A side hustle gives your monthly earnings a notable boost, while not consuming much of your time. A few hours worth of work, while sitting at home can earn you some good cash. You could use it for extra expenses or save it up for a rainy day.
You probably have a full-time job that you have to work because you need to pay your bills. And after paying the bills, you probably don’t have much left for other expenses or savings. It would be very nice if you could have a side hustle to earn some extra cash on the side, and even nicer if you did not have to leave your home while earning that money.
According to a research report by Zapier, 40% of Americans have a side hustle, which is 7% more than in December 2020.
There are many side hustles in which you can get involved without leaving the comfort of your own house. And the best part, many of them do not require you to put down investment or have a lot of experience or even a degree.
Here is the table of contents. This blog covers tons of useful information. Bookmark this page or save it, don’t get overwhelmed, go through each step, and you will surely succeed.
Table of Contents
- 15 Online Side Hustles from Home
- 15 Best Online Side Hustles from Home
- 1. Transcribing videos
- 2. Stream On Twitch
- 3. Creating a course online
- 4. Proofreading
- 5. Newsletters
- 6. Freelance Writing
- 7. Online Surveys
- 8. Translating
- 9. Start A YouTube Channel
- 10. Publishing on Websites
- 11. Tutoring Online
- 12. Blogging
- 13. E-Commerce
- 14. Start Social Media Accounts
- 15. Investment
- Which Side Hustles Earn the Most?
- How to Make Time for a Side Hustle
- Bottom Line
15 Online Side Hustles from Home
No one knows when the economy might go through inflation or any other crisis. Especially with the way things are going on in the world, it’s always good to have a little egg nest for bad times.
When working on a side hustle, you are not just earning extra money on the side but you are also staying ahead of inflation and adding an extra percentage to your monthly income, apart from your 9 to 5 job.
Here are 15 of the best online side hustles you can be involved in while being at home:
- Transcribing videos
- Twitch
- Creating a course online
- Proofreading
- Newsletters
- Freelance Writing
- Online Surveys
- Translating
- Start A YouTube Channel
- Publishing on Websites
- Tutoring Online
- Blogging
- E-Commerce
- Start Social Media Accounts
- Investment
15 Best Online Side Hustles from Home
1. Transcribing videos
Transcribing videos is the procedure of writing down the audio you hear in video files. If you have fast typing then this is one option for you in the quest to earn extra money.
Most sites pay per hour for whatever video or audio you have transcribed rather than per house of the time you spent working on transcribing, so make sure you are a fast typist.
You can earn around $10 to $15 per video you transcribe however, if you are exceptionally talented you can earn up to $25 to $30.
At this rate, if you spend even 2 to 3 hours per day for a month, you can easily earn around $1600 to $1800 a month.
There are a few sites where you can apply to earn money by transcribing videos. Some of the best are QA World, Rev, TranscribeMe, and GoTranscript.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Flexible schedule | Low pay |
| Work from home | Requires high accuracy |
| No specialized equipment required | Can be tedious and repetitive |
| Can lead to more work or referrals | Can be difficult to find clients |
| Opportunity to learn and improve skills | Requires good listening and typing skills |
2. Stream On Twitch
Twitch is a platform where you can watch other players play video games. Additionally, you can stream yourself live as well while playing video games. It sounds very basic and unappealing, however, surprisingly it attracts the attention of more than 15 million users that are active on that platform.
You can make money by advertising products or showcasing products at the start or end of your twitch live stream. If you get enough views or followers, you can also easily get a partnership deal as well.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Potential for high earnings | Requires significant time and effort investment |
| Flexibility to set your own schedule | Can be difficult to build a following |
| Opportunity to build a community and network | Can be competitive and oversaturated market |
| Ability to monetize through ads and donations | Can be mentally and emotionally taxing at times |
| Opportunity to engage with an audience | Technical issues can interrupt the stream |
| Opportunity for growth and creative expression | Must maintain consistency in schedule and content |
3. Creating a course online
If you don’t have any such skill for writing but have a lot of knowledge and expertise in some area, then you can make a lot of money providing you’re willing to share your knowledge.
Teaching a course in person takes a lot of effort and for the people learning, it costs a lot of money. That’s why more and more people are turning towards online learning.
There are many platforms on which you can put together an online course. Some of the most popular ones are iSpring Market, Udemy, and Thinkific.
Even though making these courses might take you some time, once you are done putting them together, there’s not much work left to do. You might have to answer some questions, update it once in a while and that’s it.
By Creating online courses, you can earn anywhere from $1000 to $100,000 in a year.
Your earnings will be mostly dependent on how much traffic your courses are getting as well as the price of your courses.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Passive income potential | Initial investment of time and effort |
| Flexibility to create content on your own schedule | Can be difficult to create a successful course |
| Opportunity to share your expertise and knowledge | Can be time-consuming to market and promote |
| Opportunity to reach a wide audience | Must stay up-to-date on the topic to provide value |
| Ability to scale the business with multiple courses | Must compete with other courses in the market |
| Can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience | Requires some technical skills to create and host |
4. Proofreading
Don’t like writing but love to read and point out mistakes, then proofreading is the one for you. However, compared to writing proofreading isn’t as easy to get into.
You don’t require an English degree to become a freelance proofreader, but there’s no easy way to build up a portfolio.
What you can do to get started is to offer a rate competitive to others on the market as well as get some support from your network. Collect commendations and references from happy clients and build up a CV, which should showcase them and all the projects you have worked on.
Proofreaders typically make between $47,000 to $61,000 a year. You can even make about $68,000 if you are exceptionally good.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can be done remotely and on your own schedule | Requires a high level of attention to detail |
| Opportunity to improve your own writing skills | Can be repetitive and monotonous |
| High demand for quality proofreading | Requires a strong understanding of grammar rules |
| Can be an ongoing source of work and income | May require specialized knowledge in some fields |
| Opportunities for referrals and repeat clients | Can be difficult to find consistent work |
| Variety of content to work with | May require significant time investment |
5. Newsletters
Starting a newsletter might not be the fastest way to earn money but in the run of ideas for side hustles, it’s not a bad one. If you have a creative and innovative flair as well as the will to put in a few hours of work, this will be good for you.
After building a good userbase using tools and platforms such as Designhills’ Newsletter Maker, MailChimp, or Aweber you can start to cash in on it.
Try to create a simple site or use your social media as a place where people can sign up for your newsletter.
Standard rates for newsletters are $5 to $10 per month but your earnings can rise if you get a big following and your newsletter becomes very popular.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Provides an opportunity to share knowledge and expertise | Must consistently create valuable content |
| Ability to monetize through subscriptions or ads | Requires significant time investment to produce content |
| Can be a way to build a community and engage readers | Can be challenging to attract and retain subscribers |
| Potential to grow and expand the newsletter over time | Must stay current and relevant in the chosen industry |
| Flexibility to create content on your own schedule | May require technical skills to design and distribute |
| Can be a creative outlet for writing and design | Must comply with relevant laws and regulations |
6. Freelance Writing
If publishing a newsletter is something that piques your interest but you do not like the little pay, then maybe you could give freelance writing a try.
There are different types of content that freelance writers get paid for. You can specialize in any one category and become a guru at it. I have covered 7 different types of content in my previous blog, You should give it a read and see if you can you any one or more types of it.
It might seem daunting at first and you might have all these expectations to be an amazing writer right off the bat, but like everything else, your writing will improve over time.
Most of the Freelance writing is just dumbing down ideas and explaining the topic in a detailed manner as well as having a good grasp of English and excellent grammar.
Once you have some experience under your belt you can easily earn from $0.12 to $1 per word and sometimes even more.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Flexibility to work from home or anywhere | Can be difficult to find consistent work |
| Opportunity to improve writing skills and expertise | Can be competitive and low-paying market |
| Variety of content to work with | Can require extensive research and preparation |
| Can be an ongoing source of work and income | Must consistently meet deadlines and deliver quality |
| Opportunities for referrals and repeat clients | May require specialized knowledge in some fields |
| Can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience | May require pitching ideas and networking to find work |
7. Online Surveys
Completing online surveys will not make you much money, but it is very easy to do. It’s a very mind-numbing side hustle and something you can fit into your schedule very easily. Such as when commuting to your work, during lunch breaks, during commercial breaks on TV, etc.
Some of the sites where you can do online surveys are Swagbucks, LifePoints, InboxDollars or Survey Junkie, etc. You can rack up points doing these surveys and those points will be equivalent to cash. You can cash in those points and earn easy money.
Do keep in mind that some of the surveys will be extensive and might take more time than usual.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can be done from home and at any time | May not provide consistent or substantial income |
| Requires no special skills or education | May not qualify for many surveys |
| Easy to get started with various survey sites | Some survey sites may be scams or illegitimate |
| Can provide insight into consumer behaviors | May not be available in all countries or regions |
| Provides opportunities for bonuses and rewards | May not offer cash compensation or payout options |
8. Translating
Knowing more than one language is extremely lucrative for working in many fields and as a bonus, you will have a boatload of options for side hustles. Even though the market for translating is very competitive but it is also very remunerative,
Initially, when starting you might find it a bit hard to get jobs. You can reach out to agencies or answer ads, reaching out to the companies on your own. It might be difficult to get big projects without a degree or certification but smaller projects will be easier to come by.
Upwork and Fiverr are great sites where you can find projects to get you started in this field.
The average hourly rate for translators is around $20. That means if you manage to put into 3 hours per day you can make up to $1300 to $1800 in a month or even more.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can be done remotely and on your own schedule | Requires fluency in multiple languages |
| Offers potential for high earning opportunities | Requires cultural and linguistic knowledge |
| Can be an ongoing source of work and income | Can be difficult to find consistent work |
| Opportunities for referrals and repeat clients | May require certification or accreditation |
| Opportunity to learn and improve language skills | Must maintain accuracy and quality in translations |
| Variety of content to work with | Can be time-consuming and require significant effort |
9. Start A YouTube Channel
Whenever you google how to do anything, whether it be housework or recipes, the first search result that pops up is a YouTube video. In many of the videos, you’ll see a very ordinary-looking guy show you how the work is done with a plain voiceover.
There’s no fancy equipment and is not very long either and generates thousands if not more than a million views. This earns the ordinary guy between $100,000 to $300,000 very easily just from the advertising at the start of the video.
But To be able to cash into YouTube channels like this some demands must be met. Your channel will need to have a watch time of over 4,000 minutes in the past year, along with 1000 plus subscribers, which will take some time.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can be a fun and creative outlet | Requires consistency in creating and publishing |
| Can earn income through ads and sponsorships | Can be a competitive and oversaturated market |
| Opportunity to build a community and network | Requires time and effort to gain subscribers |
| Flexibility to create content on your own terms | Must stay up-to-date on trends and audience needs |
| Can provide opportunities for growth and expansion | Can be stressful to maintain consistency and quality |
| Can be a way to share knowledge and expertise | May require investment in equipment and software |
10. Publishing on Websites
When trying to make money online, writing is a very good path to take. But when you don’t have a lot of experience under your belt and want to work freelance, it will be a delicate matter trying to pitch yourself to potential clients.
So how do you push your way into the field of online moneymaking?
Well the easiest route to go is to write and publish blogs on a website
A website is a great place to showcase your talent for writing. Initially, you can work and publish on websites that pay their writers like Medium. This will help you build up a very good portfolio and once you’ve earned a bit you can start your website, which will earn you more money through internet traffic and adverts,
You can earn either per word or set an hourly rate with the owner of the website, whatever you feel earns you more.
11. Tutoring Online
If you usually don’t have much time and want more flexible hours for work along with having a lot of knowledge about a certain subject or subjects, then tutoring I the way to go for you.
There is never a shortage of students whether in school, college, or university, who can’t understand certain subjects or topics and want to tutor and are willing to pay for it. You could conduct online classes and teach them.
You could even teach students at the other end of the world. All you need is a stable internet connection and Zoom or Google Meet to conduct online classes.
The average online tutor makes $18 to $19 per hour. Of course, you can set your hourly rates and earn much more.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can be done remotely and on your own schedule | May require specialized knowledge or certification |
| Offers potential for high earning opportunities | May be difficult to find consistent work |
| Can be an ongoing source of work and income | Can be challenging to connect with students |
| Provides opportunities to share knowledge and expertise | Requires preparation and lesson planning |
| Flexibility to work with a variety of age ranges and subjects | May require strong communication skills |
| Opportunities for referrals and repeat clients | Must maintain consistency in scheduling and communication |
12. Blogging
Starting a blog is similar to starting a YouTube channel. Initially, you won’t earn that much and will have to put in some amount of work, but once it takes off, there will be money raining.
Start by writing on topics that interest you and also have a potential crowd following them. Additionally, there are already many blogs on the internet so make sure you make it interesting or be specific if you start a blog about baking, then instead of all baking recipes go for vegan or gluten-free recipes. Or if you’re writing blogs about food, don’t just write about all kinds of food instead put your focus on street food or high-end restaurants,
Bonus Tip: We have created an in-depth guide on how to start a blog.
Once your page catches attention and has enough followers and readers, you can monetize it by doing sponsorship deals or running advertisements.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Flexibility to work from home or anywhere | Can be difficult to monetize and earn significant income |
| Can provide an outlet for creativity and expression | Requires consistency in creating and publishing |
| Opportunity to share knowledge and expertise | Can require significant time and effort investment |
| Can provide opportunities for growth and expansion | May require investment in website design and SEO |
13. E-Commerce
When scrolling through Facebook or Instagram you might have seen advertisements from small businesses selling their products online. According to the United States Census, e-commerce sales skyrocketed to $870.8 billion.
If you’re passionate about a certain thing such as jewelry or baking, etc. you can consider producing and selling your products and services online.
Set up an online store and start selling your stuff online. If that seems too much work, you can always sell your slightly used things or the things in your house you have no use for on eBay or Facebook marketplace, etc. This will help bring in some extra cash for the month.
14. Start Social Media Accounts
Are you spending more than the average amount of time on your social media? Then why not make some money while doing that? You could turn your existing account into a public one or create a whole new account.
You will need to be active, post content, create stories, and interact with other accounts such as liking, commenting, and sharing posts, every day. You could make an account for literally anything, from blogging about your life to cooking to designing and dressing and even just watching other videos and reacting to them.
Similar to blogging and YouTube, once you amass a decent amount of followers you can cash in through advertisements, shoutouts to media channels and sponsorship deals, etc.
15. Investment
When someone mentions they’re thinking of investing in stocks and bonds, you might think that it is very difficult and seems too grand of activity for you and your small wallet. However, in reality, investing using whatever money in investments is a good way for earning extra cash on the sides.
If you have extra cash that you aren’t using right now, why not go a bit further and invest it? You will need to do proper research and look into wherever you decide to invest. Some apps will take some of the load off of you such as Betterment, Invstr, Acorns, Wealthbase, etc.
Which Side Hustles Earn the Most?
The idea of starting to work a side hustle might make you feel very excited but it will also leave you a bit anxious. Working a 9 to 5 job might not leave you with a lot of free time and you might want to spend it with friends or have fun. Before jumping in, give this decision some thought and then come to a resolution.
Once you start working, it will take some time for it to become a part of your routine and get clients or followers, whichever route you choose to go down. After a while, you’ll gain experience and it will become easier, as well as bring in money more and more.
How to Make Time for a Side Hustle
The best part of side hustles is that they will fit in your spare time. It would be better if you could portion off an hour or two a day or some fixed time off each week just to work on your side hustle. That will help you bring in more money.
Make sure you do not start treating it the same as you would a dreaded chore you keep putting off. Make time for yourself, for hanging out with friends and entertaining yourself. Remember this is to bring in some extra cash for the month, this is not a do-or-die situation where you burn yourself out.
Bottom Line
Side hustles are one of the most stimulating and exciting ways to fill your pockets with some extra money each month. Before jumping in, read about the side hustle that interests you, research it, and consider yourself, and how you would work on it. Then select the one that seems the best for you.
Online side hustles can be used to grow your average monthly income, but they can also grow into some of the most bankable entrepreneurship ideas as they grow bigger and bigger, allowing you the freedom to work from home and providing you with a satisfying amount of financial independence.
