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10th July, 2024

Passive income ideas you can use in 2024

Those who run a business understand that time is their most valuable resource. There are always ways to source funds, make do with limited tools, and expand your workforce.

For instance, something as simple as outsourcing low-impact jobs or utilising a high-quality digital solution to handle accounting, invoicing, or managing customer relationships can positively impact your business.

However, if you’re spending all your waking hours working, you’re most likely missing out on income opportunities.

The logical solution is to make your business endeavors work for you without having to play an active role in day-to-day operations. In other words, to maximize your earning potential, you must explore passive income ideas that actually work in 2024.

So, if you’re interested in taking your cashflow to the next level without tying down more of your time, here are a few passive income projects that could help you reach that goal.

Small business owner

Become a silent partner

If you’ve got the capital, one of the best ways to build a passive income is to invest in an existing business and become a silent partner.

Most small businesses looking for investors already have a highly skilled and well-coordinated team. And all they’ll need to boost revenue is an infusion to their cash flow to keep operations running and expanding. 

So, if you’ve got the funds, why not invest — or co-invest — them in a project you believe in? That way, you’ll help a fellow entrepreneur fulfill their dreams of building a successful business while you get profit distributions at a previously arranged schedule.

Purchase an existing business

Do you prefer a more hands-on solution but don’t have the patience to build a business from the ground up? In that case, you could invest in websites or purchase an existing business and keep it running as-is to create a profitable source of passive income.

The great thing about this passive income idea is that it allows plenty of choices when selecting the type of business and industry you wish to enter. For example, check out the businesses currently on sale in Australia.

You’ll see numerous profitable choices, including hospitality, accommodation and tourism, retail, and even service brands. 

Want to know the best part about this source of passive income? Most on-sale businesses are already profitable. That means you’ve only got to take over and make minute improvements in your organisation or marketing practices, and you’ll quickly reap the benefits.

Create content

Sometimes, the best way to build a passive income is to expand on the business activities you already do or are passionate about.

See, most people consume large quantities of content daily. According to Gitnux, people spend 11 hours listening to, watching, reading, or interacting with media every day. So, why not use this tendency to create an additional source of income?

Content creation — especially when you have unique skills or insights you can share with others — is a marvelous source of passive income. And the best thing is, there are almost no limits to how you can go about it.

For example, you could do what Alexander Tutoring does and publish blog posts to increase your business’ reach and drive conversions for your brand.

Or, if you want an even bigger bang for your buck, you can add affiliate links to the existing content on your website.

Alternatively, you could create online courses and tutoring videos to share your expertise. Or, record video content and make money through YouTube Adsense or TikTok’s Creator Fund.

If you go into content creation, you’ll want to prioritise quality and user value. So, do your best to consider how well your articles are written. Try to make your content valuable to your audience. Furthermore, don’t hesitate to hire a professional video editor to ensure your viewers don’t click away after a few seconds due to a poor viewing experience.

Automate aspects of your passive income business with MYOB

Ecommerce and retail often offer an impressive ROI. However, they usually necessitate a lot of involvement to keep operations running smoothly. 

If you’re interested in selling physical products, experiment with dropshipping or Amazon FBA. Or, if you prefer to do everything in-house (and create a much more positive customer experience for your buyers), you’ll need to explore ways to streamline your ecommerce business.

For example, MYOB’s Stock Management solution is the perfect way to automate your passive income business.

Beside managing sales fulfillment and stock levels, the software does a wonderful job of helping you forecast sales trends.

Plus, it can allow you to effectively manage your cash flow without going back and forth, giving you all the data you need in easy-to-read, accurate reports.

MYOB Business management platform, reducing costs

Create and sell digital products

If you want minimal involvement, consider selling digital products for an amazing passive income idea that works in 2024.

The great thing about this business model is that it allows you to use any existing skills you may already have. For example, if you’re good at photography, why not shoot and sell stock photos?

Or, if image editing is your forte, you could create Lightroom presets for brands and social media managers to use. And if you’re a skilled illustrator, you could even design graphics for brands to use on their websites or social profiles.

Of course, selling digital products doesn’t have to be creatively oriented. You can build something useful and needed with any skill set. 

For instance, many business owners look for Spreadsheet templates and formulas to run their operations. If you’re skilled at coding, you can build tools and apps for startups that remove common pain points.

Or, if you have a way with words, you could even transform your expertise into an ebook and sell it to people who seek highly specific insights and knowledge.

Acquire and rent out assets

Last but not least, as you explore passive income ideas that will work in 2024, don’t forget that you could use any asset you already own to make some additional money.

In addition to renting out property (either short or long-term), garages, storage units, and parking spaces, look toward other physical items that could help you make an additional income. 

For example, people working in their houses or backyards often need tools to complete tasks. But, instead of purchasing those items at a high price, most will prefer to pay a one-time rental fee. So, if you’ve got a heavy-duty pressure washer, power tools, or just a bunch of event chairs or even a bouncy house collecting dust in your garage, why not offer them up to people in your community?

Sure, you’ll have to organise transport and maintain these assets. But if you can make even a bit of money from the activity, it’s a great passive income idea. Plus, you could even grow it into a full-fledged business venture (that even a teen can run) with a well-built website and some smart marketing techniques. 

It’s never too late to start

Creating a passive income is always a good idea. But the way you go about it will hugely depend on the state of your finances or assets and your willingness to invest time in addition to money.

However, remember that just as when building a business, creating a passive income works best if you already have some expertise and experience in your chosen industry.

That way, you can use your existing skills and insights to make solid investing choices. And, you can avoid having to learn an entirely new skill set just to ensure you’re not wasting your time on something that won’t be profitable.