1️⃣Shopify
Launched a store in a weekend and watched sales roll in. Built-in payments, apps, and themes make it a money machine even if you hate tech.
Address: 151 O'Connor St, Ottawa, Canada
- Fast to launch
- High-converting themes
- Built-in payments and checkout
- Huge app ecosystem
- Abandoned cart recovery
- One-click upsells with apps
- Monthly fees add up with apps
- Takes a cut on some payment setups
2️⃣Upwork
Filled my pipeline with clients on week one. The platform handles contracts and payments so I can focus on delivery and upsells.
Address: San Francisco, USA
- Instant access to global demand
- Escrow protection
- Recurring contracts from happy clients
- Powerful search and filters
- Built-in time tracking and invoices
- Service fees reduce take-home
- Competitive bids require sharp profiles
3️⃣Gumroad
Perfect for spinning up digital product income without coding. Simple pages convert, but you'll outgrow customization fast.
- No-code digital product sales
- Email buyer list built-in
- Pay-what-you-want pricing
- Fast payouts
- Transaction fees cut margins
- Limited storefront customization
- Fewer growth tools than full e-commerce
- VAT handling can be confusing
4️⃣beehiiv
Turned a dormant list into a revenue channel with sponsorships and paid tiers. Growth tools are solid, but deliverability and analytics can be spiky.
Address: New York, USA
- Built-in referrals for list growth
- Ad network and sponsorship tools
- Paid subscriptions supported
- Clean editor and landing pages
- Audience-building still takes time
- Analytics sometimes lag or fluctuate
- Deliverability depends on your setup
- Fewer integrations than older ESPs
5️⃣Canva Pro
Cranked out ad creatives and thumbnails without a designer. Great for speed, but premium look still needs a careful touch.
Address: Sydney, Australia
- Huge template library
- Brand kits and quick resizing
- Team collaboration
- One-click background remover
- Designs can feel generic
- Some assets require extra licensing
- Heavy files can slow the editor
- Not ideal for complex brand systems