According to a study by Pew Research published late in 2020, 71% of those whose responsibilities can be taken care of digitally are working from home, up from merely 20% pre-pandemic.
As vaccines are distributed and the world begins to open back up, many of us are returning to the office. But if you’re hoping to find real ways to make money from home, take heart: there are many.
Here are 33 possibilities for those asking themselves, “How can I make money from home?”
Easy Ways to Make Extra Money from Home
1. Test Websites
Most websites are well-designed and easy to use because they’re tested by real users— a service they get paid to do. Platforms like UserTesting will link you up with companies who need website testers, and you’ll earn money for each test you do, ranging from $4 to $120, depending on the type of test. There are also opportunities to earn more money for live interviews about your experience.
2. Test Products
Products also need testers, and testing can be done at home, too. Companies like Product Report Card will pay for opinions on gadgets, personal care products, and more. (Plus, you might get some free stuff in the bargain.)
3. Take Surveys
If you start poking around product testing websites, you’ll notice most of them capture your opinion by using surveys—and there are plenty of other websites that pay for your surveyed opinion, too. Survey Junkie is one popular option, as is Swagbucks. These opps won’t get you rich quick, but they’re a great way to earn some extra money at home.
4. Become a Voice Actor
If you’ve got a voice for radio—or an audiobook, or a video game, or the PA announcement at your local grocery store—you may be able to earn money doing voiceover work in the comfort of your own home. (Or more accurately, the comfort of your own closet, which is probably the most noise-insulated room in the house.)
5. Do Closed Captioning
If you’re a quick typist with the ability to pay close attention to speech, you might make a great transcriptionist or captioner. Companies like Rev make it possible to get paid for captioning video content, and you get to set your own hours.
6. Become a Translator
If you are multilingual, you can put those skills to work by becoming a professional translator. Gengo is one platform where translators can find jobs, choosing the ones that fit their abilities and availability.
7. Teach an Online Course
We’ve all got some valuable talents to share with the world—and chances are there’s someone out there who would pay to learn more about what you’re an expert in. Whether it’s creative writing, singing, or coding in JavaScript, get your knowledge out there and get paid for it with platforms like Udemy and Teachable.
8. Become a Tutor
Similar to starting your own course, tutors are paid to teach local students who may be studying for the SAT or just trying to improve their grades. Using video chat can expand your client base far beyond your neighborhood.
9. Offer Music Lessons
If you play an instrument or know the ins and outs of voice control, you can leverage those skills into cash money by offering music lessons—in person or online.
10. Write a Book
Okay, okay—this one is not a quick way to make money or a guaranteed one, by a long shot. But if you’ve got the chops and the dedication, you might just actually write the next great American novel. Or memoir. Or essay collection. Just know that as far as the money goes, it’s a slow burn.
11. Start a Blog
If you’re a writer who wants to hone their chops on an ongoing basis—or you’re just looking for a fun and audience-friendly topic like baking or being a mom—starting a blog can translate into earnings over time, thanks in large part to affiliate marketing. However, a successful blog could also land you speaking gigs, public appearances, and other earning opportunities.
12. Become a Freelance Writer
Another way to translate your writing skills into cash: becoming a freelance writer, either on the side or full-time. It can be a tough industry to break into, but once you’ve established yourself, it’s totally possible to earn a living wage doing this work. Having examples of your published work is the best way to show a prospective client your writing skills.
13. Or a Freelance Copy Editor
Don’t want to create new content, but happy to read others’ for errors? Language lovers might be able to earn a living as freelance copy editors. Fiverr is one place to find individual copy-editing jobs, though longer-term contract positions are also regularly listed on job boards like Indeed.
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14. Or a Freelance Graphic Designer
If you have design skills, you could turn your doodles into dollars by sketching logos for businesses, graphics for company websites, and more. You’ll likely need a portfolio of your work to show prospective clients.
15. Or a Freelance SEO Consultant
You can see where we’re going with this—whatever skills you have, you may be able to leverage into a freelance, at-home source of earnings. SEO in particular is a service that companies will pay mighty well for… after all, good rankings translate into more money in their pockets, too.
16. Become a Virtual Assistant
If you’re the kind of Type-A person whose Google calendar is comprehensive and color-coded, consider channeling those organizational skills into becoming a virtual assistant. Along with offering a great way to make money from home, this gig has the added bonus of a variable work day—you might be scheduling work travel or managing invoices or answering phone calls, but there’s always plenty to do!
17. Sell Your Crafts
If you already spend your downtime enjoying a craft like painting or knitting, why not consider placing your wares up for sale on a site like Etsy? Not only will your art bring smiles to other peoples’ faces—it might also bring you some extra cash.
18. Design a T-shirt (or Mug, or Tote Bag)
Got a witty slogan or beautiful image in mind that just has to be on a shirt somewhere? Make it happen with a website like CafePress or CustomInk, which makes it easy to create and sell your unique designs.
19. Become a YouTuber
If you’ve got something to say—and are creative enough to say it with engaging video content—YouTube can be a lucrative way to make money from home. Beware, though: this is a side-gig that can easily take a lot of time and have considerable expense in audio/video equipment.
20. Stream Your Gaming Habits on Twitch
Earning money by playing video games might sound like a fantasy, but platforms like Twitch make it possible—provided you’re actually good, or at least entertaining to watch.
21. Get Paid to Post on Insta
Yes, you can get paid (and get free stuff) to be a brand ambassador on Instagram and other social media platforms—though you’ll likely need good personal branding and a decent following to do it. Some people spend time curating their social media content already, which means those requirements are probably within reach.
22. Sell Your Stuff
If you’re overdue for a closet clean-out, consider selling the stuff you don’t need anymore on an app like LetGo or OfferUp. You know how they say one person’s trash is another’s treasure? Well, in this case, the same item can be both—for you!
23. Sell Your Photos
If you know your way around a DSLR—or honestly just an iPhone—you might be able to sell your stock-photo-worthy snaps for money. Platforms like Alamy and GettyImages are two places to sell or license your pictures.
24. Rent Out Your Clothes
Yes, this is real! Turn that prom dress in your closet into income by renting it out to others. Platforms like RentNotBuy can help.
25. Rent Out Your Camping Equipment
Or your lawnmower, or your bike—basically anything you don’t use on the regular, you could be earning money by renting out. Check out the database at Loanables, which also makes it easy to list your own items for rent. Bonus: sharing items is a way to reduce our overall carbon footprint.
26. Rent Out Your Driveway
There are lots (and lots) of cars on the road these days, which means people need lots of parking space. If you have extra room in your driveway, you can rent it out for pretty good money using platforms like Neighbor and JustPark.
27. Do Data Entry
Are you a quick typist with great attention to detail? These days, companies who need data entry sometimes hire remote workers, which means you can populate those spreadsheets in the comfort of your own home.
28. Or Customer Service
Many of us have some sort of customer service background—and thanks to the magic of the internet, you don’t necessarily need to work in a crowded, noisy call center to put that resume to use. Many companies offer virtual customer service employees, including Amazon. You’ll definitely want to invest in a headset to take those calls with ease, though.
29. Do Medical Coding And Billing
The work might be tedious, but it pays quite well—and although it’s counterintuitive, you don’t have to work at a hospital to do it. Many medical establishments outsource their coding and billing needs, and companies like Aviacode allow medical coders to work from home while earning both a salary and valuable benefits.
30. Start a Podcast
It might be a long shot, but many successful podcasts started as a casual, at-home conversation between friends. If your subject matter is interesting enough to draw advertisers, voila: at-home income!
31. Start An At-home Daycare
Love kids? You could get paid to care for them by offering at-home daycare services for parents who need time to work or meet other commitments. Starting a business like this may require licensing and home modifications, but you can also hire out your services as a babysitter using an app like UrbanSitter or Bambino.
32. Take Up Professional Pet-sitting
Getting paid to hang out with puppies sounds like a dream—but it can be your reality if you charge for pet-sitting services. Apps like Rover make it easy to get started, but you can also just advertise around your neighborhood and by word-of-mouth.
33. Start Your Own Business
Many of the options listed here might provide potential side income, but if your career is one whose services can easily be done without a physical storefront, the internet could be your key to freedom on a full-time basis. Although becoming your own boss certainly takes some up-front investment, as well as energy and time, your income potential won’t be limited by what your employer decides to pay you. A major decision before taking the leap to self-employment is how to get benefits that may have been provided by an employer, such as health insurance and retirement benefits. Having a solid plan will make the path forward easier to navigate.
Leveraging Technology
Making money from home is great, but getting your budget nailed down can help you keep more of the cash you work for.
If you are looking for an easy way to track your spending, you can open a checking and savings account with SoFi. You can easily see your weekly spending in your dashboard within the app. With a SoFi Checking and Savings account, you can save, spend, and earn all in one product.
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