How To Make Money Online for Beginners: 28 Easy Ideas (2024)

Our view at Stack - Shopify has just about everything you need if you're looking to sell online. It excels with unlimited products, user-friendly setup, and 24/7 support. It offers 6,000+ app integrations, abandoned cart recovery, and shipping discounts up to 88%. Plus, it allows selling both online and in-person, scaling as your business grows.

Interested in making money online but not ready to start a full-fledged business? There are several inroads to making extra money on the internet—even if you have no skills or experience.

From side gigs to selling used stuff to offering tutoring services, there are many ideas you can consider. Compared to some of the conventional ways of making money online, the recommendations ahead are lower effort, and you won’t need as much technical experience to accomplish them. This article covers how fast you can begin to earn extra cash online and the skills or tools required to get started. 

Ready? It’s time to explore how to make money online for beginners, with 28 ideas you can act on today. 

28 ways to make money online for beginners

1. Sell your stuff secondhand
2. Become a virtual assistant
3. Test websites and apps
4. Rent your belongings
5. Look for side gigs
6. Become a content consumer
7. License your photography to stock photo websites
8. Start freelancing
9. Resell or consign your clothing
10. Start a blog
11. Become a pet sitter
12. Take online surveys
13. Sell print-on-demand products
14. Buy and sell domain names
15. Start a dropshipping business
16. Sell products through online marketplaces
17. Become an online tutor
18. Create an online course or workshop
19. Try affiliate marketing
20. Rent a room in your home
21. Offer landscaping services
22. Participate in online focus groups
23. Offer child care services
24. Sell handmade crafts or art
25. Do transcriptions
26. Become a social media manager
27. Create and sell printables
28. Review products online

✏️ Note: Once you start to earn money online as a beginner, you can consider leveling up to an online business, like launching your own ecommerce store. Look for the “🚀 Level up” tag in the ideas below to help you make even more money online. 

1. Sell your stuff secondhand

One of the quickest ways to earn cash fast is selling stuff online. Clean out your storage and sell anything you don’t use, including furniture, toys, tools, gaming equipment, and home décor. Local and online marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and VarageSale are great places to sell your stuff.

Best for: Those looking to make money online quickly.
Startup time: Less than an hour.
Effort level: Low.
Time to first payment: Varies, depending on the online selling sites you’re using to sell your items.

What to know:

• Each marketplace has its own rules and fees. Make sure you understand them before you sign up.
• If you’re interested in selling on Facebook Marketplace, read our guide on how to sell on Facebook.
• The Shopify Starter Plan is ideal for beginners looking to dip their toes into selling online.

🚀 Level up: If you enjoy this process, you can start a legitimate reseller business and sell anything from vintage clothing to refurbished electronics, and open your own store on a platform like Shopify.

2. Become a virtual assistant

You can make money online from the comfort of your own home by becoming a virtual assistant (VA). This means you can provide services to clients in any part of the world. Tasks may include data entry, content creation, monitoring social media accounts, or managing calendars.

Best for: Those looking to make money online from home.

Startup time: A few hours.
Effort to start: Low.
Time to first payment: Depends on the terms negotiated with your client or the online platform where you secured the gig.

What to know:

• Some clients are looking for specific skills in a VA. Be sure to list all your relevant skills and highlight your strengths to stand out.
• Standard career listing sites will have VA job listings, as will freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr.

💡Tip: Once you get more experience, create your own website to advertise your services and gain clients directly.

3. Test websites and apps

Market research companies often are looking for consumers to test websites, try products or software like video games or apps, and provide feedback or reviews. Find opportunities like this on sites like UserTesting.

Best for: Those interested in the latest trends and products.
Startup time: A few minutes to create an account on each site.
Effort level: Low to medium, depending on the format.
Time to first payment: Varies by service and platform.

What to know:

• Some sites require a minimum balance before they pay out your earnings.
• Most market research sites require participants to be 18 years of age or older.
• You’ll receive an email when a project goes live, but you have to act fast or someone else will take it.

4. Rent your belongings

The sharing economy is upon us. There’s no need to buy things like lawnmowers, small power tools, cars, and household appliances if you only need them for a short while. Your house could be filled with underused things that others would like to rent. Sites like FriendWithA make it possible to rent products like this and earn extra cash.

🚀 Level up: Finding success with renting your belongings? Why not build your own clothing brand, rent a specific type of product like wedding dresses, or start a tool rental business?

Best for: Making money online quickly and consistently, owners of items in high demand in the rental market.
Startup time: An hour or two to upload your products to relevant sites and to browse listings.
Effort level: Low.
First payout: Usually immediately, but check the terms of each rental platform.

What to know:

• Get insurance or choose a site that offers insurance on your products in case they become damaged or lost. 
• Rental platforms usually require both renters and rentees to be 18 years of age or over. 

5. Look for side gigs

The classic way to earn money while keeping a full-time job, side gigs can help you earn money online through a variety of tasks, such as data entry, transcription, or manual labor. Use platforms like Fiverr or TaskRabbit to create profiles promoting yourself for side gigs like these. You can also consider food delivery or driving as a side gig, making money through apps like Uber or GrubHub.

🚀 Level up: Once you gain experience and clients through a marketplace, set up a simple ecommerce site to sell specific tasks or take on custom jobs—earning directly from your clients.

Best for: Those looking to make money online quickly.
Startup time: Less than an hour.
Effort to start: Medium.
Time to first payment: Varies depending on the freelance marketplace or app you use.

What to know:

• Some side gig marketplaces require an upfront fee to sign up, so read the fine print carefully.
• Review the side gig marketplace’s payment schedule to make sure it works for you.
• For administrative side gigs, in most cases, you will only require a solid internet connection and a device. Delivery side gigs require a motor vehicle of some sort and a valid driver’s license, while manual labor side gigs may have physical strength requirements. 

6. Become a content consumer

In a 2023 episode of the Search Engine podcast, guest and journalist Taylor Lorenz predicted content consumer as a job of the future.

A growing phenomenon among Gen Z freelancers and internet savvy job seekers, content consumers are for-hire assistants that can help internet personalities and businesses consume content on social media to spot trends, aggregate news, and stay current in the online landscape. 

🚀 Level up: Content consumption and content creation can go hand in hand. If you become versed in Internet and social media trends, you could be an asset for companies looking for content creators—and potentially make more money online.

Best for: Social media savvy internet users.
Startup time: A few hours.
Effort to start: Low.
Time to first payment: Depends on your arrangement with your clients.

What to know:

• Content consumer is a relatively new job title. Advertise your services on online platforms for freelance work and be sure to detail your offerings, niche (if applicable), and the benefits of hiring you.

7. License your photography to stock photo websites

Have a great eye for photography? A quick way to earn cash for your work is to license your photos to stock photography sites like iStock. You can also upload images to free stock sites like Burst to help build up your name as a photographer.

🚀 Level up: After you make a name for yourself in the stock photography business, start selling your photos as prints by opening your own store on an online platform like Shopify.

Best for: Beginner creatives looking to get a start as a professional photographer.
Startup time: Less than an hour (if you already have photos).
Effort level: Low.
Time to first payment: Varies, depending on the site you’re using to license your photos.

What to know:

• Before you apply, understand what each stock photo site is looking for in terms of subject matter and photo quality. 

8. Start freelancing

An increasingly popular home business idea is offering freelance services to clients online. Copywriting, graphic design, translation, and digital marketing are common freelance opportunities offered by businesses today. Use freelance marketplaces like Upwork, 99Designs, or PeoplePerHour, and set up a simple website to showcase your portfolio of work. 

🚀 Level up: Templatize your expertise and sell it as digital products like PDF guides. That’s how Jack Butcher scaled his brand, Visualize Value. With this idea, you can sell the same content over and over to make consistent money online.

Best for: Those with beginner skills in a particular subject like data entry, web development, or freelance writing.
Startup time: Low (you can start freelancing through a marketplace even without a website).
Effort level: Medium.
Time to first payment: Depends on your payment terms with your clients.

What to know:

• Collect examples of your work in a portfolio, references, and customer testimonials. Feature these on your website to showcase your talent.
• Know your worth and set your pricing accordingly.
• You will require a portfolio of your work and accounts for freelance marketplaces.

9. Resell or consign your clothing

Selling your unwanted clothes and accessories is a popular way to earn cash fast and clear clutter at the same time. Mobile apps like Depop, Poshmark, and Craigslist offer easy ways to upload clothing photos and descriptions without needing to build a brand or website. Sell your goods to local buyers only or offer to ship.

🚀 Level up: Upgrade to selling via a marketplace or start your own online thrift or vintage clothing store.

Best for: Fashion trendsetters with big closets.
Startup time: Minimal—simply shoot, post, and describe each item.
Effort level: Low to start (minimal ongoing effort is required to communicate with potential buyers and ship items, if necessary).
Time to first payout: Depends on the platform you use

What to know:

• Upload your products to multiple sites to increase their chances of selling.
• Most selling apps take a cut of your profit or charge a fee for each listing. 

10. Start a blog

Blogging is a longtime favorite for digital entrepreneurs like Ryan Robinson and Mattie James. Running a blog lets you share your thoughts, expertise, and experiences on topics you’re passionate about. With platforms like WordPress, you can start a blog with zero technical skills. Then monetize it with ads, sponsored content, or selling your own products and services. 

Best for: Writers and enthusiasts with a passion for a particular subject.
Startup time: A few hours to set up, ongoing effort required to maintain and grow.
Effort level: Medium to high.
Time to first payment: Several months, as building traffic and readership takes time.

What to know:

• Regularly publishing high-quality content is critical for growing a blog. Make a publishing schedule and stick to it. 
• Focus on a specific niche rather than a broad topic to attract a dedicated audience. 

11. Become a pet sitter

After the pandemic pet boom and the subsequent return to the office, plenty of lonely dogs and cats are looking for companionship. Sites like Rover help connect pet lovers (that’s you!) with pet owners for pet sitting, dog walking, and cat visits. 

🚀 Level up: Start your own pet business by setting up a website and selling your services and pet-related goods to make even more money online.

Best for: Pet lovers who don’t want the commitment of ownership.
Startup time: An hour to set up your account.
Effort level: Medium to hard, depending on the number of clients you take on.
Time to first payment: Varies, depending on the app or service you use.

What to know:

12. Take online surveys

One of the fastest ways to make money online for beginners is completing online surveys. There are many survey sites and mobile apps that pay users to give their opinion on anything from their shopping behaviors to how they feel about specific product categories. These surveys help brands make business decisions or create new products.

Best for: Those with extra time (and lots of opinions) looking to make money online quickly.
Startup time: A few minutes.
Effort to start: Low.
Time to first payment: Depends on the survey platform’s payment structure.

What to know:

• Many survey sites pay in points and you need to earn a certain amount before you redeem them.
• Completing online surveys is not a get rich quick scheme, as hourly rates tend to net out to well below minimum wage. Don’t expect this idea to be a reliable or sustainable source of income. Rather, it can provide a few extra bucks to supplement other income sources.

13. Sell print-on-demand products

Thanks to a production method called print on demand (POD), artists and creators can customize white label products with their own designs, without the need to hold or ship inventory. When a customer places an order through your shop, the print-on-demand company of your choice will print your design on a product, fulfill the order, and ship it to the customer.

POD options include t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, or fan merch. This model lets you create customized products quickly, making it a low-risk, low-investment way to earn extra income.

Best for: Beginner creatives looking to make money online from their craft, emerging influencers looking to create fan merch.
Startup time: A few hours to set up an ecommerce platform and print-on-demand integration.
Effort level: Easy to start if you already have designs to upload (easy to medium to maintain).
Time to first payment: After you sell a product, expect a wait period of around five days to receive funds on most platforms. 

What to know:

• After you set up a store, browse the many print-on-demand suppliers to compare pricing, quality, and product lineup.
• Most ecommerce platforms require that you are at least 18 years of age.
• Requirements vary by country and region, but some products may require you to have licenses, permits, or certifications.

14. Buy and sell domain names

Choosing a memorable domain name for a business website is a crucial part of the branding exercise. Many new brands seek the perfect domain name to represent their business and improve discoverability.

You can watch trends and buy related domain names on sites like Shopify, Namecheap, GoDaddy, and Hover. To make the most of this idea, buy up a number of domains and sell each for a small profit. 

Best for: Those with some money to invest upfront.
Startup time: Less than an hour.
Effort level: Minimal.
Time to first payment: Varies, depending on form of payment accepted.

What to know:

• Buying and selling domain names is not always a way to make fast money. You may sit on a domain for months or even years before seeing a return.
• Understand laws on trademarked names.

15. Start a dropshipping business

Another low-cost ecommerce business model is dropshipping, in which products are shipped to customers directly from the vendor or manufacturer. This is a popular way to make money online for beginners, since the seller does not handle inventory or shipping—you’re simply responsible for driving traffic and customer service. 

Best for: Beginners looking to test the waters with their own ecommerce store.
Startup time: A few hours to set up a store and source vendors.
Effort level: Medium to start and grow the business, low effort to maintain.
Time to first payment: After you sell a product, expect a wait period of around five days to receive funds on most platforms. 

What to know:

• You can create a Shopify store and test it out with a free trial.
• AliExpress and other dropshipping suppliers are great places to start for sourcing products. 
• Most ecommerce platforms require that you are at least 18 years of age.
• Requirements vary by country and region, but some products may require you to have licenses, permits, or certifications.

💡Tip: Due to the ability to be nimble, dropshippers can follow trends and sell trending products as they emerge. Keep tabs on trending topics on social media platforms like TikTok.

16. Sell products through online marketplaces

Due to their built-in audiences seeking specific products, online marketplaces are often launch points for many now-successful brands. For example, Etsy is a go-to source for buyers looking for handmade and vintage items, while Amazon is a global destination for product discovery and research.

You can get up and running quickly because there is less pressure on the seller to drive their own website traffic or build a more robust brand. 

🚀 Level up: Take your online business to the next level by building your own store. You can even sell products on both Etsy and Shopify, syncing inventory with an app like Etsy Marketplace Integration.

Best for: Those with vintage or handmade products to sell.
Startup time: An hour or two to set up your account and add products.
Effort level: Depends on your product and business model.
Time to first payment: Anywhere from the day after to 14 days after you make a sale, depending on the marketplace.

What to know:

• Follow Etsy’s guidelines around what you can sell and acceptable use of the platform.
• You must comply with Amazon’s seller policies to be in good standing.
• Most marketplaces require that you are at least 18 years of age.
• Sellers between 13 and 18 years of age may use Etsy with the supervision of a parent or guardian.

17. Become an online tutor

If you are knowledgeable in subjects like biology, math, or languages, you could earn income on the side with online tutoring. With sites like TutorMe and Fiverr, you can easily find students who need your help. Or set up a simple website and use social media and peer recommendations to drive traffic and sign-ups.

🚀 Level up: If you find success with tutoring, try selling your own online courses through a dedicated ecommerce store.

Best for: Aspiring educators, those looking for experience before creating an online course.
Startup time: A few hours to set up a website or an account on a tutoring platform.
Effort level: Medium to start. Ongoing effort level depends on how many students you take on.
Time to first payment: Varies, depending on how you bill your students. 

What to know:

• Most freelance sites require proof that you are skilled in the subject matter. 
• Expect transaction fees on tutoring platforms.
• You will require knowledge of subject matter and any necessary licenses or diplomas required by each platform and subject.

18. Create an online course or workshop 

Do you have a special set of skills to share with the world? Share them online with a course or workshop. Platforms like Udemy, Teachable, and Skillshare make it easy to create and market educational content to a global audience. Whether it’s a photography or coding course, people are hungry for knowledge in various fields. 

Best for: People with specialized knowledge or skills in a particular area.
Startup time: Several hours to weeks, depending on course length and content.
Effort level: High to create the course, low to medium to maintain.
Time to first payment: Varies by platform, usually within a month after course sales begin.

What to know:

• Creating a great course is only half the battle—you also need to market it properly. Use social media, email marketing, and partnerships with other educators to spread the word.

19. Try affiliate marketing

Here’s the rundown on affiliate marketing: You can sign up for a brand’s affiliate marketing program, which lets you share their unique affiliate links to promote their products on your site or social media account. When someone buys a product after clicking your affiliate link, you’ll receive credit for the referral, along with a commission. A solid content marketing strategy around your affiliate links will help you drive visits, clicks, and buys—and earn passive income.

Best for: Anyone with an audience online.
Startup time: A couple hours.
Effort level: Medium to start, very low effort to maintain.
Time to first payment: Varies, depending on the success of the affiliate links and the payment terms you set with the brands.

What to know:

• Sign up for Shopify Collabs to get access to brands offering affiliate programs to creators and influencers.
• Disclaimers are required by the Federal Trade Commission and most reputable affiliate programs. You are required to let your audience know if you are being paid to promote a product.
• You will require your own website, blog, or social media accounts where you can promote products. 

20. Rent a room in your home

Using online listing services and apartment rental sites, you can advertise a space for rent in your home. Whether it’s subletting an extra room in your rental apartment or renting out a garage or basement apartment in your home, you can make money online without specialized skills or experience. Depending on what you have available (and are willing to manage), you can even rent out space for a variety of recurring uses, like as an artist’s studio or band practice space.

Best for: Property owners or renters looking to save money on living expenses.
Startup time: Depends on whether your space needs upgrades in order to rent.
Effort to start: Depends on the condition of the space, medium effort to maintain the space and manage relationships with tenants.
Time to first payment: Usually at the start of the rental agreement period.

What to know:

• Renting a space in your home will require you to act as landlord and superintendent when you’re just starting out. This means you’ll be responsible for safety and repairs in the space or unit.
• Look into any impacts to your home insurance and taxes before you get started. You will also need to meet local requirements for rental units. 
• Consider more of a beginner approach by listing your room on a short term accommodation site like Airbnb.

21. Offer landscaping services

While this is not strictly an online job, you can make money online by creating an online store or using online platforms to advertise and sell your landscaping services. Target your local community by running ads on social media platforms or create listings on local buy and sell websites. Offer services such as gardening, mowing, and other handy outdoor tasks. 

Best for: Outdoor lovers, those who enjoy working with their hands.
Startup time: A few hours.
Effort to start: Low.
Time to first payment: Depends on your arrangement with your clients.

What to know:

• This is an excellent business idea for teens to save money for college. Operate a small landscaping service in the summer months when school is out.
• You will likely require equipment like gardening tools or a mower. 

22. Participate in online focus groups

Businesses do focus groups to get more in-depth feedback on their products and services. These sessions are usually paid more than standard surveys, and they can be done online via video conferencing tools like Zoom or Google Meet. Websites like User Interviews, Respondent, and FocusGroups.org are a great place to start for finding focus groups. 

Best for: People who enjoy sharing their opinions in a group setting.
Startup time: A few minutes to sign up on focus group platforms.
Effort level: Low to medium.
Time to first payment: Usually within a week or two after the focus group session.

What to know:

• Focus groups often require you to complete a pre-screening survey to see if you fit the demographic and psychological criteria. These surveys can be detailed and can take time to complete.

23. Offer child care services

Child care is another money making idea that isn’t strictly online. However, you can use online tools to advertise your services, book clients, and share testimonials. While running a formal child care business requires licenses and/or certifications, in most regions you can get hired as an occasional babysitter to make extra money.

Best for: Aspiring educators, students, and youth.
Startup time: An hour or so.
Effort to start: Low.
Time to first payment: Usually immediately after each child care session.

What to know:

• Training like a formal babysitter’s course and first aid certification will help you market yourself as a trusted child care provider.

24. Sell handmade crafts or art

Crafting or creating art for sale is another idea that’s not only online. You can sell handmade goods through platforms like Etsy, Handmade at Amazon, or even create your own Shopify store. From knitted items to paintings and jewelry, your possibilities are endless. 

Best for: Creative folks with a hobby they can monetize.
Startup time: A few hours to set up a store and list items.
Effort level: Medium.
Time to first payment: Varies depending on the platform and sales

What to know:

• Brush up on your photography skills as high-quality photos are important for selling handmade products online. 
• Share the story behind your work to give it some emotional value. Describe your creative process, the materials you use, and the inspiration behind a piece to connect with potential buyers on a personal level.
• Don’t forget about packaging! Secure packages so your products don’t get damaged during transit. Add a bit of flare to your packages (like a handwritten note) to make it a unique branded experience. 

25. Do transcriptions 

There are several sites that offer part-time work to transcribers. Transcription services like Rev or freelance sites like Upwork are great places to start. Some jobs may require a certain level of typing speed or demonstrated proficiency of language. While payouts vary by job and by typing speed, you can make on average $20 per hour by transcribing audio and video. 

Best for: Those with fast typing speed, attention to detail, and good grasp of the source material’s language.
Startup time: An hour or so.
Effort to start: Low.
Time to first payment: Depends on the payout terms of the site or client.

What to know:

• Most transcriber roles are gig work, meaning you get paid per piece or transcribed hour of content.

26. Become a social media manager

Businesses of all sizes today need help managing their social media accounts. If you can create exciting content and grow a social media following, you can offer social media management services. Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork have tons of job opportunities available for beginners. 

Best for: Social media enthusiasts with a good understanding of platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
Startup time: A few hours to set up profiles and start reaching out to potential clients.
Effort level: Medium to high.
Time to first payment: Varies by client payment terms.

What to know:

• Being a social media manager means being aware of trends and changes. Platforms frequently update their algorithms and features, and different posts go viral each day. If you can quickly adapt to these changes, you can improve engagement metrics for your clients.
• It’s helpful to have analytics skills as a social media manager. Understand metrics like engagement rates, reach, impressions, and conversion rates so you can show the ROI of your strategies to clients.
• Develop communication skills to build trust with clients and win them over for longer term contracts. 

27. Create and sell printables

If you have a knack for design, selling printables can be a money maker for beginners. Printables are digital files that customers download and print themselves. Some examples of printables include planners, templates, party decorations, worksheets, and coloring books. You can sell printables on Etsy, Teachers Pay Teachers, or your own website. 

Best for: Creatives with basic design skills.
Startup time: A few hours to create and list printables.
Effort level: Low to medium.
Time to first payment: Varies by platform and sales.

What to know:

• Focusing on a niche can help you earn more sales. More relevant and useful printables can stand out in a crowded market.
• Make your printables customizable so customers can tailor them to fit their needs. 
• Showcase mockups on your product pages so customers can see what the printable will actually look like once they buy it. 

28. Review products online 

Write detailed, honest reviews about a company’s products and earn money online. Platforms like Influenster, Smiley360, and Review Stream will pay you for reviewing products you already use, or new ones they send to you for free. 

Best for: Those who enjoy trying new products and writing reviews.
Startup time: A few minutes to sign up on review platforms.
Effort level: Low.
Time to first payment: Varies by platform, but often within a few weeks after submitting reviews.

What to know:

• Platforms prioritize quality and honest reviews. So be sure to provide thorough, unbiased, and detailed feedback to stay credible (and earn more money).
• There might be specific guidelines for submitting reviews, like word count, photo requirements, and formatting. Pay attention to these guidelines to make sure you get published.

💡 Tip: Many of the ideas above will help you earn extra money with a startup time of just a few hours. Some may require basic skills or access to specific online platforms. If you’re looking for more advanced ideas to make money, like selling online courses or becoming a digital marketing consultant, refer to our guide to how to make money online.

Start making money online today—no experience required

Ready to make money online as a beginner? You’re now armed with plenty of ideas to get started. Whether you’re looking for a data entry role or exploring the world of entrepreneurship on your way to opening an online store, there’s an opportunity for every motivation.

If Shopify is of interest and you'd like more information, please do make contact or take a look in more detail here.

Credit: Original article published here.