Digital Product Side Hustles
77 episodes cover people who built income by selling something digital — templates, courses, ebooks, printables, or software. The appeal: create once, sell forever. The CPA who built a six-figure spreadsheet business on Etsy is just one example. These episodes are proof that passive income is real — it just takes real work upfront.
- Q&A: “Why do online courses cost so much—or so little?”
Why do online courses cost $50 or $3,000+? Learn how to price your course right. Side Hustle School Ep. 3328.
- First $1,000: Moving Course Content Seamlessly
Course migration specialist helped four creators move content to Kajabi without disrupting students. Side Hustle School Ep. 3278.
- Agricultural Teacher Earns $200,000 Selling Lesson Plans
How an agricultural teacher earns $200,000 selling lesson plans to educators nationwide. Side Hustle School Ep. 3238.
- Q&A: “What KPIs should I track for my software biz?”
Which KPIs actually matter for micro-SaaS? Cut through dashboard paralysis with the three metrics that drive real decisions. Side Hustle School Ep. 3191.
- First $1,000: Language Nerd Builds “Fake Language” Creation Kit
Linguistics grad builds invented language creation kit, hits $1,000 in five weeks selling on Gumroad. Side Hustle School Ep. 3166.
- Weekend Workshop: Template Biz Goes from Service to Scale
This new segment is all about helping you learn the key steps to a new side hustle in 2025, one step or concept per week. It includes activities,… Side Hustle...
- Coffee Lovers Brew Quick Fix Into $1 Million Hustle
Cold brew coffee side hustle built by General Mills employee and endurance athlete into $1M business. Side Hustle School Ep. 3147.
- Q&A: “Should I create a free course before launching a paid one?”
Free course before paid launch: when it builds trust vs. wastes time. Side Hustle School Ep. 3087.
- TBT: Missoula Videographer Redefines Remote Filming
Videographer ditches travel by mailing filming kits worldwide and directing online course shoots remotely from Missoula. Side Hustle School Ep. 3036.
- Q&A: “How do I create and sell a premium online course?”
How to structure and price a premium online course to stand out in a crowded market. Side Hustle School Ep. 3031.
- Q&A: “Could selling templates for AI tools be a business?”
Can you sell AI ChatGPT templates as a side hustle? Evaluating market demand and positioning strategies. Side Hustle School Ep. 3023.
- Q&A: “How can I edit course videos efficiently on a budget?”
How to edit online course videos on a budget with beginner-friendly tools. Strategies for sewing course creators. Side Hustle School Ep. 2981.
- Q&A: “Where should I host my online course?”
Where should a history professor host an online course—Udemy or independently? Platform pros and cons for niche topics. Side Hustle School Ep. 2974.
- Q&A: “What’s the best way to offer payment plans?”
Payment plan strategies for online course creators: balancing accessibility with default risks. Side Hustle School Ep. 2947.
- Woman on Food Stamps Earns $86,000 Teaching People to Bake Bread
How a woman earning $86,000 teaching sourdough baking went from food stamps to financial independence. Side Hustle School Ep. 2937.
- First $1,000: Micro-Courses for Fast Learning
Minneapolis teacher built micro-courses on children's stories to earn her first $1,000. Short, actionable online courses. Side Hustle School Ep. 2928.
- Q&A: “Why did you give away your ‘Doing Things’ course?”
Why give away an online course instead of selling it? Strategy behind free offerings and building audience trust. Side Hustle School Ep. 2920.
- Q&A: “How to start a successful membership site?”
How to set up a membership site with the right platform, pricing strategy, and member retention tactics. Side Hustle School Ep. 2835.
- Q&A: “Membership site vs. one-time product purchase—what’s best?”
Membership site vs. one-time product purchase—which model is more sustainable for your business and audience? Side Hustle School Ep. 2766.
- Q&A: “How to turn math tutorials into an online course?”
How to turn math tutorials into an online course. Learn platforms and strategies for launching educational content globally. Side Hustle School Ep. 2657.
- Q&A: “How can I sell my course on female solo travel?”
How to market an online course on female solo travel to a global audience. Essential strategies for standing out. Side Hustle School Ep. 2650.
- Q&A: “Should my online course be live or on demand?”
Live vs. on-demand online courses: which format works best for your teaching style and audience? Side Hustle School Ep. 2626.
- Q&A: “Should I make an ebook, online course, or something else?”
Ebook, online course, or something else? Learn which digital format matches your audience and strengths. Side Hustle School Ep. 2622.
- Failure Friday: The Surprising Impact of Pricing Tiers
Why an online course creator's pricing strategy cost them thousands in lost income. Side Hustle School Ep. 2554.
- Q&A: “An online course for teaching ‘Uncommon Skills…’”
How to create an online course teaching uncommon skills like unicycling and yo-yo tricks. Finding your niche audience. Side Hustle School Ep. 2527.
- Failure Friday: Financial Abundance Coach Charges Too Much
How a financial abundance coach's high pricing strategy backfired with early customers. Side Hustle School Ep. 2519.
- Q&A: “My membership site has a high churn rate…”
Fitness membership site losing customers? Learn retention strategies to reduce churn and stop burnout. Side Hustle School Ep. 2514.
- Q&A: “Will my online course cannibalize my freelancing biz?”
Can an online course alongside freelancing work, or will it cannibalize your primary income? Sarah from Boston seeks answers. Side Hustle School Ep. 2492.
- Q&A: “A course to help parents learn sign language…”
How to create an online ASL course for parents of infants. Niche market validation and promotion strategies. Side Hustle School Ep. 2460.
- TBT: SAAS Sales Audits Earn $5,000/Month Part-Time
Australian earns $5,000/month auditing sales processes on LinkedIn. Side Hustle School Ep. 2434.
- Q&A: “How to create ‘transformational’ online courses?”
How to build transformational online courses that stand out in competitive markets. What makes courses work today. Side Hustle School Ep. 2215.
- Q&A: “What’s the best way to sell a simple digital download?”
How to sell digital downloads: comparing Shopify, Gumroad, and simpler platforms for fitness plans and e-books. Side Hustle School Ep. 2188.
- Q&A: “Can I make and sell Notion templates?”
Make and sell Notion templates for $2800/month. How to build a template business on Notion's platform or your own site. Side Hustle School Ep. 2138.
- Failure Friday: “My anniversary sale was an epic fail…”
How a six-figure membership site founder lost momentum by neglecting what made it successful. Side Hustle School Ep. 2120.
- Travel Membership Program Earns $300,000/Year
How a travel writer built a $300,000/year membership teaching families to fly free with miles and points. Side Hustle School Ep. 1949.
- Intelligence Officer Cracks Code with 7-Figure Course
Former intelligence officer earns $31,000 teaching 2,500 women WordPress web development from her RV. Side Hustle School Ep. 1921.
- TBT: “Walking Dead” Sugar Cookies Provide Sustenance for Apocalypse
TV-themed sugar cookies earn social worker $4,000/weekend at conventions. Bombshell Baking Company update. Side Hustle School Ep. 1860.
- Accountant Trades Active Clients for Passive Course Sales
How Morgan de Klerk earns $6,000/month selling financial wellness courses to small business owners. Side Hustle School Ep. 1793.
- Q&A: Best platform to host an online course?
Which platform is best for hosting your online course? Comparing Thinkific, Teachable, Kajabi, and more. Side Hustle School Ep. 1775.
- Q&A: “I’d like to create a cohort-based course like B-School”
Cohort-based courses: advantages and disadvantages for creators earning $140,000+. Why some courses close between sessions. Side Hustle School Ep. 1736.
- Q&A: What separates a $30 course from a $1,000 course?
What separates a $30 online course from a $1,000 course? Pricing strategy, perceived value, and market positioning explained. Side Hustle School Ep. 1729.
- Lawyer Moonlights Music Production Tutorials
Lawyer earns $2,000/month teaching music production tutorials on YouTube. Shares wisdom on handling online trolls. Side Hustle School Ep. 1697.
- Q&A: How can I make a course delivered by text messages?
How to create a text message course like Idea to Income. Structure, technical setup, and what works. Side Hustle School Ep. 1687.
- Tumultuous Relationship Leads to Togetherness Blog
Couple builds relationship blog and coaching service after breaking up three times and learning to communicate better. Side Hustle School Ep. 1667.
- Q&A: “I want to sell a spreadsheet to track fitness goals…”
Sell a fitness tracking spreadsheet for $10-$20. Q&A on pricing strategy and marketing approach for Excel-based workout tools. Side Hustle School Ep. 1635.
- Intern Manages Businesses For Six-Figure Income
How an intern manages businesses for $8000/month and creates her own job title. Side Hustle School Ep. 1611.
- Q&A: Why do online courses cost so much … or so little?
Why online course pricing ranges from $20 to $2,000+—and how to set yours. Includes $140,000 earner insights. Side Hustle School Ep. 1598.
- Failure Friday: “I didn’t know what I didn’t know…”
Voiceover artist earned $500k with actor app, then failed at online courses. What went wrong and why. Side Hustle School Ep. 1581.
- Emergency Room PA Creates Medical Spanish Course
How an ER PA earns $55k/year with a medical Spanish course. Combines expertise in emergency medicine and fluent Spanish. Side Hustle School Ep. 1578.
- TBT: Multilingual Insurance Agent Creates Translation Course
Multilingual insurance agent earns $40,000/year with online translation course. Jennifer updates her side hustle story. Side Hustle School Ep. 1552.
- Q&A: Should I publish my course in more than one location?
Should you publish your online course on multiple platforms like Udemy and Coursera, or stick with one? Side Hustle School Ep. 1425.
- Q&A: How can I sell “printables” without paid ads?
Sell printables on Etsy without paid ads—Pinterest and Instagram strategies for holiday sales. Side Hustle School Ep. 1420.
- Q&A: Should I change my business name?
Should you rebrand your side hustle? A gardener earning $400/month from his online course weighs rebranding options. Side Hustle School Ep. 1418.
- Pharmacist Provides Formula For Aspiring Technicians
Pharmacist earns $2,000/month selling pharmacy tech certification courses online. Side Hustle School Ep. 1401.
- Q&A: Do I have to sell as a SAAS?
Pricing online services: Do you have to use the SAAS subscription model, or are there alternatives? Side Hustle School Ep. 1369.
- Q&A: How can I drive more traffic to my site instead of Udemy?
How to drive traffic to your own site instead of Udemy. Arnold's home improvement course earns $100k profit. Side Hustle School Ep. 1313.
- TBT: Bestselling Author Publishes Novels, Online Courses, and More
Bestselling author Jessica Brody earns $2,000/month from novels and online courses. She now runs Writing Mastery Academy. Side Hustle School Ep. 1272.
- WEEKLY RECAP: How to Design a Profitable Online Course
Weekly recap: online course design, hand-drawn greeting cards, and Kickstarter success — with profitable course strategies. Side Hustle School Ep. 988.
- Dance Teacher Launches Toe Tapping Online Course
Tap dance teacher launches online course after overcoming self-doubt. Proved it's never too late to build a new revenue stream. Side Hustle School Ep. 982.
- Blogger Earns $140,000 from Beta Phase of Online Course
How a blogger earns $140,000 from her online course beta on rental properties. Eight investment properties by age 34. Side Hustle School Ep. 961.
- WEEKLY RECAP: Earning Passive Income with Udemy and LinkedIn
Weekly recap: custom tea brand, social media agency, and six-figure reselling business—plus passive income insights. Side Hustle School Ep. 827.
- German DJ Turns Up Profits with Magic Marriage Mixes
How a German DJ earns $1,000/month creating custom wedding mixes after ditching a failed online course. Side Hustle School Ep. 642.
- Agricultural Teacher Earns $200,000 Selling Lesson Plans
Agricultural teacher earns $200,000 selling lesson plans to a niche market. Word-of-mouth drives sales in tight-knit community. Side Hustle School Ep. 592.
- Database Expert Helps Students Solve Real Problems
Database consultant Sylvia Moestl Vasilik created an online course and book to teach SQL Server skills. Side Hustle School Ep. 570.
- Retired Couple Sells Digital Art Prints Online
Retired couple sells digital art prints online, creating 100+ designs monthly from vintage maps. Side Hustle School Ep. 560.
- Coffee Lovers Brew Quick Fix Into $1 Million Hustle
How two GM employees turned cold brew into a $1 million side hustle while training for a 24-hour obstacle course. Bizzy Coffee. Side Hustle School Ep. 511.
- Adjunct Professor Puts Course on YouTube for $100k Profit
How an adjunct professor earns $100k profit selling cyber security courses on Udemy. 35,000 students in 16 months. Side Hustle School Ep. 462.
- College Student Hacks Into $40,000/Month Side Hustle
How a college student earns $40,000/month teaching ethical hacking with a $25 microphone. Over 80,000 paid students enrolled. Side Hustle School Ep. 373.
- Environmentalist Couple Sells Online Courses in Beekeeping
How an organic farmer couple earns $3,000/month selling beekeeping courses online from rural Maine. Side Hustle School Ep. 328.
- Published Author Adds Income Source; Makes Additional $21,000 Her First Year
Published author earns $21,000 teaching online writing courses to 3,700 students. Productivity course on Udemy. Side Hustle School Ep. 303.
- Rogue Financial Analyst Earns $34,000 from Golf Membership Site
Former financial analyst earns $34,000/year from golf membership site Breaking Eighty. Side Hustle School Ep. 263.
- Lawyer Creates Online Course for Mothers Returning to Work
DC lawyer creates online course for mothers returning to work, earning $2,000/month. Employers now pay for it. Side Hustle School Ep. 255.
- Woman on Food Stamps Earns $86,000 Teaching People to Bake Bread
How a woman on food stamps earned $86,000 teaching sourdough baking on Udemy. She created 10 courses without any certification. Side Hustle School Ep. 237.
- High-School French Teacher Earns $8,000 Writing & Selling Curriculum
How Erin earns $8,000/year selling French curriculum on Teachers Pay Teachers. 600+ digital products, royalty income. Side Hustle School Ep. 142.
- Famous iPhone Photo Leads to Series of Online Courses
How Cielo earns $500/month teaching smartphone video courses after a viral Photo365 project. Apple featured her photo. Side Hustle School Ep. 102.
- NYC Jazz Musician Builds $40,000/Year Blog
NYC jazz musician builds $40,000/year blog and e-course teaching other musicians. Earned $10k in the first launch month alone. Side Hustle School Ep. 69.
- PE Teacher Makes $11,000 with Membership Site
PE teacher earns $11,000 with membership site for teacher resources. Ben's annual membership model replaced low-price PDFs. Side Hustle School Ep. 59.