How Indie Hackers Make Money
Revenue Streams Beyond SaaS
Not every indie hacker makes money from SaaS. The most resilient builders diversify— combining products, services, and passive income into a portfolio that survives market shifts.
Here are the 8 most common revenue streams successful indie hackers use, with real numbers and actionable advice.
Revenue Stream Overview
| Stream | Avg Revenue | Time to $ | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS Subscriptions | $1k-100k+/mo | 3-12 months | Hard |
| Freelance & Contract Work | $5k-30k/mo | Immediate | Medium |
| Digital Products | $500-20k/mo | 1-3 months | Medium |
| Consulting & Advising | $2k-50k/mo | 1-3 months | Medium |
| Affiliate Marketing | $500-10k/mo | 3-6 months | Easy |
| Sponsorships & Ads | $500-20k/mo | 6-12 months | Medium |
| Building & Selling | $10k-1M+ (one-time) | 1-5 years | Hard |
| Paid Communities | $1k-30k/mo | 3-6 months | Medium |
SaaS Subscriptions
The gold standard. Monthly recurring revenue from software subscriptions.
Pros
- • Predictable recurring revenue
- • High valuations
- • Scales without you
Cons
- • Long time to market
- • High competition
- • Churn management
Real Examples
Pro tip: Start with a narrow niche and expand. Don't compete with big players on features—compete on simplicity and price.
Freelance & Contract Work
Trading time for money, but with the freedom to choose clients and projects.
Pros
- • Immediate income
- • Build expertise
- • Fund your projects
Cons
- • Not scalable
- • Feast or famine
- • Time-intensive
Real Examples
Pro tip: Productize your service. Instead of hourly rates, offer fixed-price packages. 'Website Audit - $500' beats '$50/hour'.
Digital Products
One-time purchases of templates, courses, ebooks, or tools.
Pros
- • No ongoing support
- • Sell while sleeping
- • High margins
Cons
- • No recurring revenue
- • Marketing dependent
- • Piracy risk
Real Examples
Pro tip: Start with a small product ($19-49) to validate demand. The best products solve a very specific problem.
Consulting & Advising
High-value strategic advice for companies, often at premium rates.
Pros
- • High hourly rates
- • Build relationships
- • Learn industries
Cons
- • Limited scalability
- • Client dependent
- • Requires reputation
Real Examples
Pro tip: Build in public to establish credibility. Share your insights freely—paid work follows expertise.
Affiliate Marketing
Earning commissions by recommending products you use and trust.
Pros
- • Passive income
- • No product needed
- • Low barrier
Cons
- • Requires audience
- • Variable commissions
- • Trust concerns
Real Examples
Pro tip: Only recommend products you actually use. Your reputation is worth more than any commission.
Sponsorships & Ads
Monetizing your audience through newsletter, podcast, or content sponsorships.
Pros
- • Leverages existing content
- • Predictable deals
- • Scales with audience
Cons
- • Requires large audience
- • Can feel salesy
- • Advertiser dependent
Real Examples
Pro tip: 1,000 engaged subscribers is worth more than 100,000 passive ones. Focus on engagement, not vanity metrics.
Building & Selling
Building products with the explicit goal of selling them.
Pros
- • Large payouts
- • Clean exit
- • Learn quickly
Cons
- • Uncertain outcomes
- • Buyer dependent
- • Emotional toll
Real Examples
Pro tip: Build for sale from day one. Keep clean financials, documented processes, and low owner dependency.
Paid Communities
Membership communities with exclusive content, networking, or access.
Pros
- • Recurring revenue
- • Engaged audience
- • Network effects
Cons
- • High touch
- • Churn management
- • Needs critical mass
Real Examples
Pro tip: Start free to build value and community. Convert to paid once you've proven the value proposition.
The Portfolio Approach
The smartest indie hackers don't rely on a single income stream. They build a portfolio:
Foundation: Service Income
Freelancing or consulting provides immediate cash flow while you build products. It also keeps you connected to real customer problems.
Growth: Product Income
SaaS, digital products, or paid communities. These scale without your direct time and can eventually replace service income.
Leverage: Passive Income
Affiliates, ads, and content monetization. Relatively small but requires minimal ongoing effort once established.
Example: $15k/month Portfolio
Diversify with Builders.to
Builders.to has features designed to help you monetize multiple ways:
Services Marketplace
List your freelance services and reach builders who need help with development, design, marketing, and more.
Builders Local
Post local listings to find clients, collaborators, or sell equipment and digital assets in your area.
Project Showcase
Showcase your products to attract customers, investors, and acquirers. Track milestones and build social proof.
Builder Network
Connect with potential clients, partners, and collaborators. Your network is your net worth.
Getting Started Today
Don't try to do everything at once. Here's a sensible progression:
Week 1-2: Start with services
List a productized service based on your skills. Get your first client.
Month 1-3: Build your first product
Use insights from service work to identify a product opportunity.
Month 3-6: Add content monetization
Build an audience while building products. Monetize with affiliates and sponsors.
Month 6+: Scale and diversify
Double down on what works. Experiment with new streams. Build your portfolio.
Ready to Diversify Your Income?
Join Builders.to to showcase your products, list your services, and connect with a community of indie hackers building multiple income streams.