Starter vs. Scale: An In-Depth Analysis of the Sales Fee and Features Difference, With a Practical Decision Framework

Zomra offers two plans for instructors and academies, Starter and Scale. This article explains in depth the difference between them in terms of sales fee, subscription cost, features, and the manual roster cap, with a practical decision framework to help each instructor or academy choose the plan that fits their actual activity level, not just its marketing description.

The core difference between the two plans

Starter is described as suited to new or irregular instructors, while Scale is described as aimed at academies, companies, and training centers with continuous batches. The essential difference between them isn't in available features, since both include all platform features, but in the cost model and the sales fee owed under each plan.

How to read the 90% or 95% figure precisely

The stated percentage represents the instructor's share of successful sales value, before deducting the payment gateway's own fees, and before accounting for any due refunds. In other words, what actually lands in the instructor's account is determined after these two factors, not by the percentage figure alone. This distinction between sales and net profit matters particularly when comparing the two plans numerically, since the published gap between 90% and 95% doesn't translate directly into the actual difference in the amount received, because gateway fees are deducted at roughly the same rate in both cases.

A simplified illustrative model for understanding the break-even point

To illustrate the comparison mechanism only, not as actual figures published by Zomra, it helps to consider a simplified hypothetical example: if an instructor achieves a certain total in sales over one month across several batches, the gap between Starter's 10% and Scale's 5% gradually turns into an amount larger than Scale's fixed subscription cost as monthly sales volume rises. In other words, there's an approximate break-even point: below it, staying on Starter is cheaper, and above it, moving to Scale becomes more financially worthwhile, regardless of team size or number of batches. It's advisable to calculate this point specifically based on an instructor's actual sales volume, rather than relying on a general rule.

Decision criteria beyond the percentage alone

Sales volume shouldn't be the only criterion for choosing between the two plans. The manual roster cap represents a separate practical criterion: an instructor or academy regularly running a batch exceeding 20 students will need Scale to avoid the recurring cost of additional manual entries, even if sales volume alone isn't enough to justify the switch. Likewise, the published target audience description points to a purely non-financial consideration: an academy managing several instructors and parallel batches usually needs the roles-and-permissions structure originally designed for the second segment, regardless of percentage calculations alone.

The refund policy's effect on cash flow under both plans

The sales fee should be considered alongside the refund policy applied to live courses, since collected revenue isn't all immediately withdrawable, especially for courses exceeding two sessions, where instructor payouts are transferred only after the applicable refund window closes. This factor applies to both plans at roughly the same rate, and doesn't represent a difference between Starter and Scale by itself, but it's a necessary factor for understanding the actual timing of receiving payouts regardless of the chosen plan.

When do custom plans become the better fit?

Custom plans are available for larger academies based on sales volume, number of courses, team structure, and operational needs, going beyond Scale's general description. These plans become more logical once an academy's activity volume clearly exceeds what standard Scale covers, or when the academy needs negotiated terms tied to its own business scale rather than the published standard description.

Which plan fits you?

Starter suits an instructor starting with intermittent or irregular batches, since it doesn't impose a fixed subscription before actual sales occur, making it a low-risk entry model. Scale becomes more logical when managing multiple, continuous batches, when a higher manual roster cap is needed, or when managing a team requiring custom roles and permissions, where the lower percentage offsets the fixed subscription cost as sales volume grows.

Frequently asked questions

Are payment gateway fees deducted from Zomra's fee or separately?

Payment gateway fees are separate from Zomra's published fee, and are deducted in addition to it.

Are there custom plans beyond Starter and Scale?

Yes, custom plans are available for larger academies based on sales volume, number of courses, and team structure.

Can an instructor move from Starter to Scale later without losing previous batch data?

It's advisable to verify the details of upgrading between plans directly with the Zomra team, since this analysis doesn't offer published confirmation of the migration mechanism between the two plans.

Does the manual roster cap cover the entire batch or only manual entries?

The published description specifically refers to manual entries per batch, which differs from registration through the direct payment process, which isn't subject to the same cap per the available description.

Not sure which plan fits your current activity level? Review both plans in detail and compare them directly on Zomra's pricing page.