Want to write once and earn for years? Creating an ebook is a top side hustle in 2025, letting you share your knowledge and build passive income from home. From fitness guides to budgeting tips, ebooks sell for $2–$20 on platforms like Amazon, with no inventory needed. No publishing degree required. Here’s how to create an ebook for passive income, step by step.

Step 1: Choose a Topic with Demand

Pick a subject you know and buyers want:

• Your Expertise: Good at fitness? Write a “30-Day Home Workout Plan.” Skilled at budgeting? Create a “Debt-Free Blueprint.”
• Market Trends: Browse Amazon’s Kindle Store or Gumroad for hot genres like self-help, productivity, or parenting.
• Quick Value: Solve one problem (e.g., “Organize Your Week in 5 Steps”).

Step 2: Write Your Ebook

Keep it concise and actionable:

• Length: Aim for 5,000–15,000 words (20–50 pages). Short, focused ebooks sell best.
• Structure: Include an intro, 5–10 chapters, and a conclusion. Add extras like checklists or templates (e.g., a weekly budget sheet).
• Tool: Use Google Docs (free) for writing. Stick to 12pt font, 1.5 spacing for readability.

Step 3: Design and Format

Make your ebook look professional without spending:

• Cover: Design a bold cover in Canva (free) with a clear title (e.g., “Fitness for Busy Moms”) and vibrant stock images (free from Unsplash).
• Interior: Add headers, bullet points, and simple graphics from Canva. Export as a PDF in Google Docs.
• Formatting: For Amazon KDP, use Kindle Create (free) to optimize for e-readers. For Gumroad, a PDF works fine.

Step 4: Publish Your Ebook

Choose a platform to sell:

• Amazon KDP: Free to publish, 70% royalties on $2.99–$9.99 ebooks (e.g., $2–$7/sale). Reaches millions via Kindle.
• Gumroad: Free, 10% fee per sale. Sell PDFs for $5–$20 to niche audiences.
• Etsy: List for 20¢, 6.5% transaction fee. Ideal for planners or creative guides.

Step 5: Market for Passive Sales

Drive buyers without constant effort:

• Platform SEO: Use keywords in your KDP title (e.g., “2025 Fitness Ebook”) and description. On Etsy, add tags like “budget planner.”
• Pinterest: Create Canva pins (e.g., “Best Meal Prep Guide”) linking to your listing. Pins drive 50% of digital product sales.
• Social Media: Share in niche groups on Facebook or X (e.g., fitness or finance communities).

Step 6: Scale Your Income

Grow for true passive income:

• More Ebooks: Write 2–5 related titles (e.g., “Advanced Workouts” after “Beginner Fitness”).
• Bundles: Sell multiple ebooks together on Gumroad for $20–$50.
• Email List: Use Mailchimp (free) to share new releases with buyers.

Your 30-Day Plan

• Days 1–3: Pick a topic, outline 10 chapters.
• Days 4–15: Write and edit your ebook (1,000 words/day).
• Days 16–20: Design cover and format.
• Days 21–25: Upload to KDP or Gumroad, create listings.
• Days 26–30: Share pins and posts to drive sales.

Ebooks are a write-once, earn-forever hustle. What’s your ebook idea? Share in the comments, and I’ll suggest a platform to maximize it!