By admin 
Our mission at DollarSprout is to help readers improve their financial lives, and we regularly partner with companies that share that same vision. If a purchase or signup is made through one of our Partners’ links, we may receive compensation for the referral. Learn more here.
$10,000 a month. For some, it sounds like a fantasy. For others, it’s a benchmark — the point where bills are covered, savings grow, and work starts to feel optional.
But is it actually realistic, especially if you don’t have a high-paying job, a huge following, or money to burn?
Yes — and I’ve done it multiple ways: as a nurse, as a blogger, even flipping Pokémon cards on eBay. I’ve also built income streams from home using print-on-demand and digital products. And I’m not alone. Thousands of people now earn $10K/month through freelancing, reselling, digital goods, and content creation — often without a degree and without going viral.
Whether you’re starting with time, talent, or a bit of capital, $10K/month isn’t magic — it’s math. And with the right mix of strategy and consistency, it’s a number you can reverse-engineer.
In this guide, I break down 15 proven ways people are earning $10K a month — including what’s working, what’s scalable, and how to get started.
What $10K a Month Really Looks Like
$10,000 a month might sound like “rich” money — and in some cities, it is. But in others, it’s just enough to rent a two-bedroom, cover insurance, and maybe tuck a little into savings.
That’s not pocket change — but it’s not millionaire status either. And if you’re self-employed, a chunk goes to taxes, tools, and reinvestment.
Still, hitting $10K/month can reshape how you work — and why. You can walk away from toxic jobs, grow a financial cushion, or invest in income streams that scale (like blogging, digital products, or even AI-assisted services).
Best of all, it doesn’t have to come from one place:
- 10 clients at $1,000 each
- 100 sales of a $100 product
- 1,000 sales of a $10 download
Or by stacking income streams: $4K from a blog, $3K freelancing, $3K from a digital product. Most people don’t hit five figures with one golden goose — they build a system that compounds.
15 Proven Ways to Make $10K a Month
Reaching $10K a month takes focus, not luck. Some of these methods grow quickly, others take time, but all of them are proven and repeatable. You don’t need to master them all — just find the one that fits.
1. Start a money-making blog
When Jeff and I started DollarSprout, we were both working full-time — I was a nurse, and he was a financial analyst. We didn’t have media experience or marketing degrees. Just a cheap HostGator plan, a WordPress theme, and a hunch that a blog might lead somewhere.
For the first year, it barely did. Some months we made under a dollar. But we kept publishing, learned SEO from scratch, and experimented with affiliate programs. First came a trickle of Pinterest traffic. Then Google started sending readers. Eventually, it compounded.
Around month 18, we hit our first $10K month — not from going viral, but from a few dozen well-optimized articles doing quiet work in the background. A few months later, we made over $60K. And by the end of that year, we had our first six-figure months — all from building a blog that monetized through helpful content.
Blogging doesn’t start out passive — but over time, it can become semi-passive if you monetize with the right mix: affiliate links, digital products, services, and display ads.
Today, DollarSprout earns tens of thousands from content we published years ago. It’s still one of the most accessible ways to make $10K/month — especially if you’re consistent, patient, and focused on solving real problems for readers.
Related:
2. Create & sell digital products
Digital products — like printables, templates, or checklists — are low-ticket, self-serve items that can sell again and again with minimal upkeep. There’s no inventory to manage, no shipping to handle, and no storefront to rent. Once you create the product, it can generate income on autopilot.
You don’t need design experience to make it work. Julie Berninger and Cody Berman, co-founders of the E-Printables course, started with no Etsy background — and still saw results fast. Cody made $800 in one week from Valentine’s Day printables. Julie grew her shop to consistent $1,000+ months while on career break.
Their strategy emphasizes “profit-first” creation: finding demand before designing anything, niching down intentionally, and optimizing for conversions — not aesthetics.
One of their students, Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, turned her therapy note templates into a $10K+ Etsy shop. Her secret? Solving a real problem she’d once faced herself. No fancy branding — just a useful product, clear listings, and smart promotion in Facebook groups where her audience already hung out.
Digital products aren’t 100% passive. You’ll need to research your niche, create something helpful, and support your buyers. But once the system is in place — often within 6–12 months — this can become one of the most scalable, low-maintenance paths to $10K/month.
3. Start a Print-on-Demand shop
Print-on-demand (POD) is a hands-off way to sell physical products — without ever packing a box or storing inventory. You design the item (like a mug, tote, or t-shirt), list it for sale on Etsy or another marketplace, and a fulfillment partner takes care of printing and shipping.
My wife, her sister, their cousin, and I recently launched a family-run shop using this exact model. We’re layering in embroidery and digital products too — but POD is by far the most passive (and likely the most scalable) path to $10K/month in revenue. We never touch inventory, handle shipping, or rent storage space.
Emily Odio-Sutton used this same strategy to build a $560K Etsy business, earning well over $10K/month from multiple POD shops. She started with no ecommerce experience and hit six figures in sales within 10 months. Her bestsellers? Giftable products with emotional appeal — mugs, candles, and ornaments that sell year-round.
If you want to fast-track your setup, Emily teaches her full system in The Gift Lab — a hands-on course with ready-made templates, keyword research tips, and a “micro-niching” framework to help your products stand out in search.
4. Grow a profitable YouTube channel
You don’t need millions of subscribers to earn real income on YouTube. Our own channel brought in over $10,000 total — and it still generates ~$300/month in passive income, even with minimal uploads. It’s proof that content can keep paying long after you hit “publish.”
What makes YouTube powerful is how easily income streams stack. Ad revenue, affiliate links, product sales, sponsorships, and digital downloads can all work together — turning each video into a mini income engine.
Take Gabby Wallace. She grew her English-teaching channel into a $40K/month business by layering courses, coaching, and brand deals onto helpful evergreen content. Today, she has 2.28 million subscribers — but she started with zero, just like everyone else.
If you’re wondering what to film, here are proven niches where creators regularly earn five or six figures:
- Personal finance: Creators like Nate O’Brien and Rose Han monetize with affiliate links, digital products, and sponsorships.
- Education: Think language learning, test prep, or how-to tutorials.
- Relaxation/ASMR: Channels with calming visuals or voiceovers rack up massive passive views.
- Tech reviews: A goldmine for affiliate income.
- Gaming and livestreaming: Still one of the most profitable formats, especially with loyal fans.
- Lifestyle and routines: Cleaning, budgeting, and “day in the life” content perform well with brands.
Most creators who make $10K/month on YouTube don’t rely on viral hits — they follow a system. With 12–18 months of consistent uploads and the right monetization mix, that five-figure mark becomes very real.
5. Make money with affiliate marketing
If you’ve ever clicked a product link in a blog post, YouTube video, or TikTok and then bought something — congrats, you’ve seen affiliate marketing in action.
It’s also how we turned our blog into a full-time business. By publishing helpful content and adding affiliate links to tools, services, and apps we personally used, we eventually built a multi-seven-figure operation — with some months exceeding $100,000 in revenue, much of it from affiliate commissions.
The systems ran 24/7: an article we wrote once could keep earning for years, especially when it ranked on Google or got shared on Pinterest. Today, that same model works across formats — whether you’re writing blog posts, posting short-form videos, or reviewing products on YouTube.
Short-form creators, in particular, are *crushing* it. Scroll Reels or TikTok and you’ll find everyday people demoing Amazon finds, kitchen gadgets, or viral beauty products — often earning thousands per month just from link clicks.
If you’re starting from scratch, we recommend Michelle Schroeder-Gardner’s course, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. It helped us in the early days when traffic was low and we didn’t know how to choose programs or track conversions. Her strategies still hold up — especially if you’re pairing a blog with email or social.
Affiliate marketing isn’t instant, but it scales beautifully. Once your content or channel gains traction, $10K/month becomes a very real milestone — especially when paired with SEO or viral-ready formats.
6. Turn your expertise into a paid online course
Online courses turn your knowledge into a product — one people can buy while you sleep. Instead of trading time for money, you package your process, strategy, or solution once and sell it over and over.
For many creators, it’s the first income stream that truly scales — and the one that finally pushes them past the $10K/month mark.
I interviewed two course creators doing exactly that: Maggie Waters, a full-time med student, and Michael, a former Google engineer. They didn’t launch with giant email lists or huge followings. They just identified real pain points — like med school rejections or tech interview anxiety — and built courses to guide others through the process.
“Every thank-you note from a student who made it reminds me that this is about more than just income,” Maggie told me. “It’s about impact.”
Her course brought in $190,000 last year — that’s over $15K/month, mostly from evergreen webinars and course sales, all while she was still in school.
If you’ve overcome something difficult — and figured out a better way forward — chances are, others would pay to learn from your experience.
Platforms like Teachable, Thrivecart, and Kajabi make it easy to build and sell without coding. Most successful creators start small: a free PDF, a workshop, or an email list to validate demand before scaling up.
Proven course niches include:
- Pre-med or nursing school admissions
- Tech interview prep (e.g., data structures, FAANG mock interviews)
- Travel hacking, resume writing, or photography
- Budgeting and money mindset coaching
Courses also pair naturally with blogs, YouTube, and email — helping many creators stack their way to $10K/month and beyond.
7. Launch a paid membership community
Memberships work when the content feels worth paying for — whether it’s insider info, exclusive templates, or access to a like-minded community.
One of the best I’ve joined? A private Discord group that tracks Pokémon card restocks. Members get real-time alerts when new inventory drops at Target, Walmart, or GameStop — which gives collectors a head start before shelves get cleared out. It’s hyper-niche, but incredibly useful. And that’s exactly why people pay.
Great memberships deliver focused value, over and over again — and that recurring model adds up fast:
- 200 members at $50/month = $10,000/month
- 500 members at $20/month = $10,000/month
- 1,000 members at $10/month = $10,000/month
You don’t need a massive following — just an irresistible offer for a specific group of people. Some common formats that work well:
- Paid creator communities: Private Discord or Slack groups for feedback, networking, or behind-the-scenes convos
- Template or resource libraries: Monthly drops of Notion dashboards, Canva kits, or swipe files
- Coaching or accountability: Weekly live calls, member Q&As, or themed challenges
- Content hubs: Premium podcast episodes, serialized video content, or deep-dive tutorials
Most creators start small — testing with a beta group, refining based on feedback, and focusing on retention over reach. And if you already have a blog, YouTube channel, or email list? A paid membership can be the most natural way to monetize your audience.
8. Offer freelance services (writing, design, bookkeeping, and more)
Freelancing was the launchpad for my move away from a 9–5. I was still working as a nurse, cutting my hours — and each $300 article or $1,000 contract helped bridge the gap. Later, I started offering SEO services and landed retainer clients who paid thousands per month, thanks to the results we’d gotten with this site.
You don’t need a huge following or a product to sell. Just a skill that solves a real problem — and a way to offer it to the right people. For some, that’s writing blog content or email sequences. Others focus on web design, branding, social media, or technical SEO. Many freelancers combine a few services into high-value retainers that scale.
Freelance writer Holly Johnson followed this path. She started with small gigs on Upwork and guest posts on finance blogs. Her first milestone was $3,000/month — enough to quit her job. Today, she earns over $200,000/year through freelance writing alone.
Specialized skills like bookkeeping are also in high demand — especially from solopreneurs and small businesses. If you’re organized and good with numbers, this can be a highly profitable path. Some bookkeepers earn $3K to $5K/month with just a few steady clients.
If you want structured training, Bookkeeper Launch is one of the top-rated programs for beginners. It teaches you how to land clients, stay compliant, and build a flexible bookkeeping business — even if you’ve never done it before.
Compared to other online paths, freelancing can ramp up fast. With just a few recurring clients at $2,000–$3,000/month, $10K/month becomes a very real milestone — even without a big platform or viral content.
Related:
9. Become a virtual assistant (VA)
Virtual assistants (VAs) support entrepreneurs and small businesses with everything from inbox management and scheduling to customer support, content formatting, and podcast production. If you have admin or marketing experience — or are just highly organized — it’s one of the fastest ways to start earning money online.
Jenny Weg built her business to earn close to $2K/month while raising a newborn and working full time — all without fancy software or certifications.
With a few steady clients paying $2K–$3K/month, hitting $10K becomes a clear and realistic goal. Some VAs stay solo. Others, like Nicole Magelssen, scaled up into a 35-person agency that now brings in over seven figures per year.
Higher-paying specialties like project management, podcast support, or email marketing often command $40–$75/hour. But many generalist VAs start around $25–$35/hour and grow quickly through referrals and results.
It’s a trajectory we’ve seen often. Betsy Skinner, for instance, started at $1,295 and surpassed $3,000/month within a year by shifting into higher-paying specialties and booking just a few steady clients.
With the right mix of services and client systems, becoming a $10K/month VA is absolutely within reach — especially if you specialize, niche down, or build a small team.
10. Flip items for profit
Flipping is one of the few side hustles with low startup costs and high upside — especially if you have an eye for deals. And it’s not just thrift stores and flea markets.
During the pandemic, I started flipping Pokémon cards and quickly realized how scalable it could be. One month, I made over $30,000 in sales — with my biggest single flip netting a $6,000 profit on a graded card. What started as nostalgia turned into a system: tracking market data, spotting undervalued inventory, and reselling on eBay and Mercari.
But you don’t need to be into collectibles to make flipping work.
Rob and Melissa Stephenson — the duo behind Flea Market Flipper — turned their weekend treasure hunts into a six-figure business. One of their most profitable finds? A $6,000 security tower they sold for $25,000.
“I like the interesting and weird ones,” Rob told us, “but I’ll sell almost anything that turns a profit. I have to make at least $100 on an item to make it worth my time.”
Whether you’re reselling cookware, collectibles, medical devices, or gym equipment, the key is the same: start small, learn fast, and scale what works.
11. Sell stock content (photos, music, videos, and more)
Most people think of selling stock content as something only pros with fancy gear do. But for Evan Oxhorn — a lawyer by day and musician by night — it started with a few forgotten tracks on his hard drive.
He turned those into a $10,000+ side hustle by licensing music through sites like Pond5. Some of his songs even landed on reality shows like 90 Day Fiancé and Real Housewives of the Potomac. No social following, no public brand — just a home studio, some music production skills, and a strategy focused on volume.
Evan told us the best part was not having to promote the music himself. Once he uploaded a song to a library, they handled discovery, licensing, and payments. His focus was on finishing more tracks, not chasing algorithms. He also learned early on that waiting for “perfect” was a trap — the more music he finished, the more he earned.
And this isn’t just about music. Stock content can include photos, drone footage, illustrations, and video clips. Visual artists like Laura El have earned $5K+/month licensing artwork to publishers, brands, and product manufacturers — all from pieces they originally created for fun or for print sales.
Each asset becomes a mini income stream — and with the right catalog, those royalties can compound for years.
12. Offer email copywriting (or other high-converting content services)
While social media grabs attention, email is where many online businesses actually make their money. And good email copywriters — the kind who write subject lines that get opened and sequences that convert — are in high demand.
You don’t need a huge portfolio to start. Many freelancers break in by offering welcome sequences, product launch emails, or abandoned cart flows for small brands. Nail a few of those, and suddenly you’re the go-to person — especially if your writing drives revenue.
We’ve seen this skill scale surprisingly well. Some writers combine it with landing pages, funnel audits, or blog content to create $3K–$5K/month retainers per client. Others stay focused and charge premium rates for a single, high-converting sequence.
AI tools like ChatGPT make it easier to outline or draft ideas — and learning how to make $10K with AI-enhanced copywriting is more accessible than ever. But standout email writers still win on strategy, voice, and outcomes.
13. Launch a private-label product with Amazon FBA
Selling physical products with Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) lets you tap into the world’s biggest online marketplace — without having to ship, store, or fulfill orders yourself. You focus on product selection, branding, and supplier relationships. Amazon handles the logistics.
Shaff Qureshi built a $1 million Amazon FBA business while still in law school. He started small — launching a basic line of office supplies — and used early customer feedback to improve his listings and product quality. His first year brought in $350,000 in revenue, and he kept scaling from there.
He didn’t win with a flashy product or deep pockets. The key was solving one problem well, improving on what was already selling, and treating it like a real business.
Getting started with FBA takes work. You’ll need to research product trends, source inventory, and learn how to stand out. But if you’re committed — and open to testing and iteration — making $10K/month on Amazon FBA is a realistic milestone, not just a pipe dream.
14. Invest in dividend-paying stocks and ETFs
I interned at Dominion Energy in college — a utility company known for consistent dividend payouts. I didn’t stay in engineering, but I did end up buying Dominion stock. To this day, it pays a 4.8% dividend yield — quietly adding passive income to my portfolio each quarter.
That’s the power of dividend investing: it’s slow, steady, and doesn’t require constant attention. Many long-term investors focus on dividend aristocrats — blue-chip companies like Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble that have raised their dividends for 25+ years straight.
Don’t want to pick individual stocks? ETFs like SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity) and VYM (Vanguard High Dividend Yield) bundle dozens of dividend payers into a single fund, offering built-in diversification and reliable payouts.
Platforms like Robinhood or Acorns make getting started easy — even if you’re new to investing. Acorns, for instance, rounds up your spare change and invests it into diversified portfolios (including dividend-paying ETFs), so you can grow your income in the background.
Dividend investing probably won’t make you rich overnight — but over time, it can quietly grow into hundreds or even thousands per month in passive income.
15. Invest in real estate — without being a landlord
Real estate has long been one of the most proven ways to build wealth. But buying property, fixing things yourself, and managing tenants isn’t everyone’s idea of passive income.
Fortunately, you don’t need to be a landlord to get started. Real estate crowdfunding platforms like Fundrise let you invest in things like apartment buildings and commercial real estate with as little as $10. Instead of buying a whole property, you pool money with other investors — and the platform handles the rest.
We’ve reviewed Fundrise ourselves and found it beginner-friendly and easy to use, though its fees (typically 1%–2%) are something to factor in.
Other strategies like REITs (real estate investment trusts) let you buy shares of income-producing properties through your brokerage account — no tenants or plumbing calls required. If you’re more hands-on, house hacking (renting out part of your home) can also offset your mortgage and build equity faster.
Whether you want something totally passive or you’re open to a little DIY, real estate can absolutely be part of a $10K/month income plan — especially if you let your money grow over time.
Other Ways to Make $10,000 per Month
These didn’t make our core list — but they’re still viable, especially when paired with other income streams.
- User Testing & Research Studies – Sites like Respondent can pay $50–$300 per session for your opinions. Dr. Annie Cole, a DollarSprout reader we interviewed, stacks $100–$300/month doing studies on Respondent alongside book sales and financial coaching.
- Car Sharing & Vehicle Ads – Platforms like Turo, Getaround, or Wrapify let you turn your vehicle into a passive income source by renting it out or wrapping it in advertising. You’ll earn more if your vehicle is in a high-demand location and kept in top condition.
- Pet Influencer Monetization – If your pet has personality (and a camera-ready face), brands will pay for exposure. Mr. Zeke, a small pup with a big personality, brings in around $500/month through affiliate deals, UGC campaigns, and sponsored content.
- Rental Businesses – From bounce houses to fog machines, peer-to-peer platforms make it easy to rent out party gear, tools, and other equipment. Karin Capellan turned folding chairs and balloon arches into a $10K/month side hustle by renting to local events and growing her Google reviews.
- Vending Machine Business – Once stocked and placed, vending machines can bring in hundreds per machine monthly with minimal oversight. Zach Downey scaled his side hustle into a $500K/year vending business by focusing on niche products and high-traffic areas.
Jobs That Can Pay $10K a Month
Not everyone wants to start a business. Some people just want a reliable, high-paying job — and $10K/month is absolutely possible, even without a four-year degree.
That said, most of these roles require specialization. Whether it’s trade school, certification, or hands-on training, they’re generally more accessible (and faster to complete) than a traditional college route.
Here are some career paths where $10K/month is realistic — either through base salary, overtime, or career progression:
- 🛠️ Electrician – Commercial electricians can earn six figures with union rates and overtime. Journeyman training takes 4–5 years, but many earn $60K+ while learning.
- ⚡ Lineworker / Power Utility Tech – Working on power lines is dangerous but pays well. Many make $80K–$150K depending on location and overtime.
- 🧲 Radiologic or MRI Technologist – Imaging roles often pay $70K–$100K+. Most programs are 18–24 months and lead to ARRT certification.
- 💼 Tech Sales (SaaS, Enterprise Roles) – Strong reps can earn $120K–$200K+ with commission. Bootcamps like CourseCareers train new reps in under 6 months.
- 💻 Web Developer / Software Engineer – Bootcamps (12–24 weeks) can open doors to $70K–$120K+ roles. Portfolio work matters more than degrees.
- 🏥 Registered Nurse – With the right shifts and specialties, RNs can make $100K+ per year. Many start with a two-year ADN and a passing NCLEX score.
These aren’t overnight wins — but if you’re looking for jobs that make $10K/month without a degree, these paths offer real earning power with less traditional schooling.
How People Actually Reach $10K/Month
Most people don’t hit $10,000/month with one idea. They build it gradually — one stream at a time.
That might mean combining a high-skill service with a scalable side hustle. Or starting with a small win (like flipping or affiliate commissions) and layering in others over time.
That’s the power of income stacking: no single stream has to carry all the weight. Once you’ve earned your first $1,000/month, stacking from there gets a lot easier.
🤔 Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve covered a lot of ground in this guide — but if you still have questions about how realistic it is to earn $10K a month (and what it actually takes), here are answers to the most common ones we hear.
Final Thoughts: Finding Your Path to $10K/Month
There’s no perfect formula for making $10,000 a month — it comes down to knowing yourself and playing to your strengths. Are you time-rich or cash-rich? Comfortable with tech or just getting started? Willing to take risks or prefer slow, steady growth? The best path is the one you’ll actually stick with.
Some people get there through a single high-ticket service. Others stack smaller streams — a few clients here, some affiliate commissions there, maybe a digital product or two. Either way, the goal is achievable. Not easy. Not instant. But absolutely possible.
You’re closer than you think — one sale, one post, or one offer away from serious momentum.
Related: