If you have been dreaming about building a business but are stuck wondering how to start making money online, you are not alone.
It can feel overwhelming to know where to even begin — especially with so many courses, strategies, and “quick wins” being promised everywhere.

When I was first starting out, I wanted someone to give me a simple, real-world map.
Not a massive list of tasks.
Not a complicated funnel.
Just a clear set of options that actually fit my life.

That is why I created the Get Paid Framework — a simple way to see the three core paths creative women can take to start earning real income online.

Let’s walk through it together.

Path 1: Create

The first path to making money online is to create something once and sell it over and over again.

This could look like:

• Digital products (ebooks, templates, printables)
• Online courses
• Membership sites
• Downloadable resources

If you love building resources, sharing ideas, or teaching others, creating and selling digital products might be your best path.

You create once.
You sell many times.
You impact more people without trading more time for money.

Path 2: Serve

The second path is to serve others directly through one-to-one services.

This could look like:

• Coaching or consulting
• Virtual assistance
• Freelance writing, design, or tech support
• Strategy sessions or audits

If you love working with people, solving problems hands-on, or using your skills to make someone else’s life easier, service-based work might be your best path.

Service work lets you start quickly, with very little upfront investment, and start generating cash flow while you build other parts of your business.

Path 3: Partner

The third path is to partner with brands or businesses and promote products you love and believe in.

This could look like:

• Affiliate marketing
• Sponsored content
• Referral partnerships
• Ad monetization (when you have an audience)

If you love recommending great tools, connecting people to resources, or building community around shared interests, partnering could be your best path.

It often grows slower at first, but it can add strong income streams over time.

You do not have to choose forever — but you do need to choose a place to start

Many businesses eventually blend all three paths.
I do too.

But when you are first starting out, it helps to pick the clearest and easiest path based on your skills, your time, and your season of life.

You can always layer more later.
You just need a simple starting point now.

Ready to find your best path?

If you are excited about building a business but you are not sure which path fits you best, the Business Personality Quizcan help.

It is a quick, fun quiz that shows you how you are wired to work and what business path might feel most natural to you.

Take the free Business Personality Quiz here.

You are closer than you think.

xo,
Shannon

P.S. Not sure which business path fits your life best? Take the free Business Personality Quiz here and find your best starting point.