The online selling landscape has fundamentally shifted. Strategies that generated consistent revenue just two years ago are now failing to convert. Consumer expectations around payment flexibility, checkout experience, and subscription value have transformed beyond recognition. If you're still operating under the old rules, you're leaving significant money on the table.
That's exactly why PayKickstart is hosting the largest virtual workshop event of 2026: a completely free, 12-part training series called "The New Rules to Selling Online in 2026." Running from January 12-19, 2026, this workshop series brings together some of the most respected names in digital commerce to share battle-tested strategies for the year ahead.
With over 1,583 entrepreneurs already registered and counting, this is shaping up to be one of the most valuable free training events for online business owners, course creators, SaaS founders, and digital product sellers.
What Is the PayKickstart 2.0 Workshop Series?
The PayKickstart 2.0 Workshop Series is a free virtual event featuring 12 live expert sessions spread across one intensive week. Each session delivers actionable playbooks on specific aspects of online selling—from checkout optimization and subscription growth to affiliate marketing and customer retention.
One registration unlocks access to all 12 live sessions, complete replays, and downloadable playbooks you can implement immediately in your business. The workshop series culminates in an exclusive preview of PayKickstart 2.0, the next evolution of the trusted billing and affiliate management platform that has processed over $1 billion in online transactions.
Whether you're selling digital products, running a membership site, offering coaching programs, or building a SaaS company, these sessions will equip you with the strategies needed to thrive in 2026's competitive landscape.
Meet Your Host: Mark Thompson
Mark Thompson
CEO & Co-Founder of PayKickstart
Mark Thompson has been at the forefront of online marketing and SaaS innovation for over 17 years. As the co-founder of PayKickstart, one of the most trusted billing and affiliate management platforms online, he has helped thousands of digital entrepreneurs simplify their checkout experience, boost conversions, and grow recurring revenue.
Over his career, Mark has built and exited multiple 7-figure software companies, processed over a billion dollars in online transactions through PayKickstart, and partnered with some of the world's top marketers and brands. He has taught and mentored tens of thousands of business owners on scaling through automation and smarter monetization.
Complete Workshop Schedule: January 12-19, 2026
Each session runs approximately 60-90 minutes and includes live Q&A with the presenting expert. All sessions are recorded, so you'll have access to replays if you can't attend live.
Meet the Expert Speakers
This workshop series features 12 industry leaders who have collectively generated hundreds of millions in online revenue. Each speaker brings specialized expertise in their respective field.
Sam Bakker
CEO, Communi
Jon Penberthy
CEO, AdClients
Travis Stephenson
CEO, Chatmatic
Anik Singal
Founder, UgenticAI
Aaron Krall
Founder, SaaS Accelerator
Sean Donahoe
Founder, UnHustled
Gauher Chaudhry
CEO, iPromote Media
Armand Morin
CEO, MarketingUniversity.com
Mark Wagner
Founder, Disputifier
Todd Brown
Founder, Todd Brown Marketing
Teddy Garcia
Head of Tech, Abundance360
Mark Thompson
Founder, PayKickstart
Why These Topics Matter in 2026
The ecommerce landscape in 2026 is dramatically different from even two years ago. Global ecommerce is projected to reach nearly $7 trillion, mobile commerce alone is expected to hit $2.4 trillion, and consumer expectations have fundamentally shifted toward frictionless, personalized experiences.
The Payment Revolution
Credit cards are no longer the default. Today's consumers expect mobile wallets, Buy Now Pay Later options, local payment methods, and instant checkout experiences. According to industry research, wallet-based and bank-based payments are converging around the same principle: fast, secure, and frictionless checkout. Businesses that fail to offer payment flexibility are losing customers at the final step.
Subscription Economy Dominance
Subscription models have gone fully mainstream across virtually every industry. From weekly coffee deliveries to monthly software licenses, recurring revenue has become the foundation of sustainable online business. But building a subscription model that scales without collapsing under churn requires sophisticated strategies for billing flexibility, customer communication, and retention automation.
The True Cost of Customer Acquisition
Studies consistently show that acquiring a new customer costs 5-7 times more than retaining an existing one. Yet most businesses still focus the majority of their energy on acquisition while leaving retention to chance. In 2026, the businesses that thrive are those treating retention as a profit center, not an afterthought.
AI and Automation as Table Stakes
Artificial intelligence is no longer a competitive advantage—it's table stakes. From AI-driven fraud detection and personalized recommendations to automated dunning sequences and smart checkout optimization, businesses need sophisticated automation to compete effectively.
What You'll Learn: Key Workshop Takeaways
Payment Flexibility Strategies
How to implement subscriptions, payment plans, free trials, and usage-based pricing that convert more buyers and increase lifetime value.
Subscription Growth Systems
The 5-step blueprint for building predictable recurring revenue that actually scales without collapsing under churn.
Conversion Optimization Tactics
Proven tactics including upsells, order bumps, social proof, cart recovery, and behavioral targeting that increase sales instantly.
Affiliate Program Mastery
How to recruit top partners, track accurately, motivate with smart payouts, and build a system that keeps affiliates loyal long-term.
Data-Driven Growth
Understand MRR, ARR, churn, recovered revenue, lifetime value, and which metrics actually drive profit in your business.
Revenue Protection
How to spot fraud early, prevent disputes before they happen, and build a protection system that keeps your merchant accounts safe.
What Is PayKickstart 2.0?
PayKickstart 2.0 positions itself as an "all-in-one revenue engine" rather than just another checkout tool. It's designed to sit behind your existing funnels and websites, handling the complex backend operations that turn visitors into customers and customers into loyal subscribers.
Core Platform Capabilities
The platform handles sophisticated subscription management including fixed-price subscriptions, usage-based plans, payment installments, and hybrid billing models that combine one-time fees with recurring charges. For businesses running SaaS, memberships, or any recurring model, this flexibility is the difference between hacking together workarounds and having a purpose-built system.
The checkout experience includes over 100 customizable templates supporting 20+ languages and 135 currencies. Built-in conversion tools include 1-click upsells, order bumps, downsells, and cart abandonment recovery. The affiliate center connects vendors with a marketplace of over 100,000 active affiliates, with real-time tracking, automated payouts, and commission management.
PayKickstart Connect, the platform's built-in payment processor, offers processing rates as low as 2.3%, potentially reducing gateway fees significantly compared to standard processors. The platform integrates with major payment gateways including Stripe, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
Launch Special Pricing
The PayKickstart 2.0 launch on January 20th will include special pricing of up to 69% off for up to 3 years, available exclusively to workshop participants. Current standard pricing starts at $99/month for the Starter plan, with Growth and Scale tiers available for larger operations.
Reserve Your Free Seat Today
Join 1,583+ entrepreneurs who are already registered. One registration unlocks access to all 12 live sessions, replays, and downloadable playbooks.
Register Free for All 12 Sessions →Who Should Attend This Workshop Series?
The PayKickstart 2.0 Workshop Series is designed for online business owners who are serious about scaling their revenue in 2026. You'll get the most value if you're:
- Digital product creators selling courses, ebooks, templates, or downloadable content
- SaaS founders building software products with subscription models
- Membership site owners who need to reduce churn and increase lifetime value
- Coaches and consultants selling high-ticket programs and services
- Agency owners managing client billing and scaling through automation
- Affiliate marketers looking to partner with vendors running sophisticated programs
- Ecommerce entrepreneurs ready to add subscriptions or optimize their checkout experience
The content is practical and implementation-focused. Each session delivers specific playbooks you can put into action immediately, regardless of which billing platform you currently use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, registration is completely free. One signup gives you access to all 12 live sessions, the complete replay library, and downloadable playbooks from each workshop.
Yes. All sessions are recorded and replays will be available to registered participants. You'll also receive downloadable playbooks summarizing the key strategies from each session.
No. While the final session includes a preview of PayKickstart 2.0 and the workshop series leads into the January 20th launch, each session delivers genuine, actionable training from industry experts. The strategies taught apply regardless of which billing platform you use.
Not at all. The workshop content covers universal principles of online selling, subscription growth, conversion optimization, and retention strategies. These apply whether you use PayKickstart, SamCart, ThriveCart, Stripe, or any other platform.
All sessions are scheduled in Eastern Time (ET). Sessions run at either 12:00 PM ET or 8:00 PM ET, giving you two opportunities per day to attend live.
After registering, you'll receive email reminders before each session with access links. You can also add the entire workshop series to your calendar directly from the registration page.
The Bottom Line: Why You Should Register
The rules of selling online have fundamentally changed. Consumer expectations around payment flexibility, checkout experience, and subscription value have shifted dramatically. Strategies that worked in 2024 are already showing diminishing returns.
This free workshop series brings together 12 experts who collectively have generated hundreds of millions in online revenue. They're sharing the exact playbooks they use to convert more customers, retain them longer, and build sustainable recurring revenue.
With the PayKickstart 2.0 launch following immediately on January 20th—including exclusive pricing up to 69% off for workshop attendees—this is a rare opportunity to learn from the best while positioning yourself for significant savings on a platform trusted by thousands of digital entrepreneurs.
Registration takes 30 seconds. The insights could transform your 2026.
Don't Miss This Free Training
The workshop series starts January 12th. Secure your spot now before seats fill up.
Register Free Now →