Do you ever wonder the best ways for moms to earn money online? Do you get frustrated when you’re looking for work-from-home ideas and the recommendations are to submit receipts, take surveys or be a mystery shopper?
To me, those jobs pay so low that they aren’t worth my time. And they’re probably not worth your time either. When I started exploring how to work from home, I wanted something that I could use my skills and get paid well for. I just wanted the flexibility to do it from my house while being with my kids.
I know that I’m not alone in my frustration of wanting to earn more than pocket change while working from home. So I’ve put together 25 ways for moms to earn money online that don’t include taking surveys.
Most of these jobs require skills and hard work.
Most of these jobs can be done as either a freelancer with your own clients or by being a subcontractor for companies. Stumped on which companies to work with? I’ve listed some in the article for you.
And if you want a roadmap to discover and plan the best way for you to earn money online, check out my Work from Home Workbook.
Ready to find the best ways for moms to earn money online?
Table of Contents
Technical ways for moms to earn money online
The following jobs require technical skills and an attention to detail.
Transcriptionist
Transcriptionists type out audio files for companies, law firms, and medical practices. The easiest way to enter the profession is by becoming a general transcriptionist, which is what I was for four years. Later you can specialize in legal or medical transcription.
Transcriptionists need to have a good ear, fast typing skills, superb grammar and spelling skills, and be able to adapt to different formats for transcription.
You can easily earn $15-$25/hour as a transcriptionist for companies or even more as a freelancer. Transcription companies that hire beginners include:
Editor
An editor’s job is to make manuscripts and writing better. Depending on the type of editor you are, this could be anything from marking revisions for grammar and sentence structure to more general suggestions like taking a different tone or re-organizing some of your sections or chapters.
Important skills for editors include familiarity with style guides, attention to detail and grammar, and an understanding of how writing should be structured to convey what the author is trying to express.
Businesses that hire freelance editors include companies like:
Proofreader
Proofreading is similar to editing in that you’re reviewing a manuscript. The difference is that you’re the last set of eyes on the copy. So you’re looking for errors or mistakes like typos, punctuation errors, formatting errors, etc.
Proofreading can be very flexible. You need to pay attention to details, know the formatting rules to follow, and be excellent with grammar and punctuation.
Places to find proofreading jobs include:
Virtual Assistant
Do you have prior experience as a secretary or executive assistant? Then becoming a virtual assistant might be a good career choice for you.
Virtual assistants (VAs) help companies or small businesses with their administrative, marketing, or other tasks. This can include everything from managing email to creating presentations to posting on social media.
Most virtual assistants are self-employed and find clients by word of mouth, marketing online, or previous employers. Focusing on one niche or industry to serve can help set you apart as a VA and help you identify your ideal client to work with.
Translator
Translation can be a great career for moms who speak at least two languages. Companies and individuals need translators for a variety of tasks. This includes both written documents as well as verbal translation.
Translation involves more than just knowing the language. You need to be a good listener, an adept writer, and be familiar with industry-specific terms in both languages as well as jargon and phrases unique to each culture. Hours are flexible, and the pay is good. Be prepared to work odd hours if your clients are across the globe.
Obtaining a professional certification, credentials, or passing language fluency tests can help set you apart from other translators. Companies that hire translators include:
Bookkeeper
Every business needs a bookkeeper, but not all businesses need a bookkeeper on staff. If you have prior bookkeeping experience or are willing to learn, you can start working as a bookkeeper for small companies.
Bookkeeping tasks may include reconciling bank accounts, invoicing clients, paying bills, running payroll, balancing the books, or compiling reports and statements. If you have an accounting background, you may be able to do more advanced accounting tasks from home for businesses or CPA firms.
Most bookkeeping positions are found locally or by advertising your services online.
Coder
Coding everything from apps to websites can easily be done by moms wanting to earn money online – if you have the right skills.
Moms with prior coding experience have a leg up with earning money coding since coding has a strong learning curve. However, if you’re dedicated to learning how to code, it can become a well-paying career.
For coding newbies, there are many free resources online as well as paid programs and courses. In some areas, there are boot camps specially designed for women who want to become coders.
You can find coding jobs online or find your own private clients. You can also build apps or start your own software company.
Ways to earn money online by teaching
The internet has made it easy to teach anyone anywhere. Here are some specialized teaching jobs for mom that are flexible and can pay well.
Tutor
Tutoring students of all ages online in math, science, foreign language, etc. can be a great way to earn some extra income. A tutor needs to have a passion for teaching, work well with kids, be creative with teaching new concepts in different ways, and know your subject area.
You can find your own private clients online and use Skype to interact with your students. You can also work with tutoring companies like:
Many companies require at least a bachelor’s degree, and you can make from $12-$25/hour with a flexible schedule.
ESL teacher
Students from around the world are learning English, and many parents are paying online companies like VIPKid for lessons from native English speakers.
I’ve known many moms who teach kids English online with VIPKid and love it. Most companies require a bachelor’s degree and some require formal teaching experience. The pay scale has many variables but it’s possible to earn over $20/hour once you have some experience and a student base. Companies that hire teachers include:
While you set your own hours, you may find yourself working very early mornings or late nights, in addition to some weekends due to the difference in time zones.
Online music teacher
I used to teach piano lessons from home and have to tidy up the house every afternoon I had students. Now, you can teach music lessons right from your computer. If you’re looking to expand your student base or get into music teaching then becoming an online music teacher can be a steady gig.
Music teaching platforms make it easy for you to teach piano, guitar, violin, voice, and any kind of music lesson online. Some popular platforms are:
Most platforms have you set up a profile with your rate, instrument, and experience, and then students book lessons through the system. The platform takes a cut of your fee, but you don’t have to worry about payments or running your own business.
Online college instructor
If you have a master’s degree or prior college teaching experience, consider teaching college classes online. I’ve known moms who’ve taught everything from business writing to beginning chemistry for major universities.
While you may have set “office hours” that you need to work, you also have flexibility on when you grade, prepare curriculum, and communicate with your students. Pay may vary depending on your subject, experience, and the number of courses you’re teaching.
Ways for moms to earn money online as a writer
Good writers are always in demand. And great writers who can sell products can have a lucrative career. So if you enjoy putting your fingers to the keyboard and writing good copy, explore some of these writing jobs.
Freelance writer
Companies need writers for everything from their website copy, to their manuals to blog posts. Skilled writers know how to persuade their audience to take action while giving them the information they’re looking for. Writers also need to be able to juggle deadlines, take constructive criticism, and edit, edit, edit.
By specializing in one type of writing such as websites or white papers, you can make a niche for yourself and market your services to your ideal customer.
Writing can be very flexible for moms as you can choose your work schedule while adhering to deadlines. If you don’t want to find your own clients, considering subcontracting for an advertising agency, writing magazine articles for major publications, or working for a freelance writing company like Scripted.com.
Copywriter
Do you have experience as a marketer or writing persuasive sales copy? Then copywriting might be a good, and well-paying, niche for you.
Copywriters focus on sales copy that gets customers to purchase a company’s product or sign up for a service. As a copywriter, you’ll often test different copy to see which version performs the best.
You can write copy for websites, landing pages, email newsletters, mailers, etc.
Fiction writer
Do you think you can write the next best American novel – or at least a page turner that someone will buy off Amazon? Then consider finally becoming a fiction writer.
Thanks to Amazon and other self-publishing platforms, while it might not be easy to write your book, it’s easy to put it out there for your readers.
You’ll want to look professional to your readers. That’s why investing in a proofreader and a cover artist is often worth it. Many authors find success by focusing on one genre and then writing book series. Once readers are into your series – they can’t wait until your next book comes out.
Blogger
“Mommy blogger” has become a term for a reason. Blogging has a low barrier to entry and is something you can start for free (or very low cost). And you can do it while your kids are sleeping! If you enjoy writing and putting together content, then blogging might be for you.
To be successful as a blogger, you need to treat your blog like a business. So that means adding value to your audience through your content, products you create, or by connecting your audience to products they might love.
Earning money from your blog can be slower than starting out earning money other ways, so some moms pair their blog with other services like writing or design.
Creative work-at-home careers
Freelance graphic designer
Graphic design is a great job for moms wanting to work from home with a flexible schedule, especially if you have prior design experience.
Companies are in need of graphic design help for their websites, infographics, marketing images, brochures, ebooks, etc.
There are many places to learn graphic design online. You’ll have the most success if you already know design principles and how to work with design software like the Adobe Suite.
Photographer
If you love taking photographs and want to earn money for them, considering selling them online. Companies, bloggers, and individuals are always looking for stock photos for their websites and design.
You can earn money either selling your photographs to online sites like Shutterstock or 123rf. You can also sell your own photographs on your personal website or sites like:
Etsy shop owner
If you are crafty or have handmade items that you want to sell then becoming an Etsy shop owner may be for you. People sell everything from soaps to printables to cupcake toppers on Etsy as well as many custom gift items.
Selling on Etsy has a low barrier to entry, but the competition can be steep. You’ll want to research how to market your products over other similar shops or find a unique niche where you can stand out.
Interior design consultant
With the rise of HGTV and Fixer Upper, everyone wants to makeover their house. But not everyone knows how – and they may be willing to pay someone with the right skills for a plan to update their space.
If you have impeccable taste and a way with pulling rooms together, then you may want to become an interior design consultant. And you can do this from your own living room.
Some consultants work with their own private clients or work for companies like:
Typically a client would take photos of their space and then you put together a room plan with color schemes, furniture layouts, accessories and product recommendations.
Style consultant
Many women are familiar with clothing companies like StitchFix or Trunk Club. These companies hire style consultants to help customers build their wardrobe with items they love without the hassle of going to the mall.
Style consultants need to be up to date on style trends, listen to clients’ preferences, and find clothing that their clients will love.
Voice actor
Companies hire voice actors for commercials, audibooks, movie trailers, explainer videos, etc. While some jobs are in-studio, others can be done from your own home studio if you have the right recording equipment.
If you’re interested in being a voice actor, you should be comfortable reading a script and acting as a character. You’ll also need to promote your voice acting services and do demos. You can find voice acting jobs on sites like:
Ways for moms to earn money online with marketing or sales
Call center & customer service jobs
Some well-known Fortune 500 companies like Apple and Disney hire call service reps who can work from home.
For these jobs, you need an internet connection and a quiet place to work without interruption. For most jobs, you’ll have a set schedule you’re available. You’ll be given guidelines by the company on how to interact and help customers.
Phone jobs work well for moms who have a designated quiet time like night when kids are sleeping or during the day when your kids are at school.
Social media assistant
Social media assistants are similar to virtual assistants in that you’re helping companies or bloggers with outsourcing some of their tasks.
As a social media assistant, you may specialize in creating Instagram and Pinterest graphics, running Facebook ads, posting Facebook posts, or coordinating promotions online.
If you love social media, creating graphics, and growing followers, a social media assistant may be for you. Prior experience is helpful, but you can teach yourself about social media online and start finding clients.
Email marketer
Email marketing is a specialized writing and marketing niche. While people usually only send one-off emails to friends or co-workers, companies send out complex mass email listings to promote their sales or products or educate their customers.
Email marketers need to be good copywriters, be familiar with email software and the legalities of mass email sends, and know how to automate emails based on customer behavior.
Digital marketer
Most companies from your local florist to Fortune 500 companies are advertising in some way online. Online marketers help these businesses market their products and services through an online marketing plan that can include social media, writing blog posts, Facebook ads, Google ads, etc.
If you have marketing experience or are willing to learn, you can freelance with a marketing agency or by finding your own clients. You’ll have the most success by finding a niche like Facebook ads or social media and promoting your services.
Ready to start earning money online?
If you found your perfect work-from-home job from this list and are ready to jump in and get started, check out my Work from Home Workbook. The workbook will walk you through building a work-from-home plan that fits your skills and experience.
