You might hate me for saying this, but the "digital product" trend has officially gone too far.
And yes, I say this as someone who has sold digital products in the past and plans to sell more in the future. But let’s talk about the elephant in the room that is circulating right now: Master Resell Rights (MRR) courses.
If you’ve been on social media lately, chances are you’ve seen endless creators promoting these MRR courses. The pitch is simple: buy a digital marketing course, learn how to market it, and then resell the exact same course to your audience, who then resell it to their audience. It’s a rinse-and-repeat system designed to help you “make money online.”
While it might sound like an easy way to earn money from home, this business model has some serious flaws. Let’s break it down and explore why I’m creating courses designed to help you start an online business that’s sustainable for years to come.
What Is Master Resell Rights (MRR)?
Master Resell Rights (MRR) is a licensing model where you purchase the rights to resell a digital product, such as a course or eBook, to others. Unlike affiliate marketing, where you earn a commission per sale, MRR gives you the ability to keep 100% of the profits.
At first glance, it might sound like an amazing opportunity. Who wouldn’t want to sell a course and pocket all the profits? But here’s the catch: you’re not creating your own product. Instead, you’re reselling someone else’s work, often with minimal input or customization.
While MRR courses can help you learn the basics of creating digital products and entrepreneurship, they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution to making money online. In fact, there are serious flaws with this model that in my opinion make it a poor long-term strategy for building a sustainable online business.
The Flaws in the MRR Business Model
1. Cannibalization
In MRR, the original creator makes their money upfront by selling the course to resellers. But as the market becomes saturated with resellers, the revenue streams for everyone involved dry up. There’s only so much of the market to go around, and eventually, there will be too many people selling the same thing. Unlike old-school network marketing models (remember the days of Nuskin, Arbonne etc), there’s no long-term structure for scalable ongoing revenue.
2. Unrealistic Expectations for Resellers
An MRR course might be valuable for those genuinely interested in creating their own digital products. But for many resellers, especially those hoping to make thousands of dollars overnight, there’s a serious disconnect. Social media often promotes these courses with flashy monetary promises, but those claims rarely tell the full story.
Most resellers who expect to make quick money without putting in the work end up disappointed. In fact, many people who already don’t have the money to invest in a course end up wasting hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars on something they’ll never get back.
3. You’re Building Someone Else’s Brand
When you sell an MRR course, you’re essentially building a brand around someone else’s product. Sure, you might make some sales, but when it comes time to launch your own products, it becomes much harder to transition. You’ve been promoting someone else’s work, not your own, and convincing your audience to buy from you (especially if you’re offering something completely different) can be a tough sell.
So, why not go all in from the beginning and build your own brand and products? It’ll save you time in the long run. Sign up here if you want to build your own online business without using MRR.
4. The Market Will Dry Up
As more people fail to see results from these MRR courses (because they don’t put in the necessary work), negative reviews will start to pile up. This creates a snowball effect, turning off potential buyers. Eventually, the market will dry up, and people will stop buying the same resold course. Without a sustainable strategy or new content, it’s hard to maintain momentum.
5. It’s Not Scalable
Selling the same course over and over again doesn’t offer much room for growth. There’s no long-term value for your customers, and once they’ve bought the course, they have nowhere else to go for additional value. You’ll eventually hit a ceiling, with fewer and fewer people to sell to as the market gets saturated. It’s a classic case of “one-size-fits-all,” but in reality, your audience needs more variety and fresh content to stay engaged.
So, How Do You Actually Build a Sustainable Online Business?
If you want to make money online in a way that’s sustainable, the best approach is to build your own brand and create your own products or services. Here’s how you can start:
1. Create Your Own Product or Service
The key to long-term success is creating something of your own. Whether you’re selling a physical product, offering a service, or creating digital products like eBooks or courses, owning your product means you control your business. I am going to be hosting a workshop very soon to help you figure out what your business could look like – make sure you sign up to the waitlist here.
3. Build Your Own Authentic Brand
Your brand is more than just your product – it’s your story, your values, and how you connect with your audience. Build an authentic brand that resonates with your target market. Use digital marketing strategies to share your message and attract customers who truly believe in what you’re doing.
4. Be Prepared to Work Hard
Making money online is not an overnight success story. It requires hard work, consistency, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes. Stay committed to building a sustainable business, and you’ll see results over time.
Final Thoughts
If you’re serious about building a long-term, successful online business, ditch the MRR courses and focus on creating real value using your own skills and passions. Mastering digital marketing and selling online will take you far, and while it might take time, effort, and patience, it’s the only way to build something that lasts.
Overnight success is a myth – true success takes time. If you’re ready to build a business that stands the test of time, start learning, create your own products, and use digital marketing to spread your message click here!
Trust me, this approach will pay off in the long run. 
Would love to hear your thoughts – are you seeing this trend in your feed? Drop a comment below! 