I’m always looking for new ways to make extra money. If you’d like to earn some extra cash on the side, keep reading for some easy and quick ways to do so.
With most of these opportunities, you’re not going to get rich, but you can treat yourself to a weekly coffee from Starbucks, pay off some debt, or save up for a dream vacation!
And, of course, if you’re motivated to convert your side hustle into a full-time business, it is possible! I’m living proof.
Here are 42 flexible ways to make extra money online and offline!
1. Answer Questions Online
If people always come to you for advice on a particular topic, you may be the perfect candidate to get paid to answer questions online!
JustAnswer hires experts in a variety of fields to answer questions via their platform. In the past, their website said experts could earn $2,000-$7,000 per month just by answering questions online. Of course, you’ll need to prove your expertise and credentials, but once you do, you can make money online any time of the day or night!
2. Become a Search Engine Evaluator
If you love doing internet research, this next idea may be perfect for you! Search engine evaluators evaluate search engine results according to Google and Bing’s strict guidelines to ensure that they are relevant and of high quality. The great thing about these positions is they don’t require any special equipment other than a computer and internet connection.
But don’t be fooled; just because these roles sound like a cakewalk, the test you must pass to be accepted is quite challenging and requires a fair amount of memorization. If you’re interested in learning more, check out Appen and TELUS International; they both hire search engine evaluators.
3. Complete Short Tasks Online
If you only have small chunks of time available to you, completing short tasks may be a great way to supplement your bottom line. Some typical short tasks are internet research, data entry, image categorization, transcription, writing short-form content, and on and on. With these gigs, you’re usually working as an independent contractor, and the pay can sometimes be on the lower end, but they are easy and extremely flexible. For companies that hire micro-workers, check out Fiverr, Amazon MTurk, and Gigwalk.
4. Participate in Paid Focus Groups
If you enjoy voicing your opinion, participating in focus groups can be an excellent way to earn extra money! To qualify for participation, you’ll need to answer an initial set of questions to see if you’re the brand’s target audience. Once accepted into the study, you’ll answer a series of questions online, by phone, or in person. The great thing about focus groups is they pay well, often $50-$150 for an hour of your time! If this sounds appealing, check out Respondent, User Interviews, and Gauge Research.
5. Play Video Games Online
I’m not a gamer, but if you are, you can make a little extra pocket cash by playing video games online. Apps like Mistplay allow you to earn rewards for playing games, and of course, the longer you play, the more units you’ll earn. According to their website, you can redeem units for Visa, Google Play, and Amazon gift cards, and they’ve paid out more than $60 million to users.
6. Sell T-Shirts Online
Are you always coming up with catchy slogans? Do you have superb design skills? If so, you can make extra money online designing and selling T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise. Platforms like Spring, Spreadshirt, and Redbubble allow you to create and sell t-shirts on their platforms for free! According to this article from Money.com, the average seller on Teespring pockets $9,000 a year from the platform; not bad!
7. Use Smartphone Apps
If you’re not using smartphone apps in your day-to-day life, you’re missing out on free money! A few of my faves are Ibotta, Shopkick, and Receipt Hog. With these apps, you can earn rewards by scanning your receipts, scanning barcodes, and shopping online and in person. Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can trade them in for cash via PayPal, Amazon gift cards, and more! If you’re interested in earning extra money with smartphone apps, check out this massive list of apps that pay out cash via PalPal.
8. Surf the Web
If you had told me years ago that you can get paid to surf the web, I would have said you’re crazy! But with advances in technology and with online competition at an all-time high, companies will pay you a small amount for using their web search engines. Again, you’re not going to get rich or make a full-time income from doing this, but you can earn extra money to help pay off debt or save up for a new pair of shoes.
Three companies that will pay you to surf the web are Swagbucks, Microsoft Rewards, and Qmee. I’ve only used Swagbucks, and with their opportunity, you log in to their platform and use their search bar for your search queries. Or you can change your default web browser to Swagbucks, thus earning SB (points) for all of your search activity. Once you have enough SB, you can trade it in for gift cards or cash via PayPal.
9. Take Online Surveys
If you enjoy answering survey questions, you can easily make extra money online. But before you jump into this money-making method, be smart with how you use your time. Browse the available surveys, and choose the ones that offer the best payout for your time invested. If you have a survey that is 100 questions and only pays $0.10, that is not worth your time! Some of my favorite survey sites include Branded Surveys, InboxDollars, Survey Junkie, and Mindswarms.
10. Test Websites and Apps
Are you tech-savvy and enjoy testing stuff out? Then perhaps testing websites and apps is your calling. With these side jobs, app developers and website owners want to know that their digital properties are easy to navigate and achieve their intended goals. To find this information, they hire people to run through a series of test steps and questions to determine areas they can improve.
Most tests take between 5-25 minutes and pay $10 per test. However, sometimes you can earn more! I recently participated in a website testing gig that took 45 minutes and paid $25. If this side earner sounds appealing, check out Ferpection, UserTesting, and test IO.
11. Become a Transcriptionist
You can make extra money online by transcribing audio files if you’re a fast and accurate typist with excellent listening skills. To do this, you’ll need to have a transcription kit (foot pedal, headset, and software) to stop and rewind the audio files while you’re transcribing. Most companies pay per audio minute or hour, but some pay per project. To get started with transcribing, check out Rev, CrowdSurf, or TranscribeMe — they all hire beginners.
12. Online Tutor
One way to earn money online is by sharing your expertise with students who need additional help. The areas you can tutor in are endless — math, biology, English as a second language, business, foreign language, homework help, and so on! Most of these positions require you to be an active college student or a graduate with a bachelor’s degree. If helping others achieve their academic goals sounds like fun, check out Course Hero, EF, or Studypool.
13. Watch Videos Online
Another way to earn money online is by watching videos. Before you get too excited here, many of these gigs consist of watching commercials, promotional trailers, and other types of promotional content. If that doesn’t turn you off, check out Dabbl. You’re not going to make a ton of money with this side hustle, but if you’re waiting around and have some extra time, why not get paid for watching some videos?!
Another way to make extra money watching videos is to caption videos. Closed captioning jobs require fast and accurate typing, as well as excellent listening skills. If this sounds like a fun way to make extra money, check out Rev or CrowdSurf.
14. Become a Freelance Writer
If you have a way with words, there are many ways to make extra money with your writing skills! From writing short-form content like PPC ads and social media updates to website copy, blog posts, forum contributions, and so much more!
The great thing about freelance writing gigs is you don’t need any special equipment, and as long as you meet your deadlines, the gig is flexible. Plus, you don’t need experience or a degree to get started! Of course, the more you write, the better you get, so if you’re a beginner, be sure to practice writing every day. For places to get started, check out nDash, Problogger, and Upwork.
15. Become a Mystery Shopper
Do you like going undercover? If so, telephone mystery shopping may be the perfect way to earn extra money. With this side job, you’ll make calls to businesses, asking them a series of questions. After the phone call is over, you’ll rate and write up a shopping report. According to Forbes, most mystery shopping gigs pay between $5-$20 per shop. If you’d like to learn more about mystery shopping, check out Intelicheck, Perception Strategies, and iSecretShop.
16. Do Graphic Design Work
When my daughter was in 6th grade, she took a digital graphics class, where she learned how to use the design software Adobe Photoshop. I don’t even know how to use Photoshop! If you can create digital graphics, you can earn good money online by designing logos, memes, social media images, infographics, and more! To see if this is the right side earner for you, check out DesignCrowd, Dribbble, and 99designs for freelance opportunities.
17. Become a Mock Juror
Do you love watching TV shows like Law and Order? Then, look into earning some extra money as a mock juror. In these roles, you help lawyers prepare for their trials by giving feedback on their arguments. By no means are you going to get rich doing this, but it is an interesting way to make extra money in your free time. Here are a few companies that offer these online gigs: eJury and Nelson Recruiting.
18. Start Selling on eBay
If you enjoy going to flea markets and garage sales, perhaps cleaning up items and selling them on eBay is your calling. You can start by decluttering your own home and garage and listing each item on eBay. Once you’ve decluttered your home, hit flea markets, garage sales, and thrift stores, and flip unwanted items for extra cash. It’s free to list most things on eBay, and they only take a fee once an item sells. One couple that has found massive success selling stuff on eBay is Melissa and Rob Stephenson, who earn $130K annually, flipping flea market finds. If this sounds like a fun way to make extra money, be sure to check out Rob and Melissa’s course at Flipper University.
19. Sell Photos Online
You can make good money selling your photos online if you’re a talented photographer. Stock photo sites are always looking for new images to sell to people. To get started, check out this list of sites where you can submit your photos. Each has different terms regarding payments and exclusivity, so be sure to read them carefully when submitting your application. The great thing about selling your photography online is it’s a great source of passive income! Sign up with multiple sites to make the most of this side gig!
20. Start a YouTube Channel
Are you an extrovert who enjoys teaching others new skills? If so, consider starting a YouTube channel around your passion. There are lots of influencers creating YouTube videos and making money through advertising, affiliate marketing, and sponsorships!
The best thing about this side hustle is you don’t need any fancy equipment to start; just a smartphone with a video camera, your ideas, and some time. To become a YouTube partner, you’ll need to have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time in 12 months before you can use Google Adsense to monetize. While you’re growing your channel, you can still earn money through affiliate links and sponsorships.
21. Dog Walking with Rover
If you love animals, sign up on the Rover app to make extra money taking care of pets! With Rover, you can walk dogs, offer pet sitting services, make stop-ins, scoop poop, and even board pets at your home. The average user earns $1,000 a month using the app, but there is potential to earn much more! If this sounds like a fun way to make extra money, check out our full Rover review here.
22. Deliver Stuff
You’ll need a reliable vehicle for this next side gig, but if you enjoy getting out and about, consider becoming an on-demand delivery driver. With apps like Amazon Flex, Uber Eats, Instacart, and DoorDash, you can make good money delivering groceries and food from local restaurants. You’ll need to pass a background check, but once this is complete and your application is approved, you can make money on your own schedule. With these gigs, you’ll earn a fee for each delivery plus tips. For more on how this works, check out our full DoorDash review.
23. Online Scoring Jobs
If you have a bachelor’s degree and enjoy reading student essays, you can make extra money by scoring test papers online. These gigs are usually seasonal, so sign up with multiple sites to increase your chances of getting assignments. Check out Write Score, ETS, and Pearson for these flexible side gigs.
24. Become a Blogger
I’m obviously a huge fan of blogging! But let me tell you why you should consider starting your own blog! Blogging offers you these benefits:
- Learn new skills without having to get a degree
- Work in a niche that you’re passionate about
- It opens you up to new opportunities
- There’s no cap on how much you can earn
- You truly have control over your schedule
- You’re creating an asset that you can sell
- It’s affordable to start
I started this blog back in 2009 with the initial goal of making $500-$700 a month, which I achieved within the first year. Today, blogging is my full-time business!
Blogging can help you earn money in a variety of ways, including advertising revenue, affiliate marketing, brand sponsorships, selling online courses, printables, services, and more!
If you’d like to make money blogging, either part-time or full-time, check out my free 10-day guide.
25. Work as a House Sitter
When summer rolls around and homeowners go on vacation, they need to find quality help to watch their homes, plants, mail, and pets. This is where house sitters enter the scene. As a house sitter, you can offer drop-in visits, or you can offer to spend the duration of their vacation at their home, making it look occupied. According to this post, sitters charge anywhere from $50-$100 per day, with earnings being higher in bigger cities. To find clients, you can pitch your services to people you know, or you can join a service like TrustedHousesitters or Care.com.
26. Sell Your Lesson Plans
If you’re a teacher who has created lesson plans, worksheets, and learning handouts, you can sell these to other teachers on Teachers Pay Teachers. Non-teachers can also use the platform to sell printables, digital downloads, and fonts! It’s free to get started, and Teachers Pay Teachers takes a cut once you make a sale. According to this article, “the top seller has made over $2 million, 164 teachers have earned over $50,000, and thousands more bring in a few hundred dollars a month, which can make a big difference when you’re living on a teacher’s salary.”
27. Become a Social Media Manager
If you’re an avid social media user who knows how to create engaging content, you can work part-time managing and creating social media content. With social media accounts like TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and more, there is a massive demand for talented social media enthusiasts. Check out sites like SocialBee, ModSquad, and $99 Social for freelance gigs.
28. Rent Your Extra Space for Cash
If you have an extra bedroom or a guest house on your property, you can rent it for extra cash! With sites like Airbnb and Vrbo, it’s never been easier to get started. But did you know that you can rent a whole laundry list of items, including campers, cars, RVs, boats, bikes, sports equipment, your swimming pool, your driveway, and more? Check out this list for the crazy things you can rent for extra money!
29. Sell Unwanted Stuff
I’ve tried selling old stuff online, at garage sales, and consignment stores, but using platforms like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace is the best way to make money selling your stuff. In most cases, these sites are free to use, and selling directly to an individual is how you can earn the most money for your goodies. Plus, you don’t have to worry about packing your items up and shipping costs. Agree to meet in a public place, and you will have the cash immediately! I’ve been able to sell furniture, a mattress, toys, clothes, baby gear, a violin, electronics, and more!
30. Start an Etsy Shop
When you think of Etsy, you probably think of arts and crafts, but you can sell so much more on the site, like handmade toys, jewelry, coffee mugs, lip gloss, printables, templates, greeting cards, craft supplies, SVG files, and vintage items! If you’re interested in creating printables or crafts and selling them for extra cash, Etsy is a great place to get started. Not only is the platform super easy to use, it only costs $0.20 to list your first item. They do take a small transaction fee for payment processing, but all sites like this do. If starting a shop on Etsy sounds fun, check out how Melanie earns a full-time income from selling her greeting cards using the platform.
31. Become an Instagram Content Creator
If you enjoy taking photos and videos, writing captions, and sharing them online, become an Instagram content creator. You’ll need to build your following and choose a niche, but according to this article, IG micro-influencers with just 1,000 engaged followers can start making money! To get started with this side gig, all you need is a smartphone and time to create engaging and entertaining content. With Instagram, you can make money through affiliate marketing and paid sponsorships.
32. Start Making Content on TikTok
Another fun way to make extra money is by creating short videos on TikTok. And don’t worry, TikTok isn’t just for dancing! There are all sorts of creators making videos on topics like food, mental health, humor, finance, careers, beauty, and so much more! TikTok has many different ways for content creators to make money, like joining their creator fund, receiving LIVE gifts, sponsorships, and more! No special tools are needed to get started, just your smartphone, the TikTok app, which includes easy-to-use editing tools, and time to create videos.
33. Do Odd Jobs
If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, there are many odd jobs that you can do to make extra money! Sites like TaskRabbit and Angi have made it easy to connect with people who need help with their to-do lists. Using these apps, you can make money helping pet owners, shopping, putting furniture together, emptying moving boxes, house cleaning, and so much more! How much you make will depend on the tasks you perform and where you live, but according to this article, you can make this a full-time job; some top earners on TaskRabbit are making $9,000 a month!
34. Work on a Bilingual Side Gig
If you can speak more than one language fluently, you can make good money by taking on a bilingual side gig! In fact, it’s estimated that bilingual workers earn 5%-20% more per hour compared to monolingual workers. From bilingual customer service calls to translating documents, tutoring foreign language students, and even becoming an interpreter! Some places to search for bilingual side gigs include Welocalize, Language Bear, and DayTranslations.
35. Join Direct Sales Business Opportunity
If you’re an extrovert who enjoys interacting with people, joining a direct sales business opportunity may be a great option for you! I have one friend who is into health and wellness and joined doTERRA to sell essential oils and another who sells clothing for cabi. I’m a fan and purchaser of both brands, and my friends are earning money selling items that they’re passionate about.
You’ll need to come up with funds for the initial startup fee, but it’s easy to make it back and much more if you’re passionate about what you’re selling. Usually, direct sales consultants earn a 25%-35% commission on items that they sell and additional commissions for building a team. If you’re interested in joining a direct sales company, check out this massive list of companies!
36. Start a Podcast
Another popular way to make extra money online is by starting a podcast. While there is a learning curve and startup costs for getting started, popular podcasters can generate thousands, sometimes millions, of dollars from their podcasts! Popular business author Tim Ferris earns an estimated $3 million annually from his weekly podcast. With podcasting, you can earn money from sponsorships, ads, affiliates, and by selling your own products. If you have the gift of gab and want to explore this fun money-making idea, check out this article to get started.
37. Flip Domain Names
Having the right domain name as a small business owner is critical. After all, if your domain name is too long, hard to spell, or difficult to remember, you lose out on potential customers. This is where domain flippers come in. They purchase domain names for a low price in hopes that they can sit on them and later sell them for a much higher price. How much money can you earn flipping domains? The most expensive domain name ever sold was cars.com, which went for a whopping $872 million!
To become a domain flipper, you’ll need a small startup budget to purchase your domains, some creative ideas, good research skills, excellent organizational skills, and good sales and marketing skills. Check out this article for more tips on flipping domains.
38. Sell Unused Gift Cards
Gift cards are a popular gift to give people for holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. However, people often get gift cards for establishments they don’t frequent or live near. If you have unused gifts hanging around, sell them online for quick and easy cash. With sites CardCash, you can sell your unused gift cards for a little less than the gift card amount. Of course, birthdays and holidays only roll around once a year, so check out this post if you’re looking for easy ways to earn free gift cards.
39. Start a Membership Business
With online platforms like Patreon, it has never been easier to earn recurring income each month with a subscription business. All you need to do is decide what you’re going to provide members each week or month, sign up for free with Patreon, and send out your content on time to members. How much can you make with a membership business?
It varies greatly, from what you’re selling, how many subscribers you have, and how often you’re sending out new content. Carol Tice (doesn’t use Patreon), but she has a membership business for freelance writers that generates over $300K annually.
Need subscription ideas? Here are just a few things you can sell in a weekly or monthly membership:
- Art
- Podcast episodes
- Printables
- Videos
- Recipes
- Monthly meal plans
- Stock photos
- Comics
- Music
- And so much more!
40. Self-Publish eBooks
If you enjoy writing either non-fiction or fictional works, you can make good money writing and selling eBooks on online sites like Amazon. To get started, create an online, start writing your chapters, then edit, format, and upload your book to Amazon. Having written a couple of books myself, I can tell you that it does take some time to achieve this goal, but it is so satisfying once it’s finished.
How much you can earn depends on your selling price, how many copies you sell, and where you decide to sell your eBook. For example, Amazon has a huge audience of shoppers, but they’ll take a good chunk of your profits. If you sell on your own website, you’ll get to keep all the profits (minus credit card fees), but you’ll have a much smaller customer base. Explore this post for more information on writing and selling eBooks.
41. Be a Customer Service Representative
If you enjoy helping solve problems and chatting on the phone, you can work as an online customer rep for companies like Working Solutions, NexRep, ACD Direct, and Omni Interactions. With these companies, you’ll work as an independent contractor, and you’ll get to create your own schedule, working minimal hours. These online positions are best suited for individuals who have excellent communication skills, a desire to help customers, and who are tech-savvy. Some of these companies, like Working Solutions, require contractors to work a minimum of 15 hours per week, but others, like ACD Direct, have no hourly work commitment for workers.
42. Shape AI Tools
With the explosion of AI (artificial intelligence), there are many freelance work opportunities for you to make extra money online. Companies like DataAnnotation Tech, Datavio.ai, and Welocalize hire freelancers to work on a wide variety of AI side hustles. In these roles, you may create responses for chatbots, research information, evaluate data, images, videos, audio, and more. For some of these gigs, you’ll need to take a short exam to test your writing and research skills, and if you pass, you’ll be able to work on projects. Pay varies by company and task; sometimes, you’ll be paid per hour and other times per task. The nice thing about these side gigs is there are plenty of opportunities, and you can work whenever you want.
Last Words About Making Extra Money Online and Offline
If you want to make extra money, there are many ways to do so! Pick a few that match your skills and expertise and fit them in when you have some spare time. If you find you enjoy making money online, you may even be able to turn your side hustle into a full-time gig. If you need some inspiration, check out Danny Margulies’ story and how he turned his copywriting side gig into a six-figure business!
Just remember, with these side earners, you’re working as an independent contractor, not an employee, so you’ll need to set money aside for taxes. Talking to an accountant can help you determine whether you’re running a business or making extra money off a hobby. You can also find information on the IRS website about how to claim the extra money you earn.
Last but not least, watch out for scams! Technology has made it easier than ever for scammers to hide behind fake accounts and profiles. Be sure to check out reviews on the Better Business Bureau website, in the app stores, Trustpilot, and Glassdoor.com.
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Originally published September 14, 2012. Content updated June 2024.
