Have you ever felt like you’re stuck in a rut, relying on just one job or income stream to get by? You’re not alone.
I’ve been there too, working odd jobs like delivering pizzas or flipping bicycles on Craigslist.
Fast forward a few years, and I’ve now built 15 income streams—well, technically 14, with one just about to launch.
But don’t get me wrong—this isn’t about showing off or pretending that I’m some business genius.
It’s about showing what’s possible when you’re willing to hustle, get creative, and build a diverse set of income streams.
Whether you’re looking to build a side hustle or replace your 9-to-5 entirely, this blog is designed to inspire you.
I’ll break down my income streams step by step and share how you can create your own.
Why Having Multiple Income Streams Matters
You might be thinking, “Why have so many income streams?” Well, imagine if one of those streams dried up overnight.
Whether it’s an unexpected Amazon account suspension or a change in algorithms that slashes your social media earnings, the reality is that having multiple streams keeps you financially secure.
When you have diverse income sources, you’re not reliant on one platform or one strategy.
If something goes wrong with one, the others can help you stay afloat.
This concept is all about risk management and financial stability—and, honestly, a little peace of mind.
The 15 Ways I Make Money Online (and How You Can Too)
Let’s dive into the exact income streams that have worked for me and could work for you.
Each of these revenue sources has its own strengths, challenges, and setup process, but they all contribute to building a sustainable online business.
1. Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon)
Amazon FBA remains my primary income stream and is the backbone of my online business.
I focus on reselling products I buy from eBay at a lower price, leveraging Amazon's platform to handle everything from shipping to customer service.
- 2023 Revenue: $735,000
- Profit Margins: 20-30%
- My Strategy: I source items like board games, DVDs, books, and tools through virtual assistants (VAs) based in the Philippines. These items are shipped to a prep center that packages and sends them to Amazon. My role? Pretty hands-off at this point.
Key Insight: Start small, focus on categories you’re familiar with, and reinvest your profits. The key to success is outsourcing tasks like sourcing and shipping as soon as you can to free up your time.
2. Liquidating Amazon Returns on eBay
Returns are a fact of life when you sell on Amazon.
But instead of letting them eat into my profit margins, I liquidate returned items by selling them through my friend Vinnie, a full-time eBay seller.
- The Process: Vinnie takes my damaged or returned products, lists them on eBay, and sells them. We have a deal where he pays me upfront for the products based on his estimated selling price, giving me quick cash flow without any hassle.
Key Insight: Don’t let returns sit around as dead stock. Partner with someone, or learn to sell on a secondary platform like eBay to recoup losses and keep your cash flow healthy.
3. Selling on Walmart (Walmart Fulfillment Services)
I’m in the early stages of adding Walmart to my list of income streams.
Their fulfillment program, Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), is similar to Amazon FBA, offering a huge opportunity due to lower competition.
- How It Works: I’ve started shipping inventory to Walmart, and while I haven’t made my first sale yet, the process is very similar to FBA. You ship products to their fulfillment centers, and they handle the rest.
Key Insight: Diversifying beyond Amazon is crucial. Walmart has less competition, fewer restrictions, and a growing customer base. Getting in early can set you up for success as the platform grows.
4. Amazon Influencer Program
One of the easiest ways to create a semi-passive income is through the Amazon Influencer Program.
By reviewing products and uploading quick video content, I earn commissions when viewers purchase through my video links.
- 2023 Earnings: $500/month (down from a high of $11,000/month when I was actively producing content)
- How It Works: After purchasing products on Amazon, I film a short, honest review, which appears on the product page. If someone watches my video and buys the item, I earn a commission.
Key Insight: This is an excellent source of passive income once you build a library of content. The key is volume—review as many products as possible, especially items you already own or use.
5. Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon KDP)
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) was one of my earliest ventures into passive income.
Back in 2015, I built this business up to $10,000 a month, but as Amazon changed its policies, my income dwindled.
Today, it still brings in a few hundred dollars per month.
- 2023 Earnings: $500-800/month
- How It Works: KDP allows you to publish eBooks and paperback books. I hired writers to create content-rich books, which I uploaded under various pen names. These books continue to sell, providing a stream of passive income.
Key Insight: KDP requires significant upfront work—researching topics, writing, and marketing. However, once you have a portfolio of books, the income can be relatively passive. Consider hiring freelance writers to scale the process faster.
6. Social Media (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok)
Social media ad revenue is another income stream, albeit a smaller one.
Each platform offers its own monetization programs that pay based on the number of views and engagement your content receives.
- Earnings: Around $2,000/month across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
Key Insight: Posting consistent content across multiple platforms is key to maximizing earnings. While YouTube’s earnings have dropped due to fewer views, Instagram and Facebook have paid bonuses when my content went viral.
7. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of the most lucrative and scalable ways to make money online, and it’s one of my favorite income streams.
The idea is simple: promote products or services, and earn a commission for every sale made through your affiliate links.
- Average Monthly Earnings: $8,000
- What I Promote: Most of my affiliate commissions come from software tools like BeCool, SellerAmp, and GoToLister—all products I use and trust.
Key Insight: Focus on promoting products that offer recurring commissions, such as subscription-based software. Once you refer a customer, you earn a percentage of their subscription fee for as long as they remain a paying customer.
8. Membership Site: Reselling Freedom
I launched Reselling Freedom, a membership site designed to help resellers level up their businesses.
With over 300 active members, the platform offers live coaching calls, expert advice, and community support—all for a low monthly fee.
- Monthly Earnings: $6,000 (after expenses)
- How It Works: For $40/month, members get access to multiple live coaching sessions per week with experts in Amazon FBA, eBay, Walmart, and more. It’s a low-cost way for beginners to get hands-on support.
Key Insight: Membership sites are a great way to build recurring income while helping your community. However, they require constant updates, new content, and ongoing support to maintain value.
9. Selling Courses
In addition to my membership site, I also generate income by selling online courses. These courses are designed to teach specific skills, such as flipping on Amazon or mastering Walmart’s marketplace.
- Popular Courses: eBay to Amazon Masterclass, Walmart Flipping Masterclass, Virtual Assistant Academy
- How It Works: I create or co-create these courses, market them through my audience, and offer them for a one-time fee. Courses typically bring in bursts of income around launch periods.
Key Insight: Online courses are scalable, and you can often partner with others who have complementary skills to create even more value.
10. Sponsorships
Sponsorship deals with brands are another way I make money through my online presence.
I currently work with SellerAmp, a tool for Amazon sellers, creating content to promote their services.
- How It Works: Sponsors pay influencers to create content, such as YouTube videos or Instagram posts, that highlight their products or services.
Key Insight: Sponsorship deals can be lucrative, but it's essential to only partner with brands you trust. Promoting something you don’t believe in can damage your credibility and audience trust.
11. Equity in Other Businesses
This year, I bought a small equity stake in Go2Lister, a listing software for Amazon sellers.
Owning a part of the company gives me a share of the profits without having to manage day-to-day operations.
- How It Works: I paid a set amount to acquire a percentage of the company and now receive monthly profit distributions.
Key Insight: Equity investments in businesses you believe in can create semi-passive income, but it requires upfront capital and careful vetting of the business.
12. Software Business: ReplenCatcher
For the past two years, I’ve been working on developing ReplenCatcher, a software tool that helps Amazon sellers source profitable products on eBay.
The tool scans eBay 24/7, notifying users when profitable products become available.
- Earnings: Just hit profitability in 2024 with $500 in profit for the first month.
Key Insight: Developing software is expensive and time-consuming, but it allows you to scale and create recurring revenue. You’ll need a solid team, technical expertise, and patience to make this work.
13. Stock Market Investments
While not a traditional income stream, my investments in index funds and dividend-paying stocks continue to grow over time. I have over $250,000 invested in various funds, which generate modest dividends.
Key Insight: While I don’t touch this money for day-to-day expenses, investing in the stock market is a long-term strategy for financial growth. If you’re serious about building wealth, make sure to reinvest dividends and let your money compound over time.
14. One-on-One Coaching
Although I’ve scaled back on personal coaching to focus on other projects, I still offer one-on-one coaching sessions to help resellers and entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
- Earnings: Varies based on client load
Key Insight: Offering high-ticket coaching is a great way to share your expertise while earning a premium rate. However, it requires significant time and energy, so I now limit coaching to just a few clients per week.
15. Real Estate Investments
My two rental properties provide a consistent stream of passive income, thanks to my property management company.
- Earnings: Roughly $1,000/month per property
- How It Works: The management company handles tenant screening, repairs, and any issues that arise, allowing me to collect rent with minimal effort.
Key Insight: Real estate can be a great way to generate nearly passive income, but having a reliable management company is essential. They handle the day-to-day operations, which makes real estate an almost hands-off investment for me.
Final Thoughts: Build the Business That Suits You
Whether you’re interested in Amazon FBA, affiliate marketing, or building your own software, the most important thing is to create a business that suits your personality, interests, and skills.
For me, juggling multiple income streams is exciting and keeps me engaged.
For you, it might be about focusing on just one or two and going deep.
The beauty of today’s online world is that there’s no one right way to succeed.
You can create your own blueprint for success, whether that means running a side hustle on top of your day job or going full-time with multiple passive income streams.
The key is to stay flexible, be willing to pivot, and keep learning.
What about you? Do you have any income streams that you’re building?
Drop a comment below and let me know—I’d love to hear your story!
Steve w/ Raiken Profit