Skipping College to Make $600,000 a Year with My Online Business

Oliur Rahman, a 31-year-old YouTuber and entrepreneur in the UK, has a remarkable story of overcoming adversity and achieving success. Coming from a South Asian background and growing up in the UK on benefits in social housing, Rahman defied the odds to become the first person in his family to buy a house and become a millionaire.

Rahman’s journey to success began when he bought his first smartphone with money saved from working as a waiter. He used this smartphone to customize and share his work on XDA Developers, a mobile software development community. This led to him making and selling icons and wallpapers, his first experience in making money online. With the earnings from selling digital products, Rahman was able to purchase his first computer, a used iMac, which was essential for him to start learning and creating independently.

Despite his parents’ concerns about formal education, Rahman decided not to go to university and instead focused on making money online. He shared his design work on platforms like Dribbble, where clients started to notice him. This exposure led to him creating website templates, particularly for Tumblr. Rahman learned web design and development skills by watching tutorials on YouTube and replicating other work he had seen online. His themes became popular, and in 2014, he was approved to sell them on Tumblr’s official online store, significantly increasing his income.

With his income growing to six figures, Rahman continued to live with his parents, saving as much as possible until he was ready to move out and purchase his own home. At around 23, he started to see significant money from Tumblr, which allowed him to buy his first house. Rahman then became a founding designer at a startup called Plasso, where he was given shares in the company for being an early employee. When Plasso was acquired by GoDaddy, Rahman received a significant payout.

After leaving the startup, Rahman expanded his income streams by starting an online store called ULX Store in 2018 and launching a YouTube channel in 2015. He began taking YouTube seriously in 2020, realizing its potential for scalable income through sponsorships and Adsense revenue. Despite being diagnosed with cancer that same year, Rahman’s store became very successful, generating around $1 million in revenue and contributing to his most profitable year yet.

Rahman emphasizes the importance of diversifying income streams and continuously learning new skills. After his recovery, he focused more on YouTube, which had grown significantly. In 2023, he earned around $600,000 a year from all his income streams. Rahman’s approach to online business involves starting with one main income stream and using the earnings to diversify into other areas. He saves a large portion of his income, which has been crucial for building his wealth and investing in new ventures.

Looking towards the future, Rahman is focused on securing a financial foundation for himself and potential children. He envisions creating a substantial investment portfolio that will allow him to live comfortably off its returns. Recently moving to Dubai but keeping his house in the UK, Rahman is excited for this new chapter in his life, where his income has increased due to lower taxes. Despite his success, Rahman does not see himself retiring as he finds fulfillment in what he does and enjoys the journey of entrepreneurship.