In recent years, the work-from-home economy has grown significantly, and now offers a viable alternative to traditional employment. Thanks to the proliferation of online tools that make it easy to conduct business, create products, and connect with customers from the comforts of your home.
Remote work isn’t a new phenomenon, and was originally made feasible by technology, the internet, and cell phones. Back in the 1990s, businesses like Silicon Valley Bank and Wells Fargo used to connect businessmen with financial services over the phone. Even during those early days of online banking, people still needed to be in the same room to conduct business. With the development of video conferencing and online meeting platforms, it became possible to conduct business meetings virtually, anywhere in the world.
These days, conducting business over the internet is completely commonplace, and it forms the backbone of many well-established companies, like Google and Amazon. Even if you only have a modest online presence, you can still make a lot of money online without leaving your house. Here are five ways to make money from home online:
1. Start an online store
One of the simplest ways to make money from home is to start an online store. There are lots of online marketplaces where you can sell your products, such as ClickBank, Shopify, and eBay. You set the prices for your products based on the industry standards, and you make the bulk of your sales from people in other countries. You can use platforms such as ClickBank to connect with vendors, suppliers, and buyers, enabling you to earn a commission for referring them to one another.
Selling and shipping your products to customers is also a lucrative business idea, particularly if you have a physical product that you can ship directly to consumers, like food or drink. You can use platforms like Shopify to set up a storefront, take orders, and manufacture products, without having to worry about collecting cash, shipping products, or handling customer feedback.
2. Start an online tutoring business
If you’re confident that you have expertise in a particular area, like math, science, or English, you can start an online tutoring business. With an online tutoring business, you’ll need to establish yourself as an expert in a certain subject matter, and you’ll have to create and deliver educational materials to students, either live or via recorded sessions. With the number of online tools that facilitate online tutoring, like DoodleTeach and BigBlueButton, making money online has turned into a full-time, or at least a supplemental, job for many.
3. Start an online teaching business
An even more robust way to make money from home is to start an online teaching business. There are lots of platforms designed for online teachers, like Udemy and Skillshare. You can use these platforms to create video courses that you can monetize through affiliate marketing, or you can even use them to create face-to-face courses. You’ll need to spend a lot of time putting together high-quality content to make money from this route, but establishing yourself as an expert in your chosen field, whether it’s teaching computers, marketing, or finance, is a lucrative venture. And if you can become an accredited teacher with a professional organization like the International Federation of Teachers, your earnings are almost limitless.
4. Start an online radio station
Tired of the same old radio stations? Why not take the show on the road and establish your own online radio station? There are a variety of platforms like Mixcloud, Spotify, and Pandora that make it easy to create a personalized radio station based on your favorite genres and artists. You can use a tool like Google Tunein to discover and listen to podcasts, Q&As, and interviews via online radio, without having to leave the comforts of your home. Additionally, you can integrate your favorite podcast apps, like Overcast and RSS Feeder, into your Google Assistant, so you can start streaming your curated playlists without ever leaving your device. Podcasting is a goldmine for influencers, broadcasters, and content creators, and established tech companies, like Intel and Samsung, have all been deeply involved in the creation of podcasts.
5. Start an online clothing store
Last but not least, we have the wonderful world of online clothing stores. Just search online for the type of clothing you wear—sweatshirts, for example, or slim fit jeans—and you’ll see what I mean. These days, it’s easy to establish an online store that sells only your favorite brands and styles. For instance, if you adore Gucci, it’s only natural that you’d want to sell your own brand of luxury sweatpants or slimmers.
The list of ways to make money from home online is seemingly endless. For example, you can create and sell your own products via an online store, become an online tutor, establish an online radio station, start an online magazine, or begin an e-commerce business, to sell and ship luxury items, or even simply make money from taking online surveys. The sky is the limit.
While many companies have adjusted their business practices to enable them to function remotely (like Wells Fargo & Co. and Silicon Valley Bank), the majority still require employees to be in the office. This is where you come in. If you’re looking for a way to supplement your income, or even become financially independent, you absolutely have to consider the lucrative world of remote work. There are plenty of opportunities to make money online, anywhere in the world, and without having to leave the comfort of your home.