Done for you course creation is exactly what it sounds like: a premium service where a team of professionals takes your knowledge and expertise and transforms it into a high-quality, ready-to-sell online course. Think of it like hiring a general contractor to build your dream house. 

You provide the vision and the blueprint, and they handle the construction, the plumbing, the electrical—everything. Your role is to be the subject matter expert, the star of the show. Their role is to handle all the behind-the-scenes work that turns your expertise into a polished, marketable product.

This isn’t just about outsourcing a few tasks; it’s about partnering with a team of specialists who live and breathe course creation. A typical DFY agency will have:

• Instructional Designers: Experts in adult learning who can structure your content for maximum impact and student engagement.
• Videographers and Editors: Professionals who can make you look and sound your best on camera.
• Graphic Designers: Creatives who can design beautiful slides, workbooks, and marketing materials.
• Copywriters: Wordsmiths who can craft compelling sales pages and email funnels.
• Tech Specialists: Gurus who can handle the entire technical setup of your course platform.

This is a game-changer because it allows you to focus on what you do best: sharing your knowledge. You don’t have to become a video editor or a tech wizard. You can stay in your zone of genius and let the experts handle the rest.

And the market for this is exploding. The e-learning industry is projected to be worth a staggering $1 trillion by 2028. But with that growth comes increased competition and higher expectations from students. A grainy, poorly edited course just won’t cut it anymore. Done for you course creation allows you to enter the market with a premium, professional product that can compete with the best of the best, from day one.

The ROI of Done For You Course Creation: Why It’s an Investment, Not an Expense

I know what you’re thinking: “This sounds expensive.” And you’re right, done for you course creation is a premium service. But it’s also an investment that can pay for itself many times over. Let’s break down the real return on investment.

1. You Get Your Time Back (and Your Sanity)

This is the most valuable benefit, and it’s not even close. Creating a high-quality course can take hundreds of hours. One study found that it can take anywhere from 60 to 260 hours to create just one hour of e-learning content. If you value your time at $100 an hour, that’s a cost of $6,000 to $26,000 for a single hour of content. A 5-hour course could easily cost you over $100,000 in your own time.

When you hire a DFY agency, you’re buying back your time. You’re freeing yourself up to focus on the high-leverage activities that actually grow your business: coaching your clients, building your audience, and closing high-ticket sales.

2. A Higher-Quality Product That Commands a Higher Price

Let’s be honest: unless you’re a professional video editor and instructional designer, your DIY course is probably not going to be as good as a course produced by a team of experts. A professionally produced course has a higher perceived value, which means you can charge a higher price for it. The average price for a business or marketing course is $234, but premium, professionally produced courses can sell for $1,000, $2,000, or even more.

3. Faster Speed to Market = Faster Revenue

Every month that your course isn’t on the market is a month you’re not earning revenue. A DFY agency can typically get your course launched in a matter of weeks, not months. This means you can start generating income faster and start recouping your investment sooner.

4. Higher Student Engagement and Completion Rates

A professionally designed course isn’t just about looking pretty; it’s about creating a better learning experience. Instructional designers know how to structure content, create engaging activities, and use techniques like gamification to keep students motivated. This leads to higher student engagement and completion rates. And happy students who get results are the best marketing you could ever ask for. They leave glowing testimonials, refer their friends, and buy your other products.

When you add it all up, done for you course creation isn’t an expense; it’s a strategic investment in your business that can lead to a higher-quality product, a faster launch, and a much greater return in the long run. The ripple effects of a professionally produced course can be felt across your entire business, from increased brand authority to new opportunities for partnerships and collaborations. It’s a powerful way to level up your business and position yourself as a leader in your industry.

What to Expect from a Done For You Course Creation Service

So, what do you actually get when you invest in a done for you course creation service? While every agency is a little different, the process generally follows a proven, four-phase framework designed to take you from idea to launch as smoothly as possible. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what you can expect.

Phase 1: Strategy and Blueprinting

This is the foundation of your entire course. Before any content is created, the agency will work with you to develop a comprehensive strategy and blueprint. This is where you, as the subject matter expert, will shine. You’ll have a series of deep-dive sessions with the instructional designers and strategists to:

• Define Your Ideal Student: Who are you trying to reach, and what is their biggest pain point?
• Clarify Your Course Promise: What specific, measurable result will your students achieve by the end of the course?
• Outline Your Course Content: You’ll do a “brain dump” of all your knowledge, and the instructional designer will help you organize it into a logical, step-by-step framework of modules and lessons.
• Map Out the Student Journey: How will you keep students engaged and motivated? What kind of support will you provide?

The deliverable from this phase is a detailed course blueprint that outlines every aspect of your program. This is the master plan that will guide the rest of the project.

Phase 2: Content Development

Once the blueprint is approved, the content creation begins. This is where the agency’s team of specialists takes over. They will:

• Write Your Lesson Scripts: A copywriter or instructional designer will turn your outline and notes into engaging, easy-to-follow video scripts.
• Design Your Slides and Visuals: A graphic designer will create a professional, branded slide deck that makes your content pop.
• Create Your Workbooks and Handouts: They’ll design beautiful, interactive workbooks, checklists, and other resources to complement your lessons.

Your role in this phase is to review and approve the content, ensuring that it accurately reflects your voice and expertise.

Phase 3: Production and Post-Production

This is where the magic happens. The agency will handle all aspects of video production, which can include:

• Filming: They might fly you out to their studio for a professional shoot, or they might guide you through a remote recording process using high-quality equipment they send to you.
• Video Editing: Their team of editors will take the raw footage and turn it into polished, professional videos with graphics, music, and other engaging elements.
• Audio Engineering: They’ll make sure you sound crystal clear and professional.

The result is a full suite of high-definition, professionally edited videos that are ready to be uploaded to your course platform.

Phase 4: Tech Setup and Launch

This is the final, and often most frustrating, piece of the puzzle for DIY course creators. A DFY agency will handle all of it for you. They will:

• Set Up Your Course Platform: Whether you’re using Kajabi, Thinkific, or another platform, they’ll build out your entire course, including all the lessons, downloads, and community features.
• Create Your Sales Page: They’ll design and build a high-converting sales page with compelling copy and a seamless checkout process.
• Integrate Your Email Marketing: They’ll set up your email nurture sequence and connect it to your sales page.
• Handle the Launch: They’ll manage the technical side of your launch, ensuring that everything runs smoothly.

By the end of this phase, you’ll have a fully functional, ready-to-sell online course and a complete marketing funnel to support it. The agency will provide you with all the assets and a clear launch plan, so you can move forward with confidence. All you have to do is show up, be the expert, and get ready to welcome your first wave of new students. 

Choosing a done for you course creation partner is a big decision. You’re not just hiring a service provider; you’re entrusting someone with your intellectual property and your brand. It’s a partnership, and you need to find a team that you can trust to bring your vision to life. Here’s my personal 5-point checklist for vetting and choosing the right DFY agency.

1. They Have a Proven Track Record (and the Portfolio to Prove It)

This is non-negotiable. A reputable agency will have a portfolio of courses they’ve created for other clients. Ask to see examples of their work. Go through the courses they’ve produced. Do they look professional? Are they engaging? Are the student testimonials genuine? Don’t just take their word for it; do your own due diligence. An agency that is proud of its work will be more than happy to show it off.

2. They Practice What They Preach

This is a big one for me. I would never hire a course creation agency that doesn’t have its own successful online course. If they can’t create and sell their own course, how can they possibly help you create and sell yours? Look for an agency that has a thriving community, a popular blog or podcast, and a strong presence in the online education space. This shows that they are not just service providers; they are practitioners.

3. They Have a Clear, Documented Process

A professional agency will have a clear, well-documented process for taking you from idea to launch. They should be able to walk you through each phase of the project, explain what’s expected of you at each stage, and provide a clear timeline for completion. If an agency is vague about its process or can’t give you a straight answer about timelines and deliverables, that’s a major red flag.

4. You Vibe with the Team

This might sound a bit woo-woo, but it’s incredibly important. You’re going to be working very closely with this team for several weeks or even months. You need to make sure that you genuinely like and respect them. Do you feel heard and understood? Do they seem passionate about your project? Do you trust them to be a good steward of your brand? Schedule a call with the team and get a feel for their energy and their communication style. If something feels off, trust your gut.

5. The Price is Right (and the Value is Even Better)

Of course, price is a factor. But don’t just look for the cheapest option. As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. A low-cost provider is likely cutting corners somewhere, whether it’s in the quality of their team, the depth of their process, or the level of support they provide. Instead of focusing on the price, focus on the value. What are you getting for your investment? A higher price often means a more experienced team, a more comprehensive service, and a better final product. Look for a partner who can clearly articulate the value they provide and the return you can expect on your investment.

The Future of Done For You Course Creation

The world of online education is constantly evolving, and done for you course creation is no exception. As technology advances and student expectations change, we’re seeing some exciting trends emerge that will shape the future of this industry.

1. The Rise of AI-Powered Course Creation

Artificial intelligence is already starting to play a role in course creation, from generating lesson outlines to creating first drafts of video scripts. In the future, we can expect AI to become an even more integral part of the DFY process. AI-powered tools will be able to analyze your content, suggest improvements, and even create personalized learning paths for your students. This won’t replace the need for human experts, but it will make the process faster, more efficient, and more data-driven.

2. Hyper-Personalization and Adaptive Learning

One-size-fits-all courses are becoming a thing of the past. Students now expect personalized learning experiences that are tailored to their individual needs and goals. DFY agencies are starting to incorporate adaptive learning technologies that can adjust the content and pacing of a course based on a student’s performance. This means that every student gets a unique learning journey that is optimized for their success.

3. The Growing Demand for Niche and Micro-Courses

As the online course market becomes more saturated, we’re seeing a growing demand for highly specialized, niche courses that solve a very specific problem for a very specific audience. We’re also seeing a rise in micro-courses—short, focused courses that can be completed in a single sitting. DFY agencies are well-positioned to capitalize on this trend, as they can quickly create and launch these smaller, more targeted courses for their clients.

4. The Integration of Virtual and Augmented Reality

For certain topics, like medical training or technical skills, virtual and augmented reality can provide an incredibly immersive and effective learning experience. While still in its early stages, we can expect to see more DFY agencies offering VR and AR course creation services in the coming years. This will open up a whole new world of possibilities for creating engaging and interactive learning experiences.

By staying on top of these trends, you can ensure that your course is not only relevant today but will continue to be valuable for years to come.

Final Thoughts: Your Expertise, Amplified

That first failed course attempt taught me a painful but valuable lesson: passion and expertise are not enough. To create a truly world-class online course, you need a team. You need specialists who can take your brilliance and amplify it, who can handle the technical and creative heavy lifting so you can focus on what you do best.

Done for you course creation is more than just a service; it’s a partnership. It’s a way to bring your vision to life without the burnout, the frustration, and the overwhelming learning curve. It’s an investment in your business, your brand, and your own sanity.

So, if you’re sitting on a wealth of knowledge, a proven process, or a unique methodology that you know could change people’s lives, don’t let the fear of the creation process hold you back. There’s a team of experts out there who are ready and waiting to help you turn your expertise into a legacy. Your audience is waiting. It’s time to stop dreaming and start building.

We’ve barely scratched the surface of done for you course creation, with it having much more going on. There’s a reason it made it onto our digital product guide , and we highly recommend you check it out.