🧾 Digital products (templates, planners, printables)
Make once, sell many times: spreadsheets, Canva templates, planners, study notes, design assets.
Modelled monthly, once steady
€50 – €800
Capital
from €0 (typical €100)
Your time
40h to set up, ~8h a month
Time to income
first ~2 mo · steady ~6 mo
The assumptions behind that range
- 10–40 listings live.
- Average price €5–€20, 10–60 sales a month across all listings after 6 months — most listings sell rarely; a few sell most.
- After platform fees of roughly 10–20%.
A model, not a promise. Your result can be lower, including zero.
First three steps
- Pick a narrow audience you understand
- Make 5 products solving one problem well
- List them, then add one a week for 3 months
Before you start
- Only sell what you have the rights to (fonts, images, templates).
- EU VAT rules apply to digital sales to consumers — the platform may collect it, check which.
Risks
- Most listings sell little; income concentrates in a few winners.
- Platform rule or algorithm changes.
Irish tax
Declaring side income as a PAYE worker (2026). Side income is taxable from the first euro. If your net non-PAYE income is under €5,000 (and gross under €30,000) you can declare it on Form 12 through myAccount. At €5,000 net or more you are a “chargeable person” and must register for self-assessment and file Form 11 by 31 October. Source · reviewed 2026-09-25
VAT registration thresholds (2026). You must register for VAT once turnover exceeds, or is likely to exceed, €42,500 a year for services or €85,000 for goods. Source · reviewed 2026-09-25
Royalties and digital sales (2026). Royalties (books, music, stock media) and digital product sales are taxable income. The artists’ exemption can cover some creative royalties up to €50,000 a year if Revenue has approved the work. Source · reviewed 2026-09-25