Investing your money wisely is key to protect your wealth, generate passive income and increase your financial freedom. Today, with platforms like Trade Republic, Urbanitae or Crowmie, it is easier than ever to start investing with little capital and good diversification.
Here we show you 30 solid and varied ideas, many of which you probably didn’t know about, to invest and earn money, both in the short and long term.
1. Physical Gold (Physical Gold USD in Trade Republic)
Gold remains a safe haven security. You can easily invest in it through products backed by real gold.
- 🟢 Available as “Physical Gold USD” in Trade Republic (ETC backed by physical gold).
2. Real estate crowdfunding.
Platforms such as Urbanitae, Civislend or Housers allow you to invest from 100 € in real estate developments that generate profitability for rent or sale.
- 🔹 Ideal for earning passive income without buying a full home.
3. Invest in vending machines.
Buy and manage vending machines for snacks, beverages or niche products (such as sports equipment or office supplies), placing them in strategic locations.
🔹 Passive income with moderate initial investment and easy maintenance.
🟢 Options: Ibervending, Vendin, Vending Market, Wallapop (to purchase second-hand machines).
4. Fund indexed to the S&P 500.
Investing in the S&P 500 gives you access to the 500 largest U.S. companies with a single fund. It is one of the most profitable long-term strategies.
- Example: Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VUSA).
5. Buying web domains and reselling them (domain flipping)
Acquire domains with commercial potential and sell them later for a higher price. It takes an eye to spot opportunities, but it is very profitable if you get it right.
🟢 Options: GoDaddy Auctions, Dynadot, Sedo, Dan.com, Namecheap, Afternic.
6. Investment in parking spaces.
Buying one or more parking spaces for rent is a low-maintenance, high-return form of real estate investment in in-demand cities.
- Advantage: low entry cost and minimum expenses compared to an apartment. Apps to view, buy and sell parking spaces: Idealista, Fotocasa, Parkimeter, Wolo, ParkingYa, Milanuncios.
7. Investment in startups through crowdfunding.
Platforms such as Seedrs, Crowdcube or Startupxplore allow you to invest small amounts in startups with high growth potential. In return, you get a stake in the company.
🔹 Ideal for investors seeking high long-term returns and willing to take risks.
8. REITs (listed real estate investment trusts)
They allow you to invest in commercial, residential or office properties without having to buy them outright.
- Example: Realty Income (O) or Vonovia shares.
9. Renewable energy companies (such as Crowmie)
Crowmie and other platforms make it possible to invest in real solar energy projects that generate revenue from the sale of electricity.
- 🔹 You combine profitability with positive environmental impact.
- 🟢 Other options: Fundeen, Ecrowd!
10. Technology funds (such as the Nasdaq 100)
Betting on the technology sector over the long term can be very profitable. ETFs such as the Nasdaq-100 include leading companies such as Apple, Microsoft or Nvidia.
- Example: Invesco QQQ ETF or Lyxor Nasdaq-100 UCITS ETF.
11. Investing in machinery or equipment for rent.
Buy equipment such as drones, tools or light machinery and rent them to companies or freelancers through platforms or direct agreements.
🔹 Passive income with high demand in sectors such as construction, events or agriculture.
🟢 Options: Fat Llama, direct rental, local networks.
12. Dividend shares.
Stable companies such as Coca-Cola or Iberdrola distribute regular dividends, a classic way to generate steady income. You can invest with the Trade Republic app, Degiro, Revolut, MyInvestor, etc.
13. Investing in private-to-private lending (P2P lending)
Platforms such as Mintos, PeerBerry or Lendermarket allow you to lend money to other people in exchange for interest, diversifying the risk among many loans.
14. Interest-bearing accounts and bank deposits in Europe with Raisin.
Invest in savings accounts and time deposits in European banks through Raisin, which offers better interest rates than traditional banks.
🔹 Secure returns with low risk and the possibility to diversify among several entities.
🟢 Other options: Weltsparen, Deposit Solutions.
15. ETF MSCI World.
Ideal for global diversification. Includes companies from more than 20 developed countries.
- Example: iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF (EUNL).
16. Acquire cheap farmland or agricultural land.
Buy undeveloped land in areas with growth potential or to rent for farms, solar panels, crops or rural tourism. Low initial investment, and can revalue well.
Options: Terrenos.es, Idealista, Ruralia, Wallapop, LandWatch (USA), PlotsDirect.
17. Buying houses off plan.
Invest in homes under construction to sell them at a higher price once they are finished and deeded.
🔹 Requires patience and analysis of the real estate market, with good appreciation potential.
🟢 Options: Idealista, Fotocasa, Habitaclia, Housfy, Urbanitae (some platforms offer new construction projects).
18. Buying premises for refurbishment and selling them as homes.
Acquire commercial premises, transform them into housing through renovations and sell them at a higher price.
🔹 Good way to take advantage of properties with potential, although it requires investment in renovation and permits.
🟢 Options: Idealista, Fotocasa, Habitaclia, Wallapop, Milanuncios.
19. Invest in automated teller machines (ATM)
Acquire and place ATMs in strategic areas and earn commissions per transaction.
🔹 Generate recurring income with moderate investment.
🟢 Options: ATM Marketplace, Bitaccess (crypto), ATMDepot.
20. Buying and renting storage rooms or mini warehouses.
Invest in small spaces for storage, with high demand in cities due to lack of space.
🔹 Real estate investment with low maintenance and good profitability.
🟢 Options: Trastering, OhMyBox!, Stowga.
21. Invest in music royalties or copyrights.
Acquire rights to songs, books or movies and collect income each time they are used.
🔹 Passive income linked to the success of a creative work.
🟢 Options: Royalty Exchange, SongVest.
22. Invest in trees or crops for the long term.
Buy fruit trees, cocoa or timber through platforms that manage the entire process.
🔹 Sustainable profitability in the medium/long term.
🟢 Options: EcoTree, Inversoresforestales.com.
23. Rent physical billboards.
Buy advertising space (billboards, billboards, vehicles) and rent them to local businesses.
🔹 Stable monthly income if the location is strategic.
🟢 Options: Publirent, Wallapop, local signage companies.
24. Invest in self-service laundromats.
Set up or buy a self-service laundromat that operates without personnel, ideal in urban or tourist areas.
🔹 Passive income and low maintenance after initial installation.
🟢 Options: Lavapiù, Speed Queen, Wallapop (machines), local franchises.
25. Create or invest in self-service dog washing facilities.
Emerging business: spaces where owners can bathe their pets without making a mess at home.
🔹 Original, useful and low maintenance if well located.
🟢 Options: Franchises such as Lavakan, Dog Wash or direct investment with own machinery.
26. Rent your car when you don’t use it.
Earn money by renting your car to individuals during the hours or days you don’t need it.
🔹 Extra income without selling your vehicle and without complications.
🟢 Options: Getaround, Turo, Amovens, SocialCar.
27. Buy clothes in cheaper countries and resell them in expensive markets.
Buy cheap or branded clothes in lower cost countries (such as Turkey, Portugal or Vietnam) and sell them online in markets with higher purchasing power.
🔹 High profitability if you choose the right garments and sales platforms.
🟢 Options: Resell it on Wallapop, Vinted, etc.
28. Buy photo booth cameras for events.
Investment in booths or photo booth machines that you can rent for weddings, parties or fairs.
🔹 Very profitable with high demand in social events.
🟢 Options: Fotomatón Eventos, Click and Fun, SmileYou, manufacturing companies or second hand.
29. Invest in smart drawers for 24/7 delivery.
Purchase and install smart lockers in communities, housing developments or businesses, allowing users to receive packages or rent space temporarily.
🔹 Generate revenue from rental or use, especially useful with the rise of e-commerce.
🟢 Companies: Citibox, Cleveron, Amazon Hub, Bloq.it.
30. Invest in parking for bicycles or electric scooters.
Buy or manage secure lockable spaces to park bikes or scooters in urban areas. You can monetize them with apps or time-based payments.
🔹 On the rise with sustainable urban mobility.
🟢 Inspiration: Don Cicleto (Spain), Bikeep, BiciPark, municipal projects.
✅ Tips before investing.
- Diversify your portfolio: mix different sectors and asset classes.
- Define your risk profile: are you looking for security or growth?
- Invest with a long-term vision: time is your best ally.
- Don’t let money stand still: it loses value with inflation.
- Start small and learn as you go.
This information does not constitute financial advice, but merely an informative presentation of the options available.
