>> My gut feeling is that it's going to be hard to make money without experience and connections but I'd love to be wrong Yes. You can do this by: Building lot

>> My gut feeling is that it's going to be hard to make money without experience and connections but I'd love to be wrong Yes. You can do this by: Building lots of products and launching them and reaching out to people who are looking for contractors online and sharing similar/relevant products you're launched. It sounds like you're describing the classic problem for getting started in a new career (no work experience & jobs like experience). The numbers likely won't be pretty for trying to get clients. For example, I know someone who is a self taught designer, and very good too, and had to apply to 100+ jobs in this market to get 5 interviews, and then had an offer from 1 and decided to end the process and take the job. Those numbers can be discouraging but it only takes 1 yes to get that first real work experience, and from there it only gets easier.