How To Make Money Online for Beginners: 20 Proven Ways
Increasing fuel prices and the general ramp-up of the cost of living are affecting the bottom line of many individuals. Finding a side hustle is a good solution to help make ends meet or rebuild your savings. There are plenty of opportunities on the internet that could help you earn some extra cash without necessarily having to give up your day job.
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20 Best Ways To Make Money Online for Beginners
No matter if you have a business model, want to start an online store or just want to make some money fast, there are many online platforms where you can make a buck or two. If you’re wondering how to make money online for beginners, here are some of the best options you can choose from.
1. Sell Your Stuff
If you are ready to declutter and want to work your way toward a more minimalist way of living, you could clear out your home and make some money on the side. There are plenty of websites where you can sell clothes, accessories, home furnishings, collectibles and more. All you need to do is photograph the items and write a description of what you’re selling. Some marketplaces and websites you could sell your items from include:
Poshmark
eBay
Facebook Marketplace
Craigslist
While the opportunity is there to make money, be sure to watch out for scams, especially in the local marketplaces.
2. Online Tutoring
If you have a skill that’s worth sharing, you may be able to tutor or teach someone else online. Becoming an online homework tutor or an English instructor to individuals in other countries are a couple of the most common options.
You don’t even need an educational degree — you can help grade school kids with their homework or a high school student with algebra or geometry if you have some knowledge of the topic. Some places you can advertise your skills and services to teach online include:
Wyzant
TutorMe
Cambly
VIPKid
Tutor.com
3. Sell Products on Amazon
If you’re a master of finding the best deals in stores near you, it may be a profitable online business. You could make cash on the side by reselling clearance items for a profit on Amazon with a seller account.
If you have less than 40 items per month to offer, you can sign up for the Individual plan. With this plan, you’ll incur a fee of 99 cents per item sold. For more volume, you can sign up for the Professional plan, which comes with a fee of $39.99 per month. Note that both plans come with additional transaction fees once you sell the items.
Some of the best places to hunt for discounted items to resell include:
Ross
Marshalls
HomeGoods
Big Lots
Outlet stores
If you find items at great prices that you think could sell well, you can list them via your Amazon account. If you opt to use the Fulfillment by Amazon service, you can ship the items to an Amazon fulfillment center, and if they sell, the retailer will ship orders directly to customers and handle customer service and returns for your FBA orders.
4. Rent Out Your Belongings
There are a growing number of websites that allow you to rent out your belongings. Some examples of platforms you can use to rent things out for a profit include:
Swimply: Rent out your swimming pool for the day
Turo: Rent out your car
Airbnb: Rent out a home or room as a vacation rental
Most of the websites that let you offer your items as rentals offer insurance or coverage that protects your belongings against loss or damage and even offer some liability if something goes wrong.
5. Earn Rewards
If you have some downtime and don’t mind spending some time on your phone or a computer doing activities such as taking surveys or watching videos online, you could earn points, rewards and cash. Popular mobile apps and websites like Swagbucks, InboxDollars and Survey Junkie work with brands to receive consumer input about their goods and services. In some cases, you may even receive products to try out and review.
For more info on how you can make money by investing a few minutes every day to shop online, surf the web or answer some questions, check out these money-making apps.
6. Start a Blog
It could take some time before you see any rewards after starting a blog. This is simply because you’ll need to invest time and effort to write your blog posts and find an audience willing to read them. However, the investment could be well worth it. Once you build a loyal audience, there are many ways to make money from the blog. Some ways include:
Ads: Google Adsense is a great way to sell space on your blog to the right advertisers for a fee. Each time a reader clicks on an ad, you’ll receive some money, which depends on the category and popularity of the topic.
Selling your own products: If you have a unique voice or experience that could be useful to others, you could sell your goods or offer services for a fee, write an e-book for sale or even start a subscription-based membership for select readers.
7. Create and Sell Handmade Goods
If you enjoy making things such as bedazzled phone cases or hand-knit blankets or scarves, you may be able to sell your creations online on websites such as Etsy or Amazon Handmade.
For example, once you set up an Etsy account, you could list products for 20 cents per item for up to four months. If the items sell, you’ll pay a transaction fee of 6.5% and a payment processing fee of 3% plus 25 cents. Selling your handmade goods, especially if they’re unique and popular, could be a great way to make money online for beginners.
8. Start a Drop-Shipping Business
Drop-shipping is a way to sell products without having to invest too much money to get started. You won’t have to purchase and hang on to products in the hopes of selling them and then packing and shipping them yourself. All you need to do is set up a website with products, and when a purchase is made, the manufacturer you work with sends the product directly to the customer on your behalf.
It does take some time to learn the ins and outs of the business, but there are plenty of resources, especially when it comes to creating a website. There are templates you can use from websites such as Shopify and WooCommerce that can help you set up a professional-looking website in no time so you can start selling right away.
9. Become a Virtual Assistant
Becoming a virtual assistant or virtual administrative assistant puts your organization skills to good use as you operate as high-level support for companies or business heads. It’s a great online side hustle with high earning potential. If you have a knack for any of the following skill sets, consider becoming a virtual assistant:
Organizing schedules
Interoffice communications such as conference calls, phone calls or emails
Planning meetings
10. Affiliate Marketing
With affiliate marketing, you can promote a certain product and if someone purchases it, you’ll receive a commission. One of the easiest ways to get started with affiliate marketing is by using Amazon Associates. You’ll need to apply, but if you’re approved for an account, you’ll earn a commission when a customer you referred makes a purchase.
Essentially, you would post an affiliate link on one of your social media platforms, websites or blog posts, and if any of your followers click on it and it leads to a sale or other form of desired action, you earn a commission.
11. Code
There is a growing need for software engineers, and if you know how to code, you’re in luck! You can get paid up to $40 an hour for coding projects with sites like Data Annotation Tech.
Hours are typically flexible and you can work as much as you want. Applicants usually are required to take an assessment test. Anyone applying should be proficient in at least one programming language and have strong grammar and research skills.
12. Proofread
Proofreading is an integral part of making copy clean, spot-on and professional. While you don’t need special skills, many proofreaders hold degrees in journalism or English and have a concise understanding of grammar. The average hourly pay is $22.44 but depending on your experience level, you can earn up to $41.02 an hour. Some sites where you can look for proofreading jobs include:
ZipRecruiter
Indeed
Upwork
FlexJobs
13. Medical Billing
A medical biller is responsible for taking on the administrative responsibilities of billing insurance and processing payments for clients. This work can typically be done online from home and many healthcare organizations provide training. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly rate is $23.45 and there are several places for job-seekers to check out:
FlexJobs
Indeed
ZipRecruiter
14. Social Media Manager
With 2.9 billion active Facebook users, 2 billion Instagram accounts, and other social media platforms, there is an increased demand for social media pros, which opens opportunities for people looking to work from home. The average hourly rate is $33.79 for social media managers. This job entails excellent communication skills, creative ideas for content, flexibility and strategic thinking. There are freelance and full-time positions available and plenty of places to find a job. Check out the following sites:
Freelancer
Thumbtack
Indeed
15. Freelance Computer Technician
Ideal for tech-savvy people who want to earn some extra cash, a computer technician is a great way to supplement your income. The average hourly rate is $21 and you won’t need a degree to get started. You will be tasked with helping people repair, install and troubleshoot computer hardware. Places to look for freelance roles include:
FlexJobs
ZipRecruiter
Indeed
Upwork
16. Use a Shopping Browser
While earning more is one way to boost your finances, being smart about spending is equally important. Spending more than necessary can eat away at your budget. However, there’s an easy solution. Shopping browsers like Capital One Shopping will scan thousands of online retailers for coupons, better prices and rewards. Once installed on your browser, they will show you the difference in cost and a link to purchase the item.
17. Cut Your Credit Card Interest Rates
Reducing your credit card interest rates can help you save money and free up additional funds for money-making opportunities. By shopping around for lower interest rates or taking advantage of introductory offers, you can quickly decrease your monthly bills and put funds back in your pocket.
18. Look for Bank Bonuses
Opening a new bank account often comes with the opportunity to earn a sign-up bonus. You will have to meet specific deposit requirements and activities but they are usually very straightforward. This is an easy way to earn anywhere from $50 to $300.
19. Swap Old Electronics for Gift Cards
If you have unused electronics around the house, trade them in for gift cards. Amazon’s trade-in program allows you to send in Amazon or non-Amazon devices, which they will recycle or refurbish. In exchange, you’ll receive a discount and a gift card for your next Amazon device purchase.
20. Earn $50 an Hour To Be a Friend
If you’re not into dating sites, but still want companionship, you can find like-minded people on RentaFriend to hang out with. Payers foot the bill for dinners, concerts, sporting events or any setting where they want a platonic friend to spend time with plus an hourly rate of up to $50.
Final Take To GO
Learning how to make money online as a beginner is simple. All you need is an internet connection for nearly limitless opportunities to make a living with side gigs. Regardless of the path you choose, do your research. There are plenty of resources available that explain the steps required, what works — and what doesn’t.
FAQ
How can I make $100 a day online?
Though pay for any side hustle will vary greatly, there are many ways to make some extra money online with a little time and effort. For example, you could become a virtual assistant or an online tutor. If your rate is $20 per hour, this means you could earn $100 in five hours before taxes.
How can you legitimately make money from home?
One of the best ways to make money online is to sell your belongings that you no longer need, such as electronics, collectibles, clothing and more. Websites such as Poshmark, eBay and even Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are good options.
Caitlyn Moorhead and Heather Altamirano contributed to the reporting for this article.
Pay data is accurate as of May 1, 2024, and was sourced from individual company websites, ZipRecruiter, Zippia and Indeed.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How To Make Money Online for Beginners: 20 Proven Ways
