Part 1: What Is Leonardo AI and Why Is It Best for Beginners?
Leonardo AI is a powerful image and video generation platform with a user-friendly web interface and multiple models designed for different artistic styles. Unlike Midjourney (which runs on Discord), Leonardo offers a visual interface and an integrated "Canvas" editor for post-processing.
Why it's perfect for a side hustle:
✅ Free tier: 150 tokens daily (enough for 15-30 images)
✅ Multiple models: Choose between cinematic, anime, 3D render, concept art, and more
✅ In-painting & out-painting: Edit specific parts of an image or expand backgrounds
✅ Commercial rights: You can sell images created with the free tier (check their terms)
✅ No Discord required: Works entirely in your browser
Comparison with other AI image tools:
| Feature | Leonardo AI | Midjourney | DALL-E 3 | Stable Diffusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 150 tokens/day | None | Limited via Bing | Free (self-host) |
| Ease of use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Commercial use | Yes | Paid plan only | Yes | Yes |
| Control options | High | Medium | Low | Very High |
Best for side hustlers because: You can start making money immediately without paying for subscriptions.
Part 2: Getting Started (15-Minute Setup)
Step 1: Create your account
Go to leonardo.ai
Click "Start Creating" → "Sign up with Google" or email
Verify your email
You receive 150 free tokens daily (resets at midnight UTC)
Step 2: Understand the dashboard
| Section | What it does |
|---|---|
| Image Generation | Main creation area – type prompts, choose models |
| Canvas | Edit existing images (in-paint, out-paint, erase) |
| Training & Datasets | Train custom models on your own images |
| Finetuned Models | Community-made models for specific styles |
| Personal Feed | Your generated images gallery |
Step 3: Learn the key settings
Before generating, understand these controls:
| Setting | What it does | Recommended starting value |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Choose style (Leonardo Anime, 3D Animation, etc.) | "Leonardo Diffusion XL" (all-purpose) |
| Number of Images | How many variations per prompt | 1-2 (saves tokens) |
| Image Dimensions | Size (square, portrait, landscape) | 768x768 (square) or 1024x768 (landscape) |
| Guidance Scale | How closely to follow your prompt (1-20) | 7-12 (balance) |
| Negative Prompt | What to avoid in the image | "blurry, low quality, distorted hands" |
| Seed | Lock for consistent character/object | Leave blank (random) |
Pro tip: Start with "Leonardo Kino XL" model – it produces cinematic, high-quality results perfect for selling.
Part 3: Crafting Prompts That Sell (The Money Prompt Framework)
Most beginners write: "A cat sitting on a chair" – this generates generic, unsellable images.
The Money Prompt Formula:
[Subject] + [Action/Pose] + [Environment] + [Lighting] + [Style] + [Camera Angle] + [Quality Keywords]
Example breakdown:
| Element | Example |
|---|---|
| Subject | A professional woman in a blue blazer |
| Action/Pose | Standing confidently with crossed arms |
| Environment | Modern office with glass windows and city view |
| Lighting | Soft natural light from window, golden hour |
| Style | Corporate photography, realistic, high-end |
| Camera Angle | Medium shot, eye level |
| Quality | 8K, sharp focus, professional grade |
Full prompt:
*"A professional woman in a blue blazer standing confidently with crossed arms in a modern office with glass windows and city view. Soft natural light from window, golden hour. Corporate photography style, realistic, high-end. Medium shot, eye level. 8K, sharp focus, professional grade."*
30 prompts that sell well on marketplaces (categories):
| Category | Prompt example | Selling price |
|---|---|---|
| Stock photos | "Diverse team collaborating in bright startup office, overhead shot" | $5-15/image |
| Product mockups | "Blank white t-shirt on wooden hanger, minimalist studio lighting, front view" | $10-25 |
| Social media templates | "Aesthetic coffee cup next to MacBook, flat lay, pastel colors" | $5-10 |
| Logos | "Minimalist mountain and sun logo, vector style, white background" | $15-50 |
| Wall art | "Abstract fluid art, gold and navy blue swirls, canvas texture" | $10-30 |
| Book covers | "Mysterious forest path with fog, dark fantasy style, vertical composition" | $20-50 |
| YouTube thumbnails | "Excited YouTuber pointing at text overlay space, dramatic lighting" | $5-15 |
| Print-on-demand | "Vintage floral pattern, seamless repeat, watercolor style" | $15-40 |
Part 4: Advanced Features That Multiply Your Income
Feature 1: Canvas (In-Painting) – Fix and customize
Use case: A client sends you a product photo with an ugly background. You replace it with a beautiful setting.
Step-by-step:
Upload client's image to Canvas
Use "Brush" to select the background area
Write prompt: "Luxury living room with marble floors and chandelier"
Click "Generate" – AI replaces only the selected area
Money opportunity: Charge $20-50 per image for background replacement. Each takes 2 minutes.
Feature 2: Image-to-Image – Transform existing images
Use case: Turn a rough sketch into a professional illustration.
Step-by-step:
Upload a simple drawing or photo
Set "Image Strength" to 0.6 (60% original, 40% new)
Write prompt describing desired style
Generate variations
Money opportunity: Offer "sketch to digital art" service on Fiverr – $25-100 per image.
Feature 3: Finetuned Models – Specialize in a niche
Community-trained models for specific styles:
"3D Render" – Perfect for product mockups
"Anime" – For manga/comic art
"Interior Design" – Realistic room renders
"Logo Design" – Vector-style logos
Money opportunity: Use "Interior Design" model to create room visualizations for real estate agents. Charge $50-200 per render.
Feature 4: Consistent Character with Seed Locking
Use the same "Seed" number to generate the same character in different poses/scenes.
Workflow:
Generate first image of character – copy the "Seed" number
Paste seed into new generation
Change only the action/environment in your prompt
Same character appears consistently
Money opportunity: Create children's book illustrations (same character, 20+ images). Sell the complete set for $200-500.
Part 5: How to Make Money with Leonardo AI (6 Proven Methods)
Method 1: Sell on Stock Photo Websites
| Platform | Commission | Approval difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock | 15-40% | High | Professional quality |
| Adobe Stock | 33% | Medium | Creative images |
| Freepik | 30% | Low | Illustrations, templates |
| Creative Market | 70% | Medium | Design assets |
| Etsy | 85% (after fees) | Low | Digital downloads |
Step-by-step to sell on Etsy:
Create 50 AI-generated images in one niche (e.g., "vintage botanical prints")
Save as high-resolution PNG (no watermark)
Create a listing: "50 Vintage Botanical Prints – Instant Download – Commercial Use"
Price at $9-19
Add mockup images (use Canva to show prints on walls)
Realistic earnings: First month: 10-20 sales ($100-300). After 6 months: 50-100 sales/month ($500-1,500).
Method 2: Offer Freelance Services on Fiverr/Upwork
| Service | Price | Time per order | Daily capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI product photo background change | $10 | 3 min | 50 orders |
| 10 social media images | $25 | 15 min | 20 orders |
| Book cover design | $50 | 20 min | 15 orders |
| 50 logo variations | $100 | 45 min | 8 orders |
Fiverr gig title formula:
"I will create [number] AI-generated [product type] images with commercial rights"
Example: *"I will create 20 AI-generated stock photos for your blog or social media"*
Pro tip: Offer a "24-hour delivery" upgrade for +50% price. Most clients will pay.
Method 3: Create and Sell Notion/Canva Templates
Combine Leonardo AI images with Notion or Canva:
Product idea: "Social Media Kit – 50 AI-Generated Instagram Templates"
Create 50 unique backgrounds in Leonardo
Add text placeholders in Canva
Sell as a complete pack for $27-47
Where to sell: Gumroad, Etsy, Creative Market
Method 4: Print-on-Demand (Redbubble, Society6, Merch by Amazon)
Workflow:
Generate seamless repeating patterns (use prompt: "seamless floral pattern, watercolor style, repeatable tile")
Upload to Redbubble (free)
Apply to products: phone cases, t-shirts, mugs, notebooks
Set your markup (20-40%)
Earnings: Each design can earn $5-50/month passively. 50 designs = $250-2,500/month.
Method 5: YouTube Thumbnails for Clients
YouTube creators pay $5-15 per thumbnail. A good thumbnail can 10x their views.
Your offer:
"I create clickable YouTube thumbnails using AI. 3 thumbnails for $30. Unlimited revisions. Delivery in 4 hours."
Where to find clients: Twitter (#YouTubeThumbnail), Reddit (r/CreatorServices), Fiverr.
Method 6: Sell Prompt Packs (Digital Products)
Sell the prompts themselves, not just the images.
Product: "500 Leonardo AI Prompts for E-commerce Product Photos" – $19
What's inside:
100 prompts for clothing
100 for electronics
100 for home decor
100 for beauty products
100 for food photography
Where to sell: Gumroad, Etsy, your own blog.
Upsell: "Done-for-you images" – $49 for 100 images generated from your prompts.
Part 6: Workflow for a $500/Week Side Hustle
The "Batch Creation" System:
| Day | Task | Time | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Generate 100 images (use 150 tokens/day) | 2 hours | 100 raw images |
| Tuesday | Upscale and edit (remove artifacts, crop) | 2 hours | 100 final images |
| Wednesday | Create listings (Etsy, Fiverr, Gumroad) | 2 hours | 20 listings |
| Thursday | Fulfill client orders | 3 hours | 10-20 orders |
| Friday | Promote on social media (Pinterest, Twitter) | 1 hour | 20 posts |
| Weekend | Rest or catch up | - | - |
Weekly earnings potential:
Etsy digital downloads: 20 sales × $10 = $200
Fiverr client work: 10 orders × $25 = $250
Print-on-demand royalties: $50
Total weekly: $500
Part 7: Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Using generic prompts
✅ Use the Money Prompt Framework every time
❌ Selling low-resolution images
✅ Always upscale: In Leonardo, click "Upscale" (4x) before downloading
❌ Ignoring commercial rights
✅ Check Leonardo's terms: Free tier images can be sold, but you can't resell the prompts as your own
❌ No mockups in listings
✅ Use Canva's free mockup templates to show images on products
❌ One-time sales only
✅ Create a subscription: "$29/month for 50 custom images delivered weekly"
❌ Watermarking your previews
✅ Use a subtle watermark or crop previews – clients need to see quality
Part 8: Tools to Combine with Leonardo AI
| Tool | Purpose | Free tier |
|---|---|---|
| Canva | Add text, create mockups | Unlimited |
| Upscale.media | 4x upscaling | 5 images/day |
| Remove.bg | Background removal | 1 free image |
| Photoshop (free alternative: Photopea) | Advanced editing | Unlimited |
| Buffer | Schedule social posts | 10 posts/channel |
Part 9: Resources & Templates
Free prompt template (copy and use):
[Subject description] + [action/pose] + [environment/background] + [lighting: natural/studio/golden hour] + [style: photorealistic/illustration/3D render] + [camera angle: close-up/wide/overhead] + [quality: 8K, sharp focus, high detail] + [negative: blurry, distorted, watermark]
Example filled:
"A wooden coffee mug on a rustic wooden table, empty background, morning sunlight streaming through window, lifestyle photography style, overhead flat lay angle. 8K, sharp focus, high detail. Negative: blurry, shadows, other objects, watermark."
Checklist before selling an image:
Upscaled to at least 2048x2048
No obvious AI artifacts (extra fingers, warped text)
File format PNG or high-quality JPG
Commercial use confirmed (read Leonardo's terms)
Preview mockup created (Canva)
Keywords added to listing (Etsy/Shutterstock)
Part 10: Scaling to $2,000+/Month
Phase 1 (Month 1): Solo freelancing – $500/month
Phase 2 (Month 2): Add digital products (prompt packs) – $1,000/month
Phase 3 (Month 3): Hire a VA to generate images – $2,000/month
Phase 4 (Month 4): Create a membership site – $3,000+/month
Membership idea: "AI Image Club – $19/month for 100 new commercial-use images delivered weekly"