Introduction

Turning a side hustle into a significant passive income stream isn’t just a dream—it’s happening right now. In this post, you’ll discover real coaches and entrepreneurs who transformed their skills and knowledge into sustainable, scalable businesses, freeing themselves from trading time for money.

1. Chris Haroun — From Banking to Over $1M in Passive Income on Udemy

Chris Haroun, once a finance professional at Goldman Sachs and hedge funds, created the highly rated Udemy course “An Entire MBA in 1 Course.” He leveraged his expertise in business to build a massive passive income source, reportedly earning over $1 million from his Udemy courses, while reaching nearly 2 million students globally.

2. Bernadette Joy — “Lazy” Side Hustle to £225K/Year in Coaching

Bernadette Joy launched Crush Your Money Goals during the pandemic to shift away from her dress-rental business. Leveraging her psychology and business background, she crafted online and Zoom-based finance masterclasses. Today, she earns £225,000 annually, working only 20 hours a week, and even paid off her £240,000 in debt. (Read her story)

3. Lisa Johnson — From Debt to £1M in One Hour with Passive Income Strategy

Lisa Johnson, a business consultant and author, overcame £35,000 in debt and used her experience to build passive income through online consulting and courses with That Strategy Co. Within seven years, she scaled to multi-million-pound success—making £1 million in just one hour—and has generated over £20 million in revenue. (Read her story)

4. Ben Hawes — Photo Booth to Multifaceted Creative Coaching Business

After layoffs during the pandemic, Ben Hawes launched a photo-booth rental business and replaced his corporate income. In 2024, he expanded into creative entrepreneurship coaching, offering workshops, performances, and a book titled How to Start. His diversified income streams allowed him to continue blending creativity and business sustainably. (Read his story)

5. Why Passive Income Matters for Coaches

Passive income allows coaches to break free from the limits of one-on-one sessions. It offers:

• Scalability: Reach hundreds or thousands using experiences already documented in evergreen formats.
• Stability: Maintain revenue even when you’re not actively coaching—essential for burnout prevention and flexibility.
• Freedom: Design your lifestyle around what matters—be it travel, family, or creativity.

6. How to Build Your Own Passive Income Stream

Strategy	Description
Online Courses	Package your expertise into a self-paced course. Use evergreen sales funnels to drive automated sales.
Membership & Community	Offer ongoing value via subscriptions—ideal for engagement and recurring revenue.
Digital Products & eBooks	Share bite-sized knowledge or templates for effortless monetization post-launch.
Affiliate Marketing & Content	Monetize recommendations or content (like YouTube or blogs) to earn commissions or ad revenue.

7. Takeaways — What These Stories Teach Us

• Real people, real results: These aren’t hypothetical—they’re founders who built lucrative income streams around their passions.
• Start with your current work: All you need is a strong framework or coaching niche—then scale it through courses or content.
• Diversify: Most success stories didn’t rely on just one source—they combined courses, coaching, membership, and more.
• Map to your life: Enjoy location flexibility, financial security, and freedom—all while impacting more people.

Final Thoughts

These stories show that with strategy, commitment, and the right tools, you can transform a side project into a thriving passive business. From teaching on Udemy or launching YouTube, to hosting workshops or launching a membership, the path is yours to create.

Ready to start? I’d love to help you outline your own passive-income coaching model—from course design to funnel setup to content plan. Let’s make your journey the next success story!