The Untapped Revenue Stream Inside Every Business (And How to Unlock It)

What if I told you that the biggest profit center in your business is already inside your organization? Most business owners overlook a resource that is right in front of them—the knowledge and expertise that they and their team already possess. In this post (and the Youtube video linked here and podcast episode linked here), I want to show you how to uncover these untapped revenue streams and turn them into powerful profit centers using e-learning.

Over the past few years, I’ve worked closely with enterprise clients, including CoStar Group, to harness the power of e-learning for both internal and external growth. Whether you’re just starting out or managing a large team, the strategies I’m sharing will help you monetize your knowledge, educate your customers, and optimize your internal operations—all while scaling your business efficiently.

Harnessing E-Learning For Internal And External Growth

E-learning is more than just online courses. It’s a strategic tool that allows businesses to generate revenue, improve adoption of products and services, and enhance employee performance. In my work with CoStar Group, we’ve focused on two main areas: internal and external profit centers.

Externally, e-learning allows you to serve your customers better by teaching them how to use your products or services effectively. Internally, it helps your team work smarter and more efficiently. Even if you don’t have employees yet, building an internal e-learning program can lay the foundation for scalable growth in the future. The beauty of this approach is that it leverages what you already know and what your team knows, transforming existing knowledge into measurable business value.

Creating Passive Income With E-Learning Programs

One of the first ways to unlock this untapped revenue stream is by creating e-learning programs that generate passive income. You likely have insights, strategies, or expertise that your customers would pay to access. Packaging this knowledge into online courses or learning modules can provide a steady stream of revenue without requiring constant active effort.

When I applied this strategy with CoStar Group, we started small, focusing on just one or two programs. Using the 80/20 rule, we identified the 20% of content that delivered 80% of results. This allowed us to make the biggest impact with minimal initial effort. The same principle applies to any business. Instead of trying to create a dozen programs, identify the most valuable knowledge you possess, package it effectively, and start generating income from it.

Teaching To Increase Product Adoption

Another powerful way to unlock hidden revenue is by teaching your customers how to use your products. Many businesses lose potential sales simply because customers don’t fully understand how to leverage what’s offered. Educating your audience removes friction, increases product adoption, and drives retention.

For example, CoStar Group offers data analytics software used by millions worldwide. Our e-learning programs start at the student and professor level, helping pre-professionals learn how to use the platform before entering the workforce. We also train industry professionals to deepen their expertise. By teaching people how to maximize the value of a product or service, you not only increase adoption but also create loyal customers who continue to invest in your offerings. I’ve also implemented similar strategies with clients in the pharmaceutical industry, showing doctors and patients how to get the most from their products, which in turn generates more demand and long-term revenue.

Marketing Through Product Certifications

Creating certifications is another strategy I use to turn e-learning into a revenue stream. Certifications allow users to showcase their skills publicly, often on LinkedIn or resumes, and can be tiered into basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. This creates additional revenue while increasing your product’s visibility and adoption.

Certifications form a cycle of growth: the more users earn certifications, the more they engage with your product. Certified users market the product to others, which generates even more sales. Companies like Salesforce, Microsoft, Google, and CoStar understand this. People are willing to pay to learn and get certified, and in doing so, they create an ongoing loop of product adoption, revenue growth, and retention. Implementing certification programs for your products can turn e-learning into both an educational and financial powerhouse.

Maximizing Internal Efficiency And Effectiveness

While external strategies drive revenue, internal e-learning programs optimize efficiency and effectiveness. Efficiency is about doing things right, and effectiveness is about doing the right things. Both are critical for internal growth and long-term profitability.

I focus on teaching employees the 4% of activities that create 64% of results—the high-impact work that drives business outcomes. By identifying and training your team on these priority tasks, you can multiply output without hiring more staff. This internal optimization allows you to scale your business rapidly, turning knowledge and expertise into a force multiplier. Investing in internal training not only improves performance but also compounds revenue when combined with external strategies.

Invitation To Partner For E-Learning Success

If you’re ready to unlock the untapped revenue inside your business, I invite you to explore my Enterprise Learning Accelerator partnership. In this program, my team becomes your e-learning partner, helping you design, implement, and scale e-learning programs that generate internal efficiency, external revenue, and long-term business growth.

I work with only a select number of organizations each year to ensure maximum impact. If you want to see if this partnership is a fit for your business, check the link in the description or the show notes if you’re listening to this as a podcast. Together, we can uncover hidden profit centers, create passive income streams, and empower both your team and your customers to succeed.

Unlocking the hidden revenue inside your business doesn’t require reinventing the wheel. It requires recognizing the value of what you already know, packaging it effectively, and teaching it strategically. Start today, and watch your business grow faster than you ever imagined.