12 Passive Income Ideas For Designers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a Designer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a Designer 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 Designer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
Starting a stock photography business could be a great fit for you as a Designer. You already have a good eye for aesthetics and know what appeals visually to potential buyers. By using your design skills, you could create high-quality, appealing photos that businesses might use for their marketing and advertising needs.
With some investment in good photography equipment and learning the basics of photography, you could begin building an impressive portfolio. Once you upload your photos to stock photography websites, they could start generating a passive income over time. Establishing a strong online presence could further boost your sales and help you earn profitable margins from your work.
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.
2. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a Designer, starting an online course sales business could be a great way to supplement your income by sharing your expertise with others. You could create courses about graphic design, UI/UX design, or mastering design software, and market them to aspiring designers or businesses in need of design skills. This allows you to reach a global audience and generate income even while you sleep.
To get started, choose a target audience and create online courses tailored to their needs. Then, select an online learning platform where you can sell your courses, like Udemy or Skillshare. Given the e-learning market's rapid growth, this could be a lucrative opportunity for you to monetize your skills and knowledge.
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.
3. Make passive income with a dropshipping business ($414K/month)
For designers looking to supplement their income, starting a dropshipping business could be a practical and rewarding venture. Because you won’t need to hold inventory, you could easily set up a niche online store using platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, all while continuing to focus on your design career. This way, your creativity could shine through in the design of your online store and marketing materials, making your business stand out from the competition.
By choosing a product category that aligns with your interests, you could create a cohesive brand that attracts customers. Find reliable suppliers on platforms like AliExpress, list their products on your site, and let them handle the shipping. With careful expense management and a focus on promoting your store, you could gradually build a stream of passive income.
How much you can make: $6,000 — $3,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $8,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 10 hours/week
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.
4. Make passive income with a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
If you're a designer, starting a subscription box business could be a great way to supplement your income by leveraging your creativity and design skills. Subscription boxes are popular because they offer customers unique, curated products on a monthly basis.
You could use your eye for design to create visually appealing and well-branded boxes that stand out. By carefully choosing high-quality products that match a specific niche market, you could build a loyal customer base and provide exclusive experiences that customers look forward to each month.
Additionally, with your design expertise, you could perfect the packaging and overall presentation, making your subscription service even more enticing. By forming good relationships with fulfillment companies and effectively marketing your service, you could create a steady stream of passive income.
How much you can make: $400 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Vowed Box Co. is a line of curated, quirky gift boxes with non-traditional brides in mind, offering four different products that have helped the business become profitable most months since its launch in 2018, with a monthly income of roughly $600.
5. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a great way for you to supplement your income as a designer. You could create how-to guides, vlogs about your design process, or educational content that showcases your skills. By sharing what you love and know best, you could potentially earn money from ads, sponsorships, and even merchandise.
However, building a successful channel takes effort and consistency. You’ll need to plan your content, shoot and edit videos, and regularly engage with your audience. Over time, as your channel grows, it could become a significant source of passive income while also enhancing your personal brand.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
6. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
As a Designer, starting a niche blog could be an incredible way to share your unique design knowledge and supplement your income. You could focus on topics like design trends, software tutorials, or project breakdowns, providing valuable insights that help others in your field. You might write articles, create how-to guides, or even do video interviews with other designers.
With consistent effort, you could build an engaged online community and monetize your blog through methods like affiliate links, sponsored posts, or collaborations with design brands. Beyond monetary gain, a niche blog could also boost your professional visibility and open up speaking opportunities at relevant events. The key would be to be passionate about your topic and commit to regularly engaging your followers with useful content.
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.
7. Make passive income with an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
Starting an eCommerce reselling business could be a practical way for a designer to supplement their income. As a designer, you have an eye for aesthetics and an understanding of what attracts customers, which means you could identify and curate stylish products that people want to buy. This way, you could leverage your design sensibilities to choose items that are visually appealing and potentially profitable.
Initially, you wouldn't need to worry about creating a website. By utilizing social media platforms, you could showcase your curated products to a broad audience and begin making sales. As your business grows, you could eventually invest in a website to expand your reach even further. This approach allows you to start small, reducing risks and gradually building a steady stream of passive income.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $150,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,999 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Empyre Off-Road, an e-commerce business founded by Greg Shuey which sells aftermarket parts for Toyota Tacomas, Tundras, and 4Runners, generated approximately $100,000 a month in revenue and was able to expand its product offering, focusing on content marketing, email marketing campaigns, and organic social media to attract and retain customers.
8. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
As a designer, starting a niche website could be an ideal way to supplement your income and make extra money. You could create a site focused on a topic you're passionate about and knowledgeable in, such as graphic design trends, design tutorials, or creative resources. By producing engaging content and driving traffic to your site, you could turn your expertise into a valuable online resource.
Your specialized content can attract a dedicated audience, opening up various monetization opportunities like affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products like design templates and e-books. While it requires an initial investment of time for research, content creation, and SEO, a niche website can eventually provide you with a reliable source of passive income. If you have a specific interest and the drive to dive deep, this project could be both creatively satisfying and financially rewarding.
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.
9. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
As a designer, starting an affiliate marketing business could be a smart way to supplement your income by leveraging your creative skills and industry knowledge. By promoting products and services that align with your design expertise, you could use your own experiences and opinions to recommend high-quality tools, software, or materials to your audience. For instance, you could partner with eCommerce stores or manufacturers that sell design software, hardware, or other resources that your followers might find useful.
Not only could this provide you with a new revenue stream, but affiliate marketing also fits seamlessly with your existing work. You could create content like blog posts, social media updates, or YouTube videos showcasing how you use these products in your design work, thereby making your promotions more authentic and relatable. This way, you are genuinely helping others in your field while earning commissions on any sales generated through your affiliate links.
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.
10. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
Starting a print-on-demand business could be a great way for designers to supplement their income and start earning passive money using their creative skills. As a designer, you already have the talent to create trendy and unique designs. By leveraging print-on-demand services, you could turn these designs into customized products like apparel, home goods, and phone cases without worrying about upfront inventory costs.
You could utilize online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy to reach a global audience, making it easier to sell your creations. The dropshipping production and fulfillment model means that you only need to focus on designing, while the other aspects like printing and shipping are handled for you. This setup not only allows you to run your business from home but also provides the freedom to scale at your own pace.
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.
11. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($148K/month)
If you're a Designer, starting a social media automation business could be a great way to supplement your income. Using your design skills, you could create visually appealing content and automate its posting for clients, driving engagement and growth for their social media accounts. This service not only saves time for your clients but also ensures their social media presence is consistently active and engaging.
With the rising demand for efficient social media management, there's a significant opportunity here. You could develop or use existing software to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data across various platforms. This allows you to offer a valuable service to small businesses and influencers who need professional and streamlined social media strategies.
This venture involves staying up-to-date with social media trends and understanding your clients' needs. By combining your eye for design with a tech-savvy approach to automation, you could build a profitable and rewarding side business in social media automation.
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.
12. Make passive income with a test prep coach
If you are a Designer with strong skills in organization and attention to detail, starting a test prep coach business could be a rewarding side hustle. You could utilize your knack for creating visually appealing and structured study guides, which can make complex test material easier to understand for students. Additionally, your ability to design engaging and interactive online content could set you apart, offering an enjoyable and effective learning experience for your clients.
Furthermore, your experience in design can help you market your services more effectively through eye-catching social media posts and professional-looking marketing materials. You could build relationships with local educators and community members, leveraging your design skills to create informative brochures and flyers that attract students and parents alike. Overall, by combining your design expertise with a passion for helping students succeed, you could create a successful and impactful test prep coaching business.
How much you can make: $30,000/month
How long does it take to build: 400 days (?)
This case study is about a founder who built a profitable education technology and learning center called GRANITE, which offers mindfulness-based test prep software to individuals and schools, with an average revenue of $30k/month and 100% equity retained through a bootstrap funding approach.
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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.
