📰 Paid or sponsored newsletter
A regular email on a niche topic, earning from sponsors or paid subscribers once it has an audience.
Modelled monthly, once steady
€0 – €700
Capital
from €0 (typical €0)
Your time
20h to set up, ~16h a month
Time to income
first ~6 mo · steady ~12 mo
The assumptions behind that range
- 1,000–5,000 subscribers after a year.
- Either 2–5% pay €5 a month, or sponsors pay €20–€40 per 1,000 subscribers per issue, weekly.
- Many newsletters never reach this.
A model, not a promise. Your result can be lower, including zero.
First three steps
- Choose a niche with buyers (professionals, hobbies with spending)
- Publish 8 issues before charging or pitching sponsors
- Grow through one channel you already use
Before you start
- GDPR: consent and an unsubscribe link on every email.
Risks
- Audience growth is slow and uncertain.
- Ongoing writing time — semi-passive at best.
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