Passive income: YES

Starting a stock sound effects creator side hustle has the potential to eventually earn passive income, but it largely depends on the level of dedication and effort put into the initial setup. Many creators in this space work towards building a library of high-quality sound effects that can be licensed repeatedly for various projects, leading to passive income streams. To reach a level of true passivity, creators often need to invest in automation tools for managing sales, licensing, and delivery of their sound effects. While some outliers may achieve full passive income, most creators need to consistently create and market new sound effects to maintain and grow their earnings. It realistically becomes passive for those who have a large, diverse library of in-demand sound effects and effectively utilize automation tools. It may not become fully passive for those who do not continuously create new content or fail to market their sound effects effectively. Misleading expectations often revolve around underestimating the effort required to build a substantial library and maintain a steady income flow.