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I tested 100 passive income ideas to find out what’s actually worth building. Here’s what worked (and what didn’t).
r/SideProject
5/17/2025
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notion | https://www.notion.so | Productivity | Template creation and sharing |
| Gumroad | https://gumroad.com | E-commerce | Digital product sales |
| YouTube | https://www.youtube.com | Video Platform | Faceless channel monetization |
| ChatGPT | https://chat.openai.com | AI Writing | Content generation |
| NeuronWriter | https://neuronwriter.com | SEO | Content optimization |
| Printify | https://www.printify.com | Print-on-Demand | Product creation and fulfillment |
| Etsy | https://www.etsy.com | E-commerce | Handmade/vintage items |
| Ko-fi | https://ko-fi.com | Creator Platform | Fan funding |
| TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com | Social Media | Short video sharing |
| ElevenLabs | https://elevenlabs.io | AI Voice | Text-to-speech generation |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Many passive income ideas are too vague or require significant time investment
- Difficulty finding low-effort, high-return income streams
- Need for clear validation methods for new business ideas
Problems to Solve:
- Creating sustainable passive income streams
- Validating business ideas with minimal upfront investment
- Finding effective marketing channels for digital products
Potential Solutions:
- Using micro-niche targeting for better product-market fit
- Leveraging AI tools for content creation and optimization
- Testing multiple income streams simultaneously
- Building semi-passive income sources that require minimal maintenance
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Testing multiple income streams simultaneously
- Validating ideas with low-cost, small-scale experiments
- Focusing on micro-niches for better product-market fit
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Using Reddit and Twitter for organic promotion
- Leveraging SEO for long-term traffic generation
- Building faceless YouTube channels for passive video monetization
Monetization & Product:
- Creating digital products that require minimal maintenance
- Using affiliate marketing for additional revenue streams
- Testing print-on-demand products for semi-passive income
User Engagement:
- Building communities around specific niches
- Providing value through helpful content and resources
- Engaging with potential customers through social media