How to Make Your First $1,000 Online as an Indie Developer

Your first $1,000 online feels impossible until it happens. Then you realize it's not about building the next unicorn—it's about solving small problems for real people.

Here are four paths that actually work for indie developers. Pick one, stick with it, and stop overthinking.

1. Write About What You Know (Blogging)

You already know stuff other developers want to learn. Turn that into content.

How it works: Write tutorials, guides, and honest reviews. People find you through Google. You make money from ads, sponsorships, or selling your own stuff.

• Timeline: 3-6 months to build meaningful traffic
• First step: Pick a specific niche you're passionate about
• Reality check: Writing consistently is harder than it looks

2. Build a Tiny SaaS That Does One Thing Well

Forget building the next Slack. Build something that solves one specific problem perfectly.

How it works: Find a small problem, build a minimal solution, charge monthly for it. Small problems add up to big revenue.

• Timeline: 2-4 months to $1k if you focus
• First step: Look for problems in communities where developers hang out
• Reality check: Marketing is harder than building

For tool ideas, check out our guide on building niche tool websites.

3. Teach What You've Learned (Online Courses)

Package your knowledge into something people can buy and consume at their own pace.

How it works: Create video lessons, PDFs, or workshops. Sell on Gumroad, Udemy, or your own site.

• Timeline: Can hit $1k in a single launch with the right audience
• First step: Survey your network about what they want to learn
• Reality check: Good teaching takes different skills than good coding

Make sure your course has a compelling value proposition that clearly explains why someone should choose yours over the thousands of other programming courses.

4. Recommend Stuff You Already Use (Affiliate Marketing)

You probably already recommend tools to other developers. Why not get paid for it?

How it works: Write honest reviews and comparisons. Include affiliate links. Get paid when people sign up.

• Timeline: Slower growth but steady income once articles rank
• First step: List the tools you actually use and love
• Reality check: Trust is everything. Recommend bad stuff and you're done

Which Path Should You Choose?

Stop trying to pick the "best" one. They're all good if you execute well.

Love writing? Blog. Love building? Make a SaaS. Love teaching? Create courses. Love evaluating tools? Try affiliate marketing.

Most successful indie developers eventually combine multiple approaches.

The Real Secret

Making your first $1,000 isn't about having the perfect idea. It's about:

1. Starting with your existing knowledge
2. Focusing on one approach
3. Being consistent for months, not weeks
4. Actually launching instead of perfecting

Your next step: Pick one method above and commit to shipping something in the next 30 days. For structured execution, follow our 30-day website building challenge or use our website expansion strategies once you get your first revenue.

Ready to stop dreaming and start earning? Indie10k turns each of these approaches into weekly missions with clear deadlines and accountability. Because sometimes you need someone to keep you focused on what actually matters: making money.