Updated June 15, 2023

79 Real Ways to Make Money from Home

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The Internet is full of get-rich quick schemes, but you can find legit ways to make money from home. Read on to find out how you can pull in some extra bucks without changing out of your PJs.

For all ages
  1. Invest in stocks, ETFs and mutual funds
  2. Be a translator
  3. Bank on earning more
  4. Be a virtual nurse
  5. Take a survey or two
  6. Get paid to type
  7. Be a virtual assistant
  8. Sell stuff on eBay and Craigslist
  9. Cash in on your credit card
  10. Rent out your stuff
  11. Sell off last year's styles
  12. Bake and make
  13. Get crafty
  14. Build a sales funnel
  15. Be a guinea pig
  16. Medical Coding and Billing
  17. Drop some extra pounds
  18. Help people take tests
  19. Start a dropshipping business
For kids and teens
  1. Start your own YouTube channel
  2. Earn money playing games
  3. Launch a podcast
  4. Create an app
  5. Sell crafts online
  6. Create graphic designs
  7. Create and sell woodworking
  8. Flip garage finds
  9. Create and sell stationary
  10. Open a lemonade stand
  11. Work for U-Haul
  12. Complete tasks on Teeneyes
  13. Listen to some tunes
  14. Start a baby care or doggy day care center
  15. Be a video screener
  16. Start a blog
  17. Be a tutor
  18. Be a social media guru
  19. Put your fashion sense to work
  20. Develop websites for small businesses
  21. Review calls on Humantic
  22. Share your thoughts
  23. Test products
For college students and young adults
  1. Be a personal trainer or yoga instructor
  2. Write content
  3. Data entry clerk
  4. Flex your writing muscles
  5. Offload your old books
  6. Perform small errands
  7. Teach a class
  8. Take websites for a test drive
  9. Work on a website
  10. Sell yourself on Fiverr
  11. Let others observe you for marketing purposes
  12. Be a microtasker
  13. Show off your flair for design
  14. Check other people's grammar
  15. Answer questions
  16. Search engine evaluators
  17. Party your way to a sales career
  18. Run Facebook Ads
For seniors
  1. Share your space
  2. Call center agent
  3. Put your car to work
  4. Rent your driveway
  5. Start a conversation
  6. Be a seamstress
  7. Put your home in the spotlight
  8. Get paid for being healthy
  9. Be a couch potato
  10. Teach kids at summer camp
  11. Teach ESL
  12. Weigh in on a case
  13. Professional calligrapher
  14. Author an e-book
  15. Open your home to a student
  16. Insurance claims Investigator
  17. Design and sell t-shirts
  18. Teach music lessons
  19. Book travel for others

Nearly 4 million Americans work from home. And this trend doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.

There are WFH jobs for all sorts of roles, ages, and skill levels. Take a look at this comprehensive list of ways to make money from home (PJs optional).

For all ages

Here are a few general side hustles for extra income.

1. Invest in stocks, ETFs and mutual funds

If you haven't already, start now. Investing can help you grow your money well beyond its original amount. There are many many different options available, depending on your risk tolerance.

You can use a robo-advisor or real estate crowdfunding if you prefer a hands-off approach. Or if you want to manage your own portfolio, start with a brokerage account with commission-free trades.

  • Time: Low to medium
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: How to invest

2. Be a translator

Fluent in at least two languages? Parlay this useful skill as a working interpreter or translator.

This role is in tremendous demand, especially for recent college graduates. There's no shortage of companies that need bilinguals to manage their translation projects.

Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Japanese are popular languages. And be sure to be comfortable working tight deadlines.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: Around $26/hour
  • Get started: You'll find translation clients online via social media platforms, websites, databases or Google searches.

3. Bank on earning more

Banks want your business. One of the ways they get it is by offering promotional bonuses when you open a new checking account or sign up for a new credit card.

These bonuses can be worth anywhere from $100 to $500, based on how much you're depositing in the bank or how much you charge on the credit card in the first few months.

You don't want to get in the habit of opening up credit card accounts just to get some dough, but you should know that having more than one card may help your credit score in the long run. The banks want to know how much total available credit you have (they are not as interested in the number of cards you own).

For additional ideas on how to earn a few hundred dollars, take a look at our guide on how to make $500 fast.

4. Be a virtual nurse

Telehealth / virtual nurses are big businesses. They assist patients over the phone or the internet. Their responsibilities include monitoring vital signs, communicating with doctors and advising patients online.

As a virtual nurse, you'll deal with minor health issues and determine if the patient should seek emergency care or make an in-person appointment with a physician.

For tools, you will use a strong internet connection, web camera, quality headset and other telecommunications equipment. You also need to have passed the NCLEX-RN exam.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: $66,000/year on average
  • Get started: Visit traditional hospital and health center job boards

5. Take a survey or two

Ever wished you could tell a company exactly what you think of their product or services and have someone actually listen?

Thanks to companies like Pinecone Research and iPoll, you can do just that and get paid in the process. Surveys can be completed online in just a few minutes, so it's not a huge strain on your time.

There are many websites that offer to pay survey takers, but not all of them are legit. Be wary of companies that ask you to pay up front to join their survey program or want access to personal information like your Social Security number or bank account number.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: Up to $20 welcome bonus but a few dollars/hours after that
  • Get started: Survey websites

6. Get paid to type

How many words per minute can you type? If you're on the faster side, look for online transcription work. You turn audio and video content into written text.

The hours are flexible - work as much or as little as you please. The work itself is fairly straightforward but it requires a ton of attention to detail.

There's a big need for transcriptionists to put all those spoken words into blog posts, transcribed interviews, and even legal documents. If you can get a regular client, you could set yourself up as a part-timer making decent money.

Video captioning is a bit harder since you need to sync the text with the audio frame. But you'll get compensated more.

For tools, you can get away with just nimble hands and a laptop, but some companies will want you to have a foot pedal too. Expect to go through a test with established firms and to make less money when you're first starting out. Know when it's time to branch out for better paying gigs.

7. Be a virtual assistant

Virtual assisting is big business these days, with plenty of companies that will pay you to work from home. Help an overwhelmed entrepreneur stay on top of his emails, organize the schedule of an executive or book travel for a business owner, all from your desktop.

How can you find work? If you're not sure how to find clients, Zirtual can connect you with businesses and individuals who need your help.

8. Sell stuff on eBay and Craigslist

You've heard about others doing it, so what's stopping you? Selling your stuff on eBay and Craigslist can be way easier than organizing a yard sale and potentially more lucrative too. Get ready to take some photos and set up a profile, and off you go.

Some people have made hundreds and even thousands of dollars a month. Are you ready to part with some well-maintained, in-demand collectibles? Make sure you calculate how the fees and shipping expenses are going to affect your bottom line when you're setting prices.

How can you stand out in the crowd? Shipping fees are the worst and your customers want to avoid it. Consider folding your shipping expense into the amount you're asking them to pay and then you can say shipping is "free."

Also be sure to give your item a thoughtful title with as much detail as you can include. You'd be surprised how little attention sellers give to this critical part of describing their wares.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Selling apps

9. Cash in on your credit card

If you normally use a credit card to pay for things, switching to a cash back rewards card is a no-brainer.

Look for a card that offers the biggest bonuses on the things you purchase the most, like groceries, gas, or travel. You might not get rich this way, but you could earn a decent bit of money back on the things you buy.

What should you watch out for? Using a cash rewards card to earn money back won't do you any good if you're paying a huge amount of interest on purchases or a hefty annual fee. Before you commit to a card, check out the fee and rate schedule to see just how much it's going to cost.

10. Rent out your stuff

Got a video camera lying around you're not using? How about a bike that's just collecting dust? Instead of selling it on Craigslist or donating it for a one-time tax deduction, you could make a few bucks over and over again by renting it out locally.

Any time you hand your stuff over to someone else, you're assuming a certain amount of risk. Before you start posting, check the site's policy to see what they cover if your item is damaged or isn't returned.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: Up to $3,000 per month

11. Sell off last year's styles

Got a closet full of mistakes?

If you have a bad habit of buying clothes and not returning them, you can recoup your losses with ThredUp. This site will list your items for you and pay you up to 80% of what it sells for. Ask ThredUp to send you a bag, and you can easily mail in your clothes and get money or shopping credit back.

The site is picky and will reject clothes that are peeled, out of fashion, and not from brands that its shoppers will pay good money for. So, only send in clothes you've barely worn, that are still fashionable, and that are on ThredUp's acceptable brand list (Gap and Anthropologie - yes; Kohl's or Sears clothing - no).

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Clothes selling apps

12. Bake and make

Are you always baking breads and finding you're eating the whole thing yourself? Or are you the one your relatives call to make their birthday cakes, with elaborate characters?

Whether you're a baker, a chef on the side, or a master gardener, you have hit the golden age. People want homemade foods and locally grown produce, and there are many avenues now to get your food to people and make a dime off it.

Rent a table in your town's weekly farmer's market, try out a flea market, get a page going on Facebook about your cakes, and watch the orders go up. You're unlikely to turn this into a full-time gig, but you could make money off your favorite hobby.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: This type of side income is all about word of mouth, so make good treats (trendy cake pops still haven't lost their allure), give your friends samples, and have a presence on social media (Pinterest is the perfect fit for this type of work, as moms who bake for money have discovered).

13. Get crafty

Etsy has grown like crazy but still makes its bread and butter from work-at-home crafters and artists. If you've got mad skills with a glue gun or a knack for upcycling vintage linens, you could parlay that into a steady stream of income.

But what if you can't knit?

Etsy is all about being creative, so use your imagination when it comes to the type of items you can sell.

Can you make invitations that people can print at home? Or some funky Valentines? Have some thrifty, artsy stuff on your walls that you're willing to sell? How about calligraphy? Shop around on Etsy and you may get inspired.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Set up a seller account on Etsy

14. Build a sales funnel

Do you have a business idea? Well, you can build a sales funnel to promote your services. Sales funnels are absolutely to the sales process. They attract a greater pool of customers and help you build a relationship/bond with them.

Most sales funnels start with a free offer or lead magnet. This item is valuable to the customer - helping create trust. Next, provide a "tripwire" - this is an irresistible, low-priced offer.

Tripwires let customers dip their toes with your services and primes them for a big purchase.

A tripwire is an irresistible, low-priced offer that's sole purpose is to convert an audience into customers. This small offer helps accelerate the buyer's journey by letting customers dip their toes in without having to make a big purchase.

If you have your own business, it's an absolute must.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Check out the book DotCom Secrets to learn more about sales funnels

15. Be a guinea pig

Being a test subject doesn't mean you have to sit in a lab for 10 hours a day. It's possible to take part in a virtual medical research study without ever leaving the house. Some studies only pay participants a few bucks, but others can pay a few hundred dollars, depending on what you have to do.

Any time you agree to take part in a medical study, there's a certain amount of risk involved. Typically, you can drop out of a study at any time if you're not comfortable, but you may not get paid if you do. Read the fine print before you sign up.

16. Medical Coding and Billing

Many doctor's offices and hospitals are outsourcing this task to individuals working at home. If you have medical coding and billing knowledge, you could apply for a remote position. AviaCode is a company that hires remote medical coding professionals.

17. Drop some extra pounds

Losing weight is good for your health and it's even better for your wallet if you're getting paid to do it.

Sites like HealthyWage and DietBet let you join a weight loss challenge with other dieters. Members chip in money to a pot and if your group hits its goal, everybody gets a share of the winnings.

You might think it's gambling. But HealthyWage says it's not gambling in the legal sense because you are in control of the outcome at all times.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: With HealthyWage, you pay $25 per month for three month to participate in the contest, and you could win up to $10,000
  • Get started: HealthyWage and DietBet

18. Help people take tests

As a test proctor, you'll enable people to take exams from the comfort of their home.

You just need to confirm the test taker's identity, answer questions and be on the lookout for cheating. Test proctors keep an eye on students with webcam video.

So you'll need a reliable internet connection, and a high quality camera to get the job done. Note, some companies may require a bachelor's degree for this role.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: $11 - $16/hour
  • Get started: Look on job boards like Indeed and ZipRecruiter

19. Start a dropshipping business

You can sell digital and physical products in an ecommerce store.

Use dropshipping to let a third party handle shipment. This means you transfer the customer's orders and shipment details to someone else to ship out. The third part is usually the manufacturer, another retailer or wholesaler.

As long as you secure a reliable supplier, dropshipping is a profitable and low-risk business model.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Get your online shop up and running with BigCommerce and Shopify

For kids and teens

Even if you're under 18, there are still a few ways to make a side cash.

20. Start your own YouTube channel

The most popular YouTubers have figured out how to build an audience and make money while they're doing it. Give a makeup tutorial, provide weekly updates on your hilarious cat, or show off your unique skill in regularly posted, 1-minute clips. One guy has made a ton of money simply by filming himself eating things (literally, things).

21. Earn money playing games

Do you love the adrenaline ruse of leveling up and battling against other players? Well, you can monetize your video game playing prowess.

Choose to play competitively, build a fanbase as a Twitch streamer or earn money playing games online.

  1. Swagbucks - Most Ways to Earn
  2. Inboxdollars - for Cash Rewards
  3. Mistplay - for Gift Cards
  4. Lucktastic - Scratch-and-Win
  5. Brain Battle - for Learning
  6. Bananatic - for STEAM Gamers
  7. GSN Cash Games - for Competitive Players

  • Time: Low to high
  • Earning potential: Some Twitch gamers make $100,000+ and some Swagbucks users earn between $50-$200 a month from playing a few hours a day
  • Get started: You can start a gaming blog or YouTube Channel. Then become a beta tester (spot errors by test-playing games). Once you join video game tournaments, you can become a Twitch streamer.

22. Launch a podcast

Do you prefer being a radio personality than in front of the camera? Then share your opinions in a podcast series. This popular medium provides content to commuters and workers on the go.

Once you build a loyal following, you can start making money from advertising. Just look at Joe Rogan.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Start recording episodes and post them on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

23. Create an app

Can you code? If you have a great business idea for a service or product, you can sell the app on various app store platforms. You can do it anywhere, anytime and on your own terms. If your app becomes tremendously popular, you'll enjoy high rewards.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Take time to program and QA your app. Share the app with friends and family for their feedback.

24. Sell crafts online

Do you have an artistic eye? You can make paintings, Christmas ornaments and printed canvas and sell them online. Or even drawings and t-shirts.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Begin creating and ask a parent to help you set up an account on Etsy or Shopify. If you're not ready to sell online, consider doing a yard sale.

25. Create graphic designs

Do you appreciate digital art? If you can create graphics, logos and website designs, consider a side hustle as a graphic designer.

Companies need help expressing their brand visually.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: $15 - $30/hour
  • Get started: 99 Designs

26. Create and sell woodworking

Rustic woodworking furniture and decor has ballooned popularity. If you have a craftsman's touch, you can sell your handmade items.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: $1000/month
  • Get started: Take some woodworking classes and then sell your creations on Etsy

27. Flip garage finds

If you stumble upon under-valued treasures at a garage sale, you can resell the item for a profit. Visit garage sales, thrift stores and consignment shops to find housewares, accessories and clothing.

Most people use LetGo, Mercari, Declutter and Offerup to sell stuff. You need to be at least 16 years old to use these apps.

  • Time: Medium to high
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Resell apps

28. Create and sell stationary

If you appreciate the soft designs of cards, invitations and paper then consider selling your own product. You can put together gorgeous invitations for bat mitzvahs, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations and more.

You can order supplies online and get to creating! You can even sell printables so your customers can print them from the comfort of their home.

  • Time: Medium to high
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Etsy shop

29. Open a lemonade stand

Have you seen tons of joggers and dog walkers around your neighborhood? Chances are, they get pretty parched.

You can capitalize on this by opening a classic beverage and snack stand in front of your house. Offer lemonade, water, juices and other amenities. You might become the hotspot of the neighborhood.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Go to Costco or your local supermarket and start stocking up. Then create signs nearby to advertise your services.

30. Work for U-Haul

U-Haul offers work-from-home customer service roles. Some 16-year olds can apply (with a high school diploma or GED). If you're good with people, you should check out the role.

You'll assist with tasks like booking a moving truck and preparing rental invoices. For tools, be sure to have a strong internet connection, reliable headset and webcam. You will need to complete their training program.

31. Complete tasks on Teeneyes

Teeneyes is an online market research firm. They pay participants to take surveys, join focus groups, test products and more.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: 1 point = 1 cent. Each task ranges from 200 points to 2,000 points. Cash out once your account reaches $10.
  • Get started: Teeneyes

32. Listen to some tunes

Have you got an ear for good music? If so, you can get paid to write reviews of tunes before they're released. Sites like SliceThePie use everyday people to figure out which up-and-coming songs have the potential to be a hit and which ones are on the fast track to becoming a flop.

Reviewing music on SliceThePie or a similar site isn't likely to make you a millionaire. Typically, you'll earn a few cents to a few dollars for each review, but it can add up if you're spending a lot of time jamming out.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: You can earn anywhere from 7 cents to 15 cents.
  • Get started: SliceThePie

33. Start a baby care or doggy day care center

Sitting may not seem like a moneymaker, but it is if you're watching someone else's children or pets. You can also make money from home (albeit someone else's) by house-sitting for people while they're away on vacation or by spending time with an elderly senior while their regular caregiver is at work.

  • Time: Medium to high
  • Earning potential: $15 - $90/hour
  • Get started: If you're not comfortable putting up flyers or advertising your services on Craigslist, you can always try creating a profile on Care.com. This site looks at the information in your profile and tries to connect you with the right sitting opportunities

If you're an animal lover, look for dog-walking gigs here:

34. Be a video screener

Watching cute cat videos on YouTube is fun, but it's even better when you're getting paid.

Swagbucks gives you points that you can swap out for gift cards at your favorite brands (or charity donations) when you watch videos, play games, or take surveys. Each "buck" is worth a penny and can add up fast if you're able to keep tabs on when the site needs your help.

Are survey apps worth your time? It is if you find the activities fun and if you want a guilt-free way to save up some funds for your next shopping splurge.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: A few bucks/hour
  • Get started: Swagbucks

35. Start a blog

Blogging can be lucrative if you've got a niche and are serious about building an audience. You can make money through advertising, affiliate programs or even selling your own products like ebooks or ecourses. It may take some time to see the dollars start trickling in, but it can pay off if you're willing to stick with it.

  • Time: Medium to high
  • Earning potential: You will start at $0/month for your own blog. Once you have more followers, you can earn money from ad revenue, affiliate links, brand partnerships or your own products. If you blog for other people, the average starting pay is $15/hour
  • Get started: Experts recommend WordPress to look professional and give yourself flexibility later on. Be smart about getting a domain, keep up with the latest SEO and blogging trends, and you're off.

36. Be a tutor

Tutors are always in demand, so if you're really good at fourth grade math or you got straight A's in science all through school, you're in a great position to help out a struggling student.

You can set up tutoring sessions in your home or go virtual through a site like Tutor.com, which does all the work of finding tutoring clients for you.

Getting hired by an online tutoring site involves more than just knowing a lot about a specific subject. You'll also have to pass a background check and go through a mock tutoring session to make sure you're a good fit.

  • Time: Medium to high
  • Earning potential: $12 to $25/hour
  • Get started: Market your services on sites like Wyzant or Tutor.com

37. Be a social media guru

If you're social media savvy, you might be able to parlay that into a freelance gig as a social media manager. Check out freelance job boards or other job sites like Indeed.com for companies that need someone to handle postings on their Facebook, Twitter, and other social accounts.

Can you really make money doing this?

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a social media manager is nearly $52,000/year, so there's definitely potential to earn big if you know what you're doing.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: $15 to $120/hour depending on experience. $32,000 to $72,000/year average salary.
  • Get started: Look on Upwork and Fiverr

38. Put your fashion sense to work

If people are constantly commenting on your superior style, you could make some serious bucks with the Stylinity app.

You just upload pics of yourself wearing your favorite outfits, and the app includes a link to where each item (or something similar) can be purchased online. If someone views your picture and buys one of the items that's featured, you get a piece of whatever they spend.

Stylinity features brand-name, high-end clothing, so if you're doing a lot of bargain-basement shopping, you may not have the kind of items that the app's users are looking for.

  • Time: Medium to high
  • Earning potential: A few dollars per month
  • Get started: Stylinity app

39. Develop websites for small businesses

As a web developer, you'll test websites, work with graphic designers and troubleshoot website performance issues. This role is equal parts technical and creative.

Take time to create a strong online portfolio of projects to attract a network of clients. You'll need to be detail-oriented and a collaborative problem solver.

It's important to be proficient in HTML, CSS, Javascript and PHP. Experience in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator is also nice to have.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: $34/hour
  • Get started: StackOverflow, GitHub, CyberCoders or just ask family friends for their business

40. Review calls on Humantic

You just need to listen and review recorded customer service calls for quality purposes. Listen to the call, answer a few questions, submit your responses and repeat. The best part? You can work around your schedule and listen to calls on your own time.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: $1 to $4.50 per hour, Humantic pays out via PayPal
  • Get started: Humantic

41. Share your thoughts

Harris Poll pays you to provide your opinion on politics and other topics. As a participant, you will influence key decision makers.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: Gift cards to popular brands like Starbucks and Amazon
  • Get started: HarrisPoll

42. Test products

Toluna pays you to express opinions on various products. Simply provide feedback for major brands like Kellogg's, Coca-Cola, and Amazon or enter their daily lotteries.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: Gift cards to popular brands like Starbucks and Amazon
  • Get started: Toluna

For college students and young adults

Current college students and recent graduates should browse these options.

43. Be a personal trainer or yoga instructor

Got a passion for fitness? You can help individuals get in shape and reach their body goals.

You can do pre-recorded classes or live Zoom sessions. Some trainers like to host group bootcamps in their garage, driveway and backyard too.

If your style is more yoga and pilates, you can also set up a yoga studio in your patio.

44. Write content

Freelance writers work for multiple clients and are paid per writing assignment. You might write for different websites, newspapers, magazines, blogs and businesses.

You'll get exposure and see your name in the byline of an article you worked on. Great for building work experience. You don't need a specific degree/credentials but taking English and humanities class can help prepare you for the job.

  • Time: Medium to high
  • Earning potential: About $50 for 500-word articles
  • Get started: ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn and Indeed

45. Data entry clerk

New to the workforce? Need experience? Check out this entry level job.

Clerks enter, compile and sort information to maintain databases. Sometimes, you'll also review records for accuracy. You need attention to detail, spreadsheet prowess and organizational skills to succeed.

Data entry is a broad role that will be important to many different companies and industries.

  • Time: Medium to high
  • Earning potential: $40,000 - $60,000/year
  • Get started: ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn and Indeed

46. Flex your writing muscles

Aside from a great design, websites also need top-notch writing. You can get started on freelancing/writing gigs by searching for work on Upwork and Freelancer.com to get some valuable experience. And then shop your portfolio to higher paying clients.

When you're just starting out, it's all about the experience and testing out your writing chops. Soon enough, you'll figure out how much you can get for your prose, either by the hour, the word, or the project. As you get more experience, up your rates, or move on to clients who will pay you what you're worth.

  • Time: Medium to high
  • Earning potential: $67,000 annual salary
  • Get started: Once you're ready to book gigs, check out FlexJobs and MediaBistro.

47. Offload your old books

If you've got shelves of books that you don't know what to do with, it's time for a little spring cleaning - and scoring some spare cash in the process. Depending on the kinds of books you've got, you can find buyers on sites like Amazon, Powells.com, Chegg, or BookScouter.

The two most important things to watch for when you're scouting out book-selling sites are the fees and the shipping policy. Take a look at how much you're going to be charged for listing and selling an item, and who's responsible for paying shipping costs so you don't end up short-changing yourself.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Bookscouter

48. Perform small errands

The Taskrabbit app pays you for making deliveries, moving furniture, building furniture and more. You might land gigs as a personal assistant, bartender, event staff, house painter and more.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: On TaskRabbit, you set your own rates and keep 100% of the tips, but the app takes a service fee
  • Get started: Taskrabbit

49. Teach a class

Teaching isn't just for the classroom anymore.

Thanks to sites like Udemy and Skillshare, you can develop your own courses and sell them online. All you need to get started is a computer with a webcam, a desire to share what you know, and a willingness to get up to speed on the site you're using.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: Udemy course creators usually make $15-$30/hour while Skillshare teachers earn an average of $200/month
  • Get started: Udemy, Skillshare

50. Take websites for a test drive

Thousands of new websites and apps pop up every day, and the companies that own them rely on customer feedback to work out the bugs.

You can earn up to $30 an hour through UserTesting just for reviewing different sites and apps.

You'll need to jump on jobs as soon as they become available as others are waiting to pounce too, and then you'll need to record yourself "walking" through the site (no camera necessary).

You can't quit your dayjob. But if you can multitask, you'll have a chance to make extra cash by monitoring this site throughout the day.

51. Work on a website

Look at the small organizations around you. Nowadays even the smallest mom-and-pop coffee shop down the street and your small town's chamber of commerce have websites. But guess what? Few of them know how to maintain them.

These folks paid someone upfront to design a few pages and then they're left on their own, without the ability to have someone full time to keep their eye on their site. You can fill in their gap as long as you know your way around WordPress.

Offer to dedicate a few hours a month on their website for a fee, rack up a few clients, and you've got yourself a business.

What if your WordPress experience is limited?

Chances are, you have a ton more experience than your potential clients if you've ever posted a blog in your life. WordPress is really user friendly to anyone willing to try it. Anytime you hit a roadblock or want to get more creative, search for tutorials or WordPress forums. There are many WordPress aficionados out there willing to share their knowledge.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: $57,000 per year
  • Get started: Go on Upwork or Fiverr

52. Sell yourself on Fiverr

Fiverr is a self-described marketplace for people who need to get things done but don't have time to do it themselves. You sell "gigs" through the site involving anything from editing a blog post to drawing a custom portrait.

  • Time: Medium to high
  • Earning potential: You can charge anywhere from $5 to $300 for your services, and it takes just five minutes to set up a gig.
  • Get started: Anyone can set up an account to sell their gigs on Fiverr for free, but the site does take a 20% bite out of anything you earn.

53. Let others observe you for marketing purposes

Think twice the next time you're tempted to throw your junk mail in the trash. SBK Center will pay you points for those junk envelopes that you can swap out for gift cards at more than 200 retailers.

The company claims your privacy and identity are safe, although it does want your mailing labels intact. Or let someone snoop (anonymously) on how you use your phone; apps like Smart Panel run in the background, keeping an eye on how you navigate around, and you earn a few bucks in return. Other apps will reward you just for scanning in your grocery store receipts.

In terms of data safety, you'll have to weigh the pros and cons and do your research on any company you hand your data over to.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: $20 in points every 6 to 10 weeks
  • Get started: SBK Center

54. Be a microtasker

Mturk outsources small tasks from businesses to individuals like yourself. For instance, companies may need to seek feedback from real people, process images or videos, clean up data or answer questions about content.

The hours are pretty flexible and it's a good way to earn a little extra money in your down time. There's quite a selection of odd jobs so your tasks may take anywhere from a few seconds to half an hour to complete.

You'll need internet access and be at least 18 years of age for this side gig.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: The average pay is around $6/hour. So you should maximize earnings by going for tasks that take less time to complete.
  • Get started: Mturk

55. Show off your flair for design

Logos are what set brands apart, and someone's got to do the work of creating them. 99Designs is a platform that connects designers with clients. You enter your design in a contest and if yours is chosen, you get paid for your efforts.

What if you're not a designer?

Maybe you're more of a Don Draper. Check out sites, like Naming Force, that will reward you if you can come up with a winning company name or slogan.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: $15 - $30/hour
  • Get started: 99Designs

56. Check other people's grammar

If you're aces at grammar, consider becoming a professional proofreader. You'll examine manuscript and other content for typos, spelling and grammatical errors.

You work with several clients on a temporary basis and set your own hours. If you're interested in this career path, check out online proofreading courses and join the Editorial Freelancers Association.

57. Answer questions

The Internet is where everybody goes nowadays to get a question answered, and if you've got knowledge to share, you could get paid to do it. Sites like ChaCha and JustAnswer pay members to answer questions on everything from legal matters to who invented the yo-yo.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: ChaCha pays their guides $0.02 per answer, so unless you spend a lot of time on the site, you're probably not going to bring in the big bucks.
  • Get started: ChaCha, JustAnswer

58. Search engine evaluators

You can get paid to measure how useful, accurate and relevant Google, Bing and Yahoo's search results are. This flexible role is good for introverts. You'll be responsible for examining and reporting on ads, images, and text. It's an analytical role that requires excellent research skills.

You can find job postings on Appen. High school diploma is required but a college degree is preferred for this position.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: $14/hour on average
  • Get started: Appen and Lionbridge

59. Party your way to a sales career

Some people can sell anything to anyone. If you've got the natural gift of gab, hosting sales parties in your home may be right up your alley. Forget about Tupperware - these days, you can sell fun items, like designer jewelry, salon beauty products, and lingerie. The best part? You can set your own schedule, so it's really up to you how much cash you rake in.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: If you're not sure where to start, check out companies that sell products you already use and love. For example, if you like to whip up lots of goodies in the kitchen, you might dig being a Pampered Chef host. If jewelry is your thing, check out a company like Stella & Dot.

60. Run Facebook Ads

Facebook Ads Specialists develop, manage and run digital marketing campaigns. You can expect to do media buying, copywriting, graphic design and analytics reporting. Essentially, you're helping businesses generate sales and maintain a consistent brand voice across paid campaigns.

Your pay depends on your number of clients and length of ad campaigns.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: $88,000/year
  • Get started: Look for gigs and internships at your college's job portal

For seniors

Here are a few flexible options for senior workers.

61. Share your space

Airbnb is a moneymaker for homeowners who don't mind letting a stranger crash in their spare room. Hosts decide how much or how little to charge, and Airbnb collects the cash for you.

What if you don't live in a house?

You could rent out just a room. If you live with a roommate who travels a lot or you live in an area that people travel for business, carve out some space for a few weeknights. For $100 a night, you'll be able to build up your future house fund.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: A few hundred or thousands of dollars per month
  • Get started: Set up an Airbnb account

62. Call center agent

If you've got a good speaking voice and you don't mind talking to total strangers, you could wrangle up a decent paycheck by answering phones as a virtual call center agent.

LiveOps represents a number of well-known brands and they offer flexible hours, so you could work around your schedule or take on a regular 9 to 5 gig.

Besides the fact that the work is not for everyone (some people will find it tedious while others will enjoy the flexibility), you will need a landline, a quiet space to work, a PC (not a Mac), and the willingness to pony up an up-front $65 fee to cover your background check. Note, however, that it is generally not advisable to pay money to make money.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: $12-$18/hour
  • Get started: To get started, browse job sites like Upwork and Freelancer.

63. Put your car to work

You could have a virtual gold mine parked in your driveway if you own a car.

Sites like Turo let you rent out your vehicle to people who need help getting around. Renters are screened for security, and it's up to you to decide how much you want to charge.

The company takes on the liability, and you do get to screen who rents your car. Do your research and ask smart questions, like where exactly the renter will be taking your vehicle (you can charge them extra if they go over the mileage the two of you agreed upon).

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: Average $545/month
  • Get started: Turo

64. Rent your driveway

If you're not using your driveway, you can make money off of it. You can rent out that space or side yard to people who want to store property like boats or RV's.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: $300/month
  • Get started: JustPark

65. Start a conversation

Do you have a teaching degree but you went into another field? Get a side job by teaching others how to learn a new language.

italki connects people who want to learn a new language with a virtual tutor.

Classes are taught online using Skype, and you set your own rates so you can earn as little (people who have done this suggest starting out small to get new clients) or as much as you want.

Keep in mind, a teaching license might be required for certain jobs or employers. TOSEL or TEFL certificate to teach English to international students.

Wondering how to get over the language barrier?

Look around for apps where you can share the same screen or use a white board - drawing pictures can help you and your student get on the same page.

  • Time: Medium to high
  • Earning potential: Average is $21/hour and typically ranges from $15-$25/hour
  • Get started: italki or VIP Kid

66. Be a seamstress

Are you great with a sewing machine? You can open your own little alterations or tailor shop for the neighborhood. You can work on custom projects for home decor.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: You can start an Etsy store, list projects on Amazon Handmade or sell at the farmer's market as well.

67. Put your home in the spotlight

Next time you're watching a movie or your favorite TV show, take a look at what's going on in the background. While some movies and shows are filmed on soundstages, others are filmed on location, and homeowners get paid a pretty penny when their home is featured on camera.

If you think your home has the potential to be a star, you can list it for free on sites like FilmingLocationsWanted.com.

You may have to relocate to a hotel temporarily while your home is being filmed. The upside is that the production company usually picks up the tab, so you essentially get a mini-vacay for free.

  • Time: Low
  • Earning potential: $2,000 - $25,000 a day but there are fees associated with the gig
  • Get started: FilmingLocationsWanted.com

68. Get paid for being healthy

Apps like, AchieveMint, rewards you for healthy activities like walking, tracking your meals, or taking health surveys. You can redeem these points for cash of Amazon gift cards.

AchieveMint connects to popular fitness apps like Fitbit, RunKeeper, Healthkit and MyFitnessPal.

If you're trying to lose weight or stay in shape, this app is well worth a try.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: 10,000 points = $10, and there's no limit on how much you can earn.
  • Get started: Download AchieveMint

69. Be a couch potato

If your dream job is sitting on the couch watching movies all day, it could become a reality.

Netflix taggers get paid to watch shows and movies before they're streamed on the service to help identify appropriate tags (these tags are what make it possible for Netflix to recommend a show they think you'll like).

They only employ about 40 taggers at any given time in the U.S., so you'll need to stalk the company's job board for open positions.

It's hard to get into the Netflix program, but it's such a cool prospect we couldn't resist including it on this list.

70. Teach kids at summer camp

You can share the joy and curiosity of campfire stores over the internet. Virtual camp counselors help kids make new friends and improve their academic skills from home.

You might teach campers coding, science experiments, art and more over Zoom. If you have strong leadership skills, you should apply for this seasonal role. This job is most in demand during the summer months.

  • Time: Low to medium
  • Earning potential: $21,000
  • Get started: Browse job openings with a quick Google search

71. Teach ESL

Do you know American Sign Language (ASL)? If you can translate conversions in ASL during a live video stream, you have a moneymaker on your hands.

Many businesses are in need of remote ASL translators to help them facilitate remote conversions in the workplace.

  • Time: Medium to high
  • Earning potential: $1,000 per month
  • Get started: Check out Worldwide Interpreters, one of the largest employers of virtual ASL experts

72. Weigh in on a case

The words "jury duty" usually elicit a groan from anyone who's unlucky enough to be chosen for this task, but it's not so bad if you're judging a case from home in your PJs.

Being a digital juror usually means reviewing the facts of a case and giving your feedback to the attorneys involved.

The attorneys then use this to shape their case as they're prepping for trial. Depending on how complete the case is, you can earn anywhere from $5 to $60 for sitting on a virtual juror panel.
To qualify as an e-juror, you'll have to be 18 or older and a U.S. citizen. If you've got a past felony conviction or you're currently being charged with a crime, you won't be able to offer your 2 cents on a case.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: $20 - $60 per session
  • Get started: Online Verdict

73. Professional calligrapher

Do you have beautiful penmanship? Then you can get paid to write wedding invitations, signs and other special documents. Just show off examples of your writing to find clients.

74. Author an e-book

Thanks to the rise of self-publishing platforms, anyone can write an e-book and sell it these days. Blurb and Lulu are two of the top sites for self-publishing, and if you're looking for a place to shop your book around, Amazon is a prime spot for new authors.

Does it cost anything to self-publish?

It depends. If you're using a site like Blurb, you'll have to pay a fee for their publishing services. On the other hand, you can publish your e-book without spending a dime through the Kindle Direct Publishing program.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: Varies
  • Get started: Amazon Kindle, Blurb, Lulu

75. Open your home to a student

Bringing in a foreign exchange student is a great way to expose your family to a different culture and make some money on the side.

You can host a student for a few weeks or an entire year, depending on which program you go through, and it's an excellent opportunity for everyone involved to broaden their horizons.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: $30 a day to $1,400 per month
  • Get started: To find hosting opportunities, take a look at sites like AFS-USA and Ayusa to get a feel for what the process involves and see profiles of students who need a temporary home away from home.

76. Insurance claims Investigator

In this role, you protect insurance companies from fraud by validating claims made by policyholders.

Your day-to-day includes conducting interviews, taking pictures and writing up reports. You may also investigate workers' compensation, personal injury, property damage and theft, and healthcare claims.

  • Time: High
  • Earning potential: $49,000/year (ranges from $34,000 to $72,000) for full-time employees
  • Get started: No formal education is required. On-the-job training and continuing education is usually available. Investigators may also decide to earn state licenses.

77. Design and sell t-shirts

Got a few cool designs, logos or clever taglines under your belt? You can upload these concepts and start selling them on customized apparel. There's no need to worry about inventory.

For every sale, CafePress or Zazzle will handle production and delivery. You get paid after the time ships.

Your day-to-day includes conducting interviews, taking pictures and writing up reports. You may also investigate workers' compensation, personal injury, property damage and theft, and healthcare claims.

  • Time: Low to medium
  • Earning potential: 10% - 85% of retail price of each shirt
  • Get started: Start designing and upload to CafePress or Zazzle

78. Teach music lessons

This is for musicians and people who like to teach. If you can play multiple instruments or sing, you can provide music lessons from your home. You'll mostly work with children and young adults.

Music teachers enrich the lives of their community and you can be a part of that.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: $2,000 per month
  • Get started: Reach out to your local neighborhood and market your services

79. Book travel for others

Travel agents help turn people's dream vacations into a reality. They plan trip itineraries, make arrangements and sell deals on transportation, lodging, and entertainment activities to clients.

You can also become an expert on a specific type of travel like cruises or amusement parks.

  • Time: Medium
  • Earning potential: Average salary is $35,000 but you can earn more with tips and commission
  • Get started: After 18 months of industry experience, you can apply for the Certified Travel Associate. Holding certificates in this industry can help you book more jobs.

What Experts Say

CreditDonkey asked industry experts to answer readers' most questions about at-home work and small businesses.

Here's what they said:

Bottom Line

Making money from home doesn't have to be a fantasy. The ideas we've included here are a good jumping off point if you're ready to give your cash flow a boost. Make sure to set up a savings account with a high annual percentage yield for your earnings, so they can grow just from being left alone.

Some of these could just be a way to earn some extra cash (or gift cards for a shopping spree) and may not be the start of a career. Or they may be things you do on the side as you get your small business venture off the ground.

Always research online opportunities carefully before you sign on. If you come across a gig that seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Rebecca Lake is a journalist at CreditDonkey, a personal finance comparison and reviews website. Write to Rebecca Lake at rebecca@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.

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