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March 9, 2024

35 Profitable Side Hustles For Stay-at-Home Moms and Dads

Side Hustles for Stay at Home Moms and Dads

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Are you looking for some side hustles you can do from home? A lot of stay-at-home Moms and Dads find themselves in this situation, especially recently.

I was in a very similar spot a few years ago. I wanted to find a fun and challenging side hustle that helped me meet my financial goals and one that I was able to do at home. 

I’m going to share a list of 30 side hustles for stay-at-home Moms and Dads. Not all of them are going to be a fit for you as a parent, but hopefully, they will spark an idea or start leading you down a path that helps. All of these have the potential to make $20-$30/hr or more!

Let's help the stay-at-home Moms and Dads out there make some money!

Best Side Hustles for Stay-at-Home Moms and Dads

Let's jump right in! Here are our favorite side gigs for parents (or anyone else!) looking to make some extra cash from home.

1. Freelance Writer

One of my favorite and most lucrative side hustles for stay-at-home Moms and Dads is freelance writing. It’s amazing how much money you can make with a few extra hours and a passion for a topic. 

Companies often pay by the article or word count (ie. $0.10 per word for a 1,500-word article). You’ll want to start a blog so prospective clients can read your writing before working with you. 

Over time, freelance writing can be an excellent way to make money at home. I have a few friends (who are also parents) who make well over $100,000 writing from home. To get started, you can learn from one of the best in the business, Miranda Marquit! Miranda took everything she knows about freelance writing and put together the Freelance Writer's Academy to help you land your first client right away!

2. Virtual Assistant

The internet has allowed people to make a comfortable living from home by helping others with their small businesses. 

If you’re good with …

  • Social media management
  • Managing Facebook Groups
  • Editing and proofreading articles
  • Scheduling meetings
  • Replying to emails

…  the role of Virtual Assistant (VA) may be right for you.

Depending on your skills, you can easily charge $20-$30 per hour or more for VA work. 

I'm currently working with a Virtual Assistant from Belay. He works part-time from home and has major flexibility in his schedule. Learn more about Virtual Assistant opportunities with Belay here!

3. Proofreader

There are a lot of businesses that hire out proofreading work for important documents, articles, and proposals. Someone with an eagle eye for details and a love for the English language can make some decent side money with proofreading.

Proofread Anywhere is a well-respected resource that helps you improve your proofreading skills.

If you already have the skills and you're looking for proofreading jobs, check out sites like Upwork or Fiverr to get started.

4. Affiliate Marketer

Starting a blog was one of the best decisions I ever made. Establishing a presence online and sharing my thoughts and opinions has opened up so many doors for me. 

A great way that I’ve made money through my blog is with Affiliate Marketing. 

This is when you recommend products or services that you use, like, or trust. If someone decides to purchase that product or service, you get a commission.

For example, I learned a lot from Michelle Schroeder Gardener’s course on how to Make Sense of Affiliate Marketing. If you decide to buy that course, I’ll receive a commission. I liked the product, used it, it helped me and I think it’ll help others. 

One year, I made around $13,000 from affiliate marketing. Not bad for a side hustle.

5. YouTube Vlogger

Like blogging and podcasting, making money on YouTube takes a lot of time, patience and dedication. In the beginning, you probably won't make much money at all, but over time you can start earning $1,000 or more per month in advertising revenue. 

Check out my interview with vlogger Danie Jay to see how you can use YouTube to earn $10,000 a month!

6. Data Entry Worker

It may not be the most glamorous job, but remote data entry gigs are generally in high demand and highly competitive.

Some pay hourly or a flat rate per project and most offer a flexible schedule. General requirements include a personal computer, a reliable internet connection, and the ability to type 40-50 words per minute.

7. Pet Sitter

walking dogs

Love pets?

Well, you can get your slice of the $100 billion pet industry and hang with loveable animals through pet sitting. 

With services like Rover, you can even pet sit from the comfort of your own home. Don't believe hanging with Fido can be so profitable? Take a look at how Vee made $10k dog sitting with Rover!

8. Managing AirBnBs

Another excellent side hustle for stay-at-home moms involves a company we all know–AirBnB!

Worried that this is going to be too hands-on? Think you need to relocate or find property nearby? Think again! You can manage AirBnBs remotely!

James and Emily Lowery are one example of people who took managing AirBnBs from a flexible side gig to a six figure income source! In fact, they estimate they spend about an hour a week working to earn over $100,000 a year. It doesn't happen overnight, but it is possible.

9. Etsy Seller

If you know how to develop artwork, crafts, jewelry, clothes, woodwork or a multitude of other products, try selling your wares on Etsy. 

Selling your own products is one of the best ways to make more money. And if you love creating, then this could be a fun side hustle to do from home.

Julie Berninger made $10,000 extra in one year selling etsy printables as a part-time side hustle!

10. Craft Fair or Market Seller

If you don't want to sell your wares online, you can also look into in-person selling! This does vary a little bit based on your community. But there are many areas with well-established seasonal craft fairs or even weekly markets in their downtown.

We know being a stay-at-home parent is a full-time job that never ends, so we appreciate the flexibility that only occasional selling offers!

Side Hustles Stay at Home Moms and Dads Can Do From Home

11. Podcast Editor

There are over 2,000,000 podcasts out there now and a lot of them are made by first-time podcasters. If you have audio editing skills, you could make good money helping these folks out. 

And if you choose to edit podcasts in a genre that you love, you can learn, be entertained and be paid all at the same time!

12. Podcast Producer

After seven years of podcasting, I figured out how to make a living from it. In fact, I left my corporate career a few years ago and now podcast (among other things) full-time!

This year, I made over 6-figures from my business overall. But in year 1, I made $0 from my podcast. So if you’re looking for money tomorrow, I wouldn’t recommend this route. 

If you have some patience and a passion for a topic (even if you don’t make a dime for a while), podcasting could be good for you. 

Here are some compelling reasons to start a podcast

13. Graphic Designer

Are you a skilled graphic designer? 

Entrepreneurs are paying good money for people to help them design their logos, graphics and websites. Get your payday by helping others with your design skills from the comfort of your own home. 

14. Baker

Take your passion for cooking and baking and make some money. One couple I know is cranking away on their debt by baking cookies and selling them locally. 

Just remember not to eat all of your profits! 

15. Retail Arbitrage Seller

Retail arbitrage can be extremely profitable. This is when you buy items from one location (like Walmart) and then sell them for a higher price elsewhere. 

Some people are making big money while others are losing money. Be careful, do your research, and ensure you are smartly using this tactic. 

16. Bookkeeper

bookkeeper

Do you love numbers? There’s a good chance you do if you’re hanging around a personal finance site! Bookkeeping is an excellent work-from-home job. 

While this role can vary a bit based on who you work for, you will likely be assigned a variety of tasks. Some tasks may include tracking important financial documents, reconciling banking transactions, and running payroll for other employees. 

Remote bookkeepers report earning anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000 a year. I think I need to move this one up the list of side hustles for stay-at-home Moms and Dads!

Check out my interview with Tiffani Higgins who made $5,000 per month with her bookkeeping side hustle! With bookkeeping from home topping Tiffani's list of best side hustles for stay-at-home Moms (and Dads), she developed a course and e-book to easily get started!

17. Private Tutor

Knowledgeable about a particular topic? Tutoring might be a great fit for you. The hours are flexible, and there’s nothing more fulfilling than watching a student have that lightbulb moment where everything clicks. 

During the pandemic, many tutors and families switched over to Zoom and other online platforms. This online trend may continue as it is certainly more convenient for families. Still, by being open to in-home and virtual tutoring options, your client pool is significantly larger. 

To get started, you might reach out to local public libraries and schools to inquire if there are any tutor registries you can join. You might also post your services on neighborhood Facebook groups, NextDoor, and more. Depending on the subject area and your location, you can expect to earn between $15 and $50 an hour.

18. Curriculum Creator

If curriculum design is your thing, you might consider selling printables on a platform like Teachers Pay Teachers. While this doesn’t qualify as passive income to start, it can be pretty passive eventually. 

To get started, find a particular subject area that you are well versed in and niche down as much as possible. After you create your products, you will likely have to do some initial promotion. However, once your audience grows and so do your reviews, your products will do a lot of speaking for themselves.

19. Test Proctor

If you know anything about high school, you likely know that students take tests! These standardized tests often take place in the evening or on weekends.

Various companies hire contractors to help students check in and then monitor them as they take tests, including ACT, SAT, or AP testing. To find a job, you can reach out to local academic institutions like schools, universities, or even libraries. You can also check test company websites for online job postings.

20. Standardized Test Writer

Do you have a background in education? You may be able to do some standardized test writing as a side gig!

Sometimes, you can find work through different test prep companies. In that case, you will be writing mock questions used to help students get ready to take certain proficiency tests. In other cases, you might be able to work for a test company helping design questions, evaluating their objectivity, and playing other roles in test development.

21. Standardized Test Scorer

In addition to finding work creating test questions, you may also be able to pick up a gig as a standardized test scorer.

While most multiple choice exams are scored electronically, many tests also have a written component. These tests could be school-created, such as entrance exams, or they might be standardized tests. In any case, you will be provided a rubric and some training on how to score the tests fairly. Then, you can usually work in your free time to score the exams as long as you adhere to their deadlines.

22. Consultant

So many people leave the traditional work world only to discover just how invaluable they are to their employers. As a result, they take up consulting work on a part-time or as-needed basis. 

You don’t have to stick to previous employers either. There are plenty of consulting roles in virtually every career field. As long as you have expertise in a subject area and are capable of sharing it remotely, online consulting could be a great gig for you!

23. Child Care Provider

One of the biggest benefits of child care is that you have full control over your schedule. Some people prefer to offer child care during the day, while others might offer their services as a weeknight or weekend babysitter. 

Rates vary based on several factors, including where you live and how many kids you are watching. Additionally, if the child care you offer is along the lines of in-home daycare with a more formal curriculum, you can expect to earn more for that as well. Just make sure that you are aware of any licensing requirements in your area.

Care.com is a smart resource to check out for this type of opportunity.

24. Homeschool Pod or Co-Op Leader

While they certainly gained fame during the pandemic, homeschool pods or groups have been around for a long time. Now, though, the idea of a homeschool pod is more mainstream. This is an amazing opportunity for a stay-at-home mom or dad who already homeschools their kids. You can work with a group of students in your neighborhood or surrounding towns. Then, you help facilitate curriculum, plan field trips, and supervise students as they learn and play together.

25. Ghostwriter

woman laptop

Do you have a way with words? Love to write? Then this gig is for you.

Yes, we’ve already covered freelancing writing, but this is different. Ghostwriting is a type of freelance writing work. As a ghostwriter, you write under someone else’s name. Perhaps it’s the occasional blog post, or maybe it’s an entire e-book. The scope of ghostwriting work can vary widely.

It is worth noting that you can often land rates that are more generous than freelance writing as a ghostwriter because you aren’t publicly credited for your work.

26. Transcriptionist

If you have an ear for detail and are quick at the keyboard, transcript work could be the gig for you. Most of the time, transcriptionists are typing written records of doctor’s notes or class lectures. Some transcription work could also involve transcribing for podcasts and vlogs. 

This entry-level gig won’t make you rich overnight. However, efficient transcriptionists can land upwards of $25 an hour.

As with all at-home work, make sure you vet the company you work for. Working directly with medical offices, for instance, might also pay a higher rate than using a third-party company online.

27. Repair Person

Are you a Mr. or Ms.-Fix-It? Excellent! Offer your repair services. Maybe it’s tuning up lawnmowers or repairing vacuum cleaners.

Any type of repair work can fetch a competitive rate. Doing repair work on the side can also cut back on startup costs when you use tools that you already have.

People who pursue this work on the side often use garage space or work from their basements or toolsheds. You get the flexibility of working from home with the added benefit of minimal overhead costs.

28. SEO Specialist

Do you have a working understanding of search engine traffic? Even if you aren’t already well versed in search engine optimization, or SEO, you can learn fairly quickly. Free and low-cost information is abundant online. 

Once you’ve mastered the art of SEO, you can work as an SEO specialist. This work requires you to edit existing website copy to make it more Google-friendly. You may also be asked to create new content yourself or work with a freelance writer. SEO specialists report earning between $25-$75 an hour.

29. Grant Writer

Nonprofit organizations are funded primarily through grants. Grant writing can be a cumbersome process, especially since not every nonprofit has a writer on staff. As a result, many organizations, such as community centers and hospitals, outsource their work to grant writers.

While there can be a bit of a learning curve to grant writing, it's something that you can get more efficient with as your portfolio of work grows.

30. Social Media Manager

Are you always scrolling on your phone? If social media is part of your comfort zone, you can put those skills to work as a social media manager.

Brands are quickly realizing the value of having an online presence. That online presence used to mean creating a webpage. Now, though, there’s content and audience engagement on everything from Instagram and Pinterest to TikTok and Facebook. As a result, many brands hire social media managers to create and post content on their behalf.

31. Mock Juror

Thanks to TV shows like Bull, most of us are familiar with the concept of trial preparation. While real-life likely doesn’t look anything like what we see on TV screens, lawyers do spend time preparing for court with mock jurors.

Different websites pair mock jurors with attorneys, allowing you to give the attorneys feedback on their case. Rates for this can vary dramatically, so do your due diligence to make sure the effort is worth your time.

32. Real Estate Owner with Fundrise

In recent years, there’s been a lot of discussion about building wealth through real estate. If you aren’t ready to be a landlord, something like Fundrise might be a better choice for you. 

Fundrise is a platform that allows you to get started with as little as $10. Once you fund your account, you get paired with eREITS or other investments that suit your portfolio strategy and risk tolerance. Of course, no one is buying a whole property for $10. That's why Fundrise pools your money with other investors. Then, you can invest in residential real estate.

With almost half a million users with a billion dollars in assets under management, Fundrise is the real deal! Here's our Fundrise Review.

33. Real Estate Investor with Arrived Homes

Arrived is another side hustle you can do from home option that gets you involved in real estate. The goal of this platform is to allow anyone to invest in real estate. 

To make real estate more accessible, Arrived allows investors to buy shares of properties instead of purchasing the entire property outright. After making your investment, you earn a portion of the rental income and also benefit from property appreciation.

To see why this platform has been wildly popular (I invest with it too!), check out our full Arrived Homes review here!

34. Online Boutique Seller

This work-from-home gig can be similar to Etsy. Some online boutique sellers do use Etsy, but platforms like Poshmark and even eBay are significantly more popular. Some online boutique owners might sell items they buy from wholesalers. Others might specialize in vintage finds that they thrift. 

To get a sense of whether or not this work is right for you, do your research. Spend time browsing online boutiques and then look into both the time and cost commitments of getting started. Many sellers take a toe-dip by selling items they already own and then use that as another way to gauge whether they want to open a boutique or not.

35. Website Designer

If you have an eye for design, website design can be very lucrative.

It’s a highly sought-after skill with everyone from individuals to bigger brands needing a website. Many people double-dip with website design and graphic design. However, it’s important to have some background in the technical skills needed for website design.

Closing Thoughts on Side Hustles for Stay-at-Home Moms and Dads

I hope these side hustles for stay-at-home Moms and Dads help you come up with some ideas!

Remember before starting any of these, I’d recommend starting with your current job and seeing if a raise or overtime is possible. Since you're already on the payroll there and you have a special skill set, that could be your easiest route to more money.


What other side hustles for stay-at-home Moms and Dads would you add to this list? Which of these side hustles from home do you like most?

Please let us know in the comments below.


Andy Hill

Andy Hill, AFC® is the award-winning family finance coach behind Marriage Kids and Money - a platform dedicated to helping families build wealth and happiness. With millions of podcast downloads and video views, Andy’s message of family financial empowerment has resonated with listeners, readers and viewers across the world. When he's not "talking money", Andy enjoys being a Soccer Dad, singing karaoke with his wife and relaxing on his hammock.

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About Marriage Kids & Money

The Marriage Kids and Money Podcast is dedicated to helping young families build wealth and happiness.

With over 400 episodes and counting, we share interviews with wealthy families, award-winning authors, and personal finance experts to help you find your version of family financial independence.

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