If you’re like millions of Americans, you are stuck at home worried about your finances. Now could be the perfect moment to invest some of your time into earning extra money, finding freelance work or starting a business. With flexible work expanding quickly, it is an ideal time to explore new income streams. Making money from home will require some hustling and a sharp sense of whether a project is worth the pay. The gig economy continues to expand rapidly, reaching an estimated $556.7 billion in 2024, with forecasts suggesting it could grow to more than $1.8 trillion by 2032, according to the World Economic Forum. Let’s explore how to maximize your opportunities.
Look for Remote, Flexible Jobs
Want a legitimate remote job you can fit around your schedule but worried about sham online offers or identity theft? Focus on reputable companies that are well known or easily researched online. Likewise avoid any job postings that promise quick riches, ask you to buy a starter kit or provide financial information upfront. Job postings are, unfortunately, sometimes an avenue for scams and these are all red flags.
Try a job board that vets remote opportunities before posting, such as FlexJobs or Virtual Vocations. Both screen job opportunities for legitimacy, saving you stress and time. Neither is free, though, with access starting at about $15 a month for each. Make sure those costs fit into your budget, because it may take a few months to find a job.
You can also search popular job sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor by entering “remote” into the location search box to narrow your results. Filter jobs further by specifying “part-time” or “contract” work, depending on what type of time commitment you can make. Between 10-13% of U.S. workers now rely on gig or independent work as their primary source of income, while nearly 36% of U.S. workers participate in some form of gig work overall. This further highlights how widespread flexible employment has become.
Pick Up Local Gigs or Freelance Projects
If you’re a skilled laborer—or even an experienced hobbyist—you can connect with potential customers on sites and apps like TaskRabbit and Thumbtack. When visiting a client’s home or business, be sure to follow current local safety guidelines and any platform requirements. Office professionals, who can search for work outside of their commutable area, can search for freelancing or consulting projects on sites including Fiverr or Upwork.
Short, skills-based tasks tend to get the most traction on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and TaskRabbit. These platforms make it easier to find freelance projects that fit your schedule and skill set. Don’t forget to tap your network. Reach out to everyone you know announcing you’re looking for clients. You can even offer a finder’s fee for leads that turn into gigs. If you’re looking for only a few projects, try scaling back and start with people you think are most likely to connect you with a potential client.
Start, Expand or Pivot Your Side Hustle
Been wanting to start your own business? With the right plan, it’s possible to start a side hustle or grow your side business with steady, strategic effort. Invest a few hours in planning for success with the help of this ten-step guide from the U.S. Small Business Administration, which covers everything from market research to getting a bank account.
If you’re looking to grow your side hustle, promotion is key, and some of the most powerful ways to market your business are free or nearly so. The biggest investment they require is your time. Social media, blogging and podcasting all help you position yourself as a thought leader in your field and attract new clients. You can start a podcast these days with just a smartphone and free or low-cost editing software. As small business coaches often say, consistency beats creativity when you’re building a side hustle.
Get Creative
It’s also a great time to sell items online through platforms such as eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, or Cash4Books.
And don’t overlook other income-generating opportunities that match your skills. Focus on your particular skill set and think of ways to make it profitable. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:
- Have experience as a teacher or tutor? Consider offering video-chat sessions. Many busy parents suddenly have to juggle their jobs and their kids’ education, and you could earn money, give parents a break and help kids keep up with school.
- Know ergonomics? Help professionals working remotely set up a comfortable home office via phone or video chat.
Don’t undervalue your skills. Before you market your services, talk to prospective customers to verify that what you offer solves a problem people are willing to pay to have solved.
READ MORE: How to Make Your Home Office Work for You