📚 Self-published books and guides
Ebooks and print-on-demand books on a topic you know, earning royalties per copy.
Modelled monthly, once steady
€0 – €400
Capital
from €0 (typical €300)
Your time
120h to set up, ~4h a month
Time to income
first ~3 mo · steady ~9 mo
The assumptions behind that range
- 1–3 titles.
- 0–100 copies a month across them, €2–€5 royalty per copy.
- Most titles sell a handful of copies; non-fiction that solves a problem does best.
A model, not a promise. Your result can be lower, including zero.
First three steps
- Pick a practical topic with steady searches
- Write a short, useful first edition
- Publish ebook and print-on-demand; gather reviews
Before you start
- You own the rights to all text and images.
Risks
- Many books sell almost nothing.
- Marketing is on you.
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
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