Reselling can feel overwhelming at first. This guide breaks the process into clear steps you can actually follow.

Reselling is typically active work, but savvy resellers often develop passive or semi-passive income streams

that complement their main business. Here are some ideas to generate earnings on the side—so you keep

earning even when you're not listing new items:

1. Print-on-Demand (POD)

Consider selling custom-designed apparel or merchandise through programs like Amazon Merch on

Demand or Printful. For example: - Merch by Amazon: Create t-shirt designs (or other apparel) and upload

them to Amazon. Amazon handles printing and shipping whenever someone buys. You earn a royalty on

each sale . Once a design is uploaded, it can sell repeatedly without further effort, making this nearly

“truly passive.” According to one reseller’s experience, she earns around $1,500/month just from Amazon

Merch royalties . - Other POD platforms: You can also use Teespring, Printful, or Redbubble. Designs

could reflect your personality, humor, or knowledge (even about reselling, e.g. a funny “Reseller Life” shirt).

Key: You create once, and Amazon/print partner prints on demand. No inventory costs, just creative effort

up front.

2. Digital Products and Downloads

Digital downloads sell themselves once created: - Etsy printables: Sell printable planners, trackers, or

templates (for example, inventory spreadsheets, packing checklists, or clothing size guides) that you've made for your business. One reseller converted her internal tracking forms into Etsy downloads. Buyers

download them instantly, and Etsy delivers the file automatically . - Reseller guides or e-books: Write a

short ebook on a topic you know (like “Beginners’ Guide to Poshmark” or “Flipping Garage Sale Finds”).

Customers buy, and you get paid. Platforms like Gumroad or KDP (see below) can host these. - Course or

webinar: If you’re experienced, record a course teaching your strategies. YouTube, Udemy, or Teachable

allow you to earn money each time someone purchases your course.

The advantage is that these products can be sold 24/7 without additional work once live. Manage them

passively, updating only if needed.

3. Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Books

Publishing low-content or niche books on Amazon Kindle can yield royalties: - Reseller-themed notebooks

or journals: Similar to the example above, one reseller created notebooks and planners for her niche

(reselling planners) on Amazon KDP . She just uploads a PDF of her interior and a cover, and Amazon

prints on demand when someone orders. - Niche e-books: Write a book on any topic you’re knowledgeable

about (it doesn’t even have to be reselling). It could be a how-to guide in your field, a cookbook, or even a

fiction novel if you have a story to tell. Amazon KDP means once it’s published, Amazon handles printing/

shipping for paperback or delivery for Kindle copies. You earn royalties every sale.

One reselling entrepreneur notes that KDP is similar to Merch, except with books, and it also offers a

passive income stream after the initial creation . Upfront work is higher (writing/editing a book vs.

designing a shirt), but royalties on Amazon can be substantial over time.

4. Affiliate Marketing and Ad Revenue

Use content platforms to earn commissions: - Blog or YouTube channel: Start a blog or channel about

reselling tips or product reviews. Monetize it with AdSense (ads on your blog or channel) and affiliate links

(like Amazon Associates). For example, you could review the barcode scanners, tools, or resources you use,

linking to them with affiliate codes. Each time a reader/buyer clicks through and buys, you earn a

commission.

- Affiliate partnerships: Many reseller tools (like inventory software or shipping calculators) have affiliate

programs. Recommend them to your audience (via blog posts or social media) and earn each time someone

signs up with your referral.

While creating content requires effort, once it’s up, it can attract traffic and leads to passive earnings.

Shopify notes that Amazon’s affiliate program (Amazon Associates) can provide commissions on any

purchase, not just your specific recommendations , making it powerful if you can drive traffic to Amazon

product links.

5. Dividend Investing (for Business Profits)

This one is more financial than ecommerce, but worth considering: - As your reseller business grows, you

might have extra cash. Instead of letting it sit idle, invest in dividend-paying stocks or index funds. Each

quarter, dividends arrive in your account, providing passive income. This diversifies your income and builds

wealth long-term. - Even crowdfunding real estate or P2P lending can create passive returns for idle funds. 6. Automate Your Reselling

Finally, think of ways to make your core reselling more passive: - Dropshipping affiliate: If you have a blog

or social presence, set up your own small dropship store. People can order without you touching products, and you keep the markup. - Automated tools: Use software that lists, relists, and cross-posts your

inventory across platforms (like Vendoo or List Perfectly). Once you set rules, it runs with minimal oversight.

- Subscription membership: Offer a subscription service or Patreon with exclusive tips or early access to

your sales. In return for a small monthly fee, you deliver digital content (like an “Insider’s Market Research

Report”). This is passive for you (digital delivery) and passive income from subscribers.

Conclusion

By branching into these passive-income streams, resellers can earn money around the clock. Whether it’s

through royalties from Amazon Merch or KDP , digital products, or even financial investments, each

stream adds security and growth to your finances. The key is that once you set them up, they continue to

pay off while you focus on your primary reselling business. Creativity and persistence are your allies—start

with one idea (like a single shirt design or ebook) and expand from there.

If you want to keep leveling up, browse more guides on ResellerStartKit and use the calculators in our Tools section to sanity-check every deal.