Looking to make money online but not ready to start a full-fledged business? There are several inroads to making extra money on the internet—even if you have no skills or experience.
From side gigs to selling used stuff to offering tutoring services, there are many ideas suited to beginners like you. The recommendations ahead are lower effort and require fewer technical skills than some of the conventional ways to make money online.
This article covers what’s needed to get started, the skills or tools required, and how fast you can begin to earn extra cash online. Ready? It’s time to explore how to make money online for beginners with 21 ideas you can act on today.
21 ways to make money online for beginners
- Sell your stuff secondhand
- Look for side gigs
- Participate in market research
- Become a virtual assistant
- Rent your belongings
- Become a content consumer
- Start freelancing
- License your photography to stock photo websites
- Resell or consign your clothing
- Take online surveys
- Become a pet sitter
- Buy and sell domain names
- Sell products through online marketplaces
- Start a dropshipping business
- Become an online tutor
- Try affiliate marketing
- Offer landscaping services
- Do transcriptions
- Offer child care services
- Rent a room in your home
✏️ Note: Once you start to earn money as a beginner, you can consider leveling up to an online business like your own ecommerce store. Look for the “🚀 Level up” tag in the ideas below to help you make even more money online.
1. Sell your stuff secondhand
One of the quickest ways to earn cash fast is selling stuff online. Clean out your storage and sell anything you don’t use, including furniture, toys, tools, gaming equipment, and home décor. Local and online marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and VarageSale are great places to sell your stuff.
Best for: Those looking to make money online quickly.
Startup time: Less than an hour.
Effort level: Low.
Time to first payment: Varies, depending on the online selling sites you’re using to sell your items.
What to know
- Each marketplace has its own rules and fees. Make sure you understand them before you sign up.
- If you’re interested in Facebook Marketplace, read our guide on how to sell on Facebook.
- The Shopify Starter Plan is ideal for beginners looking to dip their toes into selling online.
🚀 Level up: If you enjoy this process, you can start a legitimate reseller business and sell anything from vintage clothing to refurbished electronics and open your own store on a platform like Shopify.
2. Look for side gigs
Side gigs are the classic way to earn money while keeping a full-time job. Side gigs that help you earn money online include data entry, transcribing, manual labor, virtual assistant work, or administrative tasks. Use platforms like Fiverr or TaskRabbit to create side gigs. You can also consider food delivery or driving as a side gig, making money through apps like Uber.
🚀 Level up: Once you gain experience and clients through a marketplace, set up a simple ecommerce site and sell specific tasks or take on custom jobs—earning directly from your clients.
Best for: Those looking to make money online quickly.
Startup time: Less than an hour.
Effort to start: Medium.
Time to first payment: Varies depending on the freelance marketplace or app you use.
What to know
- Some side gig marketplaces require an upfront fee to sign up, so read the fine print carefully.
- Review the side gig marketplace’s payment schedule to make sure it works for you.
- In most cases, you will only require a solid internet connection and a device.
3. Participate in market research
Market research companies often are looking for consumers to test websites, try products or software like video games or apps, and provide feedback or reviews. Find opportunities like this on sites like UserTesting.
Best for: Those interested in the latest trends and products.
Startup time: A few minutes to create an account on each site.
Effort level: Low to medium, depending on the format.
Time to first payment: Varies by service and platform.
What to know
- Some sites require a minimum balance before they pay out your earnings.
- Most market research sites require participants to be 18 years of age or older.
- You’ll receive an email when a project goes live, but you have to act fast or someone else will take it.
4. Become a virtual assistant
You can make money online from the comfort of your own home by becoming a virtual assistant (VA). This means you can provide services to clients in any part of the world. Tasks may include data entry, content creation, monitoring social media accounts, or managing calendars.
Best for: Those looking to make money online from home.
Startup time: A few hours.
Effort to start: Low.
Time to first payment: Depends on the terms set by your employer or the online platform where you secured the gig.
What to know
- Some clients are looking for specific skills in a VA. Be sure to list all your skills and highlight your strengths to stand out.
- Standard career listing sites will have VA job listings, as will freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr.
💡Tip: Once you get more experience, create your own website to advertise your services and gain clients directly.
5. Rent your belongings
The sharing economy is upon us! There’s no need to buy things like lawnmowers, small power tools, cars, and household appliances if you only need them for a short while. Your house could be filled with underused things that others would like to rent. Sites like FriendWithA make it possible to rent products like this and earn extra cash.
🚀 Level up: Finding success with renting your belongings? Why not build your own clothing brand and rent a specific type of product like wedding dresses or start a tool rental business?
Best for: Making money online quickly and consistently, owners of items in high demand in the rental market.
Startup time: An hour or two to upload your products to relevant sites and to browse listings.
Effort level: Low.
First payout: Usually immediately, but check the terms of each rental platform.
What to know
- Get insurance or choose a site that offers insurance on your products in case they become damaged or lost.
- Rental platforms usually require both renters and rentees to be 18 years of age or over.
6. Become a content consumer
In a 2023 episode of the Search Engine podcast, guest and journalist Taylor Lorenz predicted content consumer as a job of the future.
A growing phenomenon among Gen Z freelancers and internet savvy job seekers, content consumers are for-hire assistants that can help internet personalities and businesses consume content on social media to spot trends, aggregate news, and stay current in the online landscape.
🚀 Level up: Content consumption and content creation can go hand in hand. If you become versed in Internet and social media trends, you could be an asset for companies looking for content creators—and potentially make more money online.
Best for: Social media savvy internet users.
Startup time: A few hours.
Effort to start: Low.
Time to first payment: Depends on your arrangement with your clients.
What to know
- Content consumer is a relatively new job title. Advertise your services on online platforms for freelance work and be sure to detail your offering and the benefits of hiring you.
7. Start freelancing
An increasingly popular home business idea is offering freelance services to clients online. Copywriting, graphic design, translation, and digital marketing are common freelance opportunities offered by businesses today. Use freelance marketplaces like Upwork, 99Designs, or PeoplePerHour, and set up a simple website to showcase your portfolio of work.
🚀 Level up: Templatize your expertise and sell it as digital products like PDF guides. That’s how Jack Butcher scaled his brand, Visualize Value. With this idea, you can sell the same content over and over to make consistent money online.
Best for: Those with beginner skills in a particular subject like data entry, web development, or freelance writing.
Startup time: Low (you can start freelancing through a marketplace even without a website).
Effort level: Medium.
Time to first payment: Depends on your payment terms with your clients.
What to know
- Collect examples of your work in a portfolio, references, and customer testimonials. Feature these on your website to showcase your talent.
- Know your worth and set your pricing accordingly.
- You will require a portfolio of your work and accounts for freelance marketplaces.
8. License your photography to stock photo websites
Have a great eye for photography? A quick way to earn cash for your work is to license your photos to stock sites like iStock. You can also upload images to free stock sites like Burst to help build up your name as a photographer.
🚀 Level up: After you make a name for yourself in the stock business, start selling your photos as prints by opening your own store on an online platform like Shopify.
Best for: Beginner creatives looking to get a start as a professional photographer.
Startup time: Less than an hour (if you already have photos).
Effort level: Low.
Time to first payment: Varies, depending on the site you’re using to license your photos.
What to know
- Before you apply, understand what each stock photo site is looking for in terms of subject matter and photo quality.
9. Resell or consign your clothing
Selling your unwanted clothes and accessories is a popular way to earn cash fast and clear clutter at the same time. Mobile apps like Depop, Poshmark, and Craigslist offer easy ways to upload clothing photos and descriptions without needing to build a brand or website. Sell your goods to local buyers only or offer to ship.
🚀 Level up: Upgrade to selling via a marketplace or start your own online thrift or vintage clothing store.
Best for: Fashion trendsetters with big closets.
Startup time: Minimal—simply shoot, post, and describe each item.
Effort level: Low to start (minimal ongoing effort is required to communicate with potential buyers and ship items, if necessary).
Time to first payout: Depends on the platform you use
What to know
- Upload your products to multiple sites to increase their chances of selling.
- Most selling apps take a cut of your profit or charge a fee for each listing.
10. Take online surveys
One of the fastest ways to make money online for beginners is completing online surveys. There are many survey sites and mobile apps that pay users to give their opinion on anything from their shopping behaviors to how they feel about specific product categories. These surveys help brands make business decisions or create new products.
Best for: Those with extra time (and lots of opinions) looking to make money online quickly.
Startup time: A few minutes.
Effort to start: Low.
Time to first payment: Depends on the survey platform’s payment structure.
What to know
- Many survey sites pay in points and you need to earn a certain amount before you redeem them.
- Completing online surveys is not a get rich quick scheme, as hourly rates tend to net out to well below minimum wage. Don’t expect this idea to be a reliable or sustainable source of income. Rather, it can provide a few extra bucks to supplement other income sources.
11. Become a pet sitter
After the pandemic pet boom and the subsequent return to the office, plenty of lonely dogs and cats are looking for companionship. Sites like Rover help connect pet lovers (that’s you!) with pet owners for pet sitting, dog walking, and cat visits.
🚀 Level up: Start your own pet business by setting up a website and selling your services and pet-related goods to make even more money online.
Best for: Pet lovers who don’t want the commitment of ownership.
Startup time: An hour to set up your account.
Effort level: Medium to hard, depending on the number of clients you take on.
Time to first payment: Varies, depending on the app or service you use.
What to know
- Some pet sites like Rover include insurance. If you are building your own pet sitting empire, be sure to look into any business insurance you may need.
- This is a great business idea for teens and kid entrepreneurs to start with a parent’s help.
12. Buy and sell domain names
Choosing a memorable domain name for a business website is a crucial part of the branding exercise. Many new brands are seeking the perfect domain name to represent their business and improve discoverability.
You can watch trends and buy related domain names on sites like Shopify, Namecheap, GoDaddy, and Hover. To make the most of this idea, buy up a number of domains and sell each for a small profit.
Best for: Those with some money to invest upfront.
Startup time: Less than an hour.
Effort level: Minimal.
Time to first payment: Varies, depending on form of payment accepted.
What to know
- Buying and selling domain names is not always a way to make fast money. You may sit on a domain for months or even years before seeing a return.
- Understand laws on trademarked names.
13. Sell print-on-demand products
Print on demand (POD) allows artists and creators to customize white label products with their own designs without the need to hold inventory. When a customer places an order, a print-on-demand company will print your design on a product, fulfill the order, and ship it to the customer.
POD options include t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, or fan merch. This model lets you create customized products quickly, making it a low-risk, low-investment way to earn extra income.
Best for: Beginner creatives looking to make money online from their craft, emerging influencers looking to create fan merch.
Startup time: A few hours to set up an ecommerce platform and print-on-demand integration.
Effort level: Easy to start if you already have designs to upload (easy to medium to maintain).
Time to first payment: After you sell a product, expect a wait period of around five days to receive funds on most platforms.
What to know
- After you set up a store, browse the many print-on-demand suppliers to compare pricing, quality, and product lineup.
- Most ecommerce platforms require that you are at least 18 years of age.
- Requirements vary by country and region, but some products may require you to have licenses, permits, or certifications.
14. Sell products through online marketplaces
Online marketplaces are often launch points for many now-successful brands, because they come with built-in audiences seeking specific products. For example, Etsy is a go-to source for buyers looking for handmade and vintage items, while Amazon is a global destination for product discovery and research.
You can get up and running quickly because there is less pressure on the seller to drive their own traffic or build a brand.
🚀 Level up: Take your online business to the next level by building your own store. You can even sell products on both Etsy and Shopify, syncing inventory with an app like Etsy Marketplace Integration.
Best for: Those with used or handmade products to sell.
Startup time: An hour or two to set up your account and add products.
Effort level: Depends on your product and business model.
Time to first payment: Anywhere from the day after to 14 days after you make a sale, depending on the marketplace.
What to know
- Follow Etsy’s guidelines around what you can sell and acceptable use of the platform.
- You must comply with Amazon’s seller policies to be in good standing.
- Most marketplaces require that you are at least 18 years of age.
- Sellers between 13 and 18 years of age may use Etsy with the supervision of a parent or guardian.
15. Start a dropshipping business
Dropshipping is a low-cost business model where products are shipped to customers directly from the vendor or manufacturer. This is a popular way to make money online for beginners as, as the seller, there is no need to handle inventory or shipping—you’re simply responsible for driving traffic and customer service.
Best for: Beginners looking to test the waters with their own ecommerce store.
Startup time: A few hours to set up a store and source vendors.
Effort level: Medium to start and grow the business, low effort to maintain.
Time to first payment: After you sell a product, expect a wait period of around five days to receive funds on most platforms.
What to know
- You can create a Shopify store and test it out with a free trial.
- AliExpress and other dropshipping suppliers are great places to start for sourcing products.
- Most ecommerce platforms require that you are at least 18 years of age.
- Requirements vary by country and region, but some products may require you to have licenses, permits, or certifications.
💡Tip:Due to the ability to be nimble, dropshippers can follow trends and sell trending products as they emerge. Keep tabs on trending topics on social media platforms like TikTok.
16. Become an online tutor
If you are knowledgeable in subjects like biology, math, or languages, you could earn income on the side with online tutoring. With sites like TutorMe and Fiverr, you can easily find students who need your help. Or set up a simple website and use social media and peer recommendations to drive traffic and sign-ups.
🚀 Level up: If you find success with tutoring, try selling your own online courses through a dedicated ecommerce store.
Best for: Aspiring educators, those looking for experience before creating an online course.
Startup time: A few hours to set up a website or an account on a tutoring platform.
Effort level: Medium to start. Ongoing effort level depends on how many students you take on.
Time to first payment: Varies, depending on how you bill your students.
What to know
- Most freelance sites require proof that you are skilled in the subject matter.
- Expect transaction fees on tutoring platforms.
- You will require knowledge of subject matter and any necessary licenses or diplomas required by each platform and subject.
17. Try affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing involves sharing affiliate links that you receive from brands to promote their products on your site or social accounts. When someone buys the product after clicking your affiliate link, you’ll receive credit for the referral, along with a commission. A solid content marketing strategy around your affiliate links will help you drive visits, clicks, and buys—and earn passive income.
Best for: Anyone with an audience online.
Startup time: A couple hours.
Effort level: Medium to start, very low effort to maintain.
Time to first payment: Varies, depending on the success of the affiliate links and the payment terms you set with the brands.
What to know
- Sign up for Shopify Collabs to get access to brands offering affiliate programs to creators and influencers.
- Disclaimers are required by the Federal Trade Commission and most reputable affiliate programs. You are required to let your audience know if you are being paid to promote a product.
- You will require your own website, blog, or social media accounts where you can promote products.
Get paid by brands you love with Shopify Collabs
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18. Offer landscaping services
While this is not strictly an online job, you can make money online by creating an online store or using online platforms to advertise and sell your services. Target your local community by running ads on social media platforms or create listings on local buy and sell websites. Offer services such as gardening, mowing, and other handy outdoor tasks.
Best for: Outdoor lovers, those who enjoy working with their hands.
Startup time: A few hours.
Effort to start: Low.
Time to first payment: Depends on your arrangement with your clients.
What to know
- This is an excellent business idea for teens to save money for college. Operate a small landscaping service in the summer months when school is out.
- You will likely require equipment like gardening tools or a mower.
19. Do transcriptions
There are several sites that offer part-time work to transcribers. Transcription services like Rev or freelance sites like Upwork are great places to start. Some jobs may require a certain level of typing speed or demonstrated proficiency of language. While payouts vary by job and by typing speed, you can make on average $20 per hour by transcribing audio and video.
Best for: Those with fast typing speed, attention to detail, and good grasp of the source material’s language.
Startup time: An hour or so.
Effort to start: Low.
Time to first payment: Depends on the payout terms of the site or client.
What to know
- Most transcriber roles are gig work, meaning you get paid per piece of content.
20. Offer child care services
Child care is another money making idea that isn’t strictly online. However, you can use online tools to advertise your services, book clients, and share testimonials. While running a formal childcare business requires licenses and/or certifications, in most regions you can get hired as an occasional babysitter to make extra money.
Best for: Aspiring educators, students and youth.
Startup time: An hour or so.
Effort to start: Low.
Time to first payment: Usually immediately after each child care session.
What to know
- Training like a formal babysitter’s course and first aid certification will help you market yourself as a trusted child care provider.
21. Rent a room in your home
Using online listing services and apartment rental sites, you can advertise a space for rent in your home. Whether it’s subletting an extra room in your rental apartment or renting out a garage or basem*nt apartment in your home, you can make money online without specialized skills or experience.
Best for: Property owners or renters looking to save money on living expenses.
Startup time: Depends on whether your space needs upgrades in order to rent.
Effort to start: Depends on the condition of the space, medium effort to maintain the space and manage relationships with tenants.
Time to first payment: Usually at the start of the rental agreement period.
What to know
- Renting a space in your home will require you to act as landlord and superintendent when you’re just starting out. This means you’ll be responsible for safety and repairs in the space or unit.
- Look into any impacts to your home insurance and taxes before you get started. You will also need to meet local requirements for rental units.
- Consider a more beginner approach by listing your room on a short term accommodation site like Airbnb.
💡 Tip: Many of the ideas above will help you earn extra money with a startup time of just a few hours. Some may require basic skills or access to specific online platforms. If you’re looking for more advanced ideas to make money, like selling online courses or becoming a digital marketing consultant, refer to our guide to how to make money online.
Make money online today—no experience required
Ready to make money online as a beginner? You’re now armed with plenty of ideas to get started. Whether you’re looking for a data entry role or exploring the world of entrepreneurship on your way to opening an online store, there’s an opportunity for every motivation.
How to make money online for beginners FAQ
How can a complete beginner make money online?
To understand how to make money online for beginners, consider your skill set, your availability, and how fast you’d like to start earning cash. You can make money online in a number of ways, even if you’re a complete beginner. These include:
- Selling stuff online on Facebook Marketplace
- Finding gigs on online platforms
- Taking online surveys
- Offering online tutoring or selling an online course
- Doing data entry work
- Earning ad revenue from a YouTube channel
- Building your own ecommerce store to sell print on demand products
Can you make $100 a day online?
You can make money online in a number of ways. Making $100 per day is doable depending on the method you choose, your skill level, and the number of hours you’re willing to contribute. With effort, the following ways to make money online could yield upward of $100 per day:
- Affiliate marketing
- Advertising revenue form a YouTube channel
- Remote data entry specialist roles
- Freelance services and consulting
- Social media content creation
- Dropshipping
- Creator brand deals
- Creating and selling online courses
How can I make money online fast with no experience?
To make money online fast with no experience, consider ideas that require little startup time and effort. Start making money online in as little as a few hours by looking for gigs on freelance sites. Entry level data entry, transcribing, and virtual assistant roles usually require little more than an internet connection and device. You can also quickly make money online as a beginner by selling used stuff on local buy and sell marketplaces.
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