How to Start Creating Passive Income as a Coach or Service Provider

You became a coach to change lives. Not to be chained to back-to-back calls every day.

If you're reading this, chances are you've asked yourself some version of this question: "How can I make money in my business that isn't tied to my hours?" Welcome. You're in the right place.

In this post, I'm going to show you the real-world, step-by-step process to start building passive income as a coach, consultant, or service provider — without a giant audience or complicated tech.

🎁Before We Dive In…
Want to map out your online course idea as you read this?
Grab your free copy of The Ultimate Course Creation Planner— it’s the exact tool I use with my clients to clarify their course topic, transformation, and structure before building.

👉Download it here and follow along as we explore how to use AI to streamline the process.

Prefer to watch?
Start with this video: How to Start Creating Passive Income as a Coach or Service Provider — then come back and dive into the full blog strategy below.

Shannon Martel | October 1, 2025

1. Understand What Passive Income Really Means

Let's bust a myth: Passive income is not instant. But it is scalable, sustainable, and incredibly freeing — once it's set up properly.

For coaches and service providers, the most powerful passive income vehicle is a digital course that packages your expertise into a step-by-step process your audience can follow.

This means:

• No more repeating yourself with every new client

• No more trading time for every dollar earned

• No more burnout from packed calendars

2. Start with One Repeatable Transformation

Think about your 1:1 clients. What's the transformation they pay you for again and again? That's your course topic.

Instead of trying to teach everything, choose one specific, repeatable result you can deliver in a step-by-step process.

Need help narrowing it down? Watch this free training to help you to pick a profitable, and irresistible course topic.

Also, be sure to grab the Ultimate Course Creation Planner: https://link.visionary-edge.com/course-planner — it includes prompts to help you identify your most profitable idea.

3. Validate Before You Build

Here's where most creators get stuck: They spend months building a course… only to launch it to crickets. Don't build your course until you've validated that people want it.

How?

• Share polls, quizzes, or value posts on social

• Offer a mini-session or workshop as a preview

• Ask your audience directly what they'd love help with

• Use tools like Answer the Public or Google Trends to see what people are searching for

Then — and only then — create a simple offer to pre-sell your course. If people pay, you know you're onto something.

Want a step-by-step walkthrough of this? It's all inside the One Hour to Course Clarity workshop: https://courses.visionary-edge.com/courseclarity

4. Build a Simple Value Ladder

Your value ladder is the journey someone takes from first discovering you to becoming a loyal buyer. Here's what it could look like:

1. Free Lead Magnet

Ultimate Course Creation Planner: https://link.visionary-edge.com/course-planner

2. Intro Offer

One Hour to Course Clarity Workshop: https://courses.visionary-edge.com/courseclarity

3. Core Offer

Course Creators Academy: https://visionary-edge.com/course-creators-academy/

4. Membership

Ultimate Course Creators Hub

(monthly membership)

High-Ticket — 1:1 strategy calls or coaching packages. Check out may various package examples here: https://academy.visionary-edge.com/services

You don't need to build everything at once — just start with the first two steps and let your offers evolve.

5. Choose Your Course Platform

You don’t need to get stuck in tech overwhelm. Start simple.

Here are my go-to platform recommendations based on where you are:

• All-in-One Solution: TekMatix — perfect for running your funnels, email list, and courses in one place
  

• Self-Hosted: WordPress + MemberPress — best for advanced users who want full control
  

• Hosted Simplicity: Teachable — great for new creators who want to plug and play

Pick the platform that supports your goals — and don’t overthink it.

6. Start Building Your Audience

You don't need a big list to launch — but you do need a relevant audience. Focus on attracting people who already want the result you help with.

This can be through:

• Weekly blog posts (like this!)

• YouTube videos or podcast interviews

• Guest teaching inside other communities

• Lead magnets promoted via Pinterest, Facebook, or Instagram

Start with one platform you enjoy and show up consistently.

7. Map Out Your Course Content

You've validated your idea. You've pre-sold a few seats. Now it's time to outline the actual course.

Keep it simple:

• 3 to 6 core modules

• 1 clear transformation per module

• Short videos, checklists, templates, or worksheets

I personally use StreamYard to record and Descript to edit my course videos quickly — even if you’re not techy, it makes it super easy.

8. Automate Your Delivery

Once you’ve taught your course live or pre-recorded it, set it up so that new buyers can get instant access without needing your time.

Tools like TekMatix or Teachable let you:

• Drip content weekly

• Automate welcome emails

• Deliver bonus resources

• Track student progress

Combine that with email marketing from MailerLite or ActiveCampaign, and you've got a smooth system that sells and delivers for you.

9. Set Your Price Strategically

You don't need to start with a $2,000 course. In fact, I recommend beginning with a starter offer that's priced between $27–$297 depending on the transformation and your audience.

Here’s a quick framework:

• Lead magnet: Free
  

• Kickstarter course: $27–$97
  

• Authority-level course: $197–$497
  

• High-touch coaching/program: $997–$3,000+
  

Not sure how to price yours? I break it all down inside the Hub.

10. Stack Smart Bonuses & Upsells

Bonuses help you:

• Increase conversions

• Reduce objections

• Add extra value for your buyers

The key is to offer bonuses that:

• Make it easier to implement your course

• Help prep them before starting

• Lead to the next step in your value ladder

Examples:

• Templates or scripts

• Mini-trainings

• Strategy calls or community access

I love using tools like Conversion Blueprint Funnels to build branded, high-converting upsell pages and funnels.

Final Thoughts: It's Time to Get Your Course Out There

Passive income isn't a dream — it's a system. And it starts with clarity.

You don't need a massive audience. You don't need a complicated funnel. You just need a plan that works — and the tools to support you.

If you want my exact framework for going from idea to pre-sold course in one focused hour — come join me inside the One Hour to Course Clarity Workshop https://courses.visionary-edge.com/courseclarity

Or the full Ultimate Course Creators Hub: https://academy.visionary-edge.com/join-the-hub

✨ You've got something powerful to teach. Let's package it — and get it out into the world.

👉 Join the Hub now: https://academy.visionary-edge.com/join-the-hub and get instant access to the workshop, templates, checklists, tech training, and my full library of course-creator resources.

Rooting for you!

Shannon x

#PassiveIncomeForCoaches #OnlineCourseCreator #DigitalProductsForCoaches

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