How to Make Money from Home: 35 Viable Ways

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.

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 with your custom designs. You can sell items like custom t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more.

What’s unique about POD is you don’t have to stock inventory. When a customer places an order, the item is printed and shipped directly to them by a third-party supplier—all under your brand. This makes it an attractive business model for risk-averse entrepreneurs who don’t want to spend much money upfront.

Source: Printful

It’s easy to get started with POD—just sign up with a print-on-demand platform like Printful, connect your online store or marketplace account, and add the products you want to sell. Whether you want to start a clothing brand or sell home decor online, there are 391 trending products to choose from.

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

• No control over order fulfillment and delivery

Learn more: 12 Emerging Print-on-Demand Business Ideas to Get Started with Right Now

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.

Read also: How to Make Money with Print-on-Demand

2. Set up a dropshipping business

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).

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 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 platforms like Shopify, Bigcommerce, and WooCommerce. Connect your store to Spocket, then browse and select items to dropship. The app will sync 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

• No need to manage logistics, fulfillment, and shipping

Cons of dropshipping:

• Lower profit margins compared to traditional retail

• No control over the order fulfillment and delivery

• Branding options are limited with some dropshipping partners

Learn more:

• Is Dropshipping Worth It

• How to Start a Dropshipping Business

• Branded Dropshipping

• Profitable Dropshipping Niches: How to Find Them + Top Picks

• 15 Dropshipping Tips You Need to Check Before Starting Your Business

Earning potential

Your profit varies depending on the traffic to your store and the sales volume. You can earn anywhere from a few to thousands of dollars per month. According to Bluecart, dropshippers make an average of $1K–$5K per month.

3. Do affiliate marketing

When you become an affiliate of a brand, company, or product, you earn a 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.

You can also become an affiliate through platforms like ClickBank. Simply browse the ClickBank marketplace to find the right products for 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 products you’re promoting. You can earn anywhere from a few bucks to thousands of dollars per month. According to Pay Scale, the average affiliate marketer’s salary is $56K per year.

Learn more:

• How to Create Passive Income with Affiliate Marketing

• 10 Tips for Affiliate Marketers to Make More Money

• How to Make Money as an Influencer

4. Become an influencer

If your social media accounts have a large following, consider becoming an influencer—team up with relevant brands and make money online through partnerships.

In most cases, these partnerships involve content creation. The influencer produces content (e.g., photos online, Instagram Stories, or TikTok videos) and mentions the brand in the content.

To become an influencer, you must have an engaged social media audience. You can wait for brands to approach you or sign up on influencer networks such as IZEA and Skeepers.

Source: Skeepers

Pros of influencer marketing:

• It’s a fun way to make money from home as a creator

• With the right audience size and engagement, it can be very lucrative

Cons of influencer marketing:

• Requires time, energy, and commitment to create relevant posts and build a large, active audience

• Campaign results largely depend on social media algorithms over which you have no control

Earning potential

Your profit depends on your audience size 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 Instagram influencer estimates:

• Nano-influencers (500–10K followers): $10–$100 per post

• Micro-influencers (10K–25K followers): $100–$500 per post

• Mid-tier influencers (25K–100K followers): $500–$5K per post

• Macro-influencers (100K–1M followers): $5K–$10K per post

• Mega-influencers (1M+ followers): $10K+ per post

• Celebrities (movie and TV stars like the Kardashians): Varies, but $1M+ isn’t unheard of

Learn more:

• How to Make Money on Instagram and Grow Your Following

• How to Make Money on TikTok: 7 Tried and Tested Ways

5. Set up a YouTube channel

If you have a knack for video production and have a bit of charisma, you can monetize your skills on 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 ad revenue, brand partnerships, and affiliate marketing. You can also increase profits by selling merch like custom hoodies, caps, or t-shirts.

Pros of running a YouTube channel:

• 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 running a YouTube channel:

• Requires time and commitment to building a large channel

• Requires constant content creation to stay relevant and keep viewers engaged

• You’ll need to invest in video equipment

Earning potential

To make money from ads on your YouTube videos, 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 Descript, YouTubers make between $5 and $15 for every thousand views.

Learn More: How to Make a Profitable YouTube Channel: 6 Revenue Streams

6. Earn as a blogger

If you’re passionate about writing and have knowledge to share with your community, consider making money from home by blogging. The most straightforward method to monetize a blog is through AdSense— Google’s advertising platform. Running ads on your own website enables you to earn income through impressions (i.e., eyeballs on your ads) and clicks.

You can also make extra money through sponsored posts—team up with brands relevant to your blog and promote their products in your articles.

Another way to monetize your blog is affiliate marketing. Include affiliate links in your blog articles or build an email list and promote affiliate products to your readers.

Pros of blogging:

• Several monetization opportunities through affiliate, ad, and sponsored content

• A way to explore 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

• There’s a lot of competition, so you have to think about how to make your blog stand out

Earning potential

Your profit depends on the traffic, audience size, and methods you’re using to earn money.

7. Become a freelance writer

As the demand for content continues to grow, it’s a great time to be a freelance writer. Companies increasingly recognize the value of content and create articles, whitepapers, and video scripts to educate, inform, and engage audiences. 

To become a freelance writer, you must build up your portfolio by publishing guest articles or starting a blog. From there, start seeking referrals and reaching out to businesses that may need a content writer. You can also look at freelance job boards such as ProBlogger and apply for freelance jobs relevant to you.

Source: ProBlogger

Pros of freelance writing:

• It’s a great way to put your skills to the test and improve as a writer

• It’s an opportunity to learn more about the topics and industries you’re writing about

Cons of freelance writing:

• Landing clients can be difficult without experience

• Writing high-quality content day in and day out isn’t easy

Earning potential

Your income potential depends on your niche, expertise, 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 able and willing to teach it. To become an English teacher online, you need to be fluent in English and may also need to know your students’ native language.

You can find online tutoring jobs through English tutoring platforms. Among the most popular is Open English, an online tutor 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 or a 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:

• It may require you to be fluent in at least two languages

• You need lots of energy and patience to carry out your syllabus and work with 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 into a course.

Online courses are typically taught via pre-recorded videos. But you can also conduct video lectures in front of a live camera. Depending on what you teach, you can create videos 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 by sharing skills on something you love

• Allows you to reach a wide audience that 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

Earning potential

Your profit depends on your audience size, price point, and marketing strategy. On average, you might make between $0 and $50K per month.

10. Work as a virtual assistant

If you’re skilled in office and administrative work, you can become a virtual assistant (VA). VAs help busy professionals with day-to-day admin tasks, such as doing research, entering data, managing appointments, and sorting emails.

To be a great virtual assistant, you need to be a good communicator with strong attention to detail. You also need to be well-versed in office software like word processors, spreadsheets, and presentations. 

Find virtual assistant job opportunities through freelancing platforms like Upwork. Another option is to set up your own VA business and attract potential clients that way.

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. Millions of people visit Etsy to shop for handmade items like jewelry, home decor, artwork, and more.

Setting up an Etsy store is easy and free. You do, however, have to pay for listing your items. You also have to 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:

• Allows you to make money by leveraging your artistic skills 

• Allows you to build 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 product quality, pricing, and sales volume. Etsy sellers make anywhere from $2.2K annually to $65K monthly.

Learn more:

• How to Make Money on Etsy: A Beginner-Friendly Guide
• 23 Tips on How to Get More Sales On Etsy

12. Become an Amazon Mechanical Turk worker

Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing marketplace that lets individuals and businesses delegate repetitive tasks to a remote workforce. 

There are thousands of online tasks available on the MTurk marketplace, such as image and video processing, data verification or clean-up, information gathering, and data processing.

If you don’t mind doing repetitive, low-level tasks, 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 the amount of work you take on and the task complexity. According to Web Monkey, you can make between $1 and $10 per day on average.

13. Test websites and mobile apps

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 app

• 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 Indeed, mobile application testers can earn $17.89 per hour.

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). Nonfiction 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. They can make anywhere from 35% to 70% of the book sale price, depending on the platform and pricing strategies employed.

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 expertise valuable to organizations, consider becoming a consultant.

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 $203K per year.

16. Become a coach

People who want to improve their lives or businesses turn to coaches to keep them accountable and guide them through their journey.

From fitness to life and relationship coaches, there are many areas of expertise. 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 Luisa Zhou, life coaches earn between $45K and $66K per year.

17. Start an online community

People who want to advance their careers or businesses 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, swag bags, and more.

If you have a knack for community building, 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 and 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 people. 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. You can earn through paid subscriptions, donations, or even get extra income through virtual goods.

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

Many factors come into play, including whether you’re part of a gaming team and whether you have additional revenue streams (e.g., sponsorships and donations). According to Comparably, professional gamers earn an average of $8.3K per month.

Learn More: How to Make Money on Twitch: 8 Ways to Get Paid Live Streaming

19. Sell used apparel and accessories

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 products 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 stocks 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 stocks, 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 stocks:

• Enables you to earn passive income

• Regular payouts (if you invest in dividend stocks)

Cons of investing in stocks:

• 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 undergo a review, and once that’s complete, they 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 photo 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 photo sites:

• Income heavily depends on user downloads, which you can’t control

• No control over how your photos are used

Earning potential

According to Photutorial, stock photo agencies pay from $0.10 to $200 per image download.

Learn more: How to Sell Art Online and Make Money: Passive Income for Artists

23. Be an online transcriptionist

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. That’s 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.

Source: Rev

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 allows you to earn money in two 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 attendees will get valuable content and networking opportunities. 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, take a translation test, and wait for 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

Earning potential

Data from Comparaby shows that the average online translator earns $60K per year.

26. Become a proofreader

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, this job might be for you. 

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’s 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 be frustrating 

Earning potential

Data from Salary.com shows that on average, proofreaders make a little over $58K 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 4M podcasts in 2024. To maximize your chances of success, select the right niche, invest in decent podcasting equipment (mic, camera), and build 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 guests

• Doesn’t require a large investment—all you need is your computer and a microphone

Cons of being a podcaster:

• Requires a large audience to be profitable

• The podcast realm is becoming increasingly competitive

Earning potential

Your income potential largely depends on your audience size. To give you an idea of just how much money you can earn, Teachable reports that advertising spends range from $18 to $100 for every 1K listeners.

Learn more: 8 Tried-and-True Ways How to Monetize a Podcast

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 cash you’ll get back depends on the brands and promotions they’re running.

Source: Rakuten

Pros of earning cashback on purchases:

• A good way to get money for buying things you’ll need to purchase anyway

• 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 distribute cashback only after the retailer’s return period ends

Earning potential

Earnings depend on the amount you spend and the platform's cashback rate, which can range from 1% to 10%.

29. Get paid to take surveys

Market research companies and consulting firms regularly use surveys to provide their clients with market data. These companies need people to answer questions honestly so they can extract insights for their clients.

Sign up for an account on a survey 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.

Source: Opinion Outpost

Pros of taking surveys for money:

• Surveys are generally easy to complete

• Taking surveys doesn’t require specialized equipment

Cons of taking surveys for money:

• Platforms don’t pay much, so it’s difficult to earn a living wage

• You’ll be relying on survey invitations, and there’s little potential for regular, recurring revenue

Earning potential

Medium found that spending 20 min on surveys daily could result in $150 monthly profits.

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 internet 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 have 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 market size, and competitive landscaping.

You’ll need to go through an application and screening process to demonstrate your research skills and expertise. Once 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 Comparably, internet researchers make an average of $62.7K per year.

31. Sell your unused gift cards

Do you have some unused gift cards lying around? You can make extra money fast 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 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 storage space will be able to reserve it 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 into 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 to keep the renter’s belongings safe and secure

Earning potential

Your profit depends on the type of space you’re renting out, its size, and location. Listings on Neighbor show that a 4 × 4 ft. self-storage unit in Long Beach, CA, costs about $50 per month, while a 20 × 10 ft. garage costs $280 per month.

33. Review music, fashion, accessories, and more

Earn money online by expressing your honest opinion. SliceThePie, one of the web’s largest paid review sites, lets you earn cash when you provide feedback on music tracks, fashion accessories, and clothes online. 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 Web Monkey, SliceThePie pays between $0.02 and $0.10 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

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 price you bought them for

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 extra cash 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 default on their loan

Earning potential

The money you get depends on the amount you invest and the risk level of the loan. The average 3-year rolling return on Prosper is currently 5.9%.

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 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 decent money from home, whether spending a few hours on a side hustle or working a full-time job. It’s just a matter of figuring out which remote jobs or business opportunities are right for you.

Read Next:

• 12 Common Hobbies That Make Money
• How to Make Extra Income While Working Full-Time: The Art of Balance