Starter Story Review (Is it Worth the NEW Subscription Price?) [2024]

As someone who loves to read about other people’s businesses, I’ve always gravitated to sites that provide income reports and case studies.

The problem is that most of these sites are based on blogging and niche site businesses. Don’t get me wrong…I love reading about content sites, but since it’s what I already do for a living, it can get a bit boring.

Then one day I was laying in bed, mindlessly zombie scrolling on my phone, and came across a site called Starter Story. I signed up and was instantly hooked!

In this in-depth Starter Story review, I’m going to give you my honest assessment of the platform and let you know whether or not it’s worth your hard-earned money.

Starter Story Review: Up Front Recommendation

I personally subscribe to Starter Story and have learned a lot from reading their case studies and business ideas, so I am more than qualified to give an unbiased review of this platform

If you are a business owner or entrepreneur searching for high-level advice and motivation to create your own internet business, look no further.

What is Starter Story?

Starter Story is a well-known website for aspiring founders and entrepreneurs that shares success stories and helpful tips about making money.

With over 4300 real case studies and 8000 business ideas, Starter Story serves as a one-stop shop for people who are looking to learn how other business owners became successful.

It’s particularly valuable for those seeking high-level advice and motivation to create their own internet business.

Their database is by far the largest on the Internet and is really a first-of-its-kind knowledgebase of successful businesses.

Who Should Consider Starter Story?

Starter Story offers value to a wide range of entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts, but it’s particularly beneficial for certain groups:

1. Aspiring Entrepreneurs: If you’re in the ideation phase or looking for inspiration, the Starter Plan could be an excellent resource.
2. Early-Stage Founders: Those who have started their business but need guidance and community support might find great value in the Academy Plan.
3. Serious Business Builders: Entrepreneurs committed to long-term growth and willing to invest in personalized guidance might consider the Founder’s Club for its lifetime access and mentorship opportunities.

Who is the Founder of Starter Story?

The founder of Starter Story is a serial entrepreneur by the name of Pat Walls.

In an interview with Pat, he stated that Starter Story was the result of a failed business that he started with a couple of friends.

After the failure, he decided to build a business as a solo founder, and eventually, the idea of Starter Story was born.

Starter Story Features

Starter Story is built around three core features, and each of them overdelivers from a quality and execution standpoint.

Case Studies

The main selling point of Starter Story is its database of 4346+ founder case studies.

These case studies are really just super in-depth interviews with each founder or team.

Some examples of questions that are asked in these interviews are:

• How did you come up with the idea for the business?
• How did you build the product?
• How did you launch the business?
• How have you grown the business since its launch?
• What do your financials look like?
• What lessons have you learned?
• What tools do you use/recommend?
• What books & podcasts do you recommend?
• What is your advice for other founders/entrepreneurs?
• Are you currently hiring for any positions?

The beauty of Starter Story is that you can search and filter through these case studies however you please.

Some of the filters you can apply to the database are:

• Revenue
• Business Type
• Idea
• Category
• Country
• Continent
• Started at
• Growth Method
• Founders
• Employees
• Funding
• Monetization
• Social Followers

Business Ideas

The case studies are my favorite feature of Starter Story, but the business ideas are a very close second.

If you are looking for a broad business idea to start your own business around, there isn’t a better database available.

You can search, sort, and filter over 8571 business ideas using the following data points:

• Category
• Potential Revenue
• Time to Revenue
• Minimum Hours per Week

Growth Ideas

If all of the above features weren’t enough, Starter Story also has a database of 200 growth/marketing ideas for any business!

You can search and filter the growth ideas database using the following criteria:

• Topic
• Cost
• Difficulty
• Result

Is Starter Story Free?

Starter Story no longer offers a free account (or a their famous $1 trial).

When you start the signup process you are only required to enter your email address (they don’t even ask for a first name).

Once you provide Starter Story with an email address, you will be added to their weekly email newsletter and have the option to sign up for a paid account.

How Much Does Starter Story Cost?

If you want full access to the Starter Story platform, you need to sign up for one of the paid plans.

Starter Story has recently updated its pricing structure, offering three main tiers:

1. Starter Plan

• Price: $495/year
• Features:
  • Access to 4,296 founder case studies
  • Deep dives and reports on trends and business ideas

The Starter plan is best suited for subscribers who want access to all of the data Starter Story makes available.

2. Academy Plan

• Price: $795/year
• Features:
  • Everything in the Starter Plan
  • Monthly live cohorts
  • The Starter Story Curriculum (courses, workshops, blueprints)
  • Private community access

The Academy plan is for the serious entrepreneur looking to jumpstart the business immediately or for someone who wants to be part of a community.

3. Founder’s Club

• Price: $4,995 one-time payment
• Features:
  • Lifetime access to all Starter Story content
  • Personalized mentorship with Pat Walls
  • VIP network access
  • Focused strategy sessions

The Founder’s Club, with its sizeable one-time investment, is best suited for serious entrepreneurs with scaling ambitions and a long-term commitment to their business journey.

While the investment is substantial, for the right entrepreneur – especially those navigating complex industries or rapid growth phases – the personalized support from Pat and lifetime access to resources can provide invaluable benefits over time.

Is Starter Story Worth It?

You’ve made it this far into the review and are probably wondering if Starter Story is worth the money.

With the new pricing structure, Starter Story has become a more significant investment, but it still offers considerable value for aspiring entrepreneurs. Here’s my assessment:

1. Quality of Content: The case studies and business ideas are comprehensive and offer real-world insights that are hard to find elsewhere. The quality of information remains high across all plans.
2. Variety of Industries: Starter Story covers a wide range of businesses, providing inspiration and practical advice for various niches and business models.
3. Community and Networking: The higher-tier plans offer valuable opportunities to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and successful founders, which can be incredibly beneficial for networking and support.
4. Personalized Guidance: The Founder’s Club plan, while expensive, offers personalized mentorship and focused strategy sessions that could be game-changing for serious entrepreneurs.
5. Cost vs. Value: While the elimination of the free tier and trial option means a higher barrier to entry, the annual cost of the Starter Plan (about $41.25 per month) is still reasonable considering the wealth of information provided.

So, is it worthwhile to invest in Starter Story? Yes, Starter Story is worth it as it provides an immense source of valuable information for a very low price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions regarding Starter Story pricing and subscription plans that weren’t already covered in this review? Please read the section below 👇

Does Starter Story Offer a Free Trial?

No, Starter Story no longer offers any type of free trial.

Does Starter Story Have a Monthly Plan Available?

No, Starter Story does not have a monthly plan available. If you want to sign up for the platform you must pay a year in advance.

Does Starter Story Have a Lifetime Deal (LTD)?

No, Starter Story doesn’t currently have any type of lifetime deal available.

If one becomes available in the future, I will make a change to this post to reflect that.

How Do I Cancel My Starter Story Subscription?

It’s easy to cancel your Starter Story subscription directly from the user dashboard. Click the Subscription button and choose Cancel Subscription. After canceling your Starter Story subscription, you will still have full access to premium content until the end of your billing cycle.

Starter Story Review: The Final Verdict

Starter Story is a valuable platform for entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey. The wealth of case studies, business ideas, and additional resources like live cohorts and personalized mentorship (in higher tiers) provide significant value.

The potential returns in terms of knowledge, inspiration, and networking opportunities can be substantial for those who fully engage with the platform.

If you’re serious about entrepreneurship and value learning from real-world experiences, Starter Story is definitely worth considering.

Remember, the value you get from Starter Story will largely depend on how actively you engage with the content and apply the insights to your own business ventures. For those committed to learning and growing as entrepreneurs, Starter Story continues to be a worthwhile investment in 2024.