Looking to make money without clocking in hours at a part-time job? You’re in the right place! I’ve compiled a list of passive income ideas specifically tailored for teens.
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1. Video Licensing
If you like shooting cool or funny videos, this could be an easy way for you to make some extra cash over time.
About six years ago, I uploaded some of my videos to Newsflare, which is a place that helps you sell your videos to big websites and TV stations.
My videos got picked up by places like MSN, Yahoo, AOL, and even some TV channels worldwide. Now, every time someone uses my video in a bigger video project, I get paid a little. It adds up! I still make about a hundred bucks a month, and I haven’t touched those videos in years.
2. Affiliate Marketing
Let’s talk about one of my favorite ways to make money while I sleep: affiliate marketing. If you’ve got a good number of followers on social media, a blog, a YouTube channel, or even a podcast, this is for you.
Companies will give you a special link to their products. You share this link with your audience, and every time someone clicks on it and buys the product, you get a cut of the sale.
The more people buy through your link, the more money you make. Once you’ve shared the link, your job is pretty much done. You’ll keep earning money as long as people keep buying through your link.
3. YouTube
I know what you’re thinking: YouTube channels involve endless video making and editing, so how can it be passive income? Well, a few years ago, I took a different approach. I hired a freelancer from Upwork to create a video tutorial on “How to Make a WordPress Website.” In the video’s description, I inserted an affiliate link to Hostgator hosting.
I earned almost $3,000 from a video that has only 5,000 views. Every time someone uses the link to register for Hostgator services, I receive a $50 commission.
The key is to identify an underserved niche and create a video tutorial, promoting a related product or service along the way. Once the video is up and running, the income can become quite passive, requiring little to no additional effort.
4. Stock Photography
If you like taking photos, this could be a simple way to earn money while you sleep. All you have to do is take the photos and upload them once. After that, you can keep making money every time someone buys them. You can even do this with a good smartphone camera.
5. Sell Custom Merchandise
If you’re creative and want to make some extra cash, consider selling custom merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases. It’s simpler than you might think, especially with the help of print-on-demand websites like Redbubble, Teespring, and Printful.
After you create and upload your designs, all you have to do is let people know about your products. When a sale happens, these websites take care of everything from printing to shipping. You earn a share of each sale without worrying about logistics.
6. Sell Printables on Etsy
Create digital items like planners, wall art, or templates that customers can purchase and print at home. Once your design is up, customers can buy and download it instantly, providing you with a hands-off source of income.
7. Sell eBooks
Once your content is written and formatted, you can easily distribute it on platforms like Amazon or directly to your audience through your own website or email list.
The beauty of ebooks is that they require no inventory space and delivery is instantaneous. The work is front-loaded; after your ebook is created and listed, it can provide a steady stream of passive income.
8. Housesitting
Many homeowners are willing to pay for someone reliable to take care of their home while they’re away. Your duties could include simple tasks like watering plants, feeding pets, and keeping the house secure.
You’ll have plenty of downtime to focus on your studies. This is a win-win situation where you get paid to essentially live in someone else’s home and maintain your regular schedule.
9. Create an App
You don’t have to be an expert programmer; there are various platforms and tools that can help you build an app with little to no coding experience.
Once your app is developed and available on app stores, you can earn money through in-app purchases, ads, or even by selling the app itself. The initial effort may be high, but once the app is up and running, it could provide a steady stream of income with minimal upkeep.
10. Renting Out Equipment
If you own equipment like cameras, drones, or even lawn mowers, consider renting them out when they’re not in use. This can be a source of passive income with minimal effort on your part.
Platforms such as Fat Llama, Loanables, or even local community boards can help you connect with potential renters. It’s a win-win situation: you earn extra money and someone else gets to use the equipment they need.
Making Passive Income As A Teen
As you can see, there are dozens of ways to earn passive income, but in my experience, you won’t earn as much as you would by starting a side hustle as a teen.
If you’re interested and have time for a more proactive approach, then you should check out these online jobs for teens and jobs for 15-year-olds.
Peter is a serial entrepreneur and founder of DollarSanity blog who created and ran a variety of businesses. You can learn more about him at the DollarSanity About Me page. He’s been featured in the Washington Post, Yahoo Finance and MSN Money.