Start your online business · Tools & reviews · 2 min read
Can You Make Money With ClickFunnels? A Practical Guide
Short answer
Yes, people make money with ClickFunnels by selling their own products, courses or services through sales funnels, by building funnels for clients as a service, and through its affiliate program. ClickFunnels is a tool, though: income depends on your offer, traffic and marketing, and the subscription is a cost you must cover.
ClickFunnels is software for building sales funnels: sequences of pages that take a visitor from an ad or email to a purchase, often with upsells along the way. It is heavily marketed with success stories, so it is worth separating the tool from the hype.
What ClickFunnels does
- Landing pages, sales pages and order forms.
- One-click upsells and order bumps.
- Email marketing and automation.
- Membership areas for courses.
- Simple store features.
ClickFunnels 2.0 bundled more of these into one platform. See what is ClickFunnels.
Three ways people earn
1. Selling your own offer
Digital products, online courses, coaching, events or a single physical product. A funnel can raise average order value with upsells.
2. Building funnels for clients
Freelancers and agencies build funnels for coaches, consultants and small businesses. This needs marketing and copywriting skills.
3. Affiliate program
ClickFunnels pays commissions for referred subscribers. This mainly works if you already have an audience of entrepreneurs.
What decides whether you make money
- Offer: something people want, at a price that works.
- Traffic: ads, content, email list or partnerships.
- Conversion: copy, design and trust.
- Costs: subscription, ads, tools.
The software does not create demand.
ClickFunnels vs Shopify
| ClickFunnels | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Single offers, info products, leads | Stores with catalogues |
| Upsells | Built in | Through apps |
| Ecommerce features | Basic | Extensive |
| Courses/memberships | Built in | Through apps |
Caution about income claims
"Make money online" marketing often shows best-case results. The FTC warns about business opportunity claims. Treat any income figure as an exception, not an expectation.
The funnel structure in plain terms
Most ClickFunnels-style funnels follow a similar path:
- Traffic source: ad, email, social post or content.
- Landing or opt-in page: one offer, one action (often an email address in exchange for something free).
- Sales page: the main offer, with proof and a clear price.
- Order form: checkout, often with an "order bump" (a small add-on ticked at checkout).
- Upsell or downsell: a one-click offer after purchase.
- Thank-you page and follow-up emails.
The same structure can be built with other tools, including Shopify apps for post-purchase upsells, so the value of ClickFunnels is convenience rather than a secret formula.
Costs to budget for
| Cost | Notes |
|---|---|
| ClickFunnels subscription | Monthly or annual plans |
| Payment processor fees | Stripe or similar per transaction |
| Traffic | Ads or time spent on content |
| Copywriting and design | Your time or hired help |
| Product creation | Course recording, ebook writing, fulfilment |
Run the numbers: how many sales per month do you need to cover the subscription and ads before you make a profit?
Alternatives worth comparing
Systeme.io, Kajabi, Kartra, Shopify with upsell apps and simple landing page builders can all host funnels. Choose based on what you sell: courses and memberships, a few digital products, or a catalogue of physical items.
Bottom line
ClickFunnels can be a useful tool if you have an offer and a way to get traffic. Learn the fundamentals in how to create a killer product page and how to optimise a landing page for conversions.
Frequently asked questions
Is ClickFunnels worth it for an ecommerce store?
For a store with many products, a dedicated ecommerce platform like Shopify is usually better. ClickFunnels suits single offers, digital products, coaching and lead generation.
Does ClickFunnels have a free trial?
ClickFunnels has typically offered a free trial. Check its site for current terms and pricing.
Is the ClickFunnels affiliate program legitimate?
It is a real affiliate program that pays commissions on referred subscriptions. Be cautious of anyone promising guaranteed income from promoting it.
Sources and further reading
Platform features, prices and policies change. Check the official help pages linked above before you act on a detail that matters to your store.