Ever dreamed of making money while binge-watching your favorite Netflix series or taking an afternoon nap? Good news: Passive income is real! Bad news: It’s not entirely passive (unless you inherited a gold mine—if so, congrats).
In this article, we’re looking into 10 realistic ways to make passive income.
1. Sell Digital Products (Because PDFs Don’t Call in Sick)
If you can create printables, e-books, templates, colouring books or even a cute “Meal Planner for Lazy People” in Canva you can sell them on platforms like Etsy or Shopify.
Pros: No inventory, unlimited sales potential, and no customer service (unless someone asks why your printable doesn’t print itself).
Cons: You have to create something people actually want, and marketing takes effort.
2. Affiliate Marketing (a.k.a. Making Money While Bragging About Stuff You Love)
Got a blog, social media page, or YouTube channel? You can earn commissions by promoting other people’s products through affiliate links (Amazon Associates, ShareASale, etc.).
Pros: No need to create your own products, and the income can stack up over time.
Cons: If no one clicks, you make $0. Also, you could turn into that annoying person constantly recommending “life-changing” air fryers.
3. Rent Out Your Stuff (Because Your Lawn Mower Deserves a Side Hustle Too)
You can rent out your spare room (Airbnb), your car (Turo or Mevo), or even random things like camping gear or tools (Fat Llama or La Rent).
Pros: Great way to make money from things you already own.
Cons: Strangers will touch your stuff. And if you rent your car, someone will return it with an empty tank.
4. Create an Online Course
If you know how to crochet, code, cook, or do extreme couponing, people might pay to learn from you. Platforms like Udemy, Teachable, or Kajabi let you sell courses.
Pros: One-time effort, lifetime earnings.
Cons: Requires good content and marketing. Also, imposter syndrome might whisper, “Are you really an expert?”
5. Stock Photography
If you take great photos, upload them to Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Unsplash and get paid every time someone downloads them.
Pros: Once uploaded, photos can sell for years.
Cons: Your cat might not be the next big thing in stock photography.
6. Write a Book
Self-publishing on Amazon KDP is a great way to earn passive income. Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, or a book of dad jokes, there’s an audience for almost everything.
Pros: Royalties keep rolling in if your book gains traction.
Cons: Writing takes time, and your first few sales might only be your grandma and your best friend.
7. Start a Blog (Because Rambling Online Can Pay Off)
If you love ranting about your favorite TV shows, reviewing weird Amazon gadgets, or sharing money-saving hacks, you can turn it into a blog and monetize it with ads, affiliates, and sponsorships.
Pros: You can write about literally anything, and once it ranks on Google, traffic (and money) can roll in for years.
Cons: Blogs take time to grow, and in the beginning, your only readers might be bots and your overly supportive mom.
8. Start a YouTube Channel (Yes, Even If You Hate Talking on Camera)
You don’t have to be an influencer—tutorials, animations, faceless videos, and niche content can make money through ads and sponsorships.
Pros: YouTube videos can generate income forever.
Cons: Editing is a nightmare, and YouTube commenters are… an experience.
9. Create and Sell Merch (Even If You Can’t Draw to Save Your Life)
Sites like Redbubble, Teespring, and Merch by Amazon let you design and sell T-shirts, mugs, and stickers with zero inventory.
Pros: No upfront costs, and your designs sell automatically.
Cons: Your “Dogs Before People” T-shirt might not go viral.
10. License Your Music (Because That Garage Band Might Finally Pay Off)
If you create music, you can license it to YouTubers, businesses, or indie filmmakers through sites like Epidemic Sound and AudioJungle.
Pros: Get paid every time your music is used.
Cons: If your beats sound like Windows XP startup music, success might take a while.
Final Thoughts: Passive Income Is Real (But Not Instant)
Yes, passive income can change your life—but it takes effort upfront. Start small, test a few ideas, and soon, you might just be making money while doing absolutely nothing (except maybe hitting “Next Episode” on Netflix).
Which passive income idea are you excited to try? Let me know!