Did you know you can make money online without selling physical products, holding inventory, or dealing with shipping?
People like Byron, who made $38,711, and Jazman, who made $2,493, are doing just that — using free tools like ChatGPT and Google Drive to create and sell digital design packs on Etsy.
This is a simple business model that doesn’t involve crafting, t-shirts, or even design skills. Let me show you exactly how it works — and how you can start making money from it today.
What Are These People Selling?
They’re selling massive bundles of t-shirt designs — but not the actual t-shirts. These are digital downloads, ready-made for print-on-demand shops or DIY creators.
A popular Etsy shop called Epoca has made over $28,896 by selling packs of 300,000+ t-shirt design files. Another seller offering embroidery-themed bundles has earned $222,450.
All of this can be done from home, using AI image generators and digital delivery via Google Drive.
Step 1: Create a Free ChatGPT Account
Start by creating a free account at ChatGPT. This will help you generate endless design prompts and even write product descriptions.
Example Prompt for ChatGPT:
“Give me 10 unique t-shirt design ideas in a retro 60s style.”
Step 2: Sign Up for Etsy
Go to Etsy.com and click on Sign in → Continue with Google. Choose “I’m starting to sell for the first time,” then skip the next question.
Set your shop name — something like Design Elites or whatever feels right for you — and complete the setup.
💡 Reminder: You’re not selling physical products. You’re selling digital files — easy, scalable, and totally hands-off.
Step 3: Spy on Successful Shops Using Allura
Use Allura, a tool that shows income and traffic estimates from Etsy stores. Type in the name of successful stores like “Epoca” or “Embroidery Gallery PDF” to see their earnings.
This will give you an idea of what’s selling and how much potential this method has.
Step 4: Generate Designs Using AI Tools
Use Leonardo.Ai or Runway ML to create unique t-shirt-ready images in minutes.
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Leonardo.ai is free but limited to 8 images at a time.
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Runway ML allows batch generation (up to 1,000 images) for around $10 per 100 images.
🚫 Avoid including text in your AI images — both platforms struggle with accurate word generation.
Example prompt for design generation:
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“Vintage 70s-style floral pattern”
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“Retro muscle car illustration in bold colors”
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“Psychedelic vacation sunset scene”
Step 5: Upload Your Images to Google Drive
Once you’ve created at least 1,000 designs, upload them to a single folder on Google Drive.
This lets you store the bundle securely and easily share it with your buyers via a download link.
Step 6: Create a Delivery PDF with Google Docs
Create a thank-you note using Google Docs, including the download link to your design folder.
Example text:
Thank you for shopping with Design Elites! You can access your files by clicking the link below: Click here to access your download.
Set your folder’s sharing settings to “Anyone with the link” and paste it into your PDF. Save the doc as a PDF file — this is what your customer will receive from Etsy after purchase.
Step 7: Upload to Etsy
Return to your product listing on Etsy and upload the PDF delivery file under “Digital Files.”
Once done, Etsy will automatically send this file to buyers after each purchase.
Congratulations! Your first digital product is ready to sell.
Pro Tip: Expand to Redbubble, Zazzle, and More
Once your PDF design pack is ready, you can also sell it on platforms like:
To scale up even further, collect buyer emails (especially those who run their own t-shirt businesses). Offer them a monthly subscription via PayPal Subscriptions for new design packs delivered every month.
Example:
“Subscribe for $5/month and get 1,000 new t-shirt designs delivered monthly.”
Bonus: Free Training on Autopilot Income
If this feels like a lot or you want a more passive model, check out my free training class. It will show you how to build a true autopilot business that generates money whether you’re working or not.
👉 Click here to access the free class
(Insert your actual training link here)
Final Thoughts
This Etsy t-shirt design loophole is a real, scalable, and beginner-friendly way to make money online using free tools.
Whether you’re looking to make an extra few hundred dollars a month or build a full-time income stream, this method is low-risk and high-reward.
So go ahead — try it out. Set up your Etsy store, fire up ChatGPT, and let AI help you launch your first digital product business today.
