Sep 9, 2026

4 Passive Income Streams You Can Start With Just $20

Written by Rafaela Stalbalk Klose
|
Edited by Rebekah Evans
4 Passive Income Streams You Can Start With Just $20

Building a portfolio of passive income streams can be a great way to build financial security. Contrary to popular belief, getting started doesn’t necessarily require much money. With as little as $20 and some research, it’s possible to start putting money to work and earning passive income.

Here are four passive income ideas you can start with just $20.

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Investing in real estate has historically required a lot of money, but fractional real estate investing has made it more accessible. It allows investors to put money into real estate without having to buy a property outright. Platforms such as Fundrise give individuals access to real estate investments with a minimum initial investment of just $10.

With a small amount invested, any income generated is likely to be modest and returns are not guaranteed. The advantage is that investors can start building a real estate investment without first saving enough for a down payment or taking on the responsibilities of becoming a landlord. Fundrise also offers automatic recurring investments, making it possible to gradually add to the investment over time.

For the creatively inclined, selling digital products is a powerful option that can start for almost nothing. Digital products, such as e-books, planners and templates, can be created once and sold repeatedly without having to produce or ship a physical item. Platforms such as Etsy and Gumroad allow creators to sell digital products, while Canva offers a free plan that can be used to create designs.

Etsy currently charges 20 cents per listing, although additional seller and setup fees can apply.

Creating the product requires work upfront, but once it is listed, the same file can be sold to multiple customers with relatively little additional work. That is what makes the model interesting: the tenth customer can buy the same file as the first without another product having to be manufactured. The key is creating something that solves a specific problem, whether that is a budget spreadsheet, wedding planner or social media template.

Selling T-shirts, mugs and tote bags does not necessarily mean buying inventory or shipping products. With print-on-demand, an item is only produced after a customer places an order. Printful, for example, is free to start using, with no setup fees or order minimums. Sellers pay Printful when an order is placed rather than purchasing inventory in advance. That means money can go toward creating or promoting designs instead of stocking merchandise that may never sell.

The work comes from finding a niche and attracting customers, but once a design is uploaded, it can continue generating sales without the creator ever handling the physical product. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, a targeted design can help reach a specific audience, such as people connected by a profession, hobby, city or interest. More importantly, print-on-demand allows sellers to find out whether people actually want a design before investing in physical inventory.

An empty driveway, garage corner or storage area could be worth more than it seems. Platforms such as Neighbor.com allow people to rent out unused spaces, including garages, sheds and driveways, for storage or parking. Listing a space is free and hosts can set their own price and availability.

Unlike the other ideas on this list, there may be nothing new to buy or create because the income-producing asset already exists. An unused driveway, garage or other space could potentially generate income instead of sitting empty. Before listing, however, hosts should make sure they have the legal right to rent out the space and check any applicable local rules, lease terms or other restrictions.

Neighbor.com requires hosts to own the space or have legal permission from the owner to rent it. For someone with usable space, the passive income opportunity may already be sitting at home.

This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.

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Written by
Rafaela Stalbalk Klose
Edited by
Rebekah Evans