How to Start AI Courses & Education With AI, Step by Step
Built only from the steps described in 7 sourced AI Courses & Education cases. Each step is attributed to the case it comes from; we do not add steps of our own.
How they started
Learn the tool hands-on
He spent hours a day using ChatGPT and reading what others published about it.
From Lance Junck, step 1. $34,913 profit, Independently Documented
Pick a niche
He aimed AI tips at solopreneurs rather than general AI news.
From Ole Lehmann (The AI Solopreneur), step 1. $176,885 in gross revenue, Independently Documented
Post daily
Daily LinkedIn posts, a Substack newsletter and a YouTube channel.
From AI Never Sleeps (Jonathan Chan), step 1. $19.2K in one month, Self-Reported
Build as students
Started the app while in college.
From MathGPT (Nour Gajial and Yanni Kouloumbis), step 1. $50K/mo, Self-Reported
Fund it with exits
He sold eight tools and used the money.
From Ben Issen (Side School), step 1. Six figures in revenue within a few months, Self-Reported
Build a newsletter audience
A daily AI newsletter with 100K+ subscribers.
From Ben Tossell (Ben's Bites), step 1. 7-figure business, Self-Reported
Sign up
Students join for exam prep.
From Evrika Study (Patrick Neicu), step 1. $115 MRR, Independently Documented
What they did next
Film a beginner course
A course of more than seven hours with 50 lectures, filmed in three weeks.
From Lance Junck, step 2. $34,913 profit, Independently Documented
Publish on Udemy
Priced at $20 at the time of the article, launched in late December 2022.
From Lance Junck, step 3. $34,913 profit, Independently Documented
Post daily
He wrote several threads a day with help from ChatGPT.
From Ole Lehmann (The AI Solopreneur), step 2. $176,885 in gross revenue, Independently Documented
Add a newsletter
He started a newsletter once the account passed 100,000 followers.
From Ole Lehmann (The AI Solopreneur), step 3. $176,885 in gross revenue, Independently Documented
Sell a cohort course
The 8-week Zero to Builder course sells at $2,999 a seat; the first cohort sold out.
From AI Never Sleeps (Jonathan Chan), step 2. $19.2K in one month, Self-Reported
Add a community
A paid Skool community and selective agency work.
From AI Never Sleeps (Jonathan Chan), step 3. $19.2K in one month, Self-Reported
Sell an unlimited plan
The first sale was MathGPT Unlimited.
From MathGPT (Nour Gajial and Yanni Kouloumbis), step 2. $50K/mo, Self-Reported
Run creators
An influencer program with 150+ creators on TikTok and Instagram.
From MathGPT (Nour Gajial and Yanni Kouloumbis), step 3. $50K/mo, Self-Reported
Build lean
He launched with a small setup.
From Ben Issen (Side School), step 2. Six figures in revenue within a few months, Self-Reported
Sell directly
Growth was sales-driven.
From Ben Issen (Side School), step 3. Six figures in revenue within a few months, Self-Reported
Pivot to education
An AI education portal.
From Ben Tossell (Ben's Bites), step 2. 7-figure business, Self-Reported
Sell lifetime access
A one-time lifetime plan instead of monthly billing.
From Ben Tossell (Ben's Bites), step 3. 7-figure business, Self-Reported
Study with AI
AI-generated practice and help.
From Evrika Study (Patrick Neicu), step 2. $115 MRR, Independently Documented
Subscribe
A paid plan unlocks more.
From Evrika Study (Patrick Neicu), step 3. $115 MRR, Independently Documented
How they grew
Rank and promote
He used his SEO and marketing experience to rank in Udemy search and promoted the course on LinkedIn.
From Lance Junck, step 4. $34,913 profit, Independently Documented
Extend to companies
He also took paid speaking and training work teaching companies to use ChatGPT.
From Lance Junck, step 5. $34,913 profit, Independently Documented
Launch what followers ask for
Followers asked for a course, so he built one.
From Ole Lehmann (The AI Solopreneur), step 4. $176,885 in gross revenue, Independently Documented
AI Courses & Education: common questions
How much do people make with AI Courses & Education and AI?
Across the 4 of our 7 sourced cases that report a monthly figure, amounts range from $115 to $50,000 a month, with a median of $19,200. These are what each source reports, not typical results.
How much does it cost to start?
None of these cases disclose a startup cost. 0 of 7 cases disclose a startup cost.
How long until the first dollar?
From the first week (a Udemy course) to about seven months of posting before a course launch, in the cases that say. This comes from what our cases report.
Which AI tools do these cases use most?
ChatGPT (2 cases), Claude (1 case). Only tools named in the sources are counted.
How reliable are these income figures?
3 of 7 cases are independently documented, meaning a news outlet says it reviewed records. 4 are self-reported. Every case links its source.
What are the main risks?
AI tools change fast, so course content goes out of date. Income figures from course sellers double as marketing. Marketplace platforms control pricing and discovery.
How many of these cases say when they made their first dollar?
3 of 7 cases state a time to first revenue. For example: Lance Junck: "Within the first week (90 students enrolled, per the source)"; Ole Lehmann (The AI Solopreneur): "About seven months from first posts to course launch"; Ben Issen (Side School): "A few months". The rest do not say, so treat any single timeline as one example, not a norm.
What went wrong or held these cases back?
7 of 7 cases list limitations or risks drawn from their sources. Examples: Lance Junck: He launched very early, when few ChatGPT courses existed; the source says Udemy listed more than 429 ChatGPT classes by April 2023; Ole Lehmann (The AI Solopreneur): Gross revenue, not profit; AI Never Sleeps (Jonathan Chan): Self-reported, one month only. Each case page lists them in full.
Do I have to report this income to the IRS if I never get a 1099-K?
Yes. The IRS says that whether or not you receive a Form 1099-K, you must report all income from selling goods or services on your tax return. Payment apps and online marketplaces must send a 1099-K when payments for goods or services total over $20,000 in more than 200 transactions, but they may send one for lower amounts. Source: IRS, "Understanding your Form 1099-K" (irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k), checked 2026-10-20. General information, not tax advice.
Do I owe self-employment tax on side hustle income in the US?
According to the IRS, you must pay self-employment tax and file Schedule SE if your net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more. The rate is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare), and you may need to pay estimated taxes quarterly. Source: IRS, "Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes)" (irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employment-tax-social-security-and-medicare-taxes), checked 2026-10-20. General information, not tax advice.