The Only 25 Ways to Make Money in 2026

The Only 25 Ways to Make Money in 2026

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Overview

The presenter categorizes ways to make money online in 2026 into four buckets based on difficulty, income potential, and time to profitability:

1. Trash (Avoid)
2. Easy (Quick, Low Skill)
3. Medium (Skilled, Outcome-Focused)
4. Hard (Long-term, High Reward)

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Bucket 1: Trash (Avoid)

• Income Potential: Zero or negative
• Difficulty: Appears easy but wastes time
• Time Frame: Months wasted before failure
• Who: No one should pursue these

Examples to Avoid:

• NFT flipping (market hype over, most lost money)
• Crypto trading (fast-moving, high risk, most lose money)
• Multi-level marketing (mostly scams, recruitment-based)
• Basic captioning/subtitles (replaced by AI)
• Low-level data entry (AI automation)
• Fiverr microtasks (no long-term growth)
• Print on demand (oversaturated market)
• Day trading (high risk, requires obsession)

Trash Filter Questions:

• Is AI already replacing this?
• Is the industry shrinking or obsolete?
• Is it easier to lose money than make money?

If yes to any, avoid immediately.

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Bucket 2: Easy (Beginner-Friendly, Quick Income)

• Income Potential: $5K–$10K/month
• Difficulty: Low, basic skills
• Time Frame: 30–60 days to get paid
• Best For: Beginners building skills and confidence

Examples:

• Short-form video editing (high demand, AI-assisted)
• Social media copywriting (help businesses convert customers)
• AI chatbot setup for small businesses (time-saving)
• AI receptionist setup (automate inbound calls, scheduling)
• UGC (User Generated Content) middleman (connecting brands and creators)
• Virtual/executive assistant (help busy professionals save time)

Recommended Methodology:

• Create outcome-based offers (don’t sell time, sell results)
• Map offer to client pain points (make money or save time)
• Make specific promises with time frames
• Remove risk with guarantees
• Create urgency by limiting client slots
• Daily outreach: contact one potential client every day until success

Example: Mark, a freelancer making $30K/month from 7 clients by repurposing long-form content into short clips using AI tools.

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Bucket 3: Medium (Skilled, Outcome-Driven, Scalable)

• Income Potential: $10K–$50K/month
• Difficulty: Medium, multi-skill work tied to business outcomes
• Time Frame: 3–12 months
• Best For: People with some skills seeking stability and scale

Examples:

• Automation agencies (high demand, bulletproof future)
• LinkedIn growth systems powered by AI (building CEO/leader reach)
• Micro SaaS products for small businesses (monthly recurring revenue)
• AI content agencies (high-volume branded content creation)
• High-quality motion graphic design (premium content differentiation)

Pro Tips:

• Build 3–5 measurable case studies (use discounted or free clients for proof)
• Sell outcome-based monthly retainers instead of hourly or one-off projects (predictable recurring revenue)

AI Tools Mentioned: Hey Gen, 11 Labs, and others for content and automation (screenshots recommended)

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Bucket 4: Hard (Long-Term, High Reward, Business/Asset Building)

• Income Potential: $1M+/month
• Difficulty: High, requires systems, leadership, capital, and long-term commitment
• Time Frame: 2–10+ years
• Best For: Entrepreneurs building scalable assets or empires

Examples:

• Investing in AI-first founders (early-stage equity in AI startups)
• Building AI software products (recurring revenue, high valuation multiples)
• Buying small businesses and automating 30–50% with AI (operational efficiency)
• Personal brand/content machine for deal flow (e.g., Mr. Beast, Logan Paul)
• Subscription communities powered by AI curation (monthly membership revenue)
• Licensing AI playbooks and custom GPTs as intellectual property

Key Insights:

• AI is transforming business operations and asset value
• Long-term success requires patience, reinvestment, and focus
• Content creation is essential for inbound opportunities and talent attraction

Step-by-Step Framework for Hard Bucket Success:

1. Tie your strongest skill to a fast-growing industry (use AI to identify)
2. Systematize your service (sell outcomes, not time; build automation)
3. Build a small, high-quality team slowly (avoid unnecessary headcount)
4. Layer AI into operations to increase margins and reduce costs
5. Use content marketing to create inbound deal flow and opportunities

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General Advice & Warnings

• Avoid “shiny object syndrome” — don’t switch ideas every few weeks/years
• Winners fail more often but persist longer
• Commit to consistent focus (e.g., 1,000 days)
• Build and document your journey publicly for accountability
• Execution and persistence matter more than knowledge alone

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Disclosures

• The presenter offers an exact offer template for client acquisition via Instagram DM or video description link
• Not explicitly stated as financial advice but framed as entrepreneurial guidance
• Examples include personal anecdotes and businesses related to AI and software

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Presenters / Sources

• Presenter: Founder of Martell Ventures (name not explicitly stated)
• Mentioned associates: Mark (freelancer), Sam (media team), Jason (business owner)

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Summary

This video offers a structured framework for making money online in 2026, emphasizing the importance of avoiding obsolete or AI-replaced methods, mastering high-income skills, selling outcome-based services, and building scalable AI-powered businesses or investments. The focus is on leveraging AI, systematization, and consistent execution to create predictable, scalable income streams across various difficulty levels and timelines.