Passive income is a type of income that you can earn without spending a lot of time or effort working on. It often comes from sources such as investments, rental income, stock dividends, etc.
Passive income side hustles are perfect for introverts because they enable them to make money without having to deal with other people. The bulk of the work only goes into setting up the business, but once it’s up and running, it is self-sustaining.
You’ll only be required to do the occasional maintenance here and there to ensure the engines are running smoothly. This article will go over 25 passive income side hustles for introverts.
25 Passive Income Side Hustle Ideas for Introverts
1. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is basically a way to promote other people’s products or services to your audience via content on your blog and social media channels. You’ll get a commission if someone buys from your recommendation.
According to Peter Mitchell from Side Hustle Fortunes, it is a great side hustle idea as it’s quite easy to start, has low risk and huge potential for profit.
The Amazon Affiliate Program is one of the easiest places to get started. Amazon is a trusted brand with lots of product choices. You can also check out affiliate networks such as CJ Affiliate and Clickbank.
Be sure to only choose products you can stand behind, and that are well-received by your audience.
2. Print-on-demand
A Print-on-demand business could be a great way to generate passive income if you are a good designer and have an eye for current trends.
Print-on-demand is a low-risk business model that doesn’t require you to purchase inventory in advance.
To sell merchandise (t-shirts and mugs etc.), you’ll need to work with a printing provider like Teespring or Printful. You can customize your products and sell them on a per-order basis.
The print provider fulfills and ships orders when someone purchases one of your designs. This passive income system is easy to set up and requires little maintenance once your designs are created.
3. Create an online course
Everybody has a skill that they can share, so why not make an online course to help others?
Although it is not difficult to create a course, it can be time-consuming and costly. Some people prefer to outsource all the work to freelancers.
But once you have the content created and everything is set up, it can become a very lucrative source of passive income. You won’t ever spend any time actively teaching or interacting with students, which makes it a great side hustle for introverts.
You have a variety of online course platforms to choose from, such as Teachable or Udemy. You can also create your own website if you would like to have more control.
4. Write an e-book
Although the idea of creating a digital book might seem daunting, it is actually quite easy thanks to self-publishing platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing.
The content of your book can be informative, entertaining, or both. It can also be as simple as a ten-page PDF.
You don’t need to be a professional writer or an expert on the topic of your e-book. You just need to make sure you provide quality, well-researched content that resonates with your audience.
5. Start a blog
If you love writing, however, the idea of publishing e-books is just too much, then you should consider starting a blog.
Your blog can be on any topic you’re knowledgeable and passionate about. Just make sure to first do some research to ensure that there is actually demand for it online. The last thing you’d want is to start a blog about earthworms when not enough people care about them.
You can use tools such as SEMrush to do your topic research. Once your blog is getting traffic, you’ll be able to monetize it through ads, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, selling merchandise, etc.
6. Sell printables
Printables are digital files people can download and print. They can include daily checklists, invitations, planners, inspirational quotes, etc. It’s good to first identify a trend or need before you choose what printable to focus on.
Once you have created your files, there’s no limit on how many times they can be sold. You won’t need to spend any money on making physical products and shipping them yourself. You can simply sit back and watch as the orders come in, making it a fantastic passive income idea for introverts.
7. No-code apps
Do you have an exciting app idea that could make you the next millionaire? Perhaps the next Uber or Whatsapp?
You don’t need to know how to code to start working on it. There are many no-code platforms that make it easy for anyone to create apps from scratch, including Appy Pie, Bubble, and Zapier.
By creating an app, you’ll be able to make high-quality passive income from downloads, subscriptions, and ads.
8. Sell app icon packs
You could make and sell custom app icons if you are a skilled graphic designer.
People love the ability to personalize their phones. That is why selling accessories for smartphones has been so popular in e-commerce.
You can sell icon packs without the need to buy inventory. App icon packs allow people to personalize their phones with a consistent theme.
Although these themes require a lot of effort, they are very popular when done right, and can be a fantastic source of passive income.
9. Sell spreadsheets
A lot of people struggle with Excel and need help creating spreadsheets with formulas. If you happen to be an Excel wizard, you can make money selling spreadsheets and templates online.
You can create sheets that include P&L, budgeting, time tracking, etc., and then sell them on websites like Etsy and Sellfy. It’s such a great side hustle for introverts.
10. NFTs
Most likely, you’ve heard the term “NFT” ringing in your ears lately. But what exactly is it?
Well, NFT stands for “non-fungible tokens”. They are unique digital assets that can be backed by smart contracts on the blockchain.
They are a way to show ownership of a unique digital item. It works like digital art collecting, but you can also tokenize other items like tweets or in-game collectibles.
Passive income can be made with NFTs through royalties, stakes, renting them out, and other methods. OpenSea is currently the most popular platform for trading NFTs. The platform does a great job of guiding you through the process.
11. Sponsored social media posts
Do you happen to have many followers on social media? If so, you can start charging companies a small fee to promote their products/services to your audience.
You don’t need to be an influencer with millions of followers to find promotion gigs. Even as little as 1,000 could be enough.
12. Sell stock photos online
Are you one of those people that loves taking photos of everything? If so, then you can make passive income by selling your work on stock photo websites like Shutterstock.
Whenever somebody licenses your photos, you get paid a commission. There are people making thousands of dollars every month on Shutterstock. It’s one of the best side hustle ideas for introverts.
13. Record an audiobook
You can consider recording an audiobook if you have a great idea or knowledge you would like to share, but don’t want to write an e-book.
You’ll be able to earn passive income through royalties once you publish your audiobook on platforms such as ACX, Findaway, and Voices.
14. Dividend stocks
If you’re familiar with the stock market (or are willing to learn it), then you should consider investing in high-yield dividend stocks. It’s a smart idea to do extensive research before you jump into any stock.
A mutual fund or exchange-traded funds (ETF), which pays dividends, is another option with reduced risk. These funds are made up of multiple assets that allow you to diversify, i.e., not put all your eggs in the same basket.
15. Peer to Peer lending
Peer-to-peer lending works exactly as it sounds. Instead of seeking capital from banks or traditional lenders, borrowers can get funding from their peers, investors just like you. You’ll earn passive income through interest on the principal amount.
It’s important to note that peer-to-peer lending is riskier than traditional loans because the borrowers may intend to use the capital to finance a high-risk venture. The interest rate for this type of loan is usually much higher, anywhere between 6-36%.
There are many ways to structure a peer loan. Some prefer to use a private agreement which allows for a lot more flexibility when structuring the loan. It might seem obvious, but it is a good idea to consult a lawyer when dealing with this type of situation.
Peer-to-peer lending platforms like Prosper, on the other hand, are more flexible, but provide a layer of security. Both borrowers and lenders must meet certain criteria and pass background checks in order to be eligible.
16. Invest in small businesses
If P2P lending is a tard bit too risky for you, then you can instead invest in small businesses in exchange for company stake.
A lot of small businesses could do with a cash injection to help improve their current operations and to sort out their debts. You could be their angel investor and receive a share of their sales each month or quarter. You can use platforms like Mainvest to get started with as little as $100.
17. CD Ladders
CD stands for certificate of deposit. This investment is very low-risk and works almost like a bond, except that it can be purchased through a bank/credit union.
CDs mature over time and earn a fixed rate of interest. The bank will pay back your principal at the end.
Instead of investing your entire principal in a long-term CD, CD ladders allow you to divide it and put it in several CDs with varying maturity dates. Although this strategy reduces the risk, it also reduces the interest rates.
18. Rent properties
Renting properties is a great passive income investment. It’s proven to be very profitable and a tried-and-true passive income method.
It is up to you to decide if you want to rent out or buy a property you finance.
While rental properties are more likely to generate cash flow, ROI for financed properties can be greater. Financing is also an option for those who don’t have a second property, or lack the funds to buy one.
It is also important to consider how hands-on and available you plan to be for cleaning, repairs, maintenance, etc. You may need to hire a management company if you want everything to be completely passive.
It takes a lot of work to invest in a rental property but it can be a great asset that can provide you with a steady passive income every month.
19. Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)
You can invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) even with relatively small capital.
REITs are companies that manage commercial properties. Their high dividends make them one of the best investments to generate passive income. They are required to pay 90% of their income as dividends to shareholders.
Remember that REITs could be affected by an economic downturn. This could result in a halt to dividend payouts.
REITs have one huge advantage: you can invest via a stock exchange. This allows for greater liquidity and you can quickly sell it if you wish.
20. Get a vending machine
Although buying a vending machine requires a hefty initial investment, if you find a spot that has a lot of foot traffic, it is possible to make a profit by buying snacks and sodas in bulk. It’s the perfect side hustle for introverts because you won’t need to deal with people, the vending machine does that for you.
It is important to ensure that your machines are stocked at all times. To keep the business truly passive, you can outsource that task.
21. Domain flipping
Virtually everyone who does business online must have a domain. It’s not surprising that many companies are willing to spend fortunes in order to get great domains. For instance, the domain “privatejet.com” sold a few years ago for $30 million and “vacationrentals.com” for $35 million.
You can buy domain names for just about $10 from registrars such as Namecheap and then immediately put them up for sale at a higher price.
You should always consider the potential saleability. How short, catchy, and easy to spell is the domain? How in-demand is it likely to be in the near future?
Although domain flipping is quite affordable, it requires a lot of know-how and there are risks involved.
22. Website flipping
Just like with domains, you can also buy entire websites through marketplaces like Flippa, improve them by adding more content and updating the designs, and then put them up for sale on the same marketplace. This is a great business idea for people with some web design and SEO knowledge.
24. Staking cryptocurrencies
Crypto staking is the passive use of your cryptocurrency to verify transactions on the blockchain
You can earn about 5-20% per annum passively by crypto staking, much like you would with high yield savings accounts.
Many crypto exchanges offer staking, includinge Binance and Coinbase. Remember that there is always a risk in the crypto market. Your coin’s value could plummet quickly.
25. Start a paid membership program
People often sign up for membership programs and then pay recurring fees to enjoy the community and/or value that it provides.
You could set up a Patreon profile and start earning money by sharing helpful or interesting content that’s exclusively accessible to your members.
