40 Passive Income Ideas to Start Today
Looking to build wealth without burning out? This post breaks down 40 proven passive income ideas to help you earn money while you sleep—from digital products and affiliate marketing to real estate and investing. Whether you're a creative, investor, or side hustler, there's something here for every budget and skill level. Start stacking streams of income today with Capital and Budget.
Adetola Olukoya
7/18/20253 min read
Passive income is the key to financial freedom—it’s how you earn money while you sleep, travel, or focus on your main hustle. But not all passive income is truly “set it and forget it.” Many of these ideas require some upfront effort or capital, but once built, they can continue to bring in income with minimal maintenance.
Whether you’re a creative, investor, or entrepreneur, here are 40 passive income ideas organized by category to help you get started.
💻 Digital Products & Online Sales
Creating and selling digital products is one of the most scalable ways to build passive income.
Sell Etsy Printables – Think planners, checklists, calendars—design once, sell forever.
Launch Online Courses – Teach a topic you know well on platforms like Teachable or Skillshare.
Sell Digital Wall Art – Upload high-resolution art to sell as instant downloads.
Offer Canva Templates – Sell customizable templates for resumes, social media, or business tools.
Publish Low-Content Books – Create journals, planners, or coloring books using Amazon KDP.
Sell Notion Templates – Help others organize their life or work with beautifully designed templates.
License Stock Photos – Submit your photos to sites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock.
Sell Music or Sound Effects – Great for audio creators or musicians on platforms like Epidemic Sound.
Create Custom Fonts – Design and license fonts for creative or commercial use.
Design Digital Patterns – Seamless patterns for fabric, web design, or digital paper packs.
📝 Writing & Content Creation
If you enjoy writing or creating content, these options can generate long-term revenue.
Start a Blog With Ads – Monetize traffic using platforms like Google AdSense or Mediavine.
Sell eBooks – Write and publish on Amazon, Gumroad, or your own website.
Launch a Paid Newsletter – Use Substack or Beehiiv to charge readers monthly.
Sell Newsletter Ads – Even a free newsletter can make money through sponsored placements.
Create Content Bundles – Package blog posts, emails, or social media captions for sale.
Offer PLR (Private Label Rights) Content – Sell content others can rebrand and reuse.
License Written Work – Get paid when others reuse your articles or copy.
📦 Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate income means earning commission every time someone buys through your link. No product creation needed.
Use Pinterest for Affiliates – Create pins that link to your affiliate products.
Write Product Reviews – Create blog posts or videos reviewing helpful tools or products.
Share Affiliate Links on YouTube – Add links to the description of your videos.
Use an Amazon Storefront – Curate your favorite Amazon products and earn from referrals.
Promote With Instagram – Use reels, stories, and captions to share affiliate links.
Build an SEO Niche Site – Rank for keywords and earn from affiliate links.
Use Affiliate Links in Emails – Add links to your newsletter or email automations.
📱 Apps & Tools
Tech-savvy? These income streams let you build once and earn repeatedly.
Build a Mobile App – Monetize with ads, subscriptions, or one-time purchases.
Launch a SaaS Tool – Offer a software solution people pay monthly to use.
Create a Chrome Extension – Simple tools that solve user problems can generate ad or license income.
Sell Website Themes – Create themes for WordPress, Shopify, or Ghost.
Sell Excel Dashboards – Businesses love dashboards that automate reporting and analytics.
💸 Investing
Put your money to work. These ideas require capital, but not constant effort.
Buy Dividend Stocks – Get paid quarterly for owning shares in reliable companies.
Invest in REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) – Real estate exposure without owning property.
Buy Bonds or ETFs – Safer, more predictable passive income.
Use Robo-Advisors – Automate investing through services like Betterment or Wealthfront.
Try P2P Lending – Lend money to borrowers and earn interest (riskier but can pay off).
Invest in Fractional Homes – Own a slice of rental property with platforms like Arrived.
Use High-Yield Savings Accounts – Earn passive interest from your emergency fund or savings.
🏡 Real Estate & Rentals
Assets you can rent or lease are one of the most classic forms of passive income.
List on Airbnb – Rent a spare room or investment property.
Buy Vending Machines – Once placed, they can run with minimal oversight.
Rent Storage Units – Self-storage is a growing and stable passive business model.
Invest in Parking Spots – Especially profitable in urban or high-traffic areas.
Rent Your Car on Turo – Let your car earn for you when you’re not using it.
Final Thoughts from Capital and Budget
Passive income doesn’t have to mean quitting your job today—it starts with setting up one system at a time. Choose one idea, commit to it for 30-90 days, and build from there. The goal is to let your money, skills, or assets work for you—not the other way around.
Author
Adetola Olukoya
Adetola Olukoya is the founder of Capital and Budget, a personal finance blog focused on helping everyday people make smarter money decisions. With a background in tech and a passion for financial literacy, Adetola shares simple, actionable tips to help you grow your financial confidence.