Making money from home is no longer a novel concept. The work landscape has shifted tremendously over the last few years as we’ve advanced in communication apps, online marketplaces, and collaboration platforms. Today, it’s not uncommon for people to make money online by working remotely and setting their own schedules.
If you’re curious about how to make money from home, we’ve got you covered. This post includes 35 legit and viable ways to earn money without leaving your house.
How to make money from home: 35 money-making ideas
Whether you’re looking to earn extra money online or want to make a full-time living while working from home, you have plenty of options at hand.
1. Start a print-on-demand business
A print-on-demand (POD) business works like this: you set up an online store and sell merchandise that has your custom designs on them. Say, if you’re an artist, you can sell your canvas prints online or have your designs printed on different items such as t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more.
Source: Printful
What’s unique about POD is you don’t have to buy and stock inventory. Instead, your designs are printed onto products as the orders come in—hence the “on-demand” part!
This makes it an attractive business model for risk-averse entrepreneurs who don’t want to spend too much money upfront. With print-on-demand, your capital is never tied to inventory and there’s no need to spend resources on warehousing and holding costs.
It’s easy to get started with POD. You can do it from home—just sign up with a print-on-demand platform like Printful, connect your online store or marketplace account to Printful and add the products you want to sell. When someone makes a purchase, Printful automatically receives the order, then prints, packs, and ships the products to your customer. All under your brand.
Source: Printful
Pros of print-on-demand
Minimal financial risk.
No need to manage logistics, fulfillment, or shipping.
Cons of print-on-demand
Lower profit margins compared to traditional retail.
Little control over the customer’s order fulfillment experience.
Take a look at this video to learn how an experienced ecommerce seller and YouTuber Ryan Hogue made a profit from his online store. Ryan will share how he managed to start a hat business and make $1500 in just seven days by selling custom hats online.
Earning potential
Your profit depends on the products you’re selling. Premium items like jackets, for example, command higher prices (and profits) compared to products like postcards. Other factors include your markup as well as the products and fulfillment costs of your POD platform. If your POD supplier charges $9.71 for a shirt, and you sell it for $20, you profit $10.29. Michael Essek, who’s been selling via POD for over 6 years, writes that he averages about $9K to $15K per month, but it took years to reach that income level. When he first started in August 2013, he made just $50 in his first month. What that means is, that the work you put in will pay off, but success won’t come overnight. Be patient with the process!
Dropshipping is an ecommerce model where the seller doesn’t hold physical inventory. Instead, they partner with a third-party supplier who’ll provide the products and their order fulfillment. As in the case of Printful, dropshipping is often paired with print-on-demand, but it doesn’t have to be (by the way, Printful also offers stand-alone dropshipping services called Warehousing & Fulfillment).
So, with regular dropshipping, the items are manufactured elsewhere and are simply stored in the dropshipping supplier’s warehouse.
Dropshipping involves creating an online store and loading it up with products you want to sell. Doing this is fairly easy as most ecommerce platforms offer solutions that make it simple to find production partners and add their products to your store. You can connect an app like Spocket, for example, that integrates with major ecommerce solutions and online stores including Shopify, Bigcommerce, WooCommerce. Connect your store to Spocket, then browse and select items to drop ship from various categories. The app will sync all your orders and fulfill them when someone makes a purchase.
Source: Spocket
Pros of dropshipping
Minimal financial risk. You don’t have to spend money on inventory until a customer places an order.
There’s no need to manage logistics, fulfillment, and shipping.
Cons of dropshipping
Lower profit margins compared to traditional retail.
Minimal control over the customer’s order fulfillment experience. With some dropshipping partners, it’s difficult to add special brand touches like customized notes, product samples, and flyers to your shipments.
Your profit varies depending on traffic to your store and the sales volume. You can earn a few to thousands of dollars per month. According to Bluecart, drop shippers make an average of $1K–$5K per month.
When you become an affiliate of a brand, company, or product, you earn commission every time someone makes a purchase through your affiliate link. The most straightforward way to become an affiliate is to partner with a person or company that sells products you already enjoy.
Many companies offer affiliate programs and encourage their customers to spread the word using an affiliate link or promo code. Whenever someone makes a purchase using an affiliate’s unique code, the affiliate earns a commission. As an affiliate, you must be motivated to talk up a product to your network or audience and encourage them to buy it.
You can also become an affiliate through platforms like ClickBank, where you can find a range of products to promote. Simply browse the ClickBank marketplace to find the right offering to share with your audience.
Source: ClickBank
Pros of affiliate marketing
Easy to set up.
No need to create a product or service.
Cons of affiliate marketing
Requires a large audience to earn a livable income.
No control over the business or product you’re promoting.
Earning potential
Your profit depends on the number of people who buy the offers you’re promoting. You can earn anywhere from a few bucks to thousands of dollars per month. According to data from Pay Scale, the average affiliate marketer’s salary is $52K per year.
If your social media accounts have a large following, consider becoming an influencer. You can team up with relevant brands and make money online through partnerships.
In most cases, these partnerships involve content creation. The influencer will produce content (e.g., photos, Instagram Stories, TikTok videos) and weave in mentions of the brand into the content.
To become an influencer, you must have an engaged social media audience and wait for brands to approach you. If you’re too eager to wait, another approach is to actively seek out partnerships by signing up on influencer networks such as IZEA and Octoly.
Source: Octoly
Pros of influencer marketing
It’s a fun way to make money from home if you’re a creator.
With the right audience size and engagement, it can be very lucrative.
Cons of influencer marketing
Requires time, energy, and commitment to creating relevant posts and building a large and active audience.
Campaign results largely depend on social media algorithms over which you have no control.
Earning potential
Your profit depends on the size of your audience and the social media platform you’re on. There are no hard and fast rules for how much to charge brands, but Influencer Marketing Hub shares the following estimates for Instagram influencers:
Nano-influencers (500 to 10K followers): $10–$100 per posting
Micro-influencers (10K to 25K followers)-: $100–$500 per posting
Mid-tier influencers (25K to 100K followers): $500–$5K per posting
Macro-influencers (100K to 1M followers): $5K–$10K per posting
Mega-influencers (over 1M followers): $10K+ per posting
Celebrities (movie and TV stars like the Kardashians): Varies, but $1M+ isn’t unheard of
The pay varies depending on the structure of the agreement. In some cases, influencers can charge a set amount per post. Other times, they may only earn money online when someone decides to make a purchase (in which case, the business model is similar to affiliate marketing).
If you have a knack for video production and are known to have a bit of charisma, then you can monetize your people skills through YouTube. Creating a YouTube channel and publishing regular videos will enable you to generate views, attract followers, and ultimately build an audience you can promote to.
Having a popular and active YouTube channel opens up several opportunities, including:
Paid ads. You can run ads on your videos and make money from ad views and clicks.
Brand partnerships. Similar to influencer marketing, you can team up with brands you enjoy and have them sponsor your videos. Some of the best partnerships are rooted in a genuine appreciation of the brand, so seek out relationships with companies you truly support.
Affiliate marketing. If you’re an affiliate marketer, you can promote relevant products or services through your YouTube videos.
Pros of monetizing YouTube
It’s a fun way to make money from home if you’re a creator.
With the right audience size and engagement, it can be very lucrative.
Cons of monetizing YouTube
Requires time and commitment to building a large channel.
Requires constant content creation to stay relevant and keep viewers engaged.
To keep your videos fresh, you’ll need to invest in video equipment and constantly step up your editing game.
Earning potential
To make money directly from YouTube, you need at least 1K subscribers and 4K watch hours in the past year. The amount you earn depends on the views your videos get. According to Business Insider, the personal finance YouTuber Nate O’Brien with 1.1M subscribers earns $444K per year in ad revenue alone. Meanwhile, Jen Lauren, who has 1.9K subscribers, earns about $195 per month.
You can start a new or use your existing blog to make money from home. One of the most straightforward methods to monetize a blog is through AdSense, Google’s advertising platform. Running ads on your site enables you to earn income through impressions (i.e., eyeballs on your ads) and clicks.
You can also make extra money through sponsored posts. Find and team up with brands relevant to your blog, then publish articles that either mention or promote their products.
You can also overlap your blogging efforts with affiliate marketing. By publishing posts that contain affiliate links, you earn money every time a blog visitor purchases a product you’ve linked within your content. You can also use your blog to build an email list and promote affiliate products to your readers.
Pros of blogging
Several monetization opportunities through affiliate, ad, and sponsorship content.
It’s a good way to have fun with your writing skills while making money on the side.
Cons of blogging
Building a wide readership takes time and patience.
Consistently publishing high-quality content takes resources, research, and commitment.
Like with many other methods mentioned in the blog, there’s a lot of competition, so you have to know what makes your blog unique.
Earning potential
Your profit depends on traffic, audience size, and the methods you’re using to earn money (e.g., ads, courses, etc.).
7. Become a freelance writer
As the demand for content continues to grow, now’s a great time to be a freelance writer. Companies are increasingly recognizing the value of content and creating articles, whitepapers, video scripts to educate, inform, and engage audiences.
To become a freelance writer, you must build up your portfolio by publishing guest articles on other websites or by starting a blog. From there, start landing clients by seeking referrals and reaching out to businesses who may need a content writer. You can also look at freelance job boards such as ProBlogger and apply for jobs relevant to your niche.
Source: ProBlogger
Pros of freelance writing
It’s a great way to grow as a writer and put your skills to the test.
Gives you the opportunity to learn more about the topics and industries that you’re writing about.
Cons of freelance writing
Landing clients can be difficult without experience or subject matter expertise.
Writing high-quality content day in, day out isn’t easy.
Earning potential
Your income depends on your niche, expertise, confidence level, and your ability to charge your worth. Some writers charge as low as $50 for a 1K word article, while others can charge $1K or more for the same content length.
8. Teach English or other languages
English is still one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world, so there’s a demand for people willing and able to teach it. To become an English teacher online, you primarily need to be fluent in English and in the native language of the students you’re tutoring.
You can find online tutoring jobs through English tutoring platforms. Among the most popular is Open English, an online platform that allows non-native English speakers to learn and practice the language using a mobile app.
Open English is available in multiple languages, including Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese.Another popular platform is Whales English, which specializes in teaching Chinese students English. To become a Whales English tutor, you’ll need to go through a background check and demonstrate your skills during a mock class interview.
Pros of being an online English tutor
Mobile-based tutoring platforms eliminate the need for a computer and large workstation, as you can host sessions right from your phone.
Helps you widen your cultural horizons by teaching people globally.
Cons of being an online English tutor
Requires you to be fluent in at least two languages.
You need lots of energy and patience to carry out your syllabus and work with all different kinds of students (and temperaments).
Earning potential
According to Bridge Education Group, new English tutors in the United States usually earn $12–$15 per hour, while more experienced tutors can earn $25+ per hour.
9. Create an online course
If you’re not a fan of one-on-one coaching, then consider packing up your knowledge and skills into a course. A great benefit of online courses is you can make a course about anything you’re passionate and knowledgeable about.
Online courses are typically taught via pre-recorded videos. But you can also be in front of a live camera and conduct video lectures that way. Depending on what you teach, you can develop video presentations using slide decks and screen recordings. Thanks to platforms like Teachable, Thinkific, and Udemy, launching a course is relatively simple. These sites enable you to upload your course content and charge students to access your course.
Source: Teachable
Pros of launching an online course
Lets you make money sharing skills on something you love doing.
Allows reaching a wide audience you can later engage in your other projects.
Cons of launching an online course
Requires a large audience (and usually a high price point) to be profitable.
Doesn’t typically offer recurring revenue, because students only need to purchase the course once.
You might need to create and maintain several courses, so you’ll need to be able to keep track of what’s what.
Earning potential
Your profit depends on the size of your audience and your marketing strategy. Data from Teachable’s top schools reveal the following annual earnings of course makers:
17.9% earn up to $25K
39.4% earn $25K–$50K
14.7% earn $50K–$75K
27.9% earn over $75K
10. Work as a virtual assistant
If you’re skilled in office and administrative work, you can make an excellent virtual assistant (VA). VAs assist busy professionals with day-to-day admin tasks, such as doing research, entering data, managing appointments, and sorting emails.
In order to be a great virtual assistant, you need to be a good communicator with a strong attention to detail. Being well-versed in office software, including word processors, spreadsheets, and presentations is also a must.You can find virtual assistant job opportunities through freelancing platforms like Upwork. Another option is to set up your own VA business and attract potential clients.
Source: Upwork
Pros of being a virtual assistant
Potential to generate recurring revenue from repeat clients.
Doesn’t require specialized equipment or an overly technical background.
You don’t necessarily have to be an expert in a specific field to be a good VA.
Cons of being a virtual assistant
Over time, work can become dull or tedious.
Requires strong administrative skills.
Earning potential
Your earnings depend on the nature of your work and your experience level. According to Time Doctor, the pay range can be anywhere from $1 to $100 per hour.
11. Sell craft items on Etsy
Are you skilled in arts and crafts? If so, selling your creations on Etsy can be a lucrative side hustle for you. Millions of people visit Etsy to browse and shop for unique, handmade items such as jewelry, home decor, artwork, and more.
Setting up an online Etsy shop is easy and creating an account is free. You do, however, have to pay for listing your items. You must also invest time and money to craft high-quality products. Selling on Etsy can be quite competitive, so selecting a niche, building a strong profile, and implementing Etsy SEO best practices are key to success.
Source: Etsy
Pros of selling on Etsy
A creative way to make money.
Allows you to express your artistic skills and make a name for your brand.
Cons of selling on Etsy
Etsy can be a competitive marketplace, with millions of sellers on the site.
Implementing SEO and marketing is a must, so you need to develop a strategy for both.
You don’t have a direct relationship with customers as Etsy technically “owns” the customer relationship.
Earning potential
Your profit depends on your sales volume. A survey by Smart Money Mamas found that the median earnings for Etsy shop owners are $537.50 per month.
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing marketplace that lets individuals and businesses delegate repetitive tasks to a remote workforce.
There are thousands of tasks available in the MTurk marketplace that can be completed virtually. The marketplace includes jobs like image and video processing, data verification or clean-up, information gathering, data processing, and more.
If you don’t mind doing repetitive, low-level tasks, then becoming an MTurk worker is worth a try.
Source: Amazon
Pros of being an MTurk worker
Gives you the opportunity to earn money without having to think creatively or strategically.
All jobs can be completed virtually, without specialized equipment.
Cons of being an MTurk worker
Work can be dull or tedious.
Heavy reliance on the MTurk marketplace to get work.
Earning potential
Your income depends on how much work you take on and the complexity of the tasks. Mike Naab, an Amazon Mechanical Turk worker, writes on Side Hustle Nation that he averages $16 to $22 per hour.
13. Test mobile apps and websites
Web and mobile developers need testers to evaluate how apps or websites perform on different devices, browsers, and platforms. Testers help developers make apps and websites more user-friendly and bug-free.
Testing jobs may require some technical knowledge. At the very least, you need to be familiar with the platforms on which you’re testing the software and the different testing tools you need to do the job. Browse job listings on sites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Guru to find mobile and app testing gigs.
Source: Freelancer
Pros of being a web or mobile app tester
Allows you to improve websites and apps in the market.
An easy way to make money if you’re tech-savvy and detail-oriented.
Cons of being a web or mobile app tester
May require technical background and knowledge of specialized tools.
Work can be dull or tedious.
Earning potential
According to ZipRecruiter, mobile application testers can earn anywhere from $78.5K to $125K per year.
14. Write and publish ebooks
Just like physical books, ebooks fall under two main categories: fiction and nonfiction.
Fiction ebooks are literary works that aren’t based on facts (e.g., fantasy novels, whodunit mysteries). Non-fiction ebooks are based on real events and facts as well as the author’s own knowledge and resources (e.g., memoirs, self-development books).
As an ebook author, you need to write the content, publish it into a book, and sell it online through platforms like Amazon and iBooks. Platforms like Lulu make it easy for authors to self-publish their books. Lulu handles the process of turning the content of your book into an electronic publication (EPUB) format, and Lulu can also distribute your book through marketplaces like Amazon.
Source: Lulu
Pros of publishing ebooks
Gives you an opportunity to reach a wide audience using just one piece of content.
You can bypass the time-consuming and expensive steps you’d normally need to take to publish a traditional print book.
Cons of publishing ebooks
The writing process will take a lot of time and effort, and you’ll need to hire an editor to truly make it shine.
Doesn’t typically offer recurring revenue, because readers only need to purchase the book once.
Earning potential
There isn’t a lot of data on the average earnings of self-published authors. However, according to Forbes, the medium income for self-published authors is under $5K per year.
15. Become a business consultant
Many companies hire consultants to improve certain areas of their business. For example, an organization that wants to be more inclusive can hire a diversity and inclusion consultant to ensure they have the right initiatives in place. A company that wants to level up its tech stack may hire a technology consultant to determine the best solutions to adopt.
If you have knowledge and expertise valuable to other organizations, consider marketing yourself as a consultant to these companies.
Source: Upwork
Pros of being a consultant
Possible recurring revenue through repeat clients and retainer agreements.
Consulting work is strategic and creative, so you can help clients and businesses without being involved in tedious or mundane tasks.
Cons of being a consultant
You’ll likely be involved in a high-pressure environment.
You’ll be responsible for high-level outcomes and results.
Earning potential
Data from Glassdoor indicates that Management Consultants earn on average $108.5K per year.
16. Become a coach
People who want to level up their life or business turn to coaches for keeping them accountable and guiding them through their journey.
You can be a fitness coach who helps clients with their workouts or nutrition. You can choose to be a life coach and guide people through their personal development journeys. There are even coaches who help individuals and couples be more fulfilled in their relationships.
If you have the knowledge, skills, and life experiences that can help people improve, then try becoming a coach. Depending on your field, you may need to go through coaching certificate courses. While not required, certifications give you credibility, which helps attract clients.
Pros of being a coach
Opportunity to work with various types of people.
You get to develop your own curriculum and style.
Cons of being a coach
An increasingly competitive industry, as more people decide to become coaches.
Pressure to help clients get results.
Earning potential
Your profit depends on your niche and experience level. According to CareerExplorer, starting-level life coaches earn about $10.4K per year, while top-level coaches earn $199.2K per year.
17. Start an online community
People who want to advance their careers or business will pay good money to access exclusive networking opportunities and content. Smart and socially-savvy entrepreneurs are capitalizing on this opportunity by creating communities of like-minded individuals.
In exchange for a subscription fee, members get access to a private group where they can ask questions and network with others. Some communities also offer additional perks like exclusive online events, group coaching sessions, goodie bags, and more.
If you have a knack for community building, then this is the opportunity for you. You can set up the community using a platform like Facebook. You could also create a private Slack workspace, then charge members a recurring fee to access it.
Pros of leading an online community
Enables you to meet and interact with different types of people.
Paves the way for meaningful connections and relationships.
Cons of leading an online community
Requires consistent effort to keep community members engaged.
Lots of competition from other online communities (some of which are free).
Earning potential
There’s not a lot of data on the earnings of community owners. That said, Growth Mentor states that online community membership costs can range from $500 to $100K annually. Depending on the type of group that you run, you can estimate your earnings by multiplying your price point by the number of members who join.
18. Be an online gamer
Playing video games has emerged as a lucrative business for many individuals. Gamers typically make money in two ways. One route is to become a streamer using a platform like Twitch or YouTube that enables you to live stream games to your audience. And you can earn an income through paid subscriptions, donations, or even virtual goods that can be exchanged for cash.
The other route is to make money simply by playing the game itself. Axie Infinity, for example, awards gamers with digital currency called Smooth Love Potion which can be exchanged for fiat currency (government-issued currency).
Source: Twitch
Pros of being an online gamer
It’s a fun way to earn money.
Casual working environment.
Cons of being an online gamer
Can be highly competitive, and in some cases toxic especially when players demonstrate unsportsmanlike behavior.
Time-consuming and requires a lot of screen time which might be a health hazard.
Earning potential
Lots of factors come into play, including whether or not you’re part of a gaming team and if you have additional revenue streams (e.g., sponsorships, donations). According to Cyber Athletiks, professional gamers earn an average of $1K–$5K per month.
Got clothes and accessories you’re no longer using? Sell them on online marketplaces for cash. In many cases, you won’t even have to leave your home to earn money. Simply ship the items to the buyers and you’ll be good to go.
There are numerous platforms to sell used items, including eBay, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace.You can also look into websites that specialize in fashion and accessories. There’s Poshmark, a site that’s specifically for buying and selling fashion pieces, beauty products, and home decor. If you have luxury fashion items to sell, check out TheRealReal and Fashionphile.
Source: Fashionphile
Pros of selling used apparel and accessories
Allows you to earn money from things you already have.
Doesn’t require an upfront investment.
Cons of selling used apparel and accessories
Requires hands-on work like setting up a listing, taking photos, coordinating with buyers, and shipping.
Difficulties may arise when dealing with disputes and returns.
Earning potential
Your earnings vary widely based on the value of goods you’re selling and your sales volume.
20. Sell used gadgets
You can opt to sell gadgets via general online marketplaces like eBay, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace, but you can also sell through websites that specialize in electronics.
A great example is Decluttr. Instead of functioning like a peer-to-peer marketplace, Decluttr lets you sell the item to them.
Decluttr sends you an instant valuation for your tech items and lets you ship the products to them for free. You don’t need to take pictures, create listings, or coordinate with buyers. Select the brand and model of your device, note its condition, and Decluttr will send you a price you’ll get for the product. You ship your items to Decluttr and get paid after Decluttr’s expert team reviews the items.
Source: Decluttr
Pros of selling used gadgets
Allows you to earn money from things you already have.
Doesn’t require an upfront investment.
Cons of selling used gadgets
Requires some logistics and communication.
Difficulties may arise when dealing with disputes and returns.
Earning potential
Your earnings will vary based on the value of the goods that you’re selling and your sales volume.
21. Invest in stocks
Investing in stock can help you earn money via capital gains and dividends.
In the case of capital gains, you can profit from selling a stock at a price higher than your purchase amount. For instance, if you buy stock for $1 a share and it goes up to $5 per share after a month, you can sell your shares for a profit of $4.
Some stocks also yield dividends—profit distributions that are paid out regularly (usually on a quarterly basis) to shareholders.To start investing in stock, you need to open an account through an investment platform such as Vanguard, TD Ameritrade, or M1 Finance. From there, you need to deposit funds, select the stock you’d like to invest in, and track the performance of your portfolio.
Source: M1 Finance
Pros of investing in stock
Enables you to earn passive income.
Regular payouts (if you invest in dividend stocks).
Cons of investing in stock
Requires a financial investment and constant attention to the market.
Has financial risk, as your investments could decline in value.
Earning potential
Investment returns vary greatly, depending on how much capital you have and the stock you invest in. Broadly speaking, the US stock market grows at an average rate of 10% per year. Assuming you put in $10K into the overall stock market, you might earn $1K in your first year.
22. Sell your photos on stock photography sites
If you’re skilled in photography, you can sell your work to stock photography sites like Getty Images and Shutterstock.
The process is relatively easy. Create a contributor account on stock image sites and submit your work. The photos you submit will go through a review process and once that’s complete, your photos will be included in the site’s catalog. Every time a customer purchases your photo, you’ll earn a percentage of the price paid.
Source: Shutterstock
Pros of selling on stock photography sites
Allows you to earn money by expressing your artistic skills.
Has the potential to put your work in front of a wide audience.
Cons of selling on stock photography sites
Income heavily depends on user downloads, which you can’t control.
The rise of videos and podcasts has bolstered the demand for online transcriptionists. Audio and video content is easier to consume when it’s accompanied by captions or transcriptions. This is where you come in.
Platforms such as Rev make the process of connecting transcriptionists to customers simple. Start off by creating an account and taking a test to demonstrate your transcription skills. Once you’re approved, you can browse Rev’s marketplace containing hundreds of transcription jobs. Select the jobs you want to take and start transcribing.
Pros of being an online transcriptionist
Doesn’t require a lot of strategic or creative thinking.
Enables you to get paid while doing relatively easy tasks.
Cons of being an online transcriptionist
Work can be tedious.
Poor audio quality may make transcription work difficult.
Earning potential
According to Rev, most people earn about $156 per month, though the top 5% of transcriptionists on the platform make around $900 per month.
24. Host online events
Launching online events gives you opportunities to earn money in two main ways: you can sell tickets to attendees and you can secure sponsorships from brands who want to get in front of the attendees.
To be successful, you must ensure that people will get valuable content and networking opportunities from attending. So securing great speakers and bringing like-minded people together is a must.You also need a robust platform on which to host your events. Depending on the size of the function, solutions like Eventbrite may work well.
Source: Eventbrite
Pros of hosting online events
Paves the way for meaningful connections and relationships.
Can be lucrative at a large scale.
Cons of hosting online events
Requires lots of logistics and back-and-forth between sponsors, speakers, guests, etc.
Can be stressful, particularly when lots of moving parts are involved.
Earning potential
According to Eventbrite, online event ticket prices depend on the industry. Online music event tickets sell at around $17, while health and wellness events come in at $29. Meanwhile, the average cost of business and professional event tickets is $91.
Based on the type of event that you’re hosting, you can estimate your earnings by multiplying your price point by the number of ticket sales.
25. Become a translator
If you speak more than one language, consider becoming an online translator. These jobs are pretty straightforward: you’re provided with text, audio, or video content in a particular language and you’ll be tasked to translate it.
You can find translation gigs through freelancing platforms like Upwork. Search for translation jobs in the languages you’re fluent in and apply. You can also check translation platforms such as Gengo. Sign up for an account, take a translation test, and wait for an approval. Once you’re approved, start browsing and claiming the jobs you’d like to take on.
Source: Gengo
Pros of being an online translator
Nowadays, translation is mostly remote, so you’re not bound to any location
No need for specialized equipment.
Cons of being an online translator
Requires you to be fluent in at least two languages.
Language can be nuanced and open to interpretation, which may lead to miscommunication.
There’s a massive amount of content being generated on a daily basis. Content writers and publishers need proofreaders to ensure everything they produce is error-free. Enter proofreaders.
If you like reading and are extremely detail-oriented, you might enjoy being a proofreader. You’ll need to read a body of text and ensure there are no spelling and grammatical errors, and you’ll likely be invited to correct stylistic blunders. In some cases, you’ll be provided with the client’s style guide and you’ll be tasked with ensuring that the content follows that guide.
To become a proofreader, create an account on a proofreading platform like Wordvice or ProofreadingPal. In order to get approved, you’ll need to take a test to demonstrate your reading and language skills. Once you’ve passed the platform’s screening process, you’ll start receiving proofreading assignments.
Source: Wordvice
Pros of being a proofreader
You can earn money doing something that is in high demand among content creators.
Gives you the opportunity to read various types of content.
Cons of being a proofreader
Work can be time-consuming and tedious.
Proofreading or editing poorly written content can turn out to be very frustrating.
Earning potential
Data from Salary.com shows that on average, proofreaders make a little over $54K per year.
27. Launch a podcast
If you’re comfortable speaking to an audience and interviewing guests on air, try podcasting.
The podcasting landscape is extremely competitive, with over 2M podcasts as of April 2021. Give yourself the best chances of success by selecting the right niche, investing in decent podcasting equipment (mic, camera), and building an audience.
Once you’ve grown your listenership, you can earn money through sponsorships and ads.
Pros of being a podcaster
Allows you to make money by sharing your views and interacting with interesting guests.
Doesn’t require a large investment, as all you need is your computer and a microphone.
Cons of being a podcaster
Requires a large audience to be lucrative and profitable.
The podcast realm is becoming increasingly competitive.
Earning potential
Your income largely depends on how big your audience is. To give you an idea of how much you can earn, The Atlantic reports that advertising spends on the most popular podcasts range from $25 to $40 for every 1K listeners.
28. Join a cashback reward program
Websites like Rakuten and TopCashback, enable you to get some of your money back when you shop for things online.
Here’s how it works: you sign up for an account on a cashback website. You can then browse the brands or offers featured on the site and spend money through the website’s affiliate links. The amount of spent cash you’ll get back depends on the brands and promotions they’re running.
Source: Rakuten
Pros of earning cashback on purchases
Good way to get money for buying things you’ll need to purchase either way.
Gives you access to great deals and offers.
Cons of earning cashback on purchases
Still requires you to purchase products, which may lead to unnecessary spending.
Getting paid may take time, as platforms have to wait until the retailer’s return period ends before they distribute your cashback.
Earning potential
Earnings depend on the amount you spend and the cashback rate offered by the platform, which can range from 1% to 10%.
29. Get paid to take surveys
Market research companies and consulting firms regularly implement surveys to provide their clients with market data. These companies need people to answer surveys honestly so they can extract insights for their clients.
You can sign up for an account on a survey company site, provide information about yourself, and the company will send you survey invitations if you qualify for their market research studies.Some of the most popular survey aggregators include Survey Junkie, Opinion Outpost, and OneOpinion.
Platforms don’t pay much, so it’s difficult to earn a living wage doing just surveys.
You’ll be relying on survey invitations, and there’s little potential for regular, recurring revenue.
Earning potential
Research by NerdWallet found that earnings for taking online surveys range from $0.41 to $2.03 per hour.
30. Become an online researcher
Research is an important part of content creation. Credible and well-researched content is much more effective in engaging audiences than “fluffy” content pieces that don’t contain facts or actionable advice.
Good research takes time and a certain amount of skill. You need to be adept at searching for information and sifting through vast amounts of data. Having a well-honed “BS detector” also helps because there’s a lot of false and misleading information on the web.
If you possess all of these skills, then consider becoming an online researcher. Websites like AskWonder and 10EQS pay qualified individuals to conduct research tasks such as gathering statistics, determining the size of the market, and competitive landscaping.
You’ll need to go through an application and screening process to demonstrate your research skills and expertise. Once you’re approved, you’ll start receiving invitations to research tasks.
Source: 10EQS
Pros of being an online researcher
Helps you learn more about certain industries and fields.
The work can be highly interesting and educational.
Cons of being an online researcher
Can be time-consuming and difficult to find high-quality, relevant, and recent data.
Requires strong analytical skills.
Earning potential
According to ZipRecruiter, work-from-home internet researchers make anywhere between $24K to $100K per year.
31. Sell your unused gift cards
Do you have some unused gift cards lying around? You can make extra money by selling them for cash. Websites such as CardCash make the process extremely simple.
All you need to do is enter the gift card brand and the balance on the card. CardCash will then make an offer for the card. When you agree to the offer, CardCash will verify the gift card and send you the amount within 1 to 2 days of order approval. In many cases, you don’t need to mail in the physical card as CardCash can transfer the gift card balance by verifying the card number and PIN code.
Source: CardCash
Pros of selling gift cards
Enables you to make money from things you already have.
In most cases, doesn’t require you to deal with shipping.
Cons of selling gift cards
The cash value you receive will be less than the actual balance on the gift card.
Isn’t lucrative enough to actually earn a living wage.
Earning potential
Your earnings will vary widely based on the value of the cards that you’re selling and your sales volume.
32. Monetize unused storage space in your house
If you have extra space in your garage, driveway, shed, or spare bedroom, you can monetize it by storing other people’s belongings.
Create a listing on Neighbor containing the details of your location—type of space, size, height, access hours, etc. You’ll also need to upload photos of the location and set your monthly rates.
Neighbor will list your space on its marketplace and people who need room for storage can reserve the space on the site. The site facilitates the entire process. You’ll be able to communicate with renters through the platform and Neighbor will automatically deposit rent to your bank account every month.
Source: Neighbor
Pros of renting out storage space
Enables you to earn money using resources you already have.
No upfront financial investment.
Cons of renting out storage space
Requires coordinating and back-and-forth with renters.
Requires maintenance of the space to keep the renter’s belongings safe and secure.
Earning potential
Your profit depends on the type of space that you’re renting out, its size, and the location. Listings on Neighbor show that a 10 × 10 ft. bedroom in Long Beach, CA costs about $68 per month, while 175 × 100 ft. parking lot costs $1.7K per month.
33. Review music, fashion, accessories, and more
Earn money by expressing your honest opinion. The website SliceThePie, one of the web’s largest paid review sites, lets you earn cash when you provide feedback on music tracks, clothing, and fashion accessories. Your input is sent directly to artists, record labels, and brands to help make them better decisions and improve their offerings.
To get started, register for an account on SliceThePie. Once you’re in, you’ll be able to choose a category you’d like to review. If you choose to review music, for example, you’ll be provided with an audio sample. From there, you’ll give a rating, answer questions, and share your thoughts.
Source: SliceThePie
Pros of being an online reviewer
Allows you to earn money while sharing your honest opinion.
Exposes you to new and various pieces of music or fashion.
Cons of being an online reviewer
Formulating clear, meaningful, and actionable feedback isn’t always easy.
Your earning potential relies heavily on the amount of feedback requests you receive.
Earning potential
Your income depends on the review platform and the number of reviews you submit. According to SideHusl, SliceThePie pays between $0.02 and $0.20 per review.
34. Sell used textbooks
If you possess textbooks you’re no longer using, sell them through sites like BookScouter and BookByte.
The process is simple: enter the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) of the textbooks you’re selling, and the site will provide a cash offer for the books. If you decide to accept the offer, the site will offer a shipping label so you can send the books. You’ll get paid once the books are received and processed.
Source: BookScouter
Source: BookScouter
Pros of selling textbooks online
Enables you to make money from things you already have.
No upfront financial investment.
Cons of selling textbooks online
Requires you to deal with shipping.
The money you earn will be less than the value of your books.
Earning potential
The cash you receive varies widely based on the value of the goods that you’re selling and your sales volume.
35. Consider peer-to-peer lending
If you have money to spare, you may be able to put it to good use through peer-to-peer lending—a lending structure that lets people borrow money from other individuals instead of financial institutions. Prosper, a popular lending platform, connects investors with borrowers to help the former grow their money while enabling the latter to obtain the funds they need.
As an investor, you’ll be able to browse and search for individual loans on the site. If you choose to fund a loan, your money will be sent to the borrower, who will then pay you back through monthly installments with interest.
Source: Prosper
Pros of peer-to-peer lending
Enables you to help others financially.
Could be a good way to earn passive income.
Cons of peer-to-peer lending
Requires an upfront financial investment.
You could lose your investment if the borrowers defaults on their loan.
Earning potential
The money you get depends on the amount you invest and the risk level of the loan. Historical returns data from Prosper indicates that returns can range from 3.5% to 8.5%.
Ready to give these money-making ideas a try?
If you want to start making money from home, first figure out which method is right for you. Evaluate your strengths, interests, and capabilities, then use them to guide your decisions.
If you’re a skilled artist, try your hand at selling print-on-demand products or put your arts and crafts on Etsy. Prefer to interact with people? Then community building and event organizing might be more up your alley.
Whatever the case, there’s definitely no shortage of money-making ideas out there! These days, you can make money from home while setting your own schedule and enjoying more freedom. It’s just a matter of figuring out which remote jobs or business opportunities are right for you.
