Earning a steady income from the comfort of your home is a reality you can enjoy.
According to the US Small Business Administration, 50% of all businesses start at home. This trend reveals that generating a sustainable income from your homefront is possible.
Whether you aim to replace your full-time office job or simply add an extra income stream to your finances, earning from home is a viable consideration.
In this blog, we’ll show you 20 different ways to make money from home. Let’s get started.
Here are 20 ways to make money from home
If you wish to make money from home, you have many options. Advisably, you should choose opportunities that align with your interests, skills, or passions.
That said, here’s a list of money-making opportunities you can consider from the comfort of your home:
1. Car rental
If you have a car you do not use so often, renting it out could be a convenient way to make money at home. Several online platforms are designed to connect car owners with renters. Some examples include Turo, Getaround, and HyreCar.
You only need to create a listing with your car’s details on these platforms, set your rent rates, and choose your availability.
When putting your car up for rent, consider offering competitive pricing. Also, share high-quality photos of your car’s interior and exterior. This will make your listing stand out.
Here’s an example of a car listing on Turo. The renter is expecting to make around $67 per day for 600 miles.
Also, draft a clear and engaging description. Like the example below, highlight the features of your car and include basic rules for usage so that renters can know what to expect.
Keep in mind that renting your car out will come with some responsibilities. For instance, you need to ensure that your car insurance policy covers rentals. In most cases, standard insurance policies do not include commercial use (which is where renting your car falls under).
Also, some cities or states may have specific regulations concerning peer-to-peer car rentals. This might include:
- Licensing
- Safety inspections
- Rental durations or some other restrictions.
You may need to check with your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) or relevant authorities to ensure you comply with critical local laws. You must also ensure your car is in good condition by carrying out regular maintenance.
2. Pet sitting
If you’re a big fan of animals, you can try offering pet-sitting services in your home. This means that you’ll be helping pet owners care for their pets while they’re at work, out of town, or just need some time to themselves.
Pet-sitting services may include feeding, walking, playtime, or general companionship. You can charge an hourly rate or a flat fee per visit. On an hourly basis, you can charge between $10 and $30.
To start a pet-sitting service, you must first decide which animals you want to care for. Do you want to care for dogs, cats, or perhaps all pets?
It’s also important to ensure that your home environment is conducive for pets. Of course, your pet-sitting plan will only work if your apartment or home regulations allow pets (especially if it’s a rented apartment).
It’s also advisable to get pet-sitting insurance before forging ahead. The insurance protects you from any damages or liabilities that may arise in your pet care venture.
Even if formal training is not a requirement, you should at least aim to get basic training in pet care. A few online courses on platforms like Udemy should suffice.
Aim to get basic knowledge in pet behavioral training, pet CPR, and first aid administration.
For something more professional, consider taking a course from the Nationa Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). The course costs around $245 for NAPPS members and $395 for non-members.
Once you’ve covered the basics, you can get on platforms like Rover, Pet Sitters International (PSI), and local pet care communities to connect with potential clients.
3. Blogging with affiliate links
Affiliate marketing involves creating informative, educational, and engaging content around a specific topic and strategically incorporating affiliate links within your post.
These links typically connect to products or services offered by certain companies. When a reader clicks your affiliate link and makes a purchase, you get a commission on the sale. Some affiliate programs provide a one-off commission, while others may give recurrent commissions.
According to Ahrefs, affiliate marketing bloggers earn between $30,000 – $50,000 yearly. The beauty of affiliate marketing is that its profitability cuts across various niches. So, whether you’re a finance blogger, fashion blogger, tech blogger, or productivity blogger, you can still find affiliate programs to make money from.
As an affiliate, you can promote anything from physical products on e-commerce platforms like Amazon to software products by SaaS companies. GetResponse, for instance, offers a lucrative affiliate program.
Our affiliate program lets you earn 33% recurring commissions or a $100 bounty fee for every customer you successfully refer to our marketing software. You can hear it from one of our affiliates, Jonathan Montoya.
To thrive in affiliate marketing, focus on creating quality content that your audience finds valuable. Also, promote products relevant to the interests of those within your audience base— something they can benefit from.
4. Start a daycare
Starting a home daycare is another excellent way to make more money while at home. Usually, the amount of money you can earn depends on your location, spatial capacity, and the ages of the children you care for. Typically, you can charge a weekly or flat rate for your daycare service.
If you wish to start a daycare, you must get a license. According to The Office of Children and Family Services, you must obtain a license if you wish to run any child-care program that regularly caters to three or more children for more than three hours daily.
You can apply for a home daycare license from your local licensing body. The licensing process is likely to be different for each state. But generally, you should expect:
- Background checks – may include criminal history checks, child abuse clearance, fingerprint checks, or experience caring for infants and toddlers.
- Training requirements – some states mandate basic child development or first aid/CPR training for home daycare providers.
You’ll also be required to set up your home so it’s adequate for running a daycare, especially since you’ll need to meet a few health and safety requirements.
For instance, your home is expected to be childproof, meaning that you must have taken relevant measures like
- Securing cabinets and drawers
- Removing or protecting fragile items like glass tables, TV screens, etc
- Removing choking hazards like small objects, poisonous plants, and so on to prevent accidents.
Your environment must also be clean and hygienic enough to prevent the spread of germs. Additionally, you need to set up your home with the ideal furniture and toolkit for children within the age bracket you intend to care for in your daycare—toys, cribs, chairs, beds, a first aid kit, a changing station, etc.
Consider getting your home insured, too. It is advisable to get a general liability insurance policy that protects your home daycare business from possible liabilities like property damage or injuries.
Once all the necessities are sorted, spread the word about your daycare business. Consider setting up online profiles on platforms like Google My Business and your local directories.
This will allow your business to appear in the Google search results, as shown below when people search for local daycares.
You can use our free website builder to create a simple website for your daycare business. Use this website to showcase your daycare facility.
Other platforms you can consider include care.com and Craigslist. Additionally, you can encourage word-of-mouth referrals from close friends and family.
You can also try out online groups on social platforms like Facebook. It’s a good idea to share quality pictures of yourself and your home daycare facility to gain the trust of potential customers.
5. Sell handmade crafts
Selling homemade crafts like jewelry, knitted scarves, hand-painted mugs, decorative candles, footwear, and so on can be quite profitable. This is especially true if you market these items in a creative and engaging way.
Before you start selling your craft, it’ll be a good idea to see what others are selling and what the demand for these products is like. You can check different websites or online retailers that sell handmade stuff.
If possible, avoid entering an overly crowded niche. However, if that’s unavoidable, the distinct quality of your handmade pieces would be your unique selling proposition (USP).
Maximize online marketplaces like Facebook, Etsy, or Amazon’s handmade marketplace to showcase your work. Eventually, you can create your own website so customers can make purchases there.
If you’re selling through an online marketplace or on your website, it may also help to understand SEO (search engine optimization).
SEO involves targeting specific terms or keywords that potential buyers use to browse for information on search engines. Optimizing your site or product listings with these keywords can increase your chances of being discovered by interested customers.
For instance, if shoppers search for “handmade rug” on Etsy, here’s what they find:
Take advantage of social media platforms to reach potential buyers as well. You can direct them to your own website, Etsy profile, Shopify store, or whichever platform you sell from.
With social media, quality pictures or videos of your products are very important for enticing potential buyers. Here’s an example from Lynn Rosenzweig, a jewelry designer, on Instagram.
While selling what’s popular and in demand can be quite profitable, with crafting, it’s also important to focus on selling products that you actually enjoy making. After all, the whole idea of selling your craft is to make money from something you’re passionate about.
6. Provide room rentals
Renting out a spare bedroom or basement you barely use is another great idea for making money from home. You get to share your space with someone who needs a place to stay while generating extra cash to help you with bills or even save for future goals.
When renting out your room, be sure to prepare your space for the potential occupant. Consider providing basic furniture like a bed, dresser, and lamp. You may also add amenities like a mini-fridge or microwave to make the room appealing to renters.
It’s also important to draft clear room rental agreements. This agreement should outline the rent amount, utilities included, and basic house rules. See the template below:
Also, be sure to screen potential candidates carefully. Conducting a brief interview can help you learn about those interested in your space and see who is a good fit.
Finally, check local regulations regarding lodgers or short-term rentals. Depending on your location, you may need a permit before renting your room out.
For short-term stays, you can list your vacant room on platforms like Spare Room, Vrbo, or Airbnb. For long-term tenants, check out sites like Craigslist.
Your social media accounts can also be helpful when looking for renters. Like the example above, your room listings should be enticing. Showcase key features like furniture and other amenities that renters may like.
7. Offer consulting services
Becoming an independent consultant can be a lucrative work-from-home venture if you possess a specific skill set and enjoy proffering solutions. As a consultant, you’ll offer expert advice and solve specific problems that clients may have. You can also help businesses or individuals achieve their goals.
So, how do you get started?
Identify your niche and target audience—Choose a niche based on something you’re really good at. It could be marketing, web development, personal finance, productivity, or even social media management. It’s best to focus on areas where you have strong qualifications and can deliver tangible results.
You can target specific groups of potential clients within your niche, such as business owners, marketing professionals, start-ups, or large organizations—depending on your expertise level.
Show your expertise and credibility – Create a convincing profile on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and X. This is where you’ll market your consulting services. Your profile should highlight your skills and unique value proposition. Where needed, acquire relevant certifications to boost your credibility.
Use your social platforms to create relevant content and showcase your knowledge. For example, copywriter and marketing consultant Bryan Grover uses his LinkedIn profile to share insightful and engaging content with his audience:
Like Masha Cresalia in the example below, you may want to create a professional website or landing page where prospects can book a consultation:
As a consultant, you should also be clear about your areas of expertise. Consider creating specialized offers based on common problems your target clients may have.
For instance, Masha Cresalia clearly outlines her specific areas of expertise for those interested in a consultation:
Finally, work towards growing your network online. You can do this by joining communities and attending events in your niche. Occasionally, you may promote special offers like a free strategy call or ebook to get potential customers into your sales funnel.
8. Deliver online courses
Selling online courses is another profitable way to make money at home. Once created, your courses can be sold to a vast number of potential learners online, allowing you to build a steady income stream from them.
As a course creator, you can teach anything from social media marketing to graphic design and coding. You can create beginner-friendly courses or more complex courses for skilled professionals. You can also share your fluency by teaching a foreign language you’re good at. The opportunities are vast.
When it comes to building and selling courses, you’ll have different platforms at your disposal. You can use marketplaces like Udemy or Skillshare, which have a vast audience of potential learners who can easily discover your course.
Although great for beginners, these marketplaces limit the control you have over your course. For example, you’ll never gain access to your audience’s email addresses. The marketplaces can also discount your courses, significantly affecting your earning potential.
For these reasons, more people are opting to build and sell their online courses independently. To do that, you’ll need a platform like the GetResponse online course builder.
Promote your course using other mediums like social media and email marketing. Consider creating a well-detailed course landing page. Focus on creating quality content to showcase the value that your course presents to potential learners.
9. Launch a podcast
Podcasts are an interesting medium for sharing knowledge, entertaining your audience, and making money online.
You can make money online with podcasts through advertising, sponsorships, or even offering premium content to paid subscribers. Your podcast can also be a front for marketing products or services you already provide, e.g., coaching or consulting services.
The beauty of podcasting is that you do not need so much to start. You only need:
- A good hosting platform like Buzzsprout, Spotify, or Riverside. These platforms also help distribute your podcast across popular listening apps like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music.
- Basic tools like a decent microphone, headphones, and a computer— or even a mobile phone will do.
- If you want to edit your podcast creatively, software tools like Audacity, WavePad, or GarageBand (for Mac PCs) may be helpful.
The first step to launching your podcast is to choose a topic you’re passionate about or at least knowledgeable about. This is the topic that you’ll build your podcast conversations around. Go for a topic that’s quite broad so that you can conveniently create a series of episodes to engage your audience.
Also, you need to have a clear understanding of who your audience is. Having a target listener in mind will help you create content that people can truly resonate with. Consider basic information like your audience’s demography, interests, common challenges, or careers. What you focus on will mostly depend on the niche you’ve chosen.
You can gather insight into your audience by looking at similar podcasts and researching your chosen topics on search engines or social media platforms. Listening tools like Mention or Hootsuite can also be helpful.
Once you have clarity about your topic and target audience, proceed to start your podcast. Keep in mind that running a successful podcast thrives on consistency. So, it may be a great idea to script and pre-record your episodes.
Promote your podcast across social media platforms, focusing on popular social networks among your target audience.
10. Become a voice-over/dubbing artist
This is an incredible option if you have a unique and exciting voice. As a VO or dubbing artist, you bring characters or narratives from stories to life. You can even get opportunities to partner with big brands for their commercials.
Voice-over artists narrate audiobooks, documentaries, e-learning modules, and commercials. Dubbing artists add voices to foreign films and animation. Both offer an interesting opportunity to generate income through project fees or royalties.
The potential earnings you receive as a VO depends on factors like:
- Niche
- Experience
- Skillset
- Language, or
- Location
However, Backstage says most VO artists earn between $20 – $500 per finished hour (PFH). An established VO can get jobs on national commercials and earn up to $5,000 per project. So, how can you become a voice-over artist?
- First, you should dedicate some time to learning and perfecting your voice. Practice different tones, accents, character portrayals, and so on. Consider voice acting workshops or coaching programs to refine your skills.
- Invest in good audio recording equipment, including a microphone and headphones. To improve the quality of your work, it’s also smart to invest in a soundproof booth.
- Build a demo reel. A demo reel is a sample that showcases your work. Put together short versions of your creative work. Showcase how versatile you can be by mimicking different characters. You can record snippets with different tones, speech styles, and emotions.
Use your demo reel to apply for gigs on platforms like Backstage, Upwork, Fiverr, Voices, and Voice123.
Overall, voice-over and dubbing artistry depend greatly on creativity. So, consistent practice is essential if you want to stay on top of your game and stand out from the crowd.
11. Data entry
Data entry can be another opportunity to make money from home. It involves manually entering information/details into a computer system from an offline database or non-electronic source.
Earnings usually depend on the company, the bulk of work, and specific tasks. However, you can earn $10 per hour for a start.
In a data entry job, you’d typically work with a spreadsheet or another online database. You can input data from sources like invoices, audio recordings, and typed documents.
Some common types of data entry gigs you can consider include:
- Form filling
- Data cleansing
- Transcription
- Data processing
- Accounting
- Market research
Interestingly, these job types do not require special qualifications or degrees. You can get on a project and earn from it if you have good typing skills. Other important skills to have include basic computer knowledge, proficiency with database tools like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, and proper time management.
You can find data entry jobs on freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer. You can also find a remote job on LinkedIn. Job boards like Indeed and Glassdoor are great places to check, too.
Additionally, you can try dedicated data-entry job sites like Clickworker, Diondata, and Amazon’s Mechanical Turk.
12. Proofreading
Proofreading involves looking through a written piece to find errors like typos, poor formatting, grammatical mistakes, or punctuation issues. As a proofreader, you’ll review written content before it’s published. This written content could be an ebook, article, email, or social media post.
Some lucrative materials you can proofread include:
- Marketing materials
- Legal transcripts
- Print media
- Academic dissertations
You can also proofread screenplay scripts or even book manuscripts.
Attention to detail is an important skill to possess if you want to offer proofreading services. You should also have a solid understanding of grammar and punctuation.
Thankfully, these are skills you can learn from the comfort of your computer. Look for courses on platforms like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, or Skillshare. You can also learn from free resources like YouTube videos and PDF tutorials.
Additionally, you can take time to learn various writing guidelines like:
- AP style (The Associated Press Stylebook)
- MLA (The Modern Language Association)
- APA (American Psychological Association)
- The Chicago Manual of Style
These style guides specify recommendations like grammar usage and how to apply punctuation.
You can then find proofreading and editing jobs through Upwork, Fiverr, Flexjobs, Scribendi, Proofreading.org, and other freelance platforms.
Proofreading can earn you about $22 to $24 per hour. However, your earnings will depend on factors like the type of material you are proofreading, the niche you’re working in, and your proofreading experience.
Depending on your preferences and needs, you can go for remote full-time or part-time jobs.
13. Freelance writing
Freelance writing is a great way to make money online. Companies and brands need well-written content to drive their digital marketing activities.
You can explore various niches as a freelance writer, including:
- Content writing – writing website content, blog posts, articles, social media content, email marketing campaigns.
- Technical writing – writing instruction manuals, user guides, and other documentation types for software products.
- Creative writing – fiction, scripts, poetry, and so on.
- Copywriting – Sales copy, advertising copy, product descriptions, etc.
- Business writing – proposals, reports, presentations, or press releases.
Being a freelance writer, you’ll need to create a portfolio to showcase samples of your work. You can do this through a dedicated blog page where you write about topics that interest your target clients.
To find freelance writing jobs, look at the freelance platforms mentioned in the previous sections—Upwork, Fiverr, and others.
Also, creating a professional profile on social networks like LinkedIn, X, or Instagram would be a great way to get the word out about your services. Here are a few examples of content writers on X, for instance:
Some freelance writers even have a dedicated landing page where they showcase their writing skills to potential clients.
See this example below from Ally Denton’s website:
Overall, freelance writing has the potential to become a very lucrative work-from-home venture. But this would demand some commitment and consistency from you.
14. Website testing
As a website tester, you can earn money by providing valuable feedback to web developers—mostly about web functions and features. You don’t need much to get started—just your laptop and a good internet connection will do.
There are various types of website testing for which you can get paid. They include:
- Prototype testing
- Quality assurance testing
- Usability testing
- Functional testing
You shouldn’t need prior experience to start as a web tester. However, being tech-savvy and having good communication skills can give you an edge.
According to ZipRecruiter, web testers earn up to $38.36 an hour. But, generally, what you earn will depend on the companies you work with and how well you do the job.
Check out platforms like User Testing, Enroll, Loop11, and Respondent to find web testing jobs. You can also set up a profile on popular freelance platforms.
15. Cryptocurrency trading
If you’re big on financial investments, buying and selling cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum can be a profitable way to earn from home.
But, it’s important to state that this can be a high-risk venture. The idea of trading cryptocurrencies is to make money from price fluctuations— that is, you buy when the price is low and sell when it’s high.
It’s advisable to understand the crypto trading environment before getting started. Do your research and look into the different types of cryptocurrencies you can trade. Sites like Udemy and Binance Academy are good places to start.
As a newbie crypto trader, you should start with a secure and well-established cryptocurrency exchange platform – popular options include Binance and Coinbase. Also, start by investing in small amounts so you’ll be able to bear potential losses.
Remember, cryptocurrency trading can be pretty complex. It’s best to approach it with caution and work with guidance from someone more experienced.
16. Upload and sell stock photos
Creators and companies often need quality pictures for their content. Those unable to take their own pictures may opt for stock images. So, if you can take professional quality photographs, consider selling them as stock photos.
Even your smartphone camera can fetch you some good cash by selling stock photos online. However, it would be great if you could invest in a good DSLR camera.
To sell your photos, go to stock libraries like Shutterstock, Pexels, Pixabay, Dreamstime, or Getty Images. For instance, Ground Picture is an image contributor on Shutterstock. Here’s what their profile looks like:
Usually, you’d have to sign up, submit your photos, and await approval from these sites before you become an authorized contributor.
Additionally, the quality of your photos plays a key role in getting you approved on these stock sites. So, you should be savvy with basic photo editing software like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
17. Provide freelance graphic design services
As a graphic designer, you can make money by creating images for ads, web content, social media, website layouts, and other marketing needs. You can also profit from designing logos and product illustrations for clients.
To sell your graphic design services, freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer can be helpful. You can also find lots of remote graphic design jobs on social platforms like LinkedIn and job boards like Indeed.
But before applying for the jobs, use a platform like Dribble to create an enticing portfolio for potential customers. See an example below:
You can also build a personal graphic design landing page for your portfolio.
As shown above, it’s also a brilliant idea to build an attractive profile on visual social channels like Instagram and Pinterest, where you can showcase your design skills and attract potential clients to your graphic design business.
18. Run a cloud kitchen
A cloud kitchen, also called a virtual kitchen, is a food business focusing only on takeouts and delivery— no dine-in services.
To run a cloud kitchen, you must meet specific regulatory standards in the food business. For instance, there are requirements for food handling, preparation, and storage. You should have a good understanding of these rules before you set out. Be sure to get the necessary licenses and permits as well.
You should also have a clear plan for how you want your business to run. For instance, will you specialize in selling specific types of meals? How do you intend to get customers?
One simple way is to partner with food delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats.
Thankfully, platforms like Chefready and Cloudkitchens can help you launch a successful virtual kitchen business.
With clear and enticing visual content, you can promote your kitchen through various social media channels. See an example below:
Over time, you can invest in a small business website where customers can place orders.
Another key consideration for creating a cloud kitchen is packaging. Ensure that your meal packages are attractive and well-branded. This will allow you to build brand awareness and a reputation with customers.
Overall, the initial investment for a cloud kitchen may be demanding, but you can make significant returns in the long run.
19. Self-publish an ebook
Self-publishing is a great way to share knowledge and earn income from home. It’s also an amazing way to earn passive income because you’ll have very little to do once the ebook is published. You can write a variety of ebooks like:
- Self-help and personal development books
- How-to guides
- Business and entrepreneurship ebooks
- Educational materials
It’s important to have a clear audience in mind to earn from these types of ebooks. It’s also vital to show mastery of the topic of your choice.
Additionally, you can try out fictional niches like
- Children’s ebooks
- Science fiction
- Thrillers, and other fictional genres.
If you’re self-publishing, it’s essential to prioritize the quality of your content. Edit and format extensively. Hiring a professional to proofread and edit your work may also be wise. Also, an enticing book cover design is key to attracting buyers for your ebook.
To sell your ebooks, consider popular self-publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Draft2Digital, and Smashwords. These platforms allow you to distribute your ebook to popular sites like Amazon, Barnes &Noble, and Kobo. You can also explore newer and less competitive platforms for selling your ebook.
Additionally, it’s advisable to set a competitive price for the books you publish. Preferably, benchmark your pricing alongside other published ebooks in your niche.
Promotion is another important aspect of selling your ebook. Take advantage of social media channels and book review sites.
20. Teach music
Last on our list of how to make money from home is to teach music.
Starting as a music teacher requires little to no cost. You can begin by creating and selling a digital music course. You can use GetResponse’s platform for content creators to create and promote your course.
You can sell your courses on top platforms like Udemy, FutureLearn, and Skillshare or go for self-hosted platforms like Thinkific.
You can also offer prospective learners one-on-one online tutoring sessions via Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet. Consider building a brand around your music teaching service for this.
Promote yourself on social platforms to attract potential learners. You must also create a web page to showcase your qualifications and unique teaching style. The landing page will also help secure bookings.
Additionally, share instructional videos on YouTube to build an audience and spread the word about your services.
In closing
Earning money from home has become easier thanks to increased access to the internet and gadgets like smartphones and tablets.
However, not every opportunity to start earning money from home has to be over the internet. This article has covered opportunities like car rentals, pet sitting, daycare, and room rentals, which mostly happen offline. If you like working behind your laptop more, you can read our article on how to make money online.
Other ways to get extra money into your bank account working from home include doing freelance work like proofreading, freelance writing, web testing, consulting, affiliate blogging, selling online courses, self-publishing an ebook, and teaching music.
The possibilities are truly limitless. Hopefully, the above list has helped you find your next venture. Good luck!