1. Sell a Digital Product

You can create a Notion template, a guide, a Canva pack, or even a ChatGPT prompt bundle, and sell it repeatedly without trading time for money.

Why it works: Digital products are low overhead, easy to distribute, and don’t require inventory or shipping.

Tools: Gumroad, Lemon Squeezy, Stan Store

Potential: $300–$5,000/month depending on niche and traffic

Time to build: 1–2 weekends

2. License Your Photos or B-Roll

If you have a decent phone camera and eye for design, you can upload photos and video clips to stock platforms where brands pay to license them.

Why it works: Evergreen content (like cityscapes, tech office shots, or people typing) sells over and over again.

Tools: Blackbox, Shutterstock, Pexels Contributor

Potential: $50–$2,000/month with a deep enough library

Time to build: 30–100 uploads before you start seeing consistent payouts

3. Affiliate Content (Without Being a Full-Time Creator)

You don’t need a massive audience to earn from affiliate links. Niche review blogs, Pinterest boards, and curated newsletters can all drive traffic to products that pay you a cut.

Why it works: One well-ranked piece of content or YouTube video can drive sales for years.

Tools: ConvertKit, Beehiiv, Amazon Associates, Impact.com

Potential: $100–$3,000/month depending on niche, SEO, and traffic

Time to build: 2–4 weeks of focused content creation

4. Buy and Monetize a Starter Website

Platforms like Acquire.com and Flippa let you buy already-built blogs or microsites with traffic. You can then add ads, affiliate links, or even flip them for a profit.

Why it works: You skip the hardest part—getting initial traffic.

Tools: Flippa, Acquire.com, Ezoic, Gumroad

Potential: $200–$4,000/month depending on the site and monetization model

Time to build: 1–2 hours to set up monetization; longer if you’re improving content

5. YouTube Automation / Faceless Channels

Hire voiceovers, scriptwriters, and editors (or use AI) to launch a niche YouTube channel without ever being on camera. Monetize with ads, affiliate links, or product placement.

Why it works: Searchable, evergreen content can earn ad revenue long after you post it.

Tools: Descript, Pictory, Opus Clip, YouTube Studio

Potential: $100–$10,000/month depending on views, niche, and monetization strategy

Time to build: 1–3 months to hit monetization requirements

Final Thoughts

Passive income isn’t instant, but it is possible. Pick one stream, commit to a 30-day sprint, and remember: the more effort you front-load now, the less you’ll need to hustle later.

Entrepreneur Toolkit: Tools to Power Your Business

1. Lemon Squeezy – Sell your digital products (templates, guides, courses) and handle global taxes with ease—great for creators who want to go global from day one

2. ConvertKit – Grow a newsletter and monetize it with ease, using built-in affiliate tools and landing pages.

3. Flippa – Buy starter websites, improve them, and monetize fast—or flip them for profit once they’re optimized.

Built Not Hired is built for the modern creator, freelancers, solopreneurs, and builders who want freedom and ownership. If that’s you, pick one idea and run with it.