Let me be straight with you from the start: I haven’t “made it” yet.
I’m not pulling in consistent five figures monthly. I don’t have 50 clients begging for my services. I’m not some automation guru with all the answers.
What I am is someone who got decent at n8n, saw YouTubers claiming you could make thousands selling workflows, and decided to test it myself.
Four months in, I’ve made about $4,200 total. Some months were $1,500. Last month was $800. This month I’m at $2,100 so far.
It’s inconsistent. It’s messy. But it’s real money for work I genuinely enjoy.
And honestly? I’m learning more about business than I expected.
So here’s everything I’m trying, what’s actually working, what totally flopped, and the uncomfortable truths nobody talks about when they’re selling you courses on “six-figure automation businesses.”
Why I Even Tried This
I’ve been using n8n for over a year now. Built dozens of workflows for myself. Automated my entire freelance business. Got pretty good at connecting APIs and building complex automations.
Then I kept seeing these videos: “Make $10K/month selling n8n workflows!” “Build automation businesses!” “Clients will pay thousands for this!”
I was skeptical. But also curious.
I thought: worst case, I waste some time. Best case, I create a new income stream doing something I already know how to do.
So I started experimenting.
The Three Ways People Say You Can Make Money
Based on my research, there are basically three paths:
Path 1: Freelance Services Offer n8n automation as a service. Find clients who need workflows built. Charge per project or monthly retainer.
Path 2: Sell Templates Create pre-built workflows. Sell them as digital products on marketplaces or your own site.
Path 3: Build Your Own SaaS Use n8n as the backend for an automation product. Charge subscription fees.
I’ve tried all three. Here’s what actually happened.
What I Tried First And Why It Failed
Attempt #1: Fiverr Gigs
Everyone said Fiverr was the easiest starting point. So I created three gigs:
- “I will build n8n automation workflows” — $50
- “I will create AI-powered business automation” — $150
- “I will integrate your apps with n8n” — $75
Results after 2 months: Zero orders. Not even one inquiry.
Why it failed:
Most people searching Fiverr have never heard of n8n. They’re searching for “Zapier automation” or “Make.com integration.” n8n is too niche, and I wasn’t solving a specific problem. I was just offering a tool.
The main issue is that n8n was designed to be user-friendly with drag-and-drop features. Since it’s already accessible to most users, the demand for paid services is naturally limited.
I was competing on the wrong battlefield.
Attempt #2: Upwork Proposals
I spent two weeks sending custom proposals on Upwork for automation projects.
Results: 47 proposals sent. 3 responses. 0 projects won.
Why it failed:
I was too generic. My proposals said “I can build this with n8n” but clients didn’t care about the tool. They cared about results. I also underpriced myself at $25/hour because I was scared nobody would hire me.
Spoiler: nobody hired me anyway.
Attempt #3: Selling Templates on Gumroad
I built 5 workflow templates:
- Social media scheduler ($29)
- Email automation system ($49)
- Client onboarding workflow ($39)
- Lead generation pipeline ($59)
- Invoice automation ($29)
Results after 6 weeks: 2 sales. Total revenue: $68.
Why it mostly failed:
My templates weren’t solving urgent, painful problems. They were “nice to have” automations that people could probably figure out themselves with some effort.
Plus, I had zero audience. No email list. No Twitter following. Just a Gumroad page I shared once on Reddit.
What’s Actually Working
After three failures, I tried a completely different approach.
Strategy #1: Packaged Services with Clear Outcomes
Instead of “I build n8n workflows,” I started offering specific solutions:
- “Automated Client Onboarding System — Get new clients up and running in 1 hour instead of 1 day” ($500)
- “Social Media Content Pipeline From idea to published post across 4 platforms, automatically” ($800)
- “Lead Magnet Delivery Automation, Instant delivery + follow-up sequence” ($350)
Notice the difference? I’m selling the outcome, not the tool.
Results: 5 clients in 2 months. $3,100 total.
These worked because:
- Clear problem being solved
- Specific result promised
- Price point felt reasonable for the value
Use platforms like Upwork, LinkedIn, and Slack communities to pitch specific workflow solutions. Position yourself around clear use cases like automating lead follow-ups or onboarding not around n8n itself.
Strategy #2: Cold Outreach to Small Businesses
This one surprised me. I started reaching out to local small businesses with specific automation offers.
My approach:
- Find a business type (real estate agents, gyms, dental offices)
- Identify a workflow they all need (lead follow-up, appointment reminders, review requests)
- Build a demo workflow
- Reach out with: “Hey, I built this specifically for [industry]. Want to see how it works?”
Results: 3 clients. $2,400 total.
One gym owner paid me $800 to automate their new member onboarding. Another $1,000 from a real estate agent for a lead nurturing workflow. $600 from a dentist for appointment reminders.
The key was showing them the actual workflow working with their data before they paid. Once they saw it, they wanted it.
Strategy #3: Productized Workflow Service
This is what I’m focusing on now.
Instead of custom work every time, I’m creating repeatable workflow packages:
“Social Media Autopilot” $750 one-time + $50/month maintenance
- Content research automation
- AI content generation
- Multi-platform posting
- Analytics logging
I’ve sold this twice so far. It takes me about 6–8 hours to set up per client because I’ve refined the system.
Do the math: $750 ÷ 7 hours = ~$107/hour. Plus recurring revenue.
That’s way better than my failed $25/hour Upwork attempts.
The Real Numbers (Complete Transparency)
Here’s my actual P&L for the past 4 months:
Month 1 (August): $0
- Building templates, testing Fiverr, getting nowhere
Month 2 (September): $450
- First two template sales ($68)
- First packaged service client ($350)
- Still mostly failing
Month 3 (October): $1,500
- Three packaged service clients ($1,100)
- One cold outreach gym client ($800 — but got this at end of month, paid in November)
- Starting to figure it out
Month 4 (November so far): $2,250
- Two Social Media Autopilot packages ($1,500)
- One small business workflow ($600)
- Recurring revenue starting ($50 x 2 = $100)
Total to date: $4,200 in revenue
Expenses:
- n8n Cloud hosting: $24/month x 4 = $96
- OpenAI API costs: ~$30/month average = $120
- Domain + simple website: $45 one-time
- Total: $261
Net profit: $3,939
Not life-changing. But it’s a start.
What I’m Learning About Pricing
This has been the hardest part.
Recently, I created a new client onboarding system for my client, and it took me just 2 hours to build and test. The client informed me that they used to spend 4 hours onboarding new clients before implementing this system. Later, during the discussion about pricing, as a beginner, I didn’t know how to handle the situation. Consequently, I provided this automation for free.
I did the same thing. My first client, I charged $200 for a workflow that saved them 10+ hours weekly. I should’ve charged $1,000.
What I’m learning:
Price based on value, not time. If I save a business owner 10 hours a week, that’s 40 hours a month. At their hourly rate (let’s say $50), that’s $2,000/month in value.
Charging $800 one-time feels like a steal for them.
But I’m still not confident enough to charge what I should. I know this. I’m working on it.
The Challenges Nobody Mentions
Challenge #1: Maintenance and Support
Workflows break. APIs change. Clients need help.
I thought I’d build once and be done. Nope.
My gym client’s Google Calendar integration broke when they updated permissions. I spent 2 hours fixing it. For free, because I felt bad.
Now I charge $50/month maintenance on every workflow. It covers my time for minor fixes and updates.
Challenge #2: Explaining the Value
Most small business owners don’t understand automation. They don’t know what’s possible. They definitely don’t know what n8n is.
I’ve had to become a salesperson, educator, and consultant not just a builder.
This was harder than I expected.
Challenge #3: Imposter Syndrome
I still feel like a fraud sometimes.
I’m not a developer. I didn’t study computer science. I just learned n8n by watching YouTube and building stuff.
When clients ask technical questions, I sometimes don’t know the answer. I have to Google it or ask the n8n community.
But here’s what I’m realizing: clients don’t care about my credentials. They care about results. If the workflow works and solves their problem, they’re happy.
What’s Actually Working vs. What Gurus Say
Gurus say: “Build once, sell forever! Passive income!”
Reality: Most income comes from custom client work. Templates are supplementary.
Gurus say: “Charge $5K-$10K per project!”
Reality: Small businesses balk at $1,000. I’m at $350-$800 per project right now.
Gurus say: “Scale to six figures in months!”
Reality: I’m on track for maybe $6K-$8K this month if things go well. That’s good. But it’s not six figures.
Gurus say: “Anyone can do this!”
Reality: You need basic technical skills, sales ability, patience, and persistence. It’s not easy.
My Current Game Plan
Here’s what I’m focusing on for the next 3 months:
1. Build My “Productized Workflow Menu”
3–5 repeatable packages I can sell to any industry:
- Social Media Autopilot ($750)
- Lead Follow-Up System ($600)
- Client Onboarding Automation ($500)
- Review Request Automation ($400)
- Email Newsletter Pipeline ($650)
2. Create Case Studies
Document results from my current clients. “How [Business] Saved 15 Hours/Week” type content.
Use these to sell more of the same workflow to similar businesses.
3. Build an Actual Funnel
Right now I’m manually reaching out. I need:
- Simple website explaining what I do
- Lead magnet (free workflow template?)
- Email sequence
- Booked calls → closed deals
4. Partner with Agencies
Instead of finding clients myself, partner with marketing agencies who have clients needing automation.
They refer, I build, we split revenue.
The Honest Pros and Cons
Pros of selling n8n workflows:
- Work I genuinely enjoy
- Flexible schedule
- Help businesses solve real problems
- Potential for recurring revenue
- Not dependent on one platform (like Upwork)
Cons:
- Inconsistent income (so far)
- Requires sales skills I’m still developing
- Support and maintenance overhead
- Hard to scale without systemization
- Need to constantly find new clients
What I’d Tell Someone Starting Today
If you’re thinking about trying this, here’s my advice:
1. Don’t start on Fiverr or Upwork
Unless you have a very specific niche offer. Generic “I build n8n workflows” gigs don’t work.
2. Pick ONE repeatable workflow
Build it. Perfect it. Sell it 10 times before moving to the next one.
3. Focus on small businesses in your area first
They’re easier to reach. You can meet face-to-face. Trust builds faster.
4. Show, don’t tell
Build a demo with their actual data. Let them see it working. Then talk about price.
5. Charge more than you’re comfortable with
I’m still learning this. But every time I’ve raised prices, people still bought.
6. Expect it to take time
I’m 4 months in and just starting to figure it out. Don’t expect overnight success.
Where I Am Now (The Unfiltered Truth)
I’m cautiously optimistic.
If I can keep this momentum, I’ll hit $3K-$4K/month by December. Maybe $5K if I land a couple bigger clients.
That’s not enough to replace a full-time income. But combined with my other freelance work? It’s meaningful.
The bigger opportunity I see: recurring revenue. If I can get 20 clients on $50-$100/month maintenance, that’s $1,000-$2,000/month passive-ish income.
Then I can focus on landing bigger projects without worrying about covering basic costs.
But I’m not there yet. I’m still hustling. Still learning. Still figuring it out.
Final Thought
The “make money with n8n” opportunity is real. But it’s not what the YouTube thumbnails promise.
It’s not passive. It’s not instant. It’s not easy.
But if you’re willing to:
- Learn the technical skills
- Develop sales abilities
- Be patient and persistent
- Focus on solving real problems
Then yeah, you can probably make $3K-$10K/month. Maybe more.
I’m not there consistently yet. But I’m getting closer.
And honestly? The journey is teaching me more about business, sales, and value creation than I ever learned before.
So even if this doesn’t turn into my main income source, it’s been worth it.
Are you trying to monetize automation skills? What’s working (or not working) for you? Drop a comment below. I’m genuinely curious what strategies others are testing. And follow for more honest updates on this experiment as I continue figuring it out.
More n8n Resources
If you’re new to n8n or want to catch up on the series:
📌 n8n Just Got Insanely Powerful — Here’s What You’re Missing
📌 The 7 Biggest n8n Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To)
📌 The Complete n8n Social Media Pipeline: From Zero to Autopilot
Resources That Helped Me
Learning:
- n8n Community Forum (best place for troubleshooting)
- YouTube tutorials (free, surprisingly good)
- Building workflows for myself first (best teacher)
Finding Clients:
- LinkedIn (cold outreach works better than I expected)
- Local business networking events (old school but effective)
- Word of mouth from first few clients
Pricing Guidance:
- Other freelancers in automation communities
- Trial and error (mostly error at first)
- Asking clients what they’d pay (surprisingly helpful)
Current Pricing (For Reference)
Here’s what I’m currently charging. This will probably change as I get more confident:
One-Time Workflows:
- Simple automation (5–10 nodes): $350-$500
- Medium complexity (15–25 nodes): $600-$800
- Complex multi-integration: $1,000-$1,500
Recurring:
- Maintenance and updates: $50-$100/month
- Managed automation service: $200-$300/month
