Udemezue John
Let’s be honest—most of us aren’t counting the minutes to get into work every morning. If you’re sitting at your desk thinking, “There’s got to be more than this,” you’re not alone.
The good news? There is. And it’s never been easier to start building something on your own, without quitting your day job—at least not right away.
I started experimenting with side income ideas while working full-time, and the truth is, the hardest part was knowing where to begin.
That’s where ChatGPT changed everything. It helped me go from vague ideas to actionable plans—fast.
Whether you want to sell digital products, offer freelance services, or grow an audience online, the right prompt can open a door you didn’t even know existed.
So if you’re wondering how to use ChatGPT to turn your 9-5 into a $100K business, here are five prompts that can jumpstart your journey.
1. “Give me 10 business ideas I can start with my current skills and $500 or less.”
Most of us underestimate the value of our current skills. You don’t need to reinvent yourself to start something profitable—you just need to apply what you already know in a new way.
Whether you’re a marketer, teacher, customer service rep, designer, or just someone who’s organized and reliable, there’s likely a way to monetize it.
I ran this prompt and got ideas like:
Freelance Notion template designer
Virtual assistant for real estate agents
Niche blog monetized with affiliate links
Resume and LinkedIn profile writing service
Local event newsletter with sponsorships
From there, you can ask follow-up questions like, “What would step one look like for idea #3?” or “How could I market this service without spending money?” You’re not just getting ideas—you’re getting a roadmap.
Tip: Try tweaking the prompt to fit your exact experience. For example: “Give me 10 business ideas for a high school teacher with 5 years of experience and an interest in productivity tools.”
2. “Outline a simple business plan for [insert idea]. Keep it beginner-friendly and low-cost.”
Once you’ve picked an idea, it’s tempting to either overthink it or get overwhelmed. You don’t need a 20-page business plan or a fancy website to get started. What you do need is clarity.
This prompt gives you just that. ChatGPT can help map out:
What the product or service is
Who it’s for
How you’ll reach those people
What tools or platforms to use
How you’ll make money
The first 3 steps to take this week
When I asked ChatGPT to outline a plan for a “digital product business selling Canva templates,” it gave me a simple plan with action steps that I could start on that same day. It felt doable—which is exactly the mindset you want to stay in.
3. “Write a week-by-week content plan to grow an audience for [insert niche or product].”
In most cases, attention equals opportunity. If you want people to buy what you’re selling, you need to be in front of them regularly—whether that’s through Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, or email.
This prompt is gold for creating a content strategy without spinning your wheels. ChatGPT will give you a clear plan of what to post, where to post it, and how often.
For example, if you’re building a business around career coaching, you can ask:
“Write a 4-week content plan to grow an audience on LinkedIn for my career coaching offer aimed at mid-level professionals.”
It’ll likely include:
Personal stories (to build trust)
Quick tips (to show expertise)
Calls to action (to convert viewers into clients)
Ways to repurpose posts (to save time)
Stat to know: According to HubSpot’s 2024 State of Marketing Report, content marketing costs 62% less than outbound marketing and generates 3x as many leads.
4. “Help me write a compelling offer for my
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, including who it’s for and why they should care.”
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You can have a great product, but if you can’t explain what it is and why it matters, it won’t sell. I’ve learned this the hard way—more than once.
This prompt helps you craft a clear, simple offer that speaks directly to the people you want to help. ChatGPT can help with:
Your elevator pitch
Website copy or product descriptions
Instagram bio or email subject lines
A simple call-to-action
Let’s say you’re launching a resume writing service. You could ask:
“Write a persuasive offer for a resume writing service for tech professionals with 3-5 years of experience who are looking for remote jobs.”
You’ll get a clear message that resonates with your ideal client, and you can refine it until it sounds like you.
5. “What are 5 ways to scale this business once I reach $2K/month in revenue?”
Once your side hustle is making consistent money, it’s time to think bigger. You don’t want to be stuck trading hours for dollars forever. This prompt helps you start planning for scale.
You might get ideas like:
Turning your service into a course
Hiring contractors to take on client work
Creating a paid community
Offering group coaching
Building a productized service
When I asked this about my own writing business, ChatGPT suggested packaging my services into a subscription model—which I eventually did. That one change helped me earn more without burning out.
FAQs
Do I need to be “techy” to use ChatGPT for business?
Not at all. If you can type in a question and read the answer, you’re good. Just think of it as a super helpful brainstorming partner.
Is ChatGPT going to replace my creativity?
No. It’s a tool, not a replacement for your ideas or your voice. Use it to speed things up—not to do all the thinking for you.
Can I make $100K from a side hustle?
Absolutely. Plenty of people are doing it. But it won’t happen overnight, and it’s not passive income from day one. The key is to start small, be consistent, and build toward leverage over time.
Isn’t everyone using ChatGPT now? Won’t that make it harder to stand out?
Yes, a lot of people are using it—but most are using it generically. If you bring your unique skills, experiences, and perspective into the prompts, you’ll stand out just fine.
Final Thoughts
Turning your 9-5 into a $100K business isn’t just a dream—it’s a process.
The right prompts can turn vague ideas into real action.
ChatGPT is just a tool, but if you use it with intention, it can become one of the most powerful business partners you’ve ever had.
So here’s the question:
What’s stopping you from starting today?
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