Discover the laziest ways to make money online in 2025! From TikTok Shop to affiliate marketing,
learn how beginners can earn passive income with minimal effort.
Let’s dive into the top ways to make money online with the least amount of effort, cost, and risk—
while maximizing your earning potential.
1. Affiliate Marketing Through Short-Form Content
Affiliate marketing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to make money online. Here’s how it works:
- Find brands, companies, or products you love.
- Check if they have an affiliate program (e.g., Amazon, Impact.com, or CJ.com).
- Create short-form content (like videos) promoting the product.
- Earn a commission every time someone buys through your link.
ALSO READ: 7 Best Ways to Make Money from TikTok
Why It’s Great for Beginners:
- Low Cost: All you need is a phone and an internet connection.
- Low Risk: No upfront costs or inventory to manage.
- High Potential: Some affiliate marketers make millions annually.
Effort Level: Medium
While creating content is relatively easy, mastering storytelling and creating viral videos takes time.
However, once you do, your videos become digital real estate that can generate passive income for months or even years.
2. Investing (Crypto, Stocks, NFTs, etc.)
Investing is the ultimate “lazy” way to make money—if you have the capital. Whether it’s meme coins, NFTs, or traditional stocks, investing can yield high returns with minimal effort.
Pros:
- Low Effort: Once you invest, your money works for you.
- High Potential: Meme coins and NFTs can skyrocket in value.
Cons:
- High Cost: You need significant upfront capital to invest safely.
- High Risk: You could lose everything if the market crashes.
Effort Level: Low to High
While investing is easy, mastering technical analysis and market trends requires skill and effort.
ALSO READ: 7 Best Ways to Make Money from TikTok
3. Drop shipping
Drop shipping is a beginner-friendly way to sell products online without holding inventory. Here’s how it works:
- Set up an online store (e.g., using Shopify).
- Partner with suppliers who ship products directly to customers.
- Promote your store and earn profits on each sale.
Why It’s Great for Beginners:
- Low Cost: You can start with as little as $2 ($1 for Shopify and $1 for AutoDS, a fulfillment tool).
- Low Risk: Minimal upfront investment and no inventory management.
- High Potential: Some dropshippers build brands worth millions.
Effort Level: Low
With tools like YourFirstStore, you can get a pre-built Shopify store with winning products and a free 6-hour course to guide you.
ALSO READ: 7 Best Ways to Make Money from TikTok
4. TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop is one of the most explosive opportunities in 2025. Creators are making thousands—even millions—of dollars by promoting products through videos and live streams.
Why It’s Great for Beginners:
- Low Effort: All you need is a phone and creativity.
- Low Cost: You’ll need a TikTok account with 5,000 followers (can be purchased for around $400).
- High Potential: Some creators make $100,000+ per month.
Effort Level: Very Low
In a 30-day challenge, I made over $6,200 by working just 35 hours—earning $175/hour. Live streams are especially lucrative and consistent.
ALSO READ: 7 Best Ways to Make Money from TikTok
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the laziest way to make money online in 2025, TikTok Shop and affiliate marketing are your best bets.
Both require minimal effort, low cost, and have massive earning potential.
For those willing to take a slightly bigger step, drop shipping is another excellent option with long-term potential.
Which of these opportunities are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments below!
ALSO READ: 7 Best Ways to Make Money from TikTok