Passive Income Ideas For Application Engineers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a application engineer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a application engineer today. These will help you increase your quality of life by bringing in more income for yourself or your business.
For each income idea, we’ll show you real-world examples, revenue expectations for each idea, plus some things you might need to know before you start your passive income journey as a application engineer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
If you're an application engineer looking to earn passive income, developing an AI writing tool could be a smart move. This project involves creating a digital tool that uses Artificial Intelligence to generate accurate and engaging content for businesses, bloggers, and students. With the demand for quality content continually growing, your tool could become indispensable for those who need to produce written material quickly and efficiently.
Given your background in application engineering, you would have the technical skills to build and refine this tool. Once developed, this AI service could operate independently with minimal maintenance, offering you a steady stream of passive income. By leveraging your expertise to innovate in content creation, you could not only supplement your income but also make a significant impact in the world of digital writing.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)
Rytr, a new AI writing assistant developed by a startup platform and business incubator, has become a market leader, serving over 300,000 customers across the world and doing seven figures in ARR.
2. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
As an application engineer, starting an AI-based business solution could be a great way to supplement your income and leverage your technical skills. By focusing on areas like customer service automation or data analysis, you could help businesses streamline operations and reduce costs. This involves integrating AI tools to perform tasks like predicting market trends or offering personalized marketing strategies.
The demand for AI solutions is on the rise, making this an opportune time to explore this niche. Even if you don't have an extensive background in AI, many platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and support, making it easier to get started. With your engineering background, you could design and implement AI systems that provide real value to businesses, all while creating a passive income stream for yourself.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.
3. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As an application engineer, starting a mobile app could be an exciting way for you to supplement your income and leverage your technical skills. Given your background in software development, you already have a head start with coding knowledge and problem-solving abilities. Developing a mobile app involves creating an application that runs on smartphones and tablets, catering to a variety of user needs—from productivity to entertainment.
Creating an app requires planning the user experience, designing engaging interfaces, and ensuring the app functions smoothly. Marketing your app effectively will be key to attracting users and increasing downloads. With mobile apps being a crucial part of everyday life, an innovative solution or entertaining app you develop could gain significant traction and generate substantial revenue.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
4. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog could be a great way for you as an application engineer to make extra money by sharing your specialized knowledge. For example, you might focus on a specific area like software development tips, application performance optimization, or the latest trends in your field. This allows you to create content like how-to guides, product reviews, and industry news that other engineers and tech enthusiasts would find valuable.
You could monetize your blog through methods like affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or collaborating with tech brands. Engaging with your audience by answering their questions and incorporating their feedback could help you build a loyal following. With consistency and commitment, your blog might become a reliable source of passive income while also establishing you as an expert in your field.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
5. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As an application engineer, you could potentially supplement your income by creating and selling online courses that leverage your technical skills and expertise. By sharing your knowledge on topics like coding, software development, or specific tools you use at work, you could tap into the growing e-learning market, which is expected to be worth over $645 billion in the coming years. This is a great way to monetize your existing skills without needing to step too far out of your current professional sphere.
To get started, you would need to choose a target audience that could benefit from your expertise, create engaging course content, and then select an online learning platform to host and sell your course. Since you’re already familiar with the technical side, you might find the transition to creating online content relatively straightforward. This approach not only offers a way to earn passive income, but also allows you to help others advance in their careers and personal development.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
6. Make passive income with an email marketing tool ($249K/month)
As an application engineer, you could leverage your technical skills to create an effective email marketing tool. This type of software helps users design, automate, and manage email campaigns, making it an essential tool for businesses looking to engage with their audience. Considering the growing demand, you could develop a solution that caters to specific niches or offers unique features that existing tools lack.
By entering the email marketing industry, you could tap into a market expected to reach $2.53 billion by 2028. With minimal initial costs like purchasing a domain and hosting, you could focus on building a reliable tool that entrepreneurs, startups, and even real estate agents would find valuable. This venture could not only supplement your income but also provide a scalable, passive revenue stream as your user base grows.
How much you can make: $120 — $2,083,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 170 days (?)
H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.
7. Make passive income with a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As an application engineer, you could supplement your income by creating a lead generation tool. This involves building a software application that helps businesses find and capture potential customer leads, such as email addresses and phone numbers, from websites and social media channels.
Automating this process would save businesses time and effort, allowing them to focus more on converting leads into customers. Given your technical skills and attention to detail, developing a useful tool for lead generation is well within your capabilities and could fill a growing demand in the marketplace for efficient marketing solutions.
Considering the increasing need for streamlined marketing efforts, businesses of all sizes are eager for tools that simplify the task of attracting new clients. Your expertise in application engineering puts you in an excellent position to create a high-quality, profitable product.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Dux-Soup is a LinkedIn automation tool that helps business owners and sales & marketing professionals generate more leads, increase efficiency, and save time; with over 70,000 users and revenue of nearly $5 million, it offers automated top-of-the-funnel LinkedIn outreach activities, targeted LinkedIn campaigns and multi-touch & personalized LinkedIn drip campaigns for lead generation.
8. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($148K/month)
As an application engineer, you could leverage your technical skills to start a social media automation business. This involves creating and managing tools that schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze social media data for clients ranging from small businesses to influencers. Given the rising demand for consistent and strategic social media engagement, this service could significantly save your clients time and enhance their online presence.
The main tasks would include developing software solutions, staying updated on social media trends, and building relationships with clients to tailor your services to their specific needs. This could be a highly rewarding side hustle, utilizing your expertise in technology and potentially creating a new stream of passive income.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
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.
9. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
As an application engineer, you could leverage your technical skills and problem-solving abilities to develop WordPress plugins that address specific needs for website owners. Given that WordPress relies heavily on plugins for functionality, there's a broad market of users looking for effective solutions to enhance their sites.
If you identify a common problem or a gap in functionality that existing plugins don’t cover well, you could create a plugin to address this issue. Selling your plugin on platforms like CodeCanyon or through your own website could generate passive income as users purchase and download your solution.
By focusing on offering unique and valuable solutions, you can tap into the growing demand for reliable WordPress plugins, all while utilizing your existing skill set as an application engineer.
How much you can make: $120 — $120,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Wheely Sales CEO Josh created a lucky wheel popup that has grown revenue from $0 to $600/month in just 4 months since getting started and has attracted over 1.1 million users to his customers’ websites, all while proving that when it comes to creating a product, competition is validation.
10. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
As an application engineer, you could leverage your technical expertise and passion for technology by starting a niche website focused on a specialized topic you are knowledgeable about. This would allow you to share valuable information, tutorials, and insights that could attract a dedicated audience. For example, you might create content around specific software development tools, frameworks, or industry best practices that other engineers and tech enthusiasts would find useful.
By investing time in research, content creation, and search engine optimization (SEO), you could drive regular traffic to your site. This opens up various monetization opportunities such as affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products like e-books or online courses. Over time, as your website gains popularity and a loyal following, it could become a reliable source of passive income, complementing your primary job while providing creative and financial satisfaction.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
11. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
As an application engineer, you could leverage your technical skills and industry knowledge to start an affiliate marketing business. By promoting software tools, coding courses, or hardware that you already use and trust, you can earn commissions on each sale you facilitate. This way, you are not just recommending random products but are instead providing valuable insights to your network about tools that genuinely enhance their work.
To get started, you could partner with brands or manufacturers whose products align with your professional expertise. For example, you might become an affiliate for a popular eCommerce store that sells computer components or software, enabling you to earn passive income by sharing useful products with your audience. This approach ensures that your recommendations are relevant and trustworthy, making it more likely for others to follow your advice, thus increasing your commissions.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
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.
12. Make passive income with an employee training business ($49.3K/month)
As an application engineer, you could leverage your specialized knowledge to start an employee training business focused on areas such as software development, system integration, or cybersecurity. By developing a training program tailored to your expertise, you help companies enhance their employee's skills and confidence, making them more effective in their roles. This kind of business could operate on a part-time basis initially and grow as you gain more clients and refine your curriculum.
You could offer different training formats, such as computer-based training sessions, on-site workshops, and off-site lectures, to cater to various company needs. With the growing demand for skilled professionals in tech industries, your training services could become an essential resource for companies looking to boost their team's performance and keep up with industry standards. This venture allows you to use your existing knowledge and skills to create a steady stream of passive income by repeatedly selling and conducting your training programs.
How much you can make: $3,000 — $160,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 62 days (?)
Sustain Academy is an online sustainability academy that offers a 10-week LIVE online sustainability course followed by 1:1 mentorship, taught by the world’s best field experts; so far, more than 100 companies from over 10 different countries have trained their employees with them.
13. Make passive income with a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
As an application engineer, you could supplement your income through a stock photography business. With your keen eye for detail and technical problem-solving skills, you can learn to take high-quality stock photos. Businesses, website owners, and bloggers often need unique images for marketing, making this a lucrative opportunity.
Additionally, investing in good photography gear and building an impressive online portfolio could help you earn passive income from your photos. Given your existing tech proficiency, setting up an online presence to market and sell your photos could be a straightforward venture. This side hustle leverages your analytical skills in a creative way, potentially offering profitable margins and a new stream of income.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
14. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
As an application engineer, you could supplement your income and explore entrepreneurial opportunities by starting a print-on-demand business. This model allows you to sell customized products like apparel, home goods, and phone cases without the need for upfront inventory costs. Given your technical background, you might find it straightforward to leverage online marketplace platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy to create virtual storefronts.
You could focus on designing trendy and unique products that appeal to a global audience, and because production and fulfillment are handled through dropshipping services, you wouldn’t need to worry about logistical complexities. With minimal startup costs and the flexibility to run the business from home, this approach allows you to monetize your creativity and build a scalable venture at your own pace. This could be a perfect way to diversify your income streams while utilizing your problem-solving skills and technical expertise.
How much you can make: $200 — $3,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Founder Roy Kirchner shares how he started an eCommerce business specializing in 3D printing with an initial investment of $65,000, which now averages monthly gross sales of $330,000 and has partnered with international manufacturers and local businesses while offering technical support and education.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
