SHW - How to Start a Chatbot Creation Business- Spotlight #88

Read more to find out how you can start this profitable side hustle today plus tips and tricks to make starting a business easier

Welcome Back To Side Hustle Weekly!

I’m excited to share with you another great side hustle you can start today! Today we will be discussing how you can start a chatbot creation business for other businesses.

How To Make Money With Chatbots

How to Start an AI Chatbot Creator Business From Scratch

Build smart AI assistants for businesses, automate their operations, and turn cutting-edge tech into a $10K+/month income stream.

AI chatbots are no longer a “future trend” — they’re a business necessity. Companies everywhere are racing to automate customer support, sales, bookings, lead generation, and internal workflows. And here’s the opportunity most people miss:

Businesses don’t want to build chatbots themselves — they want someone to do it for them.

That’s where you come in.

An AI chatbot creator business lets you design, customize, and deploy AI-powered bots for companies — without needing to be a programmer. With the right tools, systems, and positioning, this business can grow into a highly scalable, recurring-revenue operation.

Let’s break it down step by step.

Step 1: Understand the AI Chatbot Business Model

An AI chatbot creator builds custom bots that help businesses:

  • Answer customer questions 24/7

  • Book appointments automatically

  • Qualify leads

  • Handle FAQs

  • Provide product recommendations

  • Collect emails and phone numbers

  • Assist internal teams

You charge businesses for:

  • Setup fees ($500–$3,000+)

  • Monthly retainers ($100–$1,000+/month)

  • Ongoing optimization & support

Just 10 clients paying $500/month equals $5,000 in recurring income.

Step 2: Choose a Profitable Niche (Critical for Growth)

The fastest way to succeed is to focus on one type of business.

High-paying chatbot niches include:

  • Real estate agencies

  • Medical clinics & dental offices

  • Law firms

  • E-commerce stores

  • Gyms & fitness studios

  • Restaurants & hospitality

  • Coaches & consultants

  • Local service businesses (plumbers, HVAC, cleaning)

When you specialize, you:

  • Build bots faster

  • Reuse templates

  • Speak the client’s language

  • Charge higher prices

Step 3: Learn No-Code AI Tools (No Programming Required)

You do not need to know how to code.

Modern AI tools allow drag-and-drop chatbot creation with natural language intelligence.

Popular tools include:

  • AI chatbot builders

  • Automation platforms

  • CRM integrations

  • Website widget tools

You’ll learn how to:

  • Design conversation flows

  • Train bots on business-specific data

  • Connect bots to websites, social media, and messaging apps

  • Automate responses and actions

Most tools can be mastered in 1–2 weeks.

Step 4: Build Your First Chatbot (Practice Project)

Before charging clients, build a demo bot.

Create a chatbot that:

  • Greets visitors

  • Answers FAQs

  • Collects contact info

  • Books appointments

  • Sends follow-up messages

You can build:

  • A demo for a fake business

  • A chatbot for your own website

  • A bot for a friend’s business (free or discounted)

This becomes your proof of skill.

Step 5: Package Your Services for Easy Sales

Avoid hourly pricing. Use clear packages.

Example offers:

  • Starter Bot – $750 setup + $149/month

  • Growth Bot – $1,500 setup + $299/month

  • Advanced AI Assistant – $3,000 setup + $599/month

Monthly fees include:

  • Hosting

  • Maintenance

  • Updates

  • Performance optimization

Recurring income is where this business explodes.

Step 6: Find Your First Clients Fast

You don’t need ads to start.

Proven ways to get clients:

  • Cold email local businesses

  • DM business owners on Instagram or LinkedIn

  • Join Facebook groups for your niche

  • Offer a free chatbot audit

  • Partner with marketing agencies

  • Walk into local businesses and pitch automation

Businesses are often shocked when they see how much time and money a chatbot can save them.

Step 7: Automate Delivery & Onboarding

Once you land clients, speed matters.

Create templates for:

  • Client onboarding forms

  • Chatbot setup workflows

  • Training data intake

  • Launch checklists

Use automation tools to:

  • Collect business info

  • Deploy bots quickly

  • Send invoices

  • Monitor performance

This allows you to manage many clients at once with minimal effort.

Step 8: Scale With a Team (Make It Hands-Off)

To grow beyond $5K–$10K/month, stop doing everything yourself.

Hire:

  • Chatbot builders – Customize bots using your templates

  • Automation specialists – Handle integrations

  • Virtual assistants – Manage client communication

  • Account managers – Handle renewals and upsells

Now you become the business owner, not the technician.

Step 9: Add a Sales & Outreach Team

This is where the business becomes automated.

A small sales team can:

  • Cold email businesses daily

  • Book discovery calls

  • Follow up with leads

  • Upsell existing clients

  • Pitch white-label chatbot services

Start with commission-based reps so you only pay for results.

This turns your chatbot business into a lead-generating machine that runs even when you’re offline.

Estimated Monthly Income Potential

Here’s what scaling looks like:

Beginner

  • 3–5 clients

  • $1,500–$4,000/month

Growing Business

  • 10–20 clients

  • $5,000–$12,000/month

Automated Agency

  • 30–50 clients

  • Team + sales system

  • $15,000–$40,000+/month

Because of retainers, income compounds over time.

Websites & Software You’ll Need

  • AI chatbot builder platforms

  • Automation tools

  • CRM software

  • Website builder (for your agency site)

  • Payment processor (Stripe, PayPal)

  • Project management tool (ClickUp, Notion)

Most tools cost $50–$200/month total.

Products to Buy to Maximize Results

  • Laptop or desktop computer

  • Second monitor (huge productivity boost)

  • Headset for client calls

  • Canva Pro for marketing assets

  • CRM subscription

  • Outreach email tool

  • Scheduling software

Requirements to Start

  • Basic computer skills

  • Willingness to learn AI tools

  • Sales communication ability

  • Internet connection

  • Time to build templates and systems

Pros

  • Massive demand

  • High profit margins

  • Recurring revenue

  • No inventory

  • No coding required

  • Highly scalable

  • Future-proof industry

Cons

  • Learning curve at the start

  • Client expectations must be managed

  • Competition is increasing

  • Requires clear onboarding systems

That’s A Wrap

I hope you enjoyed today’s post and if you have any questions about the post, upcoming posts, how to advertise, or anything else, feel free to reply. See you next time with another money-making post, helping you boost your income!

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the opinions of its editors and contributors. The content provided, including but not limited to real estate tips, stock market insights, business marketing strategies, and startup advice, is shared for general guidance and does not constitute financial, investment, real estate, legal, or business advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investment, real estate, and business decisions involve inherent risks, and readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before taking any action. This newsletter does not establish a fiduciary, advisory, or professional relationship between the publishers and readers.

Reply

or to participate.