14 Passive Income Ideas For Sales [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a sales in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a sales 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 sales.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
If you’re in sales and looking to earn extra money, starting an online course sales business could be an excellent option. Selling online courses lets you share your knowledge and skills with others while generating passive income. Whether you know a lot about music, cooking, coding, web design, or even sales techniques, there's a market out there for your expertise.
Many people are making money by creating and selling courses on various subjects. All you need to do is pick a topic you're passionate about, identify your target audience, create the course, and choose an online learning platform to sell it. With the e-learning market expected to be worth over $645 billion in the next few years, the possibilities are vast, making this a great time to start.
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 a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
Are you struggling to attract the right customers? Starting a lead generation tool might be the perfect solution for supplementing your income. This involves creating a software application or platform that identifies and captures potential customer leads for businesses.
Imagine automating the often time-consuming process of finding new clients, allowing companies to focus more on converting these leads into customers. By integrating with various digital touchpoints like websites and social media channels, your tool could collect valuable information such as email addresses and phone numbers.
With the high demand for efficient lead generation, businesses of all sizes are eager to streamline their marketing efforts. If you're tech-savvy and have a knack for marketing, developing a lead generation tool could open up a profitable side venture for you.
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.
3. Make passive income with a cold email service business ($170K/month)
Starting a cold email service business could be a smart move if you're in sales, using your skills to help businesses reach potential clients directly through email. In this type of business, you would craft and send targeted email campaigns for companies, aiding them in generating leads and expanding their client base. This could be particularly appealing to small businesses that need lead generation but don't have the expertise or time to handle it themselves.
Given your experience in sales, you likely already excel in understanding client needs and engaging audiences, which are crucial skills for this venture. You'll also need to familiarize yourself with email marketing tools to track metrics like open rates and conversions, ensuring your campaigns are effective. This kind of business not only leverages your existing sales skills but also has the potential to scale up, making it a promising avenue for extra income or even a full-fledged business.
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.
4. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($139K/month)
Starting a social media automation business could be a great way to supplement your income as a sales professional. By creating tools and services to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data, you could help small businesses and influencers save time and grow their online presence. This extra service could diversify your income while leveraging your existing skills in building relationships and understanding client needs.
With the growing demand for consistent social media engagement, many companies seek streamlined solutions to manage their accounts. Your expertise in sales would be valuable in pitching these automation services to potential clients, showing them the benefits of increased efficiency and improved social media strategies. Ultimately, this side business could not only enhance your income but also broaden your professional skill set in today’s digital landscape.
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.
5. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
If you're in sales and looking for a side hustle to boost your income, starting an affiliate marketing business could be a great fit. As someone experienced in sales, you already have the skills needed to persuade people—a crucial part of succeeding in affiliate marketing. By promoting other companies' products and services, you could earn a commission for each sale you make, turning your sales skills into extra money over time.
To get started, you'll need to find the right products and brands to partner with. Think about promoting products you believe in; for example, you could partner with an eCommerce store or a manufacturer. This way, every sale you generate will bring in a commission, creating a steady stream of passive income that could supplement your current earnings.
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.
6. Make passive income with a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a great way to supplement your income if you're in sales. You could share your industry knowledge, tips, and real-life experiences, providing valuable content that resonates with others in the field. Not only does this build your personal brand as an expert, but it also creates opportunities to attract sponsors or advertisers interested in reaching your niche audience.
To get started, you would need some basic recording equipment like a decent microphone and headphones. Keep your costs low by choosing an affordable hosting platform to publish your episodes. Promote your podcast through your existing professional network and social media to grow your listener base, which opens up the possibility for monetization.
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.
7. Make passive income with a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
Starting a health and wellness app could be a smart way to supplement your income if you work in sales. Imagine creating a digital tool that provides personalized fitness routines, nutrition plans, and mental well-being exercises. This app could guide users through yoga practices, hydration reminders, and meal plans, all tailored to their needs, essentially acting as a virtual coach.
Building such an app would involve market research, partnerships with health experts, and app development, but the growing interest in health and wellness makes it promising. If you're passionate about health and technology, this venture could allow you to make a positive impact on people's lives while generating a steady stream of passive income. It's an opportunity to use your sales skills to market a product that helps people meet their health goals.
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.
8. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
Starting a WordPress plugin business could be a valuable way to supplement your income as a sales professional. If you've ever used WordPress, you know that plugins are essential for running a successful website. By developing plugins that solve specific problems, you could provide solutions that businesses are willing to pay for.
For instance, if you identify a common issue that many websites face and develop a plugin to address it, you could sell it online through platforms like CodeCanyon or even on your own blog. This not only allows you to tap into an existing market but also creates an opportunity for recurring revenue if you offer updates and support. By leveraging your sales skills, you could effectively market your plugins, making your side hustle even more successful.
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.
9. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
If you're in sales and looking for a way to supplement your income, starting a print-on-demand business could be a great option. You could leverage your sales skills to market custom products like apparel, home goods, or phone cases without the hassle of managing inventory, thanks to dropshipping production and fulfillment services.
By using online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy as your storefronts, you could focus on creating unique and trendy designs while reaching a global audience. With minimal startup costs and the ability to work from home, this side hustle would allow you to monetize your creativity and build a scalable business 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.
10. Make passive income with an email marketing tool ($992K/month)
If you're in sales and looking to supplement your income, starting an email marketing tool could be a viable option. Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to generate leads and close more deals, making it highly relevant to your existing skill set. This software allows you to create, manage, and automate email campaigns, enabling you to reach potential customers more efficiently than ever.
With the email marketing industry expected to reach a market size of $2.53 billion by 2028, there's a strong demand for innovative email tools. By developing your own tool, you could cater to other entrepreneurs and small businesses who need effective email marketing solutions. Plus, it's relatively simple to get started—just buy a domain and hosting account, and you're on your way.
In doing so, not only could you create a passive income stream, but you'd also be leveraging your understanding of sales strategies to offer even more value. Imagine providing a tool that helps businesses improve their SEO rankings and reach more customers than a typical blog or website could. The possibilities are endless and could lead to substantial financial rewards.
How much you can make: $120 — $20,833,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 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.
11. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
If you're in sales and looking for ways to make extra money, starting an AI-based business solution could be worth exploring. This approach leverages artificial intelligence to improve various parts of business processes, such as customer service, inventory management, and data analysis. By using AI, companies can operate more efficiently, save money, and make decisions based on solid data.
Imagine integrating AI tools to automate repetitive tasks, provide customer insights, and predict market trends accurately. You don't need to be a tech expert to get started; many platforms offer easy-to-use interfaces and strong support systems. The demand for AI solutions is rising, as more businesses see the benefits of gaining a competitive edge with this technology.
With a clear plan and focus on critical areas, launching an AI-based business solution can be a smart move. It opens a path for innovation and improved business performance. For sales professionals with an entrepreneurial mindset, this could be an excellent opportunity to enhance your income and make a meaningful impact.
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 a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
Creating a mobile app might be a great way for you to supplement your income and explore entrepreneurial opportunities. Imagine turning a brilliant idea you have into a mobile app that solves a problem or entertains users. With dedication and a clear vision, you could hire a skilled developer if you don’t have coding knowledge, handle planning, and focus on marketing to attract users.
Mobile apps are a significant part of people's daily lives, providing various solutions from productivity tools to games. As someone in sales, you already have the skills to understand customer needs and market products effectively. Your app could gain traction and generate revenue through downloads or in-app purchases, allowing you to earn passive income while keeping your sales career.
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 stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
If you're in sales, starting a stock photography business could be a great way to supplement your income by leveraging your existing skills. You could invest in some good photography gear and learn how to take high-quality stock photos. By building an impressive portfolio and uploading your photos to stock photography websites, you could earn passive income as businesses look for marketing and advertising resources like these.
An excellent online presence can help you sell your stock photos faster and at profitable margins. Plus, your knack for understanding market needs can guide you to create photos that appeal to businesses, website owners, and bloggers. This way, you could turn your spare time into a profitable side hustle while still focusing on your sales career.
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.
14. Make passive income with a stock investing business ($30.3K/month)
Starting a stock investing business could be an exciting way to supplement your income as a sales professional. You'd be leveraging your knack for financial markets to buy and sell stocks, aiming to generate profit through well-informed decisions. This venture can cater to those who have a passion for finance and numbers, offering an engaging way to turn that interest into additional income.
While it's essential to continuously educate yourself and stay updated on market movements, you could benefit from numerous educational resources and trading platforms available today. Keep in mind, though, this isn't a quick path to riches—success in stock investing demands strategic planning, thorough analysis, and solid risk management. If you're ready to commit, this business can open doors to significant returns and long-term financial growth.
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.
