Guides by TIC

Search 40 sourced guides to earning online (selling digital products, content, services, resale, clipping, AI-assisted work). Filter by verdict, time per day, or free-to-start. Returns short cards with a link to each full guide. Use for 'what could I do with 1 hour a day', 'is X worth trying', or to list options.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 200,
      "description": "Words about the idea, platform or skill, e.g. 'etsy templates' or 'video editing'. Leave empty to list by filters."
    },
    "verdict": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "worth a try",
        "watch, not proven yet",
        "do not start"
      ],
      "description": "Only ways with this verdict."
    },
    "max_minutes_per_day": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 5,
      "maximum": 480,
      "description": "Only ways that need at most this many minutes a day."
    },
    "free_to_start": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "description": "Only ways with no start cost."
    },
    "limit": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 15,
      "default": 6
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

Full detail for one way to earn (id from search_ways, or its name): what you sell, honest earnings note, one-time setup, the platform rules, a stop rule and risks, with the link to the public guide.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "id": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 120,
      "description": "Guide id such as 'notion-templates', or part of its name."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "id"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

Compare an offer someone was pitched (a course, a trading bot, a done-for-you store, a micro-SaaS dream, AI books, voice agencies...) with the 15 schemes in the Reality Check and the 'do not start' guides. Returns what was checked, what could not be checked, and the sources. Use before giving an opinion on any 'AI income' pitch.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "offer": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 3,
      "maxLength": 1000,
      "description": "The pitch in the user's words."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "offer"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

How a selling or posting platform works for small sellers: fees, house norms, what gets accounts removed, and whether automation or AI help is allowed. Platforms include Etsy, Gumroad, Fiverr, Upwork, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, X, dev.to, Amazon programmes and more.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "platform": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Name or id, e.g. 'etsy' or 'upwork'."
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "platform"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}

Dated changes that affect people earning online (fee changes, new rules, headwinds and tailwinds), newest first, each with a 'so what' and a source. Optionally filter by platform.

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "platform": {
      "type": "string",
      "maxLength": 80,
      "description": "Platform id or name, e.g. 'etsy'."
    },
    "limit": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 15,
      "default": 5
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"
}