Hi @kathyweir – so sorry I didn’t get to this earlier!  Yes, I think using Facebook Private Groups is a great way to have a “forum” without using something like vBulletin or other forum software with a membership site.  

We had a monthly program that use PayPal and recurring payments (you need the pro version that is $19.99/month) and then had the forum part of our program as a Facebook Group.  The biggest problem is that there is a lot of manual labor in this model.  Once you get their payment then you need to give them the address to the Facebook Group (could be in the automatic e-mail they get when they pay) so they can ask to join the group.  But you will have to manually approve them and make sure they have paid (this can be a quick verification).  Then if they cancel their payments you have to remove them from the group.  

I also just released a program that was a one time fee that was larger but one of the bonuses was an ongoing Facebook Group.  So that model is a little uncertain since you may some day discontinue selling the product.  

Many people have these Facebook Groups with a product or as a monthly fee including Marie Forleo, Amy Porterfield and Mari Smith.  I like them better than other forums because the group is more noticeable since people are already hanging out on Facebook.  We had little participation in the Forum we had set up. 

Hope that helps!

Thanks  @kathyweir!  It was a hot run yesterday that’s for sure!  

The benefit of having a forum under a membership program such as Wishlist is that the admin part is a little more automated.  I think that’s why I like a “one-time” fee model we are using with the Facebook Group I have now so we don’t have to worry about removing members but then you do have to charge more up front.