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Learn 10 real ways to earn money using Excel—template selling, freelancing, dashboards, and more. Perfect for beginners, students & professionals.
“Can you actually earn money with Excel?”—this is one of the most common questions asked by Excel learners.
The answer is: Yes, it is absolutely possible!
You just need to tap into the right places and be a little consistent. Excel can become your side hustle, your income stream, or even your full-time freelancing skill.
We’ve been asked this question multiple times by Excel Learners: “How do I earn money with Excel without doing a full-time job?”.So, in this blog, the answer will be given!
Here are 10 real, practical, and beginner-friendly ways to earn money using Excel. The first one is the easiest and most applicable—even freshers can do it.
1. Sell Excel Templates (Most Beginner-Friendly!)
This is the simplest, most doable, and most scalable method.
There are thousands of people online earning money by creating and selling Excel templates. Templates are pre-designed Excel files that help others solve a specific problem. These can be:
- Budget planners
- School fee trackers
- Invoice generators
- Wedding or event planners
- Social media content calendars
So, if you can make clean, easy-to-use Excel files—you’re good to go.
How to Make an Excel Template:
Pick a Common Problem: Think of a problem people face that Excel can solve. For example, freelancers need to make invoices. Students need fee planners. Small shopkeepers need inventory logs.
Design a Solution: Build a neat, easy-to-understand file that does basic automation using formulas like SUM, IF, VLOOKUP, or DROP-DOWN lists. Make it colorful but professional.
Make it User-Friendly: Add notes or instructions inside the file. Name your sheets properly. Add a “How to Use” section.
Save as Template: Save the file in .XLSX or Google Sheets format so that it can be downloaded and reused easily.
Where to Sell Your Template:
- Etsy: Search for “Excel templates” and see the listings. People are earning ₹200 to ₹2,000 per download!
- Gumroad: You can create your own page and sell digital downloads.
- Template.net: A marketplace for template creators.
- Instagram/WhatsApp: Many small creators sell through DMs too. You can try this to get your first few buyers.
You don’t have to make 50 templates. Even if you make 3 good ones, you can start getting traffic and sales.
Free Templates to Get You Started:
You can download these, study how they’re built, and create your own versions.
1. Microsoft Office Templates
Go to: https://create.microsoft.com/en-us
Search for “fee tracker” or “expense tracker”. You can download and open it directly in Excel.
2. Vertex42
Website: https://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/
Known for professional Excel templates. Search for “payment tracker” or “tuition tracker.”
3. Spreadsheet123
Website: https://www.spreadsheet123.com/
Offers free finance templates including fee, expense, and budget trackers.
4. Google Sheets Template Gallery
If you use Google Sheets, go to the template gallery and look for “Monthly Budget” or “Expense Tracker.”
You can download and convert it to Excel.
2. Offer Freelance Excel Services
Many small businesses and solopreneurs lack Excel expertise, and they don’t have the capital to hire people specifically for analytics. However, they still need to maintain records, right? Yes, that’s why they are active on freelancing platforms, where you could offer services like data cleaning, dashboard creation, or custom sheet design.
Where to offer services?
Realistic pricing: Start with ₹200 per sheet. Once you build credibility, you can charge per hour or bundle services.
3. Build Dashboards for Clients
Interactive dashboards are in demand! Use pivot tables, slicers, and charts to visualize business data for decision-makers.
Who needs this?
- E-commerce sellers
- Small marketing teams
- Educators managing student progress
What to charge: ₹1,000–₹4,000 depending on complexity.
4. Teach Excel Online
Now, I’m not suggesting that you need to be a certified tutor in Excel! No, you don’t have to be one. If you know Excel well enough, you can create your own short videos or reels, or even start a YouTube channel.
Why does this have growth potential?
Because of AI. Let me make it more clear– with AI integration in Excel, new tricks and tips are coming up. So, if you’re good at handling Excel and stay updated with the latest AI features, you can start creating short, informative videos and posting them on social media.
Ways to monetize:
- YouTube AdSense
- Paid workshops
- Premium course sales on platforms like Udemy or Teachable
5. Create and Sell Digital Products with Excel
Excel can be the engine behind digital calculators, budget planners, and trackers.
Examples:
- EMI calculators
- Wedding budget planners
- Fitness or diet trackers
Sell on:
6. Join Excel-based Gigs or Internships
If you’re still a student, apply for part-time gigs where companies look for people who can manage sheets.
Where to find them:
Tip: Build a mini portfolio of your sheets on Google Drive and add the link to your resume or LinkedIn bio.
7. Offer Personal Tracking Systems for Individuals
Many individuals want help tracking their finances, health, or goals.
You can:
- Create custom planners for working professionals
- Make personal budget or income trackers for freelancers
- Help someone track weight loss or gym performance
Charge ₹500 to ₹1000 per system based on complexity.
8. Automate Small Businesses with Excel
Local shops or home-based businesses often use pen-paper systems.
If you can:
- Create a simple sales log
- Auto-calculate profit/loss
- Track inventory
You can pitch it to them directly or build a package and sell it on WhatsApp/Instagram.
9. Participate in Data Analysis Competitions
Sites like Kaggle or local college fests often have Excel-only data tasks. Winners can get ₹1000–₹10,000.
Platforms to check:
Build your case study and post it on LinkedIn to attract clients!
10. Start a Newsletter on Excel Hacks + Templates
People love tips and tricks. If you share one Excel trick + one template every week, you can:
- Build your own audience
- Promote affiliate tools or templates
- Get clients indirectly
Use: Substack, Mailchimp, ConvertKit
Conclusion
Making money with Excel is possible if you do the right way.
Plus, most of these methods don’t even require investment. Start small, build proof, and grow steadily. And remember—people pay for value, not just Excel sheets.
And, if you’re ready to turn your spreadsheet skills into an income stream, Ira Skills is here to help! We host practical, hands-on Excel workshops every Sunday, and also offer structured courses designed for beginners and professionals alike.
Join our upcoming workshop now or explore our full course here: Ira Skills Excel Course
