How a Product-Based Business Can Launch a Subscription Box in 90 Days or Less

Learn how to launch a profitable subscription box in just 90 days—using products you already sell and the audience you already have.

Starting a subscription box might feel like a big leap—especially if you’re running a busy product-based business or already shipping orders every day.

But what if I told you that you could start a profitable subscription box in 90 days or less?

Because that’s exactly what I did.

When I started my first subscription box, I didn’t have a fancy website. I didn’t have email automations or custom packaging or hundreds of products lined up.

What I did have was an audience—about 5,000 followers on Facebook—and a deep desire to serve them in a new way. I wanted to build recurring revenue and give my most loyal customers—the true VIPs of my business—a special experience curated just for them.

I knew I had the pieces to make this happen for my customers and for my business. I just needed to put them together.

If you’re a product-based business owner, you already have most of what you need, too. You’re closer to adding a subscription box to your business than you think.

Today, I’m going to walk you through exactly how I launched my first box—and how you can do the same in just 90 days.

1. Start with Your Why

Before you start choosing products or designing packaging, I want you to take a step back and think about why you want to create this subscription box—not just for your business, but for your people.

What lights you up about what you do?

Who are you serving, and why do you love showing up for them?

When I launched my first subscription box, I wasn’t just looking for recurring revenue—I wanted to create something special for the women who already loved shopping with me. 

I knew what made them smile, what colors they gravitated toward, and how much they looked forward to grabbing a cute tee, a fun & functional tote,  or a monogrammed tumbler each month. I wanted to turn that moment of joy into something they could count on, month after month.

And here's what I’ve seen time and again: the subscription box owners who succeed are the ones who have a real connection with their audience. They’re passionate about serving their people—because they are their people. They’re creating a box they would want to receive. That kind of authenticity shines through.

So ask yourself:

• Who am I creating this for?
• What do I want them to feel when they open it?
• How does this box reflect the heart of what I already do?
  
  

When your “why” is rooted in who you’re serving—not just what you’re selling—you’ll build something that people want to be part of.

2. Look at What’s Already Working

When I decided to launch, I didn’t try to come up with something brand new. I looked at what was already flying off the shelves in my store: graphic tees, cute tumblers, fun bags, and accessories.

These were my top categories—and I knew my customers loved them. After all, they came back over and over again to buy them. 

So instead of reinventing the wheel, I built my box around those favorites.

Take a look at your own business. What do your customers buy most? What do they comment on or come back for? That’s where you start.

3. Price Your Subscription Box with Intention

Pricing is one of the biggest places I see new subscription box owners get stuck. It doesn’t have to be complicated!

I started with my average order value (AOV)—the amount my customers were already used to spending—and used that to guide my pricing.

From there, I made sure to build in profit after accounting for product cost, packaging, shipping, and other expenses. Because yes, your subscription box needs to be profitable. And it can be, from the very beginning. 

Don’t underprice just to gain subscribers. Set it up to sustain your business, for the long term.

4. Plan Out the Next Six Months

Before I even thought about launching, I needed to see the bigger picture.

So I grabbed a stack of Post-it Notes and started writing out box themes and product ideas—one for each of the next six months. I thought about what my audience was thinking, feeling, and doing for each of those months and planned a box to match. 

When I was done, I stuck those sticky notes up on the wall and suddenly, it was real. I could see my subscription box coming together.

That simple exercise turned into what I now teach as the 6 in 60 Workshop—a powerful planning tool that helps you map out six months of subscription boxes in just an hour. It’s the same method I used when I started my subscription box and it’s the method I still use to plan my boxes all these years later! 

Don’t skip the planning step! When you know where you’re headed, everything else gets easier.

5. Pick a Launch Date

Your next step is choosing your launch date—aim for 45 to 60 days out. Be specific. Not “sometime this summer” or even “in July.” Choose a date on the calendar, like July 14th, and stick to it. 

When people are starting a subscription box as a brand new business, I recommend at least 90 days for audience building. But remember, you already have an audience, so you can launch in less than 90 days!  

Don’t overthink it. Just choose a date and commit to it. Everything you do from this point will lead toward that goal.

6. Build and Nurture Your Waitlist

Create a simple waitlist landing page where people can sign up to be the first to know when the box is ready. This will help you build buzz and excitement—and give you a list of warm leads to launch to.

Getting people onto your waitlist isn’t the end goal. You need to nurture them from the time they join the waitlist until you launch your subscription box. This is your opportunity to continue to build connections, provide value, and educate them about why they need to subscribe.

Check out this blog post for more about what comes between the waitlist and the launch. 

Remember: you don’t need thousands of followers to have a great launch. You do need a warmed-up waitlist of people who are interested in what you’re offering. It’s all about showing up consistently and sharing your excitement.

7. Order Product and Packaging

Once you’ve nailed down your box theme and product list, it’s time to place your orders. Start with your first month and keep it simple.

You don’t need custom boxes or huge quantities to start. I launched with a basic box decorated with a custom stamp—and my 44 subscribers loved it.

Learn how to take basic packaging and make it just right for your brand… without spending too much! 

The experience matters more than perfection. Focus on delighting your customer and building from there. Custom packaging can wait! 

8. Finalize and Test Your Website

You’ll need a website that can process recurring payments. If you already have a site, you may simply need to add a subscription plugin or page. If you’re starting from scratch, use a platform that supports subscriptions—like WordPress/WooCommerce or Shopify. 

And don’t forget to test, test, test everything before launch! Walk through the entire process like a subscriber would. Even better, have someone who is not familiar with what you’re doing try out your website and give feedback.

9. Launch Your Subscription Box

You’ve done the work. You’ve built excitement. You’ve planned, prepared, and posted.

Now it’s time to launch your box into the world!

Announce it everywhere. Go LIVE. Create posts, reels, and stories on social media. Send emails. Let people feel your excitement—because it’s contagious.

You’ll be nervous. That’s normal. Do it anyway.

You’ll be nervous. That’s normal. Do it anyway.

Inside Launch Your Box, I teach a full 5-day launch plan—the same plan I still use today because it works. And when my students follow the plan, they get results.

And don’t forget to celebrate every subscriber! 

Starting a subscription box doesn’t require a warehouse, a huge audience, or a team of experts.

You can do it with the products you already sell, the audience you already have, and a clear plan to follow.

And you don’t have to wait six months or a year to get started.

You can do it in 90 days or less.

Want help planning your first six months of boxes? The 6 in 60 Workshop will walk you through it step-by-step. It’s the same strategy I used to launch my very first box—and it’s helped thousands of others do the same.

Stop waiting. Start planning. And let’s get that subscription box out into the world.