Passive income: NO

It is unlikely that selling Shopify themes will become a truly passive income stream for most people. 1. Setup/Systems Needed: To achieve passive income, you would need to create high-quality themes, set up a robust marketing strategy, and possibly automate customer support. Outsourcing updates and support can help, but requires reliable partners. 2. Reality for Most People: Only a few outliers reach a level where income becomes passive. Most sellers need to continuously update themes, handle customer queries, and market their products. 3. Community Insights: Many on forums like Reddit and YouTube report ongoing work to maintain and promote their themes. Success stories often involve significant initial effort and ongoing involvement. 4. Who It Becomes Passive For: Those with strong design skills, a good understanding of the Shopify ecosystem, and the ability to automate or outsource effectively may achieve some level of passivity. 5. Myths/Misleading Expectations: A common myth is that once a theme is created, it will sell itself. In reality, continuous marketing and updates are necessary to maintain sales. Overall, while some level of passive income is possible, it typically requires ongoing effort and is not passive for most people.