5 High-Ticket Side Hustles That Can Net You $100k a Year

Side hustles that pay big money are changing our perspective on extra income. People everywhere are building better financial futures without leaving their regular jobs.

The numbers tell an amazing story. Brett Lindenberg pulls in over $100,000 yearly from his side business while keeping his full-time job. This isn’t rare – every side business idea we’ll look at brings in at least $100,000 per year. The earning potential might surprise you. Top podcasters rake in up to $2 million, and business brokers earn commissions of 10-12%. A few good deals can easily bring them $100,000.

The digital age has sparked this six-figure side hustle revolution. The online course market hit $107 billion in 2019, and creators earn between $3,000 and $120,000+ on their first launch. Social media platforms create amazing opportunities too. Instagram drives engagement 57 times higher than Facebook and 120 times higher than Twitter.

This Make1m.com piece will show you 5 side jobs that can realistically earn you $100k or more yearly. These aren’t quick money schemes – they’re solid business opportunities that need your commitment but pay off exceptionally well.

Dropshipping

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Dropshipping stands out as one of the most available ways to start a business, especially if you want a solid side income without leaving your day job. My research shows this business model really shines because it removes typical retail headaches while letting you earn impressive income.

What is Dropshipping

The way dropshipping works is pretty straightforward – I sell products online without keeping any inventory. My customer places an order on my store, and I pass that order to a supplier who ships directly to them. My role is to be the middleman—the seller of record. I handle marketing, customer service, and pricing, while my supplier takes care of all the physical product stuff.

The standard dropshipping process follows these steps:

1. I partner with a dropshipping supplier
2. I set up an online store
3. I receive a customer order
4. I forward the order details to my supplier
5. The supplier prepares and ships the product
6. My customer receives their purchase

High-ticket dropshipping focuses on premium products with higher price points. Instead of selling items between $10-$100, we target products at $200 or more—sometimes going up to several thousand dollars. To name just one example, rather than dropshipping phone cases with $2 margins, you might sell treadmills, 3D printers, or luxury furniture where each sale brings in much more profit.

Why Dropshipping works as a high-ticket side hustle

High-ticket dropshipping is a chance to build six-figure side income, and with good reason too. The math works in your favor. Let’s look at this example: selling a 3D printer for $625 that costs $428 from your supplier gives you a gross margin of $197 per sale. You’d need to sell around 99 products with $2 margins to match that profit.

The numbers get even better at scale. Regular dropshippers make about $100,000 per year on average. High-ticket dropshippers usually enjoy margins three times higher—potentially earning around $300,000 annually. The global dropshipping market should hit $1.6 trillion by 2033, growing at 24.7% yearly.

High-ticket dropshipping comes with several perks:

• Lower competition: High-ticket dropshipping needs more capital to fulfill orders (funding the supplier payment until the customer pays you), so fewer people jump in
• Higher customer quality: People buying expensive items do more research before buying, which means fewer returns and support issues
• Greater scalability: You need fewer sales to hit big revenue numbers, making it easier to grow
• Better branding opportunity: Premium products help establish your store’s high-end reputation

The model has its challenges. Customer acquisition costs more, sales take longer, and expensive returns can hurt. But these hurdles seem worth it when you look at the higher profit per sale.

How to get started with Dropshipping

Building a six-figure dropshipping business needs smart planning. Here’s what I’ve learned from successful dropshipping entrepreneurs:

You should start by finding a profitable niche. Focus on one specific market segment where you can really shine. The best niches for high-ticket dropshipping mix high demand, premium pricing potential, and manageable competition. Tools like Google Trends and Keywords Everywhere help you spot popular product searches.

Finding reliable suppliers might be the most crucial step. Quality and reliability matter a lot with high-ticket items since customers expect the best when they pay premium prices. I check potential suppliers by:

• Looking at delivery speed and shipping times
• Making sure their inventory stays reliable
• Understanding how they handle returns
• Reading customer testimonials about their track record

Many successful high-ticket dropshippers build relationships with brands directly or work with private suppliers who offer white-label products. This helps your store stand out from others selling similar items.

Your next step is creating a professional online store. People rarely impulse-buy expensive items, so your website should build confidence through great design, detailed product info, and helpful content. Shopify makes this simple with customizable themes and supplier integration.

Marketing becomes extra important with high-ticket items. Unlike cheap products that might sell on impulse, expensive purchases need trust and clear value. Some effective marketing approaches include:

• Using Google Ads to reach active shoppers
• Creating helpful content that educates customers
• Building email lists to stay in touch during longer sales cycles
• Being active on social media where your customers hang out

The profit makes this work worth it. While normal dropshipping margins sit between 10-20%, high-ticket dropshipping can bring even better percentages—especially if you work directly with manufacturers or use white-label strategies.

As your high-ticket dropshipping business grows, you can get better deals with suppliers. Many successful dropshippers lock in bulk discounts, faster shipping, and priority fulfillment, which helps their margins even more. These supplier relationships become really valuable as you scale toward six-figure yearly revenue.

Online Course Creation

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Online courses have become a powerful way to generate income with little upfront investment. The digital world keeps growing, and people now prefer educational content from creators over pure entertainment.

What is Online Course Creation

Online course creation means developing well-laid-out learning programs that students can take entirely online. These educational products have pre-recorded or live lectures, discussions, assignments, and assessments. Students can access them from anywhere as long as they have internet.

Today’s online courses go beyond traditional education that might pop off the top of my head. They cover almost any topic you can imagine. You’ll find everything from business strategies to crafting skills, technical training to personal development.

These courses are valuable products especially when you have flexible ways to deliver them. You can include content types like:

• Video lessons (most popular format)
• Audio recordings
• Written materials and downloadable resources
• Interactive quizzes and assessments
• Community discussions and feedback
• Live coaching calls or webinars

The best part? These courses are scalable. You can sell the same course many times without spending extra time on each new student. This makes them quite different from service-based side hustles.

Why Online Courses are a six figure side hustle

The money-making potential of online courses is amazing. The global e-learning market should hit $521.80 billion by 2027. This creates huge chances for course creators. The online education market grows about 20% each year in an industry already worth over $315 billion.

Course creation stands out among high-ticket side hustles because of its great profit margins. Digital courses cost very little to maintain after you create them, unlike physical products that need manufacturing and shipping. Almost every sale goes straight to your profit once you cover your setup costs.

These courses are so profitable because:

Premium pricing potential: Quality courses often sell for $500-2000+. Some signature programs cost even more. One course sale can bring in substantial profit, unlike cheap physical products.

Evergreen revenue: Courses can sell for years with minor updates. This creates steady passive income.

Multiple monetization models: You can use one-time payments, subscriptions, or payment plans to get the most value from each customer.

The most profitable niches usually help people make money or advance their careers. Market research shows these high-ticket areas work best:

• Business and entrepreneurship training
• Digital marketing skills (especially paid advertising)
• Professional certifications and licensing preparation
• Physical and mental wellness programs
• Financial management and investment strategies

Business owners invest in courses because they know learning leads to earning. Health and finance courses also command high prices because customers easily see their value.

How to get started with Online Course Creation

You need a solid plan to build a six-figure course business. Here’s how to tackle this high-income side job:

Step 1: Choose a profitable topic Find where your expertise meets market demand. The right course topic combines what you know with what people want to learn. Look for these signs of demand:

• Existing competitors (shows people want this knowledge)
• Active online communities talking about the topic
• Many people searching for related keywords

Note that you don’t need to be the top expert—you just need to know more than your target audience.

Step 2: Define your unique positioning The online course market is crowded, so standing out matters. Your positioning should show:

• Who the course helps
• What problem it fixes
• How your method is different from others

This helps attract ideal students and supports premium pricing.

Step 3: Create your course structure Build content that guides students toward specific goals. A good course usually has:

• 4-8 modules (major topic sections)
• 3-7 lessons per module
• Clear learning goals for each part

Start with a Minimum Viable Course (MVC) instead of trying to make it perfect. Create enough to deliver value, then grow based on what students say.

Step 4: Select your platform You’ll want a good home for your course materials. You can choose:

• All-in-one platforms like Kajabi or Thinkific that do everything
• WordPress plugins if you have a website
• Marketplace platforms like Udemy (but they take bigger cuts)

Self-hosting gives you full control without sharing revenue, though setup takes more work.

Step 5: Price strategically Your pricing affects how people see your value. Try these approaches:

• Free mini-courses: Great for getting leads and building your audience
• Low-price entry offers ($27-97): To build audience and test ideas
• Mid-range courses ($197-497): Your main offerings with full value
• Premium programs ($997-2000+): Advanced training with best profits

Step 6: Build an audience before launching Even amazing courses need an audience. Focus on:

• Growing an email list (works best for selling courses)
• Creating helpful free content that shows your expertise
• Building connections in places where ideal students hang out

Think about launching to a small group first before going public. This helps you get testimonials and improve your content based on real feedback.

With good planning and steady work, creating online courses is one of the best ways to build a side income that can easily pass six figures yearly.

Affiliate Marketing

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Affiliate marketing is one of the most available ways to earn passive income in the digital world. My experience as an entrepreneur shows few business models match its combination of low startup costs and high earning potential.

What is Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing lets me earn commissions by promoting other companies’ products or services. I use unique referral links to send traffic to merchants’ websites and earn a percentage when customers take specific actions like making a purchase or signing up for a service.

The process works through various commission structures:

• Flat rate: A fixed amount per sale (e.g., $50 per sale)
• Percentage-based: A portion of the sale value, typically 5% to 50%
• Recurring commissions: Ongoing payments for subscriptions create passive income streams

Industry data shows affiliate marketing has exploded recently, with estimates putting the industry at $12 billion. Global affiliate marketing spending will likely exceed $27.78 billion in the next three years.

Why Affiliate Marketing is a high income side job

The extraordinary scaling potential makes affiliate marketing an attractive high-ticket side hustle. Yes, it is true that the affiliate marketing industry grows 10% yearly. Results show affiliate marketers can make $100 to $1000+ in commissions per sale with high-paying programs.

High-ticket affiliate products make the economics compelling. To cite an instance, see what happens when a customer moves $100,000 from their 401(k) into a Gold IRA. The company pays a 5% commission—I could earn $5,000 from that single customer. This shows why high-ticket affiliate marketing works so well—the math adds up better.

Affiliate marketing beats other side hustles in several ways:

Startup costs stay minimal compared to inventory-based businesses. Systems create increasingly passive income once set up. You can start while keeping your day job and scale as results improve.

Experience shapes success significantly. Affiliate marketers with three or more years of experience earn nearly 9.5x more than beginners. The potential remains huge—ZipRecruiter shows high-ticket affiliate marketers earn $47,500 on average yearly.

How to get started with Affiliate Marketing

Success in affiliate marketing needs strategic planning. Top performers suggest this structured approach:

Picking the right niche comes first. The best niche combines your knowledge with market demand and profit potential. Three key factors matter:

1. Profitability: Look for niches with high-commission products or steady demand. Finance, technology, and luxury goods often have high-ticket items with big commissions.
2. Competition: Stay away from crowded markets unless you bring something new.
3. Audience fit: Know exactly who would benefit most from these products.

Finding good affiliate programs comes next. You can find programs through search engines, networks like ShareASale or CJ Affiliate, or by asking companies directly. Look at these factors when choosing programs:

• Cookie duration: Longer periods (30-60 days) give more chances to earn
• Payment terms: Look at minimum payouts and how often they pay
• Product quality: Build trust by promoting quality, reputable products

Building a strong online presence matters through:

• A niche-focused blog with high-quality content
• Smart social media presence
• Email marketing that builds relationships

Top affiliate marketers build trust instead of pushing sales. Creating content that solves audience problems works best. Successful affiliates promote brands with strong conversion rates rather than chasing high commissions.

Affiliate marketing takes commitment and consistency to earn trust and grow. While it’s not a quick path to riches, it offers amazing potential if you learn the industry and use effective methods. Hard work and focus can turn this model into a six-figure yearly side income.

Freelance Paid Ads Specialist

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Digital advertising budgets are exploding, creating a profitable chance for freelancers who have the right skills. Companies now move more of their marketing money to online channels. The growing need for paid ads specialists has made this field one of today’s most profitable side jobs.

What is a Paid Ads Specialist

A paid ads specialist manages advertising campaigns on digital platforms where businesses pay for clicks, impressions, or conversions. My work involves creating, optimizing, and analyzing paid campaigns to help clients get the most from their ad spend. My main task is to run campaigns on platforms like Google Ads, Meta (Facebook/Instagram), LinkedIn, and other advertising networks.

The core functions of this role include:

• Conducting keyword research to identify high-converting search terms
• Creating compelling ad copy and selecting appropriate visuals
• Setting up proper tracking to measure performance accurately
• Continuously optimizing campaigns to improve results
• Providing practical insights and reports through data analysis

Paid ads specialists work with search, display, shopping, and video ads. I test different elements—headlines, ad copy, images, and targeting parameters—to find what works best for my clients.

Why Paid Ads is a high-ticket freelance side hustle

This side hustle can make you substantial money. A full-time Google Ads specialist earns around $60,000 yearly, while freelance rates on Upwork range from $15-$40 per hour. Expert consultants can charge up to $400 per hour.

These numbers show why paid ads management stands out among high-ticket side hustles. Here’s what makes it profitable:

• Measurable results: Paid ads show trackable ROI, which helps clients justify their investment
• Recurring revenue: Clients need ongoing management, which provides steady monthly income
• Supply-demand imbalance: Fewer people manage ads than social media, which allows premium pricing

Social media managers who charge $300-$800 monthly can triple their income by offering ads management services after specialized training. They can earn minimum 4-figures per client while spending less time on content creation.

Many specialists earn extra by charging a percentage of ad spend (typically 10-15%) for larger accounts. Global search ad spending should reach $351.5 billion by 2025, which creates huge possibilities for freelancers.

How to get started as a Paid Ads Specialist

Starting a career in paid ads requires a smart approach. Here’s how you can launch this side hustle:

Step 1: Develop foundational knowledge Learn the basics through platform-specific training. Google and Meta offer free certification courses that teach their advertising platforms. Most specialists start with the Google Ads Search Certification.

Step 2: Get certified Certifications boost your credibility when you’re starting out. You can get Google Ads certification and Meta Blueprint certification for free.

Step 3: Gain hands-on experience Run small campaigns for yourself, friends, or family at lower rates to build your portfolio. Start with one goal like lead generation or website traffic instead of trying everything at once.

Step 4: Choose your pricing model Successful specialists use these pricing structures:

• Hourly consulting ($50-$200 per hour based on experience)
• Project-based pricing for campaign setups
• Monthly retainers for ongoing management
• Percentage of ad spend (10-15%) for larger budgets

Step 5: Focus on high-value clients Look for businesses that sell high-ticket products or services—they can justify higher ad spend and management fees. Companies with large profit margins per sale value ads management more.

Starting small and growing gradually works best in my experience. As you get more clients, you might want to focus on specific industries or ad platforms to become an expert and charge higher rates.

Virtual Summits Hosting

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Online events that bring industry experts together have become a profitable chance in the digital world. Virtual summits provide an adaptable business model you can run as a side hustle while earning impressive revenue.

What is Hosting Virtual Summits

Virtual summits are informational online events where thought leaders and expert speakers share insights on specific topics. These digital conferences gather industry professionals who discuss specialized subjects through interactive webinars and Q&A sessions. Physical events need venues, but virtual summits use online platforms with virtual auditoriums that let attendees join from any location with internet access.

The events feature multiple expert speakers who present related topics and create valuable content for a global audience. Most summits offer pre-recorded or live sessions, networking opportunities, and virtual exhibit spaces for sponsors.

Why Virtual Summits can generate six figure income

Virtual summits stand out as one of the most profitable side hustles. The numbers tell a compelling story:

• Small events earn $5,000-$50,000, while larger summits can generate six or seven figures through multiple revenue streams
• Brands like Capgemini have run global virtual events with 2,000+ attendees, pointing to cost savings as a major benefit
• The virtual events market will reach $400 billion by 2027

Today, 77% of people choose virtual events over in-person ones, which creates huge money-making possibilities. The profits come from various sources: premium passes, sponsorships, digital products, and backend offers – not just ticket sales.

Virtual events cost about 75% less than in-person meetings since there’s no need for venues or travel. This leads to much higher returns on investment.

How to get started with Virtual Summits

Your goals and target audience need clear definition first. Figure out the specific problem your summit will solve and who needs that solution. This clarity will shape your entire event plan.

The right virtual summit platform makes a big difference. Look for 3D interfaces, webinar options, networking features, and marketing tools. Platforms like vFairs, Remo, and Zuddl let you customize your event. Prices range from $299 monthly for simple packages to $10,000-$50,000 for complete solutions.

Compelling speakers can make your summit successful. Connect with influencers and industry experts whose knowledge matches your summit’s goals. Show them benefits like more exposure and email list growth.

A solid monetization strategy should tap multiple revenue sources:

• Ticket sales (free registration with limited access and premium all-access passes)
• Sponsorships with various placement options
• Back-end product sales
• Affiliate partnerships where speakers earn commissions

Marketing needs to start early. Launch your website 6-8 weeks before the event. Email marketing, social media, and speaker partnerships will help you reach potential attendees.

Virtual summits are a powerful side hustle that combines worldwide reach with low overhead costs. The potential to generate six-figure income makes them an attractive business option.

Comparison Table

Side Hustle	Average Income Potential	Starting Costs	Skills You Need	How You Make Money	Market Size/Growth	Time to Profitability
Dropshipping	$100K-300K annually	Significant capital for inventory	Marketing skills, customer care, vendor relationships	Product markups (10-20% typical)	$1.6T by 2033 (24.7% CAGR)	Not specified
Online Course Creation	$500-2000+ per course	Minimal upfront costs	Subject expertise, content development	Course sales, subscription fees, payment plans	$521.8B by 2027 (20% annual growth)	Depends on audience reach
Affiliate Marketing	$47,500 yearly average, up to $1000+ per sale	Minimal startup investment	Marketing expertise, content skills, networking	Commission-based (5-50% per sale)	$27.78B in next 3 years (10% annual growth)	3+ years to peak earnings
Freelance Paid Ads Specialist	$60K-400K annually	Free certifications available	Ad platform mastery, data analysis	Monthly client fees, % of ad spend (10-15%)	$351.5B by 2025 (search ads)	Not specified
Virtual Summits Hosting	$5K-50K for small events, six to seven figures possible	$299-50K (platform fees)	Event management, speaker networking, promotion	Ticket revenue, sponsor deals, product sales	$400B by 2027	6-8 weeks prep needed

Conclusion

These five high-ticket side hustles show clear paths to six-figure annual income without leaving your day job. Dropshipping, online courses, affiliate marketing, paid ads management, and virtual summits share several advantages. They need minimal physical infrastructure, flexible business models, and great profit margins.

My research reveals something interesting. Each option needs specific expertise rather than huge capital investment. These side hustles also benefit from markets that grow faster than 20% each year.

Your success with any high-ticket side hustle depends on smart positioning. The sweet spot between your skills and what people just need will determine your income potential. Don’t chase every chance you get. Instead, become skilled at one model that matches your strengths.

The digital world has changed everything about earning money on the side. Making six figures outside regular jobs used to mean investing lots of time or taking big risks. Now, these high-ticket chances let smart entrepreneurs build substantial income while keeping their career stable.

Note that these aren’t overnight wealth generators. They’re real business models that need commitment and persistence. But compared to traditional business paths, they have substantially lower barriers to entry with impressive earning potential.

Which high-ticket side hustle catches your eye? Maybe the choice feels overwhelming. Here’s my advice: Start with what matches your current skills and interests. Then expand as you build confidence and capital. The path to six-figure side income is ready for anyone willing to take smart action.

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