Passive income is a topic that often gets a lot of attention from online business experts. While some ideas may be overblown, there are many legitimate ways to earn real money by starting a business that mostly runs on its own, automatically bringing in cash. 

A passive income business, at its best, is like a garden. You plant seeds, take care of the soil, and, over time, enjoy the harvest—whether that’s through repeat customers, subscription fees, affiliate marketing, or selling products and information.

I have been earning money online as a full-time freelancer for many years. But most of the work I’ve done has been for other people’s businesses. Even though I enjoy my career and it’s not too late, I sometimes wish I had used my skills and energy to start my own passive income business earlier.

Here are some passive income business ideas that I wish I had pursued five years ago:

1. Content Marketing: Career Advice Blog for Liberal Arts Majors

My degree is in History. I love the subject and am glad I studied it, but there’s a common belief that liberal arts degrees don’t lead to jobs. Despite this, I’ve never been out of work since I graduated, even though there were a few close calls.  

I’ve worked in a variety of settings, from Midwestern politics to international companies, and from a major U.S. bank to public schools in Japan. I often think I could have built a successful blog offering career advice to History majors, English majors, and others with liberal arts degrees who aren’t sure what to do after college. Websites like Copyblogger teach you how to create a successful content marketing business, attract an audience, and build your own brand.

2. Podcast and YouTube Channel

It seems like everyone has a podcast these days. While there are no guarantees of quick success, it is possible to start a podcast or YouTube channel and make money from it. For example, Ramit Sethi, a well-known author and podcaster, says that a typical podcast with 10,000 downloads might earn $500 to $900 per month. A YouTube channel with 20,000 views per day can bring in at least $13,400 a year from ads.  

Although that’s not enough to live on, it’s worth trying. Plus, podcasts or YouTube channels can help grow your brand, promote your business, attract new audiences, and sell products or services to your listeners or viewers.

3. Travel Coaching

Another thing I love, besides studying history and thinking about business ideas, is traveling. I’ve visited 12 countries, and traveling has been one of the best and most adventurous learning experiences of my life.  

Some people have started businesses as travel coaches, offering advice, consulting, or even guided tours and personalized travel planning services. While not all of these services qualify as passive income (leading tours is active work), you could still sell webinars, guidebooks, or one-on-one coaching sessions to help people plan their dream trips, book affordable flights, and create memorable travel experiences.

If you’re considering starting an online business, ask yourself: What do you love to do? Where do you have expertise? Who could benefit from your experience? These answers might guide you to a potential online business idea.

4. Self-Publishing Books  

I’m a writer, so why haven’t I been publishing my own books? Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing allow authors to self-publish and sell their books directly to readers. Not every self-published author finds massive success, but some make $150 per month, while others earn up to $20,000 a month if they have a large audience and loyal buyers.

5. E-commerce Business 

Over the past 15 years, I’ve spent a lot of time writing for websites and trying to get people to click on headlines. By now, I should have started my own e-commerce business.  

Getting customers to buy online is both an art and a science. Starting an online store can be a great business idea, and you don’t always need much money to get started. You can constantly evolve and adapt your business to meet the needs of your customers. There are excellent free resources available on Shopify and HubSpot that can teach you how to build and promote your e-commerce store. If you’re willing to put in the work, you can learn how to drive traffic, find a niche, and convert visitors into customers.

Conclusion 

Building a passive income business takes time and effort. Success doesn’t come overnight, and there are no guarantees. Still, I sometimes wish I had taken the leap and started my own online business years ago.  

Creating your own brand, audience, and a reliable source of recurring revenue can offer more financial security than any traditional job. The most important qualities you need to succeed are curiosity, persistence, hard work, and a desire to learn.