Passive Income for Beginners: 15 Simple Ways To Generate Money

Although nine-to-five jobs are relatively stable, relying on one source of income can be risky. It may be prudent to have other incoming revenue in case you ever lose your job.

In addition to financial security, the extra money can help boost your bank account, cover unexpected expenses, and increase your discretionary funds for travel or hobbies.

Here are 15 easy ways to earn a passive income with little risk, no startup costs, and no ongoing maintenance. 

Starting a blog has low startup costs, and you can monetize it through affiliate marketing, advertising, or selling digital products.

Choose a niche you’re passionate about or have expertise in. Then, create high-quality content and attract traffic via social media, email marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO). 

The more visitors you have, the higher the chance you'll earn extra income.

A certificate of deposit (CD) is an account in which you deposit money and leave it for a set time while earning interest.

Interest rates are often higher on CDs than other accounts because there are typically penalties for withdrawing early.

You can use CD laddering to stagger multiple CDs with varying maturity dates. This way, you receive regular interest income as you cash them out.

If you don't use your garage often, you may want to consider renting it out to someone who needs extra storage space or a place to park their vehicle.

It requires minimal effort compared to other passive income sources, such as rental properties. Once you find a reliable tenant, you won't need to worry about daily management, repairs, or renovations.

With the increased population and limited parking in urban areas, renting out a parking space can be a relatively low-maintenance passive income stream.

According to SpotHero, a parking space in New York City can cost between $400 and $800 per month.

Creating an online course can allow you to share your expertise and knowledge about a particular subject. You can sell the course on your blog, YouTube channel, or a platform like SkillShare or Udemy.

Your course can generate passive income indefinitely as long as it remains relevant and valuable to people.

Writing and publishing an ebook requires minimal upfront costs compared to traditional publishing methods. There are various self-publishing platforms available, such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and Smashwords.

You don't need to worry about printing physical copies or distribution logistics, which makes it an easy, cost-effective way to generate passive income.

With a YouTube channel, you can build an audience by sharing engaging videos and then monetize your channel through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Although it often requires more upfront work, once your videos are uploaded, they can provide you with passive income in perpetuity.

Depending on the type of channel you start, it requires a low investment to get started and has a high earning potential.

If you have a talent for photography, try uploading your images to stock photography websites for people to purchase and use on their websites, blogs, or advertisements.

This strategy allows you to repurpose and monetize your existing work rather than just leaving it in your archives.

Once your photographs are licensed, they continue to generate income, so you can earn money while working on new photography projects.

As smartphone popularity grows, there is an increasing demand for mobile apps. With the right skills or by hiring developers, you can create an app within a reasonable budget.

Mobile apps have various monetization options, including advertisements, subscriptions, charging for additional features, and selling virtual items. 

Implementing one or more of these strategies can generate revenue from your app with little ongoing effort.

Creating an online store allows you to tap into a global customer base, unlike a physical store that's limited to its local customers.

You can sell products you make, like clothing, accessories, and handmade crafts, on Etsy or Shopify.

Another strategy is to find reduced-priced retail products and sell them on Amazon or eBay for more money than you paid.

You can also sell digital products, like graphics, templates, or music, online through platforms like Sellfy or Shopify. There's no need for physical inventory, so startup costs will likely be low.

Once you create and establish your digital store, it can provide passive income and the freedom to work on your own terms.

Affiliate marketing can be an easy, low-cost way to earn passive income. You can get commissions by promoting products and services through affiliate links on your social media accounts or blog.

Unlike creating and selling your own products, affiliate marketing doesn't require specialized knowledge. You can earn money from anywhere with an internet connection, whether from home or while traveling.

If you have household items you don't use often, consider renting them out as a passive source of income. Some examples may be power washers, chainsaws, or leaf blowers.

Set competitive prices compared to equipment rental businesses in your area. Market through social media platforms, word-of-mouth referrals, and collaborations with businesses or professionals who might need the equipment.

Peer-to-peer lending (P2P lending) is a direct method of borrowing and lending between individuals without using traditional financial institutions, such as banks or credit unions.

Many P2P lending platforms allow you to lend to various borrowers with different risk profiles. These platforms often handle borrower verification, loan disbursement, and collection of repayments, letting you earn income without actively managing the investments.

The average interest rate for a savings account is 0.46%, according to February data from the FDIC. A high-yield savings account (HYSA) offers much higher rates than the national average, currently around 4.50%.

You can often find HYSAs at online banks. Because they don't have the expenses of a physical location, they often offer more competitive rates and lower fees than brick-and-mortar banks.

Learning how to earn passive income is a smart strategy to ensure financial security if you ever lose your job. It can also help you get ahead financially and save for emergencies or larger purchases.

The extra money you earn can also help you contribute more to retirement savings to support the lifestyle you want after you stop working.

Even if you’re intimidated by stocks and real estate, there are many ways to earn passive income with low startup costs and maintenance needs.