From 10th Class to Making Money Online
What is your current turnover?
If we talk about the data of the last one year, our annual turnover is ₹10 crore.
So, where did this journey start?
I started learning how to make money online when I was in 10th class.
The first money I earned online came through blogging. After that, I tried solar. Solar worked, but it required investment. So, I sold one of my YouTube channels.
It had around 4 lakh subscribers, and I sold it for ₹1 per subscriber.
Even today, my client acquisition strategy is almost the same. I maintain an online presence, a channel, face value, and referrals. Around 90% of my business comes from online sources.
How Dayashankar Maurya Started His Online Journey
Today, our guest is Dayashankar Maurya. He started his content creation journey through blogging, then moved to YouTube, sold his YouTube channel, continued lifestyle blogging, and later entered the solar business.
In the last one year, he has done a ₹10 crore business.
In this conversation, we will understand his complete journey and also learn how he built his solar business.
How His Online Journey Started Before Jio
My online journey started even before Jio.
I moved from my village to the city, where 3G internet had arrived. I started seeing creators from Delhi and other places and began learning from them.
Later, Jio came, and internet access became easier.
I started making videos and blogging. I also started making connections with people and researching different ways to earn money online.
I wanted to earn along with my studies because I felt that if I waited until completing my studies, it would be too late.
I also travelled a lot and did not want to follow that traditional path.
Starting With WhatsApp Tips and Tricks
At that time, I was in 10th class.
My initial videos were about WhatsApp tips and tricks. I also created a website and started writing content.
UC News was another platform that paid me for creating content.
I am from Lakhimpur. First, I moved to Sitapur, where I studied for around two to three years. After that, I moved to Lucknow.
Also Read: From YouTube Content to ₹1 Crore in 3 Months: How Vardan & Suhani Built a Hair Oil Brand
How Dayashankar Earned His First Money From Blogging
My first money came from blogging.
I had a website called Jankariweb.in. I monetized the website with Google AdSense.
The earnings were initially very low.
My first payout was $100.
It took around two to three months to reach $100.
Even receiving the Google AdSense PIN made me very happy. When I received the $100, I was very excited.
I went shopping at V-Mart or V2 Mart.
[Internal Link: How Nitesh Built a Digital Product Business From a Laptop]
Why Blogging Was Difficult
The problem with blogging was that ranking content was difficult and required a lot of patience.
On YouTube, your content could appear in suggestions. But in blogging, you had to rank your content in search results.
So, I started focusing more on YouTube.
I learned a lot from websites and channels such as Tech Yukti and others.
Using YouTube Along With Blogging
My YouTube content was also based on the same tips and tricks.
I used to embed YouTube videos inside my articles and also add links in descriptions and backlinks.
This way, blogging and YouTube were connected.
[External Link: Official Google AdSense information]
The First YouTube Channel and the AdSense Problem
Initially, I was disappointed.
I had around 2,000 subscribers when my channel was disabled because of invalid click activity.
At that time, I did not understand what had happened.
Later, I learned that Google can consider repeatedly watching your own videos and interacting with ads as invalid activity.
I had no intention of doing anything wrong. It could have been accidental or a wrong detection.
I also attended YouTube and Google events because I received invitations through my website.
There, I was told that YouTube and AdSense were separate departments, so they could not help me with the issue.
Starting a Second YouTube Channel
I created a second channel.
That channel was monetized on the same day.
After my first experience, I avoided repeatedly opening my own channel. I mainly uploaded videos and checked the dashboard.
The second channel grew well because I had already learned from my previous experience and people already knew me.
The first channel was mainly about tips and tricks.
After that, I also started making lifestyle vlogs and blogging content.
I continued uploading on the old channel as well, hoping that it might reopen one day.
Also Read: From Job to ₹5 Lakh/Month: How Shruti Built a Candle Packaging Business
How Village Life Content Helped Build an Audience
My lifestyle content was based on raw village life.
I used to cycle around the village and show people what village life actually looked like.
At that time, I may have been among the early creators doing this kind of raw village content.
Later, TikTok made ordinary people, poor people and workers showing their daily lives much more common.
Why I Chose Raw Village Vlogging
Many people try to hide their humble backgrounds.
Instagram shows a very polished world.
I could not afford to create polished content, so raw content was what I had.
And I actually liked it.
I thought people living in cities and Indians who had moved abroad would want to see village life.
A lot of my viewers were from the United States and other countries. People from cities in India also watched the content.
I also made videos comparing village life in India with life in the United States by asking people living abroad to send me videos.
[Also Read: How to Start an E-commerce Business in India and Scale It Successfully]
How Dayashankar Entered the Solar Business
I had always been interested in green energy, eco-friendly things and organic activities.
I was naturally inclined towards these things.
I had also tried organic farming, but it was not profitable or scalable.
Then I tried solar.
And solar worked.
Why He Sold His YouTube Channel
I needed investment to start the solar business.
So, I decided to sell my YouTube channel.
The channel had around 428,000 subscribers, or approximately 4 lakh subscribers.
At that time, the channel was also declining because of the algorithm.
I felt that if I waited longer, the views might fall to 1,000 or 2,000 per video and the value of the channel would decrease.
So, I decided to sell it and start a new channel.
Around six months before selling the old channel, I created a new channel under the name Dayashankar Maurya.
I told my audience to subscribe to the new channel.
Before selling the old channel, the new channel had already reached around 10,000 subscribers.
So, many of my regular viewers moved to the new channel.
How He Found a Buyer
I posted on Facebook, YouTube and within my blogging network that I wanted to sell the channel.
I received multiple inquiries.
I selected someone whom I trusted and who offered a good price.
I also agreed that the channel should not be used for gambling or any wrong activity.
We signed a written agreement, and I still have that agreement.
I wanted to make sure that the village audience I had built would not be exploited.
I sold around 4 lakh subscribers at ₹1 per subscriber.
I also paid some amount to the mediator.
The buyer wanted to rebrand the channel and use the existing subscriber base, but the channel did not work as expected.
I do not know what exactly his thought process was.
He was financially well settled, so he could take that risk.
How He Used the YouTube Money to Start a Solar Business
After selling the channel, I used the money to start my solar business.
My principle has always been simple:
Before selling any product or service, try it yourself first.
I install solar systems according to the requirements of customers.
But before starting commercially, I installed solar at my own home.
I used the money from selling the channel.
I also borrowed some money from friends and relatives.
I wanted to test whether people would actually support the idea.
Some people gave ₹10,000, and I used to say that even if someone supported me with ₹1,000, it would help.
[Internal Link: From Bank Job to ₹33 Lakh Sales: How Shivam Built His Meesho Business]
The Solar Flour Mill Idea
My first major solar experiment was with flour mills in the village.
Nearby flour mills were running on diesel engines.
This created several problems.
There was diesel expenditure, pollution and a lot of noise.
The people operating the machines also faced hearing problems.
There was dust, and nearby people were disturbed.
The operating cost was also high.
Researching the Business Personally
I researched similar plants by visiting them myself.
I travelled on my motorcycle and spent around ₹2,000–₹3,000 on petrol while researching.
I created a proper business plan, calculated the investment and researched the equipment.
I also sourced equipment, including equipment from China.
Then I installed the system myself.
The solar flour mill became so successful that five or six nearby mills closed and people started coming to my mill.
I also charged a lower grinding price.
I first tested the solar setup for two to three months.
After that, I made a video on my 10,000-subscriber channel explaining that I had started this business.
People started commenting and asking how they could install solar.
How He Became a Solar Dealer
I contacted the company from which I had purchased the solar panels.
They made me a dealer and generated a dealer code for me.
I already had a connection with the company because they had contacted me earlier for sponsorship and product promotion.
They had sent me a product, and I liked it.
I then made a video announcing that I had become their dealer.
People started messaging me and asking me to install solar.
They also started asking for my contact details.
Also Read: From Bank Job to ₹33 Lakh Sales: How Shivam Built His Meesho Business
How His First Solar Customer Came From YouTube
My first lead came from around 300 kilometres away, from Aligarh district.
It was from Sharma Ji, who had been watching my content for a long time.
He had an electric flour mill.
His electricity bill was high and the electricity supply was unreliable.
He contacted me.
At that time, I did not even have a current account.
Sharma Ji paid me ₹1 lakh as an advance in my personal account.
I installed the solar system and also made a video of my first installation.
He had a 10 HP irrigation submersible and a 15 HP flour mill motor, which he operated alternately.
The system was around 17 kW.
At that time, a 17 kW plant cost around ₹8 lakh.
Today, a similar plant may cost around ₹5 lakh because panels have become more efficient and prices have changed.
How He Installed the First 17 kW Plant
Initially, I had no manpower.
I was the manpower.
I learned iron and GI structure fabrication, connections and other practical work.
For some work, I hired third-party metal workers and an electrician from a nearby town.
My friend Sanjeet was also involved in the first plant.
He already worked in solar and had contacted me earlier for solar videos.
I asked him to install my plant.
I purchased the material, and Sanjeet came and worked with me to set up the first plant.
The 17 kW plant was installed in two days.
Initially, the company delivered material directly to the site.
Today, demand is much higher.
Trucks deliver material to the warehouse, and smaller shipments are sent from there.
Continuing Education Alongside Business
I continued my education alongside everything.
Blogging and YouTube also continued.
But later, I saw many creators with 5 lakh or even 1 million subscribers getting demonetized and struggling.
I did not want my future to depend entirely on a platform.
I also had marriage and family responsibilities.
I am 25 years old.
There was also a gap in my education.
After 12th class, I enrolled in BCA.
I saw people studying and learning many things but eventually getting jobs paying around ₹15,000 per month.
At that time, my room rent itself was around ₹5,000–₹7,000.
I was already earning around ₹50,000–₹60,000 per month.
So, earning ₹15,000 did not make sense to me.
I left BCA after the first semester.
Around ₹10,000–₹15,000 of fees were wasted.
Why He Is Studying Law
Currently, I am studying law.
In business, cases and disputes can happen.
I wanted to understand legal matters so that I would not be exploited and could understand when and how to hire a lawyer.
My thinking is simple.
A doctor knows about medicines such as paracetamol, including what they are used for and how much they cost.
Similarly, I believe a business owner should understand the basics of his own work.
Before launching something, learn and try it yourself.
[Also Read: How Dhaval Built a ₹28 Crore Amazon Business From a ₹500 Investment]
How His Solar Business Reached ₹10 Crore in Annual Turnover
The name of my solar company is Om Sun Solar Solar Energy.
In the last year, our annual sales or turnover was around ₹10 crore.
Solar Business Profit Margins
If we talk about B2C direct customers, the margin is around 10%.
In B2B, the margin is around 2–3%, with a maximum of around 5%.
For direct customers, after expenses, around 10% remains.
How 90% of His Solar Business Comes From Online Leads
My YouTube channel helped me get the initial leads, and it still helps me today.
If I did not have the channel and face value, I would not have been able to build things in the same way.
Customers come through the channel.
Then those customers refer other customers.
Traditional referrals also come through my father and relatives.
We also use boards and signage.
But around 90% of our business comes online.
Customers From Different States
We have customers from Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and other Hindi-speaking regions.
The videos are seen everywhere.
For very far locations, travel and material costs increase.
In such cases, I refer customers to verified local distributors whom I represent.
If someone wants a large 10 kW, 20 kW, 30 kW or 50 kW plant and is ready to pay the travel cost, I can install it myself.
Using Customer Testimonials to Generate Solar Leads
One of the major types of content I create is customer testimonial and interview videos.
For example, someone may have installed a ₹5 lakh, ₹8 lakh or ₹10 lakh solar system.
I ask them why they installed it, what benefits they are getting, how much they were paying earlier and how much they are paying now.
For example, if someone’s electricity bill was ₹25,000 and the EMI is ₹15,000, then the person can compare the two.
The plant can also continue operating from morning to evening even when there are issues such as grid outages, low voltage or storms.
[Internal Link: From ₹15,000 to 9,000+ Monthly Orders: How Vidhi Built Ishara]
Who Are His Solar Customers?
My customers are mainly village-oriented because I come from a village and understand rural requirements.
There are schools where fans cannot run properly because of electricity problems.
There are rice mills, flour mills, cold storage facilities and small hospitals.
There are also small commercial premises with eight to ten shops.
These are some of the customers who require solar systems.
PM Surya Ghar Scheme and Solar Installation
There is also the PM Surya Ghar scheme.
For homes that have an electricity connection and a high electricity bill, there is a government subsidy.
According to the way I explain it, almost 50% of the cost can be covered.
For a 3 kW system in Uttar Pradesh, the subsidy is ₹188,000.
Out of this, ₹78,000 is from the central government and ₹3,000 is from the state government.
In some states, there may not be a state subsidy and only the central subsidy may apply.
[External Link: Official PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana information]
Electricity Bill and Solar Cost
An average 3 kW family may have an electricity bill of around ₹4,000–₹5,000.
With a 5 kW solar system, a bill of around ₹5,000–₹6,000 can become free.
A 5 kW plant costs around ₹2.8 lakh–₹3 lakh.
There is also a subsidy of around ₹18,000.
Solar Loans Under the Scheme
The government is also pushing solar through loans.
Nationalized banks are eligible.
The loan process is easier, documentation is lower and the interest rate is lower.
According to my understanding, people from different classes can use the scheme.
Why 3 kW Is Popular
The most popular installation under PM Surya Ghar is 3 kW.
The subsidy amount is the same up to 3 kW, 4 kW, 5 kW and 10 kW, according to the way the scheme is explained.
A 1 kW system is less practical for many families.
So, 3 kW becomes a better value-for-money option.
Above 5 kW, many customers choose to purchase directly.
The panels used under the scheme are DCR modules, and they are more expensive.
[Also Read: How to Start an E-commerce Business in India and Scale It Successfully]
How Long Does Solar Installation Take?
If the customer is ready, I can start the installation within one week across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and North India.
The subsidy process can take around 15–20 days and sometimes up to one month.
The customer either pays upfront or takes bank finance.
The subsidy is then transferred to the customer’s account.
Why Customers Choose His Solar Business
People sometimes ask why they should choose me when there are big companies and funded companies in the market.
My answer is that large companies enter commercially with the aim of making profit.
My aim is to have good customers, provide good installation, build a brand and keep customers happy.
I also want to live a simple and minimalist life.
Testing Products Before Selling Them
I test new products myself before selling them.
If a new inverter company approaches me and asks me to sell its product, I ask them for a demo unit.
If necessary, I buy it myself.
I test it at my own place.
If it works well, then I sell it.
I prefer doing less work with good people and providing quality products.
Solar Pricing and Quality
For the same quality of plant, some people may sell it for ₹2.2 lakh or ₹2 lakh.
I sell a 3 kW plant for around ₹1.8 lakh–₹1.9 lakh.
Some cheaper providers may not provide the same quality or service.
There are also cases where people enter the market because of a scheme and later leave.
I started before PM Surya Ghar existed in its current form.
At that time, only a limited number of people were working in solar, and the government was not pushing it in the same way.
My original intention was green energy, environmental protection and self-reliance.
It was not because of the scheme.
Why Solar Energy Was Important to Him
My vision was to generate my own electricity through solar.
I wanted to use it for irrigation, induction cooking and EV charging.
I wanted a self-sustainable system with less dependence on diesel, gas and other expenses.
There have been situations when diesel became difficult to get.
During diesel shortages, people had to stand in queues.
I once had to fill diesel worth only ₹500 at a time.
If you have an EV, you can charge it from solar.
You can also use induction instead of gas.
Solar energy comes from the sun, so it can provide energy without the same dependence on conventional fuels.
Do Solar Plants Need Batteries?
The PM Surya Ghar systems I install are generally on-grid systems.
They do not have batteries.
My flour mill systems also run from around 8 AM to 4 or 5 PM without batteries.
Only around 2–4% of my business involves batteries.
My understanding is that battery pollution can be concentrated around mining and disposal locations, while diesel pollution is distributed through daily use.
Solar Business Challenges and Customer Service
The biggest challenge is that you always have to be ready for customer problems.
Customers can contact you at any time.
Even if the team handles the installation, I personally handle service issues.
Customers can message me on Instagram, Facebook or WhatsApp.
Most of the service issues happen with inverter and battery systems.
Since these make up only around 2–4% of my business, the number of such issues is also limited.
We use quality wires and proper structures.
We avoid cheap work.
Is Solar Business Seasonal?
Initially, I thought winter and the rainy season would be slow.
But solar is a long-term purchase.
It is not like T-shirts or umbrellas, where demand can depend heavily on the season.
Some customers buy immediately during summer.
But people purchasing 10 kW, 15 kW, 20 kW or 50 kW systems think about the long term.
In winter, demand can sometimes be higher because prices are lower and customers have time to test the system during fog and low sunlight.
If someone contacts me in February, financing and installation may take some time and they may miss part of the peak season.
If they install earlier, they have more time to benefit from savings and arrange financing.
Government Schemes and Subsidies
There are also government schemes where subsidies can be around 30–35%.
Sometimes banks and departments may delay the process even for eligible people.
In some areas, the process is more supportive.
On-Grid vs Off-Grid vs Hybrid Solar
What Is On-Grid Solar?
The purpose of an on-grid system is mainly to reduce the electricity bill where electricity is sufficiently available.
If electricity is available for around 23–24 hours, on-grid is useful.
If there are frequent power cuts, a hybrid system with a battery, inverter and solar panels can be used.
How Hybrid Solar Works
A hybrid system combines different sources.
There can be solar panels, batteries, an inverter and grid electricity.
Excess electricity can also be sent back to the DISCOM for credit.
An off-grid inverter can sometimes be cheaper.
Most city customers use on-grid systems.
Some customers keep one or two batteries for short power cuts.
If someone wants to run an AC during a city power cut, a 5 kW or 7 kW hybrid system can be used.
We provide hybrid, on-grid and off-grid systems.
The Future of Solar Energy
I believe the future of solar is very bright.
Solar generates electricity every day.
You can use it yourself or sell it.
Under PM-KUSUM, large solar plants can also be used for selling electricity to the grid.
For rooftop on-grid systems, surplus electricity can be exported to the DISCOM according to applicable rates.
[External Link: Official PM-KUSUM National Portal]
EVs, Home Automation and Growing Electricity Demand
Some people ask what will happen if solar generation becomes so large that the government generates more electricity than people consume.
My answer is that electricity demand will also increase.
Electric vehicles will increase electricity consumption.
Home automation will also increase electricity requirements.
There will be EVs, robot mops, induction cookers, refrigerators, coolers, phones, laptops and many other devices.
So, electricity demand will continue to grow.
I believe the future will have more solar-powered requirements.
His 35 kW Solar Farm
Earlier, I had a 100-watt solar panel that I used to charge a small battery for studying.
Today, I have a 35 kW solar plant at my farm.
It is used for irrigation for neighbouring fields.
It also runs my original flour mill.
It is used for some household requirements and also for testing new products.
Organic Farming and Solar at the Farm
The land is ancestral land.
We consolidated it by selling and combining different pieces of land.
Then we installed solar there.
I am also interested in organic and environmentally friendly agriculture.
I do gardening and plan to use drip irrigation.
I also use a solar insect trap that glows blue at night.
I sell this product on my website with delivery across India.
Why He Does Not Share His Future Revenue Target
What will your future revenue be?
I do not give an exact number.
I do not tell anyone.
I do not want to put pressure on myself or attract unnecessary attention.
I prefer growing quietly and staying underground.
Final Thoughts on the Journey From Blogging to Solar Business
Your journey has been from a normal village background to content creation and then business.
At one point, having 4 lakh followers was a very big achievement.
You were also called one of the top YouTubers of Lucknow, especially when it came to vlogging views.
Today, content creation is much more competitive.
Doctors, IAS officers, IIT graduates and people from different professional backgrounds are creating content because they already have expertise, resources and roadmaps.
I learned by making content and adapting along the way.
The era is different today, and the difficulty is also different.
Conclusion
This journey started with learning how to make money online in 10th class.
It moved from blogging to Google AdSense, then YouTube, lifestyle content, selling a 4 lakh subscriber channel and finally entering the solar business.
Today, the solar business has reached around ₹10 crore in annual turnover, with online channels continuing to play a major role in customer acquisition.
If you want to learn more about online business, digital products, e-commerce and different ways to make money online, keep following the latest stories and business journeys on ApkPosh.
Also Read: [How to Start an E-commerce Business in India and Scale It Successfully]
The links to Dayashankar’s pages will be available below.
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Until another dhamakedar episode, wherever you are, keep making it happen.