5 best Work From Home Side Jobs
Disclaimer: This article contains paid affiliate links. By you clicking on the affiliate link and making a purchase, I receive a commission (at no additional cost to you).
In today’s world, it seems like everyone has a side job or hustle and with good reason. Side jobs are a great way to make extra income. In my research and my own personal experience, I’ve seen dozens of lists of potential side jobs. However, not all are created equally. Certain side jobs require you to have specific skills or invest in start up costs. Below I’ve listed the 5 best work from home side jobs for 2021 you can start today.
1. Dropshipping
One of the most popular side jobs to make the list of best side hustles of 2021 is dropshipping. With this business model, you build an e-commerce site and import products from wholesalers such as AliExpress.com onto your page for you to resell. If you’ve always wanted to own your own business, dropshipping can be a great start. You can build your own store using Shopify. Shopify has a comprehensive guide on how to get started you can find here. With dropshipping there are also a number of ways to advertise your product. Paid search and social media (facebook and instagram ads) advertising are very efficient and easy to initiate. Additionally, affiliate marketing via networks like Flexoffers (paid link) has become a favorite among marketers. With an affiliate program you generate sales via links distributed to influencers who receive a commission for every sale. The flexibility, increasing e-commerce trends, and relatively low start up costs make dropshipping one of the best work from home side jobs of 2021.
- Pros: Low startup costs, no inventory liability, and scalable potential.
- Cons: Some trial and error depending on your level of business expertise and difficult to manage quality if shipping from abroad.
2. blogging
There are plenty of ways to make money with blogging. If you’re approved through the Google Adsense network, Google will place ads on your page and provide you with revenue (usually a few cents to a few dollars) every time someone clocks on those ads. Affiliate marketing is also a common source of revenue. Affiliate networks such as CJ Affiliate or FlexOffers help you search for affiliate partners in your industry, apply for their programs, and monitor your performance all on one platform. Additionally, building a website doesn’t have to be complicated. I personally use WordPress-I think it’s super easy to use and has a bunch of plug-ins that make building your website easy to manage especially for beginners. One of the best parts of blogging is that it’s a great work from home side job; for several topics there is no need to leave the comfort of your living room. To help you get started, Hostgator (paid link) is offering a bunch of great specials on hosting, domain names, and emails.
On the downside however, having personal experience with blogging, it is a slow burn. Building a successful blog takes time so don’t expect quick money from this. Additionally, while building the actual site isn’t too complicated, there are a lot of back-end tactics that may require professional expertise.
- Pros: Can spend time researching and writing about what you love, multiple ways to monetize, low start-up costs
- Cons: Crowded space, difficult to gain visibility, and a slow revenue build
3. Consulting
I’ve kept this as general consulting as this can fit various industries. If you are an expert in a particular field, consider building a consulting business. I recommend you consult an attorney who specializes in this area before getting started so you decide on the best business structure for your business and the tax implications. LegalZoom is another option that allows you to file legal paperwork electronically. To help sharpen the skills needed in your field, you can also take advantage of Linkedin Learning. This tool allows you to take advantage of over 10,000 courses focused on the most in-demand skills in today’s world.
- Pros: Limited startup costs (depending on industry)
- Cons: May be limiting due to non-competes from an existing job and if operating as a single person corporation, there is limited scalability
4. UserTesting
UserTesting is a web app that allows for everyday people to give their opinions on new concepts and websites. Once you sign up (it’s free!), you will have to take a “practice test” that just proves you can articulate your thoughts out loud. Once you pass this test you’ll get notifications for various screeners. The average job pays $10 and takes about 20 minutes. While $10 may not sound like a lot, doing one of these test everyday can yield $300/month or $3,600 a year in extra cash. The ease of use, flexibility, and low barriers to access makes UserTesting one of the best work from home side jobs of 2021.
- Pros: Low skill, easy access to screeners everyday
- Cons: Need to invest time going through multiple screeners before qualifying, revenue potential is fairly limiting.
5. Freelance Video & Content Editing
I myself am not a fan of editing so paying a professional to do this for me is always my preference. For many business owners, editing and creating their own content is time consuming and just not their specialty. There are various sites out there that allow you to post sample of your work and your rates. There are plenty of websites out there that allow you to post your work and seek out clients such as Fiverr, UpWork, and Freelancer.com. Freelance video and content editing are some of the best side hustles out there because you can be your own boss. More and more companies are turning to freelancers due to lower costs and the added flexibility.
- Pros: Ability to pick and choose your clients
- Cons: Competitive and crowded market
Some of these side hustle ideas may require some start up cash to fund equipment, licenses, and legal paperwork. To help you save check out some of our resources: