9 Passive Income Ideas For Ui/Ux Designers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a ui/ux designer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a ui/ux 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 ui/ux designer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
If you're a UI/UX designer, turning your brilliant idea into a mobile app could be a smart way to earn passive income. Developing a mobile app involves creating a software application for smartphones and tablets that caters to various user needs, from productivity tools to gaming.
You could leverage your design skills to plan a seamless user experience and design an engaging interface. You might need some basic coding knowledge or the ability to hire a skilled developer to bring your idea to life. Effective marketing is crucial to attract users and achieve downloads, which could lead to significant revenue.
Given that mobile apps are an integral part of everyday life, your unique app idea might just solve a problem or entertain millions. With dedication and the right strategy, this venture could be a substantial source of passive income.
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.
2. Make passive income with a photography blog ($10.1K/month)
Starting a photography blog could be a great way for a UI/UX designer to supplement their income and tap into passive income opportunities. By leveraging your design skills, you could create a visually appealing blog that showcases your work and engages your audience. Additionally, you could share tutorials, gear reviews, and behind-the-scenes stories, providing valuable content that attracts and retains readers.
Using your expertise as a UI/UX designer, you could ensure your blog is user-friendly and optimized for a great user experience, which can help you stand out in a crowded market. Over time, you could monetize the blog through ads, sponsorships, and by selling photography-related products or courses. With dedication and a thoughtful approach, your photography blog could become a steady source of extra income.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $27,400/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A software engineer turned founder started a digital camera review website as a side-hustle which turned into a successful online publication with up to 1.3 million unique monthly visitors, generating around $1,000 per month, attracting visitors through guest posts, focusing on desirable quality content, and through answering popular questions on Stack Exchange, providing helpful advice for other entrepreneurs.
3. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
As a UI/UX designer, you could leverage your skills to create user-friendly WordPress plugins that solve specific problems for website owners. Think about the common frustrations or inefficiencies you encounter in your design work; developing a plugin to address these issues could provide value to other WordPress users and generate passive income for you.
By focusing on user experience in your plugin design, you could set your product apart from others and build a loyal user base. You could sell your plugins on platforms like CodeCanyon, through your own blog, or on a dedicated website, providing multiple revenue streams while reaching a broad audience.
Starting a WordPress plugin business allows you to use your existing skills in a new way, opening up entrepreneurial opportunities without needing to start entirely from scratch.
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.
4. Make passive income with a garage organizer business
As a UI/UX designer, you already possess a keen sense of organization and attention to detail, which are crucial for starting a garage organizer business. You could apply your design skills to create aesthetically pleasing and highly functional garage spaces tailored to your clients' needs. This business would allow you to leverage your eye for spatial efficiency and user experience, applying those principles to real-world environments.
Additionally, you'll find that the problem-solving skills you use in UI/UX design translate well to organizing and decluttering physical spaces. You could also use your experience in client communication to understand their preferences and create garage solutions that meet those needs effectively.
Taking up a garage organizer business could offer a supplemental income stream, as well as the opportunity to engage with a different form of design. Marketing yourself through a professional website or social media, platforms you're already familiar with, can help you attract clients and grow your business efficiently.
How much you can make: $10,500/month
Curate Labs is a creative practice focused around ethical and sustainable design, with an annual publication that champions good business and a travel platform that advocates conscious travel, founded in 2016 by co-founders Abb-d Choudhury and Sara, bootstrapped, now turning into one business with 3 departments and aiming for 50-100% increase in revenue.
5. Make passive income with an online survey tool ($304K/month)
As a UI/UX designer, developing an online survey tool could be a great way to supplement your income. With your skills in creating user-friendly interfaces and intuitive experiences, you could design a survey tool that stands out for its ease of use and visual appeal. Businesses are always looking for efficient ways to gather customer feedback, and a well-designed survey tool can meet that demand.
This kind of project leverages your existing design skills and could offer you a steady stream of passive income. The market for online survey tools is growing, as companies increasingly rely on customer data to make better decisions. By creating a tool that's not only functional but also beautifully designed, you position yourself to attract a wide audience, leading to potentially significant recurring revenue.
Typeform, a popular online survey tool, has shown the massive potential of this market, reporting an annual recurring revenue of over $70 million in 2021. This suggests that if you build a compelling and user-friendly product, there are substantial opportunities for financial success.
How much you can make: $40 — $1,600,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.
6. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a UI/UX designer, you could leverage your expertise by creating an online course to help others learn the skills you've mastered. With the growing demand for digital skills, many people are eager to learn about web design, user interface principles, and improving user experience. This makes it an excellent time to share your knowledge through well-structured online classes.
You could target other aspiring designers, business owners, or even developers who want to expand their skill set. By putting your course on a popular e-learning platform, you could tap into a market that’s predicted to grow significantly, potentially reaching a worth of over $645 billion in the coming years. This provides a fantastic opportunity to supplement your income while contributing to the education of others.
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.
7. Make passive income with a corporate photographer ($23.4K/month)
As a UI/UX designer, you already have an eye for aesthetics and an understanding of how visuals impact user experience. By branching into corporate photography, you could use these skills to create professional photos that enhance a company's marketing materials and website design. Think about how well-designed visuals can strengthen a brand and make interfaces more engaging—your background gives you a strong foundation to excel in this area.
Additionally, your ability to understand user needs and communicate effectively translates well into understanding client needs as a corporate photographer. You could use your skills in networking and social media to market yourself and attract business clients. Creating a solid portfolio showcasing your photography and design skills will also help you stand out.
Being reliable and open to feedback is crucial in both fields, which means you already have the soft skills necessary to succeed. As you provide professional, well-crafted photos that align with a company's brand and vision, you could build a rewarding side business that complements your work in UI/UX design.
How much you can make: $8,300 — $50,001/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of an Indian first-generation entrepreneur who built Studio 31, a profitable and award-winning wedding photography and film company capturing over 350 weddings annually, with a unique focus on customer experience and organic marketing, serving more than 90% NRI clients and generating an annual revenue of about a million dollars.
8. Make passive income with a planet fitness franchise business
As a UI/UX designer, venturing into a Planet Fitness franchise could offer you a unique way to supplement your income. The franchise model of Planet Fitness simplifies the path with its affordable memberships and welcoming workout environment. You'll benefit from a well-established brand and comprehensive support in areas like site selection and marketing.
Owning a gym might sound challenging, but with Planet Fitness, the startup costs are lower compared to many competitors, making it an accessible option. By committing to operational excellence and community engagement, you could create an inviting space for everyone, maintaining equipment and training a friendly staff. This opportunity could allow you to foster a supportive community while generating steady passive income alongside your design career.
9. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog could be an excellent way for you to supplement your income as a UI/UX designer. By focusing on topics that you're passionate about, like fashion, video games, or film reviews, you could share your unique expertise and engage with an online community that shares similar interests. For example, you could write articles, create how-to guides, or even produce video interviews, all while showcasing your design skills and perspectives.
To monetize your blog, you could include affiliate links, grow a YouTube channel, or even collaborate with relevant brands. With time, you might gain visibility and followers, which could help you secure opportunities to speak at events or get sponsored content. Ultimately, if you are passionate and create engaging content, a niche blog could become a steady source of passive income.
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.
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.
