This is the Freedom Formula “How To” for five practical ways a beginner can use AI to make money in 2026, plus exactly how to pick a niche, find customers, price the offer, and deliver without needing to be a technical wizard.
The theme is simple:
Don’t “build an AI product.”
Use AI to deliver a result people already pay for.
The 5 Ladders (Ranked from “Fastest Cash” to “Biggest Upside”)
#5) AI Thumbnail Design (fast cash, low cost, high demand)
#4) AI Blog / Content Generation (fast delivery, scalable retainers)
#3) Faceless YouTube (slow start, compounding income)
#2) AI Website Building (high-ticket, easy upsells)
#1) AI Automation Agency (highest upside, stickiest clients)
We’ll break down each one with:
Cost to start
Effort level
Income potential
Step-by-step launch plan
How to get customers (Audit → Deal method)
Simple pricing to start
The “Audit → Deal” Method (Use this to sell ANY of these services)
This is the repeatable sales process the transcript uses across multiple ideas.
Step A: Pick a niche you actually like
Examples:
automotive
fitness
dentists
med spas
real estate
creators/personal brands
contractors/home services
coaches/consultants
Rule: Niches win. Generalists compete on price.
Step B: Build a target list (“map the universe”)
Your goal is a spreadsheet of potential buyers:
company name
decision maker
email/DM
link (site/YouTube)
notes (“what’s wrong / opportunity”)
Where to find leads:
YouTube search in your niche
LinkedIn search
Instagram/TikTok creators
Google Maps (for local businesses)
directories
Step C: Run a quick audit
Find 3–5 improvements that would immediately help them.
Step D: Record a 60-second Loom (or quick screen recording)
Show them:
what you noticed
what to change
what you would do
what result it creates
Step E: Send the “easy yes” offer (low risk)
Make it stupid-simple to try you:
small starter package
guarantee or “only pay if…”
fast turnaround
clear deliverable
Important: Get paid first. Call later.
#5 — AI Thumbnail Design (Beginner friendly, surprisingly profitable)
Why it works
YouTube creators who take YouTube seriously pay for thumbnails because:
better thumbnails → higher CTR → more views → more money
they need volume + testing
they don’t want to do it themselves
Cost / Effort / Potential
Cost: low (basic AI + design tools)
Effort: medium (you need taste + iteration)
Potential: high (creators spend consistently)
Realistic pricing models
entry: $10–$25 per thumbnail (to get reps + proof)
mid: $50 per thumbnail (common for serious creators)
premium: $100+ per thumbnail (for high-leverage channels/brands)
Step-by-step: how to start
Use thumbnail research tools (or just YouTube search + sort by popular):
screenshot 50 top performers
look for patterns: faces, contrast, emotion, simplicity, 3–5 words max
Step 2) Build a portfolio (even if you have no clients)
Create 15 sample thumbnails:
redo popular thumbnails with your own twist
“before/after” style works great
keep them organized in a Google Drive folder
Step 3) Model best performers using AI (without copying)
Use AI to help:
generate background images
create variations
brainstorm headline text options
produce 5 versions quickly
Key: You are not “prompting.” You are testing and iterating like a pro.
How to get customers
Use Audit → Deal:
pick 30 YouTube channels in your niche
record a 60-second Loom: “3 thumbnail fixes to increase your clicks”
include 1–2 example redesigns
“Easy yes” starter offer
“I’ll redesign 3 thumbnails for $49. If you don’t like them, I’ll refund it. 24-hour turnaround.”
#4 — AI Blog / Content Generation (fast work, scalable retainers)
Why it works
Businesses want:
consistent content
SEO visibility
“presence” in search
content repurposed from existing material (podcasts, videos, FAQs)
Cost / Effort / Potential
Cost: very low (free AI + basic SEO tool optional)
Effort: low to medium
Potential: medium → high (if you position as “strategy + SEO + repurposing”)
Pricing examples
entry: $10–$30 per blog (volume farms pay low)
better: $300–$1,500/month retainer for 8–20 pieces
premium: $2,000–$5,000/month for “content + SEO + conversion optimization”
Step-by-step: how to start
Step 1) Model → then modify
Find top blogs in a niche:
pull the top 10 ranking articles
note structure: headers, FAQs, examples, internal links
Step 2) Build a writing portfolio
Create 5–10 “samples”:
same topic, different angle
show: beginner guide, comparison, checklist, FAQ post
Step 3) Create content that serves the funnel
For each client, write:
top-of-funnel: educational “what is / why”
mid-funnel: comparisons, best-of lists
bottom-funnel: case studies, “how to choose,” product/service pages
How to get customers
Audit → Deal:
pick 25 businesses with weak blogs
Loom: “3 blog topics that would bring you leads this month”
show one outline + one paragraph rewrite
Easy starter offer
“I’ll write 4 SEO posts this month for $199. If you don’t like the first one, cancel.”
#3 — Faceless YouTube (compounding income, bigger runway)
Why it works
Faceless channels can earn from:
ad revenue
affiliate links
sponsors
But they require:
consistency
better scripting
better packaging (titles/thumbs)
Cost / Effort / Potential
Cost: medium (tools + editing)
Effort: medium
Potential: high (compounds over time)
Step-by-step: how to start
Step 1) Pick a niche with high CPM + affiliate options
Examples:
business/software/tools
personal finance
marketing
productivity
Step 2) Create scripts with a signature style
Use AI for:
outline
hooks
story structure
But you must add:opinions
examples
clarity
Step 3) Create voice + visuals
Options:
AI voice tools
stock footage
AI visuals
simple motion graphics
Step 4) Post + iterate (1% better each upload)
Not 10,000 hours — 10,000 iterations.
#2 — AI Website Building (high-ticket service with easy upsells)
Why it works
Businesses still pay for:
websites
landing pages
booking funnels
copy + design + setup
AI makes the build faster, but the value is:
you remove friction and deliver a finished asset.
Cost / Effort / Potential
Cost: low
Effort: medium (hosting + setup)
Potential: very high (websites lead to upsells)
Pricing examples
starter: $500–$1,500 per site
mid: $2,000–$5,000 per site
upsells: SEO, email setup, automations, hosting
Step-by-step: how to start
Step 1) Pick one no-code builder and master it
Examples:
Framer
Webflow
Durable
Wix Studio
(Use what you can move fast with.)
Step 2) Generate copy + visuals with AI
homepage copy
service pages
FAQs
lead magnet section
Then add:real proof
stronger positioning
better CTAs
Step 3) Build 2–3 demo sites
Even fake demo sites work:
“local dentist demo”
“HVAC demo”
“fitness coach demo”
Use them to sell.
How to get customers
Audit → Deal:
Loom: “Your website is leaking leads — here are 3 fixes”
then offer a “rapid rebuild”
#1 — AI Automation Agency (biggest upside, best retainers)
Why it works
Businesses are overloaded.
Automation saves:
time
money
mistakes
staffing pressure
They’ll pay because it improves operations and revenue.
Cost / Effort / Potential
Cost: medium (some paid tools)
Effort: medium (learning curve)
Potential: high (retainership + deep integration)
Pricing examples
starter: $500–$1,500/month per client
projects: $2,000–$10,000 setups
premium: $10k+/month for serious ops automation
Step-by-step: how to start
Step 1) Ask AI for your plan of attack
Prompt:
“I want to start an automation agency. Give me the top 10 steps. Make it detailed and practical.”
Step 2) Master ONE use case (specialists get paid)
Examples:
lead intake → CRM → follow-up
appointment booking + reminders
missed-call text back
onboarding automation
review request automation
invoice + payment follow-up
Step 3) Get case studies by working free (strategically)
Offer:
“I’ll build this automation free. If it works, you let me use it as a case study.”
Do 5–10 of these.
You’ll get:
proof
referrals
retainers
Quick Start Checklist (Do This This Week)
Day 1: Pick your ladder
Choose ONE:
thumbnails
blogs
faceless YouTube
websites
automations
Day 2: Pick a niche + build a lead list
50 leads minimum
spreadsheet format
Day 3: Create your audit template
what you review
what you recommend
what you offer
Day 4: Record 10 Loom audits
Keep them under 60 seconds.
Day 5: Send 10 offers
Simple starter offer + paid first.
Day 6–7: Deliver fast + ask for testimonial
Turn your first wins into proof.
