Introduction
Hi, I’m Tanner Chidester, CEO of Elite CEOs.
This article is written for students who want a realistic, repeatable way to hit $10,000 per month without dropping out of school, gambling on hype, or waiting years for results.
I’ve generated over $150 million in my career, and I didn’t start with money, connections, credentials, or a following. I started in my parents’ spare bedroom with nothing but a simple model that worked. Today, that same model works faster than ever thanks to AI.
If you’re a student asking, “How can I actually make $10K a month while still in school?”—this is the answer.
How to Make $10,000 While Still Going to School
Why Your First $10,000 Month Is a Turning Point
Your first consistent $10,000 month changes everything.
It changes:
- Your confidence
- Your identity
- Your belief in what’s possible
Most students don’t fail because they’re lazy or incapable. They fail because they choose income paths that cap their earning potential before they even start.
There are four main ways students try to make money, but only one can realistically take you to $10,000 per month quickly and consistently.
Let’s break them down.
Option 1: In-Person Services (Fast Cash, Hard Ceiling)
Examples include:
- Tutoring
- Babysitting
- Dog walking
- Lawn care
- Photography
- Personal training
Pros
- Easy to start
- Quick cash flow
- No technical skills needed
Cons
- Income is tied directly to your time
- Limited to your local area
- Difficult to scale while in school
- Nearly impossible to reach $10K/month consistently
This model breaks the moment your schedule fills up. If you can’t work more hours, you can’t make more money.
Option 2: Local Physical Products (Creative but Slow)
Examples include:
- Crafts
- T-shirts
- Baked goods
- School merchandise
- Art
Pros
- Fun and creative
- Can generate side income
Cons
- Requires supplies and inventory
- Time-intensive
- Small customer base
- Low price points
When you’re selling $10–$50 products, you need massive volume to reach $10K per month. Most students don’t have the time or reach for that.
Option 3: Global Physical Products (Higher Potential, Higher Friction)
Examples include:
- Clothing brands
- Dropshipping
- Print-on-demand
- Sneaker reselling
Pros
- Worldwide customer base
- Higher income ceiling
Cons
- Requires upfront capital
- Inventory and reinvestment loops
- Often dependent on paid ads
- Slower results (1–3 months minimum)
This model can work, but it’s not beginner-friendly if your goal is fast, consistent income.
Start With Boosted Posts (Fast, Cheap, Works)
Option 4: Online Services (The Fastest Path to $10K)
This is the model I would choose every single time.
Examples include:
- Short-form video editing
- Thumbnail creation
- Social media management
- Copywriting
- Running ads
- Appointment setting
- UGC content creation
- AI automation and chatbot setup
- Email marketing
- Funnel and course building
Why online services win:
- Zero startup cost
- Global reach
- Extremely high profit margins (80–100%)
- Flexible schedule for students
- Work from a laptop or phone
- Massive demand from businesses
You’re not selling inventory. You’re selling outcomes.
That’s why companies pay thousands—and in many cases tens of thousands—per month for these services. I personally spend that much every month.
How AI Makes This Easier Than Ever
You don’t need to be:
- A designer
- A professional editor
- A seasoned marketer
AI now handles:
- Content creation
- Copywriting
- Image generation
- Video editing
- Automation
- Chatbots and voice agents
Your real skill is learning how to give good prompts and solve business problems efficiently.
Businesses don’t care how the work gets done.
They care about results.
Step 1: Choose One Online Skill
Just one.
You don’t need to master everything—you only need to solve one problem.
Beginner-friendly skills include:
- Short-form content editing with AI
- Thumbnail design
- AI content generation
- Social media management
- Email writing
- Chatbot or AI voice agent setup
- Lead generation
- Appointment setting
You can learn any of these for free or under $100 using platforms like Udemy or Alison.
Step 2: Sell Before You Build
This is where most people mess up.
Do not:
- Build a website
- Create complex systems
- Spend months preparing
Instead:
- Find one business owner
- Sell the service
- Collect payment
- Fulfill
Once someone pays you, you’ll figure it out. That’s how real businesses are built.
Step 3: Price Like a Professional
Avoid low-ticket traps.
Instead of selling $47 products, package your service and charge $1,500–$2,000+ for a multi-month engagement.
Example:
- $2,000 over 4 months = $500/month
Your first target:
- 4–6 monthly clients
- $8K–$12K/month
- Full-time income while still in school
This is already happening—right now.
Step 4: Use the Skill Pyramid to Scale Faster
1. Target People Who Think in ROI
Businesses, brands, coaches, entrepreneurs.
If you help them make money or save time, they’ll pay more.
2. Charge for Results, Not Hours
Never sell your time.
You’re paid for:
- Leads
- Revenue
- Growth
- Efficiency
People pay for outcomes, not effort.
3. Build Reach
Share:
- Case studies
- Before-and-afters
- Examples of your work (AI-generated is fine early on)
If clients don’t come to you, go to them. Outreach is a numbers game.
4. Be Reliable
Most people fail because they:
- Miss deadlines
- Communicate poorly
- Ghost clients
You will win simply by being organized, on time, and clear.
The Simple $10K-Per-Month Student Plan
Here it is, condensed:
- Learn one online skill
- Use AI to accelerate delivery
- Sell before you build
- Get 3–5 clients
- Charge $1,500+ packages
- Deliver strong results
- Collect testimonials
- Raise prices over time
- Market consistently
No inventory.
No investors.
No complicated systems.
Just solving a real problem people already pay for.
Once you hit $10,000 per month, then you scale with systems, automation, and a team.
Until then, keep it simple:
Sell one client. Fulfill. Repeat.
That’s how real momentum is built.
