Passive income: NO

Earning passive income solely from being an M&A consultant is unlikely for most individuals. This type of side hustle typically involves active client management, deal negotiations, and strategic advisory work, which are not easily automated or outsourced to create passive income. While some consultants may eventually build a team or processes to streamline their operations, true passivity is rare in this field. Most successful M&A consultants remain actively involved in their projects and client relationships to maintain their income.