I bought a car wash at 22 years old. It basically runs itself — and I make $5,500 in passive income each month.

• Hannah Ingram purchased a coin-operated car wash in 2021 to create passive income. 
• She made a profit in her very first month after purchasing it; the customer base was already built.
• She has since put in thousands of dollars to improve the facility but says the investments are paying off. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Hannah  Ingram, a 23-year-old car wash owner based in Tennessee. It has been edited for length and clarity.

In high school, I read a book by Robert Kiyosaki called "Rich Dad Poor Dad," and it talked about how real estate created millionaires in the US. At just 17, I knew that I wanted to invest in real estate after finishing that book. I've been involved with real estate ever since.