I started looking into passive income ideas about 2-3 years ago, and since then I have learned of so many amazing ways to create passive income. Lots of people are used to Active income. Active income is the income you actively work for, such as a salary or hourly wage, and is the most traditional form of earning money. Meanwhile, Passive income is money earned with minimal effort or ongoing work.

One of the biggest misconceptions about passive income is that many think it’s “easy” and that you “set it and forget it.” That couldn’t be further from the truth. Setting up a stream of passive income, takes a great deal of initial work. While there isn’t one size fits all for creating passive income, your best choice will be in choosing something you’re naturally good at and can maintain a determination to figure it out!

Much of my passive income has come from Amazon KDP and my Etsy shop. These two income streams were both able to grow to steady streams of income. However, both of these income streams required tons of consistency. Creating activity books, templates, websites and so much more really increased my design abilities.

Why Passive Income Is Perfect for Creatives, Bloggers & Etsy Sellers

One thing I love about creating passive income is the time freedom it allows for me. Once you create a digital product it can sell multiple times just from someone clicking the link to order your product. Passive income also give me creative control over my life and provides a lot of long-term growth.


If you are a digital creator, you already have a head start on creating passive income. More than likely your struggle will be to discover how to build a substantial income that is worthwhile and bring in consistent income.

Though my journey to selling digital products to create passive income hasn’t been easy! It has now proven to be so well worth it. Many of my products sell with very low maintenance or upkeep. I provide minimal customer service for individuals who order my products.

Check out the following Passive Income Ideas Below:

💻 Digital Products

💻 1. Digital Products
Examples: planners, templates, printables

How to create once and sell repeatedly

Platforms: Etsy, Gumroad, your own website

  1. E-books – Write once, sell forever.
  2. Printable planners or templates – Popular on Etsy or your blog.
  3. Stock photos or videos – Sell on platforms like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock.
  4. Online courses – Teach your expertise through Teachable or Thinkific.
  5. Canva templates – Social media kits, resumes, business branding, etc.

💰 Investing

🏡 5. Investing & Assets
Real estate, dividend stocks, or crowdfunded options

How this adds a financial buffer for creatives

  1. Dividend-paying stocks – Earn payouts regularly.
  2. Real estate crowdfunding – Platforms like Fundrise or RealtyMogul.
  3. High-yield savings accounts or CDs – Low effort, low risk.
  4. REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) – Real estate investing without buying property.

🛍️ E-Commerce & Print on Demand

🛒 4. Print on Demand & Dropshipping
Design-focused products (t-shirts, mugs, journals)

Benefits and platforms to use (Printful, Redbubble, Shopify)

  1. Print-on-demand products – T-shirts, mugs, journals (Redbubble, Printful, etc.).
  2. Dropshipping store – Automate sales through Shopify and suppliers.
  3. Sell digital downloads on Etsy – Art, invites, business tools.

📲 Content Creation & Royalties

🎥 3. Content Monetization
YouTube: ad revenue + affiliate links

Blogging: ads, affiliate links, email list building

Social media: digital product promotion + automation

  1. YouTube channel – Earn through ads, sponsors, and affiliate links.
  2. Blog monetization – Use ads (like Mediavine), affiliate links, and products.
  3. Write and self-publish books – Use Amazon KDP for passive royalty income.
  4. Create a podcast – Monetize through sponsorships and listener support.

🧠 Licensing & Memberships

  1. License your music or sound effects – Use platforms like Epidemic Sound.
  2. Membership site – Provide exclusive content monthly (e.g., Patreon or Substack).
  3. Create and license fonts or design assets – Sell on Creative Market or Etsy.

🏡 Physical Assets or Rentals

  1. Rent out a room or property – Airbnb, long-term rentals.
  2. Vending machines or ATMs – Upfront investment, long-term income.

🛠️ Bonus

💰 2. Affiliate Marketing
What it is and how to start

Best programs for creatives/bloggers

Tips for weaving in naturally

  1. Affiliate marketing – Promote products you love and earn commissions.

How to Start Building Your First Stream: Choose based on your strengths and time

Tools to help you get started (Canva, Trello, Etsy, etc.)

Common challenges and how to stay consistent

Realistic Timeline & Results: What to expect in the first 30, 90, and 180 days

The importance of long-term vision and patience

Personal insights or a mini-case study of your own growth

Scaling to Multiple Streams: How to repurpose one product into multiple formats

Use of automation and batching

Building an email list and social proof

Conclusion
Encouragement: Start small, stay consistent

Reiterate benefits of passive income as a creative