Most people overcomplicate starting a business.
They think they need a big audience, a fancy website, or paid ads to land clients. Wrong.
I built my agency, Fastmarkit, by doing one thing consistently:
- Writing about what I knew
- Sharing insights on LinkedIn
- Attracting the right people who needed my help
No paid ads. No massive following. Just showing up, solving problems, and letting the right people come to me.
Back then, content was my only way to grow. Now? It’s even easier and faster—if you follow a structured system.
You don’t need:
- A big audience
- A fancy website
- Paid ads
You do need:
- A clear offer that solves a real business problem
- A consistent content strategy to build trust
- A repeatable system to generate leads & close deals
That’s it.
If you want to build a six-figure consulting side hustle—without wasting time on things that don’t move the needle—here’s the exact step-by-step plan to make it happen in 6-12 months.
Step 1: Pick a Profitable Niche
The fastest way to start making money in your business is to solve a painful problem that businesses are actively looking to fix.
Not all niches are created equal. Some sound great in theory but have low demand or price sensitivity. Others solve problems so urgent that businesses will gladly pay to make them go away.
If you want to land paying clients quickly, focus on a niche that:
- Solves an urgent problem (not just a nice-to-have improvement)
- Has buyers with budget (no point in solving a problem for people who can’t afford to pay)
- Leads to repeat business or high-ticket offers (so you don’t have to constantly chase new clients)
Here are three proven niches that check those boxes.
1. Marketing & Demand Generation
Every business needs customers. But most struggle to generate leads, convert them, or scale their revenue.
If you can help businesses fix this, you’ll always have clients.
Example: “I help SaaS startups fix their outbound and get 20+ sales calls per month.”
Why this works:
- Sales teams are always under pressure to hit targets
- Founders and CEOs will pay to fix revenue gaps
- Marketing ROI is easier to measure, making your offer highly valuable
2. Business Growth & Operations
Some businesses don’t have a marketing problem—they have a scalability problem. They’re stuck at a revenue plateau, struggling with inefficient operations, or losing customers faster than they can replace them.
Example: “I help service businesses go from $10K to $50K/month by fixing their sales process.”
Why this works:
- Small and mid-sized businesses struggle with growth bottlenecks
- Many don’t know how to systemize or scale beyond a certain point
- The value you provide is directly tied to revenue and efficiency
3. AI & Automation Services
AI is no longer a trend—it’s the biggest shift in business productivity since the internet. Companies know they need it, but most don’t know how to implement it.
Example: “I build AI automations that save founders 20+ hours per week.”
Why this works:
- AI and automation create immediate, measurable efficiency gains
- Businesses are actively looking for ways to cut manual work and improve speed
- High demand + low competition = a huge opportunity
4. Personal Branding & Content Strategy
People buy from people. A strong personal brand can drive inbound leads, position someone as a thought leader, and create long-term business opportunities.
Example: “I help founders and execs build a LinkedIn presence that drives inbound leads and new business opportunities.”
Why this works:
- Founders and business owners know they need credibility and visibility
- A well-executed content strategy directly leads to sales opportunities
- Most people don’t have the time, consistency, or strategy to grow their audience
This niche works well because:
- It’s service-based → You can manage content, strategy, or coaching for clients
- It’s easier to start → You don’t need deep tech or sales expertise—just a strong understanding of positioning and messaging
- It compounds over time → Clients stay with you if their brand starts driving business
The More Specific You Are, The Faster You’ll Get Clients
Saying “I help businesses grow” is too broad. Saying “I help B2B SaaS founders book 30+ sales calls per month using AI-powered outbound” is clear and compelling.
The more specific your offer, the easier it is for the right clients to find you.
Now that you’ve picked a niche, let’s move to Step 2: Build a Content System That Attracts Clients.
Step 2: Build a Content System to Get Clients (No Ads Needed)
Your content should do the selling for you before you even get on a call. The right content strategy positions you as the go-to expert, builds trust, and attracts high-value clients without needing a massive audience or ad spend.
Your content positions you as an expert, builds inbound leads, and makes selling easier. When done right, potential clients already know your expertise before you ever hop on a call, making conversions much smoother.
What to Post & Where to Post It
LinkedIn → Your Main Demand-Gen Channel
- Post 3-4x per week about industry problems and solutions.
- Share client wins, case studies, and insights from your experience.
- Engage with C-level executives and decision-makers in your space.
Twitter/X → Short, Tactical Insights
- Share quick frameworks, industry shifts, and bite-sized takeaways.
- Engage with industry leaders to boost visibility and credibility.
Newsletter → Own Your Audience
- Convert social media traffic into email subscribers.
- Share weekly deep dives with actionable insights that position you as an expert.
Blogging → Long-Form Credibility
- Write SEO-friendly articles that answer high-intent questions your ideal clients are searching for.
- Repurpose blog content into LinkedIn posts, Twitter threads, and email newsletters to maximize reach.
Example Content Topics for a Marketing Consultant
- Why most B2B outbound fails (and how to fix it)
- How I helped a startup 3X pipeline in 90 days
- The $100K email sequence playbook
Content isn’t about going viral—it’s about attracting the right buyers and making it obvious why they should work with you.
Once you have a content system running, the next step is turning that attention into consistent, inbound leads.
Ready for Step 3: Create a Simple Lead Gen Funnel? Let me know if you want any tweaks before moving forward.
Step 3: Turn Content Into Leads & Sales
Creating content is only half the equation. Once you have engaged readers, the next step is converting them into paying clients.
The goal isn’t just engagement—it’s intentional lead generation that moves people from consuming your content to booking a call.
Simple Lead-Gen System That Works Fast
1. Soft Calls-to-Action (CTAs) in Content
Your posts should naturally lead people to take action. Instead of hard pitching, use soft CTAs that invite engagement.
- Example: “Want the full strategy? Drop ‘GROWTH’ below, and I’ll send it.”
- People who engage are now warm leads and open to a conversation.
2. DM Outreach to Engaged Followers
The easiest way to turn likes and comments into leads is to start conversations.
- Example message: “Hey [Name], saw you liked my post on demand gen—are you currently trying to fix outbound?”
- Keep it natural and focused on helping, not just selling.
3. Offer a Low-Friction Lead Magnet
Give potential clients a quick win in exchange for their email. This builds trust and gives them a reason to stay in your ecosystem.
- Create a simple PDF guide or checklist that solves a specific problem.
- Example: “Download my B2B demand gen framework (free).”
- Once they opt in, you can nurture them through email sequences and follow-ups.
4. Make Booking Calls Effortless
If someone is interested, don’t make them jump through hoops.
- Use a Calendly link in your DMs and content so prospects can book a call in one click.
- Keep the call focused on their problem and how you can help—not a long-winded pitch.
The First 10 Clients Will Come From Your Network + Organic Content
You don’t need paid ads or complicated funnels to start. Your content + personal outreach is enough to land your first paying clients.
Once you’ve got this system running, the next step is optimizing your offer so you can scale without constantly chasing new leads.
Next up: Step 4—Create an Offer That Sells Itself. Let me know if you want any adjustments before moving forward.
Step 4: Package Your Offer for Recurring Revenue
Most people who start a service-based business struggle with one major issue: inconsistent income. They spend all their time chasing the next client, closing a deal, delivering the work, and then starting the cycle all over again.
The key to breaking out of this feast-or-famine cycle is structured pricing that allows for predictable, recurring revenue.
Instead of charging one-time fees for individual projects, build a model that keeps clients paying month after month.
Best Pricing Models for a Six-Figure Business
1. Project-Based: $3K – $10K Per Project
- Best for quick, high-impact deliverables that solve a specific problem.
- Example: Setting up an AI-powered automation for a sales team or optimizing a company’s demand generation process.
- Works well if the deliverable has a clear before-and-after transformation.
Pros:
- High cash injections per project
- Easier to sell because it has a defined scope
Cons:
- Income is inconsistent unless you stack projects
- Requires constant client acquisition to sustain revenue
2. Monthly Retainer: $2K – $5K Per Month
- Ideal for predictable, scalable revenue.
- Best suited for ongoing strategy, execution, and optimization.
- Example: Providing monthly demand-gen consulting, LinkedIn content strategy, or ongoing outbound lead generation.
Pros:
- Creates recurring revenue so you’re not constantly hunting for new clients
- Allows for long-term relationships and better client results
Cons:
- Requires clear client expectations and deliverables to avoid scope creep
- Not every client will be ready for a long-term commitment upfront
3. Done-for-You + AI Automation: $5K+ Setup, $2K+ Monthly
- A high-ticket offer where you build, implement, and manage automation for clients.
- Example: Setting up AI-powered outbound sales workflows, automating lead nurturing, or building a content repurposing system using AI.
- This model is high-value, high-margin, and ensures your clients depend on your systems.
Pros:
- Highly scalable and delivers long-term ROI for clients
- Once set up, it requires less manual work compared to traditional consulting
Cons:
- Clients may need education on the value of AI-driven systems
- Requires strong processes and automation tools to manage effectively
Sell Outcomes, Not Hours
Many service-based businesses make the mistake of selling time instead of results.
A weak offer:
- “I do LinkedIn ads for $X per hour.”
A strong offer:
- “I help B2B companies generate 30+ inbound leads per month using LinkedIn ads.”
Clients don’t care about the effort—you’re selling them a transformation.
Outcome: Build Recurring Income Instead of Chasing Clients
By structuring your offer around outcomes and recurring revenue, you stop relying on one-off deals and start building a sustainable, six-figure business.
Next up: Step 5—Scale Without Burning Out. Let me know if you want any refinements before I move forward.
Step 5: Automate & Scale Beyond $10K/Month
Once you hit $10K per month, your next challenge isn’t getting more clients—it’s freeing yourself from doing everything manually.
The biggest mistake people make at this stage is thinking more clients = more work. But if you build the right systems, automation, and delegation, your business can grow without you burning out.
Use AI to Scale Content Creation & Outreach
Instead of spending hours on follow-ups, content creation, and admin work, leverage AI and automation to run key parts of your business on autopilot.
- ChatGPT + Zapier → Automate follow-up emails and LinkedIn DMs to keep leads warm.
- HeyGen → Clone yourself with AI-generated videos for quick client updates and marketing content.
Build a Custom AI Assistant to Act as Your Virtual Assistant
- Use ChatGPT or a CustomGPT to handle client onboarding, research, and reporting.
- Automate scheduling, reminders, and content repurposing so you focus only on high-value work.
Start Paid Ads (Only After You Have Proof of Concept)
Once your content + organic lead gen is working, amplify what’s already driving results with paid ads.
- Retarget engaged visitors with LinkedIn & Facebook ads.
- Promote lead magnets, case studies, and high-value content to decision-makers who have already engaged with your brand.
Outcome: Your business runs without you having to do everything manually.
Your Roadmap to a Six-Figure Business
Success doesn’t come from luck or waiting for the “right time.” It comes from execution and consistency.
Here’s the roadmap to turning your expertise into a six-figure business:
- Month 1-3: Build content and attract your first leads.
- Month 4-6: Close your first 3-5 clients at $3K – $5K/month each.
- Month 7-12: Scale to $10K – $20K/month with retainers, automation, and paid ads.
This isn’t theory—it’s a repeatable system that works.
The best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time? Right now.
