How To Make Money Online for Beginners: 25 Easy Ideas (2025)

Scrolling through #sidehustle TikToks but haven't made your move yet? It might feel like everyone's making money online—except you.

Here's the truth: You don't need a fancy degree or expensive equipment to start making extra money from your couch. Whether you have opinions to share, stuff to sell, or time to spare, the digital economy is full of opportunity for beginners like you.

This guide cuts through the hype to deliver practical strategies that actually help you make extra money. While these aren't paths to overnight wealth, they represent realistic ways to start a side hustle and build supplemental income without specialized skills.

Ready to stop watching others succeed and find some success yourself? Dive into this guide on how to make money online for beginners with 23 ideas you can start in your spare time—no experience needed.

25 ways to make money online for beginners

1. Sell your stuff secondhand
2. Become a virtual assistant
3. Test websites and apps
4. Rent out your belongings
5. Look for side gigs
6. Become a content consumer
7. License your photography to stock photo websites
8. Start freelancing
9. Start a blog or newsletter
10. Take online surveys
11. Sell print-on-demand products
12. Buy and sell domain names
13. Start a dropshipping business
14. Become an online tutor
15. Create an online course or workshop
16. Try affiliate marketing
17. Rent a spare room in your home
18. Participate in online focus groups
19. Sell handmade crafts or art
20. Do transcriptions
21. Become a social media manager
22. Create and sell printables
23. Review products online
24. Become a user-generated content (UGC) creator
25. Offer AI-powered services

These ideas are starting points. You can scale them up and even launch some of them into a full-fledged business.

1. Sell your stuff secondhand

One of the quickest ways to earn cash fast is mining your closet for treasures to sell 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, VarageSale, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace are great places to sell your stuff. Sell your goods to local buyers only or offer to ship.

There are more specialized sites to sell items like clothing and accessories. Mobile apps like Depop and Poshmark offer easy ways to upload clothing photos and descriptions without needing to build a brand or website.

If you enjoy this process, you can start a legitimate reseller business. You could sell anything from vintage clothing to refurbished electronics, and open your own store on a platform like Shopify. Earning potential varies depending on how much time you put into it, but full-time sellers can earn five to six figures a year.

Best for: Those looking to make money online quickly.

Startup time: Less than an hour.

Effort level: Low.

Time to first payment: You can get paid immediately for local pickup items. Payment time for online sales varies based on the online selling site. For example, Facebook Marketplace begins payout 15 days after you mark the item as shipped or five days after the item is delivered.

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.
• Most selling apps take a cut of your profit or charge a fee for each listing.

• The Shopify Starter Plan is ideal for beginners looking to dip their toes into selling online.

2. Become a virtual assistant

You can make money online from the comfort of your own home by becoming a virtual assistant (VA). Being a VA 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.

You can work as a virtual assistant on your own—for example, you can cold email potential clients or create a website to advertise your services and gain clients directly—or you can use a platform like Time Etc.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly pay for a virtual assistant in the US is $24/hour. And the global market for virtual assistants is fast growing—it's expected to reach $29 billion in 2031, up from $8 billion in 2023.

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 (on your website, résumé, and platforms you use) and highlight your strengths to stand out.
• Standard career listing sites will have VA job listings, as will freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr.

3. Test websites and apps

Market research companies often look for consumers to test websites, try products or software like video games or apps, and provide feedback or reviews. Find opportunities like these 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. UserTesting sends payment through PayPal after 14 days.

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.

4. Rent out your belongings

With the sharing economy 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 full of underused things that others would like to rent. Sites like FriendWithA make it possible to rent products like this and earn extra cash.

If you find success with renting your belongings, you can expand your business by specializing in a particular niche. For example, you could start a clothing brand by renting a specific type of apparel 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. For FriendWithA, you can request a payment two days after the end of the rental.

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

A classic way to earn money while keeping a full-time job, side hustles can help you earn money online through various tasks, such as data entry or résumé formatting. Use platforms like Fiverr or Taskrabbit to create profiles promoting yourself for side gigs.

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. For example, on Fiverr, funds are available for withdrawal after a seven-day or 14-day period, depending on your status with the platform.

What to know:

• Some side gig marketplaces (like Upwork) have subscription tiers that can help you land more gigs, so take any additional fees into consideration.
• Review the side gig marketplace's payment schedule to make sure it works for you.

6. Become a content consumer

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.

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.

Keep in mind that you'll only retain a small percentage of the licensing fee for an image. For example, iStock royalties start at 15%, meaning if your image is licensed for $33, you'll only get $5.

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 professional photographers.

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. On iStock, you must meet the $100 minimum before you can cash out your payment. You'll typically receive payment a month after your photo is licensed.

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.

Templatize your expertise and sell it as digital products like PDF guides or ebooks. 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, website 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. For 99designs, you can request a payout after your client confirms they have received the expected work.

What to know:

• Collect examples of your work, references, and customer testimonials. Feature these on your portfolio 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. Start a blog or newsletter

Blogging is a longtime favorite for digital entrepreneurs like Kevin Espiritu of Epic Gardening.

Running a blog lets you share your thoughts, expertise, and experiences on topics you're passionate about. With platforms like Shopify, you can start a blog with zero technical skills. Then, monetize your blog with ads or sponsored content, or by selling your own products and services. After he built a following, Kevin expanded his gardening blog to sell gardening equipment.

You can also create a newsletter through platforms like Substack, which allows you to charge a subscription fee. With a subscription model, you don't need to sell ads, but you do need to have a dedicated following of subscribers willing to pay a monthly fee, which can take time to build.

There are plenty of newsletter ideas to try, such as providing recipe roundups, gift guides, and interviews with interesting people. Consider publishing a mix of free and paid newsletters or giving paid subscribers perks like access to exclusive content.

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.
• Brush up on some of the basics of search engine optimization (SEO) marketing. Incorporating even a few SEO principles and target keywords into your blog content can help you organically drive more traffic to your blog.

10. Take online surveys

One of the easiest ways to make money online for beginners is by completing online surveys. There are many survey sites and mobile apps, such as Survey Junkie or Swagbucks, that pay users to share their opinions on various topics, including their shopping behaviors and preferences for 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.

Startup time: A few minutes.

Effort to start: Low.

Time to first payment: Depends on the survey platform's payment structure. For example, with Survey Junkie, once you reach 500 points (the equivalent of $5), you can redeem your points for a gift card, which is available immediately, or cash.

What to know:

• Many survey sites pay in points and you need to earn a certain amount before you redeem them for payment.
• 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 whenever you have some time to spare.

11. 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. It's a great way to start an online business with minimal risk.

You may also be able to start an ecommerce website and connect it to a POD app. "I really appreciate the ability to connect everything together," says Raven Gibson, founder of fashion and accessories brand Legendary Rootz, on an episode of the Shopify Masters podcast. "I have an idea, and I'm able to go in and see if they have a product that serves that idea that I have, get that sample created. Once it's approved by me, I'm able to go in and it's all connected to Shopify."

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

Your earnings will depend on your profit margins, which are determined by the difference between the cost of your selected blank product and the selling price you set for the final product. For example, the cost of t-shirts from POD suppliers like Printful start around $9 and go up to $20 for organic cotton. Legendary Rootz sells its graphic tees for $35.

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 companies to compare pricing, quality, and product lineup.
• Most ecommerce platforms require you to be at least 18 years of age.
• Requirements vary by country and region, but some products may require you to have licenses, permits, or certifications.

12. 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 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.

13. Start a dropshipping business

One 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.

The easiest way to get started is with Shopify Collective, a free supplier network that lets you sell products from other Shopify brands. You can also connect dropshipping apps to your store to access suppliers around the world. Popular options include DropCommerce for North American suppliers with fast shipping, Syncee for global brands, and AI Dropship for US and EU suppliers with delivery under seven days.

When it comes to partnering with the right suppliers, entrepreneur Kamil Sattar says to make sure you're working with companies that will directly ship to customers to speed up the process. "Make sure that you're asking these suppliers, 'Look, do you have that in your warehouse?' Because if they do have it in their warehouse, that's gonna cut 10 days out of the shipping straight away," Kamil says on an episode of the Shopify Masters podcast.

Because they have 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.

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.

• Start with Collective if you're a Shopify user, or explore dropshipping suppliers through verified apps for quality products and reliable shipping.

• Most ecommerce platforms require you to be 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. 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.

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. On TutorMe, tutors receive payment twice a month.

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.

15. 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 easy access to knowledge in various fields.

To expand on your business, you can sell your course on your ecommerce website as a digital download.

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. Udemy posts your expected payment schedule on your revenue report.

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.

16. 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.

Building 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. Clickbank, for example, pays out every Friday as long as you reach the payment threshold (set at a default of $100 but can be as low as $10).

What to know:

• 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.

17. Rent a spare room in your home

Using online listing services and apartment rental sites, you can advertise a space for rent in your home. For example, you could sublet an extra bedroom in your rental apartment or rent out a garage or basement apartment in your home. Depending on what you have available (and are willing to manage), you can even rent out space for other recurring uses, like as an artist's studio or band practice space.

You can also look into short-term rentals via sites like Airbnb and Vrbo. The global short-term vacation rental market is expected to be worth $256 billion in 2030, up from $135 billion in 2024.

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. Airbnb initiates payment after a guest checks in.

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 safety requirements for rental units.
• If you want to use a short-term rental platform, make sure you check local laws on if that's allowed in your city. For example, short-term rentals in New York City are subject to restrictions due to Local Law 18.

18. Participate in online focus groups

Businesses use focus groups to get more in-depth feedback on their products and services. Usually, these sessions pay more than standard surveys, and you can participate online via video conferencing tools like Zoom or Google Meet. Websites like User Interviews, Respondent, and FocusGroups.org are great places to start.

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 prescreening survey to see if you fit the demographic and psychological criteria. These surveys can be detailed and can take time to complete.

19. Sell handmade crafts or art

The ability to purchase almost anything mass-produced hasn't led to the disappearance of handmade goods. In fact, the craft market is growing: The global handicraft market is expected to reach $1.2 trillion in 2035, up from $428 billion in 2025.

You can sell handmade goods through platforms like Etsy, Amazon Handmade, or even create your own Shopify store. From knitted garments to paintings and handcrafted jewelry, your possibilities are endless.

Genna Tatu of Crochet by Genna says you don't have to wait for your handmade items to be perfect before listing them for sale online. "If you're able to step back and not be a perfectionist about it and just say, 'Hey, does this product resemble what it's supposed to?' If so, and if you feel OK putting it out there, then put it out there," Genna says. "You never know who will buy it."

Genna sells her amigurumi (crochet plushies) for anywhere from $5 for a mini duck to $200 for a jumbo Loch Ness Monster. How much you can charge for your creations depends on the type of art you create. Genna recommends looking at the going rate for similar items on Etsy.

Best for: Creative folks who can make and sell crafts.

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. On Etsy, new sellers receive funds weekly, on Mondays.

What to know:

• Brush up on your photography skills as high-quality ecommerce photos are important for selling handmade products online.
• Storytelling can help you make connections with your audience. Describe your creative process, the materials you use, and the inspiration behind a piece to connect with potential buyers on a personal level. Genna used YouTube to connect with her audience.
• 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.

• Consider selling digital products (Genna sells crochet patterns) to generate passive income.

20. Do transcriptions

If you speak more than one language (particularly hybrid languages like Spanglish) or have knowledge of a specific, jargon-filled industry, like health care, you can become a transcriber.

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 $150 a month 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. Rev, for example, pays out on a weekly basis.

What to know:

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

21. Become a social media manager

Businesses of all sizes need help managing their social media accounts. If you can create exciting posts and grow a social media following, you can become a successful content creator for other brands. Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork have 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. For UpWork, your funds are available in five (for fixed-price contracts) to 10 days (hourly contracts).

What to know:

• Being a social media manager means being aware of trends and changes. Platforms frequently update their algorithms and features, and viral marketing can depend on many factors. If you can quickly adapt to these changes, you can increase social media engagement 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 return on investment of your strategies to clients.
• Develop communication skills to build trust with clients and win them over for longer-term contracts.

22. 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 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. Teachers Pay Teachers pays sellers on a monthly basis.

What to know:

• Focusing on a niche can help you make more sales and 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.

23. Review products online

Write detailed, honest reviews about a company's products and earn money online. Platforms like ReviewStream.com will pay you for reviewing products you already use. Other platforms, like Influenster and Smiley360, send you free products in exchange for reviews (but you won't get paid).

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. 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.

24. Become a user-generated content (UGC) creator

These days you don't need a huge following to make money with social media. Brands are paying everyday people to create authentic, relatable content (known as UGC content). A recent report found that 42% of marketing professionals view UGC as essential to their content marketing strategy.

As a UGC creator, your job is to produce content that features a brand's products, but they look like genuine customer posts, like how creator Elise Dopson does on TikTok.

Best for: Social media savvy folks who enjoy creating short-form video content.

Startup time: A few hours to create a portfolio and profiles on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

Effort level: Medium. Requires creativity and critical thinking to partner with the right brands.

Time to first payment: Varies by client, but can be within 7 to 15 days after content is approved.

What to know:

• Create three to five sample videos using products you already own. This helps build a portfolio before you start approaching brands for sponsorship.
• Use platforms like Billo or Influee to find brands you'd love to work with.

25. Offer AI-powered services

The rise of AI business tools has created a new category of freelance work perfect for beginners. You can leverage AI to deliver professional-quality services like social media post ideas, blog content, logos, and even consulting on how to use AI.

Your role is to guide the AI, choose the best outputs, and refine the final product with a human touch. Clients are willing to pay for the speed and efficiency that AI services provide.

Best for: Tech enthusiasts who thrive in learning new software and tools.

Startup time: Less than a week to learn the basics of key AI tools.

Effort level: Low to medium.

Time to first payment: Depends on the freelance platform. You could get funds on Upwork and Fiverr around 14 days after completing an assignment.

What to know:

• Learn how to create prompts for AI tools. Clients aren't paying you to type sentences into an AI. They want curated insights that reflect a polished final product.
• Get familiar with free or low-cost tiers of tools like ChatGPT and Claude. You can also use Midjourney or Adobe Firefly for image generation.

Before you start: a beginner's checklist

The internet is full of amazing opportunities, but not everything is legit. Run through this checklist to set yourself up for success:

1. Be aware of scams. Recognize the red flags of common online scams. If someone guarantees you thousands of dollars for little to no work, it's probably not true. If an "employer" asks you to pay for training or to start a job, it's likely a scam. If you're unsure, the Federal Trade Commission offers resources to help you identify and avoid scam gigs.

2. Set up a way to get paid. Create accounts with reputable online payment systems, such as PayPal, Wise, or Payoneer. These platforms provide secure methods for receiving money from around the world. Having an active account ready will make sure that when you get your first dollar, there are no delays.

3. Understand basic tax rules. If you make money online or in person, it's generally considered taxable income. Get in the habit of keeping a record of everything you earn online. Tax laws vary by location. In the United States, this income must be reported. The IRS's Gig Economy Tax Center provides information to help independent workers avoid headaches down the road.

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 drawn to simple data entry or dreaming of launching an online store, the path to earning extra cash online begins with a single step. Choose one method and start today—no more scrolling, just earning.