10 Best Self-Employed Jobs From Home

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I live with the mindset that we humans aren’t made to work to the bone. Plus, whose life goal is it to keep working and working just to survive? Nah, we’re meant to be free to do what we want, to be creatives who spend their days working on what they’re passionate about.

Okay, I get it. Money will always be an issue, especially with inflation raising the prices of rent and food!

But what if I told you that you could turn your passion into an income generator?

That’s right, there are numerous hobbies that make money, allowing you to focus on doing what you love without worrying about commuting to the office, gossip in the workplace, or redundant tasks!

The best part? You will be your own boss, so you get to control when and where you work! May you want to do a side hustle from home or work as a freelancer in a totally different country, the possibilities are endless!

The only question you need to answer is what type of self-employed job you should pursue.

Whether it’s working as a freelancer, creating your own business on Etsy, or even becoming a photographer, there are so many ways you can make $500 a day. Read on to learn more about the best self-employed jobs that pay well!

 

PIN THIS: I’ll be updating this post so make sure to pin this image here and save it to your Pinterest board. That way you’ll be able to come back to this page for the best self-employed jobs that pay well!

 

 

1. Blogger

Alright, you might be thinking, “Ling’s just suggesting this because she’s a blogger herself!”

Well, yeah, I recommend working as a full-time blogger because I experienced it and know how much it’s earned me in both money and freedom! I’m not gatekeeping my secrets because I believe we all deserve an opportunity to earn good money doing something fun!

I had no experience at all when I started blogging, all I knew was that I wanted to share my thoughts with the world and maybe make money along the way. When I realized I was earning more and more, I decided to quit my job and devote all my time to blogging, turning it into an online business.

Here we are now, taking advantage of my love for writing to earn from sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and advertisements! It’s amazing how far I’ve come, and it’s all thanks to you, which is why it’s worth trying.

Learning how to make money blogging is easier than it sounds and doesn’t need any significant investment. Once you put up your website and choose a niche that you feel confident talking about, then you can start looking into making engaging posts that will grow your following.

But even if you’ve just started, you can start making money from your blog through display advertising with AdSense, then move on to affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and even selling informative digital products that people are willing to buy.

 

2. Freelance Writing

For those who’ve got a knack for words, isn’t it the ultimate goal to get paid to write?

Or maybe you’re dreaming of getting a job where you work alone so you won’t need to deal with office drama? Oh, wait. It doesn’t need to be a dream when you can start working as a freelance writer now!

Sure, there’s this huge scare with AI and how the likes of ChatGPT can end up replacing writers. I’m here to tell you that there’s nothing to be scared of. Come on guys, have you tried writing a heartfelt letter or informative article using AI? There are so many gaps and it just doesn’t have the personal touch that we humans have. You can tell if websites used AI to write their stuff, and it’s such a turnoff!

In fact, the demand for freelance writers continues to grow, with so many new opportunities for content and niche writers. You can earn anywhere between $10 to $60 an hour as a writer, making it one of the best self-employed jobs that allows you to work from anywhere!

Finding freelance writing jobs is fairly easy with the many openings available. You can pitch your work to blogs that share your same niche, work for content mills to produce large batches of articles for cash, or check job boards for part-time or overnight remote jobs where companies are looking for writers!

 

3. Work As A Virtual Assistant

If you’ve considered working as a freelancer, you’ve probably heard about virtual assistants, which is a career path growing in popularity! It’s a win-win situation. Employers get to hire someone who can help make their lives easier by scheduling appointments, data entry, bookkeeping, social media management, or even content creation. Virtual assistants will be able to have a work-from-home job that pays well, and as long as they’ve got a trusty laptop and Internet, they can complete tasks anywhere they want!

I even know some lovely and talented VAs who do their work in bed! That’s why it’s one of the top business ideas for stay-at-home moms since it gives them the time and freedom to work while taking care of things around the house. Talk about multitasking!

The huge plus is that these are the types of jobs that are always hiring, with a huge demand in different industries and business sizes. Whether it’s a small tech start-up or a large enterprise, there will always be a company that needs a reliable assistant to manage day-to-day operations.

If you have special skill sets, you’ll be at an advantage, as the most in-demand virtual assistant services will need people with expertise in certain areas, such as customer relations, content creation, digital marketing, e-commerce, research, and more!

 

4. Tutoring

For those who share the love for teaching anyone and everyone, online tutoring is a promising option! These are suitable jobs for retired teachers, college students, or just about anyone who specializes in certain subjects, may it be high school science, a certain language, calculus, and more. If I had the chance to tutor, I would definitely love to teach li’l kiddos basic math or English because they’re so darn cute!

For students who want to learn how to make money in college, you can start by asking your peers or advertising your services to younger batches, may it be through an online call or face-to-face. But as mentioned, anyone can start becoming a tutor, with tons of online tutoring jobs available online! There are numerous perks, from controlling your schedule and earning additional income to the feeling of fulfillment in sharing your knowledge.

You can look into different platforms that offer tutoring jobs, including Chegg, Preply, UpWork, and Tutor.com, to start. Take note that there are platforms that may require certifications, such as an ESL teaching certification to teach English to non-English speakers. But even if some companies don’t require it, it’s worth obtaining teaching certifications as there are higher chances of getting hired, along with potentially better pay.

 

5. Flipping Things

Ever watched Flip or Flop? Maybe Property Brothers? As someone who always loves sprucing up my home and giving it a few extra upgrades here and there, there’s always a little voice in my head saying I should try flipping houses since it’s one of the most lucrative 100K jobs out there!

However, did you know that you can flip more things than houses and still earn mad profit?

There are so many niche markets you can tap into when flipping items, may it be sneakers, designer handbags, furniture, or even workout equipment! These are hot-selling items, and if you have the skill of turning one man’s “trash” into another man’s treasure, then this is the ultimate be your own boss job that will pay extremely well.

For instance, you can sell used furniture that you flipped and make anywhere between $500 to $10,00 a month, depending on the furniture you flipped and the time and effort you put into the process.

While there are a lot of places to sell your flipped items, most people find more success posting their listings on eBay, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, and sometimes, Craigslist. That said, it depends on what you’re selling. Let’s say you want to sell shoes for cash, then you might find more buyers on Facebook groups dedicated to buying and selling sneakers.

 

6. Social Media Manager (Freelance)

Social media is life for many of us, including me! But for many businesses, it’s their lifeline. After all, companies thrive on social media, thanks to people like me who are constantly online and guilty of doom scrolling (you probably are addicted to the next reel, LOL). That’s why social media managers are constantly in demand, with companies needing an expert to roll out effective campaigns to reach even more people.

But take note that it’s not just about posting a funny meme and going about your day. Social media managers develop strategies, create engaging content, analyze engagement, oversee campaigns to make sure goals are being reached, and more. Essentially, it’s to maintain and manage a company’s online presence and increase brand awareness.

Similar to freelance writing or tutoring, you can set your schedule working as a social media manager. Whether you’re looking for the best one-day-a-week jobs or plan to pursue this career full-time, you can find a few openings that involve social media management! That said, the days you work depend on the company’s size and the type of projects they have.

You may also want to brush up on your social media knowledge before you start applying for jobs. It’s best to learn how to make money on Pinterest, effective content for specific platforms, SEO strategies, and more. Fortunately, many free courses teach these, so you can impress potential employers with your skills and show them that you’re more than capable of being their next social media manager.

 

7. Real Estate Agent

Real estate agents can make bank by earning sizable commissions from selling multiple properties. On average, agents can make $5,000 a month, though that number can go even higher, making it an ideal full-time job where you are your own boss.

A lot of people also work as a real estate agent as a side hustle, allowing them to earn a significant amount on commissions after selling a couple of properties a month. For those who have great sales and negotiation skills, as well as local knowledge of the community, then this is one of the best weekend jobs out there!

Plus, if you’re thinking about how to make money with Airbnb, real estate agents for the popular platform exist, too! They help hosts with property management, or buying and selling homes or apartments to be used as short-term rentals. Thanks to the huge boom of post-pandemic traveling, real estate agents have a huge market of people looking to invest in their next AirBnB property!

While becoming a real estate agent is a promising career, there are a few requirements you’ll need to fulfill, such as taking a prelicensing course, passing the licensing exam, and activating your official real estate agent license. From there, you must start marketing yourself as a new real estate agent, starting within your network and social media.

 

8. Become a Proofreader

I’m a huge grammar perfectionist, which is both a blessing and a curse. You’ll find me pinpointing grammatical errors in things I read, or looking for ways to improve certain sentences. If you’re just like me, then I have the perfect job recommendation for you: Proofreading.

If you’re a bookworm or love to consume articles throughout your day, wouldn’t it be neat to get paid to read and help make written work even better? I know this would have been my next dream job if I didn’t pursue blogging!

A huge benefit to being a proofreader is that you can start without investment. You just need a computer, Internet connection, and top-notch proofreading skills to land your first job and start working!

If you’re wondering how to become a proofreader, let’s first start with the basic skills you’ll need. You must have sound knowledge of spelling, grammar, and punctuation in English (or the language you plan to specialize in), pay excellent attention to detail, and have great communication skills, as you may be collaborating with a team.

You can find many proofreading jobs through connections with fellow proofreaders, or within your network. Tap into professionals in the marketing and publishing industry, as they are likely to need proofreaders to review their written work. Platforms like UpWork, LinkedIn, and Fiverr are also worth checking out, too!

 

9. Photographer

For those who love to immortalize beautiful moments through beautiful pictures, then you’ll consider photography as one of the fun jobs that pay well. I can imagine just how fulfilling it is to do what you love while capturing memories that will last forever! I always watch viral videos of people beaming with so much joy as they see their gorgeous photos after the event, it’s so heartwarming.

However, did you know that there’s more to being a photographer than just taking pictures at events? You can also take on passive income ideas for photographers such as affiliate marketing, selling online courses or stock photos, and even renting out your gear! This gives you a chance to earn while you aren’t booked for events yet.

If being a photographer is one of your ideas for self-employment, you’ll want to begin by mastering photography basics and sprucing up your camera skills. If you already have experience and the equipment, build your brand and portfolio, which you can submit to potential clients. Networking and connecting with people are keys to getting your first photography gig, though you can also find jobs from platforms like UpWork, stock image platforms, or other industry-specific job boards.

 

10. Open An Etsy Shop

Having your own online business is one of the best work-for-yourself jobs because you will truly be your own boss, controlling all the operations and finances! If creating unique products and selling them is your thing, then opening up your own Etsy shop is the way to go.

If you’ve been on the website, then you probably already know that there are a ton of things to sell on Etsy, such as handmade products, antiques, or digital art. You can even find me scrolling through Etsy looking for little trinkets for my home!

It’s got such a massive customer base (myself included) that you’ll surely find a target audience for the products you want to offer, may it be customized jewelry, personalized pet portraits, and more! Thanks to the platform’s popularity, you’ll surely be able to tap into your target market, reaching hundreds, if not thousands of interested customers!

For those wondering how much they can make selling on Etsy, it really depends on your product and marketing efforts. Earnings can range from as little as $5,000 to a 6-figure income annually, making it a fantastic way to earn money from your laptop.

When you already have a line of products you’d like to sell, it’s time to create your shop! You can easily sign up for an Etsy account and set up your profile within minutes. Just make sure you have a business logo and description ready to post, then set up your payment details. From there, you can start adding your listings and marketing your products!

 

FAQs

1. What is the highest-paying self-employed job?

Various factors will determine how much you can make from a self-employed job, so I can’t say for sure which exact one can help you earn the most amount of money. What I CAN tell you is that becoming a real estate agent or an established blogger gives you a high possibility of earning more than $5,000 a month.

Some bloggers can earn over $100,000 a year thanks to AdSense, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing! I also saw that the average yearly salary for real estate agents is a whopping $97,000, while high earners can make almost $200,000. That’s a whole lot of money without having to work for anyone!

 

2. What is the best independent job?

This is a subjective question as it depends on your strengths and interests! I’m biased so I would say blogging is the best independent job since there’s the opportunity to earn high based on AdSense and affiliate marketing. My talkative self also loves to share my thoughts with the world and reach out to my community (that’s you, guys!).

But if you’re looking for something with more stable pay, you may want to become a freelancer, may it be as a writer, tutor, virtual assistant, or social media manager, depending on your forte. You get paid a fixed hourly salary immediately, instead of having to build yourself up as a reputable blogger before you start earning more. That said, all that work is worth the wait, so consider your choices carefully!
 

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