39 real ways to make money at home in 2023

Edited by: Mónica Camargo
• Updated •11 min read
Young woman at home in her living room, at her desk, taking a meeting from her laptopImage: Young woman at home in her living room, at her desk, taking a meeting from her laptop
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Whether you’re looking for easy ways to make money from home or full-time online side jobs, we’ve created a list to help give you some inspiration. Here are 39 money making ideas you can start from home.

  1. Create a print-on-demand Etsy shop
  2. Sell your old stuff online 
  3. Flip furniture
  4. Sell website templates
  5. Become a virtual assistant
  6. Sell your photos online
  7. Rent out the spare bedroom
  8. Sell digital downloads on Etsy
  9. Resell old clothing
  10. Become an online tutor
  11. Offer childcare
  12. Pick up freelance work online
  13. Take online surveys
  14. Monetize your blog
  15. Become a dog walker or sitter
  16. Trade in old phones or electronics
  17. Test websites or apps
  18. Get ad money from your YouTube channel
  19. Pick up extra work with TaskRabbit
  20. Create and sell online courses
  21. Pick up a data entry side gig
  22. Design and sell a mobile app

1. Create a print-on-demand Etsy shop

Do you enjoy being creative? You may enjoy creating a print-on-demand Etsy shop as your next side gig. These shops sell physical objects with prints on them, such as graphic tees, company mugs and customized hats. Plus, integrating with print-on-demand services, like Printful, means sellers do not need to store or handle fulfillment for their own orders. This means once you have your store up and running, passive income is a possibility.

  • Potential earnings: Varies depending on what and how much you sell
  • Potential for passive income: Yes
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • What you’ll need: Some design skills and a subscription to a print-on-demand service 

2. Sell your old stuff online

Selling old stuff you no longer need can be a quick way to make money online. It can be as simple as taking a few photos of your items and then posting them to a marketplace site like eBay or Craigslist. If your item sells, ship or deliver the item and receive your cash! Be careful of scammers though — consider requiring payment upfront before delivering the item in a safe, public location. 

  • Potential earnings: Varies depending on what you sell 
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • What you’ll need: Something to sell and somewhere to post it

3. Flip furniture

Flipping furniture can potentially make you some quick income. The Furniture Flipping Teacher claims on their YouTube channel to have made $420 profit with just two hours of work on old chairs.

To get started, look for old furniture at thrift stores or online marketplaces. Restoring can sometimes be as simple as a deep clean and a fresh coat of paint.  

  • Potential earnings: Varies, but can be more than $200 per flipped item 
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • What you’ll need: Old furniture and a camera to post photos online; possibly cleaning supplies, a sander or paint  

4. Sell website templates

Have a knack for designing websites? You can create templates for websites on sites like Shopify, Squarespace or Wix, and then sell them online. Many website templates on Etsy sell for $50–$100. With sales in the hundreds or thousands, this can equate to a powerful income stream.

  • Potential earnings: $5–$100 per sale or more
  • Potential for passive income: Yes
  • Difficulty: Medium to difficult
  • What you’ll need: A subscription to a site builder to build and sell your templates 

5. Become a virtual assistant

Virtual assistants handle whatever work their employer needs. This can be tasks such as updating calendars, scheduling appointments, taking phone calls and maintaining databases, to name a few. Virtual assistants can be freelancers or full-time employees.

  • Potential earnings: $39,680 (full-time) 
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Easy to medium
  • What you’ll need: Administrative skills 

6. Sell your photos online

If you’re a photographer, you may enjoy selling your work online to make some extra cash. One way to do this is to sell your work as stock photography. According to the stock-photo site Shutterstock, it paid contributors over $1 billion worldwide over the past 15 years. Additional sites to look into include Smugmug, Alamy, iStock Photo, or Getty Images — just make sure to read the fine print before you submit any work.

  • Potential earnings: Varies by platform 
  • Potential for passive income: Yes
  • Difficulty: Easy to medium
  • What you’ll need: Professional quality photographs that you hold creative rights to
passive-ways-to-make-money-from-homeImage: passive-ways-to-make-money-from-home

7. Rent out the spare bedroom

Consider turning a spare bedroom into extra cash by renting it out on a platform like Airbnb or Vrbo. These platforms connect you with potential renters and streamline the booking process. You’ll need to create a listing showcasing your space’s features and amenities. This even has the potential to generate passive income, if you hire a cleaning company and keep the keys someplace renters can access easily. You’ll want to be sure you read the fine print for the site you sign up with, and feel safe with the prospect of renting out a room in your home.

  • Potential earnings: Varies by location 
  • Potential for passive income: Yes
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • What you’ll need: A spare room to rent and an account with a platform like Airbnb or Vrbo 

8. Sell digital downloads on Etsy

If you’re looking for a way to generate passive income, you may consider selling digital downloads on Etsy. A few examples of what you might sell include downloadable printables, wall art, activity sheets or adult coloring pages. After creating your digital products, list them for sale on Etsy and watch any orders fulfill themselves — no shipping necessary. 

  • Potential earnings: Varies depending on what you sell 
  • Potential for passive income: Yes
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • What you’ll need: An Etsy seller account 

9. Resell old clothing

Selling old clothing is another way you can make extra money online. You can choose to sell from your own closet or pick up some treasures from your local thrift store. Once you’ve decided what you’re going to sell, simply list your clothing items on a platform like Poshmark or Depop. These sites are specifically for upcycling clothing and help streamline the selling process. Poshmark takes a flat fee of $2.95 on sales less than $15 and 20% of sales $15 or more. Depop charges 10% of all sales. 

  • Potential earnings: 80% to 90% of all sales made
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • What you’ll need: Clothing to sell and shipping materials 

10. Become an online tutor

Becoming an online tutor is one way you can potentially turn your skills into cash. Websites like Tutor.com or Preply help connect you to paying students. Whether you have expertise in calculus or teaching another language, these online platforms can help you create and market your class listings or mentorship programs. Fees and earnings will vary depending on the platform’s policies. According to Preply, teachers can earn up to $550 per week.

  • Potential earnings: $550 per week
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • What you’ll need: A computer and internet connection; platform requirements for tutors vary

11. Offer childcare

If you love kids, offering childcare services could be a great side gig. Online platforms like Care.com or Sittercity can help connect you to potential babysitting or nannying jobs.

  • Potential earnings: $14.50–$22.50 per hour, depending on location
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Easy to medium
  • What you’ll need: Requirements vary by platform, but some require being at least 18 years old
online-side-job-ideasImage: online-side-job-ideas

12. Pick up freelance work online

Whether your skills are in graphic design, writing or another area, you can sell your services on freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. Earnings depend on the platform’s policies. On Upwork, freelancers will pay a fee of about 10% of their total revenue, depending on which total earnings bracket they fall into. On Fiverr, freelancers will pay a fee of 20% of their total earnings. You’ll want to be be sure to keep up with your taxes as a freelancer as well. 

  • Potential earnings: Varies depending on services
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • What you’ll need: Requirements vary by platform

13. Take online surveys

Taking online surveys isn’t likely to make you a ton of cash. One survey site, Swagbucks, states that users typically average $1–$5 per day. While it isn’t much, if you need a little extra spending cash, it could be worth it to take online surveys in your free time.

  • Potential earnings: $1–$5 per day
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • What you’ll need: A computer and internet connection 

14. Monetize your blog

If you have a blog that’s generating traffic, you may be able to start monetizing with affiliate marketing links. These links refer your blog readers to a product or service online and give you, the blogger, a kickback for the referral.

Earnings will vary by the affiliate program, but according to Shopify, commissions can be between 5% and 50% of the sale. Shopify also claims that some of the top average commission rates come from the business, accessories and health industries. 

Affiliate marketing isn’t the only way you can monetize your blog. You can also leverage it to help you earn paid writing gigs. Here’s how one blogger earned $4,000 per month as a freelance writer.

  • Potential earnings: Varies 
  • Potential for passive income: Yes
  • Difficulty: Medium to difficult
  • What you’ll need: A blog that’s generating traffic 

15. Become a dog walker or sitter

If you love dogs, try making some extra cash by becoming a dog walker or sitter. You can find gigs in your area with apps like Wag! or Rover. Earnings will vary depending on what service you offer.

  • Potential earnings: $10–$30 per dog walk; $25–$50 per dog boarded
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Easy to medium
  • What you’ll need: A profile on a dog walking or sitting app 

16. Trade in old phones or electronics

If you have old phones or electronics lying around, you can trade them in for cash. Try using sites like Swappa or Gazelle. You can also trade in old Amazon devices or qualifying electronics to Amazon’s Trade-In program, which offers an Amazon gift card for the appraised value plus up to 25% off a new Amazon device. 

  • Potential earnings: Varies by device 
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • What you’ll need: Old electronics to trade in and possibly shipping materials 

17. Test websites or apps

Some brands will pay you to test their products out and offer an opinion. You can use websites like UserTesting to find these brands and make some money in your free time. All you have to do is apply to become a tester. If they approve your application, you can browse and complete product tests to start building up your side gig.   

  • Potential earnings: Varies by product tested 
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • What you’ll need: An account with a testing platform

18. Get ad money from your YouTube channel

If you have a YouTube channel, you may be able to monetize it and collect ad revenue with their Partner Program. To be eligible, your channel must have at least 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 valid public watch hours in the previous 12 months or 10 million valid public shorts views in the previous 90 days. Payment per video will vary. 

  • Potential earnings: Varies 
  • Potential for passive income: Yes
  • Difficulty: Medium to difficult
  • What you’ll need: A camera, computer, internet connection and content

19. Pick up extra work with TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit helps users find freelancers in a variety of odd-end services, from furniture assembly to moving help and more. To become a Tasker, you’ll need to confirm your identity and submit business verifications as needed. After your successful application, you can work for yourself and set your rates.

  • Potential earnings: Set your own rates 
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Easy to medium
  • What you’ll need: An internet connection and whatever tools your offered services require 

20. Create and sell online courses

Have any special skills you can teach others? You may enjoy creating and selling your own online courses. You can do this on your own by creating a website and promoting your course there. Or you can use an eLearning platform like Skillshare or Udemy to promote your course. Payment varies depending on what platform you use.

  • Potential earnings: Varies, but the platform will keep a percentage 
  • Potential for passive income: Yes
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • What you’ll need: A skill to teach, a camera, a computer and an internet connection

21. Pick up a data entry side gig

Data entry clerks use technology to process information. Sometimes this can be as simple as taking information from paperwork and putting it into a computer. You can find data entry jobs on platforms like Upwork or Freelancer.com. 

  • Potential earnings: Varies, but $10–$20 per hour or more 
  • Potential for passive income: No
  • Difficulty: Easy to medium
  • What you’ll need: A computer and internet connection 

22. Design and sell a mobile app

If you have development skills, try designing and selling your own mobile application. To put your app on the Google Play store, you’ll need to pay a one-time registration fee of $25. To list your app on the Apple store, you’ll need to pay to join the Apple Developer Program ($99 annually) or the Apple Developer Enterprise Program ($299 annually). 

  • Potential earnings: Set your own price
  • Potential for passive income: Yes
  • Difficulty: Difficult
  • What you’ll need: Development skills 

Additional ways to make money at home

Here are 17 more ways you can make money at home.

  1. Buy and sell domain names. Find valuable domain names and flip them for a profit using sites like GoDaddy.
  2. Start a dropshipping business. Try dropshipping on your own or join Amazon’s FBA program.
  3. Become a social media manager. Find full-time remote work or provide freelance services through a site like Upwork.
  4. Get paid to test out products. Find products to test out at product research sites.
  5. Meal prep or cook for others. Put your cooking skills to work by offering meal prep services. You may be able to find customers with online platforms like Facebook Marketplace.
  6. Pick up work as a transcriber. Find online work as a transcriber at sites like TranscribeMe or Happyscribe.
  7. Find an online internship. Check out job postings on sites like LinkedIn to find remote internship opportunities.
  8. Work as an online travel advisor. While you’re on LinkedIn, don’t forget to check for remote opportunities as a travel advisor. As a bonus, you may get travel benefits, depending on what company you work for.
  9. Become a remote customer service representative. Are you a people person? Try finding a job working remotely in customer service.
  10. Rent out extra driveway space. Did you know you can rent out your extra driveway space? Apps like Boxcar can help you do it.
  11. Edit résumés or sell résumé templates. If you have a knack for creating persuasive résumés, try selling your skills by editing résumés. You can use sites like Upwork to find gigs. You can even take it a step further by creating résumé templates on Canva and selling them with your services.
  12. Sell Lightroom presets. Have a knack for editing photos? You can sell Lightroom presets online on platforms like Etsy.
  13. Pick up handiwork. Check out apps like Thumbtack to find local  gigs in your area.
  14. Create sponsored social media posts. One way to make money from home online is by creating sponsored social media posts. If you have a decent social media following, try checking out sites like Intellifluence or SocialBook to connect with brands. 
  15. Advertise with your car. You can use sites like Wrapify to get paid for placing brand advertisements on your car. 
  16. Try peer-to-peer lending. With peer-to-peer lending, consumers receive personal loans from individual investors rather than banks or financial institutions. If you have some spare cash, you can become a lender and receive interest on the loan.
  17. Sell sewing or embroidery patterns. If you have a knack for sewing or embroidery, you can sell patterns you create on sites like Etsy.

What’s next: Keep your finances organized 

The best ways to make money at home will depend on your skill set and needs, but we hope this list can help you find some ideas.

If you’re ready to start your business, keep your finances organized with a dedicated business credit card.

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