The Top 10 Passive Income Ideas Complete Beginners Can Start Today

keyword: passive income ideas

Generating passive income as a complete beginner may sound daunting. But it doesn’t have to be with the right approach.

There are proven business models ordinary people with no experience can start today. Ones allow you to earn a regular income with minimal ongoing work.

In this article, we’ll explore ten of the best passive income concepts for beginners to launch quickly.

You’ll discover how to:

• Get started with each idea fast, often for less than $100

• Start small while you learn the ropes

• Scale up these ideas to replace your day job income

• Make money in your sleep once up and running

Let’s look at ten passive income business models you can launch today even as a total novice.

#1: Affiliate Marketing

With affiliate marketing, you earn commissions promoting other companies products. For example, recommending helpful tools and resources to your audience and collecting a percentage of sales.

It’s popular with beginners because you don’t have to create your own product up front. You also only collect a commission when a sale is made, so the risk is low. To start today:

1. Sign up for affiliate networks like CommissionJunction that connect you with thousands of affiliate programs.

2. Promote relevant affiliate products on your blog, social accounts, videos, and podcast.

3. Build an email list and send promotions to subscribers who have opted in to receive them.

Once you gain experience, recruit other affiliates under you for additional passive income.

#2: Display Advertising

Websites generate billions annually by simply displaying ads on their site. You can earn passive income the same way.

Getting started is easy. Just:

1. Create a blog or simple website on a topic you enjoy.

2. Sign up for Google AdSense or other ad networks to start displaying relevant text and image ads.

3. Drive traffic through content marketing and SEO.

Sit back and collect paychecks as your site views and traffic climb.

#3: Online Surveys

Large brands routinely commission consumer survey companies to get feedback about their products and advertising. You can collect cash for sharing your perspective.

To monetize your skills and start making money:

1. Browse aggregators like Swagbucks that list hundreds of surveys you qualify for.

2. Make sure to complete your user profile thoroughly to match more surveys.

3. Answer screening questions carefully to target the right demographic surveys for you.

Don’t get discouraged by initial rejections as you get the hang of it.

Cash out your rewards regularly before they expire.

#4: Micro Tasks

Sites like Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and Fiverr let you get paid for completing quick minor tasks online. Common jobs include data entry, proofreading, image tagging, or transcription.

You can tap into this beginner passive income stream by:

• Browsing available task categories and picking ones that fit your skills.

• Completing short assessments to qualify for higher-paying jobs.

• Building up positive ratings by excelling at your first tasks.

• Cranking through as many quick micro-tasks as you can in your free time.

• Cashing out frequently as you hit minimum payout thresholds.

#5: Direct Sales/MLM

Direct sales companies offer the ability to resell products directly to your own network through at-home parties and social sharing. Technology lets you manage this business digitally.

Consider companies like:

• Pampered Chef for kitchenware

• Thirty-One for organizational products

• Scentsy for scented products

• Tupperware for storage and meal prep containers

The starter steps are:

1. Pick a brand you enjoy to stand behind the products.

2. Sign up for a starter sales kit of physical samples and brochures.

3. Promote your personal network through social media, text sharing, and virtual parties.

4. Recruit team members under you for commission bonuses on their sales.

5. Expand your reach by hosting in-person events once you build confidence.

#6: Selling Informational Products

One of the most scalable models is creating digital informational products, like ebooks, courses, audiobooks, or video tutorials, then selling online access.

With a beginner’s mindset, focus first on:

1. Identifying a niche you have expertise or interest in. Cooking, crafts, personal finance, etc.

2. Outlining and developing content for an in-demand topic – like an ecookbook or course.

3. Publishing your product through platforms like Udemy or Kindle Direct Publishing.

4. Promoting through your own website, email lists, and social channels.

5. Slowly expanding your informational product catalog over time.

#7: Retail Arbitrage

This income stream involves finding popular products priced low at retail stores, then reselling at a markup online through sites like Amazon or eBay.

Begin by:

• Using apps like ShopSavvy that scan items in stores to price check against resale sites.

• Sticking to small, high-margin items to limit startup costs and risk. Think books, toys, and collectibles.

• Only buying inventory you’re confident you can quickly resell at a tidy profit.

• Starting out as a side gig before increasing stock and expanding.

• Diversifying into multiple sales channels beyond just Amazon and eBay.

#8: Dropshipping

With drop shipping, you market and sell products on your own online store without actually holding inventory. When an order comes in, a supplier packages and ships the item for you.

Starting steps look like this:

1. Setting up a low-cost e-commerce site through Shopify or Wix.

2. Locating reliable suppliers through directories like SaleHoo.

3. Importing product listings and images to your storefront.

4. Driving traffic through SEO, social media, and email marketing.

5. Scaling the catalog as you refine product-market fit.

#9: Vending Machines

Vending and coin-operated businesses offer stable passive income once the machines are placed in locations getting steady foot traffic.

Begin by:

• Researching state/local laws and permit requirements to operate.

• Focusing first on inexpensive machines like sticker toy dispensers as a low-risk test.

• Approaching establishments like restaurants, malls, and offices to host your machine.

• Starting with just 1-2 machines you can easily service yourself at first.

• Scaling up to larger capacity machines and additional locations once your business grows.

#10: Peer-to-Peer Lending

You can earn attractive returns funding personal loans through peer-to-peer lending platforms like Lending Club and Prosper. It provides consumer credit to borrowers while generating passive income for lenders.

To get started:

• Browse the available loan listings and note details like amounts, rates, and terms.

• Use filters to screen potential opportunities and risk tolerance.

• Invest small amounts across multiple loans to limit exposure.

• Opt to have returns automatically reinvested in new loans for compounding gains.

• Leverage easy auto-invest options as your portfolio grows.

Next Steps to Passive Income

The ideas here can put total beginners on a path to passive income quickly, often with an investment of less than $100.

But remember, patience, discipline, laser focus, and persistence are key. Focus on starting small, learning as you go, and reinvesting returns into growth.

Perhaps begin with 3 ideas that interest you rather than tackling all of them at once. Over time you’ll discover which business models best fit your passions and abilities.

As you scale up your earnings, the passive income lifestyle you desire will come into clear view.

So don’t wait for the “perfect” idea or feel that passive income is out of reach. With the right mindset and consistent effort, complete beginners absolutely can build profitable hands-off businesses.

Get started now – your exciting journey to passive income success begins today.