You want to make some extra cash using that brainy new AI tool, ChatGPT, right? Forget the complicated coding stuff—I’ve tested the waters, and these are the 6 easiest ways a complete beginner can actually start earning money right now.
ChatGPT doesn’t replace you, but it acts like a ridiculously fast intern who handles all the boring research and first drafts. You just need to bring the polish and the strategy.
Here are the 6 methods, from easy digital products to high-value services:
1. Create and Sell Quickie Courses (Digital Products)
People are busy, and they’re willing to pay for a tiny, focused course that solves one specific problem. You can use ChatGPT to generate the entire lesson plan, making it the fastest digital product to create.
- The Hustle: Design, build, and sell a short, specialized course. Think “Intro to Meal Prepping for Busy Parents” or “Quick-Start Guide to Google Sheets Formulas.”
- How ChatGPT Helps:
- Outline: Tell it exactly what you need. My prompt: “Create a detailed 5-module course outline on the topic of [my chosen skill]. Keep the language simple and friendly. Each module needs 3 lessons.”
- Drafting: Then, just feed it the lesson titles one by one and ask it to write the content.
- Where to Sell: Gumroad is great for simple text/PDF courses, or use a platform like Skillshare or Udemy if you want to add a few videos.
2. Become a “Prompt Engineer” (Freelance Service)
This is the newest gig in the freelance world. Most small businesses know they should use AI, but they can’t figure out how to ask the darn thing a question that gets a useful answer. That’s where you come in.
- The Hustle: Go to places like Upwork or Fiverr and offer to create custom “prompt bundles” or templates for business owners.
- How ChatGPT Helps: You literally sell your ability to talk to the AI.
- Example Service: I had a client in the beauty niche. I sold her a pack of 15 social media prompts designed specifically for her hair salon’s Instagram. I had ChatGPT act as a social media pro to help me refine the prompts for maximum engagement.
3. Generate Niche E-books and Guides (Digital Product)
Think of e-books as super-long blog posts you can charge for. The secret is going hyper-niche—don’t write about “Gardening,” write about “The Beginner’s Guide to Landscaping with Succulents in Zone 8.”
- The Hustle: Write short, information-packed guides (40-80 pages is plenty) and sell them on your own website or via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
- How ChatGPT Helps:
- Table of Contents: I always start by having it generate the full Table of Contents. Then, I prompt it to write detailed drafts for each chapter.
- Refining: Once I’ve compiled everything, I use it again to check for clarity or make sure the transitions between sections flow well.
- Where to Sell: Amazon KDP is the big one, but Etsy is great for selling PDF guides or little aesthetic manuals.
4. Create Scripts for Faceless YouTube Channels (Freelance Service)
I know so many people who want a YouTube or TikTok channel but hate writing. They’re willing to pay fast writers to handle the scripts. This is perfect because AI can write a solid draft in minutes.
- The Hustle: Target small-to-mid-sized YouTube channels (think finance, history, or tech reviews) and offer to write their scripts—voice-over text, visuals, and calls-to-action included.
- How ChatGPT Helps:
- Speed: My prompt: “Write a 5-minute, high-energy YouTube script on ‘The 5 Best Budget Travel Destinations in Europe.’ Include a natural spot for a 10-second sponsor read.”
- Titles/Tags: I then use it to brainstorm catchy, SEO-friendly titles and tag lists to maximize the video’s views.
- Where to Sell: Fiverr is an easy starting point, or try reaching out directly to channels via their business email.
5. Offer Bulk Product Description Writing (Freelance Service)
E-commerce is huge, but shop owners (especially on Shopify and Etsy) don’t have time to write unique, persuasive descriptions for 50 or 100 products. This is a repetitive, high-volume task that AI is built for.
- The Hustle: Sell a bulk description service—e.g., “50 unique descriptions for $X amount.”
- How ChatGPT Helps:
- Tone: You can give it the product’s basic features and ask it to generate three versions: one formal, one fun, and one that focuses on solving the customer’s problem.
- My Go-To Prompt: “Write an engaging 150-word product description for a handmade, ceramic coffee mug. Focus on the feeling of a cozy morning. Key features: 16oz capacity, dishwasher safe, matte blue glaze.”
6. Design Digital Planners and Templates (Digital Product)
If you have an eye for design (even just using a free tool like Canva), you can sell templates that people use daily: budget trackers, meal plans, habit trackers, or Notion templates.
- The Hustle: Use ChatGPT for the content and structure, then make it look pretty in Canva or Google Docs, and sell the finished template.
- How ChatGPT Helps:
- Content Lists: My prompt: “Generate a 52-week list of detailed prompts and goals for a ‘Personal Finance Journal’ geared toward a complete beginner.”
- Trackers: I use it to structure complex schedules, like a 30-day no-equipment workout plan with warm-ups and cool-downs for each day.
- Where to Sell: Etsy is the #1 place for selling digital planners and templates.
