If you don’t have any cash to invest, you may be tempted to shy away from searching for a passive income source. Passive income has its challenges, including the need for financial investment in some cases. However, some passive income ideas require little to no financial investment at all to start, set up and implement.

Not every passive income idea requires a large financial investment. Some passive income ideas can be started with no money or investments. Some passive income ideas with no money or investments include gaming, YouTubing, starting a monetized blog, data entry and extraction, flipping items online, using discount and reward programs, renting your place on AirBnB, renting out your things, renting your parking spot, ride-sharing, or advertising with your car.

Most of these passive income ideas also have a good ROI and the best thing is that almost anyone can do them. In this guide, we look at some passive income ideas you can start without necessary investing money. If you use the equipment you already have, these passive income ideas will not cost you anything more. But if you want to upgrade or spend money, budget for your own needs. We will also look into some awesome tips that can help you to make income more easily. Just like any other passive income idea, these income streams will take time, and personal effort including, dedication, patience, commitment and skill to build

1. Gaming

The gaming industry is growing and has become a very lucrative passive income idea that does not demand a financial investment if you use equipment you already have. You can make a living from gaming by taking part in online gaming, live streaming, providing tutorials, and walkthroughs. Gaming can pay well if you manage to build a strong following and to successfully monetize your audience. Reports show that some young gamers have made millions well before 30! (source). If you do not have much money to invest and are an avid gamer, gaming can be a huge passive income opportunity.

Some online platforms such as Twitch and YouTube make it easier for you to earn passively by having people watch your gaming while you stream live. You can use Google trends to search for the newest, highly rated games or just choose games you like to play. Once you accumulate a large enough following (1k subscribers and 4k hours of watch time in 365 days to be put under review on YouTube), then you can then monetize your account and earn passively through ads. Becoming a professional gamer takes experience, and personality to be able to attract a sizeable following. That being said, gaming can be an awesome means of passing time, having fun and generating income without having to invest a lot of money. For more info on gaming for passive income check out our guide.

Passive Income Gaming Guide

2. eCommerce

Taking part in e-commerce activities is a very popular way of making passive income. In most cases, you don’t need much to begin with. You can sell things you have around your home, or flip cheap items you can get in garage sales. You can also create and sell digital products like eBooks. You could also print-on-demand or dropship. Ecwid is our favorite eCommerce tool and it can get you up and running with everything you need to sell digital or physical goods for as low as $15/month.

eCommerce can help you generate excellent income, however, how passive your endeavor depends on what you choose to do. If you flip physical items, it will be less passive than selling print-on-demand. For instance, you can choose to sell products you don’t stock physically and have a third party handle the shipping and packing for you with dropshipping or print-on-demand. For more information on how you can make a passive income from eCommerce, check out our guide.

Passive Income eCommerce Guide

3. AirBnB

Airbnb can be a good passive income source if you do not have any money to invest. Renting your home, a room or your couch on AirBnB can be a great way to supplement your income (source). However, it will not be passive unless you extract yourself as much as possible from the rental process. Some things you would have to do include screening potential renters, communicating with them, welcoming them, cleaning and leaving reviews. These things can be automated with a lockbox (arrival/departure process) and outsourced to third parties like a cleaning company and a property manager to make it more passive.

Make sure to provide basics such as wifi, clean rooms, basic amenities including bedding (linens, pillows), air conditioning, essentials such as (towels, soap, and toilet paper). You should have a proper understanding of your target market and tailor the experience you are offering to them. Make sure to state your terms in your listing before people rent your space. If you don’t have a lot of investment to start with, you can consider using the service to rent out some of your living space to make money. For more info on the topic, check out our guide on making passive income with AirBnB.

Passive Income eCommerce Guide

4. YouTube

If you are looking for a passive income stream without the need to invest a lot of money, you could consider sharing video content on YouTube. YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google and is a popular way for people to make money online without having to spend much initially. You really can create YouTube videos with just a smartphone and some good content! That’s what we do on Beginners Passive Income. You simply open an account, post content and build a following. Once you get to one thousand followers and 4k hours of watch time in the last 365 days, your channel can be submitted to be reviewed for monetization by the YouTube team. If it is accepted, you can have ads placed on your videos to make passive income.

YouTube pays monetized accounts for adverts that run on their pages. You can also monetize your channel by affiliate marketing, selling digital and physical products, with endorsements, sponsorships, memberships and more. All you need is an internet connection, a smartphone, a computer, excellent content, and a lot of motivation. Making and running a monetized YouTube account will take time and effort. So don’t expect to start earning right away. Earning income from YouTube is very passive once you are monetized, but the level of passiveness will depend on your niche choice and how engaged you choose to be with your audience. Check out our YouTube for passive income guide if you would like to learn more.

Passive Income YouTubing Guide

5. Renting Your Things

This idea is great for anyone who has things lying around their home that they do not use and have no money to invest. You can start earning passive income by renting out your things. It is an easy and simple way to make money without much to start with. You can rent out stuff such as cameras, drones, bikes, sports equipment, scooters, musical instruments, electronics and more. For a small fee, people will readily trade cash to borrow items that you do not use and that they need.

If you are looking to rent out some of your items, you can start by using peer-to-peer platforms such as FatLama to help you meet new clients. Some platforms provide loss, theft, and damage insurance. Some platforms are very specific about the items that they accept so it is important to do some research before choosing where to rent your products online. Once you are ready, you can sign up, create listings of the items available for rent, and start managing your rentals. Renting out your stuff can make a good side hustle, especially when you have a lot of things that you don’t use often and that people need. Make it more passive by using lockboxes in dedicated spaces for pickup (like an empty garage). Renting your things is a good way to make a passive income without investing much. For more on this, check out our guide on making passive income renting your things.

Passive Income Renting Your Things Guide

6. Advertise With Your Car

If you have a car that is costing you money every month, you might find this passive income idea to be very appealing. You can use your car as an advertising space for different products for a commission provided by advertising companies. Some platforms allow you to get in touch with companies that want to place advertising on cars, but first, you need to have a car, an active license, be an active driver, have insurance and meet other requirements (you will find this information in the company’s policy agreement).

You can approach a company of your choice and register for the service, however, some companies may require additional information including mileage, routes, location, and GPS tracking. Some may pay standard fees instead of commissions. You should carefully do your research on the company you would like to work with before you register. This passive income idea can make an excellent source of income, especially if you are searching for something that does not require a financial investment and if you drive around a lot. Advertising on your car is a highly passive means of generating income. For more info on this topic just check out our guide.

Passive Income Renting Your Things Guide

7. Ride Sharing

If you have a car and love driving, you might find this passive income idea appealing. Ridesharing can be a very lucrative passive income idea, you can make more than $1000 passive income (source ) by participating in ride-sharing activities around your location. You can source for clients using your smartphone, for instance, people use uber services every day. As an Uber driver, you can make quite a good sum of money by taking your clients to their destinations, but first, you have to register on the platform.

Uber and other platforms have a set of requirements that all potential users have to follow, you may also be required to provide some background information. Once you fulfill these requirements you can simply sign up and open an account with the platform. When your account is ready, you can start driving passengers around. With more passengers, you can make more money. Ridesharing is a highly passive means of making money, as long as you have a car, you can make passive income for a long time. You don’t need to put in a lot of investment either, as long as you can cater to your fuel and other expenses you are good to go. If you want to know more, check out our ridesharing guide.

Passive Income Ride Sharing Guide

8. Data Entry & Extraction [Automated]

If you like to use Excel or have experience with data entry or extraction this idea may be for you. Automated data entry and extraction is an awesome source of passive income, especially when you do not have money to invest because many companies need this. For instance, instead of manually copying and pasting data to an Excel spreadsheet, you can use tools like macros, scripts, API and integrations to automate the process and make it more passive. Consider which types of companies you would like to enter or extract data for, before getting started.

Once your decision is set, you should make sure to have the necessary software you will need. Excel is very common, you could also use Zapier to make connections between apps if you do not have coding skills. You should also set up a billing, payment system that enables you to be paid for your work. If you have an interest in computer software and data, you may find this passive income idea very appealing. For more details on data extraction or entry as a passive income idea, check out our guide.

Passive Income Data Entry Guide

9. Flip Items on Craigslist

Flipping items on craigslist can be a good source of passive income. If you are looking for a quick passive income source, or you don’t have much of an investment to start with, using online platforms such as Craigslist is a good place to start. As a beginner, you might soon find out that flipping items online is not as straightforward as it sounds. You have to look for the right product to flip otherwise you may have products taking forever before finding a buyer.

You can also consider improving your product including, cleaning, repairs, posting better photos, etc. You can also create a compelling product description to make it more appealing to your target customers. Once your item is ready, set your price, post it on Craigslist, and wait. Interact with your buyer as soon as they show interest or else they may move elsewhere. Be on a constant lookout form scams, lies and people asking to meet up in sketchy places. This is more of a side hustle than a passive income stream. For more information on how to flip items online, check out our guide.

Passive Income Flipping Items on Craigslist Guide

10. Discount & Reward Programs

Discount and reward programs are a good way to save money and sometimes even earn some side income without having to invest (as long as you maintain your regular spending habits). In most cases, rewards may include rebates, lower-costing travel, special treatments, discounts, and special offers. Loyal customers regularly earn discounts on products and services from their favorite stores. Some businesses might offer reward programs as payment for customer loyalty and support. You also accumulate points after each purchase, simply sign up for a program of your choice, make purchases and redeem your rewards once you reach your threshold.

Once your points are above the threshold you can redeem them for cash or a product with the same value. You can get the products you need at reduced prices with points or discounts. Still, it is very important to ensure that you keep your spending within your budget and do not purchase products you do not need or it will be counterproductive. Despite having to spend to earn, reward programs can make for a good source of passive income, including spending less on products you need. For more information on this check out our guide.

Passive Income Discount & Reward Programs Guide

Related Questions

How can I boost my income? You can boost your passive income by combining two or more ideas. Most of these ideas are highly passive and require little financial investment. For example, if you are a freelance writer who travels a lot, you can rent your house, car, and personal things. So long as you can do it, combining ideas is a great way of increasing your passive income streams.

Can you make a passive income without a startup? You can make a passive income from low start-up ideas, such as flipping items online, Airbnb, renting your things and others. Most passive income ideas require additional time and monetary investment, including buying equipment. How much you spend will depend on your specific needs and planned-for budget.

How many ways are there of making passive income? You can earn income passively in numerous ways. Base your passive income idea on your interests or a niche you are passionate about to stay motivated. Some passive income streams are more demanding in time or financial investments than others so carry out your own due diligence before getting started.

See More Passive Income Ideas