Whether you’re looking to replace your income from a nine-to-five job or would like some extra spending money, you don’t have to leave your home to do so. Fortunately, there is no shortage of legitimate opportunities to work remotely. With a bit of hard work, patience and creativity, you can succeed at an at-home job or gig. Here are 16 ways to make money from home.
Why Make Money From Home?
It’s no surprise that the number of people who work from home tripled between 2019 and 2021. Making money from home comes with a number of benefits, including:
- More Flexibility: A remote job can give you more flexibility in your schedule. Depending on what it is, you may be able to work when you want, where you want. This is a huge plus, especially if you have other responsibilities on your plate.
- Less Distraction: Even though a traditional job in an office or similar setting allows for more social interactions, it may also lead to more distractions. Working from home can make it easier for you to be more productive.
- Greater Comfort: When you work remotely, you don’t have to dress up. You can wear whatever you want, including your pajamas in a space that is most comfortable to you.
- Cost Savings: By working from home, you can avoid commuting costs, such as gas and parking. Plus you might save on eating out since you’ll be able to prepare lunch and other meals at home.
- Less Stress: Not only does working from home give you more control of your schedule and work environment, it also eliminates common stressors, such as long commutes, strict dress codes and office politics.
How To Make Money From Home
Ideally, you’d find a work-from-home opportunity that aligns with your passions, interests and skills. The good news is there are plenty of options, so you’re bound to come across the ideal job or gig. To help you with your search, here is a list of viable ways to make money from home.
1. Room Rentals
If you have a spare bedroom or basement you rarely use, for example, you can rent it out on a platform, such as Airbnb or Vrbo. Create a listing that shows off the features and amenities in your space and wait for prospective guests to contact you. If you keep keys in a lockbox or somewhere else guests can easily access and hire a cleaning company, this can be a great passive income opportunity.
2. Online Tutoring
Leverage your expertise in a specific subject, such as math or English, or a standardized test, such as the ACT, SAT, MCAT or LSAT, to tutor children and/or adults online. You can use an online tutoring website to connect to potential clients. Another option is to advertise your services in schools or on social media. Depending on the subject or test you choose and the way you offer your tutoring, you may need a bachelor’s degree or be required to meet other criteria.
3. Virtual Assisting
As a virtual assistant, you provide a variety of administrative services to support clients remotely. You may book travel, update social media, answer emails, manage databases, call customers or plan events. It all depends on your skills and the types of clients you serve. You can find virtual assisting opportunities on social media, at business networking events or through websites, such as PeoplePerHour or Upwork.
4. Freelance Writing
Freelance writing should be on your radar if you enjoy writing but don’t want a full-time job. You can create technical, creative or marketing-oriented content in the form of website pages, blog posts, brochures, advertisements and more. Your clients may be startups, small businesses, Fortune 500 companies or publications. You may specialize in a specific type of writing, such as search engine optimization writing or technical writing, or offer a broader range of writing services.
5. Transcribing
When you transcribe something, you convert speech into written text. If you consider yourself a fast typist with meticulous attention to detail as well as excellent grammar and punctuation skills, transcribing may be a good option. You may transcribe speech from doctors, lawyers and other professionals. Typically, transcription jobs pay per audio hour or one hour of audio transcription. Keep in mind that you may have to transcribe topics that you find boring.
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6. Social Media Management
These days, most businesses depend on social media to build their brands and advertise their offerings. If you’re social media-savvy and proficient in Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms, you can get paid to manage social media accounts for entrepreneurs and small businesses. It’ll be your job to create and post content while engaging with followers or fans.
7. Online Surveys
Many brands and companies value honest, unbiased feedback from others so they can make the most informed business decisions. If you’re looking for an easy work-from-home opportunity you may do while your kids are napping or you’re watching TV, for example, online surveys from websites, such as Swagbucks and Survey Junkie, may make sense. While taking online surveys isn’t the most lucrative work-from-home opportunity, it can give you some extra spending money.
8. In-Home Daycare
An in-home daycare may be worthwhile if you love children or watch your own children at home. Since in-home daycares are usually more affordable than traditional daycare centers, you may be able to attract a steady client base. The amount you can earn will depend on several factors, including your location, capacity and the ages of children. Most in-home daycare providers charge a flat daily or weekly rate.
9. Blogging
A blog is a website that you regularly update with your experiences or thoughts on a specific subject, which may be restaurants, personal finance, cars or travel. Once you build some traffic, you can start to monetize your blog through advertisements or affiliate marketing. Note that it will take some time to generate a loyal following and sufficient traffic but once you do, you can turn your blog into a passive income vehicle.
10. Dropshipping
Through a dropshipping business, you can sell products without keeping inventory on hand. After a customer makes a purchase from your online store at retail price, you’ll forward their order to a supplier and pay them wholesale price. The supplier will take care of the shipping and you’ll be able to keep the profit. Some of the most profitable dropshipping products you might want to sell include hand sanitizers, diapers, pet clothing, bedding, curtains, printing paper and ink cartridges.
11. Online Courses
If you have a special skill or consider yourself an expert in a specific subject, you may want to create and sell an online course. All you need is a website or an eLearning platform, such as Udemy or Skillshare, to advertise it. Ideally, your course would be a combination of text, videos, slideshows, quizzes and other types of content. To zero in on a topic of your course, ask yourself what you know, what you love and what people need.
12. Online Photo Sales
There are a number of websites that may pay you for professional quality photographs or stock photos, such as Getty Images, Alamy, and iStockPhoto. These photos can be of common places, landmarks, places or events and give businesses visuals for their marketing materials. You’ll need to register as a contributor and upload your images. Selling your photos online may be an enjoyable way to make some extra money.
13. Pet Sitting
If you love animals, you may offer pet sitting services in your home. Pet owners can benefit from your services any time they are out of town or simply need a break. You should decide whether you want to care for dogs, cats or all types of pets. If you go this route, make sure your living situation allows pets, as some apartments and other rental homes prohibit pets. It may also be worthwhile to invest in pet sitting insurance.
14. Selling Homemade Crafts and Art
By selling homemade crafts, art and other products, you can unleash your creativity, pursue your passion and earn some money at the same time. To promote your offerings, you can use an online marketplace, such as Amazon or Etsy. Just keep in mind you’ll have to compensate the site with a percentage of your profits or pay fees. You can always transition to your own website once you build your brand and gain a loyal customer base.
15. Graphic Design
Many businesses and nonprofit organizations outsource graphic design services for their business cards, websites, postcards and other assets. If you’re creative and a wiz at software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, you may want to start a graphic design business or side hustle. Just make sure you have a variety of work samples that show off your skills and capture the attention of potential customers. You can charge a flat rate per project or hourly rate for your work.
16. Proofreading
If you have a keen eye and are bothered by typos and poor grammar, proofreading can be a good way to earn money from home. As an at-home proofreader, you might read books, websites, transcripts or blogs. It will be your job to spot and correct spelling errors, grammar mistakes and inconsistencies. To market yourself, you can use social media or proofreading websites. Keep in mind that many clients may ask you to perform a test before they officially hire you.
Bottom Line
Decades ago, work-from-home opportunities were rare. Today, they’re more popular than ever before. If you’re motivated and have excellent time management and communication skills, you can earn a great living or side hustle without ever stepping foot out of your house.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I make actual money from home?
There are countless ways to earn a full-time income or side hustle at home. Proofreading, graphic design, blogging, dropshipping and social media management are just a few options.
How do I make passive income?
You can earn a passive income from home by renting out a room, starting a blog or creating a course. Another option is to become an affiliate and get paid to promote products and services.
What is the most profitable way to make money from home?
The most profitable work-from-home opportunity depends on your skills, interests and how often you work. Freelance writing, graphic design and virtual assisting are a few examples of potentially profitable opportunities.
