Online Business Manager Certification
Review

Master the skills to become a certified OBM and scale your business management career

Medium
  • Last updated 15/06/2025
by Sarah Noked

What you'll learn ? Overview

We spent considerable time investigating Sarah Noked's Online Business Manager Certification, and here's what we discovered. This 90-day program targets virtual assistants, freelancers, and corporate professionals ready to transition into strategic business management roles.

The certification goes beyond typical VA training (we checked the curriculum extensively). Students learn comprehensive business systems, project management methodologies, team leadership, and client acquisition strategies. Sarah Noked, an MBA graduate with over a decade in online business management, personally oversees the program through her OBM School platform.

What caught our attention? The course structure combines self-paced modules with live coaching elements. You'll work through foundational business systems, operations management, and automation strategies while building your own OBM business framework. The program includes templates, SOPs, and real-world case studies (we confirmed these are downloadable resources, not just video references).

Here's something important we noticed: the "Certified Online Business Manager" designation is Sarah's proprietary certification, not an industry-wide accreditation. While this is standard practice in specialized training, prospective students should understand what they're getting. The certification does carry weight within the OBM community, particularly among Sarah's network of over 20,000 students.

The time investment feels realistic at 5-10 hours weekly. You're looking at video lessons, practical exercises, live Q&A sessions, and community interaction. For context, this sits in the high-ticket category ($2,997), so we evaluated it against those expectations.

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Is this course for you?

👉

Prior experience needed

Intermediate (Some Foundational Knowledge Recommended)

👉

Time commitment

moderate Moderate (5–10 Hours/Week)

👉

Learning style

Hybrid (Mix Of Pre-Recorded Lessons & Live Workshops)

Best suited for:

Current VAs ready to level up their services, freelancers seeking higher-paying strategic roles, or professionals with project management experience transitioning to remote work. Not ideal for complete beginners with no online business exposure.

Instructor

Sarah Noked

Online Business Management Expert and OBM School Founder Legitimacy Score: 9/10
Sarah Noked is a leading authority in the Online Business Management (OBM) industry, with over a decade of experience. As the founder and CEO of Sarah Noked OBM and OBM School, she empowers entrepreneurs and service professionals to build thriving online businesses through effective systems, automation, and team management. Her expertise lies in streamlining operations, implementing strategic systems, and training aspiring OBMs to transition into successful careers.
Sarah's journey began as a Virtual Assistant, evolving into a Certified Online Business Manager. She has since established a multi-six-figure OBM agency and become one of the few Certified OBM trainers worldwide. Her career highlights include founding OBM School, an online training academy, and scaling her own agency to serve numerous high-profile clients. Sarah's MBA education and hands-on experience have positioned her as a sought-after mentor in the digital business landscape.
• Named by Yahoo as one of the world's top 10 Online Business Managers to watch
• Developed the OBM Accelerator program, training thousands of aspiring OBMs
• Built a successful boutique online business management agency
• Created OBM School, an acclaimed online training academy for OBMs
• Achieved Certified OBM® trainer status, one of few worldwide
• Guest on the Positive Productivity podcast with Kim Sutton
• Featured speaker on the 'How to Become (or Hire) an Online Business Manager' episode of Shannon Mattern's podcast
• Regular contributor to various online business and entrepreneurship forums
• Hosts live training sessions and webinars for OBM School students
Sarah Noked cultivates a robust digital footprint, regularly sharing insights on OBM strategies, business scaling techniques, and entrepreneurship across multiple platforms. Her content focuses on practical tips for implementing systems, automation, and effective team management in online businesses.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration90
  • 📶 DifficultyMedium
  • ⌛ Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentModerate (5–10 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

No formal requirements stated, but our analysis suggests prior VA experience or familiarity with online business tools significantly improves outcomes


💻 Requirements

Reliable computer, high-speed internet, basic tech literacy


💸 Hidden Costs

Project management software subscriptions (Asana, ClickUp), potential website/marketing expenses for your OBM business


🙋‍♂️ Support Options

Live Q&A calls with Sarah, private student community, template library, recorded session replays

Course content

  • Module 1: OBM Foundations (role definition, mindset shifts, service positioning, pricing strategies)
  • Module 2: Systems & Operations (business processes, automation tools, workflow optimization)
  • Module 3: Project Management Mastery (methodologies, tools like Asana/ClickUp, tracking systems)
  • Module 4: Team Leadership & Management (hiring, delegation, performance management)
  • Module 5: Client Acquisition & Management (proposals, contracts, communication protocols)
  • Module 6: Business Development (marketing your OBM services, package creation, scaling strategies)
  • Bonus Module: Launch Management (planning and executing digital product launches)

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

After analyzing feedback across multiple platforms, we found predominantly positive reactions from graduates. The OBM community generally respects the certification, though opinions split on whether the high price delivers proportional value. Most successful graduates already had some VA or freelance experience before enrolling.

Praised points

  • Comprehensive curriculum with immediate application - graduates consistently highlight the plug-and-play templates and systems
  • Direct access to Sarah Noked during live sessions - students value the personalized guidance from an established industry expert
  • Strong alumni network for referrals and support - the community aspect generates real business opportunities

Criticisms

  • Premium pricing compared to alternatives - at $2,997, it's significantly more expensive than similar OBM courses
  • ROI timeline varies dramatically - success depends heavily on prior experience and existing networks
  • Post-certification support is limited - ongoing mentorship requires additional investment

Testimonials

"OBM School helped me consolidate my skills and pitch to enterprise clients." - LeAngela A.

"Sarah's mentorship approach is incredibly practical, not just theory." - Eben B.

"The systems taught integrate seamlessly with most online businesses." - Anonymous Graduate

"Investment is steep but worth it if you're serious about OBM work." - Podcast Guest

"I landed my first $5k/month retainer within 8 weeks of graduating." - OBM School Alumni

Social insights

Reddit discussions reveal mixed perspectives. Several users confirm the certification helped them land higher-paying clients, while others question whether the premium price justifies the content. Quora threads are sparse but echo similar sentiments, the certification provides credibility but isn't a guaranteed path to six figures.

Video review

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

The promise to "become a certified OBM in 90 days or less" technically holds true, you can complete the curriculum in that timeframe. However, building a thriving OBM business takes longer. Sarah's claim of helping students land "dream clients" appears in several testimonials, though results vary widely based on individual effort and prior experience.

Price History

The course has maintained its $2,500-$3,000 price range since 2020, with occasional limited-time discounts. No evidence of dramatic price fluctuations or deceptive pricing tactics.

Upsell Practices

The OBM Accelerator serves as a natural upsell for advanced students. Marketing remains transparent about additional offerings without aggressive pushing during the main program.

Student Success

We verified several success stories, including LeAngela Aitken and Eben Bowden, who've built successful OBM practices. These aren't overnight transformations but rather gradual business growth over months post-certification.

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

OBM School uses a custom learning management system with stable performance and intuitive navigation. The platform organizes content logically with clear module progression.

Content Accessibility

Lifetime access includes all video lessons, downloadable resources, and future updates. Templates and SOPs can be saved locally for ongoing use.

Mobile Compatibility

The platform works on mobile devices, though complex templates are best accessed on desktop. Video content streams smoothly on tablets and phones.

Technical Requirements

Standard broadband internet, modern web browser, no specialized software needed for course access

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

We found minimal formal complaints, though some students expressed frustration about the course depth relative to price. A few mentioned feeling the content was "too basic" for a nearly $3,000 investment. No evidence of scam allegations or major controversies emerged during our research.

😬

Refund policy issues

Here's a concern: the refund policy isn't clearly displayed on the public-facing website. For a high-ticket program, this lack of transparency raises questions. Prospective students should explicitly ask about refund terms before purchasing.

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Marketing practices

The marketing stays professional without outrageous income claims. Sarah focuses on skills development and certification benefits rather than promising specific dollar amounts. We appreciated this restraint, though some might find the "90 days or less" timeline optimistic for complete beginners.

😬

Community feedback

The OBM community generally views Sarah Noked as a legitimate authority. No patterns of dissatisfaction or warning signs appeared in our research. The main recurring concern relates to cost-value alignment, not legitimacy.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At $2,997, this course demands serious consideration. We found the value equation works best for established VAs or freelancers who can quickly apply the skills to existing client relationships. Complete beginners might struggle to justify the investment without an existing foundation to build upon.

Conclusion

Sarah Noked's Online Business Manager Certification represents a legitimate, comprehensive training program from a recognized industry expert. Our investigation confirmed the course delivers substantial content, practical resources, and valuable certification within the OBM niche.

The program excels in its systematic approach to teaching OBM skills, from foundational concepts to advanced client management. We particularly appreciated the balance of self-paced learning and live interaction, plus the lifetime access to materials.

However, let's be clear about limitations. The $2,997 price tag places this firmly in high-ticket territory, yet the unclear refund policy creates unnecessary risk. The proprietary certification, while respected in Sarah's network, isn't an industry-standard credential.

For the right student, someone with existing VA experience, realistic expectations, and commitment to implementation, this course can catalyze significant career advancement. We've seen graduates successfully transition to $5,000+ monthly retainers.

But it's not a shortcut. Success requires dedication beyond the 90-day program. If you're looking for quick riches or lack any online business background, this isn't your solution.

Our verdict? A solid, legitimate program that delivers on its core promises, best suited for intermediate professionals ready to invest in strategic business management skills. Just ensure you're comfortable with the financial commitment before enrolling.

FAQs about this course

The certification prepares you to manage operations, systems, teams, and projects for online businesses. You'll handle strategic planning rather than just task execution, positioning yourself for higher-paying roles.

Based on our research, established VAs often land higher-paying clients within 2-3 months. Complete beginners typically need 4-6 months to build credibility and secure quality clients.

It's a proprietary certification from Sarah's company, not an independent accreditation. However, it carries weight within the OBM community and among online entrepreneurs familiar with her work.

You'll maintain access to the alumni community and course materials. However, continued mentorship requires joining additional programs like the OBM Accelerator.

The refund policy isn't publicly displayed, which concerns us. You must contact them directly to understand terms before purchasing, especially given the high price point.

The course itself requires 5-10 hours, but building your OBM business demands additional time for client outreach, proposal creation, and relationship building.

The course teaches using free versions of tools, but running an OBM business typically requires paid subscriptions to project management and communication platforms.

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Online Business Manager Certification screenshot
Online Business Manager Certification Review
$ 2 997
Total score: 7,8/10 ⭐
  • Duration90
  • DifficultyMedium
  • Release Date01/2020
  • Format Self-Paced or Enum.course_Format.cohort
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentModerate (5–10 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options Installments
  • LanguageEnglish
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Our Methodology

At IsThisCourseLegit, we're committed to providing objective and transparent evaluations. Our rating system is based on rigorous criteria evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs who have built and sold successful online businesses.

Our Rating System

Each course is rated on a scale of 1-10 across key categories including content quality, value for money, community support, results potential, and update maintenance. The overall score reflects our comprehensive assessment of the course's value and effectiveness.

Our Process

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Online Business Manager Certification Review