Need to enhance your financial freedom without leaving your 9-to-5? Codie Sanchez, a Wall Street veteran turned entrepreneur, provides a guide to create 25 income streams without leveraging your job. Her goal? Enable 1 million financially free humans through business ownership.
This article explores her data-backed expertise, so you can diversify your income and future-proof yourself. With the types of layoffs we’re witnessing, having more than a single stream of income isn’t a good idea—it’s a requirement. How You Can Stack Income Streams and Thrive, Without Leaving Your Day Job? While each slide uncovers something new, make sure to stick around for Slide 26 — this is for social media lovers.
Write a Guide
Writing a guide is the easiest entry point into passive income. Platforms like Gumroad enable you to create and sell digital guides to topics you understand and enjoy—e.g., “Mastering Remote Work.” Once you’ve created them, you can resell them repeatedly with no extra effort, so they’re truly passive.
Codie Sanchez has employed this strategy herself, so you know it’s effective. And it’s low-risk to start: no inventory, no shipping, just your expertise translated into a downloadable PDF.
Convert Your Guide into a Book
Once your guide is written, why stop there? Turn it into a book and self-publish on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). This simple step transforms your guide into a more polished, high-value product that can command higher prices and attract a broader audience.
Codie Sanchez emphasizes the power of this model: “Create something once, sell it over and over again.” Books also lend credibility—suddenly, you’re not just an expert; you’re an author. Self-publishing is taking off, especially in the U.S. The increase reflects the increasing number of writers who are going the self-publishing way and the expanding digital book market.
Purchase a Profitable Business
Buying a profitable business can sound intimidating, but it’s one of Codie Sanchez’s favorite wealth-creation strategies. Through seller financing, you can acquire small businesses for little to no money down, then get them to generate cash flow while still working your day job. These aren’t sexy startups—these are often “boring” businesses like car washes or laundromats, but they’re consistent and recession-proof.
Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy, creating 44% of economic output, according to the Small Business Administration. Many of them are profitable and available for sale at low prices, especially if they’re owner-operated and ready for a new owner to step in and take over.
Sell Services on Fiverr
If you have skills like graphic design, writing, or virtual assistance, platforms like Fiverr enable you to sell them to the world. It’s low-barrier, flexible, and perfect for working around your day job. Codie Sanchez has used Fiverr for everything from copywriting to video editing, which attests to its range. The best part? You can start small, build your portfolio, and then scale when demand increases.
The gig economy is booming, and freelancers are expected to make up 50% of the U.S. workforce by 2030, according to Upwork. It’s fueled by growing demand for specialized skills and the flexibility of project-by-project work. For Americans, it means there’s plenty of room to discover a niche and earn some extra money without investing time in a part-time side hustle.
Plus, with tools like Fiverr’s gig extras, you can upsell your services and increase your earnings over time.
Host a Virtual Summit
Virtual summits are all the rage, especially post-pandemic, and they’re a great way of profiting from your expertise. Charge attendees for access to panels, workshops, or premium content on real estate, investing, or even cooking abilities. Codie Sanchez has hosted summits on cannabis investing, so don’t be shy about niche topics that can draw audiences and revenue.
This is fueled by the work-from-home evolution and the desire for easy, insightful content. For US citizens, hosting a virtual summit offers an inexpensive way of generating revenue through ticketing, sponsorships, and even affiliate partnerships, aside from building your brand.
Start a Podcast
Podcasting is not only a hobby but a money-making vehicle for your voice and knowledge. Codie Sanchez’s podcast, The Big Deal Podcast, covers business and finance, showing how niche topics can attract listeners and advertisers. The podcasting industry is on fire, with over 100 million Americans tuning in each month, according to Edison Research.
The cause of the boom is how easy it is to listen while on the go and the wider availability of platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For Americans, a podcast is a simple entry point for creating content, with services like Buzzsprout making it easy to record, edit, and distribute episodes.
Create Your Magazine
Journals are popular, and creating your own can be a surprisingly lucrative passive income stream. Websites like Blurb enable you to create your custom journals, which they print and distribute on demand, with no inventory required. Whether it’s a gratitude journal, travel planner, or fitness log, there’s a niche for every market.
The journaling market is a niche but growing, with the global market size reaching $1.2 billion in 2020 and projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2021 to 2028, says Grand View Research. The trend follows the broader shift toward mindfulness and self-care, especially among younger demographics.
For Americans, creating a journal capitalizes on this demand while offering a passive income stream and creative outlet. Since it requires no up-front investment other than design time, it’s a low-risk approach to getting your feet wet in product creation.
Create an Online Course
If you’re knowledgeable about a topic, why not teach it? Platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and Thinkific make it easy to create and sell online courses. Codie Sanchez has built courses on buying small businesses, generating significant revenue with minimal ongoing effort. The best part? Courses can be sold repeatedly, providing long-term passive income.
The online education market is exploding, projected to reach $350 billion by 2025, according to ResearchAndMarkets. This boom is being driven by the demand for flexible and affordable learning solutions, especially with remote working becoming the new normal.
For Americans, selling an online course offers a way to monetize expertise in high-demand niches like tech skills, personal finance, or even hobbies like cooking or photography. With access to tools like Canva for designing and Loom for screen recording, anyone can create a professional-looking course without requiring advanced technical expertise.
Develop Fantasy Short Stories
For the creatively inclined, developing fantasy short stories can be both fulfilling and profitable. Platforms like Wattpad connect writers with millions of readers, offering the possibility of generating income through donations, paid subscriptions, or even book deals. It’s a niche market, but one with committed fans who will pay for quality content.
The fiction e-book market is growing, with global e-book sales projected to reach $14.92 billion by 2025, reports Statista. Fantasy short stories may be a smaller proportion of that, but platforms like Wattpad have democratized access to readers in a way that never previously existed, with authors now being able to find an audience and earn money from their writing with ease.
For Americans, this translates to tapping into a global fanbase while honing your craft and potentially turning your passion into profit.
Start a Newsletter
Newsletters are back in style, and for good reason; they’re direct, personal, and easily monetizable. Platforms like Substack have also made it easy to gain an audience and charge for subscriptions, advertising, or affiliate links. Codie Sanchez’s Contrarian Thinking newsletter has over 30,000 subscribers, showing the potential of this model. With minimal overhead, newsletters offer a way to scale your expertise into income.
That preference suggests a hunger for edited, trusted content in an era of information overload. For Americans, starting a newsletter offers an inexpensive way of building authority in your marketplace and creating multiple income streams—subscriptions alone can be highly profitable, with top writers earning millions of dollars annually (HubSpot).
Consult for Others
Consulting for others is also a way to monetize your knowledge and get paid. Sites like GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group) connect experts with individuals and companies that need their advice. While not completely passive, this can be a lucrative part-time gig that complements your day job. Codie Sanchez has used consulting as a way to leverage her finance expertise, showing what’s possible.
The consulting marketplace is large and growing. The global size of the management consulting services market was $253.8 billion in 2020. For Americans, selling consulting services is tapping into a market hungry for expertise, especially in finance, technology, and strategy.
Future trends show that companies are increasingly outsourcing expertise, so this is a timely revenue stream.
Ask for Project Work
Asking for project work may seem counterintuitive, but it’s a sneaky way to get freelance work. Reach out to business owners or high net worth individuals for short projects—many need it but aren’t sure how to ask. Codie Sanchez’s fiancé has done this with success, reaching out to family offices and influencers for project-based paid work. It’s a low-barrier way to get your feet wet in freelance income.
The gig economy is booming, with 36% of the American workforce freelancing in 2020, up from 35% in 2019, according to Upwork. The boom is showing a shift toward flexible, project-based work, especially in creative and consulting fields. For Americans, asking for project work is a way of earning money from expertise without needing to scale into a full-time side hustle, which comfortably fits around your daytime job.
Breaking news illustrates businesses increasingly hiring freelancers for short-term needs, making this strategy ever more relevant.
Create Affiliate Content
One more passive income strategy is affiliate content. Promote products or services you love through affiliate links on your blog, social media, or YouTube, and earn a commission on sales. It’s low-maintenance once you set it up, especially if you promote high-ticket software or courses. Codie Sanchez has been able to monetize her audience well with affiliate content, showing its potential for scale.
The reason behind this is the rise of e-commerce and influencer marketing, making it a perfect opportunity for Americans. Present trends show websites like Amazon Associates and ShareASale dominating the scene, with creators earning loads of money by promoting appropriate products to a niche audience. It’s a set-and-forget approach with tremendous scope for passive income.
Obtain Your Website
Your website is central to generating multiple income streams. Use sites like Squarespace to create a professional web presence for consulting, e-commerce, or content creation. It’s your digital headquarters where you can build your credibility and market your income streams. Codie Sanchez stresses the importance of a website for credibility and reach, so it’s a starting point.
The website builder market is growing, with the global market size valued at $1.9 billion in 2020 and expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.7% from 2021 to 2028, says Grand View Research. For Americans, a website offers a way to build authority and attract customers or clients, especially in competitive industries.
Recent times have witnessed AI-driven site builders like Wix and Squarespace making it even easier than before, lowering the barrier for beginners to create professional websites.
Open an E-commerce Store
Creating an e-commerce shop is yet another option to tap into the online shopping boom. There are websites like BigCommerce where you can sell products without any inventory, and you can focus on marketing and customer service. Codie Sanchez provides the example of Bontempbands, which sells watch bands at retail, as a successful e-commerce shop. It’s scalable and can be managed around your daytime job with ease.
The online retail market is enormous, with global sales projected to reach $6.54 trillion by 2023, reports Statista. This growth reflects the shift to online purchases, especially post-pandemic, and it represents a perfect business idea for Americans. Emerging trends suggest niche e-commerce stores, like those selling eco-friendly products or personalized gifts, are on the rise, offering a way to stand out in a saturated market.
With websites like Shopify, anyone can start a store and start making money.
Sell Merch on Amazon
Selling merchandise on Amazon is a low-effort way to generate passive income. Use Merch by Amazon to upload designs for products like t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases, with Amazon handling production and shipping. No inventory means no upfront costs, making it ideal for beginners. Codie Sanchez has considered graphic tees, showing how easy it is to start.
The on-demand printing market is growing, with a global market size of $3.5 billion in 2020 and a forecasted CAGR of 15.6% from 2021 to 2028, says Grand View Research. Emerging trends have creators using AI tools like MidJourney to produce unique products, lowering the barrier to entry and enhancing profitability.
Paid to Travel
Getting paid to travel is a dream, and house sitting makes this dream a reality. Websites like TrustedHousesitters USA, House Sitters America, and HouseCarers enable you to live for free or even get paid while traveling. It’s perfect for combining your love for adventure and getting paid or saving on accommodation costs. Codie Sanchez showcases this as a fantasy for most, but very real.
For Americans, this means using websites to travel for free while earning extra income, especially with remote work allowing for more flexible lifestyles. Emerging trends point to a rise in demand for house sitters, especially in urban areas, as homeowners seek trustworthy care of their houses while away on holiday.
Sales Rep
Working as a sales representative for small businesses you love is another way of earning money. Sell products like t-shirts, business, or fitness gear and earn commission for each sale. It’s a win-win: you get to help businesses grow while earning some cash on the side. Codie Sanchez suggests reaching out to businesses directly, a point of entry with minimal to no friction.
For Americans, becoming a sales rep offers a path to leveraging networking skills to earn commissions, with niche markets like fitness or hometown retail. News reports show small businesses increasingly relying on independent reps to expand reach, creating more opportunities for side income.
Start a Drop Shipping Business
Drop shipping enables you to sell products online without any inventory, acting as a middleman between suppliers and customers. Develop an e-commerce site on platforms like Shopify, and let suppliers handle storage and shipping. Codie Sanchez thinks this is fascinating, especially in a shutdown world where online selling is everything. It’s something scalable and done around your day job.
For US citizens, this translates to tapping into a low-capital business model, especially with services like Oberlo making it simple to connect with suppliers. Emerging trends involve niche drop shipping stores, such as eco-friendly products, which are gaining traction, offering the ability to differentiate.
Host on Airbnb
Hosting on Airbnb is a tested-and-proven way of generating passive income with your property. Rent out a room or your entire house, earning from guests seeking accommodations. Codie Sanchez suggests outsourcing services to guests, like yoga or cooking classes, to boost revenue. Average U.S. hosts earned $14,000 annually in 2024, a 43.8% rise since 2021, reports Airbnb.
The vacation rental industry is growing, with the U.S. For Americans, hosting on Airbnb offers the possibility of making money from underutilized space, especially with the likes of pricing optimizers making it easier to get the best out of it. Breaking news shows specialty stays, like treehouses, are trending, offering a way to stand out and secure more profitable bookings.
Invest in Passive Income
Investing in passive income through real estate crowdfunding is another way of building wealth. Sites like Fundrise enable you to invest small amounts of money and earn monthly dividends without even dealing with properties. Codie Sanchez sees this as a simple method of diversifying your portfolio and earning steady income. It is perfect for individuals with small capital but big dreams.
The real estate crowdfunding market is growing, with the global market size put at $1.5 billion in 2020 and expected to grow at a CAGR of 38.2% from 2021 to 2028, says Grand View Research. Recent trends show more uptake by millennials, making it a present-day strategy for passive income generation.
Create an Affiliate Program
Creating an affiliate program for your products or services enables others to sell them and earn a commission on sales. Use services like Ambassador to set up and manage your program, getting in front of more individuals without paying additional marketing costs. Codie Sanchez recognizes this as a way to scale revenue, especially for online courses or products. It’s a simple, low-effort way to boost income streams.
The affiliate marketing industry is huge, with global spending projected to reach $14.5 billion by 2025, reports Statista. For Americans, creating an affiliate program offers opportunities for leveraging influencers and affiliates in boosting sales, especially in e-commerce and digital products.
Future news shows programs like ShareASale and CJ Affiliate dominating, with developers earning plenty of money through expanding their affiliate base.
Upsell at Frequent Spots
Upselling where you socialize is a clever way of earning money. If you belong to a gym, for example, create a nutrition program or training regimen and market it to other members. A win-win: you provide value while earning lump sums or revenue shares. Codie Sanchez sees this as having untapped potential, especially for service-based businesses. It is low-barrier and fits around your schedule.
Upselling at usual hangouts commercializes relationships for Americans with the local businesses around gyms, cafes, and community centers. Emerging trends point to businesses being more open to partnerships, and thus there is more scope for ancillary revenues through value additions.
Host Pop-up Events
Hosting pop-up events is yet another way of earning money. Use empty spaces for yoga sessions, dance parties, or workshops, and split revenue with space owners or keep all of it if you find free spaces. Codie Sanchez believes this is a post-lockdown opportunity, especially for socially distanced events. It’s low-cost, creative, and fits around your day job.
For United States citizens, planning pop-up events is a way to capitalize on local demand for unique experiences, especially in cities with unused space. Recent news suggests higher demand for community events, so now is the time to begin generating revenue from ticket sales or sponsorships.
Sell on Instagram
Instagram selling is a revenue powerhouse, especially as social commerce takes flight. Build a following and sell products through affiliate links or direct sales, from beauty products to essential oils. Codie Sanchez provides the example of moms selling wireless services to show how accessible this is. It’s low-barrier, scalable, and fits around your day job.
Selling on Instagram for Americans offers a chance to tap into this market, especially with tools like Instagram Shopping simplifying it. Future trends suggest creators leveraging Reels and Stories to drive sales, making it easier than ever before to turn followers into buyers and generate decent revenue.
Key Takeaways
Creating 25 income streams without quitting your job is possible with Codie Sanchez’s ideas. In case it’s launching a newsletter, renting on Airbnb, or acquiring a small business, the most important thing is to take action. As she puts it, “Having one income stream controlled by one person or entity is a huge risk.”
Begin small, remain constant, and witness your financial future change. This process not only safeguards your funds but also provides you with control, which aligns with her mission of creating financially free humans.
Disclaimer: The Finance key does not provide and does not intend to provide financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Information contained in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. The inclusion of links to third-party content is not an endorsement by The Finance Key of such content or services. Please do your due diligence and use your discretion.
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