for your product. Pre-sales are a bonus way to do this.
Brian and his team used a Kickstarter campaign to validate TOAnimate Academy. It allowed them to test the market and gather initial funds, reaching their funding goal in just minutes. This approach helped them gauge interest and validate their idea before fully committing to its development.
“We reached 1400% funded on Kickstarter... 100% funded in two minutes of launching.” — Brian Kouhi
Tip: Use crowdfunding platforms to gauge interest and secure funds for your course idea.
Strategy 3: Create a laser-focused outline for your digital product
A well-structured curriculum is key to delivering a high-quality experience for your students.
TOAnimate Academy’s curriculum blends industry experience with solid educational principles. It’s all about practical, hands-on learning with Blender, giving students a strong animation foundation while encouraging creativity. Beyond the initial course, TOAnimate Academy keeps adding value based on student feedback, introducing new lessons and assets.
“We try to give a very strong animation foundation and let the students use their creativity throughout the lessons.” — Brian Kouhi
Tip: Make sure your course is well-organized and laser-focused to best serve your students.
Strategy 4: Build an audience with YouTube and Email
Using platforms like YouTube and email marketing helps you establish credibility and bring in top-of-funnel traffic for your offers.
Brian started by sharing his animation knowledge through YouTube, offering tutorials and industry insights. His straightforward approach provided value and built trust, growing his channel from 40,000 subscribers to a significant marketing asset for TOAnimate Academy.
He also used email marketing to nurture his audience, offering a free rig and animation lectures to attract new subscribers. Then, he used email sequences to keep those leads engaged with valuable content and gradual sales pitches.
“We get emails through YouTube, social media, and ads... nurturing leads with valuable content and gradual sales pitches.” — Brian Kouhi
Tip: Start (or continue) publishing consistent content on YouTube. Keep your email list engaged with a weekly newsletter, promoting your YouTube videos and other valuable content.
Strategy 5: Use affiliate programs to drive sales
An affiliate program can expand your reach by leveraging others’ networks to drive sales, giving your marketing efforts a powerful boost.
Brian set up custom links and tracked sales effectively to ensure his affiliates were rewarded for their efforts.
You can find tons of affiliate programs in different verticals here.
“The affiliate system is a huge part of our sales... around 30% of our sales come through affiliates.” — Brian Kouhi
Tip: Consider setting up an affiliate program to help increase your course sales.
Strategy 6: Start and grow a supportive community
A strong community enhances the learning experience, provides ongoing support, and fosters a sense of belonging among students.
At TOAnimate Academy, building a supportive community is a top priority. Active forums ensure that no question goes unanswered, creating a collaborative learning environment. Partnerships with other companies provide students with discounts and additional resources, making their learning experience even richer.
“Our motto is no question goes unanswered... join the community where no question goes unanswered.” — Brian Kouhi
Tip: Focus on building a supportive community around your course to enhance the learning experience.
Strategy 7: Balance earnings and expenses with earning dashboards
Keeping an eye on earnings and expenses is crucial for sustainable growth while creating opportunities to scale your business.
Brian and his team have generated multiple six figures in sales in just two years. They’ve balanced this revenue with careful reinvestment in content development, ensuring continuous growth and improvement. Payment dashboards have made tracking income, payouts, and taxes a breeze.
“We’ve achieved nearly $300,000 in sales... it’s about balancing growth and expenses.” — Brian Kouhi
Tip: Use earning dashboards to monitor your income and expenses, making sure you’re growing sustainably.
Strategy 8: Face challenges head-on
Building TOAnimate Academy wasn’t easy. Brian tackled challenges like piracy and content protection to keep their educational material exclusive to paying students.
Piracy was a significant threat, so they developed robust security measures and vigilant monitoring to combat unauthorized distribution. The goal was to create a secure learning environment for students.
Balancing personal and professional life as a business owner also posed challenges. Growing TOAnimate while maintaining personal relationships required clear boundaries, task prioritization, and delegation.
“The biggest challenge is balancing personal and professional life... but the freedom is worth it.” — Brian Kouhi
Tip: Prioritize time management and set boundaries to maintain a healthy work-life balance as you grow your business.
Conclusion
Brian's journey is a powerful inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. His key advice? Don’t wait for the perfect moment — start now and refine as you go. The challenges are real, but the freedom and flexibility definitely pay off.
