Freedomeer logo

15 Best Side Hustles from Home: Easy Part Time Gigs

Side hustles from home are ways you can earn a bit of extra cash, if you have the time, while enjoying the comfort of your living room.

For some people, the usual 9 to 5 job might not cover all the expenses. Maybe they are saving up for a vacation, a new car, or tuition. Perhaps, they are finding ways to get by. It can be a great way to give you more flexibility in terms of income while also allowing you to meet your goals.

Some of the most popular side hustles you can do from home include writing, transcription, proofreading, or teaching. These involve skills that many people already have and require very little time and effort to start. You just need an internet connection, a computer or laptop, and some other inexpensive gadgets.

Interesting Side Hustle Facts

  • People in the U.S. who have a side business spend on average 13.4 hours a week working on it ¹
  • The side hustle average yearly earning is $12,609 ²
  • Online surveys are the most common side hustle ³
  • 20% of side hustlers in the U.S. have three or more side hustles

Working woman on the pc on her side hustle with stats: 
"Side hustles are growing in popularity. "
"In 2022 40% of Americans have reported to owning a 
side hustle."

15 Easy Side Hustles to Make Money from Home

According to Zapier, a marketing automation company, 1 in 3 Americans have a side hustle. That means, the venture is not as uncommon as it seems. With that in mind, here are some easy side hustles to boost your income, in order from the most lucrative to the least on relative terms. Keep in mind that this is a rough estimate at best, so take the numbers here with a grain of salt.

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to make money from home and there are many ways to do this. One of them is blogging, which I will get to in a minute. So, what other ways to earn money through affiliate marketing? Well, do you have people sign up for email newspapers through your blog? You can also gather a following on YouTube by making videos. Affiliate marketing pays better than the basic ads you put on your website, so get into an affiliate program if you can.

Some well known SaaS based products are offering affiliate commissions up to 70%!

Qualification Needed

You do not need a degree here, although you do need to have a knack for business and social media management.

Average Monthly Income – $12,915

According to Zip Recruiter, the average is $12,915.

Where to Get Started

You need a social media account and join an affiliate program such as Etsy Affiliates, ClickBank, Amazon Associates, etc.

2. Blogging

Blogging involves writing articles and putting them up on your website.

There is a bit of a learning curve and takes a while to get going.

The goal here is to attract an audience who would visit your website regularly for new content. With this, you can start to put up advertisements or even join a relevant affiliate program to make money.

Blogging has a great long-term earning potential.

Qualification Needed

Again, you can start blogging without any qualification, although it is helpful if you have a knack for creative writing, SEO, research to make sure the content is high quality and a bit of website design.

Average Monthly Income – $9,250

According to Fit Small Business, many blog owners can expect to earn from $200 to $2,500 a month in the first year, and it can go as high as $3,500 to $15,000 a month after that. So, let’s say $9,250 on average once you get going.

Where to Get Started

You can start a blogging website for free on Weebly, WordPress, Wix, Medium, and LinkedIn.

3. Sell Online Course

If teaching students is too time-consuming for your taste, here is an alternative. Online courses work by allowing you to record your lessons well in advance. That means, you just need to set up everything once and then leave it at that. When you put up your course, you can sell it again and again to different people without spending another penny. So, this can be 100% passive if you want it to be.

Qualification Needed

Although you don’t need a degree, it goes a long way in terms of credibility if you have certifications or any proof of experience for the course you plan to sell.

Average Monthly Income – $5,826

Zip Recruiter reported that the average monthly income is $5,826.

Where to Get Started

Websites such as Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare are good options.

4. YouTube

YouTube requires commitment if you want to be successful. You probably will not earn as much money in the first year. Of course, your earnings depend on the kind of content you put out. YouTube is not 100% passive income, since you do need to put in work constantly to build up an audience. But when you get going, you can earn a lot of money without having to work as much.

Qualification Needed

You do not need a degree to start making videos on YouTube. Some basic skills in marketing and video editing would help you to start faster.

Average Monthly Income – $5,011

According to Zip Recruiter, the average monthly income is $5,011.

Where to Get Started

You can register for free and start posting videos at YouTube.com.

5. Influencer Marketing

There are many ways to make money via influencer marketing. This is assuming you already have a product or service to sell, you can get endorsements from influencers who follow you. They can spread good words through their social media. On the flip side, if you have a blog, a YouTube channel, or a social media account with a sizable following, you might get a sponsorship offer. 

Qualification Needed

You do not need a degree, although you do need a sizable number of followers to be an influencer

Average Monthly Income – $4,682 (Full time)

Zip Recruiter reported that the average is $4,682 a month.

Although, beginner influencers are earning on average $1,420 per month.

Where to Get Started

Social media is a good place to start such as Facebook, Instagram, etc.

6. Online Tutor

If you are good at a certain subject in school, you can monetize that by becoming an online tutor. Countless students need help understanding various subjects. The best part is that it scales well depending on what you are looking for. You can start it off as a casual side hustle to earn you some extra money, or go full-time.

Qualification Needed

You need at least a GED or certification for the subject you plan to teach.

Average Monthly Income – $4,278

According to Zip Recruiter, you can earn around $4,278 a month.

Where to Get Started

Consider websites such as Tutor, Preply, TutorMe, or Cambly.

7. Shopify

While Etsy is a marketplace, Shopify allows you to create your brand. Shopify charges more but gives you long-term benefits such as allowing you to build your customer base. That means, you can send marketing emails directly to customers with Shopify, a feature that Etsy lacks. It is a great place to expand your business if you want to grow it to more than just a side hustle.

Qualification Needed

You do not need a degree to start your business on Shopify.

Average Monthly Income – $3,897

On average, you can expect to earn around $3,897 a month.

Where to Get Started

You can go to shopify.com and start a free trial on the platform.

8. Etsy

Do you love making arts or handicrafts at home? Why not sell them? Etsy is a great place to sell your creative artwork online. It is a massive marketplace, meaning that there is a large number of customers there. Some people also sell resume and CV templates on the platform as well, so you can put your business skills to work as well.

Qualification Needed

You do not need a degree to start on Etsy.

Average Monthly Income – $3,750

Sale Samurai estimated that you can make an average of $3,750 a month.

Where to Get Started

If you have any DIY things you want to sell, you can list them on Etsy.

9. Amazon Seller

Of course, while we are on the topic of online marketplace, it would be a sin not to talk about Amazon. It functions very much like Etsy and Shopify. The only downside is that you have a lot of competition but the upside is that Amazon is the largest online marketplace.

Picture of Amazon office in the U.S. with the headline: Based on number of monthly visits Amazon is the Leading online marketplace n 2022.

Qualification Needed

You do not need a degree to start selling on Amazon.

 Average Monthly Income – $3,385

According to Zip Recruiter, the average monthly income is $3,385.

 Where to Get Started

You can sign up at sellercentral.amazon.com to become an Amazon seller.

10. Sell Stock Photos

If you have a good camera and know some basic photo editing, you can try selling stock photos online. Many people across the globe need high-quality photos for their websites or products.

 Qualification Needed

You do not need any credentials so long as you have a camera. However, you need to take good photos to generate income.

 Average Monthly Income – $3,211

On average, you earn $0.02 per image a month, but you can list multiple images. Zip Recruiter reported that the average monthly income is $3,211.

 Where to Get Started

You can sell stock photos on websites such as Getty Images, Shutterstock, and iStock Photo.

Employed side hustlers monthly earnings statistics.
Source: Bankrate side hustles survey

11. Dropshipping

To an outsider, dropshipping looks very much like an online shop. However, what makes the two differ is the process behind the scene. Think of dropshipping as some sort of a middleman. In this business, you do not really own the product. Simply put, you just handle the customer-facing side of the business. It is relatively safer than owning an online shop because you do not have to worry about inventory management.  

 Qualification Needed

You do not need any qualifications to start, although it helps if you understand your finances and e-commerce.

 Average Monthly Income – $2,500

According to Bluecart, you can earn anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 per month. So, let’s just say $2,500 is a good average.

 Where to Get Started

Alibaba, Dropship Direct, or Oberlo are some good platforms to start your dropshipping business.

12. Writing

Unlike blogging, writing here means that you are producing content for someone else. A lot of companies and individuals hire people who have a flair for creative writing. They need someone to create social media posts, marketing materials, editorials, articles, etc.

Qualification Needed

If your English is good, that will do. Some research skills and basic SEO knowledge will also boost your chances of success.

Average Monthly Income – $960

If you join such freelancer network like Upwork, you can earn as a beginner around $20 per hour. So if you have lets say 12 hours per week to write content for your customers, then you could earn $960 per month with this side hustle from home.

Where to Get Started

You can start your freelance writing career on websites such as Upwork, Indeed, Problogger, and Fiverr.

13. Proofreading

Are you good at English? If you have a solid grasp of the language and have a keen eye for details, you can try becoming a proofreader or editor. Many businesses, non-profit organizations, and even writers could use someone with that skill set. The best part is that there is always someone who needs such a service, and you can apply that skill in any industry.

Qualification Needed

Similar to writing and blogging, if your English is good, then you are good to go. Even better if you have a keen eye for detail.

Average Monthly Income – $960

According to Upwork, beginner proofreaders make $20 per hour. With an average of 12 hours per week, you can earn $960 per month.

Where to Get Started

Fiverr, Upwork, or Flexjobs is a good place to start.

14.  Virtual Assistant

As the name suggests, a virtual assistant helps a business or individual with administrative tasks. These include scheduling, managing emails, etc. There are plenty of companies that look for virtual assistants.

Qualification Needed

You need to be familiar with basic software such as MS Office, Google Calendar, Zoom, etc. Other than that, you need to have communication and organizational skills. If you have experience as an assistant or in relevant roles, even better.

Average Monthly Income – $879

The average hourly salary of a virtual assistant in the U.S. is 24.42 per hour, according to indeed. So if you have around 12 hours per week to spend on your side hustle, you’ll earn around $879 per month.

Where to Get Started

Many platforms such as Flexjobs, Time Etc, or Boldly are a great place to start.

15. Domain Flipping

The idea is to buy a domain, and then sell it for a much higher price. It can be a lucrative business. The only downside is that it is not a source of passive income.

 Qualification Needed

You do not need a degree, but it pays to have a good understanding of the market to maximize your income. 

 Average Monthly Income – $375

According to Fit Small Business, part-time flippers can earn somewhere between $1,000 and $8,000 per year. So when we take 4500 dollars as an average, you would be able to make $375 per month.

Where to Get Started

Domain providers such as DreamHost, GoDaddy, Hover, BlueHost, etc. are a good place to start.

How to Start a Side Hustle From Home

So now, I hope you have some ideas on how you can make some extra money on the side. With that in mind, here are some tips to be successful in your side hustles at home.

Prepare for Long Term

Although side hustles are more to bolster your income, it pays to carefully consider where you plan to take it in the long run. That means, you should think about how much money you plan to earn from your new venture and how much you expect it to grow in 1, 3, or 5 years. So, have a game plan. It gives you a sense of direction and something to work toward for your home based side hustle.

SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis looks at four components:

  • Strength: Things that you are good at or that you possess. Your strengths are internal factors that you can build on and use to your advantage. For your side hustles, your strengths are your skillset that you can rely on to make money.
  • Weaknesses: These can mean a couple of things. For one, they could be obstacles that prevent you from performing your best. They can also be areas where your competitors are doing better than you. They can also be internal factors.
  • Opportunities: They refer to external factors that can give you a competitive edge. For instance, if your area has lower taxes or the cost of living is generally lower, you can offer your services at a lower price.
  • Threats: External factors that can potentially harm your business.

The goal of this analysis is to fully understand your position and guide you in your decision-making and overall strategy. It helps you access your situation with a realistic view using facts and data. Here is a quick breakdown of what each of them means.

Sharpen Your Skills

Although you may be good at your job, it does not hurt to sharpen your skills from time to time. It keeps you at the top of your game, after all. You can polish your existing skills, so you can offer better services or learn new things. The latter is particularly special because it might open up new opportunities.

Be Different

Offer something novel. Here are some questions to give you a better idea of how you can differentiate your business from others:

  • Do you have a system that helps clients do things more effectively?
  • Do you package your service in a way that appeals to your client?
  • Do you bring a different perspective to challenges that also give unique solutions?
  • Do you serve a niche market better than others?
  • Do you have a simpler way of doing things?

Set Reasonable Milestones

Plan your business as if you mean it. Yes, it might just help you earn a couple of hundred bucks a month. It is tempting to neglect it. However, you may not go anywhere if you do not take your side hustle seriously. Plus, it pays to have a plan going into anything in life.

  • From there, you need to set goals. Smart goals. You are probably familiar with this already. SMART goals are:
    • Specific: What do you want to do, exactly? Be as specific as possible.
    • Measurable: Can you measure progress?
    • Achievable: Is it realistic?
    • Relevant: Does it make sense in the bigger picture?
    • Time-bound: When do you expect to reach your milestone?

Track Your Progress

With the milestones in place, you need to keep track of your progress. How? First, write down your milestones. It gives you a sense of direction and increases your chance of achieving your goals.

From there, just take it slow and tackle one milestone at a time. If it is too difficult, maybe you need to reevaluate your milestones. Remember the SMART goal system. You will suffer from setbacks, but do not let that keep you down. It is a learning opportunity. Be flexible and open-minded.

Strategize and Restrategize

Know what you are getting yourself into before you invest time and money into your side hustle. The most important thing to know is how much money you should expect to make. Think about what your competitors are doing. Here are a few tips:

  • Superior customer service: Create the best customer experience to the best of your ability.
  • Create an effective offer: Get creative with your service package and make sure that it has so much value that it is difficult to refuse. For instance, if you sell online courses, give people access to a free lesson.
  • Grease the engine: Reduce friction in doing business with you as much as possible. Offer 24/7 text or email support is a good start.

Other than that, keep an eye on how the market is changing and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Conclusion

I hope that you have some ideas about starting a side hustle from this article. Of course, there are many other ways to make money on the side. All you need is a bit of dedication, ingenuity, and luck. You have nothing to lose really, so why not start a side hustle today?

Guy sitting on his pc and thinking about side hustle. Headlines: "Make money from home" and "15 best side hustle ideas"

Recent Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We love transparency! Some links might be affiliate links. When you purchase via links on our site, we may earn a commission. All recommendations are objective and based on our personal experience. Read more

Ubblu Ad
*AD
Note taking app promo.
Take notes
you don't need to remember.
AI powered note taking experience.
Capture every idea without the pressure to remember.

*AD