Some ways for women to make extra money might need specific skills, while others just need determination and work. It’s about understanding what you’re good at and how you can use those strengths well. When we talk about good side jobs for women, it’s because:
- – Women are more likely to stay at home with kids than men.
- – In 2022, women earned about 82% of what men earned in the US.
These gaps are slowly getting smaller, especially among younger people. But it’s still a sad truth. Until these gaps go away, women might be more eager to find extra ways to make money.
So, I want to help you find some good side jobs for women.
Here’s a list of great ways for women to earn extra cash:
- 1. Work as a Freelancer
- 2. Do Online Bookkeeping
- 3. Be a Virtual Assistant
- 4. Babysit or Pet Sit
- 5. Teach English
- 6. Sell Things You Don’t Need
- 7. Do Online Surveys
- 8. Get Cash Back on Purchases
- 9. Set Up an Etsy Shop
- 10. Rent Out Your Spare Room
- 11. Try Being an Influencer
- 12. Do Mystery Shopping
- 13. Invest in Real Estate
- 14. Make Deliveries
1. WORK AS A FREELANCER
In the last few decades, more people are working independently through gigs. This trend has seen a big rise in freelancers, especially among women. From 2001 to 2016, women contributed 55% to the growth of gig work, making up nearly half of all freelancers. This is even more noticeable in freelance writing, where women dominate.
People are choosing freelancing for various reasons, like creating their own schedules and avoiding traditional offices. The good news is, freelancing is easier to get into now!
Whether it’s writing, editing, web design, digital marketing, photography, or graphic design, there are jobs available. You can find work through platforms like FlexJobs, Steady, Upwork, Fiverr, or by finding your own clients.
Even if you start freelancing part-time, it can grow into a full-time job with good earnings potential. If you play your cards right, this could be a fantastic career path for you!
2. DO ONLINE BOOK KEEPING
If you know bookkeeping or have done it before, you can offer online bookkeeping to business owners who don’t have the time or don’t want to do it themselves.
QuickBooks and Freshbooks are common accounting software. You might need a bit of time to get familiar with them, but after that, it’s pretty manageable from home. Apps like Steady can help you find local bookkeeping jobs.
3. BE A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT
Another way for women to work from home is by being a virtual assistant. Virtual assistants are self-employed workers who support individuals or businesses with various administrative tasks, all done remotely.
In this role, you might handle bookkeeping, scheduling, customer service, or a mix of tasks based on the client’s needs.
The great thing about being a virtual assistant is the flexibility. You can pick your clients, set your rates, and find jobs that match your skills. It can even become a full-time job if you want.
4. BABYSIT OR PET SIT
If you like taking care of others, you can earn extra cash by babysitting, house sitting, or pet sitting. The internet has made it simpler to find these jobs. Try Care.com to apply for the type of care you want to provide.
If you love pets more, Rover is a big platform for pet sitting (they also have dog walking opportunities!).
Earnings and job availability can vary based on where you live, but sitters often make more than minimum wage.
5. TEACH ENGLISH
If you speak English fluently and have a college degree, you can teach English from home in your spare time. Using VIPKid, you can easily apply to become an online tutor. You could earn around $14 to $18 per hour and pick your teaching hours.
The good part? You don’t have to create your own lessons. VIPKid provides its own curriculum. You’ll learn and practice using guidance from experienced teachers.
If you want a flexible home-based job, teaching English through online tutoring is a great option.
6. SELL THINGS YOU DO NOT NEED
If you’re unsure, sell what you don’t need. Even things that might seem like junk could find buyers on eBay. eBay began as an auction site but now it’s a big online store where you can sell all sorts of things, from used car parts to old video games.
Just like Etsy, there are fees involved with selling on eBay. You’ll have listing and transaction fees, plus you’ll need a plan for shipping what you sell.
Apart from eBay, you can sell without fees on Craigslist or your local Facebook Marketplace. If you have old tech lying around, try Decluttr to sell them!
7. DO ONLINE SURVEYS
When time is scarce, especially for moms and wives, making money can be tough. One way to earn is by doing online surveys for market research. It might not replace a full-time job, but it could help cover monthly grocery expenses.
Websites like Swagbucks, Branded Surveys, Survey Junkie, and LifePoints are really popular because they’re easy to use and free. Anyone can make money online through these sites.
The good part is you can do surveys anywhere—while waiting at the airport, watching TV with the kids, or during school pickup.
8. GET CASHBACK ON PURCAHSES
If you enjoy shopping online, using reward sites like Capital One Shopping makes sense. It might not be a major side income, but getting rewards for the online purchases you’re already making is a good idea.
Capital One Shopping is an add-on you install on your computer. It runs quietly in the background while you shop online, finding deals for you.
With this extension, not only do you get deals, but you also earn rewards. These rewards can be used to get gift cards for your future purchases.
9. SET UP AN ETSY SHOP
If you’re a creative person who loves crafting things, think about opening an Etsy shop. Etsy is a popular online market for handmade items. Whether it’s clothes, candles, ornaments, or anything you create, you can start your own small business by selling on Etsy.
You don’t even have to make everything yourself. Etsy’s a great place to sell vintage stuff, so you can sell older valuable items from your closet or basement.
The downside of Etsy is the same as any online business—costs. Etsy charges fees for listing and transactions, so remember to include these when setting your prices.
11. RENT OUT YOUR SPARE ROOM
Renting out your property on Airbnb can be a great way for women to earn extra money if you have the space for it. Whether it’s an extra room or a vacant second home, you can create a regular, flexible income from it.
The trick with Airbnb is to build a good reputation. Most renters prefer highly-rated places, so it might take time to get regular renters.
To attract people, make sure you showcase your space well. This means great photos, detailed descriptions, and a list of what you offer. And of course, set an attractive price.
Once you have a good reputation, it’s just about keeping the place clean for the next guest.
11. TRY BEING AN INFLEUNECER
Most people who use social media a lot are women. Because of this, it’s no surprise that most influencers are women. It might seem like a competitive field, but you can make money from your social media by having the right content.
The important thing is your content strategy. Does your stuff stand out or is it like everyone else’s? Who are you trying to reach? Are there brands that match what you’re sharing? These are things to think about.
Before, “influencer” and “blogger” meant the same thing. But now, influencers do lots of things. Along with social accounts, you might start a podcast, YouTube Channel, or a Pinterest board—whatever fits your content best.
Once you have a good number of followers, you can earn money by promoting local businesses and using affiliate marketing. It might take time to make a profit, but it can pay off well.
12. DO MYSTERY SHOPPING
If you’re a stay-at-home parent who’s often at the store, why not make some money as a mystery shopper while you’re there? Mystery shopping means pretending to be a regular customer to see how a business works. It could be a shop, a restaurant, or even a phone call to check how a company’s customer service is.
You can sign up with services like BestMark to get paid for mystery shopping. Applying is fast, and you can usually start within a week.
The trick with mystery shopping is paying attention to details and following the mission’s specific instructions. Take good notes and give detailed feedback to increase your chances of getting more jobs.
13. INVEST IN REAL ESTATE
If you’re short on time but want extra money, you can still earn through passive income. Passive income is money you make with little effort, and investing is a way to do this.
Usually, real estate is a reliable investment, but it typically needs a lot of money to start.
Luckily, platforms like Fundrise let you invest in real estate with just $10.
Here’s the deal: Fundrise gathers money from investors (like you!) to buy undervalued properties. These properties become more valuable over time, and everyone who invests gets a share of the profit.
Fundrise and real estate are for long-term investing, not quick cash. It’s a years-long commitment if you decide to try it.
14. MAKE DELIVERIES
I’m mentioning this one last because, in a recent study, it was found that around 83.5% of delivery drivers are men, while women make up only about 16.5% of the drivers. But, if this side job interests you, it can be a good way to make money, especially if you can work during busy times.
If you have a car and some free time, you can do part-time work as a rideshare or delivery driver.
Using apps like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Instacart, you can use your car to give rides or pick up and deliver food and groceries.
You’ll need a background check for driving and your car should be in good condition. But other than that, signing up is easy, and you can start making extra money with your car quickly.
What Makes a Good Side Hustle for Women?
When thinking about a side hustle that works for women, focus on two simple questions:
- – What are you good at?
- – What do you enjoy?
When these two things overlap, it’s a good start. And if there’s a market for what you’re good at and enjoy, that’s even better.
The goal is to use your strengths. Consider your unique skills. Is there something you can turn into a side job?
It’s okay to learn as you go, but having some skills to start with makes it easier to build something.
For stay-at-home moms, flexibility is crucial. Your side gig needs to adapt to the needs of your kids, who require a lot of time and attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which side hustles pay the most for women?
The side hustles that pay the most usually require a lot of experience or expertise. For instance, professional consulting often earns a lot. Personally, I did well with SEO consulting and building websites, but not everyone has these skills.
But ultimately, your success depends on you. A small business started on the side can become highly profitable. It all depends on your idea’s potential and how much effort you put in.
How can I make $1,000 on the side?
The timeframe matters a lot. Making $1,000 per week is different from making $1,000 per month. Rather than fixating on a specific number, start working and see how much you can realistically make. Setting practical goals, especially when starting, is important.
If you invest time and effort, you can work towards achieving your financial goals.
How can women make money from home with a side hustle?
There are many opportunities for women to work from home with side hustles. From freelancing to being a virtual assistant, the options are vast. Websites like FlexJobs or Fiverr can help you get started.