When most professionals leave corporate, they default to consulting. It's the obvious move — trade your expertise for an hourly or project rate.
But consulting is just one model. And it's arguably the worst one for building long-term wealth, because it doesn't compound.
Here are five IP-based business models that do.
1. Licensed Methodology
What it is: You codify your expertise into a formal framework or methodology, then license it to organizations who implement it themselves.
Example: A former VP of Operations creates a proprietary supply chain optimization framework. Companies pay $25K-100K annually to license and implement it.
Revenue potential: $100K-$1M+ annually, depending on market size and pricing.
Why it works: You do the hard intellectual work once. Companies pay repeatedly to use it. You can license to multiple organizations simultaneously.
Best for: Deep operational expertise, management methodologies, technical frameworks.
2. Digital Course or Certification
What it is: Package your knowledge into a structured learning experience. Self-paced (asynchronous) or cohort-based (synchronous).
Example: A former Head of Product Management creates a certification program for aspiring PMs. 200 students per cohort at $2,000 each.
Revenue potential: $50K-$500K+ per year.
Why it works: Build once, sell repeatedly. Cohort models create urgency and community. Certifications create ongoing value through credential recognition.
Best for: Teachable skills, career-transition knowledge, technical expertise.
3. Paid Community
What it is: A membership-based community where your expertise is the anchor, but members also get value from each other.
Example: A former CMO runs a $197/month community for marketing leaders navigating AI transformation. 300 members = $59K/month.
Revenue potential: $50K-$500K+ annually with strong retention.
Why it works: Recurring revenue. Members retain because of peer relationships, not just your content. Can layer on additional revenue (events, courses, coaching).
Best for: Niche expertise where peer connection matters. Leadership, industry-specific knowledge, career transitions.
4. SaaS Tool or App
What it is: Transform your methodology into software. Instead of teaching people your framework, give them a tool that implements it.
Example: A former HR Director who developed a unique team assessment methodology turns it into an app. Companies pay $500/month per team.
Revenue potential: $100K-$10M+ with the right market.
Why it works: Maximum scalability. Zero marginal cost per user. Software valuations are significantly higher than service businesses.
Best for: Process-driven expertise, assessment frameworks, workflow methodologies.
5. Book + Authority Platform
What it is: A published book (often self-published) that establishes your authority and drives leads for higher-ticket offerings.
Example: A former CFO writes a book on financial strategy for scaling startups. The book drives $400K in advisory engagements annually.
Revenue potential: Book revenue is modest ($10K-50K), but the authority it creates drives $100K-$1M+ in downstream revenue.
Why it works: A book is the ultimate credibility signal. It opens speaking doors, attracts clients, and positions you as the definitive expert.
Best for: Anyone with deep expertise who wants to establish market authority.
The Stack Effect
The real power comes from combining multiple models:
- Write the book to establish authority
- Build the course to teach the methodology
- Create the community for ongoing support
- License the framework to organizations
- Build the tool for maximum scale
Each asset reinforces the others. The book drives course sales. The course feeds the community. The community generates licensing leads. The tool scales everything.
Getting Started
Don't try to build all five at once. Pick the one closest to revenue for your expertise:
- If you already consult → License your methodology
- If people ask you to teach → Build a course
- If your network is your asset → Start a community
- If your method is process-heavy → Build a tool
- If you need credibility first → Write the book
Then stack from there.
Your expertise is the foundation. The business model is the architecture. Build deliberately, and build for compounding returns.