Make Money in Your Spare Time with These Remote Side Hustles
Times are tough. And the cost of living is constantly on the rise.
According to nerdwallet's Inflation Calculator, you'd need $129.15 in 2023 to purchase the same item that cost $100 in 2013.
And if you want to keep pace with inflation—or better yet, outgrow it—you need to make additional income and start saving or investing.
Making extra money on the side with a remote side hustle is a great starting point. Remote side hustles offer a plethora of passive income opportunities for individuals to diversify their income sources while maintaining control over their schedules and work environments.
If you've been searching for ways to supplement your income while maintaining flexibility and work-life balance, you're in the right place.
Why Not a Regular Side Hustle?
We just said it. A remote job offers flexibility and work-life balance.
Work flexibility and financial independence are highly sought-after, and it's essential to know the best ways to capitalize on your talents and interests from the comfort of your own home.
Regardless of whether you're a busy professional, a stay-at-home parent, or a student looking to make some extra cash, our curated list of side hustles will provide you with fresh ideas and inspiration to boost your earnings.
We've compiled a comprehensive list of lucrative opportunities that cater to various skills and interests. This invaluable resource will guide you in your job search and help you identify the perfect side hustle that aligns with your passions and expertise, all while providing you with the freedom to work from anywhere.
So, without further ado, let's dive in and explore the top remote jobs and side hustles that can help you make the most of your spare time and turn it into a valuable, rewarding experience for both personal and financial growth!
Remote Side Hustles You Can Do While Working A 9-5 Job
Remote side hustles are part-time ventures that allow you to pursue your passions, hone new skills, and earn extra cash without compromising your full-time job. For those bound by a traditional 9-5 work schedule, remote side hustles are the perfect solution.
Let's dive into it.
#1. Freelance writing
Why freelance writing?
Flexibility and Freedom: You can set your own schedule, work from anywhere with a reliable internet connection, and choose the projects that interest you the most. This makes it the perfect remote side hustle for those looking to balance work, family, and personal interests.
Diverse Opportunities: There is a wide range of industries and niches that require the skills of a freelance writer. You can choose to specialize in a particular area or write for various clients across multiple sectors. From blog posts, articles, and social media content to technical writing, grant proposals, and even ghostwriting books, the possibilities are almost endless.
Low Startup Costs: Freelance writing jobs have relatively low barriers to entry. All you need is a computer or laptop, a reliable internet connection, and some writing skills. There's no need to invest in expensive equipment or office space, making it an accessible and affordable option for people from diverse backgrounds and financial situations.
Steady Income Potential: As you build your client base and reputation, you can secure a steady income from freelance writing. Successful writers can charge competitive rates for their services, leading to sustainable and lucrative side hustles or even a full-time career.
Like any other day job, freelance writing has its pros and cons.
Some of the cons of freelance writing include:
Inconsistent income and work opportunities.
No employer-provided benefits, such as health insurance or retirement savings.
The need to market and sell your services to find work.
Skills Needed for Freelance Writing Success
Strong Writing Abilities: You must have a solid grasp of grammar, punctuation, and spelling. You should also be able to write clearly, concisely, and engagingly, adapting your style to suit different audiences and formats.
Research Skills: You will often need to research topics quickly and accurately to create informative and credible content. Developing strong research skills is crucial to staying competitive in the field.
Time Management: Managing deadlines and juggling multiple projects requires excellent time management and organizational skills. Prioritizing tasks, setting realistic goals, and tracking your progress will help you stay on top of your workload.
Adaptability: Being able to adapt your writing style and voice to suit different clients, industries, and formats is essential for freelance writing success. Being open to feedback and willing to revise your work will also contribute to your professional growth.
Tips for Starting Freelance Writing as a remote side hustle
If you're considering starting a career in freelance writing, there are a few tips you should keep in mind:
Build a strong portfolio of writing samples to showcase your skills and experience.
Set up a professional website and social media accounts to market your services and build your online presence.
Network with other writers and clients in your industry to find new opportunities and gain referrals.
Set realistic rates and deadlines for your work to ensure you're compensated fairly and can meet your client's expectations.
Stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices to remain competitive and deliver high-quality work.
Side Hustle Opportunities as a Freelance Writer
As a freelance writer, there are plenty of side gigs you can do to supplement your income. Here are ten potential options:
1. Copywriting: Copywriting involves writing advertising or marketing material such as product descriptions, sales pages, and social media posts.
2. Content creation or blogging: Creating high-quality blog posts, articles, and other written content for businesses and individuals can be a great side gig.
3. Editing and proofreading: Many writers are also skilled at editing and proofreading, which involves reviewing and improving existing written content.
4. Grant writing: If you have experience writing grant proposals, you can offer your services to non-profits or other organizations.
5. Translation: If you are fluent in multiple languages, you can offer your services as a freelance translator.
6. Technical writing: Technical writers create documents such as user manuals, instruction manuals, and technical reports.
7. Scriptwriting: Scriptwriting involves writing scripts for movies, TV shows, or videos.
8. Ghostwriting: Ghostwriters are hired to write books or articles for someone else who will take credit for the work.
9. Resume writing: Helping individuals improve their resumes can be a lucrative side gig.
10. E-book writing: If you enjoy writing longer pieces, you can offer your services as an e-book writer.
#2. Social media management
Why social media management?
High Demand: Social media management is in high demand as more businesses are using social media platforms to promote their products and services. According to a report by Blogging Wizard, there are over 4.2 billion active social media users worldwide, and this number is expected to increase in the coming years. This means that there are plenty of opportunities for social media managers to work with businesses and individuals who need help with managing their social media accounts.
Develop New Skills: You'll learn how to create engaging content, manage social media campaigns, and analyze social media metrics. These skills can be applied to a variety of industries, making you a valuable asset to any organization. Social media managers usually take remote virtual assistants side gigs in the long run.
Potential for Growth: As you gain experience and build your portfolio, you can increase your rates and attract higher-paying clients. A social media manager can also expand their services to include other digital marketing services like email marketing, SEO, and content creation.
Some of the cons of social media management include:
The need to keep up with the latest social media trends and algorithms.
The responsibility to represent your clients' brand and reputation.
The need to manage multiple accounts and projects simultaneously.
Skills Needed for Social Media Management Success
Social Media Expertise: You must have a solid understanding of different social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others. You should know how to create and optimize profiles, understand the best practices for posting, and be able to analyze and report on social media metrics.
Content Creation: You should be able to create engaging and high-quality content that resonates with your audience. This includes skills like copywriting, graphic design, and video editing.
Communication: You'll need to be able to communicate with your audience, respond to comments and messages, and build relationships with followers.
Analytics and Reporting: You must be able to analyze social media metrics and report on the success of your campaigns. This includes understanding key performance indicators (KPIs), using social media analytics tools, and creating reports that demonstrate your success.
Customer Service: This includes responding to comments and messages promptly, addressing customer concerns and complaints, and providing helpful information and resources to your audience.
Tips for Starting Managing Social Media as a remote side hustle
Learn about different social media platforms, algorithms, and best practices by taking courses, reading articles, and practicing regularly.
Create a professional website or social media accounts that showcase your skills and services.
Compile examples of your social media work into a portfolio that showcases your creativity and expertise.
Connect with other social media managers, marketing professionals, and potential clients to build relationships and find new opportunities.
Once you have a strong portfolio and network, start pitching your services to potential clients. Use job boards, freelancing websites, and your network to find new opportunities.
Side Hustle Opportunities as a Social Media Manager
1. Social media content creation: Creating high-quality social media content for businesses and individuals can be a great side gig.
2. Social media advertising: Managing social media advertising campaigns for businesses, including creating and optimizing ads and targeting audiences.
3. Social media strategy consulting: Offering your expertise in social media strategy to businesses or individuals who need guidance on how to improve their social media presence.
4. Social media account management: Managing social media accounts for businesses, including creating and scheduling posts, monitoring engagement, and responding to comments and messages.
5. Influencer outreach and management: Identifying and reaching out to influencers to collaborate with businesses, and managing those partnerships.
6. Analytics reporting: Creating reports and analyzing social media data to help businesses understand their social media performance.
7. Social media training: Offering social media training to businesses or individuals who want to improve their skills.
8. Video content creation: Creating engaging and informative video content for social media platforms.
9. Social media contest and campaign management: Creating and managing social media contests or campaigns for businesses to increase engagement and awareness.
10. Reputation management: Monitoring social media channels for negative feedback or reviews, and managing the response to those comments.
#3. Virtual bookkeeping
Why virtual bookkeeping?
High Earning Potential: Accounting and bookkeeping jobs can be a lucrative side hustle, with many bookkeepers earning up to $60 per hour. As you gain experience and build your client base, you can increase your rates and attract higher-paying clients.
Scalability: Virtual bookkeeping is a scalable side hustle. As you gain more clients, you can increase your workload and earnings.
Work with different industries: Virtual bookkeepers can work with a variety of businesses, from retail stores to non-profits, giving you the opportunity to learn about different industries. This will also allow you to take on some virtual assistant jobs as a bookkeeper as well.
Ability to work with multiple clients: You can work with multiple clients, increasing their earning potential. You can even start your own bookkeeping business!
Some of the cons of virtual bookkeeping include:
The virtual bookkeeping market is competitive, so it can be challenging to stand out from other virtual bookkeepers.
Bookkeeping software and tax regulations are constantly changing. As a virtual bookkeeper, you need to be willing to continue learning to stay current.
You will have access to sensitive financial information, which requires you to be vigilant about security.
Skills Needed for Virtual Bookkeeping Success
Accounting knowledge: You will need to have a solid understanding of accounting principles and practices.
Ethics: Bookkeepers handle sensitive financial information, so they need to be ethical and maintain confidentiality.
Problem-solving skills: Bookkeepers need to be able to identify and solve problems that may arise during the bookkeeping process.
Analytical skills: Bookkeepers need to be able to analyze financial data to identify trends and make informed decisions.
Tips for Starting Virtual Bookkeeping as a remote side hustle
Invest in reliable technology, such as a high-speed internet connection and bookkeeping software, to ensure that you can work efficiently and effectively.
Establish clear communication protocols with clients to ensure that you are on the same page regarding deadlines, deliverables, and other expectations.
Develop a pricing strategy that takes into account your experience, the complexity of the work, and the value you provide to clients.
Prioritize customer service by being responsive to clients, delivering high-quality work, and addressing any concerns or issues that arise.
Continuously improve your bookkeeping skills by attending training sessions, reading industry publications, and staying up-to-date with changes in tax regulations and bookkeeping software.
Side Hustle Opportunities as a Virtual Bookkeeper
1. Full-charge bookkeeping: Providing a comprehensive bookkeeping service, including accounts payable and receivable, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation.
2. Accounts payable management: Managing a business's bills, invoices, and payments.
3. Accounts receivable management: Managing a business's invoices, collections, and cash flow.
4. Payroll processing: Managing a business's payroll, including calculating wages, taxes, and benefits.
5. Tax preparation: Preparing and filing tax returns for individuals and businesses.
6. Financial reporting: Creating financial reports for businesses, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
7. Budgeting and forecasting: Creating and managing budgets for businesses and forecasting future financial performance.
8. QuickBooks consulting: Offering expert advice and support for businesses using QuickBooks accounting software.
9. Audit preparation: Preparing financial statements and other documentation for audits conducted by external auditors.
10. Inventory management: Helping businesses manage their inventory, including tracking stock levels, ordering new inventory, and monitoring costs.
#4. Graphic design
Why graphic design?
High demand: Every business needs design work, creating a high demand for skilled graphic designers.
Creative expression: Graphic design offers the opportunity to express your creativity and bring your ideas to life.
Variety: Graphic design work can involve creating logos, website designs, social media graphics, and more, providing a variety of projects to work on.
Opportunity to build a portfolio: Graphic design projects can help you build a portfolio of work to showcase your skills and attract new clients.
Entrepreneurial opportunity: Graphic design can be turned into a full-time business opportunity, offering the potential for financial freedom and entrepreneurial success.
Some of the cons of graphic design include:
Dealing with challenging clients can be frustrating and time-consuming.
Creating high-quality designs can be time-consuming, especially when starting out.
Graphic design requires a solid understanding of design principles, software, and technology.
Graphic design work can be intense, leading to burnout if you don't manage your time effectively.
Skills Needed for graphic design Success
Attention to detail: Paying attention to details is crucial in graphic design to ensure accuracy and quality.
Communication: You will need to communicate effectively with clients to understand their needs and deliver designs that meet their expectations.
Technical proficiency: You will need to be proficient in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite.
Typography skills: Graphic designers need to have an understanding of typography to create effective and visually appealing designs.
Color theory: Understanding color theory is important in graphic design to create effective designs that convey the right message.
Tips for Starting graphic design as a remote side hustle
Before you start your graphic design business, you need to identify your niche. This could be anything from branding and packaging design to website design and social media graphics. By specializing in a particular area, you'll be able to hone your skills and stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Create a contract that outlines the scope of the project, the timeline, and the payment terms. This will help you avoid misunderstandings with clients and ensure that both parties are on the same page.
Use social media and other marketing channels to promote your services. Create a website or blog to showcase your work and share design tips and resources. Reach out to potential clients directly and participate in design communities to get your name out there.
Invest in the right tools and software to help you create high-quality designs. This includes design software like Adobe Creative Suite, a high-quality computer, and a graphics tablet.
Side Hustle Opportunities as a Graphic Designer
1. Logo design: Creating unique and memorable logos for businesses and individuals.
2. Website design: Designing user-friendly and visually appealing websites for businesses and individuals.
3. Social media graphics: Creating graphics for social media platforms, including profile images, cover photos, and post graphics.
4. Branding design: Developing a cohesive brand identity for businesses, including logos, color schemes, and typography.
5. Print design: Creating designs for printed materials such as business cards, brochures, and flyers.
6. Packaging design: Designing attractive and functional packaging for products.
7. Presentation design: Creating visually appealing and effective presentations for businesses and individuals.
8. Infographic design: Designing informative and visually appealing infographics for businesses and individuals.
9. E-book design: Creating professional and engaging designs for e-books.
10. UI/UX design: Designing user interfaces and experiences for software and mobile applications.
#5. Complete Online Surveys
Why online surveys?
Flexibility: You can complete surveys on your own time, making it easy to fit into your schedule.
No experience necessary: Anyone can do it, regardless of education or experience.
Low barrier to entry: Signing up for survey sites is often free, and you don't need any special equipment. To participate in surveys and online focus groups, you must register with reliable websites like Forthright.
Easy money: While you won't get rich from completing surveys, it can be an easy way to earn a bit of extra cash.
Additional perks: Some survey sites offer additional perks, such as free products to test.
Little commitment: You can complete as many or as few surveys as you want, making it a low-commitment side hustle.
Opportunities for growth: Some survey sites offer more opportunities for earning as you complete more surveys or refer others to the site.
Of course, there are some cons to completing online paid surveys as well, including:
Some survey sites may not be legitimate, so it's important to do your research before signing up. One legit site we recommend is Forthright. To encourage trial, Forthright offers amazing incentives, such as gift cards and cash.
Some surveys can be very long, making it difficult to stay motivated.
It's possible to be disqualified from surveys if you don't fit the desired demographic.
You're competing with a large pool of other survey-takers for limited opportunities.
Skills Needed for paid online surveys Success
Time management: Being able to manage your time effectively is crucial to completing surveys efficiently.
Attention to detail: You need to be able to pay close attention to survey questions and answer accurately.
Patience: Some surveys can be long and tedious, so having patience is important.
Honesty: Survey sites value honest feedback, so it's important to answer questions truthfully.
Strong communication skills: Some surveys may require written responses, so being able to communicate effectively is important.
Basic computer skills: You'll need to be comfortable using a computer and navigating the internet to complete surveys.
Organization: Keeping track of which surveys you've completed and which you haven't is important to avoid duplication.
Persistence: There may be times when surveys are hard to come by, so being persistent is important.
Ability to follow directions: Survey instructions can vary, so being able to follow directions is important.
Ability to adapt: Some surveys may require you to answer questions in a certain way, so being able to adapt is important.
Tips for completing paid surveys as a remote side hustle
Before starting a survey, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria to avoid wasting time.
Make sure to complete your profile on survey sites to increase your chances of receiving relevant surveys.
Make a habit of checking survey sites regularly to ensure you don't miss out on opportunities.
Keep track of how much you earn from completing surveys to ensure it's worth your time.
Avoid survey sites that require payment or promise unrealistic earnings.
Some survey sites offer referral bonuses, so consider referring friends or family to increase your earnings.
Earnings from completing surveys may not come quickly, so be patient and persistent.
Other Side Hustle Opportunities Besides Online Surveys
As someone who gets paid to take online surveys, there are plenty of side gigs you can do to supplement your income. Here are some potential options:
1. Focus groups: Participating in focus groups, which involve providing feedback on products, services, or marketing campaigns.
2. Product testing: Testing products and providing feedback on their quality, functionality, and usability.
3. Mystery shopping: Visiting stores or websites and reporting on your shopping experience.
4. Website testing: Testing websites and providing feedback on their design, user experience, and functionality.
How to Choose The Best Side Hustle for You
That was a large amount of information, right?
Now, you might be thinking about how to select the most suitable side job for yourself.
Let's examine the process of choosing the ideal side hustle for you by evaluating your abilities and passions, taking into account your free time, and investigating the demand in the market.
1. Assess your skills and interests
The first step in choosing the best side hustle for you is to assess your skills and interests.
What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Make a list of your strengths and passions, and think about how you could turn them into a side hustle.
For example, if you're a skilled writer, you could offer your ghostwriting services on LinkedIn. If you don't have any of these technical skills but have a lot of free time, you could start getting paid for taking paid surveys at Forthright.
2. Consider your available time
When choosing a side hustle, it's important to consider how much time you have available.
If you're already working a full-time job and have family obligations, you may not have much free time to devote to a side hustle. In this case, you might want to choose a side hustle that doesn't require a lot of time, such as social media management.
On the other hand, if you have more flexibility in your schedule, you could consider a side hustle that requires more time, such as virtual bookkeeping.
3. Research the market demand
Finally, it's important to research the market demand for your chosen side hustle.
Is there a need for your services? Are there already a lot of people offering the same thing? It's important to do your research and make sure that your side hustle is viable before investing time and money into it.
You can use online platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to see what kind of services people are looking for and what they're willing to pay.
Resources for Finding Remote Side Hustle Opportunities
If you're looking for remote side hustle opportunities, there are many resources available online. Here are a few to get you started:
1. FlexJobs - This website lists remote and flexible job opportunities, including side hustles.
2. Fiverr - Fiverr is a platform where you can offer your services in a variety of categories, from writing and design to programming and marketing.
3. Upwork - Upwork is a platform where you can offer your freelance services to businesses and individuals.
4. TaskRabbit - TaskRabbit connects people who need help with tasks like cleaning, moving, and handyman services with local freelancers.
To wrap up, embracing remote side hustles as a means to supplement income has proven to be a game-changer for many people seeking financial flexibility and autonomy.
By investing time and effort into the ventures listed above, it is possible to transform your spare time into a lucrative endeavor, all while enjoying the freedom to work from anywhere.
The key to success is finding the right fit for your strengths and passions, diligently researching and planning, and staying committed to continuous growth in your chosen hustle.
Good luck in your remote side job hunt! And stay tuned for more tips and best practices.