14 Passive Income Ideas For Designers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a Designer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a Designer 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 Designer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
Starting a stock photography business could be a great fit for you as a Designer. You already have a good eye for aesthetics and know what appeals visually to potential buyers. By using your design skills, you could create high-quality, appealing photos that businesses might use for their marketing and advertising needs.
With some investment in good photography equipment and learning the basics of photography, you could begin building an impressive portfolio. Once you upload your photos to stock photography websites, they could start generating a passive income over time. Establishing a strong online presence could further boost your sales and help you earn profitable margins from your work.
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.
2. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a Designer, starting an online course sales business could be a great way to supplement your income by sharing your expertise with others. You could create courses about graphic design, UI/UX design, or mastering design software, and market them to aspiring designers or businesses in need of design skills. This allows you to reach a global audience and generate income even while you sleep.
To get started, choose a target audience and create online courses tailored to their needs. Then, select an online learning platform where you can sell your courses, like Udemy or Skillshare. Given the e-learning market's rapid growth, this could be a lucrative opportunity for you to monetize your skills and knowledge.
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.
3. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
As a Designer, starting a niche blog could be an incredible way to share your unique design knowledge and supplement your income. You could focus on topics like design trends, software tutorials, or project breakdowns, providing valuable insights that help others in your field. You might write articles, create how-to guides, or even do video interviews with other designers.
With consistent effort, you could build an engaged online community and monetize your blog through methods like affiliate links, sponsored posts, or collaborations with design brands. Beyond monetary gain, a niche blog could also boost your professional visibility and open up speaking opportunities at relevant events. The key would be to be passionate about your topic and commit to regularly engaging your followers with useful content.
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.
4. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
Starting a print-on-demand business could be a great way for designers to supplement their income and start earning passive money using their creative skills. As a designer, you already have the talent to create trendy and unique designs. By leveraging print-on-demand services, you could turn these designs into customized products like apparel, home goods, and phone cases without worrying about upfront inventory costs.
You could utilize online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy to reach a global audience, making it easier to sell your creations. The dropshipping production and fulfillment model means that you only need to focus on designing, while the other aspects like printing and shipping are handled for you. This setup not only allows you to run your business from home but also provides the freedom to scale at your own pace.
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.
5. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a great way for you to supplement your income as a designer. You could create how-to guides, vlogs about your design process, or educational content that showcases your skills. By sharing what you love and know best, you could potentially earn money from ads, sponsorships, and even merchandise.
However, building a successful channel takes effort and consistency. You’ll need to plan your content, shoot and edit videos, and regularly engage with your audience. Over time, as your channel grows, it could become a significant source of passive income while also enhancing your personal brand.
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.
6. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
Creating a mobile app could be an exciting way to earn passive income as a Designer. With your skills, you could focus on planning the user experience and designing engaging interfaces, which are crucial to the app's success. You don't need to be a coding expert; hiring a skilled developer for the technical aspects is always an option.
Imagine turning a brilliant idea into an app that solves a problem or entertains users. Mobile apps are a huge part of everyday life, offering endless possibilities for innovative solutions. If marketed effectively, your app could gain significant traction and start generating substantial revenue, making this a worthwhile investment of your creativity and time.
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.
7. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
As a designer, starting a niche website could be an ideal way to supplement your income and make extra money. You could create a site focused on a topic you're passionate about and knowledgeable in, such as graphic design trends, design tutorials, or creative resources. By producing engaging content and driving traffic to your site, you could turn your expertise into a valuable online resource.
Your specialized content can attract a dedicated audience, opening up various monetization opportunities like affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products like design templates and e-books. While it requires an initial investment of time for research, content creation, and SEO, a niche website can eventually provide you with a reliable source of passive income. If you have a specific interest and the drive to dive deep, this project could be both creatively satisfying and financially rewarding.
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.
8. Make passive income with a dropshipping business ($453K/month)
For designers looking to supplement their income, starting a dropshipping business could be a practical and rewarding venture. Because you won’t need to hold inventory, you could easily set up a niche online store using platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, all while continuing to focus on your design career. This way, your creativity could shine through in the design of your online store and marketing materials, making your business stand out from the competition.
By choosing a product category that aligns with your interests, you could create a cohesive brand that attracts customers. Find reliable suppliers on platforms like AliExpress, list their products on your site, and let them handle the shipping. With careful expense management and a focus on promoting your store, you could gradually build a stream of passive income.
How much you can make: $6,000 — $3,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 10 hours/week
Entrepreneur Kamil Sattar has developed multiple six-figure drop shipping businesses, and his company, e-commerce mentoring, specializes in helping others create their own successful companies, with favorite platforms including using Shopify and apps such as Loox reviews and SMSBump.
9. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
As a designer, starting an affiliate marketing business could be a smart way to supplement your income by leveraging your creative skills and industry knowledge. By promoting products and services that align with your design expertise, you could use your own experiences and opinions to recommend high-quality tools, software, or materials to your audience. For instance, you could partner with eCommerce stores or manufacturers that sell design software, hardware, or other resources that your followers might find useful.
Not only could this provide you with a new revenue stream, but affiliate marketing also fits seamlessly with your existing work. You could create content like blog posts, social media updates, or YouTube videos showcasing how you use these products in your design work, thereby making your promotions more authentic and relatable. This way, you are genuinely helping others in your field while earning commissions on any sales generated through your affiliate links.
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.
10. Make passive income with a garage organizer business
As a Designer, starting a garage organizer business could be a fantastic way to supplement your income by utilizing your keen eye for space and design. You could help homeowners create functional and aesthetically pleasing garage spaces, bringing your skills in layout, organization, and client collaboration into a new, rewarding field. By providing tailored storage solutions, such as shelving and cabinets, you could transform chaotic garages into efficient, organized spaces.
Additionally, your experience with design projects and client communication would come in handy when understanding and meeting clients’ specific needs. Moreover, effective time management and customer service skills would ensure that you successfully juggle multiple projects and keep your clients satisfied. With some marketing and networking efforts, you could attract a steady stream of clients and build a thriving side hustle.
11. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
Starting an AI-based business solution could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a Designer. Leveraging artificial intelligence can help businesses streamline operations, manage inventory, and personalize marketing, all while reducing costs. By automating repetitive tasks and providing valuable customer insights, AI tools can significantly enhance efficiency and allow companies to make data-driven decisions.
You don't need a tech background to get started; many AI platform providers offer user-friendly interfaces and strong support systems. As the demand for AI solutions grows, positioning yourself in this market could give you a competitive edge. Exploring AI could open new doors for creativity and innovation, allowing you to boost not only your income but also your impact in the business world.
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.
12. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
If you're a designer looking to supplement your income, developing an AI writing tool could be an exciting avenue to explore. Given your creativity and understanding of user experiences, you could create a digital tool that's visually engaging and user-friendly, which would appeal to a broad audience from bloggers to businesses. An AI writing tool can generate accurate and engaging content, making it easier for users to produce high-quality writing quickly and efficiently.
Moreover, the growing demand for constant, quality content presents a solid market opportunity. By embedding artificial intelligence into your tool, you could offer significant advantages over traditional writing methods—such as automation and error-free content generation. An AI writing tool could become indispensable for users, easing their workload and boosting their productivity, allowing you to make your mark in the digital world.
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.
13. Make passive income with an email marketing tool ($249K/month)
As a designer, you could create an email marketing tool that brings in extra income while leveraging your design skills. By designing templates and user-friendly interfaces for the tool, you can make it more appealing to small businesses and entrepreneurs who need professional-looking emails but lack design expertise. This would allow you to tap into the growing email marketing industry, which is expected to reach $2.53 billion by 2028.
Moreover, your design expertise could differentiate your tool in a competitive market. Well-crafted templates not only save users time but can also lead to higher engagement rates, making your email marketing tool more valuable. This venture could turn into a steady source of passive income as businesses continue to use your tool for their email campaigns.
How much you can make: $120 — $2,083,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 170 days (?)
H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.
14. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
As a designer, starting a WordPress plugin business could be a great way to supplement your income. You probably already use WordPress and understand the pain points of creating and managing websites. If you have identified a common issue, you could design a plugin that offers a solution to that need and sell it.
By focusing on solving specific problems, your skillset in design can shine through intuitive and polished user interfaces. You could sell these plugins on platforms like CodeCanyon, your blog, or even create a dedicated website for them. It's an excellent way to monetize your skills, allowing you to earn passive income while continuing your main work as a designer.
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.
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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.
