Curious About Passive Income? My First Lakh Online and What I Learned

When I first heard the phrase passive income, I was intrigued but skeptical. The idea of earning money while sleeping or relaxing sounded amazing—almost too good to be true. At that time, I had no clue how to get started. I didn’t have a big budget, a fancy degree, or a tech company to back me. But I did have a willingness to learn, some tech curiosity, and a lot of motivation to improve my income.

Fast forward several months, and I had earned over ₹1,00,000 online through a mix of online ventures. No viral success. No paid ads. Just smart moves, consistency, and time. If you’re wondering how to build passive income, here’s my personal journey—from nothing to my first lakh—and the lessons that made all the difference.

Starting Small With Websites and Consoles

My first steps were humble. I began by exploring website creation and management. I dabbled in hosting platforms, WordPress themes, and content management. While this didn’t bring instant income, it gave me valuable tech exposure.

But the real shift came when I discovered the world of Android apps and the Google Play Console. I created a Play Console account and started publishing basic apps—mostly games and tools. Some were built from open-source templates, others were purchased from developers or marketplaces. What mattered most was learning how the platform worked.

Soon, I realized that people needed help publishing their own apps. So, I offered a service: publishing apps on clients’ behalf using my console. Initially, I charged just $10–$20 per app, but even that added up fast. These were small gigs—but highly scalable.

Finding Opportunities in Freelancing

To expand my income, I turned to freelancing. I created gigs on Fiverr, offering Play Console publishing, app upload assistance, and Play Store listing support. It wasn’t an overnight success—I started with zero reviews, just like everyone else.

But I stayed active. I optimized my gigs, improved my descriptions, and responded to every message professionally. The first few orders gave me confidence. One client turned into two, and I started getting repeat business. Each project added to my portfolio and sharpened my skills.

Fiverr also exposed me to international clients—people who were willing to pay more for fast, reliable service. Some of them even returned with bulk upload requests. The biggest lesson? Being helpful and prompt can earn you more than complex skills alone.

Reinvesting and Scaling – Play Console Growth

With the money I earned from freelancing and app publishing, I reinvested strategically. I didn’t buy gadgets or splurge—I bought more Play Consoles. Each console cost me an upfront fee, but it gave me the ability to serve more clients and handle multiple uploads without limits.

Over time, I owned several consoles, each actively generating income. One of my proudest moments was when I sold a console for ₹25,000, which included 10 published games. That console was built with care—clean titles, error-free descriptions, and proper monetization. Because it was well-optimized, the buyer saw it as a ready-made revenue channel.

This experience taught me that digital assets appreciate in value if you treat them well. Consoles, websites, and apps are not just tools—they’re products with long-term potential.

The Passive Element – Revenue While Sleeping

Although the early work was active (building, listing, publishing), the revenue model became more passive as I scaled. Once an app was published and approved, it could generate ad revenue without daily effort. Apps with in-game ads or utility tools performed steadily, especially in certain niche markets.

While I still managed client uploads, some clients set up recurring projects—meaning I was earning from previous relationships without constantly hunting for work. Even on days when I didn’t log in, the downloads and earnings came in.

This is the essence of passive income: build once, earn repeatedly.

Expanding to Other Platforms

After gaining confidence with Google Play, I explored other app stores and monetization channels. I read about AppLovin, Unity Ads, StartApp, and Firebase Analytics to enhance my apps. I also considered selling source codes, creating custom Android templates, and eventually offering white-labeled games.

This diversification helped protect against platform bans or policy changes. I also joined Telegram groups and Facebook communities to stay updated on trends and client demands.

Even though each new venture came with a learning curve, it kept things exciting—and every skill I picked up added to my toolkit.

Key Lessons from Earning My First Lakh

1. Start With What You Know (and Grow From There)

You don’t need to be an expert to get started. Use the skills you already have and build on them. Learn on the job. Make mistakes and fix them.

2. Small Projects Can Create Big Impact

Never underestimate $10 gigs. If you do 10 such gigs a week, that’s ₹8,000/month. Multiply that over time, and it becomes real income. The trick is consistency and reputation.

3. Digital Assets Are Modern Gold

Play Consoles, apps, games—these are digital products with real-world value. Invest in them like you would real estate. The right buyer will pay well for quality.

4. Reputation Is Everything

Fast response, honest work, and friendly communication take you far. Many of my clients returned because they trusted my delivery—something many overlook.

5. Your First ₹1 Lakh Is Just the Beginning

Once you prove to yourself that it’s possible, everything changes. Your mindset shifts from “Is this real?” to “How can I grow this further?”

The Challenges I Faced (and How I Handled Them)

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Here are some of the real hurdles I faced:

• Account Suspensions: Sometimes a console or app would get flagged. I learned how to follow policy better and diversify my risk.
• Client Misunderstandings: Not every customer is clear about what they want. I started using clear templates and terms to avoid confusion.
• Fiverr Slow Periods: During slow weeks, I focused on improving my listings and testing other platforms like Upwork and Freelancer.

The key is to treat every challenge as a lesson. Every mistake I made improved the way I worked the next time.

Ideas You Can Try If You’re Just Starting

If you’re inspired and want to begin your passive income journey, here are a few starting points based on what worked for me:

• Create and sell digital services (like app publishing or listing optimization)
• Publish basic Android games (reskin or modify open-source projects)
• Offer freelance gigs (even if they’re small, they add up)
• Buy and flip Play Console accounts (but follow platform rules)
• Reinvest early profits into tools or assets that scale

No matter where you begin, the most important step is: just start.

Building Income, One Step at a Time

Earning my first ₹1 lakh online wasn’t the result of one big idea—it was the result of many small, intentional actions stacked on top of each other. From my first ₹800 order to selling a console for ₹25,000, every step reinforced the belief that you can earn online if you approach it smartly.

Passive income is real. But it’s not always passive at first. It takes effort, learning, and a willingness to try new things. If you’re ready to take that step, I promise you—it’s worth it.

Whether you’re starting with a website, exploring freelancing, or launching digital assets, the opportunities are out there. Grab them, build something of value, and keep moving forward.

Your first lakh is only the beginning.