How to make money from home UK: 35 Proven ways

Making money from home is no longer just a dream – for millions across the UK, it’s become the new reality. The way we work has changed dramatically in recent years, thanks to advances in communication tools, online marketplaces, and collaboration platforms. Today, it’s completely normal to earn a living online – working remotely and setting your own schedule.

If you’re wondering how to make money from home in the UK, you’re in the right place. We’ve rounded up 35 proven and legitimate ways to earn an income without leaving your house.

How to make money from home: 35 Practical ideas

Whether you’re looking to earn a bit of extra cash with a side hustle or want to build a full-time career from your living room, you have plenty of options.

1. Start a print-on-demand business

A print-on-demand (POD) business is one of the easiest ways to start selling products online. You create an online shop and sell items featuring your own designs – from custom t-shirts and hoodies to mugs, tote bags, and phone cases. 

The beauty of POD is that you don’t need to hold any stock. When a customer places an order, a third-party supplier like Printful prints, packs, and posts the item directly to them – all under your brand name. It’s a low-risk business model ideal for new entrepreneurs who don’t want to invest thousands of pounds upfront.

Source: Printful

Getting started with POD is straightforward. Sign up with a platform like Printful, connect your online shop (like Shopify or Etsy), and add products from our catalogue. Whether you want to start a clothing brand or sell unique homeware, there’s a huge range of trending products to choose from.

And the best part for your UK customers? With our fulfilment centres in the UK and Europe, orders are produced locally. This means faster delivery (often via Royal Mail), lower shipping costs, and no surprise customs fees for your British buyers.

Pros of Print on Demand:

• Minimal financial risk

• No need to manage logistics, fulfilment, or shipping
  
  

Cons of Print on Demand:

• Lower profit margins compared to buying in bulk

• You don't control the final fulfilment and delivery process
  
  

Learn more: 14 Emerging Print-on-Demand Business Ideas to Get Started with Right Now

Earning potential

Your profit depends on what you sell and your markup. Premium products like jackets and sweatshirts tend to offer higher margins than smaller items such as mugs or stickers.

For example, if a t-shirt costs £8.50 from your POD partner and you sell it for £20, your profit is £11.50 before costs like marketing and platform fees. Remember, if your turnover exceeds the threshold, you'll need to register for Value Added Tax (VAT) with HMRC.​

Read more: How to Make Money with Print on Demand​

2. Set up a dropshipping business

Dropshipping is another popular eCommerce model where you don't hold any physical stock. Instead, you partner with a third-party supplier who provides the products and handles order fulfilment. It’s similar to Print on Demand, but instead of selling your own designs, you sell existing products sourced from suppliers.

To get started, you’ll need to create an online shop and choose the products you want to offer. Most eCommerce platforms make this easy by integrating with dropshipping apps that connect you directly to suppliers.

A good example is Spocket, which works with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce. Once connected, you can browse their catalogue, select products to sell, and automatically sync orders so they’re fulfilled by the supplier whenever someone buys from your shop.

Source: Spocket

Pros of dropshipping:

• Minimal financial risk – no need to invest in stock

• No need to manage logistics, fulfilment, and shipping
  
  

Cons of dropshipping:

• Lower profit margins than traditional retail

• No control over order fulfilment and delivery times

• Branding options can be limited
  
  

Learn more:

• Is Dropshipping Worth It

• How to Start a Dropshipping Business

• Branded Dropshipping
  
  

Earning potential

Income from dropshipping varies widely depending on your product range, traffic, and marketing strategy. Some UK sellers earn a few hundred pounds a month, while others scale to full-time income once they build steady sales.

3. Try affiliate marketing

When you become an affiliate for a brand, you earn a commission every time someone purchases through your unique affiliate link. The easiest way to start is to partner with a company whose products you already use and love.​

Many companies, including Printful, offer affiliate programmes and encourage customers to spread the word.

You can also find programmes through affiliate networks like Awin or ClickBank. Simply browse their marketplaces to find the right products for your audience.

Source: ClickBank

Pros of affiliate marketing:

• Easy to set up

• No need to create your own product or service
  
  

Cons of affiliate marketing:

• Requires a large and engaged audience to earn a significant income

• No control over the business or product you’re promoting
  ​

Earning potential

Affiliate earnings vary widely depending on your audience size, niche, and the commission rates offered. Some affiliates earn a few pounds per month from casual promotion, while others build full-time income streams. According to Glassdoor UK, the average annual salary for an affiliate marketer is around £35,000.

4. Become an influencer

If you’ve built a strong following on social media, becoming an influencer could be a fun and rewarding way to earn money from home. Influencers partner with brands to promote products or services through sponsored content – often in the form of Instagram posts, TikTok videos, or YouTube collaborations.

Most influencer partnerships involve content creation, where you feature or mention a brand as part of your usual posts. The key is to work with companies that align with your values and appeal to your audience – authenticity matters more than follower count.

To get started, focus on growing an engaged community around a specific niche. Once you’ve built momentum, brands may approach you directly or you can sign up on influencer networks like Tribe or The Blogger Programme.

Pros of influencer marketing:

• A fun and creative way to make money from home

• Can be very lucrative with the right audience size and engagement
  
  

Cons of influencer marketing:

• Requires a lot of time and commitment to create content and build a following

• Your campaign results often depend on social media algorithms you can’t control
  
  

Earning potential

Your earnings depend on your audience size and platform. There are no fixed rules, but as a rough guide for Instagram in the UK:

• Nano-influencers (1,000-10,000 followers): £25-£100 per post

• Micro-influencers (10,000-50,000 followers): £100-£500 per post

• Mid-tier influencers (50,000-100,000 followers): £500-£2,000 per post

• Macro-influencers (100,000-1 million followers): £2,000-£10,000 per post

• Mega-influencers (over 1 million followers): £10,000+ per post
  
  

5. Set up a YouTube channel​

If you have a knack for making videos and some charisma, you can monetise your skills on YouTube. By creating a channel and publishing regular videos, you can generate views, attract subscribers, and build an audience you can promote to.​

A popular YouTube channel opens several income streams, including ad revenue, brand partnerships, and affiliate marketing. You can also sell your own merchandise, like custom hoodies or t-shirts, directly to your fans.

Pros of running a YouTube channel:

• A fantastic way for creators to make money from home

• Can be highly profitable with a large, engaged audience
  
  

Cons of running a YouTube channel:

• It takes time and commitment to grow a large channel

• Requires constant content creation to stay relevant

• You’ll need to invest in some basic video equipment
  
  

Earning potential

To make money from ads, you need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past year. How much you earn depends on your video views. YouTubers can make between £2-£10 for every thousand views, depending on their niche.

6. Earn as a blogger

If you’re passionate about writing and have expertise to share, consider making money from home by blogging. The most direct way to monetise a blog is through Google AdSense, which pays you based on ad impressions and clicks.

You can also make money through sponsored posts by teaming up with brands relevant to your blog. Another great option is affiliate marketing – including affiliate links in your articles or promoting products to your email list.

Pros of blogging:

• Several ways to make money: affiliate links, ads, and sponsored content

• A great way to develop your writing skills while earning on the side
  
  

Cons of blogging:

• Building a wide readership takes time and patience

• Consistently publishing high-quality content requires research and commitment

• It’s a very competitive field, so you need to find a unique angle
  
  

Earning potential

Blogging income varies widely. New bloggers might earn pocket money from ads and affiliate links, while the UK’s top creators can bring in six-figure annual incomes through combined monetisation streams.

7. Become a freelance writer

With the growing demand for online content, it’s a great time to be a freelance writer. Companies are always looking for skilled writers to create articles, whitepapers, and video scripts that engage their target audiences.

To start, build a portfolio by publishing guest articles or launching your own blog. Then, you can seek referrals or reach out to businesses directly. You can also find freelance writing jobs on boards like ProBlogger or by creating a profile on platforms like PeoplePerHour.

Source: ProBlogger

Pros of freelance writing:

• A great way to use your skills and improve as a writer

• An opportunity to learn about different topics and industries
  ​

Cons of freelance writing:

• Finding your first clients can be challenging without experience

• Writing high-quality content day after day isn’t easy
  
  

Earning potential

Your income depends on your niche, expertise, and confidence in setting your rates. Some new writers might charge £50 for a 1,000-word article, while experienced specialists can charge £500 or more for the same length.

8. Teach English or other languages online

Teaching languages online is a flexible and rewarding way to make money from home. As English remains a global language, there’s constant demand for fluent speakers to teach it. However, if you’re bilingual or multilingual, you can also teach other languages such as Spanish, French, or Mandarin.

To become an online English teacher, you’ll usually need to be fluent in the language and, in many cases, hold a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualification – though some platforms don’t require one.

You can find online tutoring jobs on platforms that connect teachers with students worldwide. Popular options include iTutor and Cambly. These platforms allow you to set your own hours and teach from the comfort of your home.

Pros of being an online English tutor:

• Flexible hours and the ability to work from anywhere

• Widen your cultural horizons by teaching people from around the globe
  
  

Cons of being an online English tutor:

• Some platforms require specific qualifications or experience

• You need a lot of energy and patience to work with different students
  
  

Earning potential

According to Indeed UK, online English tutors typically earn between £12 and £20 per hour, with experienced teachers charging £25 or more. Those offering specialist lessons – such as business English or exam preparation – can often command higher rates.

9. Create an online course

If you have expert knowledge in a particular area but aren't keen on one-to-one coaching, consider packaging your expertise into an online course.

Online courses are usually taught through pre-recorded videos, but you can also host live sessions. Depending on what you teach, you can create videos using slide decks, screen recordings, or by speaking directly to the camera.

Platforms like Teachable, Thinkific, and Udemy make it simple to launch a course. These sites allow you to upload your content and charge students for access.

Source: Teachable

Pros of launching an online course:

• Lets you make money by sharing skills on a topic you love

• Allows you to reach a wide audience (passive income potential)
  
  

Cons of launching an online course:

• Requires time and effort upfront to create quality content

• You need an audience to sell to, which can take time to build

• It's a one-off purchase, so no recurring revenue unless you create more courses
  
  

Earning potential

Your profit depends on your audience size, price point, and marketing. Some creators make modest side income, while others earn £10,000-£20,000+ per month once their courses gain traction.

10. Work as a virtual assistant

If you’re organised and have strong administrative skills, you could become a virtual assistant (VA) to help busy professionals with daily admin tasks like research, data entry, managing calendars, and sorting emails.​

To be a great VA, you need to be a good communicator with excellent attention to detail. You should also be proficient in office software, such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace.​

You can find VA opportunities on freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, or you can set up your own VA business and market your services directly to clients.

Source: Upwork

Pros of being a virtual assistant:

• Potential for recurring revenue from long-term clients

• Doesn’t require specialised equipment or a highly technical background
  
  

Cons of being a virtual assistant:

• The work can become repetitive over time

• Requires strong administrative and organisational skills
  
  

Earning potential

Your earnings depend on the services you offer and your experience level. In the UK, VAs typically charge between £20 and £40 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 brilliant side hustle. Millions of people in the UK and worldwide visit Etsy to shop for handmade items like jewellery, home decor, and artwork.

Setting up an Etsy shop is free and easy. You do have to pay small listing and transaction fees, and you'll need to invest time and money into creating your products.

Etsy is a competitive marketplace, so choosing a niche, building a strong brand, and using Etsy SEO best practices are key to success.

Source: Etsy

Pros of selling on Etsy:

• Allows you to make money from your creative skills

• Lets you build your own brand and connect with customers
  
  

Cons of selling on Etsy:

• It’s a very competitive marketplace with millions of sellers

• You need to learn about marketing and SEO to stand out

• Etsy technically “owns” the customer relationship
  
  

Earning potential

Your profit depends on your product quality, pricing, and sales volume. Successful UK Etsy sellers can earn anywhere from a few hundred pounds a month to a full-time income.​

Learn more:

• How to Make Money on Etsy: A Beginner-Friendly Guide

• 19 Tips on How to Get More Sales On Etsy

12. Do online micro-tasks

Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing marketplace where individuals and businesses delegate small, repetitive tasks (known as Human Intelligence Tasks or HITs) to a remote workforce.

Thousands of online tasks are available, like image tagging, data clean-up, transcribing audio, and filling out surveys. If you don’t mind doing simple, repetitive tasks in your spare time, becoming an MTurk worker could be for you.

Source: Amazon

Pros of being an MTurk worker:

• An easy way to earn small amounts of money without creative thinking

• All jobs can be completed online without specialised equipment
  ​

Cons of being an MTurk worker:

• The pay per task is low, and the work can be tedious

• Heavy reliance on the MTurk marketplace to find work
  
  

Earning potential

Your income depends on how many tasks you complete and their complexity. Most people earn between £1 and £8 per hour. It’s best viewed as a way to make a little extra cash, not a full-time job.​

13. Test websites and mobile apps

Developers and companies need people to test their websites and mobile apps. As a tester, your job is to try out the site or app, spot any issues, and give honest feedback on how user-friendly it is.

These roles – often called user testing – don't always require deep technical knowledge. You just need to be observant, follow instructions carefully, and explain your thoughts clearly. Find testing gigs on sites like UserTesting, Trymata, and IntelliZoom.​

Pros of being a web or mobile app tester:

• Help improve websites and apps for everyone

• An easy way to make money if you’re tech-savvy and detail-oriented
  
  

Cons of being a web or mobile app tester:

• Can require some technical knowledge and specific devices

• The work can become repetitive
  
  

Earning potential

You’re typically paid per test. According to UserTesting, you can earn around £8 for every 20-minute test you complete, with some longer or specialist tests paying more.

14. Write and publish eBooks

Just like physical books, eBooks fall into two main categories: fiction and non-fiction. If you have a story to tell or knowledge to share, self-publishing an eBook has never been easier.

As an eBook author, you write the content, format it, and sell it on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Amazon KDP allows you to publish your book for free and reach millions of readers on the Kindle store.​

Pros of publishing eBooks:

• An opportunity to reach a wide, global audience with a single piece of work

• You bypass the long and often difficult process of finding a traditional publisher
  
  

Cons of publishing eBooks:

• Writing a book takes a huge amount of time and effort

• You’re responsible for all editing, cover design, and marketing

• It's a one-off purchase, offering no recurring revenue
  
  

Earning potential

Self-published authors can earn between 35% and 70% royalties on their book's sale price on Amazon KDP. Earnings vary wildly from nothing to thousands of pounds per month for best-selling authors.

15. Become a business consultant

Many companies hire consultants to help them improve specific areas of their business. For example, a business might hire a marketing consultant to improve its online presence or an IT consultant to upgrade its tech systems.

If you have valuable expertise, this could be the job for you. You can find opportunities through your professional network or on platforms like Upwork and LinkedIn.

Source: Upwork

Pros of being a consultant:

• Potential for high earnings and recurring revenue through retainer agreements

• The work is strategic and creative, helping businesses achieve real results
  
  

Cons of being a consultant:

• Often a high-pressure environment with demanding clients

• You’re responsible for delivering high-level outcomes
  ​

Earning potential

Day rates for consultants in the UK vary hugely by industry and experience but can range from £300 to over £1,500 per day.​

16. Become a coach

Many people turn to coaches when they want support, clarity, or accountability in improving their lives or careers. There are coaches for almost every area imaginable – fitness, business, life, relationships, mindset, productivity, and more.

If you have experience or specialist knowledge that could genuinely help others, coaching can be a fulfilling way to earn money from home. While certification isn’t always mandatory, training with an accredited organisation can boost your credibility and make it easier to attract clients.​

Pros of being a coach:

• An opportunity to work with different types of people and make a real impact

• You can develop your own coaching style and curriculum
  
  

Cons of being a coach:

• It's an increasingly competitive industry

• There's pressure to help clients get tangible results
  
  

Earning potential

According to UK coaching professionals, life coaches in the UK can earn between £35,000 and £60,000 per year, though this varies greatly.

17. Start a paid online community

People will pay for access to exclusive content and networking opportunities. Capitalise on this by creating a paid community for like-minded individuals, perhaps based around a hobby or profession.

In exchange for a monthly or annual fee, members get access to a private group (on platforms like Circle, Slack, or Facebook) where they can ask questions and network. You can also offer perks like exclusive online events, group coaching, or resources.

Pros of leading an online community:

• Build meaningful connections and relationships in a field you're passionate about

• Creates a recurring revenue stream
  
  

Cons of leading an online community:

• Requires consistent effort to keep members engaged and provide value

• Lots of competition from free online communities
  
  

Earning potential

Membership costs for paid communities can range from £10 to over £100 per month. Your earnings are simply your price multiplied by your number of members.

18. Be an online gamer

For some, playing video games has become a lucrative career. Gamers typically make money in two main ways. The first is streaming on a platform like Twitch or YouTube. You can earn money from paid subscriptions, viewer donations, and sponsorships.​

The other route is to compete in esports. Professional gamers can earn prize money from tournaments and salaries from the teams they play for.

Source: Twitch

Pros of being an online gamer:

• A fun way to earn money doing something you love

• A casual and flexible working environment
  
  

Cons of being an online gamer:

• Highly competitive, and online spaces can sometimes be toxic

• Requires a lot of screen time and can be isolating
  
  

Earning potential

Income ranges widely. A small streamer might make a few hundred pounds a month, while top professional gamers and streamers can earn millions per year.

19. Sell used clothes and accessories

Have a wardrobe full of clothes you no longer wear? Sell them online for cash. Platforms popular in the UK, like Vinted, Depop, and eBay make it easy to list your items. Simply take a few photos, write a description, and post the item to the buyer once it sells.​

If you have designer or luxury fashion items, consider specialist sites like Vestiaire Collective.​

Pros of selling used clothes:

• Allows you to earn money from things you already own and declutter your home

• No upfront investment required
  
  

Cons of selling used clothes:

• Requires hands-on work: listing, taking photos, packing, and posting

• Dealing with buyers' questions and potential disputes can be time-consuming
  
  

Earning potential

Your earnings depend on the brand, condition, and demand for the items you're selling. It can range from a few quid to hundreds of pounds.​

20. Sell used gadgets

Make money by selling old gadgets like mobile phones, tablets, and games consoles. Use general marketplaces like eBay or Facebook Marketplace, but you can also sell directly to specialist electronics websites.​

Sites like musicMagpie and Mazuma Mobile give you an instant valuation for your tech. If you accept their offer, they’ll send you a free postage pack. You send your item to them, and once they've checked it, they pay you directly.

Pros of selling used gadgets:

• A quick and easy way to make money from old tech lying around your house

• No need to create listings or deal with individual buyers
  
  

Cons of selling used gadgets:

• You’ll usually get less money than selling it directly to another person

• The value of old tech depreciates very quickly
  
  

Earning potential

This varies based on the item's age and condition. A recent smartphone could fetch a few hundred pounds, while older gadgets might only be worth a few quid.

21. Invest in stocks and shares

Investing in the stock market can help you make money through capital gains (selling a share for more than you paid) and dividends (a share of the company's profits).

To start investing, you’ll need to open an account with a UK-regulated investment platform. Popular options in the UK include Hargreaves Lansdown, Freetrade, or Vanguard's UK platform. In the UK, you can use a Stocks and Shares ISA to invest up to £20,000 per tax year without paying tax on your profits.

Pros of investing in stocks:

• Lets you earn passive income and grow your wealth over the long term

• Many platforms make it easy to start with small amounts of money
  
  

Cons of investing in stocks:

• Requires a financial investment and has inherent financial risk – the value of your investments can go down as well as up

• It's a long-term strategy, not a get-rich-quick scheme
  
  

Earning potential

Investment returns vary greatly. Historically, the global stock market has returned an average of around 7-10% per year over the long term, but this is not guaranteed.

22. Sell your photos on stock photography sites

If you're a keen photographer, you can sell your work on stock photography sites like Getty Images and Shutterstock.​

The process is simple. You create a contributor account and submit your photos. Once approved, they’re added to the site’s catalogue. Every time a customer downloads one of your photos, you earn a commission.

Source: Shutterstock

Pros of selling on stock photo sites:

• Allows you to earn passive income from your photography skills

• Your work can be seen and used by people all over the world
  
  

Cons of selling on stock photo sites:

• Your income depends entirely on user downloads, which you can’t control

• The market is very saturated, and earnings per download are often low
  
  

Earning potential

Stock photo agencies typically pay from a few pence to a few pounds per image download. It takes a very large, high-quality portfolio to make a significant income.

23. Be an online transcriptionist

The rise of video and podcasts has increased the demand for online transcriptionists who convert audio and video files into text.

Platforms like Rev and Scribie connect transcriptionists with clients. You typically need to pass a skills test to get started. Once approved, you can browse available jobs and choose the ones you want to work on.

Source: Rev

Pros of being an online transcriptionist:

• Flexible work you can do from home

• Doesn’t require much creative or strategic thinking
  
  

Cons of being an online transcriptionist:

• The work can be tedious and requires concentration

• Poor audio quality can make the work difficult
  
  

Earning potential

Pay is usually per audio minute. Rev states that its transcriptionists earn an average of £120 per month, with top earners making around £700 monthly.

24. Host online events

Hosting online events like workshops or webinars allows you to earn money in two ways: by selling tickets to attendees and by securing sponsorships from brands.

To be successful, you have to provide valuable content and networking opportunities. You’ll need to find great speakers and use a reliable platform like Eventbrite to manage ticketing and hosting.

Source: Eventbrite

Pros of hosting online events:

• It can be lucrative if you attract a large audience

• Paves the way for meaningful connections in your industry
  
  

Cons of hosting online events:

• Requires a lot of organisation and logistics

• It can be stressful, with many moving parts to manage
  
  

Earning potential

Ticket prices for online events in the UK can range from £10 for a simple workshop to over £100 for a professional conference. Your earnings depend entirely on ticket sales and sponsorship deals.

25. Become a translator

If you’re fluent in more than one language, you could work as an online translator. You’ll be given text, audio, or video content in one language and be asked to translate it into another.​

Find translation jobs on freelance platforms like Upwork or specialist translation platforms such as Gengo. Most sites will ask you to complete a translation test before you’re approved.

Source: Gengo

Pros of being an online translator:

• Fully remote work that you can do from anywhere

• No need for specialised equipment
  
  

Cons of being an online translator:

• You need to be fluent in at least two languages

• Language can be nuanced, which can lead to difficult translations
  ​

Earning potential

According to the National Careers Service, freelance translators in the UK can earn between £20 and £30 per hour, depending on the language and the level of complexity.

26. Become a proofreader

If you have an eye for detail and an excellent grasp of grammar, you could work as a proofreader. Writers and publishers need proofreaders to ensure their content is free from spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.

You’ll read through a piece of text, correcting any errors and ensuring it follows the client's style guide. Find proofreading work on freelance platforms or by signing up with proofreading agencies like Proofed.

Pros of being a proofreader:

• High demand for good proofreaders

• An opportunity to read a wide variety of content
  
  

Cons of being a proofreader:

• The work can be time-consuming and requires intense focus

• Editing poorly written content can be frustrating
  
  

Earning potential

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a proofreader in the UK is around £25,000 per year. Freelance rates typically range from £15 to £30 per hour.

27. Launch a podcast

If you’re comfortable speaking to an audience and enjoy interviewing people, you could try podcasting. The podcasting world is competitive, so to succeed, you need to find the right niche, invest in a decent microphone, and build an audience over time.

Once you have a steady listenership, you can make money through sponsorships, advertising, or by asking for listener support through platforms like Patreon.​

Pros of being a podcaster:

• Allows you to make money by sharing your views on a topic you love

• Doesn’t require a huge investment to get started
  
  

Cons of being a podcaster:

• Requires a large, consistent audience to be profitable

• The podcasting landscape is becoming increasingly crowded
  
  

Earning potential

Your income potential depends on your audience size. Advertisers might pay between £15 and £40 for every 1,000 listeners (known as CPM).​

28. Join a cashback reward programme

Websites like TopCashback and Quidco allow you to get a percentage of your money back when you shop online.

It’s simple: you sign up for an account and then click through their links to shop at your favourite online retailers. The cashback site earns a commission for referring you, and they share a portion of it with you.

Pros of earning cashback:

• A great way to save money on purchases you were going to make anyway

• Gives you access to exclusive deals and offers
  
  

Cons of earning cashback:

• It can tempt you to spend unnecessarily just to earn rewards

• It can take a few months for the cashback to become payable
  
  

Earning potential

Earnings depend on how much you spend and the cashback rates, which typically range from 1% to 15%. Active users can earn hundreds of pounds per year.

29. Get paid to take online surveys

Market research companies are paid by brands to gather consumer opinions. They need people to answer surveys honestly, and they’re willing to pay for your time.

Sign up for survey sites like YouGov, Prolific, and Swagbucks. You provide some information about yourself, and they’ll invite you to surveys that match your demographic profile.

Pros of taking surveys:

• Surveys are generally easy and don't require any special skills

• You can do them in your spare time on your phone or computer
  
  

Cons of taking surveys:

• The pay is low

• You can get "screened out" of surveys halfway through without payment
  
  

Earning potential

This is very much a side hustle for a bit of extra cash. You can realistically expect to make £20-£50 per month if you’re active on several sites.

30. Become an online researcher

Good research is the foundation of great content, business strategy, and academic work. If you’re skilled at finding and presenting information online, this could be a great fit.

You need to be comfortable using search engines, academic databases, and other online resources. You also need a good "BS detector" to sort credible information from misinformation.

You can find research jobs on freelance platforms or through specialist research platforms like AskWonder.

Pros of being an online researcher:

• The work can be highly interesting and educational

• Helps you learn more about a wide range of industries and fields
  
  

Cons of being an online researcher:

• It can be time-consuming to find high-quality, relevant data

• Requires strong analytical skills and attention to detail
  
  

Earning potential

According to Payscale, the average hourly rate for a researcher in the UK is around £15.

31. Sell your unused gift cards

Have you got unused gift cards sitting in a drawer? Sell them for cash. Websites like Cardyard allow you to list your unwanted gift cards for sale.

You simply enter the gift card brand and its balance. Cardyard will suggest a selling price, or you can set your own. Once someone buys your card, you send it to them (digitally or physically), and Cardyard releases the payment to you.​

Pros of selling gift cards:

• Lets you make money from something you would otherwise not use

• A quick and easy process
  
  

Cons of selling gift cards:

• You’ll always receive less than the face value of the card

• Not a sustainable way to earn a living
  
  

Earning potential

This depends entirely on the value of the gift cards you have. You can typically expect to get back 70-90% of the card's value in cash.

32. Rent out your spare space

If you have a spare room, a garage, a driveway, or even an empty loft, you can rent it out for storage.

Websites like Stashbee and Store At My House connect you with people in your local area looking for cheaper, more convenient storage space. You create a listing with photos and details of your space, and the platform handles the bookings and payments.​

Pros of renting out storage space:

• A great way to earn passive income from an asset you already have

• No upfront financial investment is needed
  
  

Cons of renting out storage space:

• You’re responsible for the safety and security of someone else's belongings

• Requires some coordination with renters for access
  
  

Earning potential

Your profit depends on the type of space, its size, and your location. A spare room in London could earn you over £150 per month, while a driveway in a smaller town might earn £50 per month.

33. Review music and fashion

Earn money online by giving your honest opinion. Slicethepie is one of the web’s largest paid review sites, paying you cash for providing feedback on new music tracks, fashion items, and accessories.

Your feedback is sent directly to artists, record labels, and brands to help them improve their work. You simply sign up, choose a category, listen to or look at the item, and then write a short, detailed review.

Source: Slicethepie

Pros of being an online reviewer:

• Get paid for sharing your honest opinion

• Discover new music and fashion trends
  ​

Cons of being an online reviewer:

• The pay per review is extremely low

• Writing meaningful, actionable feedback takes effort
  
  

Earning potential

According to users, Slicethepie pays between £0.02 and £0.10 per review. This is another small side hustle, not a career.

34. Sell used university textbooks

If you have old university textbooks gathering dust – sell them online. Sites like WeBuyBooks and Fatbrain make the process easy.

You enter the book's ISBN (the number above the barcode), and the site will give you an instant valuation. If you accept, they provide a free postage label. You pack up your books, send them off, and get paid once they’ve been received and checked.

Pros of selling textbooks online:

• Declutter and make money from things you no longer need

• The process is simple and postage is usually free
  
  

Cons of selling textbooks online:

• You’ll get much less than what you originally paid for them

• Older editions or books in poor condition may not be worth much
  
  

Earning potential

The cash you receive varies widely based on the demand for the textbook. You could get anything from £0.50 to £30 per book.

35. Try matched betting

Disclaimer: Matched betting is tax-free in the UK but it's not for everyone and is not considered gambling if done correctly. It requires careful organisation. It is not a guaranteed income.​

Matched betting is a technique used to profit from the free bets and promotions offered by bookmakers. It involves placing multiple bets to cover all possible outcomes of an event, ensuring you make a profit regardless of the result.

Websites like Profit Accumulator and OddsMonkey provide tutorials and tools to guide you through the process step-by-step.

Pros of matched betting:

• Profits are tax-free in the UK

• You can start with a small amount of money (around £50-£100)
  
  

Cons of matched betting:

• Requires careful attention to detail to avoid making mistakes

• Bookmakers can restrict your accounts if they suspect you’re matched betting
  ​

Earning potential

Many people make a consistent £300-£1,000 per month as a side hustle from matched betting, especially when completing the initial sign-up offers.

Ready to start earning from home?​

If you want to start making money from home, the first step is to figure out which method is right for you. Think about your skills, your interests, and how much time you can commit.​

If you’re a creative person, try selling print-on-demand products or putting your handmade crafts on Etsy. If you’re a great organiser, becoming a virtual assistant could be your perfect fit.

Whatever you choose, there’s no shortage of ideas. These days, you can make a good living from your own home, whether it’s through a few hours of a side hustle or a full-time online business. It’s just a matter of finding the opportunity that’s right for you and taking that first step.