What does the work involve?
Research anything a client doesn't have time for — competitors, markets, vendors, pricing — using AI to dramatically increase how much real research one person can produce. A strong fit for analytical people who aren't designers, marketers, or developers.. The first goal is to deliver one useful result for a specific customer, then learn from their response.
- Choose a research specialty and target buyer
- Build a research methodology and report template
- Produce 2-3 sample reports on real, public topics
- Offer 3-5 free or discounted research sprints
- Set pricing and publish a simple service page
Skills to bring or practice
Research · Critical Thinking · Writing · AI Prompting
Foundation — example tasks
Use these as planning prompts. Targets and deliverables are goals, not promised outcomes.
- Choose a research specialty and target buyer
Pick one type of research (competitor intelligence, vendor research, market sizing, pricing research) and one buyer type (agencies, B2B founders, consultants). Narrow beats broad here — "I research anything" is a harder sell than "I research competitors for B2B SaaS companies."
- Build a research methodology and report template
Define your actual process: which AI tools you use for search/synthesis, how you verify claims before including them, and what a finished report looks like (structure, length, executive summary format).
- Produce 2-3 sample reports on real, public topics
Research something genuinely useful (a competitor in your own network's industry, a real market question) and produce a full report to that standard. This becomes your portfolio.
First Clients — example tasks
Use these as planning prompts. Targets and deliverables are goals, not promised outcomes.
- Offer 3-5 free or discounted research sprints
Reach out to your network and offer a heavily-discounted or free first research sprint in exchange for a testimonial and permission to reference it (anonymized if needed).
- Set pricing and publish a simple service page
Use your real sample reports and testimonials to set pricing for the 3-tier structure (sprint, deep report, monthly desk) and get a basic page live so people can see what you offer.
Who could you help first?
A starting audience to investigate: Founder, consultant, or business development lead. Treat this as a hypothesis. Ask what they need, how they solve it now, and whether they would try a small paid pilot.
Ways to test your first customer channel
- Offer a free "sample research sprint" to 3-5 people in your network to build proof and testimonials
- Post a real (anonymized) research finding on LinkedIn to demonstrate the quality of your work
- Reach out directly to agencies and consultants who constantly need client/market research but don't have time
How can AI help with this hustle?
Use AI to prepare a first draft, organize research, or make a sample. Review accuracy, permissions, and quality before sharing customer-facing work.
Tools named in this template: ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Google. Check their current capabilities and pricing before choosing.
A prompt to start with
Help me test a AI Research Analyst offer. My audience is [audience]. The problem is [problem]. My weekly time limit is [hours]. Suggest one small deliverable, three questions to validate demand, and a quality checklist. Separate assumptions from evidence. Do not invent market data or customer results.
Use the free offer and workflow planner · Build a better AI workflow
Before you commit
How much time should I set aside?
The template suggests 10-20 hours/week. Treat that as a planning estimate. Time one small sample and include customer communication, corrections, and marketing in your own budget.
What could it cost to start?
The template estimates $0-$100 for setup. Your actual costs depend on tools, equipment, and scope. Test demand with what you already have before adding subscriptions.
How much could I earn?
There is no guaranteed or verified typical income for this template. Revenue depends on demand, pricing, delivery, and customer acquisition. Track actual revenue minus expenses and your time during a small pilot.
Can I start here without another platform?
Yes. Create your starter plan on this site, customize the offer, and check off the first seven steps. Plans stay in your browser and can be downloaded or backed up.