Trading your time for money gets exhausting. The solution? Create digital assets in less time than you think to generate passive income. We offer some ideas to inspire and get you started.
If you have been in the freelancer game, the passive income concept will be nothing new. Yet, you may have put it off, not set aside the time to consider what you could offer.
Then life gets in the way. You tell yourself you don’t have the time to dedicate to the whole process. However, some freelancers have managed to create assets in 10 hours or less. So, imagine what you could achieve in a single weekend or a lull in the middle of the week? By the end of it, it could be online and soon selling over and over.
Here are a few ideas to get you thinking with actual examples.
Templates and resources: your skills, packaged for profit
Think about all the processes, templates, and frameworks you’ve developed over your freelance career. For yourself or your clients.
These gems for a disorganised or overworked client or newbie freelancer would be pure gold. And these assets could be sitting in your computer files, waiting to be monetised.
For example, an IT contractor could package their network documentation templates into a Network Audit Toolkit and now earn on average £1,940 monthly from a product they created once.
An AI Agent developer could create a library of prompt templates and workflow blueprints. Their AI Automation Starter Pack could bring in £2,500 monthly from fellow developers who’d rather buy proven templates than start from scratch.
The beauty of these assets is their scalability. Whether you’re an accountant with brilliant spreadsheet templates, a photographer with editing presets, or a strategist with planning frameworks, your expertise can be packaged once and sold infinitely.
Real-world examples:
- Accountants/Bookkeepers: Financial planning templates, invoice systems, tax preparation checklists
- Writers/Journalists: Article templates, pitch frameworks, editorial calendars
- Video editors: Colour grading presets, motion graphics templates, editing workflows
- Marketing pros: Campaign templates, social media calendars, email sequences
- Online courses: Turn Your Know-How Into a Knowledge Business
Here’s where things get interesting. Freelance web designers and developers charge £50 per hour, and an expert can earn up to £150 per hour, but those same experts can package their knowledge into courses and generate income far beyond hourly rates.
A video editor could, for example, easily build a course called “Wedding Video Editing Masterclass” that answers for fellow wedding videographers all those questions clients keep asking: “Can I see your previous work/portfolio? Full-length films, not just highlight reels.”
They could start one weekend and, over three weekends, generate the content and earn up to £4,200 monthly from course sales. That’s more than some editing contracts.
A course like this may also be useful for existing videographers who want to break into weddings, baby showers, special milestones, etc. However, the finished product could also act as a training video for videographers who want to expand their business and hire more talent to cover more events.
The secret isn’t creating massive courses that take months to develop. Niche-specific courses that solve particular problems can perform brilliantly. Think about the questions your clients ask repeatedly – that’s your course content right there. Or if you are creating something for fellow freelancers in your line of business, you can pre-empt their pain points.
Inspiration for course ideas by role:
- IT Contractors: Cybersecurity Audits for Small Businesses
- AI Developers: Building Custom ChatGPT Solutions
- Networkers: LinkedIn Lead Generation Strategies
- Sales Pros: Cold Email Sequences That Convert
- Strategists: 90-Day Business Growth Planning
- Photographers: Mobile Photography for Content Creators
You should focus on practical outcomes. People don’t buy courses to learn theory they buy them to achieve specific results.
Automated Service Packages: Systems that sell themselves
This is where many freelancers strike gold. Instead of selling your time, you’re selling systemised solutions that deliver consistent results with minimal hands-on involvement.
A marketing strategist created an SEO Audit in a Box service. Clients pay £497, upload their website details and receive a comprehensive audit generated through their combination of tools and templates. They complete each audit in 45 minutes, but clients perceive it as a £2,000 service.
A networker developed a LinkedIn Optimisation Package that includes profile audits, connection strategies, and content calendars. They deliver everything through automated tools and pre-written templates, serving 20 clients monthly with just 10 hours of work.
Automated package examples:
- IT Contractors: Security assessment packages, system health checks
- AI Developers: Chatbot setup and training services
- Accountants: Monthly bookkeeping packages with automated reporting
- Writers: Content audits, SEO content packages
- Sales Pros: Lead generation services, sales funnel audits
- Photographers: Brand photography packages with standardised deliverables
Making it work: your reality check
Overnight successes are rare. Digital products such as downloads, webinars, e-books and e-newsletters require upfront investment in time and effort.
Start with one approach that matches your existing skills or your know-how. It may not even be related to your career, but a life hack you have mastered. If you’re naturally good at teaching, try courses. If you’re process-oriented, focus on templates. If you love systems, build automated packages. If you love talking to people and inspiring them, hold talks or webinars.
The most successful freelancers treat this concept of earning money as a long-term business strategy. They document their processes, identify common client or everyday people’s pain points, and gradually build a portfolio of digital assets.
One brilliant template that solves a real problem will outperform ten mediocre ones. Your reputation as a freelancer gives you credibility that newcomers lack – use it wisely.
Still not sure where or how to start?
Pick one skill you’re already excellent at and ask yourself: “What questions do my clients ask repeatedly?” or “What processes do I use that others would pay for?” “What could I talk about with confidence?” That’s your starting point.
These digital assets don’t just provide recurring income. They position you as an expert, attract higher-quality clients and in time could give you financial stability beyond traditional client work.
Now, pick a weekend or a couple of quiet days next week to get started.
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👀Look out for our upcoming article on how to promote and price your digital assets
