For those who want to generate additional income alongside their main job, stock portfolios and ETFs are popular investment forms. Ideally, these investments grow steadily over the years. However, one's own professional expertise from their job can also be used to earn several hundred or even a thousand euros on the side. Especially experienced employees who have built up expert knowledge and leadership skills can profitably apply their abilities outside of their job. Creativity, know-how, and time are required for this, but these projects also offer personal development opportunities, in contrast to investing in an index fund.
Whether it's about social media marketing, artificial intelligence, or legal issues - specialized expertise can be the foundation for additional income. But which paths are worthwhile and which are not reputable? How do they work and what needs to be considered legally? Handelsblatt has asked financial experts and compiled five ideas for "passive income."
To generate a lucrative side income, Marietta Babos, founder of the financial consulting platform "Damensache," recommends the creation of one's own website or blog. Expertise is crucial in this regard. Babos suggests that social media experts summarize their tips and tricks for a successful online presence in a separate article. By linking individual posts with so-called affiliate links, it is possible to earn money per click. These advertising links provide a commission for every sale made through them, typically for products on Amazon. Although the commissions are not high, this model can pay off in the long term. The initial effort is manageable, especially if one utilizes knowledge from their job.
Another option is to offer webinars or online courses. In this case, it is not necessary to write a lot, but rather to rely more on one's own expertise. "There are webinars that only last an hour and a half, and you don't have to do them super professionally from a technical standpoint," says Babos, who also offers online courses herself. It is important in this context to put oneself in the participants' shoes and to give them the opportunity to ask questions after each learning unit. The fee for a seminar lasting 60 to 90 minutes can be around 30 to 40 Euro for beginners. For a developed course with learning units, tests, and workbooks, even 100 to 300 Euro can be charged. Various providers such as Edudip or Go To offer paid platforms that create a professional impression.
One option particularly suited for startups and founders is the compensation for coaching services. Here, experience from the profession can be purposefully shared in the form of lessons or specific cases. According to Nico Hüsch, founder of the investment advisory firm bearing his name, startups and founders often need help with the creation of business plans or the application for founder's loans. The former business consultant recommends hiring working students and teaching them the necessary skills. Hüsch himself used this method before he became self-employed.
Writing a Book Can Also Be a Lucrative Source of Income. Marietta Babos, who worked in financial advisory, has compiled all her knowledge in a book titled "Money is a Woman's Matter." Babos emphasizes that others also have this opportunity. "I sought professional support for the editing and design of the book. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it because the book is selling very well," she says. The simplest method is to self-publish the book or to publish it through Amazon's "Kindle Direct Publishing" service. Here, the author receives between 60 and 70 percent of the sales price, compared to only about 1.20 euros for the author with major publishers.
Another way to earn money in your spare time is by licensing music or photos. Those who enjoy photography or even have professional training in the field can upload their images to platforms like Unsplash, Shutterstock, or Adobe Stock. On average, each sold photo earns around 25 cents, but this model can pay off in the long run. It is important to publish photos featuring people only with their consent. Money can also be made through music by uploading it to platforms like Premium Beat or Artlist and selling licenses. Companies often use such platforms to find the right music for their films or commercials. A strong presence on social media can help position oneself as an expert on a particular topic and increase one's reach.
In summary, there are many ways to generate passive income alongside a job. By leveraging expertise and creativity, income sources outside of one’s actual profession can also be found. However, it is also important to pay attention to legal aspects and to adopt a professional approach in order to be successful in the long term.
