The 52 Best Online Side Jobs to Make Money Online

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Side gigs, side hustles, part-time work. Whatever you want to call it, recent research shows that over a third of employed people in the UK and the US have a side job.  And while some people are cleaning houses or waiting tables, many are also turning to online side jobs to make an extra buck. 

And those figures aren’t counting the college students who are hustling to make ends meet, or the retired folk topping up their pensions.

That’s millions of people who are turning up to their day job, then putting in extra hours at night, on the weekend or even in the wee small hours when most of us are still asleep. 

And you know what? That’s just the start. Every year more people join the crusade to make extra money in their free time. In this article, we list 52 options for online side jobs you can start today.

Six Reasons To Start An Online Side Job

1. You won’t have extra travel costs
2. You can top up your regular income 
3. You can pay off debt faster
4. You can save more for retirement
5. You can save for a holiday, new car, replace the fridge…
6. You have a chance to sample other jobs to replace the one you’ve got

Realistically, most online side jobs won’t make you a fortune – despite all the hype. You’re unlikely to earn $1000+ a month, especially when you first start. Like everything else worthwhile, you have to put in loads of work to reap any rewards.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to work from home and make some extra income online. Many of these legitimate work options are a good starting point for a full-time job, too. However, you should not expect to make loads of quick cash from online jobs.

We’ve scoured the internet to bring you ideas on all the best side hustles. So, let’s get started.

52 Legitimate Online Side Jobs That Could Make You Extra Money

1.Searching the Internet

If you want a side hustle with easy money that takes almost no extra effort, then you could consider using Swagbucks as your search engine. I kid you not! If you’re in one of the countries where they operate, you can use the “Search” tab at the top of the Swagbucks app to earn small rewards — but I do mean small. However, if you want to make more than $10 in Amazon gift cards in a year, here are some of the other ways you can earn with Swagbucks.

Qmee (reviewed here) gives you another way to earn money from your web searches.

2.Online Surveys/Focus Groups

If you’ve got a few spare minutes each day and you choose the right survey companies, then taking online surveys can earn you a surprising amount of extra cash over time without much effort involved. 

Do them in your own hours while you’re watching TV or having a snack, and you’ll find that the survey income really does add up over time. 

Prolific is the favorite survey site of HomeWorkingClub readers by quite a margin. That’s because it involves academic research surveys instead of consumer stuff. Let’s face it, it may be easy money, but it can get very dull answering the same 20 questions about insurance, pet food and utility companies month after month.

If you have a little more time to spare and a suitable skill set, you could join a focus group panel like UserInterviews, and discuss products in more depth.

3.Testing Websites and Apps

User testing involves interacting with a new website design or app and recording your honest thoughts and opinions.  

Many companies will pay you to test websites and apps. Developers need to know what you think of their work and help them iron out the bugs before it goes live and gathers too many one-star reviews. 

It’s not a perfect side gig for everyone. While it’s incredibly easy and impossible to get “wrong,” you do need to be uninterrupted. For example, you couldn’t do it with children playing in the background, as you have to record yourself speaking aloud as you work.

4.Micro Working

Microworking involves carrying out repetitive online tasks for a few cents at a time. Although that doesn’t sound like much money, the jobs really are “micro,” and you could earn $12 or more per hour once you get into the flow.

Be sure to sign up to two or three different platforms like  Clickworker, Appen and Amazon’s Mechanical Turk so that you can find jobs when you want them. Microwork can be monotonous, but you don’t need any previous experience to do it, and you can fit it into your schedule whenever it suits.

Many people ask about data entry, too, and, yes, it’s still a legitimate online side job. Nowadays, you’re likely to find typing and data entry jobs on micro working sites.

5. Typing and Transcription

Transcription can be an excellent way to make extra money online if you can type quickly and accurately. It involves listening to an audio recording and typing exactly what is said.

If you are interested in Online Typing Jobs, our feature discusses which popular typing jobs make for good online side jobs.

Our Ultimate Guide to Work From Home Transcription Jobs covers everything you need to know about this kind of work, as well as providing tips on how and where to get started.If you are looking for a reputable company where you can make extra money, Rev is a great place to start.

6. Subtitles and Closed-Captioning

After transcribing for a while and building up your typing skills, you might find that typing subtitles and closed captions is more interesting and lucrative. However, it’s also harder to get started because you need to learn additional skills and compete harder for jobs, which often go to agencies. 

General agencies, like Rev, can be a great place to start building your experience. Check out the preferred fulfillment partners of the major streaming services, too, if you’re keen to work for them.

It isn’t a side job for total beginners, but you could end up doing business with companies in the television and movie industry if you are willing to pay your dues and put in the effort. If you speak a foreign language, that could be a significant advantage in marketing yourself.

7. Become a Scopist

Scoping is a specialized form of transcription that deals with trials, depositions and other court proceedings. As a scopist you’ll receive an audio recording and draft transcript from a court reporter. Your job is to edit the transcript, which is often full of errors, to match the recording exactly.

Scopists are generally freelancers and can work from home in most countries. You need to have excellent typing, listening, spelling and punctuation skills and concentrate fiercely for long periods. 

If you’ve worked in a medical or legal setting and understand the jargon and terminology involved, scoping could be the part-time or even full-time job you’ve been looking for.

8. Proofreading

If you’re detail-oriented, have impeccable grammar and love reading, then proofreading could be a great online side job for you. 

Professional proofreaders earn between $12 and $30 per hour, but you’ll need to build up your experience and reputation before you can command those sorts of rates. 

There are lots of courses out there to help you understand what is involved and teach you some of the intricacies involved.

If proofreading is just going to be a side job to earn extra money during your spare time, you may want to just stick with offering your services on websites like Upwork or Fiverr. 

On the other hand, because there’s a lot of proofreading work available, many people end up making a full-time living even if they started it as a side job.

9. Bookkeeping

Online bookkeeping is a BIG market because so many people hate doing their accounts and are happy to outsource that part of their business. 

The number of people doing bookkeeping as a side hustle is relatively low because of the investment and training needed to succeed. However, if your day job is bookkeeping and you want to change careers, this is a great side hustle that will pay you well and enable you to build that new career without stressing too much about cash.

10. Translation

If you’re bilingual, translating could be a great way to earn extra income. 

The amount of work available — and the pay —  varies depending on your qualifications and the languages you work with. It can be easier to find translation work through an agency, but many translators also work directly with clients to earn more money. If you’re interested in translation as an online side job, check out our essential guide to translation jobs. It provides information on everything from the skills you need to places you can find work.

11. Online Interpreting

One of the best ways to make money from your foreign language skills is online video or phone interpreting. 

You need to be highly fluent and switch rapidly between languages, and clients may ask for formal certification. But the reward is extra money, starting at around $40 per hour. 

Agencies charge clients closer to $90 per hour and often insist on hourly billing and a minimum number of hours. If you are willing to sell smaller time increments or offer lower rates, then providing stellar service is sure to win you return business.The key to landing good clients lies in building an excellent reputation on your personal website or a freelance platform like Upwork or Freelancer.

12. Freelance Article Writing

There’s an enormous amount of information about freelance writing on this site because many people are interested in becoming freelance writers.

As online jobs go, writing is not an easy way to earn extra income as there’s a lot of hard work and hustling involved. To be frank, you need to love being a freelance writer to make the effort worthwhile.To see if freelance writing — aka content writing — would be a great side gig for you, start by reading our Ultimate Guide to Online Writing Jobs.

13. Email Marketing

This writing-related job focuses much more on psychology and selling than writing articles and content. 

Email marketing is a crucial part of doing business for everyone, from bloggers to local businesses and major companies.

While proven copywriters can command high prices, you’ll have to prove yourself by starting small as a beginner. One great way to do this is by doing some email marketing for yourself or volunteering to do some for a small local business. 

Keep track of your campaigns so that you’ll have data to prove that you can get results, then you can start to advertise your services on your own website or on freelance platforms.

14. Resume Writing

Resumes, aka CVs, are essential in today’s competitive job market, but not everyone has what it takes to write a great resume.

They need constant updating, too, and if you know what employers are looking for in a resume, you could earn a decent side income writing them for other people.

College students might find this service to be one of the best ways to make money because you’ve got a large population of potential clients right there on campus. Get known as a great resume writer, and you mightn’t even need to advertise your services on the freelancing platforms.

It’s sensible to create your own website or Facebook account to market yourself once you leave college, as well.

Resume writing jobs will generally come from platforms, personal references or your own marketing efforts. As companies like ZipJob show, people are willing to pay quite a bit of cash if they are convinced that you can help them land a job.

15. Online Dating Ghostwriter

If you have the writing skills and pizzazz to create witty dating profiles, your skills could be much in demand. 

An online dating ghostwriter works with clients who aren’t confident in their writing skills to write their profiles for dating websites. It’s a job you can do as a freelancer from anywhere in the world, working with popular dating sites, or you can freelance as a dating profile writer and find clients on your own.

16. Become a Voiceover Artist

If writing is not your thing, perhaps lending your voice to the words of others might be a better fit.  There’s plenty of work available if you have the right kind of voice.

In episode 9 of our HomeWorkingClub podcast, the CEO of Freelancer.com, Matt Barrie, shared the story of a woman who became a voiceover artist because she needed to work from home for health reasons. 

He shared her story because her dedication to building her profile and her involvement with other voiceover talent artists enabled her to turn a side job – created out of necessity – into a successful business.

17. Audiobook Narrator

Along the same lines, there’s also a growing market for people who can narrate audiobooks.

If you’re into amateur dramatics — or even better, if you’re already a professional actor — then you could have the skills to get into the audiobook field. 

You’ll need the stamina to read aloud for several hours at a time and be able to show by the tone of your voice and accent when different people are talking in the book. Captivated listeners need to hear when the pace changes and understand the characters’ emotions through the reader’s voice.

Narrating isn’t the job for a complete beginner, so one way to get experience is to volunteer for an organization like Learning Ally, which provides audiobooks for dyslexic readers.

18. Social Media Manager

If you love spending time on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok, you could use your expertise to help small businesses, entrepreneurs or creators as a social media virtual assistant. 

This side gig involves working with several clients to keep their social media presence updated with new posts and know how to make the most out of the different platforms.

Even though it is not uncommon for freelancers to charge $100 per month or more for each social media network, you will have to work hard for your money.

Since so many elements can come into play, you must be clear about what clients expect when you set your rates. Otherwise, you might find that you have to manage unrealistic expectations.

19. Virtual Assistant

Becoming a VA is a good side hustle to set up in your spare time if you have strong administration skills. 

Generally, Virtual Assistants sort and answer emails, manage diaries and appointments, book travel and moderate blog comments or Facebook groups. You may also get to do minor research projects, build PowerPoint presentations, write blog posts, or build spreadsheets and databases. 

Since agencies do not pay much, you will probably want to work independently, which means that you will need to market yourself and find your own clients.

While you can get started right away, it will take some time and effort for you to charge fees of around $20 per hour. It is also worth considering specializing, as this can make you extra money.

20. Pinterest VA

Pinterest is one of the most significant visual search engines. Although millions of people save pins on their boards, it takes some specialist knowledge to understand how to use the platform as a business.

Not everyone has the knowledge, flair or even time to create pins and design an effective pinning strategy. That’s why people hire Pinterest Virtual Assistants to handle the daily pinning, scheduling and so on. 

If you’re interested in starting an online business as a Pinterest VA, then check out the review of the Pinterest Traffic Avalanche course by HWC’s own Social Media Manager.

21. Online Teaching/Tutoring Platforms

Many people decide to teach or tutor online as a side gig, and some even turn it into a full-time job. You don’t necessarily need to be an expert in a specific subject as there is a lot of demand for native English speakers to teach English online, often to children and young people in China.

This online side job won’t suit everyone, however. Platforms like VIPKid require at least a bachelor’s degree and, even if others don’t ask for experience, you may need to get certified before you begin. Still, it is possible to earn $20 per hour or more on online teaching platforms, all from the comfort of your home.

Here are some options to get you started in teaching even without having any experience.

22. Teach Something You’re Passionate About

Now, online teaching as a side hustle isn’t limited to subjects like English. And, you don’t necessarily need to use educational platforms, either.

Online learning is booming, communication tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and everyone has learned how to have a Zoom or Skype call since the pandemic hit. 

So, to get started teaching something that you know all about, use social media, a website or even a platform like Fiverr to let people know about your classes. 

You could teach art, music, knitting… or more traditional subjects as a side hustle without being limited by course or platform requirements. Just remember, you need to put in the work to reach out to and keep your ideal clients. 

23. Coaching/Mentoring

No, we’re not jumping on the “You could make $x from home” bandwagon. The truth is that coaching and mentoring are not only legitimate, but they can also be extremely helpful.

The problem with this side hustle is that so many people advertise it as a way to make easy money so that you will buy their online course. 

The reality is that you should only consider coaching or mentoring as a side hustle if you already have extensive knowledge and experience in that area. And even more importantly, you need the ability to coach so that others can apply your information effectively.

24. Online Course Creation

Teaching in person doesn’t appeal to everyone. Don’t worry if this applies to you because many entrepreneurs make a lot of money online by creating a course to sell. 

If you get everything just right then, aside from updates and ongoing marketing, this could potentially provide you with significant passive income for a long time to come. Of course, you have to do most of the work ahead of time. And unless you can sell the course, there is no guarantee that you will earn anything at all. 

If you want to create an online course, plenty of tools are available. The main hurdle is identifying a topic that students want to learn and that you have the knowledge to teach.

Depending on how much you want to invest, you can sell your course on your own website, on popular platforms like Teachable or even on sites like Udemy.

25. Create Digital Planners, Printables

There’s a high demand for digital products at the moment, and creating them can be a great way to make extra money online. All you have to do is create one digital product and sell it as a download over and over again.

Printables include meal planners, party invitations, progress charts, posters, menus, activity sheets and even coloring pages and workbooks.

You also have multiple options for making money from your printables. 

Many people sell on sites like Etsy, but you can also create your website or offer your services to companies. Digital products are very popular with companies and small businesses looking to build authority or provide some value to their clients.

26. Start a Blog

Blogging is definitely a slow burn project rather than a quick money-making scheme, and don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. If you need to make quick cash, starting your own blog is not the way.

It takes time, drive, and tenacity to make money from a blog, but it could end up being one of the most lucrative options on this list if you get it right. Your blog could even become an asset to sell in the future. 

This free course from stellar blogger Michelle Schroeder-Gardener offers you a great start. You can also read about the advantages and disadvantages of blogging on this site.

27. Start a YouTube Channel

You’ll need a decent smartphone or camera, an internet connection, and an exciting or entertaining niche to get started on YouTube. And, just like blogging, you’ll be playing the long game when it comes to making money.

After all, it takes time to make decent videos and attract enough viewers before you can start earning money from advertising, sponsors or affiliate links.

There are loads of “how to” videos online, but here’s a popular one that breaks down the basics of how to get started on YouTube.  

28. Podcasts

Podcasts are certainly the latest buzz, but, like YouTube, the vast majority of podcasts are free to listen to. Their value lies mainly in establishing authority within an industry and connecting with potential clients.

So how do you make extra money with this, you may ask. Well, there are a couple of ways.

If your podcast is successful, you can probably get sponsors or run adverts. Another option is to use a service like Patreon, which allows you to charge a monthly subscription to access exclusive members-only material.

Another way you can create a side hustle out of podcasts is to become a podcast virtual assistant, transcribe podcasts, or edit the audio.

If you are interested in starting a podcast, here’s a review of the service we use at HomeWorkingClub.

29. Become a Brand Ambassador

If you’ve gathered a following for your YouTube channel, blog, podcast, or social media platforms, you could join forces with business owners in your niche to become a brand ambassador.

Consumers are wary of traditional ad campaigns. More people install ad blockers or fast-forward through pre-recorded TV programs, so they don’t see the ads that fill the airwaves. 

That’s why companies are moving away from tradition and looking for online influencers who genuinely use and like their products to be their brand ambassador. 

So, if you’re already online, this is one to investigate. And, if you’re still thinking about starting a website or YouTube channel, then add “Brand Ambassador” to your plans.

30. Affiliate Marketer

Affiliate marketing involves reviewing and recommending products and services in blog posts, videos or on your social media accounts. You add affiliate links in your posts, and when people buy through those links, you’ll earn a commission. There’s a steep learning curve, but it’s a great way to build some passive income if you get it right. 

Essentials include: 

• Being passionate about your niche
• Building a loyal audience that trusts your advice
• Knowing how to use search engine optimization
• Being a good writer
• Understanding the technology and platforms you want to use
• Being prepared to commit to affiliate marketing for the long haul.

It is easy to come across ludicrous articles and YouTube videos promising online side gigs that “pay $600 per day.” They typically describe things like setting up affiliate blogs. Now, these can bring in hundreds of dollars per day, but you don’t start to see those sums until you’ve put in thousands of hours of effort, research and unpaid work.

However, if you don’t need to make money quickly, and you’re still interested in affiliate marketing as an online side job, you’ll need to get the right tools and training. Check out the popular Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing course or see if Wealthy Affiliate might be right for you.

31. Sell Your Stuff Online

It’s hard to find home jobs where you can make money straight away, but selling your preloved items brings in money quicker than most.

If you list some items on Facebook Marketplace, for example, there’s a possibility that you could have money in your hand before the day is out.  Many people scour the flea markets and op shops for items to on-sell (often called “flipping.”)

But if you want to make selling items into an actual online side gig, you’ll need to know what stuff sells the best and which platforms work for different sorts of things.To help with that, we’ve put together some tips and tricks for selling on eBay and Amazon as well as some hacks for Facebook Marketplace. We’ve even got a review on services like Music Magpie and DeCluttr.

32. Dropshipping

If you enjoy selling items online and have some more spare time to spend, you could take things to the next level and start dropshipping.

This involves creating an online store, but you don’t have to invest in stock since it is only when a customer places an order that you actually purchase the item. The third party from whom you buy the item then ship it directly to the customer.

Although you don’t need to invest money in stock, dropshipping is a pretty complex operation, so you will need to invest plenty of time to learn the process and do the necessary research.

Dropshipping is a demanding side hustle and much more suited to those looking for something they can eventually turn into a day job.If you are interested, Shopify has a helpful guide that discusses many aspects of dropshipping.

33. Sell Your Photographs Online

Most of us love photographs, and with the quality of smartphone cameras, it is increasingly easy to turn this hobby into a side hustle.

There are many sites where you can sell your photos, but it is essential to remember that your photos will only sell if they are good. Taking a digital photography class could really pay dividends if it increases your passive income from selling stock photos.

34. Selling Your Designs Online

Print-on-demand technology has created a whole new way for creative people to make money. Platforms like Society6 allow you to let your creative juices flow while they take care of inventory, shipping and customer service.

With a little bit of work up-front, it is possible to create lines of products that could produce a somewhat decent source of passive income. You won’t earn a significant amount on any single sale, but those royalties can certainly add up over time with enough products.

Just remember that YOU need to actively market your designs if you want to make sales!

35. Sell Your Creations Online

If you’re inventive or arty and good at bringing your designs to life, you could open an Etsy or Shopify store and start selling your creations online. 

Creating is satisfying and fun and something you can fit in around your work schedule or study. If you’re already retired, crafting is a popular way to use your spare time to make extra cash.

As well as selling online, you can also sell your creations at craft fairs and farmers’ markets.  

If you’re interested in this side gig, check out our case studies section, where you’ll find people doing everything from writing a children’s book to selling cupcakes online. 

36. Create and Sell Niche Hampers Online

Hampers have been popular gifts for many years now. You’ll find plenty of Christmas hampers, birthday boxes or baby hampers online. But you could differentiate yourself in the hamper market by putting together baskets or boxes for very niche markets.

Some examples might be “Toddler Tamers for Winter Months” or “Science for six-year-olds.” You might make hampers to entertain older people confined to their homes, or craft boxes for elementary school children. 

37. Sell on Amazon 

Amazon might seem like one company, but they don’t own everything they sell. Many individuals and businesses use Amazon to sell both new and used goods of all sorts.

If you’ve got plenty of spare time and some funds behind you, FBA — Fulfillment by Amazon — lets you buy wholesale goods and store them in an Amazon warehouse. Then Amazon takes care of the website display, shipping and handling etc. The advantage of FBA is tapping into Amazon’s massive customer network and services. The downside is that you’ll have to pay fees and purchase the toys, books, clothes, kitchenware, candles — whatever you sell — in advance.  

Merch by Amazon is a Print on Demand service for creators and graphic designers who want to sell their designs on clothing. The company has recently expanded from t-shirts only to include long-sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies. 

Once you sign up to Merch, you can choose a product and upload your design. You set the price, and Amazon will create the product listing and ship it to the customer when it’s sold. You receive payment in the form of a royalty for Amazon to use your design. 

For more on Amazon’s endless earning opportunities, check out this article on Amazon Work from Home Jobs.

38. Write Books and Sell Them on Amazon

Are you one of those millions of people who’ve thought, “I’d like to write a book one day?” 

If you’ve ever wanted to add the words “author” to your CV, then Kindle Direct Publishing could be the avenue you’ve been looking for.

Now, we’re not suggesting that writing books is easy. It’s not! But not too long ago, publishing companies offered the only way for authors to publish their books. Amazon has turned that on its head with its self-publishing department.

So, if you’ve got knowledge that you want to share, you’re good at writing, and you’re willing to dedicate some of your spare time each day, you, too, could write, publish and sell a book online.

Ben, the HomeWorkingClub founder, has published two books on Amazon – there’s a case study here explaining the process.

39. Party Planning

Who doesn’t love a well-organized party? If you’ve got a flair for organization and style, you might side hustle as an online party planner. 

Professional party planners or consultants are independent contractors who custom design weddings, birthdays, bat and bar mitzvahs, anniversaries and corporate events. While it could be challenging to do corporate gigs as a side job, there’s nothing to stop you from thinking about filling a smaller, specialized need.

Perhaps you’re great with kids? Could you plan unique children’s parties? Or have a mix-and-match list of activities and food on your website where clients make their choices and you arrange for all the supplies to be delivered to their door?

Are you known for your style and flare at work? Your business could revolve around office parties or relaxing retreats. What about an online party, connecting friends or remote workers who can’t get together in person? 

You’re only limited by your imagination when it comes to creating a fabulous get-together that’ll have your clients begging for more.

40. Offer Tech Support

If you love coding, building computers and all things tech, this could be the best side job for you. 

Look for gaps in the market. What about offering tech support to small, local businesses who are often all-at-sea when it comes to sorting their websites?

Another option, contract with a remote company like Zapier who employs staff from all around the world. Or set yourself up as a freelancer and search the job boards or advertise your skill set and services on Fiverr.

More on this in our article on starting an IT support business.

41. Computer Hacker (the legitimate kind)

You’ll probably need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or proven hands-on experience in debugging, coding and hacking to become a “white hat” / ethical hacker or “threat hunter,” as the job is sometimes called.

Whatever you call it, a computer hacker helps companies defend themselves against cyberattacks by looking for vulnerabilities in their software and systems. There’s a massive demand for them in the online world.

Some companies hire in-house experts while others pay freelancers to try and break into their systems, to expose their weaknesses (so the company’s experts can then plug the gaps. 

Hacking is one of those jobs that you can start on the side but has the potential to scale up to a full-time income if you want. 

42. Life Coach

Your hard-won life experience could help others on their journey if you decided to become a part-time life coach. 

Life coaches help their clients see their problems and successes in perspective and take the next step forward in their life journey. 

If you’re interested in life coaching as an online side job, then Udemy has several courses such as this Life Coaching Diploma. 

43. Graphic Designer

Graphic Designers are artists who create designs for book covers, pamphlets, greetings cards, Pinterest templates and many more. 

While you can create the artwork e.g., for a book cover, by hand, most graphic designers work with software to design online. If you want to make Graphic Design your part-time job, look for freelance gigs on the Job Boards, enter a design contest, or advertise around your local area for off-line work.

44. Test Scorer

Although AI scores many tests and exams, many more are marked in person or online by professional test scorers.

Most online test scorers or reader/evaluators are hired by the project or as seasonal workers. That means you’re likely to have months where there’s plenty of work and others when there’s none.  

To work as an online test scorer, you’ll need a college degree and to go through an orientation or training program to ensure that your evaluations are reliable.

45. Mock Juror

If you live in the US, you could consider becoming a mock or online juror. This is legitimate work where online jurors participate in mock trials where lawyers present their case to a panel. Online Jurors review the facts, view the evidence, answer questions and give other feedback.

Unlike an actual trial jury, the mock pre-trials are tried to at least 50 people so that the attorney gets plenty of feedback to give them the best chance of success.

Two US companies that run mock trials are eJury and Online Verdict. They advertise flexible hours and plenty of work for those who qualify.

46. Virtual Stylist

Virtual fashion stylists help their clients to work out their “look,” i.e., the clothes, accessories and makeup that flatter their figure and suit their coloring. Then they help clients choose a wardrobe that suits their taste and budget.

To become a virtual stylist, you’ll need to understand the styles and materials that flatter each body shape and have a serious interest in fashion. You need to have excellent communication skills, listen carefully to your clients, and sometimes read between the lines to understand what styles they really feel comfortable with.  

One way to become a personal virtual stylist is to work for companies like Allume or Stitch Fix, which offer remote and freelance job opportunities.  

Or, if you want to go out on your own, you could start a fashion blog or YouTube channel and put out lots of free content that establishes your fashion expertise. Then advertise your services as a style consultant on your website or channel. 

47. Become an Online Investor

If you’re interested in the sharemarket or newer forms of investing like cryptocurrency, online investing could be one of the best side hustle ideas.

The great thing about modern investing platforms is that you don’t need thousands of dollars to get started. You can invest as little as $5 or $10 at a time with micro-investment apps like RobinHood and build up your portfolio over time.

The best time to start investing is when you’re young — perfect if you’re a college student. But you can start being an online investor at any age — you’re never too old to benefit from this online side hustle. 

Start a Side Hustle and Advertise it Online

Some people would rather work away from their computer, but it’s a good idea to let potential customers and clients know all about your side business by setting up a website and posting about it on social media channels.

48. Celebrant

Celebrants conduct and help plan ceremonies such as weddings, funerals and naming ceremonies. 

Because they’re part of sensitive times in their clients’ lives, celebrants need to be understanding and sympathetic listeners. So if you become a celebrant, you’ll need excellent communication and customer service skills as well as the ability to work well with others.

Celebrants are usually self-employed. The regulations around licenses vary in different countries, but you’re sure to need a background check before you can start practicing.

There are plenty of celebrant organizations online that offer training courses. For further information, check out the Celebrant Directory (for US readers) or the National Careers Service in the UK. 

49. Color Consultant

Not everyone has an eye for color, but you could become a color consultant if you understand how colors go together. 

You can find part-time (and full-time jobs) as a color expert with paint and décor firms, interior design, makeup and clothing companies. 

Or, strike out on your own and offer virtual color consultations to help people put together a look they love.  

50. Odd Jobs Service

Another side hustle you can find online is in the odd job market. Many people need a hand with one-off jobs that they don’t have the skills or energy to do themselves. Sometimes it’s just as simple as going to grocery stores to pick up supplies. 

If you’re a handy sort of person, you could earn a great part-time income by searching on one of the jobs boards like Bark or Taskrabbit for tasks in your local area or jobs that clients want you to do online. 

You can also go solo and set up your own side hustle “helping hands” business, as this featured case study shows. 

51. House Sitter

Many people don’t want to leave their house empty when they go away. Then there’s the problem of what to do with the pets and the garden. The solution is to hire a reputable house sitter — it could be you — to stay in the house, look after the pets, mow the lawns etc. 

You’ll need an email address, a reliable mobile phone, and a clean background check with no criminal convictions to get started in house sitting. Then it’s a matter of registering with an online house sitting company to find the right house match for you.

House sitting is a great side hustle to get into, and the best part is you can travel to places all over the country with your accommodation already sorted.

52. Food Delivery

This one’s not an online job, but many people don’t have time to cook for themselves and would rather have food delivered to their homes. 

Airbnb travelers tire of going out to eat and long for a cooked meal in their rooms. New mothers, people who are recovering from sickness… These are just the start of the long list of people who use food delivery services. 

If you live in a busy city, food delivery is a great side job that can earn you substantial extra cash each week, and you don’t have to own a car to do it. Many food deliverers cycle or ride scooters around town instead.

Companies like DoorDash are a great place to sign up and start working in your spare time.

Tips for Making the Most of Side Hustles

• Be clear as to why you want a side hustle – is it an outlet for something you are passionate about or is it just a way to earn money?

• Understand your current and future time commitment – some side jobs will require you to put in more effort than others in order to earn some extra cash.

• Start doing extra work online before you urgently need to make money. Pressure to earn money quickly will make you more susceptible to scams, since most jobs require you to put in a significant amount of effort before you get paid.

• Remember that building a reputation takes time, effort and consistency.

• Always deliver the best possible service you can – it will ensure you have a good reputation, help you get paid more and might even enable you to quit your day job and take your hustle full-time (if you want to of course).

• The key thing to do with online side jobs is to “rack em and stack em!” – Each job may only earn you a tiny amount but when you combine several side hustles it can really add up to something meaningful.

Avoid Scams, Marketers and False Promises

There are plenty of realistic side jobs you can do from home, and there are loads of people who use such online jobs to boost their income.

The key is to accept that offers that seem to be too good to be true probably are. Genuine opportunities always require hard work.

Accepting this is the first step to finding real jobs rather than wasting your time chasing pipe dreams. All you really need to do is choose a couple of things that sound interesting to you and ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for an income top-up or setting yourself up for the future, the online side jobs listed here are realistic possibilities.

Some are more glamorous than others, but all of them require work on your part. The more you put into them, the more extra income they’ll send your way.

Of course, this article doesn’t pretend to be a definitive list of everything you could possibly do to earn extra money from home. There are tons of other options, and we cover plenty of them on the site.

We’ve given you the ideas. What you do with them is up to you.

While You’re Here

If you’re looking for a significant long-term income, I’d love to train you up to be a fully-fledged freelancer, serving your own clients and earning good money from doing work you enjoy. Take a look at my course, Freelance Kickstarter, to find out more.

Now, if you’re considering freelance writing as an online job we’ve got just the articles you need.

Check out Online Writing Jobs for Beginners and How to Build a Freelance Writing Portfolio for helpful information to get you started.

And when you’re ready to pitch for writing jobs our guide to Online Job Boards will set you on your way. Or if you’ve another online side job in mind see our mammoth 125 Legit Companies that Hire Homeworkers guide for inspiration.