Passive Income Ideas For Quality Assurance Engineers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a quality assurance engineer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a quality assurance engineer 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 quality assurance engineer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a quality assurance engineer, you could create an online course to share your expertise and practical experiences in the field. Many people are interested in learning about software testing, bug tracking, and QA methodologies, and this is an area where you have a lot of knowledge. By developing a course, you could teach others about these topics and provide valuable insights that can help them in their own careers.
Setting up an online course business is relatively straightforward. You would need to identify your target audience, create content that is engaging and informative, and choose a platform to host and sell your course. Given the rapid growth of the e-learning market—which is projected to be worth over $645 billion soon—there is a significant potential for financial gain.
Moreover, once your course is created and launched, it can become a source of passive income. This means you could earn money from course sales without ongoing effort, allowing you to generate additional income alongside your full-time job.
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.
2. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
As a quality assurance engineer, you could explore starting an AI-based business solution to diversify your income streams and leverage your expertise in software and systems testing. By implementing AI, you could automate repetitive QA tasks, which would help other businesses improve their efficiency and reduce costs significantly. For instance, AI can perform tasks like bug detection, test case generation, and regression testing much faster and more accurately than manual methods.
Moreover, the increasing demand for AI solutions means there's a growing market for businesses seeking to stay competitive through automation and data-driven decision-making. With your background in quality assurance, you could offer specialized AI solutions that specifically address common QA challenges, providing a unique angle to your business proposition. Plus, many AI platforms have user-friendly tools, making it easier for you to get started without needing an extensive tech background.
So, if you're looking to innovate and take advantage of a burgeoning market, launching an AI-based business could be a strategic way to generate passive income and add value within your professional domain.
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.
3. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
As a quality assurance engineer, starting a niche website could be a practical way to supplement your income. You could create a website focused on quality assurance tips, tools, and best practices, leveraging your expertise to attract a dedicated audience interested in this field.
By providing targeted content that helps others improve their QA skills, you could generate revenue through affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products like e-books and courses. While building the website will require an initial investment of time and effort, once it gains traction, it could become a steady source of passive income. This project allows you to share your knowledge and experiences while also exploring an entrepreneurial opportunity.
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.
4. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog could be a great opportunity for a quality assurance engineer to supplement their income. You could share your expertise on topics like software testing techniques, tips for using certain QA tools, or best practices for ensuring product quality. By focusing on a niche area within the tech or engineering field, you would likely attract a dedicated readership interested in your insights.
To make money from your blog, you could write how-to guides, review QA tools, and create top product lists, all tailored to the needs of other QA professionals. Additionally, you could use affiliate links, grow a YouTube channel, and collaborate with relevant brands to monetize your content further. With consistent and engaging posts, you’d have the chance to build a strong online following and possibly even speak at industry events.
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 wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
As a quality assurance engineer, you could leverage your problem-solving skills and attention to detail by starting a WordPress plugin business. Since you’ve likely encountered various issues that websites face, you could develop plugins that offer effective solutions to these problems, enhancing website functionality and user experience.
Creating and selling these plugins can be a great way to generate passive income. Platforms like CodeCanyon make it easy to reach potential customers. Over time, as your plugin gains popularity, you could see steady income without ongoing effort, allowing you to supplement your current salary with minimal disruption to your career.
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.
6. Make passive income with a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As a quality assurance engineer, you could leverage your technical skills to develop a lead generation tool, which helps businesses identify and capture potential customer leads. Imagine streamlining the tedious task of finding new clients by automating the process, so companies can focus on converting leads into sales. By integrating your tool with various digital platforms like websites and social media, you could collect valuable data such as email addresses, phone numbers, and potential customer interests.
The high demand for efficient lead generation tools means there's a lucrative market waiting for innovative solutions. Your attention to detail and technical expertise in quality assurance can ensure that the tool you develop is reliable and effective, making it a hit among businesses looking to grow their customer base. Developing a lead generation tool could be a smart way to start earning passive income while leveraging your existing skill set.
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.
7. Make passive income with a cold email service business ($170K/month)
As a quality assurance engineer, you could leverage your attention to detail and analytical skills to start a cold email service business. This venture involves crafting and sending targeted email campaigns to prospective clients on behalf of various companies. Your knack for systematic thinking and thorough testing could ensure that each campaign is finely tuned for maximum engagement.
Your experience in using software tools could also be beneficial in tracking metrics like open rates and conversions. Besides, your strategic mindset would help you analyze client needs and research target audiences effectively. Starting with small businesses needing lead generation could be a manageable first step, and as your success stories grow, so can your clientele.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $450,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)
How long does it take to build: 35 days (?)
GMass, an email marketing platform that allows users to send cold emails and email marketing campaigns with Gmail, has attracted over 500,000 user signups, including major tech companies like Uber, LinkedIn, and Google, and now generates over $200K in monthly recurring revenue through a successful content marketing strategy and focused ad spend.
8. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
As a quality assurance engineer, you could leverage your expertise in software testing and systems analysis to develop a robust AI writing tool. This tool could generate error-free and engaging content for businesses, bloggers, and students, automating parts of the writing process and making it more efficient. By ensuring the tool adheres to high-quality standards, you could offer a reliable solution that cuts down on the time and effort required for content creation.
This AI writing tool could serve as a useful side hustle, providing an additional revenue stream with minimal ongoing effort once the tool is launched. You could focus on continually improving the tool's algorithms and user experience, drawing on your analytical skills to fine-tune its performance. Given the rising demand for quality, automated content, this venture could potentially grow into a lucrative business, blending your technical skills with entrepreneurial spirit.
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.
9. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($139K/month)
As a quality assurance engineer, you could leverage your analytical skills and attention to detail to start a social media automation business. This business involves creating and managing tools that help clients schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze their social media performance. Your ability to spot inefficiencies and improve processes would be invaluable in developing seamless automation solutions.
With small businesses and influencers looking to maintain a consistent and engaging online presence, there's a significant demand for these services. Using your technical expertise, you could create reliable and user-friendly software solutions that save your clients time and enhance their social media strategies. Additionally, by staying updated on the latest social media trends, you could tailor your services to fit the evolving needs of your clients.
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.
10. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As a Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer, you could leverage your skills and insights to create a mobile app that fits a niche you understand well. Using your expertise in testing and ensuring software quality, you can develop an app that meets high standards and provides a seamless user experience. You might have unique insights into common problems that users face and could develop a solution that stands out in the market.
Developing a mobile app involves planning the user experience, designing interfaces, and ensuring the app functions correctly. Your background in QA will be invaluable for these steps, especially when it comes to identifying and fixing bugs. Once your app is polished and ready, effective marketing is essential to attract users and drive downloads.
The booming mobile app industry offers tremendous opportunities for earning passive income. If you have an innovative idea that can solve a problem or entertain, there's potential for significant revenue. With your skills in ensuring quality and functionality, you can create an app that people will love to use.
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.
11. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
As a quality assurance engineer, starting a YouTube channel could be an excellent way to supplement your income and share your specialized knowledge. You could create content that focuses on quality assurance best practices, tutorials on various testing tools, or share your insights on problem-solving in software development. By doing so, you would not only solidify your expertise but also build a following that appreciates your unique skills.
In addition to sharing professional knowledge, you could monetize your channel through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise. While building a successful YouTube channel does require consistent effort and quality content, it offers a creative outlet where you can engage with a larger community. The possibilities for financial reward and personal fulfillment make this a valuable side hustle to consider.
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.
12. Make passive income with a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
Starting a health and wellness app could be an excellent opportunity for quality assurance engineers looking to make extra money or earn passive income. Given your expertise in ensuring software quality, you could leverage your skills to create a reliable and user-friendly app that helps people achieve their health goals. Imagine an app that guides users through personalized fitness routines, nutrition plans, and mental well-being exercises, all while tracking their progress.
With the rise in health consciousness, users are looking for digital tools to help them stay on track, and your attention to detail could ensure the app is both functional and engaging. You could collaborate with health experts to provide accurate and valuable content, while your background in QA would help you maintain a high standard of performance and usability. This combination of health and technology might not only provide you with a steady stream of income but also let you make a meaningful impact on people's lives.
How much you can make: $600 — $300,000/month
How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)
Founder and CEO of SelfDecode, Joe Cohen, explains how his company helps people discover personalized diet, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations based on DNA and lab tests; generating about $2.7 million in revenue over the past year and raising $8 million in a crowdfunding campaign, SelfDecode provides personalized health recommendations prioritized on unique genetic variants, marking the future of healthcare.
13. Make passive income with an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
As a quality assurance engineer, you could leverage your attention to detail and problem-solving skills to start an eCommerce reselling business. You could focus on finding high-quality products at good prices and then resell them online for a profit. By using your analytical skills, you could effectively evaluate product quality, customer feedback, and market trends to make informed purchasing decisions.
To get started, you could sell on social media without needing a costly website initially, reducing your upfront investment. Over time, as your business grows, you might consider creating a dedicated website to expand your customer reach. This side hustle could provide a solid stream of extra income while allowing you to apply your professional expertise in a new and rewarding way.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $150,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,999 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Empyre Off-Road, an e-commerce business founded by Greg Shuey which sells aftermarket parts for Toyota Tacomas, Tundras, and 4Runners, generated approximately $100,000 a month in revenue and was able to expand its product offering, focusing on content marketing, email marketing campaigns, and organic social media to attract and retain customers.
14. Make passive income with a stock investing business ($30.3K/month)
As a quality assurance engineer, you could leverage your analytical skills to navigate the world of stock investing. Your attention to detail and your methodical approach to testing can translate well into analyzing market trends and evaluating investment opportunities. Starting a stock investing business involves buying and selling stocks to generate profit by making informed decisions based on market research and data analysis.
You could utilize various educational resources and trading platforms to gain the necessary knowledge and tools. While this venture requires dedication and continuous learning, your professional skills could give you a strategic advantage. By applying a systematic and strategic approach, you could potentially achieve high returns and create a lucrative side income.
Stock investing isn't an overnight success story but a long-term strategy that demands careful planning and risk management. If you're intrigued by the financial markets and ready to embrace the learning curve, this entrepreneurial venture could be both exciting and rewarding.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $160,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Ticker Nerd is a monthly subscription service for investors that surfaces and analyzes trending stocks before the hype train arrives, and now has $4.5k in monthly recurring revenue from its newsletter without spending a single dollar on advertising, having validated the business via subreddits and organic Product Hunt launch strategy.
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.
