Start and Scale Course Review: Does It Work or Not Quite?

Start and Scale is one of the most popular eCommerce training programs. I joined it around 3 years ago when I was dreaming of starting my own business. 

Looking back, it's really a game changer. I followed Gretta's blueprint, designed a prototype, partnered with an Alibaba supplier, launched my online store, and got sales in a few days. 

At the peak of my eCommerce business, I made around $4k a month. I didn't make it big because it was just my side hustle. I had my full-time job in a primary school. Later, after the birth of my second son, I was too busy looking after my family, so I decided to sell the business for $50K. 

Now, I want to share with anyone who's interested in this course everything I know. You can decide to join Start and Scale and learn from Gretta Van Riel after you complete reading this review.

Foundr Start and Scale Your Online Store Course Review Takeaways

• Course Name: Start and Scale Your Online Store

• Website: https://foundr.com/start-and-scale

• Special Offer: Get Instant Access Here

• Course Instructor: Gretta van Riel

• Overall Rank: 4.9/5

• Who it’s for: Newbie to Expert in Ecommerce

Below is what I’ll cover in this Start and Scale review:

What is Start and Scale Course by Foundr?

Foundr collaborates with Gretta Van Riel to create the Start and Scale course. The course currently boasts more than 200,000 students, making it the most popular eCommerce course in the world.

Unlike other eCommerce courses on the market, this course teaches you how to build a sustainable eCommerce brand from scratch. It means your online store will endure for years, capable of generating a steady stream of passive income for you.

Other eCommerce courses often focus on building dropshipping stores and selling low-quality products, resulting in short-lived ventures due to poor product quality and customer reviews.

However, the Start and Scale course is different. You'll learn how to create your own brand and effectively market it. This approach offers a more sustainable business model as you'll be developing a long-term asset. Additionally, with a trademarked brand, others cannot simply copy your business model and steal your success.

Who is Gretta Van Riel?

Greta van Riel is an Australian serial entrepreneur who graduated from Melbourne University in media and communications. 

In her twenties, she founded several multi-million dollar eCommerce brands, including SkinnyMe Tea, the 5th, Dropbottle, and many others. 

Her eCommerce success has resulted in her being named to Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 list. 

She was able to begin her eCommerce business with only $23 in her bank account. 

At the time of her first big success, she worked full-time at a print agency, and created her first eCommerce website for Skinny Me Tea. 

The first six months of launching Skinny Me Tea it brought in a total of $600k per month. 

Soon after that, Gretta joined the company The 5th Watches. In a single day,The 5th Watches created a $1 million sales lift. These watches are highly anticipated and only sold on the fifth of every month. 

As an early adopter of Instagram, Gretta is known as the "Instagram Queen". 

On Instagram she reaches out to influencers to promote and advertise her products. Additionally, she has developed an app which can be used by entrepreneurs to work with other influencers, called This Is Hey! 

As of today, her combined Instagram following, including vertical accounts (@befitfoods, @detoxwater, @detoxtips, @nutrition_planet, @smoothiebowls), is over 16 million.

An Overview of The Start and Scale Course

Gretta Van Riel shares all her secrets of success in eCommerce in Start and Scale. If you want to open an online store for selling physical products, this course will provide you with a complete blueprint of what exactly to do. 

It will save you a lot of time and money because you will receive step-by-step training videos, workbooks, and templates. 

I have completed this course myself, so I can tell you about the course content. In this section, I'll give you an overview of each module so that you will have a better idea of what you can learn.

Module 1: Finding Your Idea

In this module, you’re going to learn how to come up with a profitable product idea. Gretta also shares her unique framework to validate product ideas so that you can make sure your product has market demand.

Module 2: Branding & Getting Your Store

Gretta Van Riel is an expert in building brands. She will show you how to build an online store that people will trust and recognise for years to come. 

Investing in branding, as Gretta has done, will differentiate your store from others and create loyal customers. You need to have a product that appears legit, like one that people could purchase in a retail store. This is often overlooked in the dropshipping world. 

Therefore, this module is indispensable for the online entrepreneur who wants to succeed in the online business world.

Module 3: Developing & Planning Your Idea

We will learn in this module from Gretta Van Riel on how to get a great product design and select a trustworthy manufacturer. 

A fascinating insight Gretta offers is that she encourages you to create a prototype so you can get an exclusive product made for you. She explains step-by-step what you need to do to bring your prototype and production line in line. 

Moreover, Gretta gives you advice on custom packaging and designs for your brand. 

She also provides advice on "Start local, and scale global", when it comes to the manufacturing aspect of your business. This module was high in quality, and advice contained in it is very useful.

Module 4: Making Your Product Profitable

In this module, Gretta Van Riel will show you how to keep track of your finances so your business is profitable. 

Following the tips in this module will help you make sure that you have a positive margin.

Module 5: Building An Audience Before Your Launch

A lot of people have a hard time building an audience before making a product launch and spend weeks or months making their first sale. That is where Gretta Van Riel offers you valuable tips. When you learn how to build an audience on social media, your brand will get sales on the first day of product launch

Module 6: Million Dollar Influencer Marketing Blueprint

This module contains more than just workbooks. It includes an "Influencer Outreach Script" which is essential when approaching potential influencers.

 Having a relationship with influencers is crucial in this day and age if you'd like to sell products online. Influencers have a wild engaged audience. To get in touch with influencers you've got to find the ones who genuinely care about your product. For this reason, Gretta developed an app that connects vendors with influencers. Brands will receive more love this way, and influencers will have a better chance at promoting your brand. Gretta basically did that for her watch company by sending out samples and having Instagram influencers use the photos on their posts! On her first day of sales, 8800 people were already on her waiting list. She ended up making $100k in sales.

Module 7: Launch & Operations

Running an online business requires you to streamline your operations and logistics. Start and Scale goes through each aspect of your business with you. This training will help you put in place payment processing, logistical support, and customer service so that your business runs smoothly.

Module 8: Scaling Your Store

You've already learned how to launch a profitable product, and where to find valuable customers, but now it's about more than that. In this module, Gretta Van Riel reveals how you can develop your eCommerce business into a seven-figure enterprise. "Start and Scale" means just that. Gretta shows you how to scale your business after you launch. She shows you how she achieved $600 per month with her first store in 6 months.

BONUS 1: Ecommerce Mastery Series

The previous modules will help you develop the skills you need to start and scale your eCommerce business, but you can also learn from successful eCommerce start-up founders in this module. These interviews with successful entrepreneurs offer a wealth of tips and tricks.

BONUS 2: COVID-19 Case Studies from Start & Scale Students

This bonus module offers insight into how some successful Start & Scale students cope with COVID, a new challenge for online store owners . The process of converting this challenge into an opportunity is something you must know if you want to launch a sustainable business during the pandemic. By learning how other entrepreneurs deal with threats such as COVID-19, you will gain a great deal of valuable insight.

BONUS 3: Access to the Exclusive Private Group

This is not a complete course if you can’t ask questions about the content so, along with the course, you have access to the Exclusive Facebook group, where you can talk to over 10,000 students in the Start and Scale course. The group members are highly active and supportive of one another.

Is Start and Scale a Scam or Legit Program?

Start and Scale is undoubtedly legit. More than 10,000 students have already enrolled in the program. People are really interested in Gretta’s course since she has been successful in building many eCommerce brands that generate seven-figure incomes. In the next section, we'll talk more about what works well with Start and Scale and what needs improvement.

What I Like About Start And Scale

Gretta’s Success is Real

The number one thing that I like about Start and Scale is that it is not a course created by fake gurus, but by a person who is genuinely successful in eCommerce. There are many scams online, with numerous gurus selling courses and teaching things they don’t do themselves. 

But Gretta is different; she’s well-known for creating multiple E-commerce brands that generate seven figures and was featured on Forbes' 30 Under 30. She hasn't succeeded just once, but multiple times, which means she has truly cracked the code of eCommerce and has a proven system to share. This gives me peace of mind and confidence that by following her training, I can succeed. 

In fact, there are many incredible success stories inside Start and Scale where students scaled their businesses to six figures in just several months.

Lifetime Access to the Course

Students have lifetime access to the course, including all future updates. The course continues to be updated with new content. Foundr has spent thousands of dollars updating the course material to help students face the challenges brought on by the pandemic. Despite Covid-19, students have found inspiration in the E-commerce stores that continue to flourish. If you join now, you'll have access to Start and Scale 3.0. All updates are available to old members for free as well.

Supportive Community

Foundr's Facebook group is very active and helpful. Most students are business owners, so you can approach them and seek advice. Gretta is also available to answer your questions. In building a business, it’s hard to do it alone. Having a community where you can seek help anytime is important. You can also ask questions to validate your ideas in the group.

No Theories, Just Practical Steps

Entrepreneurship is different from being a professor at a business school. Because of this, Foundr focuses only on actionable steps that are easy to understand. Each lesson includes actionable tasks. The course structure is very organized, guiding you step by step from scratch. I like that each lesson has action steps to take and begin to see results. 

This is how Start and Scale allows you to replicate Gretta's success. The course covers all important aspects of building a profitable and sustainable E-commerce store, such as finding reliable suppliers and building email lists. Unlike university lectures, there are no impractical theories. Everything mentioned in the course is something you can implement right away.

Workbooks for Facilitating Implementation

Workbooks included in Start and Scale help you become familiar with the different steps for building a sustainable E-commerce brand. Being an entrepreneur, I know how effective it will be to learn by doing. 

The Foundr team understands that you won't make significant progress if you just watch and listen to Gretta's speech without taking any action. You can even take a quiz after each module to test your understanding.

Templates for Copying and Pasting

Foundr understands how much work it can take to create a business, so they have provided their students with templates that can be copied and pasted. For example, in this Start and Scale course, you will be shown the templates that Gretta used to find influencers who helped her with her promotional activities.

What I Don’t Like About Start And Scale

The Price is not Cheap

The Start and Scale course doesn't come cheap. While the value it offers surpasses the price, I understand that not everyone can afford it. Your ability to invest in the course may hinge on what you're willing to sacrifice for success. If you can cut back on other expenses and allocate funds to the course, that shouldn't be an issue. 

Moreover, there's a payment plan available, so you don't have to make a one-time payment. Ultimately, you can recoup the investment in your business. You might wonder why Foundr and Gretta don't offer the course at a lower price. Well, producing a high-quality training program is costly. 

Foundr and Gretta have put in a lot of effort to create the course, and most importantly, it delivers results. While there are cheaper eCom courses online, many of them are created by gurus who haven't succeeded in eCommerce. They have no qualms about selling you strategies that won't yield revenue. Consider a college degree—its high cost is justified by its potential to lead to a job. 

Similarly, Start and Scale can help you establish a successful business, making the price reasonable when viewed in this light. In most cases, cheap courses are ineffective.

Inadequate Training on Paid Ads

Gretta's training falls short when it comes to running paid ads because she prioritizes branding, which tends to generate more organic traffic and referrals.

 Ads, on the other hand, can be quite expensive. Although Facebook ads are potent for driving traffic, they pose a significant risk. Many individuals have to invest substantial amounts to run Facebook ads. Influencer marketing, while effective for long-term business growth through branding, may not yield rapid traffic like Facebook ads. 

However, it can result in substantial organic traffic over time as your brand gains recognition in the market. Relying heavily on Facebook ads can make it challenging to maintain a high-profit margin. 

On the contrary, if your brand becomes well-established, you may garner free publicity on news websites and blogs, as evidenced by success stories from Start and Scale.

Initial Investment for Brand Building

Gretta covers brand building in the course, but it requires some upfront investment. Inventory typically accounts for the bulk of these costs. However, Gretta addresses this issue by demonstrating how to create a waitlist to prevent overstocking.

Good & Bad of Start and Scale Course

Pros

• Van Riel is an eCommerce expert with a successful track record. 

• Lifelong access to the course, including future updates 

• The Facebook group is extremely helpful. 

• There is a workbook for each module for implementation. 

• This course is easy to grasp, and anyone can learn it. 

• There is nothing like a theory, but only steps that can be taken. 

• Updates and additions are made constantly to the course. 

• Course materials are up-to-date. 

• You have templates you can use over and over again. 

• Quizzes are available to test your understanding of each module. 

• Every lesson ends with a task that can be done. 

• There is a great deal of content in this course. 

• 365 days money-back guarantee

Cons

• It’s a bit expensive, but they have a payment plan 

• Paid ads do not have sufficient training. 

• Need to join a waitlist normally

Start and Scale Course Pricing

With a price tag of $997, it's a great course on influencer marketing, presented by one of the best eCommerce experts in the industry. If you find it hard to afford, you might consider the payment plan which includes 3x monthly payments of US$397. 

It's always best to learn from the best, and Gretta van Riel has taken eCommerce to a new level. Usually marketers keep their best strategies close to the chest, but Gretta doesn't hold back when it comes to tips and tricks. 

From finding suppliers to retargeting via ads, Gretta tells you everything you need to know, and then it's up to you to implement it. 

As one of Gretta’s students, I am really convinced that the value of the course outweighs the price.

Is Start and Scale Course a Scam? Any Risk?

The Start and Scale program is not a scam. It is true that not every student of Start and Scale  has been successful in eCommerce. That's normal, though. You won't see every graduate of a world-class business school becoming rich. After all, building a successful brand requires hard work and ingenuity. 

Also, in most cases, people quit too soon. Although it isn't a given that you will become the next success story, you have a very good chance of doing so. Following the marketing framework of Gretta van Riel, many entrepreneurs have either relaunched their existing store or achieved amazing results from scratch. You can check out the success stories here. 

After that, you'll know that Gretta's marketing strategies can really help you launch a lucrative online business. In fact, you will face a much higher risk if you start an online business without knowing any proven  strategies or techniques on marketing.

Is There A Better Alternative to Start and Scale?

Some critics of Start & Scale may suggest you begin with dropshipping rather than building an eCommerce brand. You may then be recommended some dropshipping courses which are out of date. Dropshipping is an eCommerce method where the products are delivered to your customer without your storage or handling them. 

Rather than dealing with storage, shipping, and marketing, a third party delivers what you sell. However, dropshipping is generally not something I would recommend. Below are some of the reasons why I don’t think dropshipping is a better alternative to Start & Scale.

Reliance on Third-Party Suppliers

If you start your own brand, you might rely to some degree on your suppliers, but dropshippers are especially reliant on their suppliers. Customer complaints result in a retailer paying the price when a third-party supplier does not deliver an order as promised. Dropshipping also puts third parties in charge of areas such as product availability and quality control. As a retailer, you can’t inspect the merchandise before shipping it to customers or offer customer-value-added services like pre-installing software on a phone or engraving a custom message on jewellery

High Level of Competition

You're likely to face substantial competition because dropshipping is so easy for a retailer to use. Competitors can always sell the same products that you offer as long as you do not have an exclusive deal with a supplier. The downside of dropshipping is that retailers cannot offer unique products and services, making it hard to stand out from the crowd. This explains why Gretta stresses the importance of branding in the Start & Scale course and a lot of her students who have achieved success do not mind displaying their unique brands that cannot be easily replicated.

Tight Profit Margins

Dropshipping is the selling of generic products without brands. Customers can find them on eBay and Amazon, so they won’t pay a high price. You will usually have to increase sales volume to achieve the same profit margin as a traditional retailer. Having your own brand, on the other hand, will have a greater perceived value in the eyes of your customers. Although Gretta's Drop Bottle is not much different from other fruit infuser water bottles on Amazon, customers are willing to pay a higher price for it. Why? Because they love the brand.

Difficult Customer Support

If something goes wrong with an order, it is more difficult for retailers without inventory control to provide customer support. The retailer may have to work with the third-party seller if a customer has questions about a product, claims it is defective, or never received it. You may face a lot of credit card chargebacks as a result. It is not sustainable to do business this way. Dropshipping looks appealing, but those critics of Start & Scale never tell you that a dropshipping store is extremely short-lived. 

In short, as an entrepreneur myself, I would always prioritize sustainability before anything else since it's the only way I'm able to generate a stable income to support my family. Moreover, only by building a brand will I be able to share my success with others. No one likes to be shady in business.

Final Verdict

Instead of starting from scratch without any clue, the Start and Scale course offers you the opportunity to duplicate Gretta’s success by following her complete blueprint to build a 7-figure eCommerce brand. 

Your chance of success without a great mentor may be slim, but with a proven blueprint and guidance, you can be confident that success is only a matter of time. 

What you need to do is follow the training and work towards the goal. Therefore, for building an eCommerce brand, I highly recommend Start and Scale. It is by far the best eCommerce course that teaches you how to build a sustainable eCommerce brand. 

That said, you must realize that Start and Scale won’t make you rich overnight. It is not a get-rich-quick scheme. While other gurus claim you could copy and paste to become rich, Foundr asks you to put in hard work and be creative to build a successful brand. 

According to Gretta, she has worked very hard to build the brands that have made her a multi-millionaire today. Work as hard as Gretta suggests, and you'll succeed as well.

Where to Get Access To Start and Scale Course

The VIP access is only available here: You can get the course now instead of joining the waitlist and waiting for months. 

Feel free to try Gretta’s free masterclass first if you’re not so sure. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions and I will get back to you as soon as possible.