9 Real Side Hustles You Can Do From Home
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Have you ever dreamed of earning more money from the comfort of your home? While it may seem impossible, technology makes it easy for most people to make money online.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, a student, or have lost your job due to the pandemic, there are many side hustles you can do from home to supplement your income. Most side hustles are ones you could even start today.
Side Hustles You Can Do From Home
Many people think you need specialized skills or a lot of time to take on a side gig. Fortunately, that is not the case. Many work-from-home side jobs simply require effort and can often be done in conjunction with your full-time job.
With a little networking, it’s possible to find work-from-home gigs. You can also use a service like ZipRecruiter to find work.
Here are nine lucrative side hustle ideas that might be perfect for you.
1. Freelance Writing
If you like to write, freelance writing is a terrific way to make money from home. Companies and websites are willing to pay good money for quality content. You can write for blogs, small businesses, or magazines.
The best way to get started is to choose your niche. You can’t specialize in writing about every topic, so narrow your focus to a niche or two that you’re knowledgeable about before you start looking for clients.
All you need for this side hustle is a computer and a reliable internet connection. Income varies, but it’s possible to earn $100+ per article. If you produce content like whitepapers or e-books, you can earn four figures per assignment.
If you’re new to freelance writing, Earn More Writing by our friend Holly Johnson is an excellent resource. Johnson earns six figures per year as a freelance writer. She offers a free workshop where she shares tips on starting a business.
In the course, Johnson will teach you how to find gigs that pay you what you’re worth without having to search job boards. As a bonus, if you sign up for the course, you get access to a closed Facebook group of other writers.
Read our guide on ways to get paid to write to learn more.
2. Virtual Assistant Work
One of the more popular side jobs to do at home is virtual assistant work. A virtual assistant (VA) is someone who provides administrative support or creative assistance to a business or individual while working remotely.
Similar to freelance writing, you may want to determine your niche when becoming a VA. You can perform a variety of tasks including (but not limited to):
- Checking and managing email
- Blog management
- Editing
- Managing social media and scheduling posts
- Research and outreach
- Sending and paying invoices
- Providing technical support and customer service
- Scheduling meetings
You don’t have to offer all of the above services. Keep in mind each client will have their own needs.
Salary varies based on your experience and the assistance you can offer. According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a VA is almost $18 per hour.
However, you can earn $30+ per hour if you have advanced skills and work quickly. Typically, you only need a computer and a reliable internet connection to complete your work.
Your client may require knowledge of different software programs, but they might provide access to training. A specialized degree or certification often isn’t necessary either.
If this opportunity sounds interesting, $10kVA is a terrific resource to launch your business. Created by our friend Kayla Sloan, you’ll learn tips you need to grow your VA business and earn five figures monthly.
Read our guide on how to become a virtual assistant to learn more.
3. Proofreading
If you are always catching typos and errors when you read things, proofreading might be a great way for you to make money from home. Proofreading is a perfect side hustle for people who enjoy reading and have an eye for grammar.
To become a proofreader, you need to have excellent knowledge of grammar, spelling, and punctuation rules in addition to good time-management skills. Your clients will likely have deadlines you’ll need to meet and some may even have their own editorial style guide.
Like other work-from-home side jobs, all you need is a computer and access to the internet. Pay varies depending on the type of proofreading you perform.
Indeed.com estimates the average salary for proofreaders is almost $22 per hour. However, as you gain experience, it’s possible to earn $25+ per hour.
If you are interested in growing your skill set, you might want to consider getting training from someone who has succeeded as a proofreader. For example, Caitlyn Pile has been a proofreader since 2007 and has worked in the court reporting industry since 2009, earning six figures per year.
Caitlyn offers free online training for anyone looking to learn more about making money as a general or transcript proofreader. In the training, she shares how to locate clients, price your work, and grow your business.
Read our guide on how to become a proofreader to learn more.
4. Blogging
Blogging can be one of the more lucrative side gigs from home you can pursue. However, it won’t make you wealthy overnight.
For some, it can be a struggle to make money blogging. However, with hard work and dedication, you can make a good income.
Frugal Rules founder John Schmoll is a perfect example of someone who has found success as a blogger. John has more than replaced the income from his day job through blogging. Many others have done the same.
You can blog about anything you want, but the most profitable niches are health and wellness, money matters, and relationships.
After you develop a following, you can make money from different revenue sources like display ads and sponsored content. You can even use your blog to get freelance writing or editing work.
Similar to other opportunities, you only need a computer and internet access to start a blog. Don’t worry if you have zero technical skills. You can still launch a website.
Bluehost is an excellent resource for beginner bloggers. For $2.95 per month, they launch your site, help with technical issues, and give you a free domain name for a year.
Read our guide on how to make money blogging to learn more.
*Related: If you’re working from home, online banking can be a convenient alternative to a brick and mortar bank. BBVA Compass offers online checking with cash back rewards and no monthly service charge.*
5. Transcription Work
If you’re a fast typer and a good listener, transcription work could be an ideal side hustle for you. Transcriptionists take video and audio clips and turn them into text.
You can transcribe anything from meeting notes to podcasts and YouTube videos – all from the comfort of your home.
You don’t need to be an expert to do this gig, but it is possible to improve your skills and earn more over time. Only a computer and headphones are necessary to make money from home as a transcriptionist.
The average salary for a transcriptionist is nearly $14 per hour, according to Indeed.com.
This is one of the lower-paying side jobs from home, but you can earn more with experience.
Read our guide on how to find online data entry jobs to learn more.
6. Teach Online
If you enjoy teaching and have a Bachelor’s degree, you can teach English as a second language to children online.
VIPKid hires people to teach English to students in China. Pay is $7 to $9 per session. With incentives, you can earn up to $22 per hour.
Each class you teach lasts 25 minutes. Since you’re teaching students who live overseas, peak times may be early in the morning or late in the evening. However, you can select your own hours.
To apply with VIPKid, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Have at least one year of teaching experience (this can be tutoring, coaching, or homeschooling)
- Possess a 4-year degree (in any field or major)
- Have reliable technology
To do this job, you will also need an HD external or integrated camera and a headset with a microphone. Competitor sites, such as Chegg Tutors and Tutor.com, have similar requirements.
Read our review of the best online tutoring jobs to learn more.
7. Freelance Graphic Design Work
Companies look for workers who can help with graphic design almost as frequently as they look for help from freelance writers.
In our visual-based climate, companies pay good money for quality graphic design work. If you have the design skills, this can be a great way to earn money on the side.
There are many jobs companies hire freelance graphic designers for, including:
- Newsletters
- Logos
- Flyers
- Social media posts
In addition to having a computer and reliable internet access, you will need experience using design programs like Photoshop or InDesign.
According to Payscale.com, the average salary for a graphic designer is $17.53 per hour.
However, like other opportunities, it’s possible to earn more money depending on your experience, skills, and ability to complete projects quickly.
8. Bookkeeping
If you’re good with numbers, bookkeeping is one of the best side hustles you can do from home. Bookkeepers often work with small business owners and entrepreneurs to help keep records of transactions, financial statements, and payroll.
Many companies will hire a part-time freelancer who can work remotely since they don’t need a full-time bookkeeper.. You may have to see your clients occasionally or do virtual meetings.
Similar to other opportunities, you need a computer and internet access. You will also need to be well-versed with QuickBooks or other bookkeeping software programs.
The average salary for a bookkeeper is over $18 per hour, according to Indeed.com.
However, you can earn more depending on your experience or if you offer additional services.
9. Sell Items On Etsy
Do you enjoy sewing, knitting, or other crafts? If so, you can start your own Etsy shop and sell your creations for money. Don’t limit yourself to physical items either since you can also sell digital products.
For example, downloadable printable items are popular sellers on Etsy. You can also use social media, especially Instagram, to sell items.
Etsy does charge a five percent fee on the sale price of your items, so keep that in mind when you price items.
Your income on Etsy largely depends on the number of items you want to create and the popularity of your work.
Summary
Summary
Whether you’re looking to make an extra $500 or $1,000 per month, you can do it from the comfort of your home. Side gigs from home are great for people wanting to limit human interaction or work in their free time.
Some of these side hustle opportunities do require experience or skills. In many cases, these are not difficult to attain. If you’re willing to put in the effort, you can make money from home and reach your financial goals faster.
What is holding you back from making extra money? What is one skill you have that you could monetize? How would making extra income each month improve your finances?
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