Underrated business model: Turning a service into a product. It...

93 views Feb 13, 2025 ~4 min read

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Underrated business model:

Turning a service into a product.

It helps solve the issue of scaling for:
• Agencies
• Freelancers
• Solopreneurs

Here’s how a "productized service" works:

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First, let's talk about the trap most consultants & contractors fall into:

Trading hours for dollars.

Even at high hourly rates, you're still capped by time. Earn more = work more.

Stop working, and the money stops too.

But there's a better way...

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Enter the "Netflix of Services" model:

Instead of hourly billing, you package your expertise into a subscription.

Clients pay a fixed monthly fee for access to your skills.

Just like Netflix doesn't charge per movie, you don't charge per task.

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One of my favorite examples is Brett from DesignJoy.

• The service: Design work for $4,995/mo
• The product: Unlimited design requests

The keyword is “unlimited.”

Whether a client makes 5 requests a month or 50, the price stays the same.

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So, what's the catch?

Clients can submit only 1 request at a time. Each one gets placed in a queue.

This natural throttle prevents overwhelm while maintaining the "unlimited" promise.

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Brett runs his operation solo, leveraging 3 principles:

• 0 meetings (after a 15min discovery call)
• Simple Trello boards for requests
• 2-day average turnaround time

It results in a productized service that scales without employees.

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WP Curve used a version of this model:

• The service: WordPress maintenance
• The product: Live access to a developer 24 hours a day for $59

The model worked so well, they scaled to an exit to GoDaddy in 2016.

I'm part owner of a company called ViralCuts with the same model.

• The service: Short-form video editing
• The product: A trained editor to embed on your team

Another example: Bean Ninjas

• The service: Accounting & tax help for ecomm businesses
• Product: Fixed scope, flat monthly fee

The founders originally prepared custom proposals & struggled with revenue. They shared these results after productizing:

As long as you're creating a package and setting limits, you have flexibility.

Contentfly uses this structure:

• The service: Content creation
• Product: A set amount of words/month

So… How can you replicate this?

3 things you need:

• A skill/service.
• SPEED in performing that skill.
• A niche searvice offer within that skill to set yourself apart.

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Once you’ve picked your service:

• Package it into a monthly subscription
• Set clear boundaries and expectations
• Use tools to automate delivery
• Focus on speed of execution

Just remember...

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The real power isn't in the "unlimited" promise. It's in the constraints you build around it:

• Defined scope of work
• Clear turnaround times
• One request at a time

These boundaries make the unlimited model actually sustainable.

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Online services biz's are catching on this model. But I think there’s opportunity here for brick & mortar services too.

It’s a way to increase recurring revenue, while decreasing time & complexity.

For example (with fictional prices)…

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1. Handyman

Rather than completing dozens of one-off projects every month…

Offer an “Unlimited Home Care Plan” for $150/month. Clients get one active request at a time, completed in a queue.

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2. Landscaper

Instead of doing any job for any client...

You could offer an “All-Season Lawn Plan.” $99/month for unlimited lawn maintenance on 1 residential property

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3. Mechanic

You could hope customers come back every few months for an oil change…

Or you could charge them flat monthly for unlimited oil changes & maintenance checks.

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You could apply a version to any industry:

• Cleaning → Set packages w/ 1 active booking allowed at a time
• Pet Grooming → $99/mo for unlimited grooming for 1 pet
• Car Wash → Unlimited washes

Value proposition for the customer + constraints that protect your bottom line

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Best part about these is you don’t have to abandon the “everything to everyone” model if you’re not ready.

Offer these “product packages" as an optional add-on to every customer.

Then you can scale back regular service as you sell more packages.

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When you're not trading hours for dollars, something magical happens:

You think bigger.

You start to ask high leverage questions:
• How can I serve more clients?
• Where can I add (& charge) more value?
• What systems can I build?

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Best part:

Productizing your service creates a systematized business with recurring revenue.

You could sell that someday.

Meanwhile, a freelancing grind just ends in burnout 😉 What's your choice?

Underrated business model: Turning a service into a product. It...

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