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How to create passive income without money

Writer's picture: Èric LluchÈric Lluch

Updated: Nov 3, 2024

How to Make Passive Income Without Money


Let’s face it, the idea of passive income sounds amazing, but it’s often paired with the assumption that you need a pile of cash to get started. If you’re like me, you may have wondered: "How can I actually start generating passive income if I have no capital?" Well, after digging into the topic and exploring some great resources, it turns out there are quite a few ways to get the ball rolling even if you’re starting with zero money.


In this post, I’ll break down some of the best methods I’ve come across that don’t require any upfront investment, only time and creativity. These ideas are inspired by great articles from Medium and Forbes, with my personal spin on what I find practical and interesting. So, let’s dive in!


Ideas on how to create passive income without money at a glance


1. Content Creation


Blogging


Blogging is one of the most accessible ways to generate passive income without needing money upfront. If you can write and have something to share, you can create a blog on platforms like WordPress or Medium. While it’s not instant money (because it takes time to grow your audience), once you have traffic, you can start earning through affiliate marketing or ads.





My take: This one hits close to home because, well, it’s exactly what I’m doing with this blog! I love sharing my ideas, and knowing that it could one day turn into a stream of passive income is motivating. If you have something to share—whether it’s finance, cooking, or lifestyle tips—why not get started today? It’s a great way to build an audience over time.


YouTube


Another form of content creation is starting a YouTube channel. Don’t worry, you don’t need a fancy camera to start (I personally use my phone for most things). Like blogging, you can earn money from ads once you build a solid following. Plus, if you talk about topics that allow you to link to affiliate products (e.g., tech gadgets, books, etc.), you can make extra income that way.




My view: If you’re comfortable on camera, this is definitely worth a shot. I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a channel on traveling and investing myself https://www.youtube.com/@twotravelling and https://www.youtube.com/@byobanking. It feels like such a great way to reach more people, plus the video format gives a more personal connection with your audience. However, it takes quite some time and effort until you can monetize the channels.


2. Create and Sell Digital Products


eBooks


Writing an eBook is another popular way to generate passive income. Once you’ve written it, you can sell it on platforms like Amazon, Gumroad, or even directly through your blog. The beauty of digital products is that you create it once, and it can keep selling forever (or at least as long as there’s demand). No need for warehouses or shipping!


My experience: This idea has been sitting in the back of my mind for a while. Writing an eBook sounds like a lot of work upfront, but the idea of creating something once and having it potentially pay off for years is really tempting. I’ve even thought about writing a guide on money and time management hacks I’ve picked up over the years. I’ll post it in this website once I have it ready. And the subscribers will get it for free!


Online Courses


If writing isn’t your thing, how about teaching? You can create a course based on what you already know and host it on platforms like Udemy or Teachable. You don’t need any fancy tech—just your phone, a clear outline, and some good lighting. Once your course is live, people can purchase it anytime, and you’ll earn money while you sleep.


Where you could share: Here you could talk about any skills you feel confident in teaching. Maybe you’ve got a knack for organizing your time, or you’ve got great tips for real estate investments—this could be the perfect way to share those insights while making passive income.


3. Licensing Your Work


Photography and Artwork


If you’ve got a talent for photography or design, you can license your work to earn passive income. Websites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock allow you to upload photos, and every time someone downloads your work, you earn money. This is great because the work you’ve already created keeps generating income without any further effort.



Personalize it: If you’re into photography, you could talk about some of your favorite shots you’ve taken and how you could potentially upload them to these platforms. Maybe you have some cool travel photos or nature shots sitting on your phone that could be put to use!


Music


For the musically inclined, you can license your music to be used in videos, commercials, or podcasts. Platforms like Soundstripe or Artlist allow creators to earn passive income through licensing fees.


Your view: Even if you don’t personally have music experience, you can give an opinion on how you’ve noticed more creators licensing music as the demand for original audio content increases in online spaces. You could also mention whether this is something you might be interested in exploring.


4. Affiliate Marketing


Affiliate marketing is when you promote products or services to your audience, and when they make a purchase through your link, you earn a commission. It works well if you have a blog, social media following, or even a YouTube channel. The best part is, you don’t need any upfront investment—just a platform where you can recommend things you genuinely like or use.


Personal view: I’ve personally started integrating affiliate links here and there in my blog, and while I’m not making a fortune, it’s a pretty nice way to earn a little extra for recommending products I genuinely use. Plus, it helps cover some of the costs of running the blog, which is always a bonus. If you use any of my links to generate accounts in any of the ETF brokers, banks or crypto exchanges both you and I basically get extra money as a compensation of the referral.


5. Print on Demand


With print-on-demand services, you can design your own products like t-shirts, mugs, or tote bags and sell them without having to worry about inventory. Websites like Teespring or Printful allow you to upload your designs, and they handle the rest—printing, shipping, and customer service. You only pay for production after someone places an order.


Personal story: I haven’t tried this myself yet, but it’s something that’s always intrigued me. You don’t need to be an artist either. With simple designs and the right niche, this could be a fun way to dip your toes into e-commerce without any upfront costs.


6. Writing for Medium or Other Platforms


If you enjoy writing but aren’t ready to commit to a full blog, writing on platforms like Medium can also generate passive income. Medium has a partner program that pays you based on how many people read and engage with your stories. You don’t need any initial investment—just a good topic and some time to write.




Where you could share: Before I started creating this blog, I was not sure whether to do my own blog or start writing in Medium You already have experience with blogging, so here you can talk about your process and whether you’re thinking of expanding to other platforms like Medium to reach a wider audience.


Final Thoughts


Creating passive income without money isn’t easy, but it’s definitely possible. It usually requires a time investment upfront instead of a financial one, but once you’ve built it, the benefits can last for years. I’m personally exploring some of these ideas myself, like blogging and possibly starting a YouTube channel. For now I have been blogging about travelling at https://www.twotravelling.com/ and about personal finance here at https://www.byobanking.com/. For both of them I have created YouTube channels to explore its possibilities ^^


The key is to start small and be consistent. You don’t need to quit your day job immediately, but investing a little time every week can help you gradually build income streams that grow over time.


If you found this post helpful, feel free to share it or drop your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear which of these methods you’re thinking of trying! Do you have any other ideas that can generate passive income without having money?

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