Selling eBooks online remains one of the most accessible ways to generate passive income in 2026. No inventory. No shipping. No customer service headaches. You create (or source) the product once, set up your systems, and collect payments while you sleep.
This guide breaks down the entire process into five actionable steps. Whether you're writing your own eBook or leveraging resell rights products, you'll have a clear path to your first sale.
Why eBooks Work for Passive Income
Digital products have near-zero overhead costs. Once created, an eBook can sell unlimited copies without additional production expenses. The math is simple:
- No printing costs
- No storage fees
- No shipping logistics
- Instant delivery to customers worldwide
A single eBook priced at $6.97 selling just 10 copies per week generates $3,624 annually. Scale that to multiple products, and the numbers become significant.
Step 1: Create or Source Your eBook Content
You have two options here.
Option A: Write It Yourself
Use Google Docs or Microsoft Word. Save as PDF. A solid eBook doesn't need to be a novel: 5,000 to 10,000 words covering a specific problem with actionable solutions works well.
Research your topic by:
- Browsing Amazon bestseller lists in your niche
- Scanning forums and social media for common questions
- Identifying gaps in existing content you can fill
Total cost: $0 to $100 (if you hire a designer for the cover).
Option B: Use Resell Rights eBooks
This is the faster route. Resell rights (also called Master Resell Rights or MRR) allow you to purchase an eBook once and sell it as your own, keeping 100% of the profits.
No writing. No research. No waiting months to finish a manuscript.
Platforms like Ezy Learning offer ready-to-sell eBooks for $6.97 across niches like:
One purchase. Unlimited sales. That's the leverage resell rights provide.
Step 2: Design a Professional Cover
Covers sell books. This applies to digital products as much as physical ones.
Your options:
| Method | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Canva (DIY) | Free | 1-2 hours |
| Fiverr designer | $5-$20 | 2-3 days |
| Professional designer | $50-$200 | 1 week |
For beginners, Fiverr offers the best balance of quality and cost. Search "eBook cover design," filter by reviews, and budget $10-$15 for solid results.
Key elements of an effective cover:
- Clear, readable title (even as a thumbnail)
- Contrasting colours that pop on white backgrounds
- Professional imagery relevant to your topic
- Minimal text: don't crowd it
Step 3: Choose Where to Sell
Multiple platforms exist, each with trade-offs.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
Pros:
- Massive built-in audience
- Free promotion days (up to 5 days every 90 days)
- High search visibility
Cons:
- 30-65% royalty rates (Amazon keeps the rest)
- Strict formatting requirements
- Limited pricing control
Your Own Website
Pros:
- 100% of profits stay with you
- Full control over pricing, branding, and customer data
- Bundle multiple products together
Cons:
- You handle all traffic generation
- Requires payment processing setup
Third-Party Platforms (PayHip, Gumroad, SendOwl)
Pros:
- Easy setup
- Built-in payment processing
- Some audience discovery features
Cons:
- Transaction fees (typically 5-10%)
- Less control than your own site
Recommended approach: Start with one platform. Master it. Expand later.
For maximum profit margins, selling through your own website or a low-fee platform keeps more money in your pocket.
Step 4: Set Up Automated Payment and Delivery
Passive income requires passive systems. Manual order processing defeats the purpose.
Essential automation tools:
- Payment processors: Stripe, PayPal, or platform-native solutions
- Delivery systems: SendOwl, ThriveCart, or WooCommerce with digital download plugins
- Email automation: Collect buyer emails for future product launches
The setup process:
- Connect payment processor to your selling platform
- Upload your eBook file
- Configure automatic delivery upon payment confirmation
- Test the entire purchase flow yourself
Once configured, customers purchase at 3 AM while you sleep. The system handles everything.
Step 5: Promote Your eBook
Having a product isn't enough. People need to find it.
Free Promotion Methods
- Social media content around your eBook's topic
- Blog posts targeting keywords your audience searches
- Email list building through lead magnets
- Forum participation in relevant communities (Reddit, Facebook groups, niche forums)
Paid Promotion Methods
- Amazon ads (for KDP sellers)
- Facebook/Instagram ads targeting interest-based audiences
- Promotion services that blast to genre-specific reader lists
The Long Game: Build an Author Brand
Consistency compounds. Publishing multiple eBooks in the same niche under one author name builds recognition. Each new release promotes your backlist.
Strategies that work:
- Maintain a consistent author profile across platforms
- Create a simple author website linking all your products
- Build an email list of buyers for launch announcements
The Resell Rights Shortcut
Writing takes time. Research takes time. Editing takes time.
Resell rights products eliminate that entire phase.
Here's how the model works:
- Purchase an eBook with resell rights ($6.97 at Ezy Learning)
- Upload it to your selling platform
- Set your price (many sellers price at $17-$47)
- Collect 100% of each sale
The math on a $6.97 investment:
- Sell 1 copy at $27 = $27 profit
- Sell 10 copies = $270 profit
- Sell 100 copies = $2,700 profit
Your only ongoing costs are platform fees (if applicable).
For faster implementation, video courses on marketing and selling strategies are available for $7.95 at Ezy Learning's Business Video Courses.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Pricing too low. A $0.99 eBook signals low value. Test prices between $7-$27 for non-fiction.
Skipping the cover. A bad cover kills sales before anyone reads your description.
No email capture. Every buyer should join your list for future launches.
Spreading too thin. One platform, one niche, one consistent effort beats scattered attempts across five platforms.
Expecting overnight results. Passive income builds over months, not days.
Your Action Plan
- Today: Decide whether to write or source resell rights content
- This week: Create or purchase your first eBook
- Next week: Design your cover and choose a selling platform
- Week three: Set up automated payment and delivery
- Ongoing: Promote consistently and add new products quarterly
The eBook business rewards action over perfection. Your first product won't be your best: and that's fine. Each release teaches you something new about your audience, your marketing, and your systems.
Start with one eBook. Make your first sale. Scale from there.
Browse ready-to-sell eBooks with resell rights at Ezy Learning and skip straight to step two.
