30 Genuine Passive Income Side Hustles for 2025: Earning $500+/month

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      Here’s the thing...

      Many posts on “passive income ideas” merely recycle the same generic suggestions—like opening a high interest savings account, for instance. While that may generate a small amount of passive income, I suspect you’re looking for something more significant.

      In this post, I will:

      - Reveal my personal passive income streams.

      - Present other legitimate passive income ideas you can act on today—backed by real-life examples.

      - Break down the four types of passive income and highlight why it's vital to start building today.

      Ready? Let’s jump in.

      If you're feeling overwhelmed by options, start here. Enter your name and email below, and I will guide you step-by-step on how to add $500 to your finances.

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      1. Earn Affiliate Commissions

      I started affiliate marketing in 2004, and it has been a significant portion of my income ever since.

      Affiliate marketing works by allowing me to earn commissions for referring leads and customers to different products and services. My first affiliate venture was a price comparison website for footwear. It assisted customers in finding the best prices on shoes and earned commissions from retailers like Zappos whenever purchases were made. After building the site, I continued to earn commissions regardless of whether I was actively working on it.

      Today, affiliate marketing remains an important revenue stream for me. This site (including this post) contains affiliate links to products, services, apps, and software that I believe will be beneficial to you.

      Here’s an (overly optimistic) example of a post monetized with affiliate links that has generated over $40,000 in commissions over its lifespan—from just one post!

      2. Write a Book

      Creating and publishing your own book on Amazon has never been easier. I received my first author royalties in 2012 and have added several titles since. It ranks among my favorite side hustles and is a strong passive income source. You write the book once and then collect royalties for months or even years whenever it sells!

      As a professional self-published author, my books have earned over $80,000. When you price your book between $2.99 and $9.99, you receive a 70% royalty. Outside that price range, you get 35%. You can find the most recent royalty information here.

      For each Kindle book you create, it's sensible to include paperback and audiobook versions. Thankfully, Amazon simplifies this process with its KDP Print service and ACX, the Audiobook Creation Exchange.

      Related: Free Self-Publishing Workshop

      3. Buy Dividend-Paying Stocks

      Investing in dividend-generating stocks has pushed me into the market. (I tend to think a correction is around the corner!)

      My basic approach has been to invest in companies known for consistent dividend payments and increases, such as Target, Chevron, AT&T, and Procter & Gamble. These older, “boring” companies may not have dramatic share price increases, but they provide steady, passive cash flow. Over the past few years, I've slowly built this income to over $2,000 monthly.

      4. Collect Ad Money from YouTube

      If your YouTube channel has over 1,000 subscribers and meets a few other criteria, you can enable ads and start earning income.

      Lately, this passive income source has brought in around $500 monthly. While it takes time to create the videos, once they're uploaded, they can generate passive income for years—some of mine have.

      Suggested Playlist: Make Money Online

      Here are some innovative and motivating ways you can earn money online.

      5. Buy Part of a Rental House

      Arrived helps connect investors with genuinely passive rental properties nationwide. This site lets you invest in shares of homes starting at just $100, earning monthly revenue from rent.

      Pros: Earn dividends quarterly; entirely hands-off; low