Passive Income Ideas For Junior Developers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a Junior developer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a Junior developer 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 Junior developer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($139K/month)
As a Junior developer, starting a social media automation business could be a game-changer for supplementing your income. Imagine managing multiple social media accounts effortlessly while driving engagement and growth for your clients, from small businesses to influencers. By creating tools and services to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data across various platforms, you could save your clients valuable time and boost their online presence.
With the booming demand for consistent and strategic social media engagement, there's a significant market for automation services. The technical skills you’ve already developed would come in handy for creating or integrating software solutions that meet the needs of your clients. While you'll need to stay updated on social media trends and build strong relationships with your customers, the potential for this venture to become a lucrative and fulfilling side hustle is substantial.
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.
2. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
As a junior developer, you could venture into creating an AI writing tool to supplement your income. This tool, powered by Artificial Intelligence, could generate accurate and engaging content, making it highly useful for businesses, bloggers, and students. You could capitalize on the constant need for quality content and provide a digital solution that eases the workload of writers, revolutionizing the content creation process.
Setting up such a tool offers potential for significant passive income. Once developed, you could sell subscriptions or licenses to access your AI writing tool, allowing you to earn money with minimal ongoing effort. This enterprise not only taps into a futuristic demand but also opens doors for you to make a meaningful impact 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.
3. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
As a Junior developer, you could consider starting an AI-based business solution to supplement your income and explore entrepreneurial opportunities. AI can optimize various business operations, streamlining processes like customer service, inventory management, and personalized marketing. This allows companies to operate more efficiently, lower costs, and make informed decisions based on data insights.
You could leverage your coding skills to build or customize AI tools that automate repetitive tasks, predict market trends, and offer valuable customer insights. Many platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and ample support, so you don’t need extensive experience to get started. Given the rapid growth in demand for AI solutions, focusing on high-impact areas could help you tap into a lucrative market and drive substantial business improvements.
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.
4. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As a Junior developer, you might have a brilliant idea for a mobile app that could fulfill user needs or solve common problems. The process involves creating software that runs on smartphones and tablets, and while it requires some basic coding knowledge, you likely already have a good foundation in this area.
Starting this venture will mean planning the user experience, designing interfaces, and thoroughly testing for any bugs. By taking the time to market your app effectively, you could attract a steady stream of users and downloads. With the right approach and dedication, your mobile app could not only supplement your income but potentially grow into a significant revenue source.
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.
5. Make passive income with a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As a Junior developer, supplementing your income with a lead generation tool could be an exciting opportunity. This involves creating software that helps businesses identify and collect potential customer leads, making their search for new clients much easier. You could automate the tedious process of finding new customers, allowing companies to focus on converting those leads into sales.
By integrating your tool with websites, social media channels, and other digital platforms, you could gather valuable data like email addresses, phone numbers, and interests. The demand is high, as businesses of all sizes are continuously looking for ways to streamline their marketing efforts and expand their customer base. If you're tech-savvy and have an interest in marketing, this could be a rewarding venture that leverages your existing skills while creating an additional stream of income.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Dux-Soup is a LinkedIn automation tool that helps business owners and sales & marketing professionals generate more leads, increase efficiency, and save time; with over 70,000 users and revenue of nearly $5 million, it offers automated top-of-the-funnel LinkedIn outreach activities, targeted LinkedIn campaigns and multi-touch & personalized LinkedIn drip campaigns for lead generation.
6. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
Starting a WordPress plugin business could be a great way for you, as a junior developer, to supplement your income. WordPress websites rely heavily on plugins to add features and functionality, so there's always a demand for new and effective plugins. If you've encountered a common problem or inefficiency while working on WordPress sites, you could develop a plugin that offers a solution to that issue.
Once you've created your plugin, you could sell it on platforms like CodeCanyon, on your own blog, or even set up a dedicated website for it. This venture not only helps you earn extra money but also allows you to refine your development skills and gain valuable experience in solving real-world problems for WordPress users. With some initial effort in developing and marketing your plugin, you could potentially enjoy a steady stream of passive income.
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 a niche website ($107K/month)
As a junior developer, building a niche website could be a perfect side project to supplement your income. By focusing on a topic you are passionate about and knowledgeable in, you could create valuable content that attracts a dedicated audience. Your technical skills will come in handy for setting up and maintaining the website, and the creative freedom allows you to explore and share your interests deeply.
Additionally, once your site gains traction, you could explore various monetization methods such as affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products. While it will require some upfront effort in terms of research, content creation, and SEO, in the long run, your niche website could generate a steady stream of passive income. If you have a specific interest and the drive to dive deep, starting a niche website might be a rewarding project worth pursuing.
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 an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
As a junior developer, you could consider starting an affiliate marketing business to supplement your income. This means promoting other companies' products or services online, and earning a commission for each sale you generate. Since you already have technical skills, you could create a blog or a website to review and recommend products you use or know about, making your content more credible and personalized.
To get started, you could look for products or brands that align with your interests or expertise. For example, you could become an affiliate for an eCommerce store or partner with a manufacturer, promoting their products and earning a commission. This approach allows you to leverage your existing skills while exploring a new income stream that has the potential to grow over time.
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 blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog could be a great way for you to supplement your income as a Junior developer. By sharing your expertise on a specific topic that you're passionate about, you could engage with a dedicated online community and gradually build a following. Whether you're interested in subjects like video games, cooking, or film reviews, focusing on a profitable and underserved niche can capture an enthusiastic audience.
Creating unique and informative content, such as how-to guides, news updates, or product reviews, could help you stand out and attract readers. Once your blog starts to gain visibility and followers, you could monetize it through affiliate links, collaborations with relevant brands, and even grow a YouTube channel. As your blog grows, you might also have opportunities to speak at events, further boosting your visibility and income.
To succeed, it's crucial to have a passion for your chosen topic, produce engaging content consistently, and interact with your audience regularly. With dedication and creativity, your niche blog could become a steady source of passive income.
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.
10. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a great way for a junior developer to supplement income and explore a creative outlet. You could create videos that share your journey, offering tips and tutorials that help other aspiring developers. This would not only build your personal brand but also educate others, positioning you as a helpful resource in the tech community.
By consistently producing quality content, you could attract viewers and followers, leading to potential revenue from ads, sponsorships, and even merchandise. It's a platform where your expertise and creativity can meet, offering you both flexibility and financial rewards. While it requires effort and consistency, the long-term benefits could make it a fulfilling and profitable side hustle.
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.
11. Make passive income with an online survey tool ($304K/month)
As a Junior developer, you could consider supplementing your income by developing an online survey tool. Such tools help businesses gather valuable customer feedback, and there's a growing demand for efficient data collection methods. By creating a simple yet powerful survey builder with a data collection tool and reporting system, you could tap into this expanding market.
You could model your tool after successful platforms like Typeform, which surpassed $70 million in annual recurring revenue in 2021. This shows the potential profitability of the survey tool market. With your coding skills, you could build a user-friendly platform that helps businesses understand their customers better and make informed decisions.
How much you can make: $40 — $1,600,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.
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.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
