# Passive Income & Automation Research

> Multi-month research track exploring legitimate automated/passive income streams for Sam: software automation, computer-based income, asset rental, automated trading evaluation, business income amplification.

## Project context

- Kind: personal-project (research)
- ID: passive-income-automation-research-2026
- Created: 2026-05-11 (scaffold; research begins post-Pittsburgh)
- Status: scaffolded, awaiting research handoff
- Cadence: TBD when research chat is spun up

## Research scope

Areas of investigation (research chat will refine):

1. Asset rental: spare room (Airbnb), garage/shop space (storage), tools (rental platforms), EV charging
2. Compute rental: bandwidth (Honeygain), GPU rental (vast.ai), storage (Storj/Filecoin)
3. Content/affiliate: niche YouTube, technical guide sales, affiliate Amazon
4. Direct selling: 3D print designs (MakerWorld, Printables), repair guides for niche equipment
5. Business amplification: automation in Same Solutions to capture more customers
6. Automated trading evaluation: honest assessment of retail algo trading viability (expect honest negative recommendation)
7. Financial planning context: 401k options, fee-only fiduciary advisor referrals

## What this is NOT

- NOT a dropshipping / MLM / get-rich-quick research
- NOT speculative crypto / NFT trading research
- NOT day trading exploration (negative analysis only)
- NOT recommendations to move significant 401k money into business ventures (high-risk)

## Why this exists

Sam asked for honest analysis of legitimate automated income opportunities. Specifically requested: software automation, unusual legal methods, low-effort high-value, "1-2 automations away from making money" opportunities.

Discussion point also identified for friends meeting: blade/shear sharpening as Phase 1 revenue stream with built-in customers (CeCe salon + butcher neighbor), with MI+PA dual-location synergy potential.

## Relationship to other research

- Coordinates with metal 3DP research chat (passive income could fund metal AM equipment)
- Coordinates with lifestyle business research chat (income streams support partnership model)
- Feeds friends meeting prep (potential business model elements)

## Active artifacts

(none yet — research begins post-Pittsburgh)

## Status updates

- 2026-05-11: substrate folder scaffolded; research handoff prompt to be drafted by planning chat next week