Paid Downloads

You don’t have to launch a SaaS or land consulting gigs to monetize your skills. One of the simplest ways to get started is with digital products - files, tools, templates, or resources that people can pay for and download instantly.

You build it once. You sell it forever.

This page covers the kinds of things an IT professional can package up and sell, where to sell them, and how to do it without turning into a full-time marketer.

Why Paid Downloads?

You’ve probably already created things that could help someone else:

• A shell script to automate a boring process
• A cheat sheet for a niche tool
• A Terraform module or Ansible playbook
• A battle-tested .env and config setup for a self-hosted app
• A report template you use in security reviews

If you cleaned those up, added a bit of polish, and put a price tag on them - somebody out there would probably pay for it.

This isn’t about tricking people into buying junk. It’s about valuing the stuff you’ve built, learned, or refined over years of hands-on work. Put another way: have you or would you pay for something that is a known-good solution and saves you time? I and many others have and will!

What You Can Sell

Here are examples of digital products that make sense for IT professionals, engineers, and tech content creators:

1. Automation Scripts

Bash, PowerShell, Python - anything that solves a painful, repeatable task. If you’re solving something that happens all the time, there’s value there.

• Health checks for infrastructure
• Backup/restore scripts
• Log parsing and alerting
• Self-contained tools with --help, input validation, etc.

2. Config Packs

You’ve tuned your setup for speed, clarity, and safety. Package that up.

• .vimrc, .bashrc, .gitconfig, conkyrc, and/or other dotfiles with comments and docs
• Prebuilt DevContainers for VS Code
• Secure baseline Dockerfiles

3. Infra Blueprints

You’ve stood up production infra dozens of times. Package the blueprint.

• Terraform modules for common setups
• Secure VPC+VPN templates
• ECS/EKS/GKE deploy patterns
• Cloud cost-tracking dashboards

4. Security Checklists & Audits

Security pros especially have a chance here.

• Excel/CSV templates for audit findings
• Hardening checklists by platform
• Report templates or one-pagers for management

5. Self-Hosted Toolkits

You made a tool? Add a guide.

• Installable .zip or .tar.gz file with setup instructions
• Optional upgrade script or CLI wrapper
• Docker Compose bundles for quick setup

You can still open source the tool - but offer a paid “pro install kit,” better docs, or enhanced versions.

Where to Sell Digital Products

You don’t need to build a store from scratch. These platforms let you upload files and sell them with zero coding required.

1. Gumroad

Gumroad

• Free to start, takes ~10% after fees
• Simple checkout flow
• You can sell one-time purchases, subscriptions, or even “pay what you want” downloads

2. Itch.io

Itch.io

It’s not just for games and assets:

• Super customizable pages
• Good for technical tools or bundles
• Great if your product is niche/nerdy

3. Lemon Squeezy

Lemon Squeezy

• Clean design, full checkout + tax/VAT handling
• Supports license keys, updates, and customer messaging
• More “premium” feel, good for polished tools

4. Sellfy

Sellfy

• All-in-one storefront builder
• You can host multiple products, run discounts, capture emails
• Monthly fee (not free), but good for growing libraries

5. Buy Me a Coffee

Buy Me a Coffee

• Also lets you offer “extras” or downloads
• Great for creators who already use it for donations

Tips for Making It Worth Paying For

It’s not about gatekeeping your knowledge - it’s about saving someone time. Here’s how to make your digital download feel legit:

• Include a README or setup guide (don’t assume they know what to do)
• Version your files, even if it’s just v1.0 in the filename
• Add comments or usage examples - the more usable it is, the more valuable it becomes
• Bundle with extras (e.g. a cheatsheet or video walkthrough)
• Price it Right - $5–$20 is a good range for scripts and templates, $50+ for more complex setups
• Offer a free version that’s useful but limited, with an upsell to the full version

Licensing and Permissions

Always include a clear license for your download.

• Open source tools can still have paid addons or documentation
• Scripts and templates can use “personal use only” or commercial license tiers
• Don’t sell anything you don’t own (e.g. code from your employer, or a customer’s project)
• Consider using a simple license like MIT or Creative Commons for clarity

Where to Promote Your Product

Even with the best script in the world, people need to know it exists.

Here’s where you can point people:

• Your blog post about the problem it solves
• Your project’s README (GitHub lets you add sponsor links)
• Your LinkedIn or X/Twitter profile bio
• Reddit, Discord, or Slack communities you’re part of
• Email newsletters or mailing lists

And of course: cross-link everything. Blog -> product page -> blog.

Summary

If you’re already solving technical problems and documenting your work, you’re 80% of the way to having a paid product. The trick is packaging it up, adding a little polish, and giving people an easy way to say “yes.”

• Paid downloads are ideal for scripts, templates, config packs, and guides
• Use platforms like Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy to avoid setup headaches
• Add real value: docs, examples, and usage tips go a long way
• Promote gently, honestly, and in places where your peers hang out

This is one of the simplest ways to earn money from what you already know - no meetings, no clients, just useful stuff for people like you.