Earn your first dollar with the First Dollar Formula
This 12-email series guides aspiring entrepreneurs through a proven, step-by-step process to earn their first dollar online.
From overcoming mental barriers and finding your target audience to making genuine connections and confidently asking for payment, this series transforms complete beginners into entrepreneurs who have crossed the crucial threshold from dreamer to business owner.
Earn your first dollar in just 30 days
Start your journey from aspiring entrepreneur to business owner with our proven step-by-step system for earning your first dollar online.
Why your first dollar matters
Hi, I’m Pat Flynn. I started in online business back in 2008 with Green Exam Academy and Smart Passive Income, and I still operate those (and other) businesses today.
When I earned my first $1.18 online back in 2008 through AdSense ads on my architectural website, something profound shifted inside me. Even though I couldn’t withdraw the money (the threshold was $100), seeing that revenue appear from something I had built myself was transformative—it was tangible proof that making money online wasn’t just a pipe dream, but an actual possibility. That single dollar unlocked a new level of confidence and momentum that carried me forward to eventually generate eight figures across multiple online businesses.
It taught me that every massive success story starts with one simple transaction, one person willing to exchange their money for value you’ve created, and that breakthrough moment when you realize you’re no longer someone trying to make money online — you’re someone who has made money online.
Learn how to get started with online business
Learn how to overcome the mental blocks holding you back from starting your business now.