Build AI Side Business with n8n: Auto Payment & Delivery

Overview

This is an AI automation system solution for side business monetization.

Build end-to-end automation from user payment to service delivery using n8n:

1. Lead Generation - WordPress website + social media
2. User Payment - Payment platforms (PayPal, Stripe, etc.)
3. Password Verification - Notion validates password and credits
4. Task Processing - AI executes text processing/translation, etc.
5. Result Delivery - Auto-return processing results
6. Credit Update - Auto-deduct usage credits

Automated side business system architecture overview

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Core Decision Factors

When choosing automated side business solutions, consider:

• Automation Level - Can it achieve end-to-end unattended operation?
• Deployment Barrier - Can non-technical users easily get started?
• Cost Efficiency - Do operating costs match income?
• Extensibility - Can it integrate multiple AI capabilities and services?
• Monetization Capability - Is there clear market demand?

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Technical Specifications

Specification	Value	Notes
Core Platform	n8n	Open-source low-code automation
n8n Cloud	~$20/month	2,500 workflow executions
Zeabur Deployment	~$5/month	Unlimited executions, recommended
AI Model Recommendation	GPT-4o Mini, Claude	GPT-4o Mini cheap and fast
XAI API	$5 → $150/month credit	Extremely cost-effective
PDF Parsing	docs2x	Supports multi-column, formulas, tables

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Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• n8n Cloud account (14-day free trial) or Zeabur account
• Notion account (for password and credit management)
• AI model API keys (OpenAI/Claude/XAI)
• Payment channels (PayPal/Stripe/etc.)

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Deployment Options Comparison

Option 1: n8n Cloud (Official Cloud Service)

• Pros: No deployment needed, direct use
• Cons: ~$20/month, 2,500 execution limit
• Suitable For: Initial testing and trials

Option 2: Zeabur One-Click Deployment (Recommended)

One-click deploy n8n service

• Pros: $5/month, unlimited executions, auto public domain
• Cons: Requires registering third-party platform
• Suitable For: Long-term use and formal operations

Option 3: Local Deployment (Not Recommended for Beginners)

• Pros: Completely free, full control
• Cons: Requires Docker, port mapping, DDNS, reverse proxy, etc.
• Suitable For: Developers with technical background

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System Architecture

User-Facing Interface

User interaction interface: AI polish and PDF translation

Through n8n’s native Form feature, users complete everything on one page:

• Select task type (AI polish/PDF translation, etc.)
• Upload text or files
• Enter password
• Receive processing results

Backend Workflow

Workflow nodes: Form→Validate→Branch→AI→Deliver

Core Modules:

1. Form Trigger - Receive user input
2. Notion Query - Validate password validity
3. Credit Check - Verify remaining usage credits
4. Task Branches - Execute different flows based on selection
5. AI Processing - Call LLMs to execute tasks
6. Result Return - Output processing results
7. Credit Update - Deduct credits in Notion

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Password Verification System

Use Notion as simple backend database:

Database Fields:

• Password (unique identifier)
• Remaining credits
• User info (optional)
• Purchase time (optional)

Verification Flow:

1. User inputs password
2. n8n queries Notion to match password
3. Checks if remaining credits > 0
4. Executes task and deducts credits if valid
5. Returns error message if invalid

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Practical Workflow Examples

Example 1: AI Humanization

Polish AI-generated stiff text into natural expression:

Prompt Design:

Please rewrite the following AI-generated text to be more natural and conversational,
remove obvious AI traces, maintain original meaning while making expression more human.

Original: {{user_input}}

Example 2: PDF Translation

Use docs2x to parse PDF then call AI for translation:

Advantages:

• Supports multi-column layout
• Preserves formulas and tables
• Maintains image-text layout
• Superior to Jina Reader

Example 3: Industry Solution Design

Design AI workflow solutions for traditional industries:

Suggestion: AI field is saturated; applying AI capabilities to traditional industries presents blue ocean opportunities.

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Supporting Website Setup

Zeabur one-click deploy WordPress

Can also one-click deploy WordPress website via Zeabur:

Uses:

• Personal brand website
• Service introduction and lead generation
• SEO for organic traffic
• Can integrate ads for additional income

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Pitfalls to Avoid

Common issues during setup:

1. n8n is Low-Code - May require simple JavaScript expressions, not purely no-code

2. Details Prone to Errors - Spaces, case sensitivity, node types (POST/GET) need careful checking

3. Large File Token Consumption - PDF translation and long texts need optimized context management or costs spike

4. Local Deployment Complexity - Requires Docker, port mapping, etc.—not recommended for beginners

5. Traditional Industries are Blue Ocean - AI field is highly competitive; suggest applying AI to traditional industries

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Use Cases

Recommended For

• Individuals Seeking Automated Side Income - Want to build unattended passive income systems
• Traditional Industry Practitioners - Want to apply AI to their industries to solve pain points
• Content Creators - Need AI assistance for article polishing, translation, etc.
• Learners with Ability - Willing to invest time learning low-code features

May Not Suit

• Users seeking “get rich quick” schemes (requires continuous exploration and accumulation)
• Complete tech-phobic beginners
• Zero-budget users unwilling to bear any costs
• Only interested in AI tech itself, not applications

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FAQ

What’s the difference between n8n and Make?

n8n is a low-code platform that may require simple JavaScript expressions; Make is purely no-code. n8n is open-source and self-hostable; Make is cloud-only.

What’s the easiest way to deploy n8n?

Recommend Zeabur one-click deployment at ~$5/month with unlimited workflow executions, auto-assigned public domain, no technical background needed.

How to implement automated payments?

Users receive password after payment. n8n workflow validates password and remaining credits via Notion, provides service upon verification, and deducts credits.

What service for PDF translation?

Recommend docs2x, superior to Jina Reader—parses multi-column, formulas, tables, code, and preserves layout.

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Next Steps

After mastering the basics, you can try:

• Add more AI tools to same form
• Integrate more payment and notification channels
• Optimize prompts to improve processing quality
• Explore more AI application scenarios in traditional industries

Feel free to leave comments with questions!