How to Start Freelancing & Consulting With AI, Step by Step
Built only from the steps described in 10 sourced Freelancing & Consulting cases. Each step is attributed to the case it comes from; we do not add steps of our own.
How they started
Voice interview
A 30-minute call to capture each client's tone and stories.
From Sean, Provo, Utah (Side Hustle School episode 3103), step 1. Close to $3,000/mo, Self-Reported
Develop a prompting skill
Learn what makes generations good, not just which tool to use.
From Cami (@camiinthisthang), step 1. $30,000+ total, Self-Reported
Research with GPT-4
He asks GPT-4 specific questions about the topic and checks the sources it links.
From Tony Dong, step 1. CA$238,000 projected for 2023 (about $180,000), Independently Documented
Understand the text
He reads the AI draft closely and researches unfamiliar topics.
From Sultan Ali, step 1. More than $3,500 total, Independently Documented
Spot the demand
Clients started asking whether she edited AI-generated content.
From Gabrielle Gerbus, step 1. $33,200 so far in 2023, Independently Documented
Apply and onboard
He applied to Outlier and got projects about three weeks later.
From Ryan Adams, step 1. About $31,000 total, Partially Verified
Get onto platforms
She passed literacy and guideline tests on several AI data platforms, which she says can take days and involve waitlists.
From Amanda Overcash, step 1. Nearly $8,000 in under three weeks, Independently Documented
Bring deep expertise
micro1 recruits domain experts; his background is engineering, philosophy and years of business development in cloud and AI.
From Utkarsh Amitabh, step 1. Nearly $300,000 since January 2025, at $200 an hour, Independently Documented
Join a travel platform
She set up a profile on Fora to earn booking commissions.
From Nicole Cueto, step 1. $670 a month on average, Independently Documented
Start at entry level
A $15-an-hour AI training gig, no experience needed.
From Mo Zohourian, step 1. $100/hour, Independently Documented
What they did next
Collect updates
Clients send news through a Google Form.
From Sean, Provo, Utah (Side Hustle School episode 3103), step 2. Close to $3,000/mo, Self-Reported
Draft with ChatGPT
Prompts tailored to each client.
From Sean, Provo, Utah (Side Hustle School episode 3103), step 3. Close to $3,000/mo, Self-Reported
Serve clients
Direct image and video generations as a freelancer.
From Cami (@camiinthisthang), step 2. $30,000+ total, Self-Reported
Systematise
Build a library of proven prompt elements to speed up work.
From Cami (@camiinthisthang), step 3. $30,000+ total, Self-Reported
Outline
He asks for an outline with titles and subheads.
From Tony Dong, step 2. CA$238,000 projected for 2023 (about $180,000), Independently Documented
Write it himself
He takes over fully for the analytical writing.
From Tony Dong, step 3. CA$238,000 projected for 2023 (about $180,000), Independently Documented
Correct and rewrite
Grammarly fixes errors, then he rewrites each sentence by hand.
From Sultan Ali, step 2. More than $3,500 total, Independently Documented
Check citations and detectors
He confirms references are real and runs plagiarism and AI checks.
From Sultan Ali, step 3. More than $3,500 total, Independently Documented
Price it separately
AI editing starts at $100 for 2,000 words, almost double her usual rate.
From Gabrielle Gerbus, step 2. $33,200 so far in 2023, Independently Documented
Prove the change
She shows detection scores before and after her edit.
From Gabrielle Gerbus, step 3. $33,200 so far in 2023, Independently Documented
Take on projects
About 30 projects in 18 months, including video and voice work.
From Ryan Adams, step 2. About $31,000 total, Partially Verified
Fit it around a job
20 to 25 hours a week, up to 30 when bonus pay is offered.
From Ryan Adams, step 3. About $31,000 total, Partially Verified
Take on projects
She picks up transcription, labeling, ad review and chatbot evaluation work, with pay depending on the project.
From Amanda Overcash, step 2. Nearly $8,000 in under three weeks, Independently Documented
Keep quality high
Platforms audit contractors, and a failed audit can cost a day of work or a place on the project.
From Amanda Overcash, step 3. Nearly $8,000 in under three weeks, Independently Documented
Break problems down
He turns business problems into precise prompts that a model can work through.
From Utkarsh Amitabh, step 2. Nearly $300,000 since January 2025, at $200 an hour, Independently Documented
Find the mistakes
He reviews responses for errors and explains where the model went wrong.
From Utkarsh Amitabh, step 3. Nearly $300,000 since January 2025, at $200 an hour, Independently Documented
Draft with ChatGPT
She prompts ChatGPT for a detailed itinerary that fits the client's request.
From Nicole Cueto, step 2. $670 a month on average, Independently Documented
Fact-check and book
She verifies the suggestions, then books flights, reservations and excursions.
From Nicole Cueto, step 3. $670 a month on average, Independently Documented
Pass assessments
Platform assessments opened higher-paying projects.
From Mo Zohourian, step 2. $100/hour, Independently Documented
Specialize
His sales background led to $100-an-hour work.
From Mo Zohourian, step 3. $100/hour, Independently Documented
How they grew
Edit, fact-check, schedule
Human review before scheduling in tools such as Buffer.
From Sean, Provo, Utah (Side Hustle School episode 3103), step 4. Close to $3,000/mo, Self-Reported
Polish
He runs drafts through Grammarly before sending them to editors.
From Tony Dong, step 4. CA$238,000 projected for 2023 (about $180,000), Independently Documented
Deliver with reports
He sends the edit with the check reports and revises until the client is happy.
From Sultan Ali, step 4. More than $3,500 total, Independently Documented
Set limits
After burning out, she stopped working weekends and fits two to eight hours around her job and daughter.
From Amanda Overcash, step 4. Nearly $8,000 in under three weeks, Independently Documented
Fit it around life
He works a few hours each night alongside his other roles.
From Utkarsh Amitabh, step 4. Nearly $300,000 since January 2025, at $200 an hour, Independently Documented
Freelancing & Consulting: common questions
How much do people make with Freelancing & Consulting and AI?
Across the 3 of our 10 sourced cases that report a monthly figure, amounts range from $670 to $15,000 a month, with a median of $3,000. These are what each source reports, not typical results.
How much does it cost to start?
From nothing for AI training work to about $32 a month in AI and writing tools in our cases. 2 of 10 cases disclose a startup cost.
How long until the first dollar?
From about three weeks to the first month in our cases. This comes from what our cases report.
Which AI tools do these cases use most?
ChatGPT (5 cases), Fiverr (2 cases). Only tools named in the sources are counted.
How reliable are these income figures?
7 of 10 cases are independently documented, meaning a news outlet says it reviewed records. 2 are self-reported. Every case links its source.
What are the main risks?
Income stops when client work stops. AI output can invent facts and needs checking. Clients may later bring the work in-house.
How many of these cases say when they made their first dollar?
4 of 10 cases state a time to first revenue. For example: Sean, Provo, Utah (Side Hustle School episode 3103): "Within the first month"; Sultan Ali: "First order in March 2023, a few months after ChatGPT launched"; Gabrielle Gerbus: "AI editing requests started soon after ChatGPT launched in November 2022". The rest do not say, so treat any single timeline as one example, not a norm.
What went wrong or held these cases back?
10 of 10 cases list limitations or risks drawn from their sources. Examples: Sean, Provo, Utah (Side Hustle School episode 3103): ChatGPT sometimes invented statistics and names; Cami (@camiinthisthang): No time period given for the $30,000; Tony Dong: The figure is total freelance income, so it does not isolate what AI added. 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.