Passive Income Ideas For Content Creators [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a Content Creator in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a Content Creator today. These will help you increase your quality of life by bringing in more income for yourself or your business.
For each income idea, we’ll show you real-world examples, revenue expectations for each idea, plus some things you might need to know before you start your passive income journey as a Content Creator.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a great move if you have a knack for creating video content. You'd have the opportunity to share your expertise, passions, or hobbies while potentially earning extra money through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise. Whether you focus on how-to guides, vlogs, educational content, or entertainment, YouTube provides a flexible platform for your creativity.
To build a successful channel, you'd need to be consistent and produce quality videos. This involves planning your content, shooting and editing your videos, and engaging with your audience regularly. Understanding how to optimize your videos for search (SEO) and using social media marketing can also help you gain traction.
Even though it involves hard work, starting a YouTube channel could offer both personal satisfaction and financial rewards. If you're willing to invest the time and effort, this platform could become a significant and enjoyable income source.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
2. Make passive income with a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a great way to supplement your income as a content creator. By sharing your knowledge and passion on a specific topic, you could attract listeners who are interested in your insights. With some basic recording equipment like a microphone and headphones, you could produce quality content without breaking the bank.
To make extra money, you could promote your podcast through social media and online communities to grow your audience. As your listener base expands, you could attract sponsors or advertisers who are willing to pay for ad space on your show. This could turn your podcast into a valuable passive income stream while you continue to create content you love.
Additionally, a successful podcast could open up other revenue opportunities like affiliate marketing, merch sales, or even paid subscriptions. The key is to choose a niche or topic that you’re passionate about and that has an audience, then consistently create and share content to keep your listeners engaged.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
3. Make passive income with a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
Starting a stock photography business could be a great way to supplement your income as a content creator. By leveraging your existing photography skills, you could upload high-quality images to stock photography websites, building an impressive portfolio that continues to generate earnings over time. Businesses and marketers are always looking for fresh, captivating visuals, and your photos could become a valuable resource for them.
You could invest in some good photography gear and spend time learning how to take stock photos that sell, focusing on different sizes, resolutions, and file formats. An excellent online presence could help you sell your stock photos faster and at profitable margins, turning your creative passion into a sustainable source of passive income. This side hustle not only complements your content creation journey but also diversifies your income stream, making it more stable and lucrative.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
4. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog could be a great way for you to share your expertise on a specific topic and engage with a passionate community. As a content creator, you likely already have a knack for producing engaging material, so focusing on a niche like fashion, video games, film reviews, or cooking could be particularly rewarding.
By creating unique and informative content, such as how-to guides, product lists, and interviews, you could attract a dedicated audience. Once your blog gains visibility, you could monetize it through affiliate links, collaborations with brands, and even speaking engagements.
For the best chances of success, pick a niche you are passionate about and regularly engage with your followers. This will not only keep your audience interested but also help grow your blog as a reliable and trusted source.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
5. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($139K/month)
If you're a content creator, starting a social media automation business could be an excellent way to supplement your income. Imagine managing multiple social media accounts effortlessly while driving engagement and growth—that's the essence of this business idea. You could create tools and services that schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data across various social media platforms.
As businesses and influencers are always looking for ways to save time and enhance their social media presence, the demand for automation is growing. By offering these services, you could help clients improve their online presence while generating a steady stream of passive income. For those with a knack for technology and marketing, this could be both a profitable and fulfilling endeavor.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
6. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
For content creators, starting a WordPress plugin business could be a practical way to generate extra income while leveraging your existing skills and audience. If you've encountered a common issue or need within your niche, developing a plugin to solve that problem could have widespread appeal. By focusing on a specific solution, you can create something both valuable and marketable.
You could sell your WordPress plugin on platforms like CodeCanyon, promoting it to a broader audience. Alternatively, you could use your blog or even create a separate website to market and sell the plugin. This approach not only allows you to monetize your technical skills but also ties back to your core content, offering another way to engage with and provide value to your audience.
How much you can make: $120 — $120,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Wheely Sales CEO Josh created a lucky wheel popup that has grown revenue from $0 to $600/month in just 4 months since getting started and has attracted over 1.1 million users to his customers’ websites, all while proving that when it comes to creating a product, competition is validation.
7. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
As a content creator, you could supplement your income by developing an AI writing tool. This tool, powered by artificial intelligence, could help generate accurate and engaging content quickly, saving time and reducing errors.
With the constant demand for fresh, quality content, an AI writing tool could be a valuable asset to businesses, bloggers, and students. By offering this innovative solution, you could ease the workload of writers around the world and significantly boost their productivity. Embarking on the creation of such a tool not only stands to provide you with extra income but also positions you at the forefront of a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)
Rytr, a new AI writing assistant developed by a startup platform and business incubator, has become a market leader, serving over 300,000 customers across the world and doing seven figures in ARR.
8. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
Are you looking for a side hustle to pay you a passive income? Affiliate marketing is one of those side hustles that could pay you well over the long term. It is a way to earn money online by promoting other companies' products and services. You could be paid a commission for each sale you make as an affiliate marketer.
To get started, you would need to learn how to find the right product and brand to partner with. For example, you may prefer becoming an affiliate marketer for an eCommerce store, partnering with a manufacturer, and marketing their products for a commission. This approach enables you to leverage your existing audience, creating a win-win situation where you could earn extra income while providing valuable recommendations to your followers.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
9. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
If you're a Content Creator looking to diversify your income, starting a niche website could be an excellent opportunity. A niche website focuses on a specialized topic, allowing you to serve a dedicated audience with targeted content and products. This not only lets you explore a subject you're passionate about but also provides creative freedom while potentially generating revenue.
Building a niche website involves selecting a niche you’re knowledgeable and enthusiastic about, creating engaging content, and driving traffic to your site. You'd need to invest time in research, content creation, and SEO to attract loyal followers. Monetization options such as affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products could turn your specialized content into a reliable source of passive income over time. If you have a specific interest and the drive to dive deep, this could be a rewarding project that supplements your income.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
10. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
If you're a content creator, starting an online course sales business could be a fantastic way to make extra money. You could turn your skills and expertise into an online course and sell it to your followers. For example, if you're good at music, cooking, or web design, you could create courses in these areas and share them with a wider audience.
The e-learning market is booming, expected to be worth over $645 billion in the coming years. That means there's a huge opportunity for you to turn your passion into a passive income stream. All it takes is choosing a target audience, creating a course, and picking an online learning platform to sell it.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
11. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
Starting a print-on-demand business could be a great side income opportunity for content creators. As a content creator, you probably already have a knack for design and understanding what your audience likes. By utilizing print-on-demand services, you could turn your popular quotes, logos, or original artwork into products like t-shirts, phone cases, and home goods without needing to invest in inventory.
Platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy make it easy to list your unique products and reach a global audience. All you need to do is focus on creating trendy and unique designs, while the print-on-demand service handles production and shipping. With low startup costs and the ability to run everything from home, you could gradually build a profitable business that complements your content creation work.
How much you can make: $200 — $3,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Founder Roy Kirchner shares how he started an eCommerce business specializing in 3D printing with an initial investment of $65,000, which now averages monthly gross sales of $330,000 and has partnered with international manufacturers and local businesses while offering technical support and education.
12. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
If you're a content creator, turning your brilliant idea into a mobile app could be a great way to supplement your income. Developing a mobile app might seem challenging, but with the right vision and perhaps some help from a skilled developer, it’s entirely possible. Think about creating an app that meets a specific need, such as providing productivity tools or entertainment, which could appeal to your existing audience.
Your main tasks would include planning the user experience, designing engaging interfaces, and ensuring the app works smoothly by testing for functionality and bugs. Once your app is ready, effective marketing is crucial to attract users and increase downloads. With dedication and the right strategy, your app could gain significant traction, potentially generating substantial revenue and offering a new stream of passive income.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
13. Make passive income with a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
Starting a subscription box business could be a smart way to earn extra income as a content creator. Given your existing audience and engagement, you have a head start in understanding what niche products might resonate with them. For example, if you create content about beauty, you could curate a monthly beauty box with exclusive products.
This venture could add value to your personal brand by offering your audience something tangible beyond digital content. Plus, subscription boxes are in high demand for their uniqueness and the element of surprise they bring to customers. By focusing on providing quality products and a well-designed box, along with good marketing, you could see significant profits and build a loyal customer base.
How much you can make: $400 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Vowed Box Co. is a line of curated, quirky gift boxes with non-traditional brides in mind, offering four different products that have helped the business become profitable most months since its launch in 2018, with a monthly income of roughly $600.
14. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
If you're a Content Creator looking to supplement your income, consider starting an AI-based business solution. Using artificial intelligence, you could create tools that streamline processes like customer service, data analysis, or personalized marketing. These tools could help businesses save time and money, making your solution highly valuable in today's market.
You don't need to be a tech expert to get started—many platforms offer easy-to-use interfaces and solid support. By integrating AI, you could offer services that automate repetitive tasks and provide in-depth insights, giving companies a competitive edge. As AI continues to gain traction, your AI-based business solution could quickly become an essential asset for various industries, allowing you to earn passive income while focusing on your content creation.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
