10 Passive Income Ideas to Make Money in 2024 – Awkward Styles

Danica Mae Allibang

6 mins read

10 passive income ideas

Key Points

  • Passive Income Basics: Earn money with minimal effort; examples include rental income, dividends, and royalties.
  • Popular Ideas: Print on demand, dropshipping, real estate, and affiliate marketing offer various benefits and challenges.
  • Choosing the Right Idea: Consider skills, interests, time commitment, and budget.
  • Start Your Journey: Sign up for Awkward Styles for resources and support to begin your passive income journey.

Passive income offers a fantastic way to generate extra cash flow and achieve financial freedom. Whether you’re looking to supplement your current income or build wealth over time, this blog will help you explore passive income ideas to help you reach your financial goals this 2024!

What Is Passive Income?

Passive income is money earned with minimal effort and time investment. Unlike active income, which requires continuous effort (like a traditional job), passive income streams generate earnings even when you’re not actively working. Examples include rental income, dividends, and royalties.

What Is Not Passive Income?

Not all income streams labeled as “passive” are truly passive. If a venture requires regular maintenance, constant updates, or frequent interaction, it falls more into the active income category. Examples include running a business or freelancing.

What Are the Advantages of Passive Income?

  1. Financial Freedom: Passive income can help you achieve financial independence by reducing reliance on a single income source.
  2. Flexibility: It allows you to earn money while focusing on other priorities, such as family, hobbies, or travel.
  3. Wealth Building: Over time, passive income streams can contribute to substantial wealth accumulation.
  4. Reduced Stress: Diversified income sources can reduce financial stress and provide security.

What Are the Passive Income Ideas in 2024?

1. Sell Print on Demand Products

How to earn money: Use platforms like Awkward Styles to create and sell custom designs on products such as t-shirts, mugs, and tote bags. You upload your designs, and the platform handles the printing, inventory, and shipping. You earn a profit from Awkward Styles pod business without needing to manage physical inventory.

Pros:

  • Low upfront costs.
  • No inventory management.

Cons:

  • Competitive market.
  • Dependent on platform policies.
Awkward Styles' homepage where you can start your print on demand business.

Sign up for Awkward styles now!

2. Start a Dropshipping Store

How to earn money: Set up an online store and partner with suppliers who handle inventory and shipping. When customers place orders, the supplier ships the products directly to them. Earnings come from the difference between the wholesale and retail price.

Pros:

  • Minimal startup costs.
  • Wide range of products.

Cons:

  • Low profit margins.
  • Supplier reliability issues.

We also wrote a guide on how to start a dropshipping business!

how dropshipping works

3. Sell Designs Online

How to earn money: Create digital designs such as pod t-shirt design and sell them on platforms like Etsy or Creative Market. Each time your design is purchased, you earn money. This allows you to leverage your creativity and generate income with each sale.

Pros:

  • Passive royalties.
  • Creative outlet.

Cons:

  • Requires strong marketing.
  • High competition.

4. Invest in Real Estate or Dividend Stocks

How to earn money: Purchase rental properties or dividend-paying stocks. Real estate generates rental income, while stocks provide dividends. This approach can lead to significant wealth over time through appreciation and consistent income.

Pros:

  • Potential for high returns.
  • Regular income streams.

Cons:

  • High initial investment.
  • Market volatility.

5. Affiliate Marketing

How to earn money: Promote products or services through affiliate links on your website or social media. Earn commissions on sales generated through your referrals. This method can be scaled by promoting multiple products across different platforms.

Pros:

  • Low entry barrier.
  • Scalable.

Cons:

  • Requires steady traffic.
  • Dependent on affiliate programs.

Here are a few examples of how you can start and leverage affiliate marketing:

  • Tech Reviewer: If you’re passionate about technology, you could create a website or YouTube channel reviewing the latest gadgets and software. Include affiliate links for the products you recommend, allowing viewers to purchase directly from your reviews.
  • Fashion Blogger: Do you have a keen eye for fashion? Partner with clothing retailers and showcase their outfits on your blog or social media. When your followers click your affiliate links and purchase items, you’ll earn a commission.
  • Travel Enthusiast: Share your travel experiences and recommendations through a blog or social media. Partner with travel companies, hotels, or booking platforms, and include affiliate links for tours, accommodations, and flights. You’ll earn a commission whenever someone books their trip through your links.

Remember, the key to success with affiliate marketing is building trust with your audience. Focus on promoting high-quality products and services that align with your niche and interests. Provide honest reviews and recommendations, and your audience will be more likely to click on your affiliate links.

affiliate marketing involves customer turned affiliate and they promote a merchant's products. if there is sale, they get commission.

6. Create a YouTube Channel

How to earn money: Produce engaging video content and monetize through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales. Building a loyal audience can lead to substantial earnings over time.

Pros:

  • Creative freedom.
  • Potential for high earnings.

Cons:

  • Time-consuming content creation.
  • Income fluctuation.

7. Write an E-Book

How to earn money: Write and publish an e-book on platforms like Amazon Kindle. Earn royalties from each sale. E-books can provide ongoing income as long as they remain available for purchase.

Pros:

  • Low publishing costs.
  • Long-term sales potential.

Cons:

  • Requires time to write.
  • Marketing challenges.
image of ebook for sale

8. Create an Online Course

How to earn money: Develop an online course and sell it on platforms like Udemy or Teachable. Once created, courses can generate income through enrollments with minimal ongoing effort.

Pros:

  • Share expertise.
  • Scalable income.

Cons:

  • High upfront effort.
  • Competitive market.

9. Record Audiobooks

How to earn money: Record audiobooks and sell them on platforms like Audible. Earn royalties from each purchase. Audiobooks can appeal to a wide audience, providing a steady stream of income.

Pros:

  • Growing market.
  • Reusable content.

Cons:

  • Requires quality recording setup.
  • Time-consuming production.

10. Sell Stock Photos Online

How to earn money: Upload high-quality photos to stock photo websites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock. Earn money each time your photos are downloaded. This is an excellent option for photographers looking to monetize their work.

Fun fact: Do you know that even Simu Liu started as a stock photo model? You don’t have to be a model yourself, just a simple photo of mundane things could be a valuable stock! It could also be a photo of your pets if you’re camera shy!

Pros:

  • Passive royalties.
  • Creative outlet.

Cons:

  • High competition.
  • Requires high-quality photos.
Image of cat, barbie, phone and vegetables in the background as an example of stock photos.

How to Choose the Best Passive Income Idea for You?

Finding the perfect passive income idea is like finding the holy grail – it should generate income with minimal ongoing effort and align with your passions. But with so many options available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Here’s a breakdown of key factors to consider to make an informed decision:

1. Align with Your Skills and Interests:

  • Strengths: What are you good at? Do you have a knack for design, writing, teaching, or social media? Choose an idea that leverages your existing skills and knowledge.
  • Interests: What are you passionate about? Building a passive income stream around something you enjoy will make the process more sustainable and motivating.

2. Consider Your Time Commitment:

  • Time Investment: Be honest about how much time you can realistically dedicate to setting up and maintaining your passive income stream. Some options, like creating an online course, require a significant upfront investment but less ongoing effort. Others, like affiliate marketing, might require consistent content creation.
  • Flexibility: How much flexibility do you need? Some passive income ideas offer more flexibility than others. For instance, writing an e-book offers more freedom to work on your own schedule, while managing a rental property might require handling maintenance requests occasionally.

3. Evaluate Startup Costs:

  • Investment Required: Not all passive income streams require a hefty initial investment. Consider your budget and choose an idea that fits your financial constraints. Print-on-demand or affiliate marketing can be started with relatively low costs, while real estate or starting a dropshipping store might require a larger upfront investment.
  • Return on Investment (ROI): Think about the potential return on your investment. How long will it take to recoup your startup costs and start generating profits?

4. Scalability Potential:

  • Growth Potential: Does the chosen idea have the potential to grow over time? Can you scale your efforts to generate more income as your business matures? For instance, an e-book can be sold repeatedly with minimal extra effort, while the income from renting a single property is capped.

5. Market Demand:

  • Research the Niche: Is there a market for the product or service you plan to offer? Conduct market research to identify potential customers and their needs. A well-defined target audience increases the chances of your passive income stream being successful.

By carefully considering these factors, you can choose a passive income idea that aligns with your unique circumstances and sets you on the path to financial freedom.

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The best passive income idea is the one that you’re passionate about, can manage effectively, and has the potential to generate sustainable income.

If you want a more comprehensive tutorial to help you get started, we also wrote a guide on how to run a print-on-demand business.

Tips to Build a Strong Passive Income Stream

  • Focus on creating high-quality products or content that resonates with your target audience.
  • Optimize your offerings for search engines to attract organic traffic.
  • Promote your passive income streams effectively through social media marketing and other channels.
  • Provide excellent customer service to build trust and encourage repeat business.

Start Your Passive Income Journey with Awkward Styles!

Ready to explore the exciting world of passive income? Awkward Styles can be your helpful guide. Sign up for Awkward Styles to access valuable content, resources, and inspiration to jumpstart your passive income journey. Awkward Styles also offers a wide range of print-on-demand products and services that can empower you on your path to financial freedom.

By following these tips and exploring the passive income ideas presented in this blog post, you can start generating extra profit and working towards your financial goals.

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