Last Updated on October 30, 2025 by Katie
Building a reliable income stream is essential for long-term financial stability.
And today, we will look into the different types of businesses that will pay you monthly like clockwork.
These recurring revenue business ideas offer predictable payments, enabling you to manage your cash flow and plan for growth without constantly chasing new customers.
Understanding these models can help you create a sustainable business that generates steady income over time.
If you’re tired of one-off jobs and side hustles that don’t last, these recurring revenue business ideas are for you!
Let’s dive in.
Featured Career Opportunities!
* Get Paid to do Voiceovers from Home – FREE Mini-course Intro to Voiceovers.
* Work at Home as a Transcriptionist – Learn Transcription Skills with Transcribe Anywhere and Open Doors to New Remote Jobs.
* Start Your Own Thriving Proofreading Business – Learn how to get started in this FREE proofreading workshop.
* How to Start a Bookkeeping Business from Home – Free training series from the team at Bookkeepers.com.
Best Recurring Revenue Business Ideas for Beginners
Ready to start a new business that brings in regular monthly payments?
Take a look below for proven recurring business ideas for beginners. I make money today with ideas 3, 4 and 14 and can vouch that they work!
1: Subscription Box Service
Subscription boxes are one of the best recurring revenue business ideas that you can make money from quite quickly.
To get started, you will need to create a subscription box that delivers curated products to customers regularly, such as monthly.
Your daily tasks will include sourcing products, managing inventory, packaging, and handling customer service.
You earn recurring revenue through the subscription fee customers pay every month. This steady income comes from repeat customers who appreciate convenience and unique offerings.
To get started, consider these ideas:
- Pet items
- Books
- Self-care kits
- Adult toys
- Mens grooming
Get more options in this article about profitable subscription box business ideas.
Choose a niche that fits your skills and interests to build a reliable recurring revenue stream.
2: Blog with Membership Fee
Blogging is one of the best writing side hustles where you can earn recurring revenue daily and monthly.
To get started, you will have to decide on a specific niche and offer exclusive content behind a paywall.
Readers subscribe monthly to access this gated content. This model generates steady income from membership fees, giving you predictable recurring revenue.
You can also earn extra cash from affiliate marketing, sponsored content and from placing adverts in your content.
Ideas to get started:
- Pet care
- Hair and makeup tutorials
- AI content and learning
- Investing/make money online
- Childcare tips
Think about where your skills and experience lie and create a blog around this.
Offer some content for free with more in-depth articles gated behind a paywall.
People will be willing to pay a subscription fee if they know that the content creator is an expert in their field.
3: Digital Product Subscription
Why only sell a digital product once if you can sign people up for monthly, quarterly or yearly subscriptions?!
With a digital product subscription, you provide ongoing value through access to exclusive content or tools.
Daily tasks include creating or curating content, updating products, managing your platform, and engaging with subscribers. This keeps your audience engaged and willing to pay regularly.
Ideas you can offer:
- Monthly planners or worksheets
- Stock photos
- Canva templates
- Virtual magazines
I pay for a monthly stock photo membership myself and I use the images on my blog and social media accounts.
Things like templates, planners and worksheets can be made for free in Canva, making this a top low-cost side business to start for beginners.
Further reading: How to sell digital planners on Etsy for recurring passive income.
4: Freelance Writing (Monthly Retainer)
Freelance writing on a monthly retainer means you get paid regularly to provide content for clients.
Day to day, you might write blog posts, articles, newsletters, or website copy alongside researching topics, drafting content, editing, and communicating with clients.
The steady retainer creates predictable income rather than one-off projects, which is a lot nicer than constantly having to apply for new jobs.
However, these regular clients are hard to find, so take the time to update your writing portfolio, improve your content writing skills and market your writing services.
To get started, consider offering services such as:
- Copywriting
- SEO writing
- Grant writing
- Newsletter writing
Learn more about highly profitable writing niches here.
As a new writer, you might need to take on one-off projects to build experience and good reviews.
But, with time, you can build relationships with clients and offer your services on a monthly retainer once they trust and like your work.
5: Bookkeeping (Monthly Fee)
Bookkeeping involves managing financial records, tracking expenses, and reconciling accounts for clients.
As a bookkeeper, you’ll handle tasks like invoicing, payroll processing, and generating financial reports regularly.
This is one of the best recurring revenue business ideas as businesses need to stay organised and compliant so they don’t get in trouble.
You earn recurring revenue by charging a monthly retainer or subscription fee for ongoing bookkeeping services.
The good news about this type of business is that you don’t need a degree to get started. You just ned to be organised and good with tools like QuickBooks.
Learn more: How to become a bookkeeper at home for free.
6: Rent Out Gadgets
Renting out gadgets lets you earn a steady income by leasing devices like cameras, drones, laptops, or gaming consoles to customers.
You can set up a monthly membership or subscription fee for access to a rotating selection of gadgets.
This creates predictable revenue while providing convenience to users who need tech temporarily.
Consider combining gadget rental with other recurring options like digital product subscriptions or apps and tools to expand your business.
Check out these sites to start your gadget rental business:
Further reading: 21 things you can rent out for money.
7: Apps and Tools
Creating apps and tools allows you to generate recurring revenue through subscription fees.
To get this business off the ground, you’ll need to develop software that solves specific problems or improves productivity.
To keep the app or tool running, you will complete daily tasks such as updating features, fixing bugs, and supporting users.
Users can pay monthly or yearly to access your tool or app. This steady income comes from maintaining and enhancing the product regularly.
To get started, consider these ideas:
- Budgeting app
- Care assistant
- Local experience finder
- Dating and relationships
- Exam study coach
- Fitness and meal tracker
Focusing on reliable, easy-to-use solutions that will help people and keep them coming back for more.
8: Fitness/Meal Plans Membership
Fitness and nutrition is another top recurring revenue business idea where you help people lose weight and feel great.
The work includes creating and delivering customised fitness routines or meal plans to subscribers on a regular basis.
Your income comes from a monthly membership or subscription fee, providing predictable recurring revenue.
A few top apps to engage with your fitness clients include:
9: YouTube Channel
Starting a YouTube channel lets you create video content in a niche you’re passionate about.
To make money, you’ll have to film, edit, and engage with your audience through comments and community posts.
You earn recurring revenue primarily from ads shown on your videos, monthly tips via Patreon, and affiliate marketing links embedded in your content.
Consistent uploads help grow your subscriber base and income over time.
To get started, follow these steps:
- Decide on a niche (eg; wealth building, ASMR, funny videos or police chases)
- Set up your channel with a memorable name, logo and banner
- Start filming videos and uploading regularly
- Once you gain enough watch time and subscribers, apply for monetisation
- Add affiliate and Patreon links to your videos to boost your earnings monthly
10: Pet Sitting Services
Pet sitting involves caring for pets while their owners are away and you could turn this into a recurring revenue business.
Daily tasks include feeding, walking, playing, and providing companionship. You can build recurring revenue by offering monthly membership plans or charging a subscription fee for regular visits.
You might also want to consider expanding your services or related ideas to grow your business.
Take a look at these sites to get pet sitting/walking work:
Starting involves marketing to local pet owners, setting a clear pricing structure, and earning trust through reliable service.
Once clients start to trust you with their pets, you can likely get recurring revenue jobs with the same people in your area.
Related reading: How to start a dog treat business from home.
11: Monthly Coaching/Consulting
With monthly coaching or consulting, you provide ongoing guidance and support to clients in your area of expertise.
This recurring revenue business idea allows you to earn a predictable income by charging a monthly retainer or subscription fee.
Daily tasks to make this work could include client calls, strategy sessions, progress tracking, and answering questions.
A few ideas to consider offering:
- Career coaching
- Business coaching
- Health and fitness coaching
- New parenting coaching
12: Paid Monthly Newsletter
A paid monthly newsletter is a business where you deliver valuable content directly to subscribers’ inboxes.
This type of business earns money through recurring revenue from a subscription fee that members pay each month.
Work includes researching topics, writing engaging articles, and managing subscriber lists.
You can focus on specific niches such as finance, health, or industry news. Consistency and high-quality information keep your subscribers engaged and willing to pay.
Ideas to explore:
- AI newsletter
- Health and fitness tips
- Money management
- Wealth building
- Investment strategies
13: Virtual Assistant Service Retainer
With a virtual assistant service retainer, you provide ongoing administrative and specialised support to clients.
Your daily tasks might include managing emails, scheduling appointments, handling customer inquiries, or social media management.
You earn recurring revenue through a monthly retainer fee and clients pay you regularly to secure your availability and continuous assistance.
To get started, consider expanding your offerings beyond basic VA services. You could integrate other paid services such as blog management, social media, data entry and more.
Further reading: 21 legit virtual assistant jobs for beginners hiring today.
14: Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing lets you earn recurring revenue by promoting products or services from other companies.
You earn commissions as long as the customers you refer buy through your links.
To make money with affiliate marketing, you need to create content, manage social media, optimise SEO, and track your affiliate links
Remember to create content that actually helps people rather than just constantly promoting a product or service.
People need to trust you first before they will buy from you and nobody likes being sold to.
Take a look at these affiliate marketing business niche ideas:
- Make money online
- Health and fitness
- Kids and parenting
- Dating and relationships
People will pay money for you to help them with health, wealth, and relationships, so find products in these niches and promote them well to make a regular income.
Further reading: How to start affiliate marketing without a website.
15: Airbnb Room Rental
You can rent out individual rooms in your property through Airbnb to generate a steady monthly income.
This business requires managing bookings, cleaning, guest communication, and maintaining the space regularly.
Recurring revenue is possible through continuous bookings from different guests each month. and consistent occupancy ensures a steady cash flow without relying on long-term tenants.
If you don’t have your own property, check out this guide on how to start an Airbnb business without owning a house.
16: Personal Travel Concierge
As a personal travel concierge, you help clients plan and organize their trips, saving them time and effort.
This type of work involves booking flights, arranging accommodations, creating itineraries, and coordinating activities.
You can charge clients a monthly retainer or subscription fee for ongoing access to your services. This provides a steady, predictable income as you support multiple travellers regularly.
Further reading: 17 top companies to find home based travel agent jobs.
17: Online Event Membership
With an online event business, you can earn recurring revenue by charging a monthly fee for access to live or recorded events.
Day to day, you will need to manage event schedules, coordinate speakers or hosts, and engage with members regularly.
Your income comes from consistent subscription fees paid by attendees and you could also make a side income selling relevant products that relate to the events.
Take a look at these online event ideas for inspiration:
- Game shows
- Trivia
- Online speed dating
- Murder mystery
- Virtual escape rooms
- Holiday games
- Online tutorials like knitting, writing or crafts
Further reading: How to start an event planner business from home.
Core Benefits of Recurring Revenue Models
Take a look at the benefits of recurring revenue businesses.
Predictable Cash Flow
These recurring revenue business ideas give you income at regular intervals, often monthly or annually.
This predictability helps you plan expenses, investments, and hiring with confidence.
Furthermore, you reduce the risk tied to one-time sales and avoid sudden revenue drops. This steady cash flow supports smoother operations and lowers financial stress.
Enhanced Customer Loyalty
Recurring models create ongoing relationships rather than one-off transactions.
As customers subscribe or renew regularly, they form habits and preferences around your offerings.
This continuous engagement encourages retention. You have more touchpoints to address needs, offer new value, and build trust over time.
In addition, satisfied recurring customers often become advocates, providing referrals or positive feedback.
Scalability and Growth Potential
Recurring revenue businesses can expand without constantly finding new customers.
You can scale your offerings by improving or adding features that encourage longer subscriptions.
Operational costs become more predictable and lower per customer, making growth more efficient. Automatic renewals reduce sales effort as your customer base grows.
On top of that, you can reinvest income confidently, fueling faster expansion.
Industries like online courses, SaaS, and subscription boxes leverage this for rapid scaling with manageable risk.
Final Thoughts on Recurring Revenue Business Ideas
You can build a stable income by choosing one of these recurring revenue business ideas that fits your skills and interests.
These models create predictable cash flow, reducing the pressure to generate new sales constantly.
Your success depends on your ability to nurture loyalty and consistently deliver value over time.
Managing relationships and updating your offer regularly will help to maintain a steady income for years to come into the future.
Want more cool business ideas?
Check these automated business ideas to make money while you sleep.
The post 17 Best Recurring Revenue Business Ideas Ideal for New Entrepreneurs appeared first on Remote Work Rebels.
* This article was originally published here
