Brian Page is an entrepreneur, online educator, and passive income pioneer who is best known as the creator of the BNB Formula, the world’s #1 bestselling Airbnb™ coaching program with over 25,000 students in 47 countries.
There are many different ways to make money. Some people choose to work a traditional job, while others choose to start their own business. However, there is another option that is becoming increasingly popular: passive income streams. Passive income is income that you earn without having to actively work for it.
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In this article, we will discuss some of the best passive cash flow streams and how you can start generating passive income today!
Earned Income vs Passive Income
There are two types of income: earned and passive. Earned income is the money you earn from working. This can come in the form of a salary, hourly wages, tips, commissions, or any other type of compensation that you receive for your work.
Passive income, on the other hand, is money that you earn without having to actively work for it. This can include interest from investments, rental income from property, and royalties from intellectual property (such as books, music, or software).
Advantages of Earned Income
Although passive income is often preferable, to be fair we must consider both types of income. Working for money is often vilified by personal finance experts, but there are some advantages to earning income.
The first advantage is that it is relatively easy to obtain. If you want to start making money, all you have to do is get a job. There are many different types of jobs available, so chances are good that you will be able to find one that suits your skills and interests.
Another advantage of earned income is that it is relatively predictable. You know how much you will be paid every week, every two weeks, or every month. This can make budgeting and planning for your future easier.
Finally, earned income often comes with benefits, such as health insurance and retirement savings plans. These benefits can be worth a lot of money, so they should be taken into consideration when comparing earned and passive income streams.
Advantages of Passive Income
The biggest advantage of passive income is that it can provide you with a steady stream of money without requiring you to work. This means that you can earn money even while you are sleeping. The return on the time that passive income provides is often much higher than the return on time from earned income.
Another advantage of passive income is that it is often more tax-efficient than earned income. This is because passive income is typically taxed at a lower rate than earned income. This means more of your passive income will end up in your pocket instead of being paid to the government in taxes.
Finally, passive income gives you the ability to scale your earnings. If you want to earn more money, you can simply invest more money into your passive income streams. This is not possible with earned income, as there is only so much you can earn in a day, week, or month.
Disadvantages of Earned Income
The biggest disadvantage of earned income is that you have to trade your time for money. This means that you can only earn money while you are working. Once you stop working, your income will stop as well. This can be a big problem if you want to retire or take a break from work for any reason. Without passive income, you will have to either find a new source of earned income or go without an income altogether.
Another disadvantage of earned income is that it is often less tax-efficient than passive income. This means that you will end up paying more in taxes on your earned income than you would on your passive income.
Finally, earned income can be unstable. If you lose your job, get sick, or have any other type of setback, your income will likely suffer as well. This can make it difficult to budget and plan for your future. Becoming dependent on your company’s good graces can be scary.
Disadvantages of Passive Income
While passive income streams have many advantages, there are also some disadvantages that you should be aware of. The first disadvantage is that some passive income sources often require a large upfront investment, either in cash or your time. This can make it difficult to get started if you don’t have a lot of resources.
Another disadvantage of passive income is that it can be more volatile than earned income. This means that your income can go up and down depending on the market. This can make it difficult to predict how much money you will have coming in month-to-month. For example, if you earn royalties from a hit song, your income could skyrocket one month and then plummet the next.
Finally, some passive income sources may require you to be “hands-on” even after you have made your initial investment. This means that you may need to put in some time to get things started, but then you can sit back and let the money come in. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you feel about work. You can delegate tasks but occasionally your attention may be required to solve a problem or take advantage of an opportunity.
Type of Passive Income
Many people transitioning to passive income may keep their earned income to help bridge the gap while they work on building up their passive income sources. Other people may choose to replace all or most of their earned income with passive income in one fell swoop. The best course of action for you will depend on your unique circumstances.
However, most people would agree that there are certain types of passive income that are more desirable than others. For example, “true” passive income sources, such as rental properties and dividend stocks, are often seen as being more desirable than “semi-active” passive income sources, such as online courses and e-books.
This is because “true” passive income sources generate money without you having to do any work, while “semi-active” passive income sources still require some level of effort on your part. For courses and e-books, you might have to go on a round of promotions or put in some time now and then to keep the sales coming in.
Semi-active income is great for those that enjoy being creative and working to build their assets. With more time on their hands, they can work to improve their products and create new ones. Creatives that enjoy the journey as much as the destination often find semi-passive income sources more rewarding than those that don’t.
For those that prefer more stability or have less time to manage assets, true passive income sources may be the best option. There’s nothing wrong with taking time off completely from your business while still receiving a steady stream of income. It’s all about finding what works best for you and your lifestyle.
Multiple Streams of Income Over Expenses
Passive income can be a flexible supplement to your earned income. If you love your job and still want to be a part of the workforce, you can keep your day job and work on building up your passive income sources in your free time.
You can also work part-time as the money starts coming in from other streams of income. Passive income gives you the option to work when and how you want. You can gradually transition to working fewer hours or even quitting your job altogether if you want to.
With only having earned income, you have to work whether you want to or not. This can be bearable if you enjoy your workplace or are in good health, but it can be a real drag if you’re stuck in a job you hate or are dealing with health issues.
Of course, it’s important to make sure that your passive income streams are generating more money than your expenses. Otherwise, you’ll just be treading water and not making any progress.
A good rule of thumb is to make sure that your passive income covers all of your essential expenses, such as food, shelter, transportation, and healthcare. Once you have a good handle on your expenses, you can start working on increasing your income.
For example, if your monthly expenses are $1000 and your passive income was at $1200, you would have an extra $200 to work with each month. You could use that money to pay off debt, build up your savings, or reinvest back into your business. It’s important to have at least a few hundred dollars of buffer each month so that you’re not one unexpected expense away from financial ruin.
The best way to find out if your passive income streams are generating enough money is to track your cash flow statements. By knowing exactly how much money is coming in and going out each month, you can make adjustments to ensure that your income exceeds your expenses. This will give you a good idea of whether or not you’re making progress financially.
The Bottom Line
Earned income is not the only stream of income. It’s often not the best stream of income, either. If you want more flexibility and freedom in your life, it’s important to explore other options. The best streams of income are the ones that produce cash flow passively consistently.
With a little bit of effort, you can set up passive income streams that will provide you with money even when you’re not actively working. This can give you financial security and the freedom to live the life you want.
What are some of your favorite passive income ideas? Let us know in the comments below!
Brian Page is an entrepreneur, online educator, and passive income pioneer who is best known as the creator of the BNB Formula, the world’s #1 bestselling Airbnb™ coaching program with over 25,000 students in 47 countries.
