Courage & Clarity: Episode 185 — Group Program Math: A Financial Deep Dive on Growth with Groups
Host: Steph Crowder
Release Date: March 24, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Steph Crowder delivers an energetic and practical financial "deep dive" into transitioning from a one-on-one coaching model to scalable group program offerings. The focus is on the actual numbers behind group programs, the real costs of DIY attempts versus strategic investments, and the mindset shifts necessary for sustainable business growth. Steph uses concrete, conservative math and relatable anecdotes to challenge common assumptions about saving versus investing in your business — all while offering tangible frameworks female entrepreneurs can use to evaluate their next steps.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Emotional Hurdles of Investment (04:00–12:00)

• Recognizing Discomfort is Normal:
  Steph normalizes the discomfort entrepreneurs feel when making large investments in their business, reminding listeners:

  “Even when it’s something I deeply wanted and really believed in, there’s always going to be that butterfly in your stomach, that sort of, like, ‘Oh, just stab me in the chest.’“ (07:25)

• Discerning Fear vs. Wrong Decisions:
  Differentiates between healthy fear (the kind typical with risk-taking) and gut-level misalignment:

  “There’s a difference between, ‘No, this feels legitimately wrong,’ versus a deep recognition and desire with fear layered in. It’s easy to confuse them.” (09:15)

• Challenging the ‘Responsible’ Saving Narrative:
  Many entrepreneurs feel it’s safer to keep $8,000 in a savings account, but Steph asks:

  “What if that decision is actually costing you $50k, $100k, or more over the next year?” (12:30)

2. The Math of One-on-One vs. Group Programs (13:00–28:00)

• The ‘Ceiling’ of One-on-One:
  Steph breaks down the earning limitations coaching solo, using the example of 8 clients at $3,000 each:

  “Eight clients times $3,000 is $24,000 — that is your revenue ceiling.” (15:45)

• Unlocking Leverage with Groups:
  By adding group programs (even conservatively priced), coaches can match or exceed their one-on-one earnings with less time:

  “Eight hour-long coaching calls just got condensed down to maybe one weekly call...You can see the same revenue while working less time.” (18:45)

• Compounding Revenue Scenarios:

  • Scenario 1: 8 group clients at $1,500 (twice/year) = $24,000
  • Scenario 2: 12 clients at $2,000 (three times/year) = $72,000
  • Scenario 3: 20 clients at $3,000 (three times/year) = $180,000
    Steph:

  “Now we’re talking about tripling your revenue ceiling, and you’re working less than you were with eight one-on-one clients!” (23:00)

3. The Real Cost of Waiting (28:15–33:00)

• Opportunity Cost Is the Real Risk:

  “What is the real cost of waiting? Is it the 8K that you’re saving, or is it $50K, $100K, $150K you’re not making because you stay stuck in the one-on-one model for another year?” (28:35)

• Lost Time, Not Just Lost Money:
  Steph notes most entrepreneurs who “wait until next round” are in the same spot six months later:

  “Nothing changes when you put the money aside...Nothing changes until we decide to do something differently.” (30:30)

4. The Hidden Costs of DIY Group Program Attempts (33:10–53:50)

Steph details four common DIY pitfalls:

Mistake 1: Weak Positioning (34:26)

• Focusing on features rather than transformation makes your offer forgettable.

  "You accidentally position it as a downgrade... Some of you come to me and you're like, 'My people don't want to be in a group.' That's because you accidentally are positioning it as a downgrade." (36:50)

• Result: 2–3 enrollments instead of 12–15, potentially $18K–$27K lost in one launch.

Mistake 2: Building the Wrong Offer (39:45)

• Spending months developing curriculum… only to discover the market doesn’t want it.

  “That’s 3–6 months you could have been making money from a group program that actually works.” (41:30)

Mistake 3: Inability to Fill the Group (43:30)

• Lack of a repeatable sales system, poor pre-selling strategies, not converting existing audiences.

  “You go and launch to your whole list and you get three people and say, ‘Groups just don’t work for me.’… It’s just that you don’t know how to fill them yet.” (46:00)

• Result: Another 6 months lost revenue, stuck at previous ceiling.

Mistake 4: Quitting Too Soon (48:05)

• When one DIY launch flops, most coaches quit, not realizing they could tweak and iterate.

  “You quit because you don’t know how to fix it. And the cost is staying stuck at that $24K–$50K revenue ceiling forever.” (49:00)

DIY Path Cost Calculation (51:15):

• “Minimum right is $50k to $100,000 in lost revenue and 12–18 months of wasted time. That’s what your 8K savings bought you.”

5. The Financial Upside of a Guided Investment (53:55–59:50)

• With Support:

  • By month 3: Fill first group, making back most or all of the $8K investment.
  • By month 6: Full “Buzz Blitz” launch brings 2–3x return.
  • By month 12: “Now we’re talking $75K to $150K — and a system that keeps compounding.”

• The Real Value:

  “You’re not paying $8,000 for information you could find on Google... You’re paying $8,000 to skip the $50K–$100K DIY tax.” (56:05)

• Analogy:

  “Building a group program is like cutting your hair. You could figure it out on your own, but the stakes here are $50K–$100K, not $100 for a haircut.” (58:20)

6. Mindset & CEO Perspective Shift (59:52–64:10)

• Think Like a CEO, Not a Saver:

  “CEOs don’t hoard cash and hope things get magically better. CEOs invest in their business and ask, ‘What’s the highest ROI move I can make right now?’” (61:30)

• The Inside Track:
  Citing dozens of client results, Steph explains that “the people who take the inside track are running $100K, $250K, $500K group program businesses, while a lot of people do wait and stay maxed out.” (62:40)

• Final Encouragement:

  “A year from now, no matter what you do, you’re going to wish you started today… It all comes down to you jumping in, following the steps, and being committed. That’s how you’re going to get your return on investment.” (63:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On pricing anxiety:

  “It’s never a fun sensation to watch money leave your bank account… I think we should probably start by acknowledging that.” (06:20)

• On transformation, not just tactics:

  “Your clients are not suffering — in fact, you are probably going to be at your best because you’re not stretched so thin. Your clients are going to benefit from it.” (21:40)

• On the ‘DIY tax’:

  “You’re paying $8,000 to skip the $50K to $100K DIY tax. You have to ask yourself: do you want to pay that tax?” (56:19)

• On the shortcut of strategic investment:

  “The truth is, the $8,000 investment is the shortcut. It’s buying back 12–18 months of trial and error. It’s getting a system that already works instead of hoping you stumble on it eventually.” (59:05)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 04:00: Emotional resistance to big investments
• 15:45: The “one-on-one ceiling” numbers breakdown
• 21:40: Why group clients get just as much value (or more)
• 28:35: Real cost of waiting and opportunity cost concept
• 36:50: What happens when group programs are poorly positioned
• 46:00: Why group launches flop without a sales system
• 51:15: Math: The cost of the DIY group program path
• 56:05: What the $8K mastermind investment really buys
• 61:30: Shifting from saver to CEO mindset
• 63:30: Final encouragement on investing for ROI

Conclusion & Takeaways

Steph Crowder’s episode is an inspirational and math-filled call-to-action for growth-focused entrepreneurs. Through detailed hypotheticals and candid storytelling, Steph urges listeners to consider the true cost of “playing it safe” — and reframes investment as both the faster and more secure route to scalable, sustainable business. Coaches, consultants, or service providers feeling stuck at the time-for-money ceiling will leave with a new lens on risk, reward, and the leveraging power of well-designed group offers.

Interested in taking the next step? Applications for Steph’s Sold Out Group Programs Mastermind are still open for a few more days: stephcrowder.com/apply.

This summary covers the entirety of Steph Crowder’s actionable advice, real-world math examples, and motivational leadership for entrepreneurs ready to scale with integrity and strategic investment.