How to Make 6 Figures As A Sales? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a sales? Good for you! Being a sales is a highly respectable and well-paid profession, and there's no reason why you can't earn a high income if you put your mind to it.
In this blog post, we'll look at some of the best ways to make more money as a sales - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Digital products ($242K/month)
Exploring the idea of selling digital products could substantially boost your income and even set you on the path to making a six-figure salary. As a sales professional, you already have the skills to understand customer needs and close deals. With digital products like ebooks, courses, or even software, you could leverage your expertise to create valuable content or tools that can be sold repeatedly without worrying about inventory.
Digital products are highly popular and easy to produce. You have the freedom to choose what kind of digital product to create, whether it's an app, a membership site, or an instructional course. Since these products can be sold directly from your website with minimal overhead, the risk is low and the profit potential is high. The digital marketplace offers endless possibilities to supplement your income or even build a new business from scratch.
How much you can make: $10,417 — $1,766,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
FilterGrade is an eCommerce platform offering digital assets such as photo filters and video templates; attracting over 450,000 monthly users and generating approximately 30k a month, the founders worked hard to build a valuable marketplace for creators while focusing on digital marketing, partnerships, and content creation.
2. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
One effective way to make six figures as a sales professional is by starting an ecommerce store. By leveraging your sales skills and entrepreneurial spirit, you could supplement your income or even create a new primary source of revenue. The ecommerce model offers numerous advantages, including lower overhead costs, increased flexibility, and the ability to reach a vast audience.
With ecommerce booming due to its convenience and efficiency, consumers are increasingly inclined to shop online. This trend creates countless opportunities for sales professionals to capture an ever-growing market. Starting an ecommerce store involves setting up a user-friendly website, integrating payment processing, and managing your inventory effectively.
By capitalizing on these advantages, you could tap into the lucrative world of online retail and make six figures through efficient sales strategies and exceptional customer service.
How much you can make: $350 — $13,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Southern Elegance Candle Company, founded by D'Shawn Russell, started as a side hustle making around $200 per weekend at a local Farmers Market, but now averages approximately $20,000 per month in sales across their retail site, wholesale site, and Faire.
3. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could significantly supplement your income and help you achieve six-figure earnings by leveraging your sales expertise and providing valuable insights to your audience. Given that blogs are rated as the 5th most trustworthy source for online information and attract 77% of internet users, you have a prime opportunity to reach a broad audience that values your knowledge and experience.
By focusing on a niche that you enjoy and creating a consistent content strategy, you could quickly build a loyal following. Each month, approximately 409 million people view over 20 billion pages, so a blog has tremendous potential for traffic. This traffic can translate into monetization opportunities through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and even selling your own products or services, making a blog a viable path to six-figure earnings.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
4. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketing business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income and potentially make six figures. As a sales professional, you might leverage your existing marketing skills to promote other companies' products or services, earning a commission for each sale made through your referral.
This opportunity allows you to start a business with minimal upfront investment since you don't need to create or own the products yourself. By signing up for affiliate programs in your preferred niche, you could receive unique tracking links to drive traffic and generate sales, thereby boosting your earnings.
For entrepreneurial-minded folks, the affiliate marketing model offers flexibility and scalability—key factors that could help you achieve significant financial milestones.
How much you can make: $18,000 — $83,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
5. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a lucrative way to supplement your income and potentially make six figures as a sales professional. With YouTube's established monetization system and vast audience, you could share your sales expertise, tips, and success stories to attract viewers and build a loyal following. In addition, once you reach the required threshold of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours within 12 months, you could join the YouTube Partner Program to start generating ad revenue.
Beyond ad revenue, your channel could open up other income streams like sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and online courses. For entrepreneurial-minded sales professionals, this could be an exciting avenue to not only educate others but also create a new revenue stream that aligns with your passion for content creation.
How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.
6. Create an online course ($82.8K/month)
Creating an online course could help you to make six figures as a sales professional by leveraging your expertise to teach others specialized skills in your field. By identifying educational gaps and developing engaging video lessons with supplementary materials, you could attract a wide audience eager to learn from your experience. This not only establishes you as an authority but also builds a steady stream of passive income.
Moreover, with the flexibility of self-paced or cohort-based structures, you could cater to a variety of learning preferences, broadening your potential student base. For entrepreneurial-minded sales pros, launching an online course platform offers a low startup cost opportunity to monetize your instructional talents while serving lifelong learners seeking convenient and valuable education.
How much you can make: $275 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
7. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Starting a side business as a social media influencer could significantly supplement your income, potentially leading to six-figure earnings as a sales professional. With brands increasingly turning to platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok to engage their target audience, your established credibility and persuasive skills in sales can become valuable assets in the social media realm.
By aligning yourself with a popular niche and consistently creating relevant content, you could attract a vast audience and earn through brand partnerships, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing. Leveraging the power of social media, you can expand your influence and create multiple streams of income, thereby enhancing your financial stability and career growth.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $166,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)
How long does it take to build: 155 days (?)
How one mother built a profitable frugal motherhood, life, and travel blog from scratch, using Instagram, Pinterest, and paid sponsorships to grow from 0 to 18.5K followers and generate $1,500-$3,000 per month in less than two years.
8. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could significantly boost your income and pave the way toward six figures in sales. As a career coach, you focus on providing personalized guidance and strategic services, such as resume building, interview prep, and workplace advancement. By leveraging your expertise to help others navigate their professional growth, you could create a high-demand service catering to ambitious professionals.
The flexibility of offering both in-person and virtual meetings allows you to build a diverse client base and maximize your reach. For those with a knack for motivating and a strong background in human resources or sales, this venture lets you monetize your natural skills while enjoying the freedom of setting your own schedule. With the growing need for career transitions and professional development, a well-executed coaching practice could become a lucrative side business or even a full-time career.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $235,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Wall Street Oasis, the largest online community focused on careers in finance, has over 100 million visitors during its 14-year history and is currently receiving over 2 million visits per month, offering interview courses and mentorship services, in addition to building and investing in a thriving online community.
9. Start a social media marketing agency ($386K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could be an excellent way to supplement your income and potentially make six figures in sales. With minimal time commitment, you could automate many tasks using social media marketing tools, allowing you to efficiently manage and serve clients. Developing a solid social media marketing strategy will be key to attracting and retaining customers.
Creating an agency portfolio to showcase your services could help you reach your target audience effectively. This side business could be particularly lucrative, whether you aim to clear your utility bills, finance your education, or save for a vacation. With the right approach, you could turn this side venture into a full-fledged business opportunity.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $4,166,667/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
10. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a lucrative way to supplement your income and potentially generate six figures, especially if you're entrepreneurial-minded. Choosing a niche that aligns with your passion and expertise in sales could draw in listeners interested in sales techniques, strategies, and success stories. By sharing your insights and interviewing industry leaders, you could not only build a loyal audience but also position yourself as a thought leader in the sales community.
With basic recording equipment and an affordable hosting platform, you could launch your podcast on a budget. As your audience grows, you could explore monetization opportunities such as sponsorships, advertising, or even creating premium content. Promote your podcast through social media, online communities, and word of mouth to attract and retain listeners, turning the podcast into a significant additional revenue stream.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
11. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could significantly supplement your income and pave the way for making six figures as a sales professional. Due to the flexibility freelance writing offers, you could conveniently manage your time, working from home and defining your schedule to fit around your primary sales responsibilities. This side gig could enable you to tap into various niches and topics, diversifying your skills and potentially opening doors to new opportunities within the sales industry.
To earn good money as a freelance writer, you would need strong writing skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and proper communication abilities. Being a self-starter and keeping up-to-date with current writing tools and trends could set you apart from the competition. By leveraging these personal qualities, your freelance writing business could grow, eventually contributing significantly to achieving the six-figure income mark.
How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
