Picture this: you're sat on the sofa, dressed in your comfiest clothes with a coffee in hand and dog by your side. At the same time, you're making a whole load of extra cash to help fund your extravagant travel plans, save up for a new car, or whatever it is you've got coming up.
Sounds like the life, right? Well, making money from the comfort of your home isn't just a wild idea anymore, it's a legit possibility. And we're not just talking about your standard 9-to-5 job working from home, we're talking fully flexible, be your own boss side hustles.
Whether you're working full-time and looking for some awesome ways to earn extra cash in your spare time, or you're a stay-at-home parent wanting to rock the side hustle game more regularly, here are 12 genius tricks for making some serious money from home.
12 tricks to make money from home
- Freelancing
- Matched betting
- Online surveys
- Affiliate marketing
- E-Commerce and dropshipping
- Virtual assistance
- Pet sitting
- Online tutoring
- Selling your old stuff online
- Starting a Podcast
- Selling handmade products
- Testing websites
1. Freelancing
Freelancing is the ultimate flexible work from home gig – that's why there are currently a whopping 73.3 million freelancers in the US.
From freelance writing, to freelance web design, to freelance social media management and much more, if you have the skills, you can offer them out on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer and make some serious cash.
There are a load of companies looking for remote talent, and doing freelance work gives you the flexibility to choose which projects suit you, when and for how long you work, and where you work from, so there's no need to leave your home comforts to make some money.
How much can you earn? This depends on things such as your skillset, experience and the projects you choose, but for those who are highly-skilled, you can expect somewhere between $50 and even $150 an hour.
2. Matched betting
Want to spend just a few hours per week after the kids have gone to bed or you're chilling watching Netflix making some money from home? Look no further than matched betting.
Matched betting is the hidden gem of making some extra cash from home. Here's how it works: using platforms like ProfitDuel, you take advantage of free bets and promotions from bookies to place two opposing bets on the same event, guaranteeing you a profit no matter the outcome.
It's a completely legit and legal way of making money online, and you can do it from the dinner table, sofa, bed, or anywhere you want, really.
How much can you earn? $1,384 per week in the first month with ProfitDuel premium!
3. Online surveys
Taking part in online surveys won't make you rich, but it's a great way to fill some spare time (usually just a couple of minutes!) and make a bit of money from home.
Sign up to websites like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie, take online surveys where you share your thoughts and opinions on a range of products and services and voila! You've pocketed some extra cash.
How much can you earn? Most platforms pay per completed survey, and the amount varies depending on factors such as the length of the survey. Shorter surveys that take a few minutes might offer $0.25 to $1, whilst longer surveys that take up more of your time can pay between $2 and $5, and sometimes more.
4. Affiliate marketing
If you have an audience – whether that's followers on social media apps like Instagram, readers of a blog, or viewers of a YouTube channel – affiliate marketing could be a great way of earning a passive income.
Many companies and brands have their own affiliate programs, like Amazon, Walmart and even ProfitDuel for example, and there are also platforms such as ShareASale, ClickBank, and CJ at your disposal.
As long as you have an engaged audience who believes in you and the products/services you promote, you could make a whole lot of cash by becoming an affiliate and sharing your special links.
And the best part is that once the promo is done, you can sit back and relax whilst the money keeps rolling in.
How much can you earn? This varies based on your niche, audience size, and conversion rates, but it could be $100-$500 per week. As a ProfitDuel affiliate, you earn 50% commission for every referral that becomes a Premium member, with ProfitDuel's top affiliates currently earning between $1,000 and $6,000 every single month.
5. E-Commerce and dropshipping
Like the sound of running your own store from the comfort of your home and without needing to make or create anything, sort out inventory or deal with shipping? E-commerce and dropshipping makes it possible!
Gone are the days of having to pay for warehouse space and spend hours there sorting through stock. Now, you can use platforms like Etsy and Shopify to set up your online shop, curate a selection of products to get selling and partner with suppliers who handle the stock and shipping process.
How much can you earn? This is completely dependent on the products you sell (and the prices you set for them), the demand for the products and much more. It's not uncommon however for successful e-commerce store owners to generate five figures annually, but remember, although you can work from your home and keep overheads low, you must still pay a supplier.
6. Virtual assistance
The role of a Virtual Assistant (VA) is becoming insanely popular thanks to the booming gig-economy, and it's a totally flexible way of using skills in things like customer service and administrative tasks to make money from home.
As a VA, you'll be helping busy businesses with things such as data entry, handling emails, managing schedules, and even more specialized tasks like social media management and blogging.
But the key thing is that everything is done virtually, as the name suggests. There's no sitting at a desk from 9-to-5. You can work from your sofa in your pyjamas if you so wish, and you can set your own working hours.
How much can you earn? It varies, but entry-level VA's might start with rates ranging from $15 to $25 per hour, whilst more experienced professionals with specialized skills could charge between $30 and $50 (or even more) per hour.
7. Pet sitting
This one's for all the animal lovers out there! Does a house filled with puppy love sound like a dream to you? If it does, pet sitting could be an awesome way to earn some extra cash from home and get to be surrounded by furry friends.
You could start offline by telling friends and friends of friends about your new offering, but you can also use companies like Rover and Wag to offer your pet sitting (aka boarding) services to a wider audience.
How much can you earn? It depends on a few things like the specific services you offer and can vary depending on the type of pets you're caring for (boarding a dog can sometimes cost more than boarding a cat or smaller animals, for example), but overnight rates can range from $50 to $100 or more per night.
8. Online tutoring
Online tutoring could be a great (and fulfilling) way to make money from home. Whether you're a math whiz, a pro at playing guitar, or you have what it takes to teach someone a new language, there'll be someone out there wanting to learn what you can teach.
As long as you have an internet connection and a computer with a webcam, you could be helping people expand their knowledge or rock a new skill from the comfort or your sofa, home office, or anywhere you'd like.
How much can you earn? Your qualifications, the subjects you teach and even your teaching approach will affect what you can earn with online tutoring. Entry-level tutors may be looking at $10 to $20 per hour, while experienced tutors with specialized expertise could charge from $30 to $60 per hour.
9. Selling your old stuff online
If you have unwanted clothes, shoes, jewelery, gadgets, or really any household item, we have two words for you: sell them!
This is a super easy way to make money from home and declutter your space at the same time. Just have a spring (or summer, fall, or winter) clean and use websites like Depop, Vinted and eBay to list any good quality items you no longer want.
How much can you earn? This completely depends on the condition of the things you're selling, what they will be worth (it's useful to look at what similar items are selling for), and the price you set for them.
10. Starting a podcast
Podcasts are huge nowadays. In the US alone, the number of people listening to podcasts weekly is expected to hit a huge 103.6 million by the end of 2023!
Whether you're an avid storyteller, an expert in a subject, or just someone with a unique perspective and something to say, podcasting could be a fun and creative way of making some money from home.
There's no need for a fancy studio when starting a podcast. A quiet room, decent microphone, and some recording and editing software are all it takes.
And once you've gained listeners and followers, you can start monetizing! This can be done in a few ways, from sponsorships and ads, to crowdfunding through platforms like Patreon.
How much can you earn? This depends on the size of your audience, the monetization strategies you use, the niche you target, and your level of consistency. In general, the more listeners you have, the bigger your earning potential.
11. Selling handmade products
Crafting isn't just a hobby anymore. It's a bona fide way to make money from the comfort of your own home.
The rise of online marketplaces and the appreciation for unique, hadcrafted items have opened the doors creatives to turn their passions into profitable ventures.
It could be hand-drawn, painted, or even digital prints, pottery, clothing such as slogan t-shirts, or a world of other possibilites. Create your own Etsy shop, use a different e-commerce platform like Shopify or even sell straight from social media – there's a global audience right at your fingertips.
How much can you earn? This is your shop and these are your products, so you decide how much you charge. You need to be competitve though, considering the demand for the products you're selling, their quality, and what other people are selling similar items for.
12. Testing websites
Imagine getting paid to surf the web – no, it's not just a dream! Testing websites is an easy and legit way to earn money from the cozy confines of your home.
You don't need any specialized skills or qualifications, companies just want to ensure their websites are glitch-free and user-friendly, and are willing to hand over some cash for your feedback and insights.
You use websites like UserTesting and Userbrain to take part in usability tests, surveys, and user feedback sessions. You'll often receive specific tasks to perform on a website while recording your thoughts and reactions.
How much can you earn? It varies, but you can earn around $10 to $20 for a test that takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
Recapping 12 genuis tricks to make money from home
Whether you're skilled in things like writing, web design, and social media management and want to monetize these skills from your own home (freelancing could be a great shout), or you're just looking for ways to earn some extra cash with no experience needed while you watch your favourite TV show (take a look at online surveys and matched betting), there are some genius ways of doing so, especially in today's digital age.
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