How I Turned TikTok Into My Lazy Side Hustle (And You Can Too)

A few years ago, if you’d told me I’d be making money from TikTok while binge-watching Netflix in my pajamas, I would’ve laughed and scrolled on. TikTok was just for dances and memes, right? But then I started noticing something weird: people who looked just like me — no dance skills, no fancy equipment — were racking up views and, more importantly, cash. Not by going viral once, but by setting up streams of income that kept trickling in, even when they weren’t posting. I’m not talking about overnight millions. But real, steady money that shows up while you’re living your life. If you’re skeptical, I get it. I was too. But let me walk you through what I learned (sometimes the hard way), and how you can actually build passive income from TikTok — without selling your soul or spending every waking hour glued to your phone.

Figure 1: Where most of my “TikTok business” actually happens — no fancy studio required

The Myth of “Passive” Income (And Why TikTok Is Different)

Let’s get one thing out of the way: truly passive income is rare. Most “passive” streams take work upfront. But…