Do you ever look at those people with hobbies that make money – crocheting blankets, sewing purses, creating websites and think, “How do I find something like that?”
I went to school with a girl who used to hand dye scarves and bags. She mostly gave them away to friends and family as gifts, but occasionally she’d make a few to sell.
It wasn’t really about the money; she just loved doing it. Now, years later, she makes good money on the side selling her creations on Etsy.
People are increasingly looking for creative ways to make money, and they’re monetizing their skills and hobbies.
Whether they make a few hundred dollars a month or a few thousand, people can use these side hustles to pay down debt, boost emergency funds, save for travel, or invest for the future.
Not all hobbies are great for bringing in some extra income, but plenty are.
Online Hobbies That Can Be Profitable
The best thing about hobbies that make money online is choosing when and where you complete the work. These are popular side hustles because they allow you more independence than a 9-5 job or other side gigs.
1. Speaking Your Mind
If you don’t mind sitting at a computer and like sharing your opinion, you can get paid for it. Surveys have become a popular side hustle recently, as companies look for deeper insight into consumer trends.
If you have downtime when you’re riding the train to work or if you have a few minutes at night while watching TV, taking paid online surveys might be a good way to make extra money with minimal effort.
These don’t take much brainpower and can be done anytime. They won’t make you rich, but can be a fun hobby to make a little extra cash.
Swagbucks
Perhaps the most popular and trusted of all survey sites is Swagbucks.
You won’t be able to leave your day job, but it’s an easy way to earn cash in your spare time – up to several hundred dollars a year. It also offers a $10 bonus for signing up.
If you want to focus on hobbies that make money online, taking surveys or completing the other activities on the Swagbucks app (watching videos, playing games, or using its search engine) will pay for just a few minutes of work each day.
Related: 12 Ways You Can Get Paid to Play Video Games
Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is another well-respected market research company.
There’s no fee to sign up, and you’ll receive direct survey opportunities to give feedback on products and services for a variety of brands. You earn free rewards points redeemable over time for cash prizes such as retailer gift cards or cash through PayPal.
2. Web Development
This is how I first started dabbling in making money online.
You don’t have to be incredibly skilled to get started. In fact, you can take a basic web development course online, and take on simple jobs for clients on freelance sites. Start small, and move up from there.
With each client, you’ll learn something new. Whether you want to do web development as a full-time job or just something on the side, you can definitely earn an income by creating and improving websites for others. Of course, the better you become, the higher the rates you can charge.
Entrepreneurs and small business owners make great references as you build a web development portfolio and start branching out to higher-paying gigs.
Related: 51 Freelance Jobs Websites with the Best Remote Work Opportunities
3. Blogging or Writing
If you enjoy writing and sharing stories about your own personal life, blogging may be the perfect hobby to make extra money.
Jenny, a mom and blogger, brings in over $1,500 with her blog each month. As long as you enjoy writing killer content on something you’re passionate about and do the work of finding an audience, you can monetize a blog with ads, affiliate links, or sponsorships.
Adding your own products such as courses or eBooks, and services like consulting or coaching can drive your revenue up even more. Here’s an in-depth tutorial on how to get started.
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If you don’t want to blog, you can work as a freelance writer. Once you find a few clients and build a portfolio, you can charge more.
Take Holly Johnson for example. Holly had no writing experience or degree in journalism or English, but that didn’t stop her from picking up freelance writing gigs on the side. Now she makes six figures per year as a freelance writer and teaches others how to earn money writing.
4. Proofreading
Does it drive you crazy when you read something filled with typos and spelling errors? Do you find yourself silently correcting mistakes in texts and on signs? If you have an eye for detail and a natural talent with language, consider becoming a proofreader. Plus, you can work from anywhere you have an internet connection. If you’re thinking of exercising your proofreading skills to make money, check out this free webinar on how to turn your passion for words into profit.
5. Graphic Design
Graphic design is one of the most in-demand services right now. Whether it’s a small local business needing a new logo or an entrepreneur in a different city who needs a graphic for a blog post, people will pay for creative design skills.
It’s not as easy as it looks to create great graphic designs, and you’ll be competing against thousands of others for jobs. But if you’re a natural or if you’ve honed your skills working with graphic design software, you may have a competitive edge.
Once you land a few clients, you’ll be in demand while capitalizing on a hobby that allows you to make money online. You can start by bidding on projects at sites like 99designs, DesignCrowd, Fiverr, or Crowdspring.
Related: How to Become a Graphic Designer in 9 Simple Steps
6. App Development
Writing software and developing apps are skills that make big money. Whether you’re making an app for yourself or someone else, there’s potential to make serious cash in app development.
There are free online courses that teach app development. Your love of technology and problem-solving might lead you to a side hustle that pays off big.
7. Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing a website’s content to be found by search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. For people running businesses online, figuring out how to optimize their website matters.
But SEO is just one more thing business owners and online entrepreneurs can’t add to their already overflowing plates.
That’s where you come in.
SEO is a valuable tool for online businesses, and they’re willing to pay good money for it. Taking the time to really understand SEO and follow the latest algorithm changes is the key to making money with this hobby.
Related: 21 Best Stay-at-Home Mom Jobs to be with Your Kids
8. Social Media Virtual Assistant
Entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even larger brands look to virtual assistants or VAs to complete various online jobs to keep their businesses growing.
Having a social media presence is the key to success. If you’ve mastered a number of social media platforms, you may not even realize you have a set of skills that can make money. You can find clients yourself by contacting small businesses you know and like, by posting on Fiverr, or by signing up for Upwork.
Blending your hobby with a passion to earn extra money is a great way to leverage your money and also what you already spend time doing to make some cold hard cash.
Related: How to Become a Virtual Assistant: A Step by Step Guide to Earning $25+/hr
9. Creating YouTube Tutorials
Anyone can make a video and upload it to YouTube. But making videos, when done correctly, is a hobby that can make money. The better the content and quality of the video, the more likely you are to get views and make money.
If you are a YouTuber, you can monetize instructional content with ads, through your own products and services, and through endorsements from sponsors. It takes a lot of work to create an engaging instructional video that teaches an audience, but it can really pay off.
Offline Hobbies That Can Get You Paid
If you’d rather meet with people in person and not be tied to a computer, here are offline hobbies that pay.
10. Postmates
Becoming a driver for a food delivery like Postmates lets you work on your schedule.
As a driver, you can get paid to pick up and drop off food while working only when you want to. Postmates lets people deliver by driving, walking, biking, or even by riding a scooter. If you can deliver by biking or walking, this side hustle could even be a great workout.
Delivery people keep 100% of the tips they receive and earn money even while they’re waiting for the food to be prepared and while they’re driving. The pay range depends on where you live. Some cities have bonuses for new Postmates workers. If you complete 35 deliveries in two weeks, you’ll earn a $300 bonus.
Related: Postmates Driver Review: Pros, Cons, and What to Expect
11. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking
If you’re a pet lover, your passion for animals can make you money. That’s exactly what Rover is all about.
Rover is a dog walking and pet sitting website that’s always looking for qualified dog walkers. So when you take your pup on a walk, you can also take a second (or third) dog with you and get paid to walk. Thirty-minute walks pay in the $10-30 range. With a neighborhood route, that can add up quickly!
To get started with Rover, fill out the short application and start matching with pet owners in your area.
Related: How to Start Your Own Dog Sitting Business with Rover
12. Fitness Instructor
If working out is a normal part of your daily routine, consider making some cash teaching others your favorite fitness activities. Yoga or Pilates may be more your style. Why not find a park or community center where you could teach a group class?
If training for marathons or triathlons is how you stay fit, start a first-timer’s group. There are plenty of people who will pay to have a coach or instructor guide them through those first few races.
13. Coordinating Garage Sales
Just like people hire others to do things like lawn work, child care, and cleaning their home, finding someone to run your garage sale might make sense.
Do you enjoy working with others and being organized? Then you may be interested in helping someone who wants to have a yard sale by coming in and taking the lead in the event.
Unlike the seller, you don’t have an emotional attachment to the items. And if your pay is based on a percentage of sales, you’ll do everything you can to have a successful garage sale.
14. Handyman
If you’re the first person your friends and family call when something breaks or needs fixing, then you probably have many skills that make money. Whether it’s painting, fixing a railing, or hanging a sheet of drywall, a skilled handyman can always find work.
Many people don’t have the time, patience, or ability to tackle even the smallest household repairs. If you’re dependable and efficient, you can cash in on what you’re good at and enjoy doing.
15. Arts and Crafts
Think about ways to monetize what you love to do by selling your best arts and crafts.
You can make money with hobbies like painting, making jewelry, developing digital art, dipping candles, or making scented soaps. Set up shop at a craft fair or market. Approach local merchants to sell your creations in their stores to make money selling crafts and build relationships.
Make sure you have business cards attached to your items so happy customers can contact you or refer their friends and family. You can also create your own website to sell your crafts or make an Etsy shop to sell products online.
The amount of money you make depends on what you sell, and how much people are willing to pay for your items. The competition is fierce online, but it’s another way for you to enjoy and highlight your artistic hobbies and make money.
16. Thrift Store Shopping
If you love shopping, you can make money flipping thrift-store purchases and reselling them at a profit on websites like eBay, ThredUp, or Poshmark. Just ensure you understand what brands sell for the most money so your Goodwill finds don’t cost more than you can sell them for.
To get the biggest return, shop for quality items in great condition without tears, stains, or marks. Keep an eye out for new items with tags still attached.
Related: How This Entrepreneur Created a Business From a Unique Service
Turn Your Hobby into a Money-Making Side Hustle
Think about what you like to do and look at all possible money-making hobbies. The best part of monetizing a hobby is that you don’t have to learn anything new to get started. You may already have all of the materials and skills to make you money right away.
If you do need to buy supplies or equipment to turn your hobby into a money-making side hustle, be careful about not taking on debt. As much as you enjoy your hobby, you might not enjoy it as work or as a side gig, or it may not be as profitable as you thought.
Limit the amount of money you put in up front to make your hobby a side hustle so you can pivot and try a different hobby or skill that makes money. Whether offline or online, there are plenty of profitable hobbies that can earn you money.
