Starting your own online business can feel intimidating. Maybe you’ve thought: “I don’t have the time, I’m not tech-savvy, or I don’t know what to sell.” I know exactly how that feels – I started my online business as a single mom with only 5 hours a week to spare. Fast forward a few years, and I’ve earned over $217,000 with small digital products, all automated, while spending quality time with my daughter.
And the good news? You don’t need a big team, expensive software, or years of experience to start making money online. You just need the right approach and small, actionable steps. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to go from zero to your first $5,000, step by step.
Step 1: Create Your First Digital Product
The first step is to start small. Don’t try to launch a huge course or program right away – that’s a fast track to overwhelm. Instead, create a Tiny Offer – a small, simple, and valuable digital product that solves a specific problem for your audience.
What counts as a Tiny Offer?
-
An eBook that answers a common question
-
A mini course with a few short videos
-
A workbook, checklist, or templates that simplify a process for your customer
Price range: $4–$70.
The secret is to focus on quick wins. Your customer should feel rewarded immediately.
Examples in practice:
-
If you’re a mindfulness coach, create a workbook with daily 5-minute breathing exercises.
-
If you’re a mom coach, offer a mini course called “5 SOS Strategies for Stress-Free Family Mornings”.
Small products are not only faster to create (sometimes in 24 hours!), they also allow you to:
-
Collect feedback from your first buyers
-
Build trust with your audience
-
Test your ideas before investing in bigger programs
Tip: Use your own expertise and challenges as inspiration – chances are, your audience struggles with the same issues you’ve solved.
Step 2: Design and Sell Your Product
Once your product is ready, it’s time to make it look professional and start selling.
You don’t need a graphic designer – tools like Canva let you design eBooks, workbooks, templates, or video courses in a few hours. Focus on:
-
Clean layouts
-
Readable fonts
-
Eye-catching colors
Next, set up automated sales. Platforms like Digistore24 make it easy:
-
Upload your product
-
Set a price
-
Connect your payment system
You can even enable affiliate promotions, so others can sell your product for you.
Sales page tips:
-
Highlight the main benefits of your product
-
Include social proof (testimonials, reviews, or screenshots)
-
Add a bonus to increase perceived value
With these steps, your product can start generating income while you sleep, freeing you from trading time for money.
Step 3: Build an Email Funnel & Scale to $5K
Here’s where most beginners miss out: automation through an email funnel.
When someone buys your product, you can immediately deliver the download and start a follow-up sequence. This sequence can:
-
Give extra value
-
Share tips or tutorials
-
Introduce your next offer
Example funnel flow:
-
Mindfulness workbook → invite to a 7-day meditation challenge → upsell a full course
-
Mom mini course → guide into a coaching program for stress-free family routines
The beauty of this system is that it builds trust automatically and encourages repeat purchases without constant manual work.
Pro tip: Make your follow-up emails personal, helpful, and concise. People respond to value more than hard selling.
Step 4: Optional Extras to Boost Your Sales
Once your first product is live and your funnel is working, you can explore additional strategies:
-
Upsells & Bundles: Offer your mini course together with a workbook or template for a higher price.
-
Affiliate Marketing: Invite other creators or influencers to promote your product for a commission.
-
Content Marketing: Share free tips on social media or a blog to attract new leads.
-
Repurpose Content: Turn a mini course into a PDF, checklist, or email series – multiple products from one idea.
These strategies increase revenue without adding extra work, letting your business grow in the background.
Step 5: Mindset & Action
One of the biggest barriers to starting an online business is overthinking. Waiting for the “perfect time” or the “perfect product” can delay you indefinitely.
Remember: Action creates clarity. Start small, test your idea, gather feedback, improve, and scale. Each tiny step compounds into results – your first $5,000 is closer than you think.
Conclusion
Going from zero to $5,000 online is achievable with:
-
A small digital product solving one problem
-
Professional design and automated sales
-
A follow-up email funnel to nurture and upsell
I started part-time with minimal resources, and today my products generate full-time income – all automated.
If you want a complete step-by-step guide, check out my book The Mini-Course Method. It shows you how to build a 5- or 6-figure online business with products under $30, including the full funnel strategy I used to earn over $217,000.
Start small, take action, and watch your online business grow!
If you want a step-by-step guide to build a 5- or 6-figure online business with small products, check out my book The Mini-Course Method. It includes the full funnel strategy I used to reach over $217,000 with digital products – while working part-time as a single mom.
Start small, take action, and watch your online business grow!
