5 Passive Income Ideas

Here are seven passive income ideas that people are actually doing—and that you can start too.

1. Invest in Stocks or Index Funds
The OG passive income move. Put your money into stocks or index funds, and let it grow over time. Some even pay you dividends (basically, thank-you checks just for owning them). No overnight riches, but great for the long game.

2. Sell Digital Products
Create something once—like an ebook, planner, design template, or music—and sell it over and over. Sites like Etsy, Gumroad, or even your own website make it super easy.

3. Create an Online Course
Know how to cook, code, play an instrument, or organize your life? Package it into a course and sell it on platforms like Skillshare or Teachable. You do the work once, then chill while the enrollments come in.

4. Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a super low-risk way to start an online store. You don’t need to buy or store any products—when someone places an order, a third-party supplier ships it directly to the customer. You handle the website and marketing, they handle the packing and shipping. 

5. Print-on-Demand
Design some cool T-shirts, mugs, or stickers, upload them to sites like Redbubble or Printful, and that’s it. When someone orders, they handle the printing and shipping—you just get paid.

Final Thoughts
Passive income isn’t totally passive at first—you still have to put in some work upfront. But once things are rolling, it can give you more time, freedom, and flexibility. Pick one idea that fits your skills or interests, start small, and build from there.

You never know—one of these might just change your life.