From financing a special purchase to covering a surprise bill, there are many reasons you might want to earn a little extra cash. But what if you’re short on time and need to make money fast? There are plenty of ways to make money in an hour or less.
Here’s a guide on how to make money fast and earn a few dollars in your spare time.
13 ways to make money in one hour or less
- Take online surveys
- Sell stuff via online marketplaces
- Sell unwanted gift cards
- Walk dogs
- Deliver food
- Seek unclaimed money
- Offer social media management services
- Freelance microtasks
- Try house cleaning
- Rent out equipment
- Offer tech support
- Tutor or give specialized lessons
- Test websites and software
By assessing your skills or assets, you can find ways to pad your bank account in an hour or less.
For example, if you have a reliable vehicle, you can make good money delivering packages or food. If you prefer to stay home but have a gift for organization, you could earn money as a virtual assistant.
If you’re ready to start making money in less than an hour, here’s where to start:
1. Take online surveys
Earn extra money fast via survey sites like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Branded Surveys. After a brief sign-up process, you can make extra money by providing your opinion in various sponsored surveys on topics like health, lifestyle, shopping habits, and finances. You’ll likely have to fill out a short questionnaire to first determine your eligibility.
Time commitment
The time it takes to complete a survey varies. For Swagbucks, most surveys take only a few minutes, but there are some that take 30 minutes or more. Survey Junkie’s surveys take an average of 15 minutes.
Earning potential
Taking surveys is a solid way to make money online as a beginner, but it won’t replace full-time income. According to Swagbucks, users typically earn about $25 to $100 a month taking surveys. Meanwhile, on BrandedSurveys, earnings range from $5 to $100.
Getting paid
Payment terms vary by platform. Some sites pay cash while others offer rewards in the form of gift cards. With both Branded Surveys and Survey Junkie, users need to earn 500 points (equates to $5) before redeeming points. Payment options include gift cards or cash through bank transfers.
2. Sell stuff via online marketplaces
If you have clothes or shoes you don’t wear anymore or tech gadgets you’re ready to part with, you have options. You can go the old-fashioned route and take your items to a consignment boutique or pawn shop. Or, sell items online via marketplaces like eBay, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace.
Time commitment
Most online marketplaces have apps so you can create listings and make money from your phone. With this method, each listing only takes a few minutes to create.
Earning potential
Your earning potential depends on the product you’re selling. One way to determine what could be a fair price is to look at how others are pricing their products. Some marketplaces charge listing fees, so make sure to take that into consideration.
Getting paid
If you want to get paid right away on Facebook Marketplace or eBay, list your items for local pickup for cash. Offering to ship your items can increase your chances of selling, but platforms like Facebook Marketplace and eBay take a cut of your profits.
Grow your business
If you enjoy selling your stuff on marketplaces, you can start a reseller business like Resurrection Vintage, which sells vintage clothing from the 1970s to the 2000s.
An ecommerce store on Shopify lets you connect to several apps, such as Shopify Marketplace Connect. This allows you to sell on your online store and other marketplaces at the same time.
3. Sell unwanted gift cards
Are your old gift cards collecting dust? Unload them via sites like CardCash or Gameflip, which is ideal for selling gaming-related gift cards for Steam and PlayStationh.
You can also use platforms like eBay, but this may involve spending time building client relationships and verifying your gift cards are legit. Consider a card-centric sales site to offload your gift cards fast.
Time commitment
Listing your gift cards is generally quick, but it’s difficult to predict when your card will sell. On some platforms, you won’t have to mail out the cards. Some allow you to transfer your cards online. Not having to send in the physical gift card makes it a simple process.
Earning potential
How much you can make selling gift cards depends on the type of card. For example, CardCash will buy a $25 Starbucks card for $19.50. Gameflip is a marketplace, so you choose how much to sell your card for. (The platform suggests pricing your card between 2% and 15% off the original price to sell cards faster.)
Getting paid
You can receive payment in a few days. After CardCash does a balance and fraud check and verifies your identity, it issues payment through the mail, an ACH deposit, or PayPal within 24 to 48 hours.
4. Walk dogs
If spending time with furry friends seems like a fun way to pass an hour, you can earn some quick cash as a dog walker. Connect with pet owners using platforms like Rover.
Time commitment
Getting set up on Rover can take time. You have to fill out an application, which includes setting rates, creating a profile, requesting testimonials from past clients, passing a safety quiz, and completing a background check. It can take 10 to 20 days until Rover approves you, but after that process, you can take on clients.
Rover offers services like dog walking (30 or 60 minutes) and drop-in visits (30 minutes).
Earning potential
You can set your own rates and availability. Nationwide, dogwalkers charge an average of $17 an hour. For drop-ins, the average rate on Rover is $25 per visit.
Getting paid
You will receive payment in your Rover account two days after you complete a service. Pet owners might also tip you, which will be in your account within 24 hours. Rover takes a 20% fee from each booking.
Grow your business
If you don’t want a platform like Rover taking a cut of your profits, you can start your own pet business. Create a professional website with testimonials and booking functionality. Next, put up flyers around your neighborhood. Include a QR code to direct potential clients to your website.
With your business, you can be more flexible about the services you offer. For example, add pet sitting options, such as feeding a cat or cleaning their litter box, that take an hour or less.
5. Deliver food
Delivering food from restaurants and grocery stores is a popular side hustle. You’ll need a reliable vehicle and a tolerance for traffic, but you can find work via platforms like Grubhub, Uber Eats, and Instacart.
Time commitment
It can take a few days to get approved by these platforms, but you can book quick jobs if you’re short on time. You can look at the size of the order, the distance, and earnings before accepting a delivery.
Earning potential
The amount you can make delivering food varies. On the low end, you can earn at least $4 delivering a single item like ice cream with Instacart. According to Uber, drivers in the US make an average of $33 per utilized hour.
When you accept a delivery job, you will see how much you can earn. You may also receive a tip, which is 100% yours.
Getting paid
Most delivery platforms pay out weekly but you may be able to get paid sooner for a small fee.
6. Seek unclaimed money
Organizations like the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) help people claim money for a payout they never received. You can see if you’re eligible for free across different states using their search tools. If anyone owes you money (like a previous employer, landlord, or utility) the site directs you to state government websites. There you can start the process of recovering unclaimed funds.
The US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) also helps guide people on how to seek unpaid wages.
Time commitment
Finding if you have any unclaimed money takes only a few minutes. The process to recover these funds varies by state. You might need to print out forms, get them notarized, provide proof of address, and mail them to a state controller.
Earning potential
This depends on what funds you’re claiming. In some cases, the online systems might tell you if the money owed to you is less or more than $50.
Getting paid
How long it takes to get paid depends on the state. New York generally processes funds within two weeks. Meanwhile, Florida can take up to 90 days.
7. Offer social media marketing services
If you have a keen understanding of social media best practices, you can offer your services as a social media manager.
Time commitment
It can take a bit of legwork to find new clients, but once you do, you can set aside an hour to post and manage social media accounts. Gig work platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer can connect you to freelance social media jobs.
Earning potential
According to ZipRecruiter, the average social media manager in the US makes $31 an hour. Keep in mind that freelance platforms like Fiverr can take up to 20% of your earnings.
Getting paid
If you sell your services on freelance platforms, they may hold your earnings for seven to 14 days.
Grow your business
You can also reach out to businesses directly and offer your services. Share your portfolio website, showing your past work and any social media certifications. Establish yourself as a social media thought leader by sharing tips on LinkedIn or starting a newsletter. Digital newsletters can serve as both a marketing channel and an alternative revenue stream.
Social media consultant Rachel Karten’s newsletter, Link in Bio, has more than 100,000 subscribers. In weekly posts, Rachel analyzes social media trends and interviews the social media managers behind popular accounts.
8. Freelance microtasks
Completing microtasks is one of the most efficient ways to make money online in under an hour. On freelance platforms like Upwork and Freelancer, expect to find postings for tasks like data entry, image tagging, proofreading, and copywriting. There’s even odd jobs like watching videos and indexing their content.
There are also plenty of business professionals in the market for virtual assistance. If you have a spare hour for scheduling, email management, or data entry, try advertising your services on gig economy platforms.
Time commitment
There are plenty of microtasks that can take an hour or less. To sign up on Freelancer, you’ll create a profile, which includes selecting your skills and uploading a photo. Once they verify you, you can browse jobs and make a bid.
Earning potential
You can set your rates on platforms like Upwork and Freelancer, and the going rate depends on the type of work. On Upwork, transcriptionists charge between $12 and $22 an hour. Freelancing platforms take a cut of your earnings (up to 20%).
Getting paid
There are a few different ways to get paid on freelancer platforms, such as hourly or per-project. Your clients will pay the platform, which will then hold your earnings for a few days to weeks and take a cut.
9. Try house cleaning
If you don’t mind working with your hands—but you prefer to be inside—house cleaning may be the job for you.
Time commitment
Websites like Tidy offer custom cleanings to clients, including one-hour cleanings for small homes or focus on one area. With Tidy, you can sign up (set preferences) in a few minutes, get certified within a day, and get your schedule in about a week.
Earning potential
Nationally, house cleaners make an average of $17 an hour.
Getting paid
On Tidy, workers get paid weekly via direct deposit. If you find your own clients, you can get paid in cash on the spot.
Grow your business
You can also start your own business and launch an online store with a platform like Shopify. You can use a combination of local search engine optimization and posting flyers to attract clients. To keep it under one hour, you can offer to clean specific rooms, like bathrooms and kitchens.
10. Rent out equipment
If you have tools, sports equipment, or other useful items you’re willing to let out of your sight, rent them out through a platform like Fat Llama. There are also niche sites for specific industries, like ShareGrid for film equipment.
Time commitment
Starting an account on Fat Llama is easy. Sign up and create your listing. Once you get rental requests, you’ll have to wait for Fat Llama to verify the borrower. Once that happens, you and the borrower can decide where to meet.
Earning potential
How much you can earn depends on the item you’re listing for rent. For example, you can rent a camera for $50 per day or a small boat for $120 per day. ShareGrid has a pricing tool to help you understand the market rate for your item.
Keep in mind that sharing platforms may take a cut of your profits. For example, Fat Llama charges a 25% fee of the rental amount.
Getting paid
If you use a platform like ShareGrid, it can take a few days to get paid. After you mark a rental as complete, it can take up to three days for the funds to transfer.
11. Offer tech support
Plenty of people need tech support. Think setting up devices, troubleshooting software issues, or installing apps. You can connect to them on gig apps like Upwork and Fiverr.
Time commitment
The work itself can take an hour or less. But it can take some time to get clients. You can advertise your services via word of mouth and build a client base in your area. Referrals are useful for getting work that requires house calls.
Earning potential
Freelance IT professionals make an average of $35 an hour.
Getting paid
If you’re using a platform like Upwork and Fiverr, it can take between one and two weeks to get paid.
12. Tutor or give specialized lessons
If you have skills in a particular academic field, consider tutoring. You can help students with specific subjects or test prep with platforms like Tutor.com, Wyzant, and Preply. One of the benefits of tutoring is predictability. You’ll likely have repeat customers who want to meet weekly at the same time for about an hour, giving you a steady stream of income.
Time commitment
It can take a few days to get set up. With Preply, a virtual tutoring platform, you can sign up and get approved within five business days. After that, you can offer one-hour tutoring sessions.
Earning potential
You can set your own schedule and rate (according to Preply, English teachers charge an average of $15 to $25 an hour). Preply’s commission is between 18% and 33% depending on the number of hours you work.
Getting paid
On Preply, funds become available after a student confirms the lesson. If you find your own clients and tutor in-person, you can get paid cash immediately.
Grow your business
To avoid platform fees, start your own tutoring business. Launch a professional website with an intuitive drag-and-drop builder like Shopify that lets you post testimonials and connect to booking software.
You can then post flyers around your neighborhood with a QR code driving back to your site. You can also sell digital products, like a prerecorded course or printable worksheets, through your website and earn passive income.
13. Test websites and software
The internet abounds with platforms that pay users to test software and websites for functionality, user experience, and accessibility. Some software companies even pay people to play games and offer feedback.
A few platforms to try include UserTesting, Userlytics, and Trymata.
Time commitment
To sign up for UserTesting, you’ll fill out an application (usually about 15 to 20 minutes), which includes a practice test, and then wait for a few days for approval. You can often test multiple sites or programs in a single hour. Some platforms match you with opportunities that are a fit for you.
Earning potential
A few sources say that many tests pay about about $10 for about 20 minutes of your time, but there are longer tests that pay more.
Getting paid
Payment terms depend on the platform. UserTesting sends payment through PayPal after 14 days.
How to make money in one hour FAQ
How can I make money ASAP?
To make money ASAP, apply for gig work on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer. If you have a car, try driving for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, or similar ride-share and delivery services.
Are there legitimate ways to make money in an hour?
Yes, you can make legitimate money in an hour by taking jobs posted on gig apps. These jobs include driving, pet sitting, copywriting, taking online surveys, and testing software.
Is it possible to make money in an hour?
Yes, it is possible to make money in an hour, either via in-person work like rideshare driving or on your computer using gig platforms like Fiverr.
