Passive Income Ideas For Solutions Architects [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a solutions architect in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a solutions architect 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 solutions architect.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
As a solutions architect, you could explore starting an AI-based business solution to supplement your income and tap into a growing market. This involves leveraging artificial intelligence to optimize various business processes, such as improving customer service, automating inventory management, or providing personalized marketing strategies. AI tools can streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance decision-making by offering data-driven insights.
Launching an AI-based business doesn’t require you to have a deep tech background. Many platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and robust support, making it accessible even if you’re new to AI. With the increasing demand for AI solutions, businesses are eager to adopt technologies that offer a competitive edge, providing a ripe opportunity for you to innovate and boost efficiency across different sectors.
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.
2. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
As a solutions architect, diving into the world of AI writing tools could complement your expertise and open new income avenues. Creating a digital tool powered by artificial intelligence to assist in content creation means you could offer a solution that transforms how businesses, bloggers, and students produce content. This could give you a unique edge, given your background in designing efficient and effective systems.
Imagine building a tool that generates accurate, engaging, and error-free content with just a few clicks. This AI-driven solution could save your future customers time and boost their productivity significantly. By leveraging advancements in AI technology, you could create a sought-after tool that addresses the increasing demand for consistent, high-quality content, all while earning a passive income.
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 a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As a solutions architect, you could explore creating a lead generation tool to supplement your income. This tool would automate the process of finding potential customer leads for businesses, making their marketing efforts more efficient. By capturing data from websites, social media, and other digital touchpoints, you could help businesses gather valuable information like email addresses and phone numbers.
Given your technical skills, you could design and develop this software to seamlessly integrate with various platforms. This would not only save businesses time but also open a consistent revenue stream for you through subscriptions or licensing. With the increasing need for streamlined marketing solutions, your expertise could turn this idea into a profitable venture.
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.
4. Make passive income with an email marketing tool ($992K/month)
As a solutions architect, creating an email marketing tool is an opportunity to leverage your technical skills in a profitable way. With your background in designing and implementing software solutions, you could develop a user-friendly email tool that automates email campaigns for businesses. This tool could help companies generate leads, increase sales, and engage with customers more effectively, providing them with a crucial marketing channel.
Additionally, the email marketing industry is set to grow significantly, with the market size expected to reach $2.53 billion by 2028. By tapping into this expanding market, you could create a steady source of passive income. Purchasing a domain and hosting account can get you started, and with your expertise, you could continually improve the tool to meet the evolving needs of your clients, from entrepreneurs to real estate agents.
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.
5. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($139K/month)
As a solutions architect, starting a social media automation business could be an excellent way to supplement your income. With your skills in designing and implementing complex systems, you could create or integrate tools to automate tasks like scheduling posts, interacting with followers, and analyzing engagement data for various clients. These services are highly sought after by small businesses and influencers who want to improve their social media presence without spending a lot of time on it.
By leveraging your technical expertise, you could develop effective solutions that align with the latest social media trends, making your services indispensable to clients. The demand for efficient and consistent social media engagement is growing, and your background in technology and systems architecture would give you a competitive edge. This makes a social media automation business a practical and potentially profitable venture for you.
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)
Starting a WordPress plugin business could be a great fit for you as a solutions architect. You've likely encountered and solved a variety of complex problems in your career. Developing a WordPress plugin that addresses specific needs can leverage your problem-solving skills to create a valuable product.
You could develop a plugin that simplifies processes or enhances functionality on WordPress websites and sell it through online platforms like CodeCanyon or your own website. This way, you could generate passive income by selling a solution once and earning money from it multiple times, while helping others run their websites more efficiently.
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 solutions architect, you could start a niche website centered around a specialized topic you are passionate about and knowledgeable in. This could involve creating content related to your expertise, such as technical guides, best practices, or reviews of industry tools. Your audience might include other professionals looking for solutions and guidance, creating a dedicated following.
Monetizing this website could come through various channels like affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products. Once your site is established and traffic grows, it could become a reliable source of passive income. If you have a specific interest and the drive to explore it deeply, a niche website might be a rewarding side project that both supplements your income and allows you to share your knowledge.
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 mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As a solutions architect, you could leverage your technical skills and industry knowledge to create a mobile app that addresses specific problems or enhances productivity. Whether it's a tool to streamline project management, a utility that simplifies everyday tasks, or even an engaging game, your expertise would give you an edge in designing efficient and scalable solutions.
Developing a mobile app requires a clear vision and either basic coding skills or the ability to hire a developer. You’d be involved in planning the user experience, designing interfaces, and thoroughly testing your product. With a strategic marketing plan, you could attract a wide user base and potentially earn a significant passive income through app downloads or in-app purchases.
Considering the ubiquity of smartphones, the opportunities for a successful app are vast. If you have a unique idea that could benefit users or provide entertainment, turning it into a mobile app might just be the right entrepreneurial move.
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.
9. Make passive income with a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
As a solutions architect, you could consider starting a stock photography business to supplement your income. Your technical skills with software and digital tools would help you efficiently manage and upload high-quality photos to stock photography websites. Investing in good photography gear and learning basic photography techniques could allow you to capture images that are in high demand for marketing and advertising purposes.
By building an impressive portfolio and maintaining a strong online presence, you could attract buyers looking for exclusive stock photos for their marketing needs. This side hustle could provide a steady stream of passive income as businesses purchase your photos for single usage fees. It offers a creative outlet and a practical way to maximize the value from your technical and digital proficiency.
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.
10. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
As a solutions architect, you could create a YouTube channel to share your insights and experiences in the field. You could produce content that explains complex concepts in simple terms, offers how-to guides on solving common technical problems, or even showcases your journey on various projects. This type of content could attract a dedicated audience interested in the solutions architecture domain.
By consistently posting high-quality videos and engaging with your viewers, you could earn money through ads, sponsorships, and possibly selling related merchandise. Moreover, a YouTube channel can elevate your professional profile, opening new doors for career opportunities and collaborations. Given your expertise, your channel could turn into a significant passive income stream over time.
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 a dropshipping business ($414K/month)
As a solutions architect, you could leverage your technical skills to start a dropshipping business while continuing your primary career. This business model allows you to sell products online without the hassle of managing inventory, as third-party suppliers handle the storage and shipping. Given your expertise, setting up an online store using platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce should be a straightforward process.
You could venture into this side hustle by choosing a niche you're passionate about or familiar with. Once your store is operational, focus on finding reliable suppliers and marketing your products effectively. This could provide you with a steady stream of passive income as you monitor your expenses and profit margins to ensure steady growth and profitability.
How much you can make: $6,000 — $3,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $8,500 (?)
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.
12. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog could be a promising way for a solutions architect to earn passive income by sharing your expertise and experience in the field. You could focus on a specific topic that you are passionate about, and create unique and informative content that is valuable to your audience. For example, you might write how-to guides on best practices, review the latest tools or software in your industry, or provide insights into solving common technical problems.
By regularly publishing engaging content and growing your online community, you could attract followers who appreciate your knowledge and perspective. You could monetize your blog through various methods such as affiliate marketing, where you recommend products and services relevant to your niche, or by collaborating with brands that cater to your audience. Speaking at events and creating a YouTube channel with video content could further boost your visibility and income potential.
Being consistent and passionate about your blog will be key to building a loyal audience. Engaging with your followers and providing valuable information will establish your authority in your niche, making your blog a beneficial side hustle that complements your current career as a solutions architect.
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.
13. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
As a solutions architect, you have a unique technical and analytical skill set that can be leveraged to start an affiliate marketing business. You could use your expertise to create in-depth reviews and guides for software tools, cloud services, or other tech-related products that align with your industry. By promoting these products through your blog or social media, you could earn commissions on every sale made through your affiliate links.
To get started, you could research and partner with companies that offer products relevant to your field, such as cloud service providers or enterprise software vendors. Using your industry knowledge, you could create content that resonates with other professionals seeking reliable solutions. This way, you not only build a passive income stream but also enhance your reputation as a trusted source of information in your domain.
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.
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.
