Passive Income Ideas: 14 Ways to Make Money While You Sleep

Last Updated on – Jul 19, 2023 @ 8:42 pm

Earning money while you sleep. That’s the DREAM, right?

Too good to be true? You better believe it. Just ask the people around you who achieved financial freedom through grit and improving their financial IQ. Who are they?

It’s your neighbor who started selling homemade siomai 5 years ago and now have kiosks in Trinoma. It’s your colleague who funded his kid’s insurance by hawking chicharon at work. Your aunt who leases her backyard for parking space. Your lola who bought a piece of land in Mindoro to lease to farmers and fishermen.

These folks have it all figured out.

They are the John and Jane Doe’s of the world who can confidently say they can quit their jobs today and still have income to support their needs and then some.

Forget about counting sheep. This list can earn you money even while you sleep.

What is Passive Income?

Passive income is earnings generated through investments in which the investor is not actively involved – such as income derived from rental property, limited partnership, or other ventures that require minimal supervision and/or effort.

Scratch the technical terms. Here’s our version:

“Earnings derived in which a person is not actively involved.”

There, much better.

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Types of Passive Income

In general, Passive income can be categorized into 3 types.

Investment

Allocating money or capital into a business or an investment vehicle for the purpose of future potential earnings. A great example of this are dividend-earning stocks.

Shareholders get paid from the profits earned by the positive performance of their investment picks.

Related: 11 best investments for Filipino Millennials

Rental

Earnings or payments obtained from leasing a piece of property. It’s important to identify early the following key metrics in order to gauge if renting out properties will be a profitable venture for you.

1. Estimated ROI
2. Costs, time, and effort for maintaining property
3. Potential financial risks of owning rental properties

Being realistic and clear on your rates and earnings targets are crucial to the success of your rental venture.

Online

With businesses and consumers flocking the internet by the billions everyday, it’s hard to pass up on the earning opportunities available online.

From Affiliate marketing to drop shipping, selling e-books, online courses and others, the internet offers a trove of business opportunities for your taking.

Granted, most are not “as passive” when compared to the first two. Still, the potential is too great to ignore and there’s a high chance of making money from something you are passionate about.

Once running, you can automate some tasks to make it more passive either through using dedicated services or outsourcing.

Check out this guide as well: 20 high paying home-based jobs in the Philippines

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14 Passive Income Ideas in the Philippines

Here are 14 of the best sources for passive income in the Philippines:

1. Rental Properties

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A Filipino investment vehicle favorite. My grandmother built and leased apartment units as her main source of income. And it worked damn well.

Nowadays, you will see folks buying condominium units and then leasing them for rent income. You’ve probably heard of AirBnB, which is an online service that allows property owners to rent out units for a specified time.

It’s steadily gaining usage locally because it’s relatively cheaper versus staying at a hotel.

Did you know: You can also invest in hotel rooms & units for passive income in the Philippines

Most folks, when the discussion of rental property comes up, dismiss it prematurely. Why? They think that it’s only for individuals who have large pools of capital.

Absolutely false.

Ever noticed those meat and fish stalls at your local wet market? You can own one and then rent it out to sellers.

WIll you need millions?

No.

How about that extra space within your home’s garage? If you’re living near a high-foot traffic area, you can rent it out to a food cart owner. It’s not always about shelling out tons of money.

Sometimes, it’s about being resourceful and finding solutions to another person’s problems.

Others go the commercial route and rent out to businesses. From your favorite fast food chain to niche stores, renting out commercial space can be a highly lucrative business.

Others cater to a specific market, like freelancers and remote teams. Co-working spaces offer these individuals a place to work with all the amenities of a normal office and even more.

When deciding on a rental venture, several factors should be taken into consideration:

• Available capital
• ROI
• Time and Effort
• Projected rental earnings
• Location
• Estimated total expenses
• Appreciation of rental property
• Your ideal/target tenant

Rent Out Ad Space

Brands and companies never run out of ideas for promoting their businesses. And choosing an avenue to promote it is crucial to the success of their ad campaign.

These can range from the typical billboard ad to lighted sign boards propped on top of taxis. Online, you can post banner ads on your website and put affiliate links for commission.

You can create a YouTube channel and then promote the actual product in your videos or post product page links on the description. And you can also rent out Facebook Fan Pages (for sponsored posts), especially if you own a page that has strong engagement with its audience/community.

If you have a physical or online space that’s feasible for ad placement, contact advertisers or look for takers online. It’s a truly passive way of earning money with minimal investment.

I remember years ago when one of the members of an FB group I joined talked about how he got offered a deal by a popular local car accessories store. In exchange for monthly discounts and freebies, he agreed to placing the store’s name and emblem on his car (via car wrap sticker). So pull out your thinking hats and get creative! Who knows, you might just land a sweet deal.

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2. Fixed Income Securities

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What is Fixed Income Security?

Put simply, it’s a type of investment that pays the investor a fixed amount of interest at a regular schedule.

Let’s say you are thinking of starting a small business and need the capital to get started. Your friend agrees to lend you the amount as long as you’ll also pay him a certain amount of interest (called coupons) on a quarterly basis (on top of the actual borrowed amount, which is called Face value).

This is essentially how fixed income securities work.

Types of Fixed Income Securities

There are several types of fixed income securities available which mainly vary according to their term length (how long the contract is). 

1. Treasury Bills (T-Bills)

Treasury Bills (“T-bills”) are short-term secure investments issued by the Philippine government through the Bureau of Treasury (BTr).

The most common tenors (length of maturity) for T-bills are 91 days, 181 days, and 364 days.

These are sold at a discount from their face value but the investor will get the full amount upon maturity (works like a zero-coupon bond)

2. Treasury Notes (T-Notes)

It comes in maturities of between two and 10 years and pays a fixed interest rate. At the end of the maturity, investors are repaid the principal but also earn semi-annual payments of interest each year they hold the note.

3. Treasury Bonds (T-Bonds)

 Bonds that have tenors of more than 1 year. The most common maturity lengths for T-bonds are 2-year, 5-year, 7-year, 10-year, 20-year, and 30-year bonds.

4. Retail Treasury Bond (RTBs)

Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs) are medium to long-term investments issued by the Philippine government with the goal of making securities available to smaller investors.

5. Corporate Bonds

Bonds issued by public and private companies. They feature potentially higher returns vs gov’t-issued banks and highly liquid though at the cost of being more risky compared to gov’t issued bonds. 

6. Dollar Sovereign Bonds

Dollar Sovereign Bonds are medium to long-term investments issued by governments denominated in US Dollars.

7. Dollar Corporate Bonds

Dollar Corporate Bonds are medium to long-term investments issued by corporations denominated in US Dollars.

8. Certificate of Deposit

A certificate of deposit (CD) is a fixed income investment that are offered by financial institutions like banks. These typically have maturities of less than five years.

9. LTNCD

LTNCD stands for long term negotiable certificate of deposit. The typical minimum investment term is 5 years.

It’s liquid and tradeable in a secondary market prior to maturity. You’ll be paid with a certain interest rate at a schedule in exchange for holding it until it matures.

Related: Income Investing: 13 Best Income Generating Assets

Pros & Cons of Fixed Income Securities

Pros:

• Can provide a steady stream of income
• Provides more stability than stocks
• In the event of a bankruptcy, they offer higher claim for assets
• Are mainly backed/guaranteed by the government

Cons:

• Due to its relatively safer risk value, the returns tend to be lower than other types of investments
• Money is locked in for a certain amount of time
• Can be susceptible to interest rate risk

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3. Build or Buy Websites

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There are several ways how a website can earn money. Here are the top 3.

• Advertising – Earn money through payments from Google and advertisers by posting their ads on your website (via Google Adsense).
• E-Commerce – Earn money by selling products or services (or through dropshipping – selling products without the need of having inventory).
• Affiliate Marketing – Earn commissions and referral money by putting product links (example, link of a product page on Amazon.com) on your website.

Now that you know how a website generates revenue, it’s time to ask, “Build or Buy?”

Should you wish to build it yourself, I highly recommend checking out this guide for a primer.

But what about those who don’t have the chops or time to start from scratch?

Online services like Flippa.com and Empireflippers.com serve as marketplaces for those looking to buy or sell a website.

Why do it?

Like buying and selling physical businesses, there are several ways to make profit from applying the same concept for websites.

Let’s start with a simple analogy, a fishball stand. Let’s say the proprietor no longer wants to sell fish balls due to personal reasons. He offers to sell it to you.

You ask him about the details: how much is spent on raw fish balls, where he gets them, how much is the markup for each one sold, how much is the net earnings in a day, what time of the day it sells fastest, and more.

After carefully analyzing all data, you decide it was a feasible venture. You buy the business from him, hire someone to man the stall and voila, you now have cash flow. After a few months, you realize that while the earnings are decent, managing the whole thing takes more time and effort than you’re willing to give. So you decide to sell it.

In the same vein, buying a website either for the purpose of running it or making income then later selling it are both possible online.

Building, buying or selling a website are legit ways to earn money.

No matter which route you take, do your due diligence. Be extra careful when buying websites as there are plenty of scams out there.

Take the time to know more about the whole process. Check out forums, read guides and real-world examples, review rating and feedback, and know how to properly scrutinize a website being sold.

There’s a learning curve to these things and if you put in the time and effort you might just score a nice passive income source.

Learn More: 6 Proven Ways to Make Money Online in the Philippines

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4. P2P Lending or Microlending

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What’s P2P Lending?

Wikipedia offers an excellent explanation:

“Peer to Peer or P2P Lending is the practice of lending money to individuals or businesses through online services that match lenders with borrowers.”

Why lend money via P2P? Simple–P2P lending services that operate online, like Blend PH, FundKo, and Lendingclub.com, run at lower overhead costs versus traditional sources, like banks.

This allows them to offer higher returns to their lenders and lower interest rates for their borrowers. They serve as the middle man for pooling money from different lenders and connects them with borrowers. As an investor, there are several reasons why this looks promising:

• Potential higher ROI on your money versus keeping it in banks
• Simple process
• You can automate it then treat is as passive investment
• You get to help people in need

As with most ideas on our list, there is risk involved.

Mainly, the borrowers not being able to pay the money they borrowed. Make use of the tools and advice that these services offer to develop your strategy through risk assessment.

You can choose to lend all your money to one person or spread it among several borrowers, similar to picking stocks. This provides some flexibility on how your money gets managed.

What is Microlending?

Microlending or Microfinancing was originally designed as a financing system geared towards offering loans to small businesses and financially challenged individuals.

In this set up, loans are usually distributed among borrowers, vouching for each other through a co-signer system which lessens the risk of a default.

Unlike P2P, you won’t be pooling your resources with other investors in Microlending. Also, loans in Microlending in general are taken for kickstarting small businesses versus personal needs.

As the owner of a Microlending business, you’ll assume the full risk versus P2P’s structure where the risk is distributed among the lenders.

Still, it’s a viable passive income option through interest gain if you have enough resources and a strong community or group system supporting your endeavor.

Read Next: Top Online Lending Platforms and Banks to Get Online Cash Loans

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5. Dividend investing: Buy dividend stocks

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With this strategy, your goal is to pick and invest in stocks that yield dividends. Dividends are money that shareholders (you) receive from the company for investing in them.

Think of it like a little cash reward.

There are potential gains involved if you choose to reinvest dividends over the years. Compound interest works wonders which can result to you ending up with more shares.

More shares = more money.

Through reinvesting, you’ll have a larger pool of capital in the future which can be a whole lot profitable than to simply cash in the money when dividends are released.

One thing to note though is that you may require a considerable amount (read: a lot) of funds to get worthwhile results from dividend investing.

If a dividend yields only 2-3% then you should not expect it to provide you with meaningful recurring income if your capital is relatively small. Best to look at it as another tool for building up your money for the future.

Useful resources:

• The definitive guide to stock trading and investing in the Philippines
• List of dividend stocks in PSE
• Where to buy stocks in the Philippines: COL Financial and FirstMetroSec

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6. Crowdfunded Real Estate & REIT

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What is Crowdfunded Real Estate?

Similar to P2P’s concept, Crowdfunded Real Estate allows for the pooling of money from different investors and then using that money either to buy or improve real estate properties. Like P2P, your gains will come from the interest on the money that you have lent.

We all know that real estate investing requires a ton of capital. Through Crowdfunded Real Estate, however, you can get good returns on your capital than to simply have it sit at the bank.

Not all investments are guaranteed winners though, so your due diligence is required here before you put in any money.

What is Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT)?

Real Estate Investment Trusts or REIT, on the other hand, is a company that invests in real estate. They finance and operate real estate properties and even own them.

The idea is to open the gates to real estate investing to common folks by allowing them to invest in its portfolios. It’s similar to how Mutual Funds work. If you’re a REIT shareholder, you can earn the share of the earnings produced of these real estate investments.

This means you get to invest in real estate without the hassles of owning a physical property. Everything will be managed through the REIT.

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7. High Yield Savings Accounts

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Putting money in the bank is perhaps the easiest way of saving and growing it.

Note though that “grow” might not be the best word to use if we’re discussing actual performance. Let’s face it, banks in general yield less-than-satisfying output for you money.

What to do?

Answer: Research.

Before putting your hard-earned money in the bank, it’s a good idea to exert effort in finding which one suits you best not only in terms of convenience but also based on interest rates.

Sure, the difference among their interest rates might be small. I would argue though that these “small” differences matter when your money starts to grow. It could mean the difference of netting several thousands of pesos more on your money after one year.

And since we’re talking about banks, this is quite a considerable sum.

Check out their websites, ask for brochures, talk to reps, and compare their packages. It’s an easy way to ensure better returns for your money.

Here’s a great rundown of the best savings account options in the Philippines.

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8. Cryptocurrency Mining

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We first discussed about Cryptocurrencies in this article and discussed some of our picks for 2018 here. If you’re not familiar with Cryptocurrency, Bitcoins and Altcoins, we suggest reading these articles first to acquaint yourself with the whole thing and how it works.

What is Cryptocurrency Mining?

To earn these cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Altcoins, you lend your computer’s processing power. This process is known as “mining”. You essentially get paid with cryptocurrency for doing this which you then store in a digital wallet for sending and receiving it.

While Bitcoin today is almost impossible to mine using regular computers, you can still mine Altcoins using services such as NiceHash. Then convert (or exchange) them to Bitcoin through popular and highly-secured cryptocurrency exchange platforms (ie: Poloniex and Binance).

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Before anything else, it’s important to set proper expectations regarding what you can get from Cryptomining.

With countries like China operating dedicated centers with ultra-powerful mining computers, a novice miner simply can’t compete using consumer-grade equipment. It’s probably best to look at mining as “trickle income” rather than a steady cash flow stream.

Nowadays, it seems to make more sense to look at it from a hobbyist standpoint versus that of a serious enthusiast. This is because of the significant financial investment required to do some hardcore mining.

Aside from due diligence to researching and deciding which coin to mine, you may need to shell out some cash to buy the gear (rig) to get you started. Here’s what you’ll need.

• Custom Desktop PC (specced for mining)
• Good internet connection
• Mining Software (free or paid)
• Coin Wallet
• Membership in a “Mining pool” (community of miners) and online currency exchange (for exchanging your crytocoins for real cash or vice versa)

Electricity also plays a big role in this as mining consumes a lot of power.

Essentially, the more hashing power you can lend to the network, the more money you can earn. But building a powerful mining rig (or farm) could also be an expensive endeavor (cheapest one can cost around P80,000).

Keys to succeed in this form of investment:

• Invest in cryptocurrencies and technologies you truly believe in (or you would personally use).
• Don’t just believe what we’re saying here. Do your own research!
• You can use mining profitability calculators from CryptoCompare and What to Mine to assess your potential investment’s feasibility – and to also determine the type of rig you’ll need to build to achieve your target profit.

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9. Masternodes

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Not keen on mining? No problem, if you’re a Cryptocurrency veteran and owns a significant stash of coins, perhaps Masternodes are more suitable for your taste.

What are Masternodes?

A Masternode is essentially a server within a decentralized network. It can perform more advanced functions compared to regular nodes (Node = a computer connected to a cryptocurrency network).

If you think about it, this concept is similar to a regular network of computers, where the Masternode is the server and the nodes are clients.

Masternodes are needed in order to perform specific tasks that utilize the blockchain process. And since they require more resources to set up, owners are paid for “leasing” their Masternodes.

As we’ve discussed in this article, there are more than a thousand altcoins available. Masternode operators get rewarded depending on how a coin’s network operates. Some get paid once a day while some receive multiple payouts.

Here are the basic steps to become a Masternode operator:

1. Lock a significant amount of coins in a crypto wallet. The minimum varies depending on the cryptocurrency.
2. Set a storage space to house the blockchain.
3. Setup a server and dedicated IP to host the wallet 24/7

By keeping a certain amount (and locking it in within the network), you get rewarded and paid by the network (on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis).

For instance, DASH – one of the most popular cryptocurrencies today, pays their holders $2,340 (or P121,780) every month, for keeping 1,000 DASH in their wallets (that you can withdraw or use any time).

Where to find Masternode Coins:

• Masternodes Online
• Masternodes Pro
• Invest it in  
• StakingLab

Note: There are a lot of cheaper masternode coins that you can buy in bulk and earn a ton from every month (ie: Solarium – which is currently priced at $0.3 per coin, and pays out holders – with at least 5,000 SLRC – $7,000/month).

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10. Stake Cryptocurrencies

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If you’re interested in earning money through cryptocurrency, you’ve probably heard about staking. For millions of investors and traders, staking allows them to earn a significant amount of money by holding cryptocurrencies.

As of the 2nd quarter of 2021¹, there is a staggering $171 billion worth of assets that are locked for staking purposes. 

Before you try it, it’s important to understand how it works. 

What is Staking? 

Blockchains are databases where transactions are stored with no central authority that maintains them. Proof of Stake is a way to validate transactions by committing cryptocurrency assets in a blockchain network.

How it works

If you’re familiar with Bitcoin, you probably know about Proof of Work. Blockchains that use this strategy rely on powerful computers that compete to solve complex puzzles.

However, this is very expensive because it requires hardware. Aside from not being accessible to everyone, one criticism of Proof of Work is the environmental impact it poses.

Enter staking – a new model that does not need much energy.  

Cryptocurrencies use staking to add transactions to blockchains. The idea behind Proof of Stake is participants can lock their stake or coins at certain intervals.

Then, the protocol randomly assigns the right to validate the next block on one of the coins. The more coins you have locked up, the more chances you have to get chosen.

When a block is added to the blockchain, new coins are minted and distributed as rewards to the validator.

These rewards are usually the same cryptocurrency staked by the participants, but they can also be a different cryptocurrency. 

What Cryptocurrencies can you stake?

Here are the top cryptocurrencies you can stake.

Cardano

Ouroboros is the proof of stake algorithm used by Cardano. It divides time into epochs that have 21,600 slots, which are short periods that usually last 20 seconds. During this time, a block is created.

The epochs are led by slot leaders that create and confirm the blocks. The transactions created by slot leaders are approved by input endorsers who are chosen based on stakes. The reward in participating in the blockchain is split between the input endorsers, slot leaders, and multiparty computation stakeholders.

Algorand

Although this cryptocurrency was founded in 2017, its blockchain did not go live until 2019. It functions through proof of stake and supports up to a thousand transactions per second.

Its blockchain employs participant nodes, and relay nodes. To create a block, 1,000 participant nodes are chosen and one will be selected to add its block to the blockchain.

Polkadot

The network of Polkadot blockchain involves a Relay chain that has several parts called bridges and parachains.

For its governance system, it follows a method called Referenda, and the voting system engages the community by granting DOT holders voting rights.

To become a voter, you must lock your coins for the enactment delay period beyond the referendum’s end. You can also vote without locking, but the value will be reduced.

Tezos

Here, staking is called baking. For a block to be created, 32 endorsers and one baker are needed and they will receive 16 XTZ for completing the task.

Then, endorsers are chosen to verify if a block was baked correctly, and each one gets 2 XTZ.

Mina

Mina follows a system that takes snapshots of transactions in the blockchain to track its evolution, so it contains a set of photos.

It works through the help of verifiers who act similar to the nodes on bitcoin, the block producers whose function is similar to miners that earn block rewards, and snarkers who take snapshots of transactions.

Snarkers are paid by block producers.

Ethereum 2.0

To stake on Ethereum 2.0, you need to lock up a set amount of ETH for a certain period.

People who stake are tasked to process transactions, store information, and add new blocks to the Beacon chain.

As a reward, they earn interest in the coins they have staked.  

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This Korean blockchain project offers staking on its native cryptocurrency. However, it uses a delegated proof of state consensus algorithm, which makes it different from Tezos, Algorand, and other cryptocurrencies.

This model means selected users find new blocks and verify the transactions, while others delegate coins to these entities.

Where can you stake cryptocurrencies? 

There are many platforms that allow their users to stake. These include:

• Binance
• Kraken
• Coinbase
• Bitfinex
• KuCoin
• Okcoin
• OKEx
• Ledger
• TrustWallet

The difference in staking in the platforms mentioned above are the fees, cryptocurrencies that are available for staking, and the locking period.

For example, staking is easy to do on platforms like Kraken since it’s already on the main menu. On Binance, it’s listed under “Earn,” together with lending, and other ways to earn passive income in crypto.

Another way to stake cryptocurrency is to delegate your coins to a validator that already has the appropriate setup. These people will do the hard work to maintain the node for you in exchange for a commission.

The different Staking as a Service or SaaS platforms include:

• Stake.Fish
• Figment Network
• Staked
• MyCointainer
• Stake Capital
• Staking Facilities
• Stakewith.us
• Dokia Capital
• Stakinglab

How much can you earn from staking cryptocurrencies?

The earning potential in staking can be generous. For example, the current annual yield in Algorand is 5% to 6%. For Tezos, the annual yield of 6%, and for Mina, it is 12% of your locked coins. Polkadot offers one of the highest staking reward rates at 10%.

How much do you need to stake cryptocurrencies? 

Most PoS networks require a minimum number of coins to stake. For example, Tezos requires 10,000 XTZ. For Ethereum 2.0, you need at least 32 ETH.

However, there are coins such as ADA and ATOM that have no required minimum.

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11: Royalties

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Artwork & Photographs

Got good eye in taking photos? Instead of locking them up in your hard drive, why not earn from it?

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to sell your photos. Online services like Shutterstock and iStock allows you to upload your photos and get paid in royalties for each download.

Related: How to Invest in Art in the Philippines

Audio & Sound Effects

The same can be done with audio. By licensing your music, you can upload it to online services (like Spotify) and get paid whenever it gets listened to or downloaded.

As for sound effects, you can sell your premium copies to sites like Pond5.

Video Footage

Pond5 also allows video content creators to earn money from their works by making it available to filmmakers, as well as digital & traditional advertising agencies looking for footages they can use.

You can also sign up at Patreon to sell your work to monthly paid subscribers, whether you’re creating music, videos, games, written stories, podcasts, animation, paintings, and even comics.

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12. Sell Digital Products

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An online product or service that others find valuable can be a source of income for its creator. If you have some background in programming, you can make an app for addressing something that have always bothered you or find inconvenient.

Chances are, you’re not the only one and creating an app that solves this problem can be a great way to earn and help at the same time.  

If you want to discuss or share your knowledge about something you are passionate about, why not create an eBook or Audiobook about it? You can sell it on your website (or on Amazon) and earn from each download.

Online courses offered by Udemy is a framework for selling services. You can sign up for sites that serve as a platform for teaching then create video tutorials discussing topics you know a lot about. If you have background in website design, you can create WordPress templates and sell it to newbie site owners.

There’s a lot of options here. The key is to find your niche and create a valuable product or service that people will actually use.

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13. Become a Silent Business Partner or Buy an Existing Business

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Simply put, you’ll invest money into a business venture but will not be participating in its day-to-day operations. This reduced responsibility provides a passive income avenue since you generally just need to help in funding the business.

This does not mean that you are safe from any financial risks, however. It’s advisable to have an official agreement or contract with your business partner to set clear terms and agreement on the partnership.

Buying an Existing Business

You can also choose the other route wherein you can buy an already established business that has its own process in place and has a proven history of making profits.

Places where you can find businesses for sale:

• OLX
• LinkBusiness
• BusinessForSale.com

However, it’s crucial to understand how the business works, because you always have to expect for the worse to happen when you have your own business.   

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14. Low Maintenance Business Ideas & Outsourcing

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OK, this one’s not entirely passive and may require a lot of work at the start. But when set up correctly, it can provide a good source of income with minimal activity on your end.

Vending machines is one example.

Types may range from coffee dispensers to charging stations. Once up and running, you just need to schedule its maintenance and restocking depending on the machine.

If you think about it, you can apply this same low-maintenance framework even to regular business ideas. How?

Through Outsourcing or Drop Servicing.

By hiring contractors to do the bulk of the operations, you free yourself from the time and energy required from running your own business on a daily basis.

Yes, it can still be a hassle hiring and managing contractors. But if you figure this part out and build a solid team, they can run on autopilot and you’ll only need to check the reports and conduct regular meetings to set goals and review performance.

And by “contractors” I do not necessarily mean groups of people to run the business. It can be as simple as hiring a building manager for rent collection and other tasks.

Hiring your neighbor to make sure your three vending machines are working properly and well maintained. These are simple examples but I know you get my point.

Read Next: Complete Guide to Business Process Outsourcing to the Philippines

Business Franchising 

Putting your money into an established franchise business could also be a great source of passive income. Seeing that this type of investment offers a built-in process, wherein and they will mostly help you out in getting started and in its inner workings – even in finding a good location for your business. This allows you to have more free time as an owner.

Referral Source or Lead Generation

A lead is information on an individual. How can you earn from it? Through referrals.

Ever recommended someone to your company’s HR for a job position? That’s basically how this works. Most companies give out incentives to the employee who referred someone successfully.

You get to earn just by simply referring someone.

Online, the same core principle applies. Let’s say you have a website about dogs that have a strong local following. As a dog owner yourself, you know of a great pet grooming store and visit their shop regularly.

You can pitch to the owner to exclusively promote their store in your website. Or you can ask your website visitors to sign up to your newsletter (where you can send out recommendations on good pet products or stores) so you can gather their contact info upon signing up.

Using this info, you can generate leads on people who are pet owners that the store you tied up with can use for targeted marketing.

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Passive Income FAQs

Is passive income really “passive”?

In a way, yes. However, a lot of time, capital, and energy is needed to initially set up your business/investment and you need to regularly monitor it to make sure it’s still running well.

How much passive income can I expect to make in the Philippines?

How much you can earn depends on what you want to do and how much capital you want to put in. Most people earn P10,000 to six or seven-digit figures through their passive income.

That said, some forms of passive income in the Philippines like rentals can give you a lot of money but it also requires a huge upfront investment. Meanwhile, other passive income methods like selling digital products heavily rely on marketing. 

Are there any risks associated with passive income?

Yes. There are certain forms of investment that can go south if you’re not careful. You’ll need to always weigh the pros and cons of your decisions and do adequate research before investing your money.

For example, if you decide to have rental properties, you might face additional costs due to property maintenance.

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Parting Words

We hope you found this guide useful.

Passive income can be major game changer for everyone. From funding your dream vacation to preparing for your kid’s college, saving for retirement to saving up capital for that business you’ve been planning for years.

As always, do your due diligence before venturing on any business idea.

The key is to be well-informed and minimize risks whenever you can. Goodluck!

Other Useful Resources: 

• 12 Ways to Become Rich in the Philippines
• 10 Ways to Make Your First Million
• 38 Unique Passive Income Ideas – by Peso Hacks
• 11 Money Mistakes Filipinos Make

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