Are you looking for ways to supplement your income without sacrificing your precious free time?
Do you dream of being your own boss and working from the comfort of your own home? If so, you’re not alone. In today’s digital age, there are plenty of opportunities to earn extra cash through side hustles that you can start from home.
Whether you’re looking to pay off debt, save for a rainy day, or achieve financial freedom, starting a side hustle can help you reach your goals faster.
In this post, we’ll share 8 proven ways to make extra money from home, even if you have no experience or skills.
From freelancing and online tutoring to selling handmade products and more, these side hustle ideas are easy to start and can help you turn your spare time into profit. So, let’s dive in and explore how you can go from zero to side hustle hero in no time!
Disclaimer: As the owner of SmartPassiveIncomeSuccess.com, I have tracked down special deals for products, tools, and services mentioned herein. When you click on my affiliate links to make a purchase, I may get a small commission, and you will get a great bargain. This is a win-win advantage for both of us…
Table of Contents
What's a Side Hustle Anyway?
A side hustle is just as it sounds… It’s something you do on the side of your usual or main job. The hustle part is the bit that people worry about.
But it just means that you have your day job and then you do something on the side to top up your income. But with these options being online, it does mean doing some work on the side.
The idea should come from something you love doing and want to make your main gig. But can’t until you build it up to be able to replace the income you get from your main job.
For me, I had a well-paid job that was long hours. So, I needed to be able to earn enough to be able to give up that day job and still be able to afford all the bills, etc.
Learning how to start a blog and earn an income online. As well as learning all the skills so that I could offer my services to other people looking to improve their website designs or their SEO. Has allowed me to start planning a future where I didn’t need to also go and do my main job.
Turning a side hustle into the main gig is ideal, as I love doing what I do. Can you honestly say you are passionate about your day job?
Why's It Called a Side Hustle?
Simply put, a side hustle is a work or job you do on the side of your primary job to make additional income.
People define side hustles based on different ideas and facts. Typically, it involves some types of self-employment, freelance gigs, or an entrepreneurial endeavour.
Contrary to a traditional job, working on side hustles gives people more freedom and control over what a person does, when they do it, and how much they do it.
What Makes a Good Side Hustle?
It isn’t as easy as just picking a hobby and running with it…
A good side hustle needs to have real passion behind it and something you will be committed to seeing through… To make it simple, it needs to fit with these three points.
When brainstorming your ideas, if you still think it’s a great idea after comparing it to these 3 points. Then you know it’s a good idea…
1. Does It Fit Into Your Current Schedule? (Have You Got The Time For It?)
The first thing you need to consider with your side hustle idea is whether you can fit it into your current schedule. We’re all busy, but if you can’t find time when you do have free time, then it’s probably the wrong idea.
Working on a side hustle takes hard work, patience, and persistence from the day you start it.
But if it gets in the way of your main job or spending time with your family, then it will be a problem.
For me, I tended to spend time on my blog when my son and wife had gone to bed. Instead of wasting time watching tv each evening, I would do some research or write a blog post.
That way, when the weekend came and Will (my son) wanted my attention, I could give it to him.
2. Does It Align With Your Interests? (Or Will You Bore Easily with it?)
Having the time to put your side hustle into motion isn’t enough. Especially if you pick something you are going to bore easily.
You will not turn any of these ideas into an instant success. This means they will require you to invest some time and effort into turning it into a source of income.
So, picking something you already enjoy doing is a must. Basing a side hustle on something you already enjoy and are interested in learning more about will give you the drive to want to keep on doing it.
But if you go with an idea that feels like a chore. Or even your day job. Will mean that you will tire of the thing very easily.
Now, that is where most people say make money from your hobby. In principle, you can. But you have to be willing to put the time and effort into achieving that with the time you have available.
3. Does It Have A Good Income Potential? (Or Is It A Waste of Time?)
There has got to be a way of earning money from your side hustle too, right? That’s why you are checking out this list… Now, there is almost always a way of turning your idea into a way of earning money.
But that doesn’t mean that every idea will naturally lead to it. Different side hustle ideas will have a different ways of making money.
Blogging, in principle, has many different ways of income streams. But that doesn’t guarantee it means every idea has that potential.
P.S. Don’t think that the income opportunity should be the only reason to choose it as a side hustle. That is why it’s only number 3 on our list. This is a marathon and not a sprint.
When going through your ideas, compare them to these 3 points and if they are still standing at the end. You have a great idea to go with…
Now, let’s jump into our list of the 8 best side hustle ideas to get started from home!
8 Best Side Hustle Ideas to Make Extra Money from Home
There are tons of side hustle ideas out there on the internet… I mean there are loads. But I didn’t want to provide you with a huge endless list. Because, if you are anything like me, you will end up scrolling and scrolling and then not feeling like there was a good option as they all sound good.
I also wanted to consider the difficulty of some of the options. For example, Forex Trading sounds like a great way of making money. But is hard to get your head around and then you get the sales reps pushing you to give more money to make more money.
So, my list is based on those looking to give stuff a try without being hard or confusing. These are all great ways of earning money from a side hustle without you needing a degree or anything to get started.
Side Hustle 1. Blogging
Income Potential: $1,000 to over $200K monthly
Blogging is a natural side hustle idea to add to the list. It’s how many people make their money online. It’s especially a good option for someone who is a little introverted and yet still wants to make money online. This is top of the list as it is also the side hustle I chose.
It allows me to make money online, and work anywhere I want and at any time. As long as I have an internet connection.
What's a Blog? What's Blogging?
A blog (short for a weblog) is an online journal or informational website owned by an individual, group, or organisation that offers regularly updated content about a topic. Blogging means the process of writing, curating, or creating content and publishing it on your blog.
If you’re not sure about what you could write or where to start blogging, then I did create this post on how to find your niche. It has 7 simple steps on how to find the ideal niche specifically for you. I’ve also created other guides that you might find useful, such as:
Blogging is a great way of expressing yourself online. You can also share your thoughts, feelings, ideas, and anything else really with others who share a similar interest. Then there is the income potential with blogging too…
What's The Income Potential of Blogging?
The income potential for blogging is (almost) unlimited. Well-established bloggers, such as Michelle Schroeder-Gardner – who runs a blog about saving money – can make upwards of $760K a year with only ten hours of work each week.
Many factors will influence the income of any given blog. Things like the age of the blog, the topic and the quality of the content. Then there is the level of traffic the blog receives, and even the time of year.
So, how do bloggers make money from their blogs then…
Top 5 Ways To Generate an income from Blogging
Here’s the top five ways to generate an income from blogging…
1. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is the process of promoting the products or services of others to earn a commission. You become an affiliate partner of a product owner or platform like Amazon. You can then share a unique affiliate link. If someone buys through your link, then you will earn a commission.
The flow diagram below shows the steps…
There are many different affiliate programs, besides Amazon. But it is a good example for a beginner, as you can imagine the number of products that Amazon has to offer. This means that almost any idea you have to choose from could have a product or service to offer that relates to it with an affiliate program.
2. Display Advertising
Once you have a steady stream of traffic coming to your blog, then you could partner with ad networks to then start having display ads on your site. MediaVine or AdThrive are good options to go with.
But please consider you will need to have considerable pageviews before they will even consider you.
3. Sponsored Posts
Once you get consistent website visitors, companies will ask you to publish a sponsored post promoting their products to your audience. You’ll get paid in return.
4. Selling Products
You could always consider creating your products to sell through your blog. There are options for both physical and digital products.
An ebook or even an online course would be a good option to get started with.
5. Offering Coaching Services
Why not offer coaching services in a specific topic. If you have the knowledge that people will want to pay for, then it’s a good option….
The main thing you need to think about with these 5 options is that you don’t have to just stick to one. You might start with one option, but then branch out later down the line.
For example…
If you are going to be offering coaching services as the main goal of your blog. Then, surely an online course or even ebooks or guides would be a natural upsell to go with it?
It might end up that you offer an affiliate program for others to promote people to your online course or coaching services and they receive a commission when they get you a sale.
The opportunities are endless. If you’re willing to put the effort in…
How Do I Start a Blog?
There are many ways and places where you can get started with a blog. I started my blogging journey with Wealthy Affiliate. It’s an All-in-One affiliate marketing platform. But it offers so much more than just support for a blog.
They helped me learn how to find my niche, share my passions, and have the right mindset to achieve something online.
But the best part is that you don’t require any experience or skillset to get started with a blog. Their step-by-step guide is tailored for anyone, especially those that don’t think they can get started online.
By creating quality content on your blog, you will be able to generate online income in several ways. Once you can start generating income from your content, you will be more excited in creating more content that creates more income.
Soon, it can become your only source of income and can start thinking about living more freely as you won’t be tied down to the boring day job.
But if you want even more support, you can take my 7-day boot camp… Get my personal help in getting started and ensuring you get the right start with your blog. (Just click the button below…)
Turn Your Passion into Profits
How Much Does It Cost to start a blog?
Look… I want to be completely transparent with you…
You will find many people that harp on the fact you can get started with blogging for free. Yes, you can get started for free. But that is the idea if you want to test the water.
But if you are serious about turning a passion of yours into a full-time income and getting the time to be able to enjoy yourself… You will need to invest a little money into this.
You can get started with Wealthy Affiliate for FREE and check out their starter membership.
But to become successful you will need to build an authority website, which would mean you buying a domain name ($15/year) and then paying for a few tools to ensure you get the help and support you need.
If you are unsure blogging should be your side hustle, don’t go for paid services. You can do experiments with free websites to know whether blogging is the right side hustle.
But the key is to TAKE ACTION today… The sooner you take action, the sooner this will become a reality… Tap the button below to start a blog within a matter of minutes…
2. Dropshipping
Income Potential: Unlimited
Dropshipping is the next option on our list. It requires you to be more involved in the customer service side and will require you to deal with suppliers and merchants.
But if you can get it right, there is also a huge income potential that goes with it too.
What's Dropshipping?
Dropshipping is an order fulfilment method where a business doesn’t stock the products they sell. Instead, they act as an agent between a wholesaler or manufacturer and the customer.
Another similar model is “Fulfilled by Amazon”. But drop shipping is different in many ways.
This video gives you a great insight into how drop shipping works and if you’re interested, how to get started.
Alternatively, here’s a brief description on how drop shipping works…
How Does Dropshipping Work?
Here are the steps that show you how dropshipping works…
- Your customer places an order for an item from your online store
- Your store sends an order request to your dropshipping supplier
- The supplier then ships your order directly to the customer
- Once you’ve paid the supplier (naturally)
- The customer then receives their order
Simply put, you build a relationship with suppliers and then promote their wares on your online store. You then promote your store to get people to visit your store.
Hopefully, they place some orders, and then you process the orders, communicate with the customers and suppliers, and ensure everything arrives on time, etc.
The most popular dropshipping platforms are Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and AliExpress.
How Do I Become a Dropshipper?
Starting an online store isn’t that difficult, trust me! But you do need to know how to generate traffic and build up a returning customer base to ensure it’s a successful enterprise. That is why you do need some solid guidance to ensure you can build up what you need.
Placing loads of items on a website is pretty easy, as I said. But if no one is visiting your site, then what is the point?
As with affiliate marketing, tons of training courses will help you get started with dropshipping. But please ensure you do your research properly.
There will be some crappy training programs from so-called gurus claiming they will teach you what you need to know.
But the reality is that they will offer you outdated or insufficient information to help you.
I’m sure there are others, but just ensure you know what you’re getting into if you decide to go with dropshipping…
3. Become a YouTuber
Income Potential: Unlimited
I’m sure you’ve already seen how much video is becoming a part of the way we operate online. Whether it be a video on YouTube or social media. Video is getting everywhere.
My son’s aspiration for when he is older is to become a YouTuber… The dreams of a ten-year-old. Especially when you consider the money-making potential too.
Making videos to make money online is big business. It’s also a popular side hustle.
YouTubers make videos around their niches and make money by putting ads in their videos. YouTubers take 55% of the revenue, while YouTube takes the rest, 45%.
Ad revenue is not the only way to make money on YouTube. After building your channel with thousands of followers, brands will reach out to you and pay you if you decide to make videos promoting their products or services.
The money brands pay you depends on your follower count, the average views per video, or the type of videos you upload. Overall, if a video has 100,000 to 500,000 views, the YouTuber makes anywhere from $300 to up to $10,000.
If you like to make videos on YouTube to bring traffic back to your website, you can check my full review of Simple Traffic Blueprint.
Or check out below…
Get Your Questions Answered about YouTube...
I don’t profess to be an expert in YouTube marketing. I do know the huge potential. But if you are thinking that YouTube is the direction that you want to take. Then I would recommend you watch the video below. It’ll answer all the questions you might have and some that you may not have considered yet too.
If YouTube is a side hustle you want to learn more about, the best place to get the answers to your questions is (ironically) YouTube itself. Check out some videos. See what others are doing.
Then you can decide on what the best course of action is…
4. Pinterest Virtual Assistant
Income Potential: $15 to $20/hr
Pinterest isn’t just a place to share or check out images. It’s a search engine and one you could turn into a decent side hustle. Before we go any further, check out these stats…
- Number of monthly active users: 478 Million+
- 77.1% of Pinterest audiences are female
- 89% of users are on Pinterest for purchase inspiration
- 80% of US mothers who use the internet use Pinterest
Pinterest is a visual search engine, not only a platform with stunning images and ideas. It’s also a great place for people to find inspiration and solutions to their problems.
This makes it capable of driving potential customers to Pinterest account owners’ websites through Pinterest images, called pins. It sounds super easy, but many small businesses and individuals struggle to drive traffic from Pinterest to their businesses.
That’s where a Pinterest virtual assistant comes into play…
What's a Pinterest Virtual Assistant?
A Pinterest Virtual Assistant helps clients build Pinterest outreach and enhance brand presence.
89% of Pinterest users are looking for things to buy on the platform, which makes them the perfect audience for businesses trying to promote their products or services.
A Pinterest Virtual Assistant’s job is to help businesses and individuals reach potential customers through Pins on Pinterest.
If you’re already spending time on Pinterest, then maybe it is something that you could turn into a side hustle… If the video above interests you. It’s one to do some more research on…
5. Become a Proofreader
Income Potential: $50,000 annually
Are you able to spot mistakes like spelling or grammar? Then you might have the skills required to become a proofreader. Businesses pay decent salaries to ensure all their content or social media posts are as they should be before publication.
I don’t know about you, but I hate spelling mistakes in a piece of content I’m reading…
What's Proofreading?
Proofreading is where you examine written content to find any grammatical, style, and spelling mistakes and correct them. Or let the owner know what the mistakes are.
It’s the final stage of the editing process to ensure your content or publication is accurate, professional, grammatically sound, and ideal for who it is intended for.
Being a proofreader is relatively easy, as you don’t need to leave your home. It’s usually done through email, so you could even do it from a coffee shop or around your current job.
You can easily spend a few hours proofreading whenever you prefer.
There are also many opportunities for proofreading jobs on platforms like Upwork, RemoTasks, and Fiverr. Businesses and publishing organisations rely on proofreaders to ensure they maintain quality and professionalism. So, there are also ample opportunities to go around.
So, if you have eagle eyes for grammar, style, and spelling mistakes, proofreading may be the perfect side hustle for you.
How to Become a Proofreader?
The video below gives a great insight into what it takes to become a proofreader. It’ll also give you the information you need to know whether it’s the right side hustle for you…
6. Freelance Writing
Income Potential: $11,000 to $165,000 annually
I think many people worry when you start talking about becoming a writer. When I first got started, we all believe (and so did I) that you need to be a great writer to even consider it.
But that isn’t the case…
We aren’t talking about formal writing for an essay for a qualification. Or writing the next best-selling novel.
Most of the time, it’s about writing a blog post (like this one) for the right target audience. Blogging is mainly conversational anyway. So it just has to be the right content for the right person and you are good to go.
Freelance writing is writing for money while working on one’s own and not being employed by a specific company or organisation, such as websites, blogs, or magazines.
How Much Money Does a Freelance Writer Make?
According to ZipRecruiter, freelance writers make as high as $13,750 and as low as $917, which means $11,000 to $165,000 a year.
How Do I Become a Freelance Writer?
I’ve shared a video below which might help if you decided freelance writing was for you, but as a quick idea, here are the steps…
- Research the freelance writing industry
- Develop necessary business skills
- Ensure you have the tools of the trade
- Understand current writing conventions
- Keep improving your writing skills
- Pick up a writing niche
- Create your writing portfolio
- Market your writing & Promote yourself
- Find freelance writing jobs
You could also consider researching these awesome guides to help you get started with freelance writing…
7. Create Online Courses
Income Potential: $500 to over $100K monthly
Online learning is modern education, especially during the pandemic. The global eLearning market is expected to hit $350 billion by 2025, so everyone would like to share a part.
Some interesting stats:
- 73% of US students want to continue taking online classes after the pandemic.
- 90% of companies offer their employees some digital learning.
- The number of registered learners on Coursera has increased by 438% over the past five years.
Since people accept learning online at their own pace with more flexibility, online course creators have been making a fortune over the last five years.
Think about the given topic you have expertise with… All you would need to do is learn how to create an online course and then you have the foundations to start your own…
You don’t need to be at the top in that given topic. The mindset here is to provide your knowledge or skills to those with fewer experiences than you.
Whether a video training course, a textual format, or a combination of these, they all work well for people who like to learn from you.
People are leveraging Teachable, LearnWorlds, or Thinkific to build and sell courses online. Try to check each platform to find the perfect one for your online courses.
Check out the video below to learn about 10 quick steps to creating an online course online…
This blog post from Thinkific about Creating Online Courses is a really good read about what you should consider if you want to create online courses…
8. Become a Virtual Assistant
Income Potential: $15-$35 per hour
Pinterest isn’t the only avenue for becoming a virtual assistant. There are plenty of opportunities online to become a virtual assistant to help a business remotely.
During the pandemic, more businesses acquired virtual assistants for social media management, content creation, admin work, or e-commerce management.
What Does It Take To Be a Virtual Assistant?
Virtual assistants are required for the following duties but are not limited to:
- Social Media: many businesses have an online presence, so you must have the skills to create regular posts for answering questions, asking for ideas, or building community.
- Content Creation: This part plays a vital role for virtual assistants. Good content helps businesses get more leads and potential sales, but making them is time-consuming, tedious, and complicated.
- Admin Work: It’s the same as you do in the office. Managing emails, booking meeting rooms, keying data, tracking documents, etc., except for the part about bringing coffee and snacks to the meeting rooms!
- E-commerce: the eCommerce industry is expected to hit $5.7 Trillion this year, and a virtual assistant will process inventory management, order fulfilment, shipment arrangement & tracking, return, etc.
How Much Does A Virtual Assistant Make?
Based on this article, the average annual pay for a Work From Home Virtual Assistant in the United States is $58,991 annually and $28 per hour.
I think it’s a good start for stay-at-home moms, newly graduated, or those who cannot go out for work due to physical injuries.
9. Selling Handmade Products
Here are a few tips to help you make money from a side hustle selling handmade products:
Start with a Clear Plan: Before diving into selling handmade products, take the time to create a solid plan. Decide what products you want to sell, your target audience, and your pricing strategy. Having a clear plan will help you stay focused and increase your chances of success.
Perfect your Craft: One of the keys to success in selling handmade products is to make sure your products are of high quality. Take the time to perfect your craft and create products that are unique, visually appealing, and durable.
Build an Online Presence: In today’s digital age, having an online presence is crucial for any business. Create a website or online store where customers can purchase your products, and establish a social media presence to promote your products and engage with potential customers.
Take Advantage of e-commerce Platforms: In addition to creating your online store, consider selling your products on e-commerce platforms like Etsy, Amazon Handmade, or Shopify. These platforms can help you reach a wider audience and provide a built-in customer base.
Attend Craft Fairs and Events: Participating in craft fairs and events can be a great way to showcase your products and connect with potential customers in person. Be sure to bring plenty of samples, business cards, and promotional materials to help you stand out from the crowd.
Provide Excellent Customer Service: To build a loyal customer base, it’s important to provide excellent customer service. Respond to customer inquiries and concerns promptly, and be sure to follow up after a sale to ensure customer satisfaction.
By following these tips, you can make a decent side hustle from selling your handmade products.
Conclusion
In conclusion, making extra money from home has never been easier. With the rise of technology, there are countless opportunities available for anyone looking to earn some extra cash on the side. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, a full-time student, or just someone looking to supplement their income, these eight proven ways can help you achieve your financial goals.
From starting a blog to becoming a virtual assistant, from selling products online to participating in paid surveys, there are plenty of options to choose from. The key is to find something that you enjoy doing and that fits your schedule and lifestyle.
Remember, building a successful side hustle takes time and effort, but the rewards can be well worth it. By implementing the tips and strategies outlined in this post, you can turn your spare time into a profitable venture and become a side hustle hero in no time!
If you have any questions or want to offer insights/advice for others, then please write them in the comments section below. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
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Virtual Assistant: Many entrepreneurs and small businesses hire virtual assistants to handle tasks like scheduling, customer service, or email management. This job often allows for flexible hours and can be done entirely from homeTo excel in the pharmaceutical representative job search, start by obtaining a relevant degree and networking within the industry. Customize your resume and cover letter, highlighting your product knowledge and communication skills. Research companies thoroughly and consider informational interviews. Stay persistent and informed about industry trends to enhance your chances of securing a position.
Thank you for your insightful comment! You’ve touched on two excellent points about making money from home: working as a virtual assistant and pursuing a career as a pharmaceutical representative.
For virtual assistants, it’s amazing how this role has evolved to support entrepreneurs and small businesses globally. Flexible hours and remote work make it a perfect fit for many people looking to balance work and personal commitments. If you’re considering this path, platforms like Fiverr or Upwork can be a great way to get started and build your portfolio.
As for pharmaceutical sales, your advice is spot on! Networking and tailoring your application materials are crucial. I’d add that staying updated on pharmaceutical advancements and demonstrating a strong understanding of the products you’re promoting can make you stand out even more.
Both options are fantastic ways to create income from home, depending on your skills and interests. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and I hope you’ll check out more of my tips and resources on the blog!