5 Passive Income Ideas for Coders: How to Monetize Your Skills and Create Recurring Revenue

If you’re a coder, you know how valuable your skills are. However, did you know that you can turn your skills into a source of passive income? 

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned developer or a beginner, there are a number of ways to monetize your skills and create recurring revenue.

In this post, we’ll discuss 5 passive income ideas for coders that can help you earn money even when you’re not actively working. 

Sell Code Templates Online 

You can monetize your standalone projects, web designs, app icon sets, and plugins by selling them on platforms like:

• ThemeForest
• Codecanyon
• SellMyApp
• Flippa
• Piecex

These platforms will market your projects to those in need while you’re sleeping, so you can earn money without lifting a finger.

Personally, I’ve bought many projects from Envato, such as: 

• WordPress templates for websites
• HTML website designs
• backend codes for chat applications
• on-demand service solutions

And more. 

Many programmers use these platforms to buy projects for reference and learning purposes.

So, if you have a project you’re proud of, why not put it up for sale and see if it can help others while it earns you passive income?

Develop and Sell Apps Online

You can develop and sell software as a programmer to earn money and make use of your skills. 

One option is to sell your mobile app on the App Store or Play Store for a one-time fee. The setup process is easy and they handle the payments for you.

Another option is to sell your products on Themeforest. It’s the biggest WordPress theme marketplace on the web. You can earn 62.5% of each sale if you sell your products exclusively on Themeforest. Your commission also increases as your total sales increase. 

CodeCanyon is another popular marketplace by Envato for WordPress plugins.

There are plenty of other marketplaces where you can sell your software too. It’s worth noting that some programmers earn a lot from selling themes. To get started, it’s important to do some market research, find a niche and focus on creating the best product possible.

Keep in mind that when you launch your product, it can be challenging and it takes effort to generate revenue. However, with the right strategy and effort, you can generate a steady and sizable income stream for yourself.

Create and Develop Video Tutorials

If you’re good at programming, you can create video tutorials and sell them on online marketplaces. These marketplaces are great because they allow you to reach a global audience.

We recommend that you check out two popular marketplaces: Udemy and Skillshare. 

Udemy is a great platform to create and sell courses, and you can earn anywhere from $15 to $30 per month per course. Some people even make $20,000 a month or more. 

Skillshare is another great platform, where teachers typically earn between $0.05 and $0.10 per minute watched.

It might feel a little uncomfortable at first to talk to a camera, but with practice, it gets easier. 

Plus, you’ll learn more about the topic you want to teach as you go. Hence, it will keep your skills refined and updated at the same time. 

Develop and Sell a SaaS (Software as a Service) Product

SaaS stands for “Software as a Service.” 

It’s a popular business model where you create software and sell access to it on a monthly subscription basis. 

Some examples of SaaS products you might use every day include 

• Adobe software 
• Microsoft Office 
• Dropbox
• Slack

You can generate a lot of revenue when you build a SaaS product that people genuinely have a need for. You don’t have to create complex software either. Even simple, useful software can be successful. 

To get started, it’s a good idea to do some market research and check out similar products. 

One of the challenges you might face when you launch a SaaS product is getting people to find it. 

You can use services like sellSaaS to help, but it might be better to partner with a marketing agency on a revenue-sharing model. 

Become a Content Creator and Share Your Expertise as a Coder 

We know what you’re thinking: It’s common to think that no one will read your writing or watch your videos, but that’s not always the case. 

The information or guides you share may be simple and helpful to someone else in the world. 

Blogging, forums, and YouTube can be considered passive in the long run because the content you create stays on the internet forever and can help an unlimited number of people. 

For example, if you help 100,000 programmers create their first mobile app, even if they pay you $10, you will still get paid $1 million. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What is passive income?

Passive income is a type of income where you earn money without actively working for it. Some examples include investments or content creation which generates revenue over time.

What are some passive income ideas for coders?

Some passive income ideas for coders are: 

• Coding video tutorials  
• SaaS products, 
• Coding ebooks and online courses 
• App development, and 
• Content monetization such as a blog or Youtube channel

Can I make a lot of money from these passive income ideas?

The potential earnings from these passive income ideas can vary greatly, and it often depends on factors such as 

• The value of your content
• The demand for your products or services
• Your marketing and promotional efforts

Some individuals have been able to generate significant income, while others may earn less.

Is it easy to create and monetize content such as blogs and YouTube videos?

The process to create and monetize content, such as blogs and YouTube videos, can vary in terms of difficulty. The primary goal should be to help more people and provide value, not to generate revenue. 

If you provide value, your content will generate revenue for you over time as it gets more popular.

Will my content expire or will it stay online forever?

The content you create such as blogs, videos, and tutorials will stay online forever and continue to help an unlimited number of people with no expiry date.

Conclusion 

If you have skills as a programmer or a coder, you’re in luck since you can use your expertise to generate money for yourself in a number of ways. 

Do your research and find what you enjoy doing as well as what you’re good at. You’ll find the best way to apply your skills online in no time. 

If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out in the comments section below.