24 Passive Income Ideas for Engineers [2024]

Updated: March 1st, 2023

24 Passive Income Ideas for Engineers [2024]

I know you’re busy. I’m busy too. So, what’s the best way to make money as an engineer without actually having to do anything? Passive income!

But don’t be mistaken. You have to work hard to achieve this passive income.

In this blog post, I will share ideas for how engineers can make passive income. Stay tuned for tips on how to get started!

1. Start an AI- powered image search solution business

Engineers can create an AI-powered image search solution business that helps users find relevant images based on their needs. By leveraging their technical skills and AI expertise, they can create a valuable tool that generates passive income from subscriptions or licensing fees.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $41,400,000/month

Growing A Website Builder Tool & Agency Hybrid to $37K Per Month

Weblium, a hybrid website builder that allows customers to switch between doing it themselves or having it done for them, has grown 200% month over month and is making 20-30 websites daily, with plans to reach 100 custom websites a day while partnering with banks and company registrars to offer website creation as part of their packages.

About
David started Weblium over 7 years ago
Revenue
David grew the business to $37K/month
Read by 5,665 founders

2. Start an AI- based photo editing app business

Engineers can create an AI-based photo editing app that automates photo editing tasks. By leveraging their technical skills and creative expertise, they can create a unique photo editing app that can be marketed online, generating passive income from app sales or in-app purchases.

The digital world is turning increasingly visual, and a picture is well on its way to being worth a thousand likes, shares, and tweets. Enter the AI-based photo editing app business. In essence, think of a software aid that leverages artificial intelligence to enhance, retouch, and transform ordinary images into something extraordinary.

Leveraging the power of complex algorithms and machine learning, such an app could provide automated editing tools that eliminate the tedious manual processes usually associated with image editing. This can be a real game-changer for professionals in industries like advertising, web content creation, and photography, among others.

If diving into the realm of technology and creativity appeals, then this concept might be a potential goldmine. Offering simplified, automated, professional-level photo editing capabilities right at users' fingertips could be the next big thing in the app marketplace. Are you ready to be at the helm of this digital revolution?

How much you can make: $4,500 — $8,333/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 23 days (?)

How We Developed A $6K/Month Online Video Editing Software

VEED.IO, a London-based start-up co-founded by Sabba and her partner, offers a simple online video editing platform using batch job cloud architecture to help social media managers across the world auto subtitle, filter, rotate videos and much more, earning the company $5,300 MRR and the founders Ramen profitability within just a year of starting.

About
Sabba started VEED over 5 years ago
Revenue
Sabba grew the business to $6K/month
Read by 11,764 founders

3. Start a Digital Printing Business

Engineers can create a digital printing business focused on printing marketing materials, such as brochures, banners, and business cards, for small businesses. By leveraging their technical skills and marketing expertise, they can create a valuable service that generates passive income from client fees.

Digital printing is a more flexible and cost-effective option than offset print. It is popular for its quality and ease of use. You don’t need to take the mechanical steps that are essential in offset printing, which makes it much more popular.

Digital printing is a fast-growing industry that allows you to print high-quality images, text, and symbols on your own products. It also allows you to customize printed products with various materials, such as different inks and paper, or you can use pre-made pages and print them using a digital printer.

A Digital printing business is a simple and easy way to start a small business. It requires less investment as compared to other types of printing business ideas.

The average hourly wage for a Digital Print Operator in the United States is $17, but salaries can range from $16 to $19 per hour.

How much you can make: $1,000,000 — $6,250,000/month

How long does it take to build: 92 days (?)

On Starting A Pioneer Web-To-Print Software Solution

Web-to-print software company Design'N'Buy has acquired clients in over 40 countries and earned a turnover of $1.5 million and 1,000+ clients across 60+ countries within a short span of existence.

About
Abhishek started DesignNBuy INC about 15 years ago
Revenue
Abhishek grew the business to $1M/month
Costs
It cost Abhishek $100000 to start the business
Read by 5,592 founders

4. Start a niche web design business

Engineers can create a niche web design business focused on a particular industry or interest. By leveraging their technical skills and creativity, they can create unique web designs that can be marketed online, generating passive income from client fees.

Niche web design business focuses on a specialized market such as law, home improvement, videography, fashion, etc. typically, when a web designer niches down their services, they are simply choosing to concentrate on one industry and create websites for businesses within the particular niche. To become a niche web designer, consider honing the following skills and personal qualities:

  • Visual design, HTML, CSS, JavaScript
  • Strong communication skills
  • Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Teamwork and research skills
  • Attention to detail

Narrowing your focus to a particular niche gives you a higher chance of becoming a recognized expert and places you in a better position to charge more for your services.

How much you can make: $200 — $200,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 40 days (?)

How I Started A $30K/Month Web Development And Marketing Agency Focused On Locksmiths

The Locksmith Agency, run by Samuel Wilson, a licensed locksmith with over 10 years of digital marketing experience, is making $30k+ per month by providing digital marketing services such as Website Development, SEO, and Google Listing optimization services specifically for the locksmith industry.

About
Samuel started The Locksmith Agency (1-800-Unlocks) over 6 years ago
Revenue
Samuel grew the business to $30K/month
Costs
It cost Samuel $500 to start the business
Read by 6,410 founders

5. Start a hygiene product company

Engineers can use their technical skills to develop and manufacture innovative hygiene products that promote health and wellness. By creating products that are effective and safe, they can generate passive income through sales.

Starting a hygiene products business can be a lucrative and rewarding venture. This type of business involves producing and selling products that help people maintain cleanliness and personal hygiene, such as soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes.

To start and run this business successfully, you will need to have a solid understanding of the market and the needs of your target customers. You will also need a reliable source of raw materials, such as oils and fragrances, to create your products.

In addition, you will need to have a good business plan in place, including a marketing strategy and a financial plan. You will also need to be willing to invest time and resources into research and development to ensure that your products are of high quality and meet the needs of your customers.

Finally, it is essential to have a solid online presence to reach a wider audience and market your products effectively. This can include a website, social media accounts, and an email list to stay in touch with your customers.

Overall, starting a hygiene products business requires a combination of market research, product development, and effective marketing. With hard work and dedication, this business can be a rewarding and profitable venture.

How much you can make: $30,000 — $5,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 332 days (?)

How My Forward-Thinking Hygiene Solutions Company Is Thriving In COVID-19

A hygiene solutions company founded by Jonathan Bradford now earns £500k/month, after years of developing a wall-mounted antibacterial wipe dispenser that is used in health clubs, workplaces, and in over 100 locations worldwide, and also developing an electronic washroom hygiene monitor.

About
Jonathan started The Hygiene Company over 32 years ago
Revenue
Jonathan grew the business to $521K/month
Costs
It cost Jonathan $65000 to start the business
Read by 9,001 founders

6. Start a product ratings & reviews

Engineers can start a business that provides unbiased and accurate ratings and reviews of products in a specific niche. By using their technical skills to test and analyze products, they can build a loyal audience and generate passive income through affiliate marketing.

A product ratings and reviews business involves providing a platform where customers can share their opinions and feedback about different products.

You can start a product ratings and reviews business by creating a website or app where people can browse and leave reviews for purchased or used items.

To make money, you can partner with e-commerce stores or manufacturers who may be interested in showcasing their products on your platform. You can also offer advertising space or promote affiliate products to generate revenue.

This low-cost business idea mainly requires setting up a website, marketing the platform, and managing user-generated content.

How much you can make: $2,500 — $3,500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

I Quit My 9 To 5 & Built An Affiliate Site Making $40K/Month

Matt Oney quit his full-time job to pursue his side hustle full-time: an affiliate marketing-based content site called ZenmasterWellness that generates around 80k monthly visits and average monthly revenue of about $40,000 by leveraging SEO and affiliate partnerships.

About
Matt started Zenmaster Wellness about 4 years ago
Revenue
Matt grew the business to $40K/month
Costs
It cost Matt $500 to start the business
Read by 8,177 founders

7. Build an AI tool

Engineers can create an AI tool that solves a specific problem for a target market. By using their technical expertise to create a software solution that is easy to use and provides value to customers, they can generate recurring revenue and scale the business.

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic in the tech industry right now. An AI tool is a computer program that is designed to simulate human intelligence. AI tools are used in a variety of industries, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and retail.

There are many different types of AI tools, but some common examples include chatbots, virtual assistants, and machine learning platforms.

To build an AI tool you will need strong technical skills and experience in computer science. You should also have a good understanding of the different types of AI tools and how they are used.

AI is quickly becoming one of the most important and sought-after technologies in today's world. The revenues coming from software using artificial intelligence are going to increase from 9.5 billion U.S dollars in 2018 to 118.6 billion U.S dollars by 2025.

The demand for AI tools is growing as businesses are looking for ways to automate their processes and improve their customer service. AI tools can help businesses save time and money by automating tasks that would otherwise be done manually.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $41,400,000/month

How long does it take to build: 54 days (?)

How I Started A $40K/Month AI-Powered Recruiting App

SkillSoniq, the world's first AI-powered recruiting app, connects companies with skilled freelancers on a trial basis, saving companies 60%+ in hiring costs and earning $350,000+ in gross revenues in its first year, with a current average of $40,000 a month, and plans to raise a second round of seed funding to achieve escape velocity and continue to form a world-class company.

About
Abby started SkillSoniq over 7 years ago
Revenue
Abby grew the business to $40K/month
Costs
It cost Abby $50000 to start the business
Read by 8,762 founders

8. Become an IT consultant

Engineers can offer their services as an IT consultant, providing technical guidance and expertise to businesses. By providing solutions to technical problems and helping businesses optimize their IT infrastructure, they can earn passive income while helping businesses grow.

Are you an IT graduate still looking for that dream job? Then becoming an IT consultant might be the right choice for you.

An IT consultant is an external analyst in charge of evaluating a company’s IT systems and helping them meets its business objectives. IT consultants analyze and diagnose a company’s IT infrastructure, understand the client’s needs, and design solutions to help companies’ IT problems.

How much you can make: $500 — $2,400,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How I Built An Airtable Plugin That Lets Users Manage Their Data Better [$80K/Year]

Data Fetcher is a no-code tool that imports data into Airtable which has reached 190 paying customers in just over a year after launch and is making $6500 in MRR, with a goal of reaching $30k+ in MRR, for aspiring founders looking to bootstrap an app to life-changing revenue as a solo founder.

About
Andy started Data Fetcher over 3 years ago
Revenue
Andy grew the business to $23K/month
Costs
It cost Andy $100 to start the business
Read by 4,188 founders

9. Start a career coaching business

Engineers can offer career coaching services to individuals looking to advance their careers in engineering. By providing guidance on resume building, job interviews, and career development, they can earn passive income while helping others succeed.

A career coaching business involves providing personalized guidance, support, and strategy services to help clients navigate professional transitions and growth opportunities.

As a career coach, you design custom sessions to assist with resume building, interview prep, and workplace advancement goals tailored to each client’s aspirations.

With flexibility for in-person or virtual meetings, building a client base lets you empower breakthroughs through specialized advice and accountability.

Launching a coaching practice can be a great opportunity for those with speaking talents and human resources expertise to monetize their natural motivational abilities while setting their own schedule.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

From Getting Fired At 24 To Growing A $140K/Month Online Community

Wall Street Oasis, the largest online community focused on careers in finance, has over 100 million visitors during its 14-year history and is currently receiving over 2 million visits per month, offering interview courses and mentorship services, in addition to building and investing in a thriving online community.

About
Patrick started Wall Street Oasis almost 18 years ago
Revenue
Patrick grew the business to $200K/month
Read by 21,106 founders

10. Start an ecommerce platform

Engineers can create an ecommerce platform that provides a seamless shopping experience for customers. By offering features like personalized recommendations and easy checkout, they can attract a loyal customer base and generate passive income through sales.

Over the past decade, eCommerce has become an indispensable part of the global retail framework. According to statistics, over 2 billion people prefer shopping online.

While brick-and-mortar stores are still making more sales compared to online sales, the adoption of eCommerce is still rising, mainly because of the increased speed and convenience of online shopping.

Therefore, starting an eCommerce platform could set you on the right path to building a futuristic business.

How much you can make: $100 — $83,333,333/month

How long does it take to build: 110 days (?)

How We Started A $700K/Month Business Getting Targeted Traffic For Online Sellers

StoreYa co-founders Eyal Reich and Yariv Dror, along with CTO Pasha Zaft, created a suite of marketing and advertising apps that include Traffic Booster, which has generated an average of $700,000 MRR and helped the business win a 2018 Google Acquisition Performance award, as well as becoming a PayPal exclusive advertising partner.

About
Eyal started StoreYa over 11 years ago
Revenue
Eyal grew the business to $2M/month
Costs
It cost Eyal $5000 to start the business
Read by 10,228 founders

11. Start a newsletter

Engineers can start a newsletter that provides valuable content to their target market. By sharing their knowledge and insights, they can attract a dedicated audience and generate passive income through sponsorships and ads.

Did you know that in the past five years, there has been more than a 50% increase in the number of people who read newsletters?

Newsletters are one of the few things you can use to market yourself as a trusted expert. A well-written newsletter can educate your subscribers and build connections with them.

Email newsletters are a great way to connect with customers and potential customers. It’s a newsletter’s job to inform, persuade, and sell to your audience.

How much you can make: $100 — $3,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $400 (?)

How long does it take to build: 22 days (?)

How I Started A $36M/Year Stock Market Research Newsletter

Financial media company MarketBeat, founded by Matt Paulson, provides objective financial information and real-time market data to empower individual stock investors to make better trading decisions, generating approximately $8 million in revenue in 2019 and ending the year with over 1.3 million unique email subscribers due to a freemium model with 75% of revenue from advertising and 25% from subscriptions.

About
Matt started MarketBeat over 13 years ago
Revenue
Matt grew the business to $3M/month
Read by 26,084 founders

12. Start a web development business

Engineers with web development skills can start a business that offers website development and design services to clients. By creating custom websites for businesses and organizations, they can earn passive income while using their technical skills.

A web development business is a company that builds and takes care of websites. They typically use coding and design skills to create online spaces that meet the needs of individuals or businesses.

These businesses help ensure websites work well and look good, playing a key role in the online presence of their clients.

How much you can make: $6,600 — $350,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $3,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

I Built A $300K/Year Vue.js Component Library

Vuetify is a popular open-source user interface library, built with the Vue.js framework, that generates revenue through digital content and services such as paid digital content in the Vuetify store, direct support through consulting, ad revenue from Carbon ads on the documentation pages, and donations/sponsorships via GitHub and Patreon, generating an average income of $6,500 per month.

About
John started Vuetify almost 7 years ago
Revenue
John grew the business to $25K/month
Read by 45,081 founders

13. Start an online food business

A food engineer can use their knowledge of food science and technology to create an online food business. They can offer healthy and innovative meal plans, snacks, or supplements that cater to a specific target market.

Gone are the days when food lovers needed to leave their homes for delectable delights. Insert: online food business. This venture allows individuals or groups to offer ready-to-eat meals or pre-packaged ingredients for home preparation, straight to customers' doorsteps.

In simple terms, the business centers on creating and selling meals through an online platform. In a world perpetually pursuing convenience and variety, this idea caters to a diverse audience—busy professionals seeking nutritious meals, cooking novices craving guidance, or adventurous eaters exploring global cuisines.

As an owner of an online food business, you'll be involved in menu planning, sourcing ingredients, preparation, packaging, and delivering—while constantly innovating and adapting to the ever-changing food trends and dietary preferences. With the right blend of business acumen and culinary passion, the online food business can offer a unique opportunity to merge profit with satisfaction—giving people the gift of good food while filling a fundamental market gap.

How much you can make: $4,000 — $12,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

How We Started A Meal Prep Delivery Business And Did $1.8M In Sales

Healthy Chew is a profitable weekly meal preparation service that grew from 200 to 10,000 weekly bowls in just over 3 years, with an overall sales figure of $1.8 million, achieved through effective branding and personalised customer service.

About
TJ started Healthy Chew almost 8 years ago
Revenue
TJ grew the business to $60K/month
Costs
It cost TJ $500 to start the business
Read by 38,090 founders

14. Start a graphic design business

Engineers with design skills can start a graphic design business and offer their services to clients. By creating logos, website designs, and marketing materials, they can earn passive income while using their creativity and technical skills.

Graphic designers create logos, brochures, ads, and other marketing materials for companies and organizations. They also design websites and other digital content, including social media graphics.

Graphic designers may specialize in one type of design (such as print or web design), or they can be generalists who do everything from logo design to social media graphics.

Starting a graphic design business can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. It’s not easy, but if you’re passionate about design and want to make a living, starting your own graphic design business is a great way to go.

Consider a suitable pricing structure when starting a graphic design business. You may charge the customers per hour or fixed pricing based on the project’s nature.

How much you can make: $2,500 — $1,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 87 days (?)

How Two Friends Bootstrapped A SaaS Business To $55K MRR

Learn how two friends bootstrapped a SaaS business to $55k monthly recurring revenue (MRR) by creating a simple graphic design tool for non-designers and focusing on content marketing for customer acquisition.

About
Christopher started Snappa almost 9 years ago
Revenue
Christopher grew the business to $83.5K/month
Read by 20,130 founders

15. Start a saas company

Engineers can create a SaaS company that solves a specific problem for a target market. By creating a software solution that is easy to use and provides value to customers, they can generate recurring revenue and scale the business.

SaaS (Software as a Service) is software that allows users to access and use it over the internet. It is a subscription-based service that provides users with access to software that they can use for their business. It offers a variety of features, including a project management tool, an automation engine, and a workflow designer.

To start a SaaS company you should be familiar with the SaaS business model and have a good understanding of how to build and market a SaaS product. You should also have strong technical skills and be able to develop a high-quality software product.

Salesforce is one of the best SaaS companies in the world. Salesforce provides an integrated CRM platform that brings companies and customers together. The company is one of the most innovative cloud software solutions providers on the market, generating nearly all its annual recurring revenue from SaaS tools. According to Salesforce's latest financial reports, the company's current revenue (TTM) is $26.49 B.

Starting a SaaS company is a great way to enter the tech industry. This type of company is growing in popularity as more businesses are looking for ways to save money and reduce their IT costs. SaaS companies typically have high margins and offer a lot of flexibility for entrepreneurs.

How much you can make: $500 — $166,666,666/month

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

I Turned My Side Project into A $26K/Month SaaS Tool

AI-powered web application, Excelformulabot.com, generates Excel formulas within seconds for a subscription fee of $6.99/month or free for five formula requests per month, resulting in $14k/month in recurring revenue since its launch in September 2022, accruing millions of visitors through word of mouth, influencer marketing, SEO, and PPC, implemented through no-code web application Bubble.io, while preparing to penetrate a B2B market and focus on B2B outreach in the future.

About
David started Excelformulabot over 1 year ago
Revenue
David grew the business to $23K/month
Costs
It cost David $196 to start the business
Read by 18,355 founders

16. Start an affiliate marketing business

Engineers can leverage their technical expertise to promote products and services through affiliate marketing. By sharing their knowledge and experience, they can help their audience make informed buying decisions while earning commissions on each sale.

Are you looking for a side hustle to pay you a passive income? Affiliate marketing is one of those side hustles that will pay you well over the long term. It is a way to earn money online by promoting other companies' products and services. You will be paid a commission for each sale you make as an affiliate marketer.

To get started, learn how to find the right product and brand to partner with. For example, you may prefer becoming an affiliate marketer for an eCommerce store, partnering with a manufacturer, and marketing their products for a commission.

How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 55 days (?)

My Affiliate Marketing Business Earns $500K/Year Profit [No Employees]

This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

About
Spencer started Buildapreneur over 6 years ago
Revenue
Spencer grew the business to $80K/month
Read by 22,694 founders

17. Become a business coach

Engineers with experience in leadership and management can offer their services as a business coach. By providing guidance to entrepreneurs and business owners, they can earn passive income and help others achieve their goals.

Are you thinking of starting a career as a business coach?

Becoming a business coach can be a great way to help aspiring entrepreneurs while earning a healthy income. You may want to consider becoming a coach if you have skills in specialized business fields such as marketing, e-commerce, stress management, or leadership.

Many small-business owners are finding it hard to get started, grow, and succeed. As a business coach, your job will be to help entrepreneurs identify new opportunities and take advantage of the ones they already have.

How much you can make: $3,500 — $9,259,259/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Started A $100K/Month Business Mentoring Dropshipping Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneur Kamil Sattar has developed multiple six-figure drop shipping businesses, and his company, e-commerce mentoring, specializes in helping others create their own successful companies, with favorite platforms including using Shopify and apps such as Loox reviews and SMSBump.

About
Kamil started E-commerce Mentoring about 7 years ago
Revenue
Kamil grew the business to $100K/month
Costs
It cost Kamil $1000 to start the business
Read by 24,251 founders

18. Start a productized service

A productized service is a service that is turned into a standardized product with a fixed price and scope. Engineers can create a productized service that leverages their expertise and delivers value to their target market. For example, an engineer could create a productized service that provides a detailed analysis of a building's energy efficiency.

Productized services are created when a larger service is broken down into smaller services that can be sold separately.

This makes it easier to sell the same service to multiple clients and creates an easily-marketable product. For example, a marketing agency that usually charges by the hour, instead, charges a flat monthly fee.

This business strategy works well in B2B markets, as you can sell the same value proposition to multiple clients, and give them a great return on investment.

The reason why you should start a productized service business is simple: making recurring revenue from your expertise can be very useful if you want to build a business based on passive income.

How much you can make: $200 — $1,250,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How We Bootstrapped A Music Licensing Business to $2.5M/Year

EasySongLicensing.com grew from a mobile recording business to a bootstrapped music licensing agent, with a user base of over 60,000 clients and a gross profit of $2.5M in 2018, seeing a 30% increase in 2019, through investment in online marketing, customer service, and forming new partnerships.

About
Aaron started Easy Song almost 19 years ago
Revenue
Aaron grew the business to $315K/month
Costs
It cost Aaron $75000 to start the business
Read by 16,005 founders

19. Start a saas product developer business

Engineers can use their technical expertise to create a software-as-a-service (SaaS) product that solves a specific problem for a target market. This can be a great way to create a recurring revenue stream and scale the business by adding new customers.

SaaS product is online software that uses a license to access. With cloud computing omnipresent, starting a SaaS company is a low barrier to entry idea with exponential growth potential.

Modern users recognize the SaaS cost-saving benefits and the ability to offer project collaboration. Besides, there are multiple technologies you can use to build SaaS platforms.

To build a successful SaaS product, you need database management skills, programming language, cloud computing, design & development skills.

If you decide to build a SaaS solution, start by conducting market research and competition analysis.

Before starting the development, you must choose a good app monetization model and select an appropriate technology stack.

How much you can make: $40 — $18,933,333/month

How long does it take to build: 114 days (?)

How I Bootstrapped A Social Media Automation Tool To $2MM/Year

MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.

About
Chris started MeetEdgar over 10 years ago
Revenue
Chris grew the business to $333K/month
Read by 14,147 founders

20. Start a niche blog

Engineers can use their knowledge to create a niche blog that focuses on a specific area of engineering. By creating valuable content for their target audience, they can attract traffic and generate income through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and display ads.

Starting a niche blog can be a great way to engage with a passionate online community by sharing your expertise on a specific topic.

The first step is to identify a profitable and underserved niche, such as fashion, video games, film reviews, cooking, and more.

Find your niche and create unique and informative content, such as articles, commentary, news, how-to guides, top product lists, convention coverage, video interviews, and spotlights.

To monetize your blog, gain visibility and followers, provide affiliate links, grow a YouTube channel, collaborate with relevant brands, and speak at events.

To succeed in niche blogging, you need to have a passion for your topic, create engaging content, and regularly engage with your followers.

How much you can make: $200 — $100,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

How I Built Starter Story

Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and $500,000 in annual revenue, and offers frameworks for growing your own site.

About
Pat started Starter Story over 6 years ago
Revenue
Pat grew the business to $91K/month
Costs
It cost Pat $100 to start the business
Read by 53,764 founders

21. Create an online course

Engineers have specialized knowledge and skills that are in high demand, making an online course a great way to earn passive income. By sharing their expertise through a course, engineers can reach a wider audience and create a scalable income stream. They can create a course on a variety of topics, from software engineering to mechanical engineering, and sell it on platforms like Udemy or Skillshare.

An online course business involves creating and selling digital classes teaching specialized skills or knowledge to subscribed students.

As an entrepreneurial course creator, you identify educational gaps around topics you have expertise in and develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials.

With flexibility around self-paced or cohort-based structures, building a student base provides passive income potential.

For founders who enjoy information-sharing, launching an online course platform presents a lucrative way to monetize your instructional talents with small startup costs by serving eager lifelong learners seeking convenient access to emerging subjects.

How much you can make: $350 — $3,735,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,850 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

How This 28-Year-Old Couple Quit Their Jobs And Make $20K/Month Running A Blog

Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.

About
Kelan started The Savvy Couple over 7 years ago
Revenue
Kelan grew the business to $20K/month
Costs
It cost Kelan $500 to start the business
Read by 27,276 founders

22. Start a roads construction business

As a road construction company owner, you would be responsible for designing and building roads and highways. You would need to hire a team of engineers and construction workers to help you complete projects, as well as acquire the necessary equipment and materials.

Road construction and maintenance are some of the key components of civil engineering. One of the businesses that is profitable and thriving is the supply of tar and bitumen. You can network your business with the Ministry of works or Public Works Department (PWD) in your country and make valuable profit.

The business presents steady demand and potential for growth as societies continue to invest in their transportation networks. It's a sector where skill, innovation, and collaboration intersect to create essential pathways for communities and businesses.

23. Become a software engineer

Software engineering business involves developing software products, tools, or services that solve problems or provide value to users. Engineers can create businesses that develop software for various applications such as mobile, web, desktop, or cloud-based.

Some examples of software engineering business options include mobile app development, software as a service (SaaS) product development, website development, desktop software development, game development, and automation software development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you build passive income as an engineer?

Yes, engineers can build passive income by leveraging their technical expertise and creating businesses that use their skills. They can develop products or services that solve problems or provide value to users, such as software development, online courses, or e-commerce stores, which can generate passive income.

How to make passive income as an engineer?

Engineers can make passive income by creating businesses that leverage their technical skills, such as developing software products, online courses, or e-commerce stores. They can also invest in stocks or real estate to generate passive income.

Is passive income for an engineer truly passive?

Passive income for an engineer can be truly passive once the business or investment is established and generating revenue without much ongoing effort. However, it may require significant work upfront to create a product or service, market it, and build an audience.

Conclusion

Online passive income is an excellent option if you are an engineer looking for ways to make some extra money. Several options are available; many can be started with little to no investment.

Do your research, find something that interests you, and get started! You may be surprised at how quickly those extra dollars start adding up. What have you got to lose?

meet the author
David Gitonga

"The best life hack of all is to just put the work in and never give up" - Bas Rutten (UFC Heavyweight Champion). Hey there! I am a talented freelancer passionate about writing and researching all topics business and entrepreneurship.