Financial Journalist
People search for “the best ways to make money” every year. What changes in 2026 isn’t the desire—it’s what actually works at scale.
Dan Martell is known for a very specific view of money: wealth is built by leverage, skills, and ownership, not hustle-for-hustle’s-sake. He often repeats that there are far fewer real money paths than the internet pretends.
This article distills 25 realistic ways to make money in 2026, aligned with Dan Martell’s thinking about modern income, leverage, and long-term upside.
Not hype. Not trends that die in six months.
Just the core economic engines that still compound.
The Core Principle Behind All 25 Ways
Before the list, one rule matters:
You don’t get rich by doing more things.
You get rich by doing the right category of things.
According to Martell’s framework, income falls into five buckets:
Selling time
Selling skills
Selling products
Selling systems
Owning assets
Everything below fits into one of those.
1–5: Selling Skills (High Leverage in 2026)
These work because businesses will always pay to save time or money.
Consulting for growing companies
Specialized freelance services (AI, analytics, automation)
Fractional executive roles
Technical coaching or mentoring
Process optimization services
These scale fastest when paired with systems.
6–10: Digital Products and Knowledge Assets
Martell consistently emphasizes ownership.
Online courses
Paid communities
Digital templates and tools
Educational newsletters
Licensing your expertise
Once built, these create leverage without linear effort.
11–15: Software and Scalable Platforms
This is where Martell made his fortune.
SaaS products
Micro-SaaS tools
AI-powered applications
No-code software businesses
Subscription platforms
Software turns time into assets.
16–19: Media and Audience-Based Income
Attention converts into money when structured correctly.
Content-driven blogs
YouTube education channels
Podcasts with monetized niches
Personal brands tied to offers
Ads, subscriptions, and products stack here.
20–22: Marketplaces and Systems
These grow by facilitating value between others.
Niche marketplaces
Lead-generation platforms
Automation agencies
The system does the work, not the owner.
23–25: Ownership and Capital-Based Income
Martell is clear: long-term wealth lives here.
Equity in private companies
Revenue-sharing deals
Investment-backed ownership structures
This is where income detaches from effort.
Why These 25 Matter More in 2026
Three forces are accelerating:
AI replacing low-leverage labor
Global competition lowering margins
Attention becoming more expensive
These models survive because they:
Scale
Compound
Create ownership
What Most People Get Wrong About “Ways to Make Money”
Most lists:
Mix tactics with strategies
Ignore scalability
Overemphasize short-term wins
Martell’s thinking strips it down:
If it doesn’t scale or compound, it caps your income.
How People Actually Use This List
They don’t do all 25.
They:
Pick one category
Build skill first
Add leverage second
Add ownership last
That order matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these guaranteed ways to make money?
No. They are proven structures, not promises.
Do I need capital to start?
Many start with skills and move toward ownership.
Is this only for tech people?
No. The principles apply across industries.
Why not side hustles?
Side hustles rarely scale without leverage.
Final Thoughts
Dan Martell’s core message is simple:
Income grows when effort is multiplied by leverage.
In 2026, money will still be made the same way it always has—by owning valuable skills, systems, and assets.
The difference is that the window for low-leverage work is closing fast.
The earlier you align with scalable income, the longer it compounds.
And that—not hacks—is where real money comes from.