How to Make Money from Home

There are probably 101 reasons why you might be wondering how to make money from home. Maybe life is getting expensive or you’re looking for a career backup plan. But there’s also the thrill of learning something new, the satisfaction of turning a hobby into a career pivot, and the joy of making easy money by selling stuff you already own. 

If you’re contemplating how to make money outside of the traditional 9-to-5, there’s no shortage of interim side gig or full-time opportunities. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

These days, you can hear the siren call of new ways to earn money from your laptop everywhere you turn. Maybe one friend gets paid for graphic design projects in their spare time, while another makes easy money by transcribing podcasts. Sound enticing? Consider browsing online platforms that offer freelance opportunities.

The lowdown: Online freelance marketplaces help companies find freelancers hungry for one-off or steady gigs. These platforms generally provide myriad services including ghostwriting, copywriting, translation, graphic design, voice acting, financial consulting, coding, and podcast editing, to name a few.

Need to know: Many platforms let you create your own portfolio and tap into site professionals for guidance. Hourly rates vary by expertise. Since some platforms work to connect freelancers with job prospects and contacts, be prepared for commission or service fees to be taken from your final pay. Fees vary and can range anywhere from 5% to 20%, depending on the platform’s billing policy. 

Stumbling blocks: Competition can be fierce, so some freelancers may have to lower their rates to lure cost-conscious clients and land the job. The strategy isn’t ideal, but it may pay off, helping you establish more of a name for yourself and build your portfolio.

For teachers between full-time jobs, teachers looking to pivot careers, or even retired folks with specialized expertise, tutoring or teaching online classes can be a smart way to make extra money. And with virtual classes, you don’t have to be local. If you have expertise in a skill or subject, you can make money by launching your own online class or by selling the course through a dedicated website. 

The lowdown: Specialized platforms bring together qualified tutors with students looking to improve their grades in a wide range of subjects or hoping to prepare for SATs or other standardized tests. Tutors post profiles detailing their expertise, and they’re matched with interested students. Syllabus-savvy teachers can launch their own online classes or sell courses through dedicated platforms.

Need to know: For tutoring, hourly rates tend to range from $25 to $50 an hour, with technical subjects commanding top dollar. Other sites let teachers register as instructors and teach courses on topics of their choosing, setting course rates as they see fit.

Stumbling blocks: It may take some finessing to work out tutoring schedules in different time zones. Building an online course from scratch – and successfully selling it – might require additional sales, marketing, and video editing skills.

If you’re passionate about creating art or handcrafting your own ceramics, jewelry, or leather goods, consider joining a craft-focused online marketplace. Similarly, if you have an eye for vintage clothing or furniture and can prove each item’s authenticity (like its age and where it was found), you might also be able carve out a niche on these specialized sites. 

The lowdown: Virtual marketplaces lure shoppers hunting for one-of-a-kind items. Physical store windows aside, there’s probably no better showcase for your talents as a crafter, artist, or curator of vintage goods than your own virtual shop. 

Need to know: Online merchants can easily set up a store, listing dozens if not hundreds of items. Plus, sites are arranged by category so it can be a cinch for shoppers to find goods. In most cases, sellers incur nominal fees for listing items, for each transaction, and for advertising, among other services used.

Stumbling blocks: Competition can be intense. And depending on the website, there may be strict rules about what you can and can’t sell. For instance, some platforms support makers of handmade items but nix resellers who didn’t make the goods themselves.

Do you have used clothing hogging up closet space? A noble option is to bundle up those items and drop them off at the nearest charity or clothing drop box. Another alternative that can help your wallet: Sell or swap those items on a dedicated resale website, a modern approach to thrifting and consigning that helps support sustainable fashion.

The lowdown: Online consignment shops and thrift stores lure shoppers hunting for specific brands, designers, trends, and specific categories of secondhand apparel. Many also offer quality clothing and discourage throwaway fast fashion. If you have items that you no longer need, consider selling them to online shops. There’s an environmental upside, too: A UN Environment report estimates that a garbage truck’s–worth of textiles is burned or landfilled every second. If these patterns don’t change, the fashion industry could eat up a quarter of the world’s carbon budget by 2050.¹

Need to know: Every website operates a bit differently. Some act as social networks, requiring you to snap a photo, set a price, and share the listing with your network. Other online stores take care of the photos, listings, and authenticating (if it’s a high-end designer name). Many provide prepaid shipping labels. You’ll typically earn cash or shopping credit for eligible garments. Expect to make 5%–90% of a garment’s listing price, with larger payouts for luxury pieces.

Stumbling blocks: Online consignment and thrift sites generally don’t accept all merchandise. The clothing needs to be in top-notch condition and from a designer label or popular name brand. If an item doesn’t make the cut, you may have to pay for it to be shipped back to you.