You’re your own boss, you set your own hours, and different tasks require skills that might be right up your alley.?This can be immensely appealing.

Considering the popularity of gig economy platforms, I have decided to compile a list of ways you can use to start your own side hustle and make some extra money.

Need more money-making ideas? Checkout:

• Freecash: Get paid to play mobile games, answer surveys, and for completing fun online tasks!
• EarnIn: Borrow up to $750 against an upcoming paycheck to help cover bills!

The Best Gig Apps

1. Uber Eats

Uber Eats is one of the most popular gig apps that's available?in dozens of cities around the world, so you can probably make money by driving with Uber Eats if you live in a major city.

Uber Eats drivers keep 100% of any tip they receive. Overall, it's one of the most popular driving apps to make money?out there, so it had to make our list of the best gig apps.

• Pros: Flexible; tip potential.
• Cons: Cost of gas; vehicle depreciation.
• Average Pay: Depends on your market and how many deliveries you complete.
• Sign Up:?Start delivering for Uber Eats as an independent contractor!
• Learn More: Uber Eats Tips & Tricks.

2. Care.com

Care.com is a gig platform where you can make money offering a range of caregiving services to people in your city.

Babysitting, nanny gigs, cleaning, childcare, pet care, and even running errands and odd jobs for people are all gigs you can offer on Care.com.

Many gigs pay around $15 to $25+ per hour. And the fact you can set your own availability and rates is a selling point.

Just note you have to complete a background check to become a caregiver. Care.com also takes 10% from your bookings, and you can also upgrade to a premium membership to get better job alerts and visibility (we recommend upgrading to maximize your earning potential.)

• Pros: High hourly pay; wide variety of gigs.
• Cons: Finding your first clients can take a while.
• Average Pay: Varies based on gig.
• Sign Up: Join Care.com today!
• Extra Reading: Is Care.com Worth It?

3. Cleo

Cleo is an all-in-one finance app that's a great way to learn how to budget and save more. And it's also a leading cash advance app that lets its members borrow up to $250 to help make ends meet.

That's right: Cleo lets you borrow money against your future earnings, so you can get paid much earlier. But unlike most advance apps that don't support gig workers, Cleo doesn't require W2 forms or pay slips for you to potentially qualify for an advance.

If you need money to pay rent or bills, this advance can be super useful. And Cleo doesn't charge interest or run a credit check either.

The app is packed with other features too. For starters, it can help members build their credit scores. It also has a humorous chat assistant that can give you financial tips to save more money.

• Pros: Borrow up to $250; tons of other useful features
• Cons: You need a Cleo Plus subscription for some features
• Average Pay: First-time users can usually borrow $20 to $70; increase limit up to $250 over time
• Sign Up:?Try out the Cleo app!
• Extra Reading: Is The Cleo App Legit?

4. Sharetown

Want a high-paying resale gig that can scale into a full-time business?

Then Sharetown is for you. This exciting gig app lets you earn money by flipping mattresses, furniture, and other household pieces to people in your city as a Sharetown Rep.

Here’s how it works.

When major mattress and furniture companies get returns, some of them partner with Sharetown instead of dealing with returns themselves. Sharetown then has its network of Sharetown Reps pick up these returns and resell them on secondary marketplaces like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace to make a profit.

As a Sharetown Rep, you receive in-app alerts when there are new returns in your city that you can pick up. You can pick it up, store it at your house, and then list it for sale on different marketplaces at Sharetown’s suggested price.

When you make a sale, you pocket the cash and pay back a portion to Sharetown. On average, Reps are making $165 to $200+ per item they resell, but some items, like Queen or King beds, can pay even more.

Just note you need a truck, SUV, cargo van, or car and trailer to be a rep since items are heavy. You also need to have a helper who’s 18 or older with you, pass a background check, and have eligible auto insurance.

• Pros: High pay per flip; great mobile app
• Cons: You need a truck or larger vehicle
• Average Pay: $200+ per resale
• Sign Up: Become a Sharetown Rep today!

5. DoorDash

DoorDash is the leading food delivery service in North America, and is available in 5,000+ cities. It's also one of the best gig apps if you value flexibility and want to start working quickly.

Once you're approved to be a DoorDash driver, you simply use the DoorDash IOS or Android app to start delivering for restaurants and merchants in your area.

You can deliver via bike, car, or scooter. And, you get to choose the hours you deliver, so you can Dash as much or as little as you want.

You also keep 100% of all your tips, and your daily DoorDash pay can be quite decent if you put in enough hours and get lucky with consistent, decent-paying orders.

Overall, DoorDash is one of the best gig work apps out there, and I like it since it's easy to sign up for and a consistent earner.

• Pros: Flexible; high hourly pay; tip potential.
• Cons: Cost of gas; vehicle depreciation.
• Average Pay: Varies depending on your market.
• Sign Up:?Start delivering for DoorDash and start a new side gig!
• Learn More: Is DoorDash Worth It?.

6. Oppizi

Oppizi is of the highest paying gig apps on the market right now, and it's an excellent option if you want to get paid to walk and deliver flyers in your city.

As an Oppizi Brand Ambassador, you get paid to distribute flyers to people in your city for companies like Uber Eats, gopuff, and DoorDash. You get paid $23 per hour in the United States, plus sign-up bonuses, and you even get paid a small travel allowance!

I like that Oppizi is available in 70+ cities and 10 countries, including Canada, the United States, Australia, the UK, France, and Germany.

You can also sign up at just 16 years old in some countries. And the app is completely free and is available on Android and iOS.

Oppizi also lets you select the shifts, known as missions, that you want to work. You can work as much or as little as you want, and missions are generally three hours long.

You get paid on a weekly basis for missions you complete. Overall, Oppizi is an excellent, high-paying app based job you can test out.

• Pros: Flexible; high hourly pay; bonus potential.
• Cons: Shifts are short.
• Average Pay: $23 per hour plus bonuses; varies by country
• Sign Up: Start earning with Oppizi!
• Learn More: How To Make Money Without Having A Job.

7. Instacart

If you're looking for another app based job that's exploding in popularity, look no further than Instacart.

Like other food delivery gig apps, Instacart pays you to shop and delivery groceries to customers. And like DoorDash, you keep 100% of all your tips, and you also have full control over the orders you accept or decline.

Instacart hourly pay is approximately $13 per hour according to Glassdoor, so this is a solid app based job to test out. And if you get consistent Instacart batches, you can make pretty steady money per hour.

If you want to work for Instacart, I also suggest reading our post on the best Instacart shopper tips to learn how to maximize your earnings!

• Pros: Flexible; high hourly pay; tip potential.
• Cons: Cost of gas; vehicle depreciation.
• Average Pay: $13 to $25 per hour.
• Sign Up:?Start making money as an Instacart shopper!
• Learn More: Is Working For Instacart Worth It?

?The Best $200 Cash Advance Apps.

8. Amazon Flex

If delivering food isn't up your alley, you can still make a solid hourly wage with side hustles like Amazon Flex.

I've mentioned jobs like Amazon Flex in my post on ways to make $50 per day, and this is a relatively flexible side hustle that also pays well.

According to Indeed reviews, Amazon Flex drivers earn $20 per hour. In fact, Amazon always pays $15 to $19 per hour, making it one of the highest paying apps in the gig economy.

As long as you're 21, have a qualifying vehicle, and insurance, you can start the application process and submit to a background check.

Amazon Flex doesn't hire consistently in every city, so keep an eye on this gig job to see when new positions open up!

• Pros: Guaranteed hourly rate; high hourly earnings.
• Cons: Tips aren't as common as other delivery gigs.
• Average Pay: $20 per hour.
• Sign Up: Sign up for Amazon Flex!
• Learn More: Is Amazon Flex Worth It For Drivers?

9. Neighbor

If you have extra storage space or an unused parking spot you're not using, you can now earn some passive income with Neighbor!

Neighbor is basically the Airbnb of storage space, and it lets hosts rent out storage space like their garage, driveways, basements, sheds, and spare rooms.

As a host, you set your rental rates, availability, and also set rules for when renters can drop by to access their stuff. Hosts also have liability coverage up to $1,00,000, and renter's items are covered up to $25,000.

You get paid every 30 days through Stripe, so the money you make as a host goes right to your bank account.

Neighbor only charges a 4.9% fee + $0.30 every month you get paid, so you can easily make an extra $50 to $250+ per month with this gig app!

• Pros: Variety of rental options for easy passive income.
• Cons: It might take time to find your first renters.
• Average Pay: Varies depending on your property but many Neighbor hosts earn $50 to $200 per month with just one rental listing.
• Sign Up: Start making money with Neighbor today!
• Learn More: Read our Neighbor review for all the details!

10. Steady

If you're looking for apps for side jobs, one of your best options is undeniably the Steady app. Founded in 2017, Steady connects gig workers and freelancers with job opportunities in their city.

The app has grown quickly, surpassing 2 million users and even picking up celebrity advisors like Shaquille O'Neal.

Once you create a Steady account, you can find gigs just by entering your Zip code. Job categories include work from home jobs, anytime gigs, full-time, and part-time work.

A lot of the ideas are actually jobs I mention later on this list, although Steady also includes other local job opportunities and same-day shiftwork.

According to Steady, members earn approximately $5,500 more per year if they actually utilize the platform to find work, which is insane!

Ultimately, if you're looking for a central hub of side jobs, you need to give Steady a try.

• Pros: Variety of gig jobs; find local work fast.
• Cons: Not a direct gig job but more of a middleman.
• Average Pay: Varies depending on the job you sign up for.
• Sign Up: Sign up for Steady!
• Learn More: The Best Gig Apps Like Steady.

11. Rover

If you’re a dog lover, then one of the best app based jobs you can try out is Rover.

Rover is one of the largest networks of dog owners and sitters, and allows for pet owners to hand their beloved dog over to a sitter when they aren’t able to take care of their pet.

With Rover, sitters can offer house sitting, day-care, or simple walking services in exchange for cash.

Rover pays the most money if you offer house sitting or day-care services, but you can still make some decent money by just walking dogs in your neighborhood.

• Pros: Variety of services you can offer; get to play with dogs for a job.
• Cons: It takes time to find clients.
• Average Pay: Top Rover sitters and walkers can earn $1,000+ per month.
• Sign Up: Start making money with Rover!
• Learn More: 60+ Best Rover Headline Examples.

12. Shipt

One of the highest paying gig apps out there is Shipt, a leading grocery delivery job like Instacart.

As a Shipt Shopper, you get paid to shop for people's groceries and then deliver them. You can apply if you're 18 or older, have a vehicle, pass a background check, and live in the United States.

Shipt Shoppers generally make about $15 to $20 per hour on average, and you keep 100% of all your tips like with Uber Eats or Instacart.

• Pros: Variety of services you can offer; get to play with dogs for a job.
• Cons: Only available in the United States.
• Average Pay: $15 to $20 per hour.
• Sign Up: Sign up for Shipt.
• Learn More: How to avoid Shipt Shopper deactivation.

13. TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is an incredibly well known task-based marketplace where ‘Taskers’ and people seeking work done can find one another.

Some of the most popular categories of work on TaskRabbit include:

• Home cleaning
• Furniture assembly
• Painting work
• Yard work
• General handyman related jobs

Since TaskRabbit is popular in England, Canada, and the United States, this is truly one comprehensive gig app where you can start making money on the side!

Some TaskRabbit gigs even pay quite high hourly rates, and you can certainly expect to earn more than minimum wage if you get some steady TaskRabbit work!

• Pros: Wide range of gigs you can offer; you set your own rate and hours.
• Cons: Not as much demand as popular gig apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats.
• Average Pay: Varies depending on the gig you set, but many gigs are around $20 to $40 per hour.
• Sign Up: Become a Tasker today!
• Learn More: 8 Apps Like TaskRabbit Powering The Gig Economy.

14. Premise

Want to get paid to explore your city? In that case, one of the best gig work apps out there is Premise.

With Premise, you get paid small amounts of cash for completing short tasks in your city. It's a mix of a mystery shopping gig and freelance gig app.

Tasks often include tasks like taking photos of buildings, taking photos of store displays, and confiming the prices of various items.

You can also make money by answering short in-app surveys. And Premise lets you cash out with PayPal cash or Bitcoin once you earn $10.

• Pros: Variety of ways to earn.
• Cons: Not many gigs in small towns,
• Average Pay: $3 to $7 per task.
• Sign Up: Sign up for Premise!
• Learn More: Read my Premise app review.
• Extra Reading: Check out our post on the best apps that pay you to play games!

15. Wag

Wag is one of the main apps like Rover, and allows for side hustlers to make side cash by walking dogs.

The process of working for Wag is also identical to Rover, more or less. Sign up/create a Wag account, create your own schedule, and start earning money for walking dogs or through pet sitting.

Wag does take 40% of all completed jobs in commission, which is higher than Rover, so keep this in mind when deciding if Wag is worth it.

• Pros: Can supplement your Rover income.
• Cons: Not as lucrative as Rover; takes time to find clients.
• Average Pay: Varies depending on how many clients/dogs you have; can probably make a few hundred a month with steady clients.
• Sign Up: Get started with Wag.
• Learn More: These apps pay $100 a day or more!

16. Handy

Like a lot of the gig apps mentioned in this post, Handy generally pays higher than minimum wage. And, you can earn quick money if you get a steady line of work with the platform.

In fact, you can probably earn a few hundred dollars in a weekend of work with Handy. Just checkout these earnings one Handy Pro shared with us on WebMonkey:

Personally, I hate assembling furniture, but if you don’t mind the work, Handy is a great platform to start a side hustle with!

• Pros: Variety of services you can offer; high hourly pay.
• Cons: Takes time to find clients.
• Average Pay: Many gigs pay $20 to $50 per hour.
• Sign Up: Become a Handy Pro today!
• Learn More: Check out our official Handy review!

17. Dolly

If you’re interested in helping people move to make extra money, one of the best gig apps out there is Dolly.

On Dolly, you can register as a ‘Helper’ or as a ‘Hand.’

Helpers are required to own their own pickup truck/box truck and be physically capable of lifting more than 75 pounds. Hands, on the other hand (haha, hand puns) are there just for the extra help.

Helpers generally earn $30/hour, while Hands can make $15/hour.

Dolly is definitely one of the most popular gig apps for people who want to help DIY movers, and the earning potential is quite substantial for anyone who owns a truck!

• Pros: Earn more than minimum wage; two types of job roles.
• Cons: You need a truck to earn the most money.
• Average Pay: $15 to $30 per hour depending on your role.
• Sign Up: Sign up for Dolly.
• Learn More: 20 Realistic Ways To Make Money With A Pickup Truck.

18. Walmart Spark

Like other driving gigs, another popular gig work app you can try is Walmart Spark.

This delivery gig pays you to shop and deliver everyday essentials and groceries to Walmart customers. You can sign up if you're 18 or older, live in the United States, and have a vehicle.

Spark drivers makes about $15 per hour on average. You get to choose when you work, so it's a pretty flexible side hustle.

You also keep 100% of all tips, just like with gigs like Uber Eats or DoorDash. And Walmart Spark is expanding all across the United States.

• Pros: Easy sign up process.
• Cons: Walmart Spark is still expanding.
• Average Pay: $15 per hour.
• Sign Up: Sign up for Walmart Spark.

19. LawnLove

If you’re a professional landscaper or know how to maintain a pristine patch of green, LawnLove might be the perfect gig app for you.

LawnLove connects lawn care professionals and clients for a variety of jobs, including:

• Lawn mowing.
• Aeration.
• Weed control.
• Grass seeding.
• Leaf removal.

You might even find that clients are willing to stick around for weekly/monthly/yearly contracts with you if your workmanship is high in quality.

Lawn Love states you can earn $1,000 a week, and you get to set your own schedule which is pretty awesome.

Just note: you need your own equipment and likely need a pickup truck to haul your lawncare supplies to job sites.

• Pros: Flexible schedule; high earning potential.
• Cons: Need lawncare knowledge and equipment.
• Average Pay: Approximately $20 per hour according to salary review websites.
• Sign Up: Start working with Lawn Love.

20. Wonolo

Wonolo is a job marketplace app where workers can find and accept jobs in their area with the touch of a button.

On Wonolo, if you find a job you want to do and it’s the right fit, you can accept it and get to work that very same day.

Many Wonolo jobs involve manufacturing processes, shipping, delivery, or some other form of logistical work. But the pay can be decent and the supply of jobs is also quite high!

According to salary review website Glassdoor, Wonolo jobs usually pay around $12 to $21 per hour.

There is so much opportunity out there thanks to technology, and hopefully one of these side gig ideas stands out to you!

• Pros: Variety of jobs; find local gigs the same day; high average pay.
• Cons: Jobs are temporary so your earning potential is lower.
• Average Pay: $12 to $21 per hour depending on the job you find.
• Sign Up: Find jobs with Wonolo!
• Learn More: Read our Wonolo app review or post on apps like Wonolo for even more information!

21. Jobble

Jobble is one of the most popular on demand gig apps. On Jobble, side hustlers can find flexible, same-day job opportunities by browsing a massive marketplace of gig economy jobs.

Finding work on Jobble is simple. Just download the free Jobble app, create a profile (includes your resume and qualifications, and apply to jobs in your area. Browse the Jobbler job board to see what companies are looking for workers in your area.

There are many different industries that work with Jobble, so you're likely to find something that suits your skill set.

Restaurants, delivery companies, and event management companies are a few common companies that use Jobble, but again, check the job board to view local results.

• Pros: Variety of gig jobs; local opportunities.
• Cons: Jobs are temporary so your earning potential is lower.
• Average Pay: Varies depending on the job you find but similar to Wonolo, so around $12 to $20 an hour.
• Sign Up: Find work with Jobble.
• Extra Reading: The Best Jobs That Pay $15 An Hour.

22. Bellhops

There are so many families who resort to DIY moving when moving to a new home, and this is why Bellhops exists.

With this app based job, you can work as a mover and assist families/businesses that need help with relocating.

It’s tough work, and no one really likes the process of moving, but you can earn some decent money by working through Bellhop.

Typically, Bellhop workers earn around $15 to $25 per hour to help people move.

But if you have a pickup truck, you might be able to earn more money per hour by working with a platform like Dolly.

• Pros: High hourly pay.
• Cons: Not as much job availability as various delivery apps.
• Average Pay: $15 to $25 per hour.
• Sign Up: Sign up for Bellhops.

23. Lugg

If you're looking for more app based jobs that involve helping people move, Lugg is another company worth considering.

Like Bellhops and Dolly, Lugg pays you to help people move.

You earn more if you have a truck, but you can still sign up for the platform as a helper to make some extra cash on the side.

Lugg states you can earn up to $2,500 per week, which is absolutely insane. I wouldn't expect this much, but you can definitely earn a lot of cash per move and you also keep 100% of the tips you receive.

According to Indeed, it seems like Lugg workers earn around $35 per hour on average, which makes this one of the highest paying gig apps in the moving space.

Lugg states you must be over 18 and be capable of lifting at least 100 pounds to sign up.

However, another plus of Lugg is that you get paid at the end of everyday through direct deposit, so you can probably clear $100+ in a single day and get the most fast.

• Pros: High hourly pay; flexible schedule.
• Cons: Not as much job availability as various delivery apps.
• Average Pay: $35 per hour.
• Sign Up: Become a Lugger today!!

24. HelloTech

HelloTech is another popular gig app that connects skilled technicians with people in need.

Common HelloTech gigs generally involve WiFi/Internet troubleshooting, audio/video assistance, TV mounting, tablet/device support, and general IT help.

The application process takes some time, and you’ll need to complete a skills assessment, phone screening, and submit a background check before being allowed to complete gigs through HelloTech.

However, your patience will be worth it: HelloTech gigs pay between $30-$90+ and pay throughout PayPal!?If you possess some of the higher-paying skills required to work for HelloTech, this gig might be worth a shot!

If you’ve always been the tech support expert in your family or friend group, consider putting those skills to work with HelloTech!

• Pros: Extremely high hourly pay per gig.
• Cons: Not a lot of job availability.
• Average Pay: $30 to $90 per gig.
• Sign Up: Sign up to become a HelloTech technician.

25. Your Mechanic

If you're good with cars and repairs, one of the best gig apps you can make money with is Your Mechanic.

The concept behind Your Mechanic is simple; why take your car to a mechanic, when the mechanic can come to you?

The nicest aspect about working through Your Mechanic is your ability to specialize.

You don’t need to be an expert mechanic or have all the tools an auto shop would have. Rather, you can specialize in a certain kind of car repair and serve clients who need the work done.

Your Mechanic is really about keeping things simple, so you aren’t expected to meet customers for full-car servicing or anything complex.

• Pros: High hourly pay; set your own schedule.
• Cons: Requires previous job experience or knowledge to work for.
• Average Pay: $40 to $50 per hour.
• Sign Up: Start making cash with Your Mechanic.

26. Zeel

If you are a licensed massage therapist (how niche!)?you can make money in your spare time by working as an in-home massage therapist.

Like other gig economy apps, you can set your own hours and choose what sort of spa/massage work you do with Zeel.

This massage-on-demand platform is pretty much the most popular app in the niche, so if you are a massage therapist looking for extra work, I’d begin your search here.

In terms of payment, Zeel pays their masseuses 75% of every booking, and an 18% gratuity fee is added to the price of every appointment.?You keep 100% of this gratuity amount.

Zeel also makes a substantial effort to protect their workers.?Zeel clients have to provide identification, and the app uses a check-in system to ensure masseuses arrive, begin, and finish their work on time.

• Pros: High-pay per gig; Zeel has various safety features to protect workers.
• Cons: Takes time to find clients.
• Average Pay: Zeel states you earn 2 times the pay you would if you worked in an actual clinic.
• Sign Up: Join Zeel's provider network.

27. GigWalk

GigWalk is another awesome way to make money with your smartphone while you’re on the go.

On GigWalk, users can earn money by completing jobs for other people within their local area.?Examples of gigs might include verifying business hours or providing information about certain roads.

According to GigWalk’s FAQ, average jobs pay between $3-$100.

However, you shouldn’t expect most GigWalk gigs to pay $100; those kinds of gigs are more like nice surprises.?But you can still earn a few dollars by completing most gigs!

There are a variety of other gig types as well, and ultimately, GigWalk is a nice way to make some extra money on the side!

Plus, if you want to get paid to workout and enjoy walking around town to complete jobs, this is the perfect gig app to try.

• Pros: Super flexible side gig app; can find high-paying gigs.
• Cons: Job availability is low in certain markets.
• Average Pay: Gigs pay between $3 to $100.
• Sign Up: Become a Gigwalker today!.
• Learn More: Gigwalk App Review – Is Gigwalk Legit & Worth It?

28. Field Agent

Field Agent is another commonly referenced app that allows people to earn extra money while meandering around in daily life.

Once you download the Field Agent app, you have to complete an Agent Profile and fill out some information regarding where you live.

After you’re done your profile, you can find a list of jobs that are available in your area (if anyone has posted them).

A lot of jobs pay $5 to $10, so it's a nifty way to make some extra cash on the side.

Now, I only recommend using Field Agent if you are in major city.

If you don’t live in a metropolitan area, your closets job offers might be 30-60 minutes away from where you live; hardly worth the trip for some side cash.

• Pros: One of the largest mystery shopping/side gig apps around.
• Cons: Job availability is low in certain markets.
• Average Pay: Jobs usually pay $5 to $10.
• Learn More: Is Field Agent Legit?

29. Shopkick

Shopkick is actually a versatile platform in which users can earn gift cards and rewards by completing activities both online and in-store.

For their in-store options, Shopkick allows users to earn points by scanning certain bar codes, purchasing items with a linked card, and also uploading pictures of receipts.

I’ve covered various?receipt scanning apps that save money?before, but Shopkick adds a nice addition to this style of reward platform by encouraging people to explore the stores near them.

I don't think Shopkick is one of the higher-paying gig apps at the end of the day, but hey, earning some free money never hurts!

• Pros: Several ways to earn points; redeem a variety of gift cards.
• Cons: Not very high-paying.
• Average Pay: Most gigs pay around 10 to 100 points, or $0.10 to $1.
• Learn More: Checkout our Shopkick review or post on apps similar to Shopkick to get all the details!

Extra Reading – The Best Beermoney Apps That Pay.

30. EasyShift

If you like gig apps that involve mystery shopping, EasyShift is another excellent app to add to your smartphone.

EasyShift’s website describes the app quite simple with the statement: “Get paid to shop, eat, and explore in your city.”

With EasyShift, users are able to find local jobs (within the United States and U.K.)?that will reward them upon completion.

Common tasks on EasyShift include taking photos of products, double checking prices, leaving reviews, and other various tasks.

Upon the completion of a task, you are paid through PayPal.?Most tasks typically pay a few dollars, but tasks may payout more depending on the vendor or company who is posting the offer.

• Pros: Variety of tasks; easy jobs to complete.
• Cons: Not much gig availability; low paying gigs.
• Average Pay: A few dollars per task you complete.
• Sign Up: Check out EasyShift.

Extra Reading – How To Make $100 PayPal Cash.

31. Presto Instashop

?Presto InstaShop is a mystery shopping platform where users can earn money by heading to specific stores and providing feedback on their experiences, store appearance, customer support satisfaction, and product availability.

There are so many mystery shopping apps and platforms out there, but Presto InstaShop seems to be the one where I’ve found the most local gigs out of a few I researched before writing this post.

I think this side gig app pays less than both Field Agent and GigWalker, but it's worth adding to your smartphone if you want more mystery shopping work.

• Pros: Has lots of local jobs in many markets.
• Cons: Not always as high paying as Field Agent or GigWalker.
• Average Pay: A few dollars per gig.
• Sign Up: Check out Presto InstaShop.

32. Surveys On The Go

While I don’t usually advocate the use of micro task sites for making most of your gig app income, Surveys On The Go is one of the more interesting survey-based platforms out there.

Surveys On The Go allows users to earn money via email-invite surveys, but they also mix things up a bit with their earnings methods.

Users can also (occasionally) watch TV shows or movies or evaluate their shopping experience at certain stores to qualify for additional surveys that pay.?Rarely, you might even be sent an actual product which you can keep in exchange for reviewing it.

If you want to earn some extra income and aren’t afraid of surveys, Surveys On The Go might be the app for you!

If you like this category of side gig apps, I also suggest checking out Survey Junkie and Branded Surveys, two higher-paying survey websites.

• Pros: Very easy way to make money.
• Cons: Extremely low pay.
• Average Pay: $0.10 to $2 per survey but usually on the lower end.
• Sign Up: Learn More About Surveys On The Go.

Extra Reading – Surveys That Pay Cash Instantly.

33. Rent Like A Champion

I actually saw the rental-based system Rent Like A Champion when watching Shark Tank, in which the housing rental startup received $200,000 for 10% of their equity (back in 2015).

Fast forwards to 2018, and Rent Like A Champion is a firmly established real estate rental platform that has come to dominate the sports rental niche.

Rent Like A Champion connects passionate sports fans with willing hosts who happen to live nearby major sports venues, college football stadiums, or areas where a major sporting event will occur.

If you live in a football town or near annual sporting events that draw massive crowds, renting out a spare room for a few weekends every year might add some substantial income to your life!

• Pros: A great source of extra income if you live in a major sporting town.
• Cons: Highly seasonal income.
• Average Pay: Varies depending on your property but can probably make a few hundred dollars for a weekend rental.
• Sign Up: Make money with Rent Like A Champion.

34. Airbnb

And even if you don't have a complete home to rent out, you can still make money on autopilot by renting out a spare room or guest house if you can build one on your property.

You can choose to rent out on weekends, or even for extended periods of time if you don’t mind having another long-term resident!

• Pros: Pretty much the best gig app to rent out property because of demand.
• Cons: Airbnb host fees and you need to own property of course.
• Average Pay: Several hundred dollars a month or even more if you get enough rentals.
• Sign Up: Host your home with Airbnb.

Extra reading – 16 Assets You Can Rent Out For Passive Income.

35. Getaround

Another one of the best gig apps for anyone looking for passive income is Getaround.

With Getaround, users are able to rent their car out to other drivers for hourly fees. Essentially, you can use Getaround to act as your own DIY car rental business.

This is the same car sharing model that Turo, another popular gig app, has popularized.

Drivers who want to rent your car are also screened and provide Getaround with their driving record, and the Getaround app makes it easy to list your vehicle and connect with interested drivers.

Personally I don’t feel comfortable renting out my car. But if you rarely use your vehicle, Getaround can allow you to generate some revenue from a depreciating asset!

• Pros: Earn passive income with your car; comprehensive host protection policies.
• Cons: Vehicle wear and tear; extra mileage on your car.
• Average Pay: Hosts earn 60% of rental fees, which usually means $20 to $30 per day in rental income.
• Sign Up: List your car on Getaround.

36. Rentah

Besides having an awesome name, Rentah is a pretty neat rental-based platform that allows users to make extra money by renting out items they own.

To rent an item, all you have to do is make a listing, provide some information and pictures, and choose a rental price.

You can rent out both goods and services on Rentah for free, and your only cost will come from the 5% fee Rentah takes on all transactions.

However, Rentah can serve as an excellent side hustle to start if you live in a population dense area and have some desirable goods/skills to rent out!

• Pros: Renta a variety of assets for additional income.
• Cons: 5% rental fee for all transactions.
• Average Pay: Varies depending on what you rent out but you set your prices.
• Sign Up: Make money with Rentah.

Extra Reading – Passive Income Ideas For Students.

37. Spot Hero

Spot Hero is another popular gig app that allows people to rent out their unused parking spaces. If you want to make money with no car, this is a pretty obvious choice.

Spot Hero also has a child company, Parking Panda, where over 5 million parking spots are currently listed.?If Spot Hero isn’t popular in your area, you can check Parking Panda to try your luck elsewhere!

If you have a parking spot you never use, there is no reason not to make additional income every month by renting out your spot.

• Pros: Earn passive income with an empty parking space.
• Cons: You need an empty parking space for this gig app to work.
• Average Pay: Can earn $100+ per month.
• Sign Up: Rent your parking spot with Spot Hero.

38. Turning Art

Turning Art is ‘Artwork as a service,’ and enables artists to rent their pieces to corporations, real estate agents, or businesses that have a need for art.

If you’re an aspiring artist who is interested in renting out your art, I’d seriously consider looking into Turning Art and reading some testimonials!

Besides, working with Turning Art can be a great way to gain exposure for your work while earning extra money!

• Pros: One of the best passive income ideas for artists.
• Cons: Extremely niche and therefore lower earning potential.
• Average Pay: Can earn a few hundred dollars.
• Sign Up: Rent out your artwork with Turning Art.

39. Fiverr

Fiverr is one of the most recognized gig economy platforms where freelancers can sell their skills online by offering a variety of services for as low as $5/gig.

If you’re a skilled graphic designer, web developer, SEO specialist, Fiverr can be especially lucrative to get started with.

Additionally, you don’t have to price your gigs at $5…there are thousands of sellers on Fiverr who offer more comprehensive services and charge higher rates.

There are so many services offered on Fiverr, so I recommend checking out their marketplace to see if there is a niche you can find work in.

• Pros: Wide variety of gigs you can offer; you set your own prices.
• Cons: Extremely competitive gig marketplace.
• Average Pay: Many gigs are in the $5 to $20 range but you can find ones for hundreds of dollars.
• Sign Up: Start making money with Fiverr!

Extra Reading – Best Upwork Jobs For Beginners.

40. Fancy Hands

If you live in the United States and have a knack for assistant/administrative work, Fancy Hands is an excellent way to make money online.

If you get approved to the program, you can start making work as a virtual assistant and begin building up your network of clients.

Hourly pay with Fancy Hands can be quite decent, and you can even score longer term contracts that provide some more regular pay.

In fact, Fancy Hands pays around $15 per hour when you become a fast virtual assistant, but you can also get promoted and manage other VAs to earn more.

• Pros: A great way to start working as a virtual assistant.
• Cons: Not as lucrative as starting your own virtual assistant freelancing business.
• Average Pay: Approximately $15 per hour.
• Sign Up: Start working with Fancy Hands.
• Learn More: Check out my Fancy Hands review.

Extra Reading – The Best Sites Like Appen.

What Is Gig Work?

Gig work is temporary work that is completed by independent contractors, freelancers, contract workers, and other similar non-employed individuals. It's different than a W2 role where you are legally employed by a company.

Gig workers often work for several clients at the same time. In recent years, app based jobs and side gigs have grown in popularity, with platforms like Uber and DoorDash leading the charge.

Gig workers are responsible for filing their own taxes and reporting income they make. They also don't receive company benefits like vacation time or medical coverage like full-time W2 employees might receive. However, the main advantage of gig work is flexibility over your time and the ability to hustle as much or as little as you like.

Factors To Consider When Using Gig Apps

Choosing the best gig app depends on several factors, and there isn't a single best choice that's going to work for everyone.

Some important factors you should consider when looking for a side job include:

• Hourly Pay. Your goal should be to earn more than minimum wage as a gig worker.
• Flexibility. Different apps have various scheduling rules, but you have full control over when you want to work.
• Availability. You need to pick a job that's actually available in your city, since these jobs aren't completely global.
• Requirements. Different gig economy apps have different requirements for signing-up, such as age requirements or vehicle restrictions.
• Earning Potential. You want to choose a gig that allows you to earn and lets you work as many hours as you want and has enough demand to support that.

As long as you choose a job that pays well and sounds enjoyable, you can use gig apps to boost your monthly income and improve your finances.

Tips For Making Money With Gig Work

Before you sign up and start working, here are some additional tips to help you maximize your gig economy income.

1. Track Your Income. As an independent contractor, you need to accurately report your income at tax time, so track it throughout the year!
2. Track Your Expenses. If you try gig apps like driving for DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Instacart, you need to track expenses like gas and vehicle repairs.
3. Experiment. Different platforms work better in certain cities or for different people, so don't be afraid to try several gig jobs to find what you like best.
4. Be Safe. Many of the best gig apps like food delivery jobs can involve working at night, so always be safe. This means wearing reflective clothing and also avoiding potentially sketchy areas of town.

As long as you follow these basic tips, I firmly believe you can make meaningful money with the top gig apps to reach your financial goals faster.

Extra Reading – How Much Can You Make A Week With DoorDash?

Pros And Cons Of Using Gig Economy Apps

Pros:

• Flexible work schedule
• Earn above minimum wage with many app based jobs
• Work as much or as little as you want to
• You don't need previous skills for many gig apps

Cons:

• You usually hit an earning ceiling around $20 to $30 per hour
• Small towns don't have much available work

Extra Reading – How To Make $2,000 Fast – The Best Methods.

What Gig Apps Pay The Same Day?

If you're looking for gig apps that pay the same day, your best bet is to try food delivery apps like DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber Eats.

All of these side job apps let drivers cash out their daily earnings instantly for a small fee. For example, with DoorDash Fast Pay, you can withdraw your daily earnings for a $1.99 fee, letting you get paid for your work the very same day!

Extra Reading – The Best Gig Apps That Pay The Same Day.

What Are Some Gig Apps Without Background Checks?

Unfortunately, most delivery-based gig jobs require a background check. This includes jobs like DoorDash and Amazon Flex and even lesser-known package delivery jobs like Roadie or GoShare.

If this is a concern, I think online or app based jobs are your best bet. This includes mystery shopping apps, micro task sites, and apps like Gigwalk or Premise that pay you for completing jobs around your city.

Extra Reading – The Best Gig Apps With No Background Check.

Final Thoughts On The Best Gig Jobs

At the end of the day, I think we live in a world where it is easier than it has ever been to make money by using technology.

We have so much power and information right in the palm of our hands via our smartphones, and the mixture of gig economy apps and websites have enabled people to start their own side hustles with ease.

It doesn't matter if you try delivery jobs like Uber Eats or Instacart, or try out various side gig apps for some beermoney; all of these apps can help you make some extra money if you put in the time.

Whatever you choose, how far you wish to take these miniature side hustles is really up to you, but the world is your oyster!

If these sorts of jobs really your thing, I highly suggest taking a look at some of my other posts on side hustling, including:

• The best ways to make money in one hour.
• The best jobs you can do from your phone.
• How to do DoorDash for the first time.

Additionally, if you are a fan of lists like this post, you should also take a peek at this list of?111 side hustle ideas?from my friend Peter at Dollar Sanity.

The post 40 Best Gig Apps (2024) – Make Money With Gig Work! appeared first on WebMonkey.

However, while reading might be a leisurely activity, this hobby can also be turned into a side hustle if you know where to look.

I've covered how people can make money writing reviews before. But this post is going to break down the best ways you can make money reading books and writing short reviews for them.

Looking for other money making methods? Checkout:

• Freecash: A fun way to earn gift cards and cash in your spare time.
• Branded Surveys: Another popular survey site with gift card and PayPal cash rewards.

How To Read Books For Money

1. Kirkus Media

Kirkus Media is a reputable company that lets you make money reading books, and it offers a wide range of services for authors, editors, and book lovers alike on their website.

Kirkus is also seeking English and Spanish book reviewers to cover content for Kirkus Indie, the media company's magazine section that features independent authors.

Reviews have to be roughly 350 words in length, and reviewers are given 2 weeks to read and review books once they are assigned. Kirkus covers pretty much any genre, and they expect a high quality review with some thought, not a plagiarized jumble.

Kirkus pays $50 for reviews based on testimonials I have read, so this could be a decent way to make money by reading and reviewing books.

Extra Reading – How To Make $50 A Day.

2. Start A Book Review Blog

Personally, I think the best way to get paid to read books is to start your own book review blog.

Starting your own blog is not quick or guaranteed money. However, I think the potential value of creating your own website is much higher than working $15 gig jobs on review websites.

The path to income might be much slower, but the rewards could be worth it.

If there is a particular genre you are interested in, you could start a very niche website to cover books or content in the space.

Alternatively, if you are interested in a general topic, you could start a blog on that subject and just write book reviews every so often. Between Amazon affiliate links and advertising revenue, you might be able to make a modest bit of side income every month!

And blogging can turn into a serious income stream. For example, WebMonkey made $272,000 in 2022, and it now makes $1,000 a day or more between Mediavine ads and affiliate income.

My blog is in the finance niche, but there's no reason you can't make money reading books and writing about them on your own blog.

I've personally always wanted to create a military history based blog where I write about interesting battles or historical figures and then promote my content on niche communities on Reddit, so perhaps this will be a side project down the line!

Extra Reading – How To Pick A Blog Niche!

3. Start A Book Review YouTube Channel

If you're feeling creative, one option you can try is to make money reading books on YouTube.

The idea here is to read books and then talk about them or review them on YouTube. This lets you make money with YouTube ads and also through affiliate links in the description box.

And you can make quite a bit of money with this idea. Just take a look at the YouTube channel Paper Back Dreams.

It's run by a young adult who clearly loves books. She has 80,000+ subscribers on YouTube, plenty of other followers on various social media platforms, and is probably making bank by having companies sponsor the intro to some of her videos (plus any ad revenue).

This is proof that you can take a passion, turn it into a hobby, and earn passive income while providing other people value.

Just note: if you're wondering if you can read books aloud on YouTube for money, the answer is no.

Book reviews are okay because you're providing your own thoughts and intellectual property on a subject. The reason you can't read books on YouTube is because it's essentially copyright infringement.

You can read excerpts and likely be alright, but I'd focus on the review for the most part! However, it's certainly possible to make money on YouTube, so don't let competition scare you!

In fact, I started my own channel recently, and have grown it to nearly 10,000 subscribers!

So, if you love books and have always wanted to start a YouTube channel, this idea could be up your alley!

Extra Reading – The Best Ways To Make Money On Autopilot.

4. Online Book Club

Another popular way to get paid to read books and snag some free reading material in the process is to use Online Book Club.

Online Book Club isn't a get-rich-quick scheme, and they outline that very clearly in their hiring page.

Rather, Online Book Club is designed to help new authors promote their work, and they have some incentives in place to attract qualified reviewers. It's as simple as that.

Your first few reviews for Online Book Club will be unpaid, but you will get all reading material for free. If your review quality is high enough, you can then start to earn $5-$60 per book review.

I don't like that you have to do unpaid work since most legit online jobs pay you for all the work you complete.

That said, if you stick with it, Online Book Club is a popular way to read books for money if you're willing to write.

5. The U.S. Review Of Books

The U.S. Review of Books is currently hiring freelance writers for both book reviews and guest blogging, so it's another way to get paid to read books.

However,?you need some prior experience, sample work, and at least 2 professional references for your entry application.

If you're hired, you're assigned books to read and review that match your reading preferences as closely as possible. Reviews are 250-300 words and expected to be completed within 2-3 weeks of assignment.

The website doesn't state how much reviewers are paid, but reviewers are paid on the 5th of every month for the previous month of work in addition to receiving free books.

6. Any Subject Books

Another website you can use to potentially make money reading books is Any Subject Books.

While Any Subject Books is not currently seeking reviewers, this site is still one to bookmark as it has historically been a reliable way to make money by reading and providing your opinion.

Any Subject Books has reviewers commit on a book-by-book basis to provide honest and thorough reviews for the books they read.

Payment varies based on the length of the book a reviewer is assigned, and submissions are not guaranteed to be accepted. However, if you can build a relationship with Any Subject Books once they start hiring reviewers again, you might have found a reliable source of extra income.

Note:?Any Subject Books isn't operating anymore.

7. Book Browse

Book Browse is a predominantly U.S. book club website, and it also has opportunities to read books for money.

Any genre is welcome on Book Browse for the most part, but to become a paid reviewer you will have to complete an application form along with some sample reviews.

Book Browse reviews are roughly 300 words in length, so this isn't too much work upfront.

According to Book Browse “Our reviewers tend to write about one review a month for us, and receive a byline and modest payment,” so make of that what you will. Regardless, if you want free books and to get paid to read, this is another option to consider!

8. Booklist

If you're still wondering how to make money reading books, one website you can apply to is Booklist.

Booklist is a review journal for public and school libraries, with a primary goal of assisting librarians and readers with their selections. Book reviews are the backbone of Booklist, who publish roughly 8,000 reviews a year.

While opportunities are limited, freelancers can be commissioned to write reviews for $15 and piece, or blog posts for the Booklist website for $12.50.

You have to familiarize yourself with the publication and get in contact with a genre-specific editor if you are interested in working with Booklist, but this could be a decent opportunity to make quick money if you have experience with review writing.

9. Women's Review Of Books

Women's Review of Books has been around for 36 years, and while they are currently paying writers for their reviews and short stories, they expect you to have experience and credentials to back up your pitches.

WRB expects all pitches to include information on your credentials, the type of work you are interested in, and samples of your previous?already published work.?

Writers are paid $100 per review, so this is definitely one of the higher paying book reading jobs out there, but competition is tough for this one.

10. Voice Over Work For Audiobooks

If you've ever been told you have a voice that's fit for radio or extremely soothing, you might be able to get paid to read books aloud by doing voice over work or even audiobook recording.

Websites like Fiverr or designated voice over marketplaces like Voices.com offer an incredible amount of opportunity for voice over work.

Audio book gigs can pay thousands of dollars, and there is only going to be a growing need for audio work as the world continues to become more digital.

Extra Reading – How To Make $5,000 A Month.

11. Editing & Proofreading Books

If you have great attention to detail and a strong command of grammar and language, editing work is another way to make money reading books that you can try.

Editing jobs are always in demand, and while I've found they are harder to get than general content writing work, the pay can be quite lucrative.

According to Indeed.com, freelance editors earn $23+ per hour on average, although editors with experience or specialization in a certain vertical can make more. And the Bureau of Labor Statistics says editors earn $61,000 per year on average.

You probably have to build up a portfolio or business website for your services, and securing your first few clients will be tough (you may have to price yourself competitively to get through the early stages).

However, with enough hard work and determination you may be able to build your own proofreading side hustle in time!

You can also checkout this list of 32 remote job websites to start your online job search for editing work!

12. Upwork

While this option is similar to point 11, Upwork is an awesome marketplace for editors, reviewers, and even ghostwriters. If you want to get paid to read books, it's definitely worth checking out Upwork and creating your own freelancer profile.

Upwork sucks in that they charge between 15% – 20% in service fees on all contracts. However, if you have some serious editorial credentials, you can charge a decent rate.

Just check out these two Upwork book editors I found:

Each editor is charging $30+ per hour, so this is a pretty high-paying online side hustle that you can try out.

Obviously, this isn't the most leisurely way to make money reading books. However, for a side job or even full-time career, there's plenty of money on the table.

Extra Reading – Best Upwork Jobs For Beginners.

13. Reedsy

Reedsy is another platform that pays people to read and review books. And right now, the website has over 2,400 editors and 200 ghostwriters making money as freelancers.

It's kind of like Upwork, just for reading books. Reedsy charges 10% as a service fee but you don't pay to join.

What's nice is that Reedsy has some larger projects too, like editing an entire book for an aspiring author. In this case, a gig could easily pay $1,000 to $5,000 or more.

?How To Make $5,000 Fast.

14. Get Paid To Translate Books

Do you speak another language? If so, you might be able to make money translating books.

This is a more niche side hustle. But you can find translation gigs on freelancer marketplaces like Fiverr or Upwork. Job sites like FlexJobs also have regular translation gigs.

15. Get A Publishing Job

One final idea for reading books for money is to find a job in publishing.

Believe it or not, there are?tons?of options here that involve books. Some popular ones include:

• Book marketing assistant
• Cover designer
• Illustrator
• Book contract manager
• Copy editor
• Literary agent
• Book sales agent
• Public relations agent

You likely need a degree to land most of these jobs. But many publishing companies are still hiring, and you can find job postings on Indeed or other job boards.

?The Best Jobs Paying $5K A Month.

How Much Money Can You Make Reading Books?

Most gigs that let you get paid to read books require writing reviews about them as well. And for these gigs, you can usually earn $15 to $50 at most per review.

Full-time writing and editorial jobs can pay much more. But this is generally a fun side job, not a full-time income source. Working in an actual publishing role is your best bet to making more money in this industry.

Extra Reading – How To Make $3,000 Fast.

Can You Get Paid To Read Children's Books?

You can make money reading children's books if you land an audiobook narrator job. However, this likely requires having a specific voice and previous experience. It might be difficult to find regular work in this field.

We suggest looking for gigs on Voices.com and other audiobook narration websites.

Can You Monetize Reading Books On YouTube?

No, you can't make money reading books on YouTube. This is because reading books aloud on YouTube is considered intellectual property infringement, so your channel isn't eligible for monetization and might get banned.

However, you can make money with reading books on YouTube by creating book review content that shares your opinions about different books.

This?isn't?infringing on any intellectual property. And a lot of people make money with reading or listening to music with these sorts of channels.

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide on how to make money reading books helps you find a new, fun side hustle you can do in your spare time.

I don't think a lot of methods to get paid to read books are going to make $20k a month or anything like that. But you can still make some decent side income while doing something you enjoy.

Just have realistic expectations, and there's no reason why you can't find success with this side hustle.

Additionally, if you want to learn how to make money as a freelance writer in this space, I suggest checking out my new course, Freelance Writing For Freedom!

Want to try even more money making methods? Checkout:

• The Best Work From Phone Jobs.
• How To Make Money Reading Emails.
• How To Make Money As A Creative Writer.

The post 15 Best Ways To Make Money Reading Books appeared first on WebMonkey.

Well, in this post, I'm covering 20+ beginner passive income ideas that you can use to get started.

This post is going to contain a mix of easy, medium, and hard ideas you can use to diversify your monthly income, so there's something in it for everyone!

Want some quick wins alongside earning passive income? Checkout:

• EarnIn: Borrow up to $750 against an upcoming paycheck!
• Moomoo: Earn up to 8.21% APY on extra cash and get up to 15 free stocks with Moomoo!

The Best Beginner Passive Income Ideas For 2024

1. Invest In Real Estate

One of the most popular passive income ideas for beginners you can try out is to invest in real estate.

And thanks to real estate investing companies, you don't have to have thousands of dollars to get started. In fact, companies like Arrived?let you invest in individual income-generating real estate properties starting with only $100!

Arrived is open to U.S. investors, and it lets you buy shares of vacation homes and individual properties. You then earn dividend payments from the income these properties produce.

You can also earn from properties potentially appreciating. And the fact you only need $100 to get started makes it very beginner-friendly.

Plus, Arrived is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this income generating asset class. Some other popular companies you can check out include:

• Ark7: Invest in fractional shares of income-generating properties to diversify your portfolio! Plus, Ark7 has an active trading market to ensure liquidity. This means that investors can sell their shares and benefit from monthly appreciation.
• Fundrise: Another leading real estate investing platform with a low $10 minimum. Note, this is a Fundrise endorsement and I receive compensation if you sign up with my link.
• RealtyMogul: Invest in exclusive real estate deals starting with $5,000.

Ultimately, if you want to get paid to do nothing, parking some cash in shares of income-generating real estate is definitely a popular option many people take.

Learn more about investing with Arrived!

2. Open A High-Yield Savings Account

If you have some idle cash, parking it in a high-yield savings account is a smart move. And you have more choices than ever before to get started!

Here are two of my favorite options right now:

• Current: Earn 4% APY on up to $6,000 and get a nice $50 sign up bonus.
• Raisin: Find the top saving account options and CDs to invest with!

Current is our recommendation if you're just starting out since it's easy to get the bonus and you're guaranteed to get 4% APY.? Either way, both accounts let you earn meaningful interest without lifting a finger. Pretty sweet, I'd say!

3. Use Passive Income Apps

Passive income apps are another simple way to create micro income streams for yourself, and this idea truly requires almost zero effort on your part!

There are actually numerous apps that pay you for downloading them and selling your data.

Examples of popular passive income apps include:

• Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel – Earn cash and free gift cards by sharing your data with the Nielsen panel! (U.S. only.)
• Pawns?– A fun way to share internet bandwidth for passive income.
• Mobile Performance Meter – Earn around $0.10 to $0.30 per day.
• MobileXpression – Earn credits which are redeemable for a variety of free gift cards!
• Honeygain – An easy way to make money selling internet bandwidth to other people.
• Pogo: This app lets you get free PayPal cash for sharing your purchasing data.
• Caden: An iOS app that pays around $3 to $15 per month for sharing data.
• S'more – Earn $0.10 per day just for unlocking your phone!
• Gener8 – Another platform that pays you for sharing data.

I used a lot of these apps during my time phone farming in college, and I think it's a great beginner passive income idea since you usually don't have to spend money to get started.

?Earn $50+ in free cash from Nielsen! (U.S. only!)

4. Start A Blog

Blogging is not easy money. But this is still one of my favorite passive income ideas for beginners because anyone can start this side hustle and scale it if you're willing to put in the time and effort.

And, as I explain in my blogging guide and post on the road to a $100/month blog, I believe you can monetize a blog within one year if you put in the time and have a basic understanding of SEO.

I've been blogging for a little over 4 years, and now, my blog earns $10,000 to $20,000 per month consistently and $400 a day in ad revenue alone:

My YouTube video covers the exact steps I took to grow my blog. And between Mediavine ads and a number of affiliate programs, I hope to continue scaling WebMonkey over the next few years to reach new revenue milestones.

I mean, the blog made $22,000 in 2020, but in 2021, WebMonkey made $92,000. And in 2022, it made a whopping $272,000.

This isn't passive income yet, but?it gets easier every month.

I now outsource my Pinterest marketing, some content writing, and I'm slowly spending less time on things I don't like and more time doing what I enjoy. Plus, blogging teaches you?so?many valuable skills while also having the potential to turn into a passive income stream.

If you use affordable blog hosting like Hostinger and learn the basics of SEO, I definitely think you can turn a profit in under a year if you put in some time.

5. Invest In Dividend Stocks & ETFs

This one is truly one of the best passive income ideas for young adults because anyone?can start investing in dividend stocks, even without much starting cash.

There are a myriad of companies that pay out dividends to their shareholders, and you can become a shareholder by buying these stocks or mutual funds/ETFs that contain dividend paying companies.

Personally, I invest in several Vanguard funds and other dividend-paying ETFs and stocks, and you can get started with a very low amount as well.

If you want to get started, I recommend checking out Stash, an investing app that makes it easy to start investing with no add-on commission fees1.

You should consider your level of risk tolerance and speak to a financial planner or get professional advice if you're unsure how to begin investing for income.

But, there are tons of low-commission online brokerages out there and free education as well, so be sure to read and educate yourself on this topic!

Start investing with Stash today!

Pro Tip ?Get expert one-on-one financial advice and invest in tailored portfolios that match your goals with Fruitful! Plus, earn 5% APY with Fruitful's high-yield savings account.

6. Get Paid To Play Games

Making money playing video games might sound like a pipe dream, but there's actually a variety of websites and apps that pay you to play games!

Now, this?isn't?a passive income idea if you don't enjoy playing video games and never play them whatsoever. But, if you're currently spending a few hours per week gaming on your computer or smartphone, you might be missing out on some passive income.

Some platforms that pay you with cash or free gift cards for playing games include:

• Cash Giraffe – My favorite cash gaming app for Android games.
• MyFreeApp – Find fun Android and iPhone money games paying real cash!
• Freecash – Earn free gift cards, cash, and Steam codes for playing video games on your PC!
• Mistplay – This is the leading mobile gaming rewards platform for Android that lets you earn free gift cards. Read our Mistplay app review for all the details.
• Rewarded Play – This site like Gamehag lets you earn rewards for playing PC video games.
• JustPlay – Another popular app like Mistplay that lets you earn free gift cards.
• GG2U?– Another popular gaming app like JustPlay where you can also make money by answering surveys.

I also made a video covering even more ways to play games to win real money. And if you have an iPhone, you can check out my guide on the best iPhone games that pay money for some alternatives to the options above.

These apps and websites won't make you rich, but again, if you already spend time gaming, you might as well earn some rewards for your effort!

?Start earning with Freecash!

7. Fixed-Income Investments

Another passive income idea beginners can explore is to use fixed-income investments.

Like the name suggests, these investments are designed to generate a fixed amount of income. This makes them a more reliable option for anyone looking to generate monthly or annual income.

Examples of fixed-income investments include:

• Bonds (you can earn 7% APY right now with Worthy Bonds!)
• High-yield savings accounts (again, my favorite is Current)
• CDs
• Money market accounts
• Preferred stocks

The downside to this passive income side hustle is that returns are generally lower than some alternative ideas because of safety.

However, if you want a simple solution to earn?some?passive income without much work, fixed-income investments are worth considering.

Earn 7% APY and start investing with just $10 when you try Worthy Bonds!

8. Print On Demand (POD)

I created my own POD store when I was in college and sold absolutely horrendous mugs by dropshipping POD products on Etsy.

Ultimately, I only made 2 sales, and my POD manufacturer refused to create my merchandise because I blatantly infringed upon multiple trademarks, but hey, these things are just details.

The point is, if I could initiate sales by selling literal garbage on the internet, the barrier to entry really isn't that high.

Take some time, create a few neat or funny graphics, and design some merchandise on a POD service like Printify or Printful.

Then, connect your store to an online marketplace like Etsy, Redbubble, Society6, or other similar marketplaces. My post on Etsy passive income also explains how this entire process works.

Take a few minutes out of your day every now and again to post an image on Instagram and spam-follow some people, and you will invariably drive traffic to your storefront.

This is probably one of my favorite passive income ideas since ecommerce isn't going anywhere, so if you know how to design products, definitely consider Etsy dropshipping.

Sign up with Printify today and start selling print on demand products!

Extra Reading – How To Open An Etsy Sticker Shop.

9. Use Reward Apps & Programs

Companies are willing to pay for your loyalty. And, thanks to a variety of reward apps, you can now make this process mostly hands off.

Some popular apps and websites you can use to automatically earn shopping rewards and save money include:

• Capital One Shopping?– Apply available coupon codes online and earn shopping rewards for shopping at specific partners.
• Bridge Money?– Earn PayPal cash whenever you shop with a linked card.
• Rakuten – Install their browser extension to earn cashback when shopping online.
• Drop – Use the Drop app to earn cashback for buying special offers and buying from brands that you already support.
• Fetch Rewards – Scan receipts and earn free gift cards for buying groceries and everyday essentials.
• Honey Extension – Automatically apply coupon codes and earn cashback in the form of Honey Gold for shopping at specific merchants.
• Lolli Extension – Earn bitcoin for shopping at hundreds of popular online retailers.
• Dosh – Earn cashback for shopping at thousands of retailers after installing the app.

None of these apps or shopping extensions will make you rich. But, if you want a low-effort passive income idea, these ones are worth considering.

If you're an online shopper, I suggest sticking with?Capital One Shopping and Rakuten. But if you mostly want to earn rewards for in-store shopping or through your mobile phone, apps like Fetch Rewards and Drop are your best options.

Note: Capital One Shopping compensates us when you sign up with the provided links.

10. Rent Out Storage Space

If you have excess space on your property, you can actually turn that space into an income stream with Neighbor.

Neighbor is essentially the Airbnb of storage space for people living in the United States. It lets you rent out extra space to people in your city, and you earn monthly passive income in return.

Examples of spaces you can rent out with Neighbor include:

• Attics
• Backyards
• Basements
• Boat spaces
• Driveways
• Garages
• Parking spots
• Sheds

As a host, you set your monthly pricing. You also set rules for when people can access their stuff, so people don't drop by without warning.

Neighbor also provides insurance, and you get paid every month with PayPal cash. Depending on your space, you could easily make $50 to $200 a month in passive income without much effort.

11. Invest In Artwork

Historically, artwork investing has only been available to the very wealthy. However, this is changing thanks to the rise of fractional investing platforms.

For example, companies like Masterworks let you invest in shares of fine art from famous artists like Banksy, Monet, and Warhol. You can then earn passive income over time from shares appreciating.

Artwork is a popular alternative asset class, and it's how some people diversify their portfolios and get some downside protection from the general market.

I also like that Masterworks lets you buy and sell shares on its secondary marketplace. And it generally holds pieces for 3 to 10 years before trying to sell them and distribute profits.

12. Start A YouTube Channel

Another beginner passive income idea you can try is to?start making money on YouTube.

I was curious about how long it would take to reach this point, so I decided to start my own YouTube channel. After about a year on YouTube, my channel now generates $400 to $600 in autopilot income every month!

Now, YouTube isn't passive at the start, but like blogging, as you start outsourcing things like editing and uploading once you begin generating revenue.

Plus, YouTube isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I think this fact alone makes this a great passive income idea that's worth considering.

You don't have to spend a fortune to get started on YouTube either. In fact, if you have a decent smartphone, you can start there!

Here's the gear I started my channel with:

• Sony A6000: Approximately $500.
• Audio-Technica Microphone: Approximately $80.
• Joby GorillaPod Tripod: Approximately $25.

In other words, I spent under $1,000 to start my channel (before upgrading my camera down the line), and the channel is now on track to make around $6,000 per year in passive income!

13. Rent Out Assets

Thanks to the rise of the sharing economy, another beginner passive income stream you can try is to rent things out for money.

People do this all the time by renting out things like a spare room on Airbnb. However, there are?tons?of other things you can rent out to generate passive income, including:

• A car with Getaround, Turo, or your truck with Fetch
• Your RV with RVShare
• Expensive equipment like cameras, drones, used tools, and equipment with a marketplace like Fat Llama
• Baby gear and toys with BabyQuip
• A parking spot with Spot Hero

Of course, you need some starting assets for some of these micro income streams. But options like renting out storage space or a parking space are great no-cost side hustles you can try.

14. Invest In Alternative Assets

If you're already investing in things like stocks and ETFs, you can consider further diversification by investing in other asset classes. Some of the most popular alternative assets include:

• Artwork
• Gold, silver and other precious metals
• Niche collectibles like Pokemon cards, sign sports gear, Beanie Babies, antiques, comic books, and similar items
• Farmland
• Fine wine (you can use a platform like Vint to begin investing with just $25)
• Private equity and venture capital
• Sports cards, especially baseball cards and basketball cards that are in mint condition

Again, this isn't a risk-free beginner passive income idea. So, always do your own due diligence and research. And speak to a financial professional if you have specific questions about your unique situation.

15. Invest With A Robo-Advisor

One great passive income idea for beginners is to invest money with a robo-advisor.

Robo-advisors are similar to traditional financial planners expect they use algorithms to pick investments that match your goals and risk tolerance.

The advantage of robo-advisors is that they're completely hands-off and many are very low fee as well.

Betterment?is the perfect example, and this leading robo-advisor has a $0 minimum account requirement, making it very beginner-friendly.

When you sign-up for Betterment, you answer a questionnaire about your investing goals and risk tolerance. From there, Betterment helps you invest in a variety of largely ETF-based portfolios.

Portfolios include strategies with globally diverse companies, socially-responsible investing, tech and growth focus, and more.

And the best part is that Betterment starts at just 0.25% in annual management fees; far cheaper than going with a financial planner. Plus, Betterment uses strategies like automatic portfolio rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting to keep you on track and maximize returns.

Extra Reading – How To Double Money In 24 Hours.

16. Earn Passive Income With Crypto

Another beginner passive income idea you can explore is to deposit cryptocurrencies or stablecoins with Nexo.

This is actually something I've wanted to try for a very long time, especially because crypto interest accounts are paying way more than high-interest savings accounts right now.

Anyway, to test out Nexo, I bought $500 worth of Cardano (ADA) with Coinbase and moved it over to Nexo. Currently, I'm earning around 6% APY with my ADA, and Nexo pays out interest daily which is cool.

I can earn up to 8% APY if I lock-in my Cardano for a fixed-term contract of one month. You also earn more if you get paid with Nexo Tokens rather than in-kind.

Overall, Nexo makes it very easy to buy crypto on its platform and to begin earning daily interest.

I think I'm going to add some ETH, SOL, and Chainlink to Nexo to see how much I earn in the coming months, so I'm definitely excited to try out this passive income idea.

You can try out Nexo as well and get $10 in free BTC when you fund your account with at least $100 in crypto as well. Just remember to be an informed investor and to do your due diligence and read as much as possible!

17. Get Paid To Get In Shape

I've written a post on apps that pay you for working out, and this is a great idea to add to your routine if you're already active.

These apps are fairly simple. They either pay you for your data or pay you for betting on yourself to reach a certain fitness goal.

Some popular fitness apps are:

• Oppizi – This gig app pays up to $25 per hour for walking and delivering flyers in your neighborhood.
• HealthyWage – Bet on yourself to lose weight and earn cash.
• DietBet – Another way to bet on yourself to get in shape like HealthyWage.
• Sweatcoin – A data collection app that pays you for walking.
• StepBet – Another way to bet on yourself to reach a certain number of weekly steps.
• CashWalk – Another way to get cash and gift cards for walking.
• Miles – A fun way to get paid to ride your bike, walk, fly, drive, and travel.

These apps won't make you rich. However, if you're making the effort to stay active, you might as well earn some passive income in the process!

Extra Reading – The 10 Best Apps Like Sweatcoin.

18. Start A Vending Machine Business

One more popular passive income idea for beginners that people have been exploring more these days is starting a vending machine business.

You only need about $700 to $2,000 to buy a vending machine depending on the make and model plus its condition. From there, you can stock your machine with wholesale goods and likely earn a 40% to 60% margin or higher on the food and snacks you sell.

The video above from CNBC's Make It series shares how one entrepreneur was able to turn his vending machine business into a $300,000+ a year business that runs itself.

The main tip shared in the video is to never buy a vending machine without having a location lined up first. And, of course, high-traffic areas like malls, college campuses, and airports or bus terminals are perfect candidates.

With enough vending machines, you can make some serious side cash. And you can even hire help to keep the machines stocked so that it becomes a low-maintenance business.

?How To Get Rich With No Money.

19. Get Paid To Use Less Energy

If you want to cut down on expenses and also earn money for your efforts, I have great news.

Plenty of energy companies are willing to pay you to use less energy when demand is high. This is because it's in their interest to reduce expensive strains on the energy grid and to then pass some savings onto you.

If this sounds up your alley, you can enter your details on User Linker to find qualifying energy companies paying people to use less energy. And, you can feel good that you're being less wasteful!

20. Watch Videos For Money

GPT websites are ‘get paid to' websites that reward users for completing tasks like answering surveys, downloading mobile apps, or watching ads and videos.

I don't use GPT websites for anything that isn't passive, but I occasionally run video portals on an old laptop to make money overnight.

Some of my favorite platforms that let you watch videos to earn some beermoney include:

• Swagbucks: A leading gpt site that pays you to watch videos, install apps, shop online, and complete surveys for money.
• InboxDollars: A U.S. rewards website that also has a nice $5 sign up bonus.
• Cointiply: This gpt site lets you watch videos and complete various microtasks to earn.
• MyPoints: A popular website like Swagbucks that also has video rewards.

To date, I've earned $100+ from using these kinds of sites. This isn't a very high-paying side hustle, but again, it's free passive income.

?How To Get Paid To Watch Netflix.

21. Sell Courses

If you have a particularly valuable skill, another beginner passive income idea you can try is selling online courses and eBooks.

I actually started testing this idea in 2023. I launched an eBook about making money with freelance writing, and I promote the book from my blog and YouTube channel.

This eBook now makes $200 to $300 per month in passive income. And it was completely free to write the book, and I just used Canva to package everything.

You can do the exact same thing. Creating valuable content and marketing it on a platform like a blog, social media, Medium, or YouTube is something anyone can try out.

And you can also try selling on course marketplaces, like Udemy or SkillShare, if you don't want to build out your own platform.

Extra Reading – Passive Income Vs Active Income.

22. License Videos

If you have ever captured crazy, hilarious, or endearing videos before on your cell phone, GoPro, or dash cam, you might be able to make money by licensing your videos.

News agencies or media outlets are always on the lookout for viral video opportunities or high quality content, and they are willing to pay for it.

Newsflare and Rumble?are two popular websites where you can sell your videos to make money.

When one of your videos sells, you earn 50% of the total sale. How much you earn per video sale depends on a variety of factors, including:

• The media outlet that's buying your video.
• How the video will be used.
• The time-frame the video will be licensed for.

Newsflare states that videos typically earn between $25-$100, but videos can earn more if they are licensed by large companies for a considerable amount of time.

Ultimately, if you have some potentially viral video content, you might be able to earn some passive income by licensing the video every few months!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Easiest Way To Make Passive Income?

I think the easiest way to generate passive income is to invest your money. You can invest in real estate with companies like Arrived or dividend paying stocks with just $10 (or even less) with so many platforms, and this is a concrete way to start creating passive income.

Granted, you won't make much with just a few hundred bucks in your investment account, but this is how you start building good habits!

Passive income apps are also straightforward, so I recommend these two categories if you're looking for something nice and easy.

How Can I Make $1,000 A Month In Passive Income?

To make $1,000 in passive income every month, you have a few options.

The first would be to invest in dividend paying stocks, but this likely requires a few hundred thousand dollars in your portfolio to generate $1,000 in monthly dividends.

Alternatively, you can try making money online for free with something like your own blog or YouTube channel.

I really like these ideas if you have less starting capital, especially since you can scale both businesses to way more than $1,000 per month in passive income.

Again, after five years of blogging, WebMonkey earns $30,000 to $50,000 per month between display ads and affiliate income.

Granted, scaling these businesses takes time, but if you don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest, I think these are your best options.

I also have a video on my YouTube channel where I break down how to make money with affiliate marketing and turn a blog into a realistic passive income stream.

This guide covers everything you need to know about starting your own blog and growing your traffic to begin earning income from affiliate marketing. Plus, you can even sell your blog down the line to cash out big.

And, even if you can't scale to make $1,000 in monthly passive income, the skills you learn from either business can help you land a higher-paying job, which is a win in itself!

Start blogging today with SiteGround and earn passive income!

Extra Reading – How To Turn 10K Into 20K Quickly.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, you can keep researching the best passive income ideas for beginners until you're blue in the face.

The hardest part is really deciding where and when to start, but don't overthink the process!

It doesn't matter if you start by investing $10 or you launch your first blog; generating passive income is a process that takes time and dedication, but it doesn't have to be rocket science.

Pick an idea or two to put your money to work, put in the initial effort, and then nurture your new income sources over the coming months and years.

If you stick with it, your future self will thank you for the effort. Best of luck in creating passive income for yourself!

If you're looking for other money-making ideas, I suggest checking out:

• 70+ Side Hustle Ideas To Make Money.
• How To Make $2,000 Fast – The Best Methods.

Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value. Holdings and performance are hypothetical. Nothing in this material should be construed as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation to buy or sell any security. All investments are subject to risk and may lose value. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as tax, investment, or legal advice.

1 Ancillary fees charged by Stash and/or its custodian are not included in the subscription fee.

The post 22 Realistic Passive Income Ideas For Beginners (2024) appeared first on WebMonkey.

• Bookkeepers.com: Get 3 free classes and launch your own profitable bookkeeping business!
• Freecash: Play games, download apps, and answer surveys to earn rewards!

The Best Remote Job Sites

1. FlexJobs

2. Working Nomads

3. Upwork

4. Fiverr

5. Remote OK

6. Jobspresso

7. Remotey

8. SolidGigs

9. 99Designs

10. Media Bistro

11. Remotive

12. HubStaff Talent

13. We Work Remotely

14. Remote.Co

15. Skip The Drive

16. Virtual Vocations

17. Angel List

18. Remote4Me

19. Workew

20. Remote Jobs Club

21. Authentic Jobs

22. Dribble

23. Gun.IO

24. Ruby Now

25. LinkedIn

26. Indeed

27. Guru

28. Reddit R/ForHire

29. Your Own Network

Tips For Landing Your Next Remote Job

1. Update your resume before beginning your job hunt
2. Ask your own network for referrals or inside opportunities
3. Consider “upskilling” and take professional development courses to improve in your chosen career
4. Start a digital side hustle that can help you gain experience in your chosen field
5. Practice online interviews with a friend or interview practice service

Final Thoughts:

• How To Earn Money Online For Beginners.
• The Top Skills To Sell Online.

The post 29 Best Remote Job Websites To Boost Your Online Income appeared first on WebMonkey.

Social media, TV and movies, and general popular culture are influenced by memes. If you browse the internet a fair bit, you're probably hard-pressed to spend a day without?encountering a meme.

Memes provide a humorous and easy way to relate to ongoing world events or to communicate with others. After all, why go through the intricacies of explaining things like your feelings when you can just tag your friends in memes that accurately depict your everyday despair?

However, while memes are a fun and simple way to package or process information, they're also a modern form of communication. And, like anything that can captivate an audience, memes are potentially lucrative.

How To Make Money With Memes

1. Open A Meme Etsy Shop

By far, one of the simplest ways to start selling memes is to open an Etsy shop.

Etsy has millions of monthly visitors, and it's one of the most popular marketplaces for online crafts, homemade goods, and printable art.

Additionally, Etsy lets you sell handmade or third-party merchandise on your own online marketplace. In fact, I've even tried selling meme merchandise on Etsy before in a custom mug shop I made:

Now, Etsy is a competitive marketplace, and this holds true for the world of memes.

To become a top seller on Etsy, you'll need to spend time building your reviews and store reputation. Additionally, you have to optimize your store's SEO to help grow organic visibility.

But, the top meme pages on Etsy are making a lot of money. I mean, just check out stores like Wall to Wall Memes:

They have more than?2,500?sales on Etsy…and it's all from meme merchandise!

Now, don't be discouraged or think that it's too late to get into the meme game. After all, I generated 2 sales on my store with a bit of manual Instagram marketing (following and DM`ing people), so it is possible.

If you're a creative person and good with design, I strongly recommend using Etsy as a way to make money with memes.

Plus, you can use a service like Printify to create print-on-demand meme merchandise to sell, so you don't have to manufacturer the merchandise yourself!

This is how I started selling meme mugs on Etsy, and I definitely recommend using Printify to power your print on demand efforts.

Sign up for Printify and start selling meme products for cash!

Extra Reading – How To Start An Etsy Sticker Business.

2. Build An Instagram Meme Page

Another popular way to make money from memes is to start an Instagram meme page and then monetize it.

This idea is definitely incredibly?competitive. However, there is still money to be made on Instagram by using memes.

Typically, there are two ways to make money with memes on Instagram:

• Option 1 –?Create a meme Instagram account to gain a following, then sell sponsored posts or ads.
• Option 2?– Monetize an Instagram following by selling meme merchandise.

I'll break down the two different options quickly, as well as my take on their feasibility.

Option one basically involves creating a meme account in order to rapidly gain followers. There are plenty of examples, and I'm sure you've stumbled across an account like this before.

These accounts primarily post memes. However, they also drop sponsored posts or promote various companies on their story from time to time in exchange for payment.

As I explain in my post on how to make money on Pinterest, influencer marketing is still a thing. If you have a following, companies are willing to pay for you to promote their products or services.

Now, there is big money in major Instagram meme accounts. However, there is also risk.

Instagram controls everything on their platform, and if you violate rules in any way, you're gone. Just checkout how this $4,000 a month meme account got the ban hammer to see for yourself.

As this Reddit thread explains, the process also takes a tonne of time and dedication to get the ball rolling:

Honestly, competition and risk are why I prefer option two, which involves monetizing a Instagram fan page or business page with meme content.

Here's another example from a page I follow, called Holy Land Memes (I love history, what can I say).

Running an account like this has a few benefits.

Firstly, your followers are theoretically bigger fans of your niche content than a general meme-page, so you can probably monetize much faster.

Secondly, you also sell off of Instagram by driving traffic to an online store, so you aren't completely chained to the platform.

In this example, Holy Land Memes sells some pretty nifty swag, and I imagine this is a decent (and fun) side hustle for the owner at the end of the day. Not a bad way to make money off of memes!

3. Sell On Zazzle, RedBubble, & Other POD Stores

This is a similar way to sell memes online as selling on Etsy.

However, on Etsy, you run your own store, and you're free to manufacture your own products or even create an independent shop with a paid Etsy plan.

In contrast, selling on POD marketplaces like Redbubble is completely hands off. Here's why:

Print on demand?stores take the manufacturing and logistics responsibilities off of your shoulders.

With these sorts of platforms, all you have to worry about is designing products and marketing; manufacturing and shipping is off your plate entirely.

Popular POD products include things like mugs, clothing, wall art, stickers, bags, and more.

POD marketplaces are competitive, and you'll need to work on optimizing your listings and driving traffic through social media to your site, just like Etsy. However, if you can get it rolling, it's not a bad passive income play.

Just note, websites like Zazzle or Redbubble charge fees for their service. Here is how the royalty fees break down:

• Zazzle – 5% to 99%, artists set their own royalty rates.
• RedBubble – 20% is the recommended royalty rate.

So, for example, let's say a POD mug costs $9 to manufacture and ship.

The base fee on both sites might be something like $11 (to cover production costs and to leave a profit for the website). As the artist, you then get to decide how to price your item in terms of a royalty to ensure you get paid.

Just note, POD margins are?slim. There's a tonne of competition, and it's a bit of a race to the bottom.

However, for a passive income idea and way to make money with meme merchandise, it's not a bad play.

Extra Reading – How To Make Money On Redbubble.

4. Social Media Management

Another method you can use to earn money with memes is to get into social media management.

And this is where I want to?share my favorite Instagram meme page of all time: Slim Jim.

Slim Jim, or those meat sticks you can buy at convenience stores or gas stations, actually rock at marketing.

Its Instagram page has nearly 1 million followers, and the page is dedicated to promoting Slim Jim and members of the ‘Long Boi Gang,' which is basically anyone who buys a Slim Jim and sends in a picture.

Now, you're never going to guess how this meme page got it's start on Instagram.

Basically, the catalyst for the account came when Slim Jim hired a super fan who was running a meme page about Slim Jim. The guy got the job, and rocketed Slim Jim's Instagram account into meme-stardom.

This isn't the first time brands have turned to memes. Just look at Wendy's, who in many ways actually started the trend of roasting other companies online or using comedy to build their brand image.

Obviously, this is a pretty exclusive way to make money through memes. However, if you're in marketing, takes notes!

5. Fiverr Meme Gigs

While it might surprise you, another method to make money from memes is to sell your skills online as a freelancer in the meme space.

Just take a look at how some people are making money online with websites like Fiverr.

A quick search for ‘meme' on Fiverrs shows just how creative sellers are getting…there's meme creation gigs, social media management gigs, or even people who just sell bulk files of thousands of memes.

This isn't an incredibly lucrative market, but hey, it also isn't that competitive.

Just know that it might take some time to attract clients on Fiverr and to get positive reviews for your seller profile.

This is one of the main downsides of selling on Fiverr, but again, this is a niche offering so you might be able to find clients more easily than competitive services.

6. Make YouTube Meme Compilations

In terms of making money on YouTube, making money with memes is honestly a pretty strange niche.

There's quite a few accounts out there making meme compilations, which are similar to vine compilations or random funny video reels.

I'm honestly shocked by some of the view counts, but if you have a knack for video editing and want to dabble with YouTube, this could be a niche to explore!

I've recently gotten into YouTube myself, and let me tell you, it's pretty fun and rewarding to learn how to shoot and edit videos. I definitely recommend trying YouTube at some point if you're looking to develop a valuable skill set.

Just remember: you need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time to monetize your YouTube channel, so it will take time before you can earn money by making memes with your compilations.

7. Make A Meme-Based Game

If you're feeling creative, one fun side hustle and way to sell memes is to create your own meme-based board game.

Obviously, the chances of creating the next What Do You Meme, the most successful meme game ever made, is pretty slim.

However, taking a concept that is popular on social media and turning it into a game, or even an app, is an interesting one. Plus, it seems like a fair number of sellers are trying their hand at the meme-inspired game market:

Again, this is a bit of a long shot in terms of making money. But, if you want a side project to work on, this isn't a bad option!

8. Try PicturePunches.com

Alright, let me start by saying I have?zero?idea how this website even came to be or how people make money with memes on this platform.

Anyway, the idea behind PicturePunches is that you get paid when people view the memes you post.

PicturePunches places an advertisement under every meme on their website. To pay contributors, they pay a percentage of ad revenue based on how many views your content generate.

In this Reddit thread, one PicturePunches user explains (and proves) how he made over $500 by sharing memes on the platform. This is his account:

I imagine a lot of PicturePunch users spam forums or Reddit to get eyeballs on their content. There is a? news feed and discover tab on PicturePuncher that would help as well, but I'm honestly still baffled by how this platform works.

In any case, if you want a low-effort way to make money from memes, this could be worth looking into. You can cash out to PayPal once you have $1.

9. Funnel Traffic To A Blog

As a blogger, this is definitely my favorite possible method behind making money with memes.

Again, memes are just a form of communication and a way to catch people's attention. If you can use memes to grow an audience and then?funnel?traffic to a money making blog, you're golden.

My friend Charlie from College Life Made Easy runs a great Instagram account that is the perfect example of what I'm talking about:

Charlie's Instagram page has a mixture of college dorm room pics, student tips, and useful resources for students. However, it also has some hilarious meme material.

Since College Life Made Easy runs Mediavine ads, the site earns income every time someone visits from Instagram. Not a bad way to make an online income if you ask me!

I also run Mediavine ads on my blog, and I made $22,000 blogging in 2020. And in 2022, my blog made $272,000 and now makes $1,000 a day or more just from ads and affiliate income.

Memes are just one traffic source, but it's a great medium to provide engaging, humorous content if you run an Instagram page or Facebook group for your blog.

Extra Reading – How To Make Money Online For Beginners.

10. Sell Meme NFTs

NFTs, which stands for non-fungible tokens, have been all the rage alongside the crypto boom over the last few years.

But did you know some people have actually made money selling memes by minting and selling NFTs of the most popular memes?

According to Mashable, people have sold memes like Bad Luck Brian, Disaster Girl, and Success Kid for tens of thousands of dollars worth of Ethereum on OpenSea.

You can take this concept and try to mint your own meme NFTs and list them on various marketplaces.

The most popular memes have probably already been minted, and it's a bit of a gray area, but you could try some meme-inspired NFT artwork at the very least.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you're still wondering how to earn money by making memes or if this side hustle idea is even legit, this list of answers to frequent questions people have will help clarify things.

Are Memes Copyrighted?

One important quick note on making money with memes before wrapping this post up…let's talk copyright laws.

In a nutshell, memes aren't very well protected by copyright law due to the concept of Fair Use. Here are the 4 factors that Fair Use considers:

• Purpose – Is it for commercial purposes or educational purposes?
• Nature?– Is it factual or creative? In the case of memes, things are generally considered to be creative.
• Amount & Substantiality?– Basically, how much of the original content are you using. For memes, you basically use everything.
• Effect On Market Value?– What impact does your use of the material have on the original content's value?

Memes are a tricky subject in this regard because, sometimes, the lines get blurry on who owns content and how much that content is worth.

For example, if you own a dog and that dog gets turned into a meme, can you sue people over the rights of any photo that's spun off of the meme? I'm not so certain.

There are, of course, more clear-cut examples of meme copyright infringement. For example, when I was making my Spongebob meme mugs, my POD manufacturer refused to make them as I was obviously violating the Spongebob copyright.

To play it safe for making money from memes, I'd advise you to stay away from heavily commercialized images or brands. Stick with original content or meme formats that won't step on any toes.

This is especially important if you run social media accounts, and copyrighted images can get your account banned.

How Much Do Meme Page Admins Make?

If you want to run an Instagram meme page but don't want to make all of the memes yourself, you might still be able to earn some extra cash.

The problem is that only massive accounts or media organizations that make a lot of money are the ones hiring page admins.

And, typically, these pages are for more general brands or media organizations and not meme pages.

So, if you want to make money as a meme page admin, the most viable route is to grow your own page and sell sponsored posts and merchandise yourself.

But, if you want a more “regular” job, you can still look for social media manager jobs on websites like Indeed and try to find a company that has some humor!

Besides, according to Payscale, social media managers earn approximately $52,000 per year on average.

Extra Reading – Jobs That Make $5,000+ Each Month.

Do Meme Accounts Make Money?

Meme pages can make money if they have a large audience and begin advertising other brands or selling their own products. Here are some of the main ways people monetize meme accounts:

• Selling shout outs to other accounts
• Selling sponsored posts/advertisement posts for other companies
• Selling its own merchandise
• Getting people to visit a blog, YouTube channel, or another property the meme page owns
• Selling to other companies

This last point is actually a massive one. Some?very?large companies are actually in the business of buying Instagram meme pages.

For example, in 2020, Warner Music Group bought IMGN Media, a company that basically ran a bunch of massive Instagram meme pages like Daquan, for an astonishing $85 million.

The bottom line is that running a meme page is like running a small media company. You have a lot of options to make money, and if you grow to a certain size, you can probably sell!

Can I Earn Passive Income With Memes

In my opinion, the best way to earn passive income by selling memes is to use the Etsy plus Printify combo.

Print on demand is the most passive model because you don't have to worry about manufacturing or shipping. Instead, you can focus on making unique meme designs and promoting your store.

And, with Etsy, you can get organic traffic from the massive marketplace if you write robust product descriptions and do some keyword research.

So, my advice is to try out Printify and to open your Etsy shop today!

Growing an Etsy shop still takes time, but with print on demand, you can keep things simple and focus on making the best meme merchandise possible to sell.

You can also check out Printify's Etsy Bootcamp – an 11 module course that teaches you how to make passive income with POD selling. And you can use the code ‘tomblake' to get 70% off at checkout!

Extra Reading – The Best Ways To Make Money On Autopilot.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, it is very unrealistic to make a full-time income from memes.

However, if you get creative, there's no reason why you can't turn your love of memes into a small passive side hustle or hobby.

My recommendation is to create a niche Instagram account or try the POD route, but the world is full of possibilities…I think Slim Jim boy taught us that, if anything.

Best of luck with your adventure, whatever you decide to do. I wish you nothing but success in your quest to sell memes online!

Catch you guys in the next one.

Looking for more money-making ideas? Checkout:

• How To Make $2,000 Fast – The Best Methods.
• The Best Etsy Print On Demand Companies.

The post 10 Best Ways To Make Money With Memes (Complete Guide!) appeared first on WebMonkey.

From 0 To 500,000 Subscribers

Now it is important to understand that my channel is in the money/finance niche, which means my ad rates are significantly higher.

My channel talks about investing in the stock market and other financial topics. Most channels on YouTube do not make this much money based on the number of views I am getting.

But, believe it or not, there was a time when I was making next to nothing with this channel.

The month that I started, I earned $2.57 in total. It is easy to get out of touch with the early stages of any venture, so in this article I want to go back in time. I want to take you back to late 2016 when I had just started this channel on a tight budget. 

Earning My First $100 From Ads

Most people focus on the ad revenue when looking to earn money on YouTube, but there are actually a number of different ways to make money on the platform.

Most of these methods, like Patreon, sponsors, or merchandise are out of reach for small creators. However, there is one method that works regardless of the size of your channel and that is affiliate marketing.

So, I will be sharing with you some initial tips to get your first 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time to get your channel eligible for monetization. I will also show you how to leverage Amazon Associates to start making money potentially from day 1.

Extra Reading – How Does YouTube Send You Money?

How To Get 1,000 YouTube Subscribers

The truth is, getting your first 1,000 subscribers is a grind. In total, it took me a little over 4 months.

My best advice in these early stages is to focus on the long term picture of what you are building. I'm sure this goes without saying, but none of this works without creating valuable content for your growing audience.

Content is king, and this should be your main focus. You should also have a strong call to action at the beginning and end of your videos asking people to subscribe to your channel. You never want to assume that they will without you asking! 

How To Get 4,000 Hours Watch Time

Making Money On YouTube With Amazon Affiliate Links

Final Thoughts – Can You Make Money On YouTube In 2023?

EDIT: 2020-09-02 – Tom here, I just have to jump in with an update because Ryan's advice is absolutely spot on.

I just recently reached 1K subscribers on YouTube, and like Ryan mentions, the snowballing of this platform is real.

If you're skeptical about all of this or starting your channel, the proof is in the pudding.

I started my channel in February with one lousy video.

In mid-March, I decided to upload a video per week and also upgraded my equipment a little bit. You can read more in my post on blogging vs YouTube.

Anyway, with an upload or 2 per week, this is what happened to my reach on YouTube:

It just took one video to get some traction for things to pop off. Plus, this is mostly YouTube search traffic, not redirect traffic from WebMonkey or a free traffic source like Reddit.

And, as a result, I've now created a new income stream for myself!

Ryan's advice here is spot-on, and I think his results plus this little test-run show that!

Ultimately, I think the future of YouTube in 2022 and beyond is looking up. Don't be scared to start your own channel

Now that we're in 2022, I've basically crossed the $4,000 mark for making money on YouTube, which just goes to show you never know where one of these side hustle ideas can take you!

Thanks so much to Ryan for taking the time to make this guest post!

If you want even more resources, check out my latest case study!

• Case Study #1 – How I Got my First 1,000 Subscribers.
• Case Study #2 – How Much My New Channel Makes.

The post How To Make Money On YouTube – Earning Your First $100 appeared first on WebMonkey.

This is a fair question. After all, people have been blogging for decades. And there's tons of new media forms out there that are much flashier and trendy.

But as a full-time blogger, let me tell you: starting a blog is still worth it in 2023 and beyond, but only if you do it the right way.

So, let's dive into why I think this business model is still profitable, what the pros and cons are, and how to decide if blogging is for you.

Is Blogging Worth It?

Blogging is worth it if you want to create a diverse digital asset that can increase your income, teach you new skills, and help you start a new career. However, blogging isn't worth it if you need quick cash since it can take months or years to turn a blog into a business.

The reality is that blogging is tough work. And here's a personal example.

It took me three years of consistent blogging before my income crossed $1,000 a month. But in 2022, WebMonkey made $272,000. And it's on track to pass $600,000 in 2023.

As long as you can build an online audience for your blog, it's worth it. And don't think that blogging isn't popular anymore or that it's impossible to turn into a business.

In fact, according to data from SEMrush, long-form blog posts are still one of the most profitable forms of content marketing. So, starting a blog is worth it if you pick the right niche, stay consistent, and continually improve.

How Blogging Changed My Life

In 2018, I was finishing my second year of college. I was also working at a digital marketing agency, and upon graduation, I was looking at a job paying about $45,000 in my field.

I decided to start WebMonkey in 2018 to document my journey of making money online. And in my first year, I only made $1,700 blogging.

At first, it seemed like blogging was a flop. And even my girlfriend at the time told me to quit and didn't like how much time I was spending on my website. Some things never change, I guess!

Anyways, I decided to stick with my blog, and my income and knowledge continued growing. Fast forward a few years, and blogging now makes $20,000 per month or more for me. I also earn money with my laptop while traveling the world as a digital nomad, and have lived on six different continents.

I wanted to share my blogging journey since it highlights how this business model can change your life. And this is the fundamental reason I'll always believe that blogging is worth it.

My Top 8 Reasons To Start A Blog

If you're wondering if you should start a blog or not, here are some of the top benefits you might want to consider:

1. Generate Income

One obvious benefit of blogging is that it can help you earn more money. And this was one of my main motivations for starting my blog back in 2018.

Personally, I like blogging since it has numerous ways to monetize, including display ads, affiliate marketing, sponsorships, online coaching, and selling digital products.

My blog makes most of its income with Mediavine display ads and affiliate marketing. And some months, I make $10,000 a week through affiliate marketing alone.

A lot of this income is also passive income; it comes from content I wrote years ago. And this is one of the most unique and exciting elements of blogging in my opinion.

2. Learn New Skills

I didn't know anything about digital publishing when I started my blog. But turning a blog into a business forces you to learn.

Some of the main skills you can expect to learn include:

• Affiliate marketing
• Content writing
• Email marketing
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Social media marketing
• WordPress design

These are the kinds of skills that can help you land new online jobs as well, or advance your career. In fact, I've started numerous digital marketing side hustles thanks to these blogging skills, and this income helped me a lot during college.

3. Blogs Are Still Popular

As mentioned, content marketing is still one of the most popular forms of marketing. It's highly profitable as well when done right.

The reality is that a ton of the web is blog content. In fact, 76.2% of all websites use WordPress according to data from W3Techs.

Yes, the demand for video content is growing. And people want more multimedia options than ever before. But this doesn't mean high-quality blog content can't add value to people's lives and build an audience.

4. Expand Your Network

Another reason to start a blog is to grow your professional network.

Networking with other bloggers happens naturally if you follow some fellow bloggers on social media. You can also attend conferences and conventions to meet like-minded entrepreneurs.

I've made heaps of blogging connections over the last 5 years. This has helped me land new freelancing gigs, jobs, and also helped me learn valuable skills while having a lot of fun.

5. Blogging Helps You Launch New Businesses

One of my favorite benefits of blogging is that you can leverage it to start new businesses.

This is exactly what I did when I started my YouTube channel; I used WebMonkey to promote it, and I now make money on YouTube and with my blog.

My YouTube channel now makes money on autopilot. And the best part is both my blog and YouTube channel promote one another now, so they each benefit.

You can do the same thing. Start a blog first, and then leverage your audience to branch into eBooks, podcasts, online coaching, print on demand selling, or some other business entirely.

6. Low Startup Costs

Blogs are an incredibly affordable business to start. And I'll share a personal example again.

I started WebMonkey with a $20 domain name, a $45 WordPress theme, and some basic hosting from SiteGround. This cost under $200 for my first year.

You don't need to spend thousands of dollars to start a blog. And you can always reinvest your earnings to begin scaling. This is what I've done, and I now outsource a lot of content writing and website design elements and have grown my blogging team over the years.

Extra Reading – The Best Side Hustles To Start With No Money.

7. Become A Better Writer

One more reason to start a blog is to simply become a better writer.

Blogging is competitive, so you need to create high-quality content that helps readers to win. This inherently makes you a better writer and content marketer, which is pretty neat!

Plus, blogging can help you branch into gigs like freelance writing or editing. This is what my blog has helped me accomplish, and I've written for dozens of publications, including Forbes, as a result.

Pro Tip: Check out my new Freelance Writing For Freedom eBook to learn the exact steps I took to scale from $0 to $100,000+ in annual freelance writing income.

8. AI Tools Make Blogging Easier

The year 2023 has been a massive year for AI developments. The introduction of ChatGPT alone has sent the blogging world scrambling.

But while some people think blogging is dead and these AI changes are bad news, I disagree. Quality content is still important, and AI writing tools just help bloggers and freelancers save time.

If anything, this is great news if you're thinking about starting a blog but don't have as much free time. You can now use tools like ChatGPT, or Koala, which is my personal favorite, to create rough content for your blog.

This is what I'm doing on one of my niche Amazon affiliate blogs. As you can see in the screenshot above, it's humming along at $100 in monthly commissions some months, which isn't bad for a small niche site test.

Just make sure you edit your content to make sure it's high quality and makes sense. But if you're strapped for time, you can still start a blog and publish consistently if you work efficiently.

What Are The Downsides Of Blogging?

Now that I've covered some popular reasons you should start a blog, here are some of the main downsides that are also worth considering:

• Competition: Blogging is competitive, especially in popular niches. This means you need to establish yourself as an authority in your chosen niche, which is easier said than done.
• Scaling Time: Due to competition, making meaningful income with a blog can take months or years. It took me 4+ years to go full-time, after all. So, if you need quick money, don't choose blogging.
• Industry Updates: Google and other search engines have algorithm updates all the time. Social media trends can change too. This means building your blogging traffic can be a bumpy ride that isn't always easy or stress-free.
• YMYL Topics: Some topics, like finance and health, are considered Your Money Your Life topics by Google. This means you need to have some serious credentials and authority to realistically build an audience in these niches, which again takes time.

Is Blogging Still Profitable?

Blogging is still profitable, and the low start-up and operating costs of running a blog also means it can be a high-margin business. However, most blogs need a large audience to make a full-time income and to run profitably.

However, this doesn't mean you can't run a small niche blog at a profit and put the extra money towards your savings. And plenty of beginner bloggers can make decent money, even if it's not full-time income.

Just check out this survey from Digital Nomad Wannabe that asked 600+ bloggers about how much they make:

As you can see, half of all bloggers are making between $0-$200, but 10.6% make upwards of $500. This lines up with a lot of my experience at WebMonkey as it took 17 months for me to hit the $500 a month mark in blogging income:

Data from the survey showed that only 14.9% of bloggers earned more than $5,000 a month, with a meager 1.9% earning more than $20,000.

So sure, most bloggers don't make tens of thousands of dollars per month. But this doesn't mean you can't run a profitable blog if you do it right.

Should You Start A Blog?

So, should you start a blog?

Well, I think the answer largely depends on your goals and interests.

If you want to build a business that can run itself and generate life-changing income, blogging is for you. I also think blogging is worth it if you like writing and content creation and want to sharpen your digital marketing skills.

Furthermore, if you're already a niche expert in your chosen niche, you're ahead of the game. Having credentials, authority, and real life experiences can help you hit the ground running and gain an edge over the competition.

That said, don't start a blog if you need to make money quickly. It took me 17 months to pass the $500 a month mark with WebMonkey, and a lot of blogs never make significant income.

If you fall into the “need quick cash” camp, I think you're better off using various gig economy apps or freelancing. But this doesn't mean you can't diligently work on your blog on the side to scale it into an income stream.

In any case, I hope sharing my story helps you decide if blogging is worth it. My final piece of advice is to take the leap if you're on the fence. After all, you never know where a blog can take you if you put in the effort and remain consistent.

Want even more ways to make money? Checkout:

• The Best Low-Maintenance Business Ideas.
• The Best Jobs That Pay $5,000 A Month.

The post Should I Start A Blog? – My Top 8 Reasons To Start Blogging In 2024 appeared first on WebMonkey.

I've tried a variety of money making experiments over the years, and honestly, most of them weren't a success. From starting a dropshipping store to selling POD items on Etsy, I've had my share of botched entrepreneurial attempts.

In contrast, my two most successful ventures have been starting this blog and getting into freelance writing. These side hustles aren't anything special, and I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel or hop on to the latest fad: I just write content and monetize it accordingly.

What I love about this particular Young Money interview and Nate and Alysha, our awesome entrepreneurs, is that they are also leveraging one of the oldest economic principles to make a killing: arbitrage.

They made a business plan, tested proof of concept, worked on scaling, and have even crossed the million dollar mark with their Amazon FBA business and taken the business full-time.

If you've ever wanted to make money with retail arbitrage or to learn more about how this business model works, you're going to want to read this one through the end.

If you've missed the previous interviews in this series, I highly recommend giving them a read.

If you're caught up, get ready to learn about the incredible world of Amazon retail arbitrage!

About Nate & Alysha

We are former public school teachers, turned entrepreneurs.

We have also turned $100 into over $1 million in sales by using retail arbitrage.

Nate is known around Orlando as “the bra guy,” and has spent an incredible amount of money on bras to resell.

In our free time, we take our children to Disney, go hiking, and run a free Facebook group for Amazon sellers called Hustle Buddies.

We also run a YouTube channel that shares useful tips and tricks for Amazon FBA and making money with retail arbitrage.

What Is Retail Arbitrage?

Arbitrage involves buying and selling assets in order to turn a profit by taking advantage of price discrepancies on different marketplaces.

Retail arbitrage relies on the same idea.

By sourcing products from major retailers like Walmart and other big box stores, you can turn a profit by selling those same items on online marketplaces like Amazon where there might be a price discrepancy that works in your favor.

What Side Hustle Did You Start?

As teachers, we tried a lot of different side hustles to bring in extra income.

However, one day I (Nate), stumbled upon the concept of Amazon FBA and we’ve never looked back.

When we started Amazon FBA as a side hustle, we quickly realized the potential for it to become our full-time income source if we put in the hard work and stayed focused on our goals.

We do what’s called “retail arbitrage” through Amazon’s FBA program, which is where we purchase merchandise from local retail stores and resell those items on Amazon for a profit.

For example, we will go to Kohl’s and purchase bras that have been marked on clearance, stack discounts, and then sell them on Amazon for a profit.

Extra Reading – The Best Items To Flip.

How Did You Discover Retail Arbitrage?

Retail arbitrage was on a long list of potential side-hustles, but when we looked into it, we realized how scalable it was, and how we could grow it into a viable business.

We knew a lot of people that had sold on other platforms like eBay, but at the time we lived in a small apartment, and we simply didn’t have the time or space to store and ship all of our products to customers.

However, the fact that you don't have to deal with storing your inventory or constant shipping hassles is what makes the FBA program so scalable and so appealing.

With Amazon FBA, you are stocking Amazon warehouses with your products, so they store all of the items before they sell, and then they ship them to customers when an order is placed.

FBA stands for “Fulfilled by Amazon”, because Amazon fulfills customer orders. This means that we can purchase $9,000 worth of bras, and then ship them out to Amazon warehouses the following day, where they will stay until a customer places an order.

Now, there are multiple methods for selling on Amazon and utilizing their FBA program.

The most common methods are:

• RA (retail arbitrage-what we do).
• PL (private label, which is when products are made by one company but sold under a separate company's brand).
• WS (wholesale, which involves buying large quantities of goods straight from manufacturers at reduced prices).

While the other methods aren’t bad, they do take a substantial amount of starting capital, and the risk is much higher that your products could fail, especially for Amazon FBA beginners.

With retail arbitrage, we aren’t creating our own brand. We’re simply supplying customers with the items they are already trying to order at prices they are willing to pay. The Amazon listing already exists, so we're just stocking their shelves. 

You also don’t need a ton of money to do retail arbitrage.

When I (Nate) first wanted to try retail arbitrage, Alysha (my wife) was pretty skeptical that it would work.

I tend to be the dreamer, and she tends to be the realist. It’s why we make such a great team.

I had to prove to her that retail arbitrage was a viable business, so she told me that I could use $100 to try out Amazon retail arbitrage, and now that initial $100 has turned into full time incomes for both of us. 

Results

As I mentioned, we initially started out this business with just $100.

We also committed to not taking any income for ourselves so that we could keep rolling all profits back into our business.

Soon, that $100 turned into $300, then $1000, and it just kept growing.

We’ve now done over $1 million in sales, and in June of 2018, we quit our teaching jobs and started working from home, doing retail arbitrage full-time.

We also knew that we wanted to grow our family through foster care/adoption, so it was the perfect time to start working from home so that we could spend a lot of time with our children.

A few months later we became foster parents and are loving that we get to spend so much time with our two children. 

Major Wins, Challenges? Plans For The Future?

During the process of growing our retail arbitrage income, we developed some really great relationships with local managers, and they will text me when they have great sales, which makes sourcing products much easier!

A challenge that was also a success was when we became foster parents.

We took a 3-month break from our business so we could completely focus on the kids and help them adjust, as well as us adjusting to being first-time parents!

While sales did slow down during this time, our business continued running smoothly. However, we did have to work hard after those months to regain momentum.

This challenge is really a testament to how your business can work for you if you have the right systems in place.

In the future we plan to automate more and more. We’re currently making enough money to stay home with our kids, and that was a big goal of ours.

Now our focus is creating more time. Our next goal is to become financially independent and retire early within the next 6 years. 

Tips For Anyone Looking To Make Money With Amazon Retail Arbitrage

Building and income to replace your day job does not happen overnight, and it won’t happen without sacrifices.

For our journey with Amazon, we worked 4-5 hours every day AFTER our day job teaching, and we weren’t taking any money from the profits, because we had that end goal in mind.

We worked weekends, nights, holidays, always pushing towards our goal.

All of that hard work allows us to now spend time with our children and have an incredibly flexible lifestyle. You need to be prepared to reinvest into your business in order for it to grow into something life changing.

Final Thoughts

All I'm going to say is wow: this has got be one of the coolest and most amazing stories we've ever had on Young Money.

What I love most about this story (aside from the amazing amount of revenue and their adorable dog) is the fact that Nate and Alysha took an incredibly rational and patient route to scale their Amazon FBA income.

I think it can be easy to get caught up in early signs of success with a business venture and to make the call to go all in.

While this can sometimes work out, in reality, most successful businesses require time and investment to scale.

Reinvesting their profits into their retail arbitrage business at such an early stage and putting in the effort to test out proof of concept (while still holding down full-time jobs) is both commendable and smart if you ask me.

It doesn't matter if your side hustle is blogging, working in the gig economy, or ecommerce: make a game plan, take time to scale and test proof of concept, and flip the switch to full-time when the financials check out.

I'd also like to thank Nate and Alysha for sharing their story with WebMonkey.

I personally didn't know much about the world of retail arbitrage, but their path to success has opened my eyes to an entirely different world of making a living online.

Be sure to checkout and follow both their Facebook group and YouTube channel! If you're serious about making money through retail arbitrage, the Hustle Buddies Facebook group in particular is full of valuable information and tips, as well as other entrepreneurs making significant income through Amazon FBA.

Catch you guys in the next post!

The post Young Money Interview #9 – A Million-Dollar Retail Arbitrage Business appeared first on WebMonkey.

It doesn't matter if you're a college student trying to make extra money or if you just want a part-time side hustle to improve your financial well-being: opportunity is out there.

What I love about this Young Money interview in particular and Jesse is that he also has a few irons in the fire.

I've always advocated that diversifying your income is important.

Even a modest sum of extra monthly income can be incredibly powerful if you use the money to start investing or to pay off debt (or, you know, to do something awesome like taking a trip or to save up for something special).

Now, if you've missed the other posts in the Young Money interview series, I highly recommend going back and giving them a read.

If you're up to date, get ready to hear from Jesse, a fellow personal finance blogger, on his two unique side hustles (one of which I was obsessed with when I was younger)!

About Jesse:

I’m Jesse, a 29-year old mechanical engineer from Rochester, NY.

Outside of work I enjoy writing at my blog The Best Interest, working on my home with my girlfriend, and playing any sort of sport or game. 

Sports & My First Side Hustle:

The first side hustle I’ll quickly mention is coaching squash lessons.

Squash is an indoor racquet sport—a bit like racketball— that I played in college (go Rochester!).

One side hustle I started was actually coaching squash lessons. At different times over the past few years, I’ve averaged up to 5 hours of lessons per week, generally earning anywhere in the $30-$50/hour range.

While my example is very specific (not many squash players out there!), the key takeaway for the general reader would be to ask themselves: how can you monetize your expertise?

Perhaps it’s coaching, tutoring, freelance writing…what’s a skill that you have that people would pay to learn from, to watch, or to emulate? 

For me, squash is already my #1 hobby for fitness and fun. Adding in a small money stream was a no-brainer.

If there's something you're talented at and can pass on your knowledge to someone else looking to learn, you're probably sitting on a money making opportunity.

The Second Hustle: Selling Magic Cards Online

The second little side hustle I have—that I know has a fun place in Tom’s heart as well—is “flipping” Magic: The Gathering (MTG) cards.

Where to start with this explanation? 

Firstly, MTG is a collectible card game, with hundreds of unique cards having been printed each year since 1993.

The game itself has fun and deep strategy. The “story” around the game appeals to fantasy nerds (like me); it has similar tropes to Dungeons and Dragons and Lord of the Rings, etc.

MTG allows each player to create a deck from the 20,000+ unique cards that exist. Since each of the estimated 35 million worldwide players want to build their own winning deck(s), there’s a thriving market for buying and selling MTG cards.

There are even worldwide companies that exclusively buy and sell these cards. But, there are also opportunities on a local level, and that’s where I make some side money. 

I look at Craigslist or the Facebook Marketplace for people selling their MTG card collections, and that’s where the fun begins.

The following tips apply to flipping MTG cards specifically, but I also think they would apply to any sort of “flipping” that someone could do via Craigslist, Marketplace, or even through consignment stores.

Extra Reading – The Best Places to Sell Pokemon Cards Online.

1 – Pricing knowledge is out there! 

Most of the time, a MTG player will know which of their cards are valuable, and exactly what those cards worth. If they have a $200 collection, they’ll ask $200 for it. If you’re the seller, it’s the smart thing to do.

But if you’re a buyer looking to flip products for profit—like me—then this isn’t the deal that I’m interested it. I’m looking for undervalued card collections.

I don’t want to rip anyone off, but I need to consider my profit margin; I can’t someone more than what I think I can re-sell for. 

When it comes to flipping MTG cards, I follow Warren Buffett’s two rules of investing. 

#1: Don’t lose money. 

#2: Don’t forget rule #1.

2 – Be an expert, and be quick!

Buying anything you haven't seen in person via Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace is a risky proposition, so I go in-person to look through the cards before I buy them.

However, neither the seller nor I want to spend hours rifling through a collection of cards to assess the value. I need to know which cards are valuable, and then quickly extrapolate from a small sample up to the whole collection. 

For example, the last collection I bought had 15,000 cards in it.

I took about 10 minutes to flip through approximately 500 of the cards, and then made a judgement, “If these 500 cards have $15 in value, then the full 15,000 cards will have about $450.”

While this extrapolation carries some risk with it—what if I happened to look at the 500 most valuable cards?— you’ve got to understand your risk posture in any aspect of life.

Granted, this begs a question, “How do I know which cards are valuable?”

Well, I’ve been playing the game on and off since 1995 (you do the math!), so I’ve got a feel for which cards have value and which don’t.

I also listen to a couple podcasts about the game, so I know which cards are in demand, and therefore carry higher prices.

3 – It still might not be worth your time…so hopefully you enjoy it

 It took me about 15 hours to sort, price, organize and ship the collection of 15,000 cards. 

• I paid $100 for them
• Sold ~1000 cards to a national store ($300)
• Kept about 200 for myself (worth ~$100)

For those keeping tracking, that’s approximately $200 of direct profit (plus perhaps $100 ‘unrealized’) in 15 hours, or $20/hour. That’s less than my full-time job. But, do you know what your time is worth?

After all, ever since 1995 I’ve enjoyed sorting through these colorful, nerdy cards.

If I make a small profit, add to my collection, and flex my creative muscles…that’s a fun side hustle at the end of the day!

Side Hustle Challenges – Consider Difficulties In Scaling

Generally, I turn a profit when someone thinks they’re sitting on a collection of 100% junk, but I know it’s 99% junk and 1% gems. 

That doesn’t happen too often. 

As I mentioned before, online marketplaces for cards are easily accessible, and players tend to know which of their cards are valuable. And on the other side, I’ve met up with plenty of players and realized, “Yup, this is pure junk,” and walked away. 

Even though there are 35 million players worldwide, the intersecting Venn region of my marketplace is tiny: Rochester NY-based players who are selling their collections, who think they’re selling junk, but are actually 1% wrong.

This ultimately makes it pretty challenging to scale my MTG card flipping side hustle, but it's still a fun way to make extra money on the side in any case.

Advice For Other Side Hustlers

If I were to start over and focus on a flipping side hustle full-time, I’d consider the following:

Pick a product with either less pricing knowledge or larger arbitrage gaps. For example, I just read a story today about a guy who buys $3 brassieres from Wal-Mart, because he knows the same bra sells for $20 on Amazon.

How can you go wrong with that sort of margin?!

Quantity is a pain. Dealing in 15,000 card increments can be annoying. It’s much easier to buy one snowblower, fix that one snowblower, and re-sell that one snowblower.  

Choose something more scalable. What’s a product that everyone uses? That everyone enjoys? That’s constantly being bought and sold?

I chose MTG because I was already enjoying the hobby, but there are way better options out there. Dealing with cars, home ownership, smart phones, food…these kind of products seem far more universal that collectible card games.

I know for a fact that you learned something today. The people who know squash and Magic: the Gathering and blog about side hustles for fun…I think there’s one of them, and he’s writing to you right now

I really appreciate you reading, and a big thanks to Tom for letting me share here on WebMonkey. 

Cheers,

Jesse from BestInterest.blog

Final Thoughts

I'd like to take a moment to thank Jesse for sharing his two awesome side hustles with us!

I've always been a proponent of monetizing your existing skill set and playing to your given talents, and Jesse's squash coaching hustle exemplifies that fact.

If you know how to do something and to do it well, you can make money by helping others to do the same. It doesn't matter if it's sports cards, language, blogging, or business…provide real value to people and you can get somewhere in this world.

I'm also taking a massive trip down memory lane right now just reading about how to make money selling magic cards.

MTG was actually a massive part of my childhood/part of high school.

It was a game that brought me closer together with friends/cousins who shared a love for the game, and I remember spending dozens if not hundreds of hours theorizing the best decks I could build with the cards I had available.

See, the beautiful part about Jesse's MTG flipping side hustle is that it also highlights a fact that I think is forgotten all too often in the personal finance space: our own enjoyment has value.

Not everything is dollars and cents.

Sure, you should value your time and factor it in to whatever money making endeavor you start on.

However, never discount your own enjoyment, skills you can acquire along the way, or the people you will inevitable end up meeting.

If I had factored in hourly pay when I decided to start WebMonkey…well…let's just say that I don't think you'd be reading this story right now!

Play to your strengths, listen to what the market tells you, and hustle to accomplish your goals.

Just don't forget to have a little fun along the way!

That's all for this one! Be sure to check out Jesse's blog to keep up to date with the awesome content he is putting out!

The post Young Money Interview #8 – How Jesse Flips MTG Cards & More! appeared first on WebMonkey.

I felt unsure when I started WebMonkey. I also felt unsure when I tried out dropshipping, opened an Etsy POD shop, or branched into freelance writing.

While many of my ideas failed (I'm looking at you, Etsy), I think there's also a lot of value in just trying something out. Not everything has to be a home run, and you will never succeed if you don't give things a shot in the first place.

The power of just giving something a try is exactly why I'm excited to share the story of how Kevin started a successful side hustle by selling books on Amazon.

I stumbled across Kevin's story on Reddit, and after reaching out, he kindly agreed to break down exactly how he started making money by selling books online.

So, if you've ever wondered how to sell books on Amazon or make money with the leading ecommerce platform in the world, this is the post for you!

Take it away Kevin!

About Kevin

Over the last few years, I’ve been really curious about the intersection of technology and investing.

The first real a-ha moment I had was watching the 2017 Bitcoin bubble get a whole wave of investors and young people excited about the new opportunities and business models that could come from monetary innovation. 

Most of those ideas are still too early, but it set me off nonetheless, and I’ve been working in the space surrounding technology and investing ever since.

What Side Hustle Did You Start?

A couple weekends ago, I was exploring a local thrift store and came across some really solid business books selling for just $3 each. I had a feeling I could become a middleman and make a profit  with a little bit of arbitrage, so I decided to try selling the books on Amazon. 

I already knew selling books on Amazon was a popular side-hustle for many people, but I had no idea how the Amazon FBA program worked.

But, most importantly, I was certain that if thousands of other Amazon sellers could make meaningful income from selling their items online, I could also figure out a way to do the same.

My most recent YouTube video is really just me documenting my journey on Amazon so that others looking for a little extra side-income can do the same!

What Is Amazon FBA?

FBA stands for ‘Fulfilled by Amazon.'

Essentially, FBA means that instead of shipping products to individual customers one by one, you can instead ship all your products to Amazon warehouses and they will ship them off whenever a customer orders an item.

The program was actually launched way back in 2006, but in the last few years, the model has caught on with the rise of dropshipping. Alibaba re-sellers have used the FBA platform extensively to buy loads of cheap products overseas, ship them to Amazon, and then profit from price differences when they sell the products in North America.

Amazon FBA is great because you also never touch (or see) the products you're dealing with in the case of dropshipping. For flipping, it works quite well because you don't have to worry about logistics, plus, the Amazon FBA shipping rates are way better than individual shipping rates.

Selling using Amazon FBA was something I did out of necessity since I quickly realized that merchant-fulfillment was too expensive for my used books and would erase any of my profit margin.

My case is also a little different than dropshipping cheap products from overseas as I’m sourcing products from local shops. I still see and pack my products up for Amazon. However, once I send them to my UPS store for shipment, those products are in Amazon’s hands and I just sit back and relax.

What Is Your Process For Finding & Listing Books?

Nothing too scientific for now – it seems like there are lots of opportunities for buying underpriced books for anyone who knows how to use the Amazon Seller app.

The Amazon Seller app is a free tool that I use to scan all my books before I buy them.

Basically, the app tells me whether the book I've scanned is selling quickly or slowly, and it gives me a listing of the best offers currently available from other sellers. If the book is relatively popular and is selling for anything over $13, that’s typically a buy signal for me.

By using the Amazon Seller app and looking around local thrift stores, it's possible to find books that can potentially turn a good profit once you flip them online.

The books that go for $20+ are bonuses, and textbooks are even better. I also take book popularity into account and won't buy anything less than a 250,000 Amazon seller rank (since Canada is such a small market). Americans can get away with selling items ranked 2,000,000 or more.

Extra Reading – The Best Amazon Price Trackers to Save Money on Amazon.

What Have Your Results Been Like So Far? How Did Your First Batch Of Books Go?

My first few shipments of books to Amazon have been surprisingly smooth. The entire process is well-documented on the Amazon site and on all sorts of other blogs, so there was no fear of Amazon losing my package or anything. 

My very first batch of books probably included too many low-margin books and low-popularity books. Some of the books have only a couple of Amazon reviews, and other popular ones are only selling for $12 or $13, so they’ll be tough to make a profit on.

It was really encouraging to see my first few books sell so fast though, I sold 4 books within 48 hours of Amazon receiving my inventory. Those sales alone were enough to hook me on the e-commerce game. 

Any Major Wins Or Losses? Plans Or Expectations For The Future?

Now I’ve sold about 20 books through Amazon FBA after only 9 or 10 days of selling, this hustle has turned into a pretty steady stream of sales.

I’ve sold a handful of books in the $20+ range, which are all worth $10+ of profit, so that’s nice.

No big losses so far. I think my biggest foreseeable challenge will be making sure my Amazon inventory doesn’t get too bloated. Amazon charges a small monthly fee for keeping my books in their warehouse, so I need to be aware of those costs for the unpopular books that aren’t selling.

I’m going to double down on my Amazon selling and see if I can take sales to the next level by either finding lower priced inventory or partnering up with thrift shops and libraries to help them make some extra side money. We’ll see how it goes, I’ll be documenting that journey on YouTube or Twitter most likely. 

Suggestions For Other Side Hustlers Considering Selling Books Online

My first suggestion is to just start. If you’re looking for a side-hustle to generate some extra income, there are literally thousands of ways you can make that happen. It’s 2019, the internet (and this blog) is full of useful ideas to make extra cash. 

Selling with Amazon FBA is a proven strategy, and a great starting point, but definitely not the only possible approach for e-commerce sellers. If you choose the Amazon FBA route, you’ll need a smartphone, a computer, and a printer. Everything else is extra for those who are more serious. 

I’ve heard of some people buying custom barcode scanners to scan books quicker, some buy repricing software to automatically adjust their prices on Amazon, and some even buy listing software to speed up the process of listing lots of books on Amazon, but all those tools aren’t necessary for a beginner looking to make a few extra bucks. 

For any beginner, just get out there and start.

You’ll quickly learn about what part of book flipping process takes the most time, and how much profit you can make selling particular books. Then it’s all about finding ways to get 1% better each day.

Final Thoughts

If there's one message I hope you take away from this side hustle story, it's exactly what Kevin said: the best piece of advice is often to just start somewhere.

The internet is incredibly powerful. If you put in some time and effort, you can start diversifying your income and earning more money every single month.

It doesn't matter if you just make extra grocery money or develop a passive income stream, the power of starting a side hustle is immense if you use the money to mitigate debt or start a modest investment portfolio.

I think Kevin's book selling side hustle is proof of that. He noticed an opportunity to make money through arbitrage, did his research, and then pulled the trigger. He's making sales almost every day now and has got his latest side hustle idea off the ground in a shockingly short amount of time.

So, start selling books on Amazon, or flipping items on eBay, or finding different ways to make money doing something that interests you. You'll be amazed at how quickly you can make progress and where you end up!

I'd like to give a massive thank you to Kevin for taking the time to share his story about selling books on Amazon! If you want to checkout more of his awesome content and to stay up to date with his hustles, be sure to subscribe to his YouTube channel and follow his socials!

Catch you guys in the next one!

The post Young Money Interview #7 – How Kevin Makes Money Selling Books On Amazon appeared first on WebMonkey.