Legitimate Ways to Make Money from Home

Written By:

Last Updated:Jul 24, 2024

Joy Wallet is advertiser-supported: we may earn compensation from the products and offers mentioned in this article. However, any expressed opinions are our own and aren't influenced by compensation. To read our full disclosure, click here.

Whether we’re looking for a part-time, lucrative side hustle to bring in some extra money or a new full-time career, many are curious about legitimate ways to make money from home. It seems as if there are more opportunities than ever to work from the comfort of your home, and truly set your own schedule.

But the search for the right work-from-home job can be overwhelming and perhaps a little intimidating. Before we get intoa our list of the best ways to make money from home, it’s a good idea to review red flags to watch out for to avoid scams. Avoid engaging in any job interview when:

You are asked to pay money upfront
There are poor communication skills, such as misspelled words and awkward grammar
The opportunity sounds too good to be true
You can’t find any information on the company
There are multiple negative reviews or warnings online

As with any job, you’ll want to do plenty of research beforehand and ask lots of questions regarding your pay and the job expectations.

The good news is, despite the numerous scams, there are plenty of work-from-home opportunities where you truly can earn additional income. Here is a list of popular options for your consideration.

In this article

Earn Real Money With Survey Junkie!

Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!

Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
Earn points for taking surveys
Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
$55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.

Try it today!

Ways to make money from home

There are several ways to make money online and from home, which require very little upfront investment.

1. Become a virtual assistant

Virtual assistants, or VAs, complete the administrative tasks required by businesses or entrepreneurs. These tasks range from shipping, answering customer inquiries, and data entry to creating reports or posting blogs on a website.

VAs are typically paid per hour, but compensation varies depending on the tasks you’re asked to complete and the experience. To get started, advertise your services on your social media or LinkedIn. It’s also helpful to pick a niche as a VA and utilize the skills and know-how you already have.

2. Freelance

Freelancing is near and dear to my heart because I earn a living full-time as a freelance writer. Not only is it one of the most flexible options for anyone’s schedule, but you can also earn a substantial amount of extra cash (or as a career) as your expertise increases.

Freelancers offer services based on a specific skill and contract with other businesses to complete the task. It’s similar to hiring someone on a per-project basis. Freelance services might include:

Writing
Editing
Proofreading
Photography
Graphic Design
Social media management or marketing
Event planning
Bookkeeping
SEO (search engine optimization) specialist or consultant

Getting started is easy, thanks to sites such as Fiverr and Upwork. You can quickly build a portfolio and start marketing your business. You must have a reliable internet connection and it requires hard work to build up a client base. Once you do, you can choose how far you want to take it.

Earn Real Money With Survey Junkie!

Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!

Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
Earn points for taking surveys
Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
$55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.

Try it today!

3. Start a YouTube channel

YouTube continues to dominate and plenty of people have figured out how to monetize their YouTube channels. If you love being in front of a camera, then creating a YouTube channel and bringing fresh, unique content to the world could mean extra income for you.

YouTubers are paid by gaining more subscribers and having advertisements displayed in their videos. As the audience grows, there are opportunities to use affiliate marketing income and video sponsorships as other forms of revenue.

Read How to Make Money on YouTube.

4. Create a podcast

If you prefer to be behind the mic instead of in front of the camera, consider starting a podcast. Podcasting is a fun way to share your perspective on topics while building a following. Getting started is easy, too, since all you technically need is your iPhone, and you can invest in other equipment later on.

Like bloggers or YouTubers, the money comes in several forms, including:

Affiliate marketing
Selling sponsorship or advertising spots
Promoting and selling your online course
Advertising your own services, like freelancing, coaching, or consulting
Charging for premium content subscriptions

Earn Real Money With Survey Junkie!

Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!

Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
Earn points for taking surveys
Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
$55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.

Try it today!

5. Offer online tutoring or an online course

As long as there is learning in the world, there will always be a need for tutoring. Thanks to various platforms popping up in recent years, the option to tutor anyone around the world who speaks the same language as you is now a reality. Tutors get paid hourly, and you can partner with a company such as skooli.com or network with families and offer tutoring services on your own.

If tutoring doesn’t appeal to you but you like the idea of sharing knowledge, designing and selling your own online course is an attractive alternative. If you have a specific topic or skill to share, you can easily design a course via a platform such as Udemy. Once your course is up and running, it can become passive income.

6. Sell your stuff online

From toys to clothes, to shoes and collectibles, selling stuff online is big business. Sites such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay are user-friendly to list your items. If you don’t have anything of your own, consider going to estate sales and then reselling the items.

If you enjoy making a digital or physical product, sites like Etsy make it simple to set up an e-commerce storefront. One of the best aspects of using these sites is it’s super quick not only to get set up but to also get paid quickly via PayPal or other forms of payment.

If you don’t have a handmade or digital item you want to sell, consider setting up an online store through a site like Shopify or Amazon and dropshipping. You won’t have to worry about housing inventory.

7. Take online surveys

If you’re looking for something mindless to do while you’re in the carpool line or waiting at a doctor’s office, then taking online surveys is one option. You can earn extra cash by working with survey sites and answering market research questions, and it can be a decent side gig.

Sites such as Freecash, InboxDollars, Kashkick or Survey Junkie usually reimburse you for your time with gift cards, but it’s still a fun and easy way to earn.

Earn Real Money With Survey Junkie!

Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!

Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
Earn points for taking surveys
Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
$55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.

Try it today!

8. Play games

Playing games on your smartphone isn't just a fun way to pass the time; it can also be a way to earn some extra cash. Apps like Bingo Cash, Solitaire Cash, and Cash Giraffe offer opportunities to turn your gaming skills into real money. Bingo Cash allows players to compete in bingo games for cash prizes, combining the thrill of bingo with the excitement of winning money.

Similarly, Solitaire Cash offers a chance to earn money by playing classic solitaire games in competitive tournaments. Cash Giraffe provides a variety of games where users can collect points and redeem them for cash rewards. These apps are easy to use and can be a fun way to make money during your downtime. While the earnings might not be substantial enough to replace a full-time income, they can add a nice boost to your budget, making your leisure time both entertaining and profitable.

Taking advantage of sign-up bonuses and shopping apps can be a smart way to save money and earn extra benefits. Shopping apps like Capital One Shopping help you find the best deals and apply coupon codes automatically at checkout, ensuring you always get the lowest price possible. Additionally, these apps compare prices across different retailers, saving you time and money.

On the other hand, free sign-up bonuses from platforms like HelloFresh and Stash Invest offer substantial savings and financial incentives. HelloFresh provides a generous discount on your first few orders, significantly reducing your grocery bills while delivering high-quality meal kits. Stash Invest offers a sign-up bonus when you make your first deposit, giving your investment portfolio an immediate boost and helping you grow your wealth more effectively.

10. Rent out your room or car

Companies such as AirBnB make it simple for you to quickly list and rent out your extra room, basement, or apartment. While you must adhere to the strict user agreement, in return you can make serious money by allowing someone else to use part of your home.

Turo is a similar option, but for your vehicle. If you live near a major city and have a vehicle you might not need on a daily basis, then this is another painless way to earn money from a side gig.

Read How to Rent Your Space on Airbnb and Make Extra Money.

Earn Real Money With Survey Junkie!

Earn Real Money Fast by Filling Out Surveys!

Sign up for FREE & complete your profile
Earn points for taking surveys
Redeem your points for cash or gift cards
$55k+ Paid to Survey Junkie members daily
Complete 3+ surveys a day, earn up to $100/mo.

Try it today!

The bottom line

As you can see from the list above, how to make money from home isn't so much the question as to which money-making opportunity you would like to try. The beauty of it is how many of these options are available as a side hustle, or to scale to a full-time living.

Contemplate what would bring you the most satisfaction (especially since this may be in addition to your day job) and it won’t be long before you can land your new gig.

Joy Wallet is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor, financial advisor, loan broker, insurance producer, or insurance broker. Its articles, interactive tools and other content are provided to you for free, as self-help tools and for informational purposes only. They are not intended to provide investment advice. Joy Wallet does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information in regard to your individual circumstances. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific investment issues. Featured estimates are based on past market performance, and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

Our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market. We are compensated by our partners, which may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on our site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice. Our editorials are grounded on independent research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services.

We value your privacy. We work with trusted partners to provide relevant advertising based on information about your use of Joy Wallet’s and third-party websites and applications. This includes, but is not limited to, sharing information about your web browsing activities with Meta (Facebook) and Google. All of the web browsing information that is shared is anonymized. To learn more, click on our Privacy Policy link.

Images appearing across JoyWallet are courtesy of shutterstock.com.

Sara Coleman is a former corporate gal turned creative entrepreneur. She began writing professionally several years ago and now contributes to multiple websites, blogs, and magazines. She’s also an avid reader and can’t resist a great historical fiction novel. Sara holds a BA in journalism from the University of Georgia and can be found supporting her Bulldogs every chance she has. She resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her wonderfully supportive husband and three children. When she’s not ushering her kids to sports and dance lessons, she can be found creating content for her own website, TheProperPen.com.

Share this article

Ways to make money from home

1. Become a virtual assistant

2. Freelance

3. Start a YouTube channel

4. Create a podcast

5. Offer online tutoring or an online course

6. Sell your stuff online

7. Take online surveys

8. Play games

9. Free signup bonuses and shopping apps

10. Rent out your room or car

The bottom line