Ways to Make Money As a Stay At Home Mom
How do you find stay at home mom jobs?
This is the question I asked myself 4 months pregnant with my second child ready to make that transition from my 9-5.
Climbing the corporate ladder didn’t matter anymore, being there for my kids did. We were living on a two-household income, so before I could quit my job I had to find a way to supplement my income.
I NEEDED to find a legitimate stay at home mom job that paid well and I was not looking for any direct sales positions or Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) gigs.
Update: I’m no longer at my 9-5 and I’m doing jobs 1 & 2 on this list and I love it. See how I work 8 hours a day with a two-year-old and infant.
After searching for legitimate work from home jobs for moms online I couldn’t find any success stories, and I needed to know these ideas could work for me.
Out of frustration and a short timeline before I had my daughter, I decided to reach out to successful work at home moms and interview them to see
- What they do
- How they do it at home with kids
- How others could get started
- How much they earn
I documented everything and created this website to share their stories for moms like me. And that’s what you’ll find here today, Tried and True Mom Jobs.
You know your situation better than anyone, some jobs on this list will require more focus than others so decide what’s right for you and your family.
These are some of the best side jobs for stay at home moms with no experience.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.
25+ Legitimate Stay at Home Jobs for Moms
Here are the best stay at home mom jobs near me that can be done anywhere
1. Start a Blog
Blogging is #1 on the list because it is one of the most flexible jobs you can have and the earning potential is limitless.
I believe blogging is the best stay at home job for moms because you work completely on your own schedule.
After reading how bloggers are making between $1,000-$50,000 per MONTH, I instantly thought, well why can’t I do that? And now I am!
I will admit that blogging takes A LOT of work (in the beginning anyway) but I was DESPERATE to find a way to make money from home so I could stay home with my kids. Desperation is a great motivator, it’s what kept me going. This blog HAD to work. And it’s paying off significantly.
Blogging is one of my favorite forms of passive income. I make money just for people reading my articles from ads.
I can assure you, I did not write this article today and yet it’s making me money.
When you get a nice amount of people reading your articles it brings in a nice income. Here’s a screenshot of one of my earnings from my ad revenue
I made $400 in one day just from ads, and I make even more in Affiliate sales. You can see how I make money blogging here.
You DO NOT need to be an excellent writer to become a blogger, you just write like you talk.
I’m definitely not a great writer and I have my lovely mom review my articles before I post just to have a second pair of eyes.
I spent a lot of time working on my blog the first year with a full-time job, busy toddler, pregnant with my second child and also “trying” to be a wonderful wife to my wonderful husband. So, I know if you want this to work…it can. It just depends on you.
I also didn’t make much money my first year, I’m about 15 months in and I’m finally seeing a nice income. So definitely consider doing this on the side as it may take some time before you start earning money, but it’s so worth it if you stick it out.
I work VERY part-time on my blog now and I’m making more money than when I was at my corporate job.
I just started a YouTube channel to show my blogging tips and how to make money from home, you can subscribe here.
If you want to start a blog, I’ve detailed all the steps in my How to Start a WordPress Blog article from scratch! I also mention the most popular niches that make the most money and get the most traffic.
2. Use Affiliate Marketing
You know how you recommend different products or places to friends? Well, now you can get paid for it!
Affiliate Marketing is when you refer someone to a product or service online using a unique link (referral) and if they make a purchase through your link you earn a commission. Most of it is completely passive and that’s why this makes for a great mom job.
See how this mom makes $6,000 a month from Affiliate Marketing!
3. Online Writer
Do you like to write? You can make a lot of money as a writer, I know because I interviewed Boss Mom Holly Johnson who earns OVER $200,000 a year as a Freelance Writer. I didn’t even know that was possible!
Writing is another great work from home job for moms because you get to work completely around your own schedule.
How much can I make? Holly Johnson said that she finds it hard for you NOT to earn AT LEAST $40,000 to $50,000 a year working full-time as a writer.
How do I get started? Holly Johnson found the secret sauce when it comes to writing and charging the right rate for your work. She created a free introductory training on how to build a six-figure writing career.
I highly recommend taking her course if you want to work from home writing and follow her path to success. I also have a number of ways to get writing gigs in my How to Become a Freelance Writer article.
Related Article: How to Work From Home as a Freelance Writer and SAHM
4. Bookkeeper
I had the pleasure of interviewing two successful stay-at-home moms who work from home as a Bookkeeper and started out with no previous experience!
This is great work for stay at home moms because one of the moms I interviewed has NINE kids, homeschool’s six, AND still has time to earn a living Bookkeeping. I’m convinced if she can do this successfully, many of us can!
Bookkeepers record financial transactions for small business owners, and it can be done either as a freelancer or for a company remotely.
How do I get started?
- Newbies: Check out the free class on How to Become a Virtual Bookkeeper (This is the course the moms took) to see if this is right for you.
- Experienced: Apply toAccounting Department, Belay, or check out the available positions using job boards like FlexJobs and Upwork.
How much can I make? The Bookkeepers course teaches you how to charge $60 per hour. If you are looking to work for a company like Accounting Department Glassdoor states they pay between $15-$16 per hour and employees gave them a 4.6/5 star rating.
5. Become A Proofreader
Do you find yourself easily catching errors when reading? Do you cringe when you see grammar mistakes? If so, you might make a great Proofreader.
Proofreaders are NEEDED, I know because I use one myself.
How much can I make? Caitlin Pyle made $43,000 her first year Proofreading PART-TIME!
You can read the full interview in my How to Become a Proofreader article. There are many others making between $1,000-$4,000 per month.
How do I get started? If you want to learn the skills needed to start your own freelance proofreading hustle or see if this is the right career for you, check out this FREE introductory workshop.
6. Freelance
Freelancing is one of the best ways to earn money as a mom because you work around your own schedule as long as you can meet your deadlines. Your skill-set may be one of the following:
- Virtual Assistant
- Social Media
- Design Tech
- Pinterest Management
- Copy Writing or more!
If you’ve ever had an interest in one of these it’s time to pursue it! If you don’t know-how, that’s okay because my friend Micala can help you out.
She was a teacher working 50-60 hours per week earning $2300 a month. Pre-tax. Absolutely miserable dropping her baby off at daycare every day. She needed to work. And, wanted to work but on her own terms.
She didn’t want to give up extra long morning snuggles or afternoons playing at the park. She wanted it all, do you?
Within a few months of freelancing, she was working 15-20 hours per week, earning double her old paycheck with her baby beside her every step of the way. Now she teaches moms how to do the same.
I had an AMAZING interview with her on How to Become a Freelancer Online and she created a free workshop to show you how she did it and how you can too.
Check it out here and see if freelancing is right for you.
7. Sell on Amazon (FBA program)
If you like shopping and searching for a good deal, you should definitely consider Amazon’s FBA program.
You find good deals on products at brick and mortar stores or wherever and resell them on Amazon for a higher price.
What makes Amazon’s FBA program so great is that THEY ship the products to your customers and handle the customer service!
How do I get started? I recommend taking this FREE 7 Day Email Course on how to start selling on Amazon from a Mom who makes a full-time living doing this.
Her husband was able to quit his job to work with her in less than a year of starting! You can see my full interview with Boss Mom Jessica on Selling on Amazon.
How much can I make? This varies significantly and depends on how much work you are willing to put in but Jessica makes six-figures.
Thanks to Jessica, my sister is doing this and now earns over $2,000 per month on the side with a full-time job.
8. Transcribe
Transcribers listen to audio files and record (type) what they hear. If you have patience and the ability to sit for long periods of time and an eye for detail, you should consider transcribing.
How do I get started? Take this Free Mini-Course to find out if this is the right job for you.
How much can I make? $7-$21 per hour from these transcribing companies or much more if you start your own business as a transcriber. Find out how in my article on How to Work from Home as a Transcriber and see how this SAHM does it.
9. Teach English Online
If you have a Bachelor’s degree, citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or Canada, and teaching experience (tutoring, mentoring, children’s church,etc. are acceptable), then you should definitely consider teaching kids in China English for companies like VIPKID.
Because of the time difference in China, you work while your kids are asleep.
How do I get started? See how Brittney does it for VIPKID and Amy for a similar company called Magic Ears. For additional companies hiring to teach online check them out here.
How much can I make? up to $26 per hour, check out the companies hiring here.
10. Tutor
Online tutoring is growing thanks to the advancements in technology, and it’s an excellent way to make money at home if you have teaching experience or knowledge of a specific subject. Choose what times work best for you.
How do I get started? Check out the best online tutoring jobs.
How much can I make? $10.50 – $60 per hour.
11. Get Into Real Estate BUT w/o Selling or Buying Anything
I know, sounds a little crazy right? But I met Boss Mom Danielle Pierce who is doing this earning over $400,000 per year WHILE homeschooling her 3 kids!
It’s called Property Preservation or Repairing Foreclosed Homes. Danielle outsources 100% of the work and just does the admin work at home.
How do I get started? Check out my interview with Danielle to see how it all works
How much can I make? It varies but Danielle says it’s very feasible to gross $100k+ or more in revenue within 18 months
12. Virtual Receptionist
Answer calls and web chats for a variety of businesses and professionals for Smith.ai, working alongside a close-knit team from around the country.
Smith.ai operates Monday through Friday from
- 5 am to 9 pm Pacific
- 6 am to 10 pm Mountain
- 7 am to 11 pm Central
- 8 am to 12 midnight Eastern
You must be available 4 hours a day, 5 days a week (minimum of 20 hours per week, 40 hours max). Shifts are broken into 2- to 5-hour blocks. Applicants will need to be from the US, Canada, or Mexico.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Pay is hourly and starts at $10 per hour, with raises based on performance and longevity with the company.
Benefits include:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Retirement plans
- Cash bonuses
- Weekly pay
How do I get started? Apply Here
13. Life Coach
Do you love personal development and enjoy helping people? Do you want to build a business of your own? If that’s you, you should consider becoming a Life Coach.
See how Natalie Bacon became a Life Coach making six-figures on her way to seven-figures!
This is a great job for moms because you make your own schedule and work around your family’s schedule.
How much can I make? It really depends on your market. If you’re targeting lower-income you can charge $47 per hour, if you’re targeting higher-income you could charge $297 per hour or much more. It also depends on your model, are you doing 1-to-1 coaching or group coaching?
How do I get started: Check out my article on How to Become a Life Coach and consider this Life Coach Certificate Course.
14. Start a Baby Equipment Rental Business
Do you live in a popular tourist area? Did you know you could make a lucrative side hustle renting baby equipment to traveling families? I didn’t either, but I interviewed boss mom Ashley Anderson who made me a believer.
How do I get started? I recommend reading my interview with Ashley on How to Start a Baby Equipment Rental Business
How much can I make? Ashley earns over $3,000 per month
15. Create an Online Store with Drop Shipping
Dropshipping is a method where you can sell third-party products from a Drop Shipping Company without ever seeing or shipping the item. When you make a sale, the product is shipped directly to the customer from the drop shipper.
Your profit is the difference between what you charge your customers and what the drop shipping company charges you.
Here is a great infographic to show how it works:
How do I get started? Boss Mom Theo McArthur has great success with drop shipping and created a course on Udemy that teaches you how to launch your first profitable Dropship Website in 14 Days or less and grow your Income to $10,000 per month in profits.
How much can I make? This really depends on you and how much work you put into it but you could make $10,000+ a month.
16. Flip Items from Flea Markets and Thrift Shops
Rob from the Flea Market Flipper put me on to this (I know he’s not a mom, but he does this with his family). He made over $130,000 flipping items from Flea Markets and thrift stores PART-TIME mostly reselling on eBay.
When I read that his Flipper University Student (Single Mom) makes $5,000 a month, I had to add it to this list.
How do I get started? Rob created a free workshop to turn your passion for visiting thrift stores, yard sales, & flea markets into a profitable reselling business – in as little as 14 days. You can click here to sign up.
How much can I make? Rob made $42,000 as a side income (10-15 hours per week). When he put more time into it (20-35 hours per week) he made $133,000. You can see the more time you put into it, the more money you can make.
17. Become a Travel Agent
Do you love to travel? Enjoy helping people and want to work from home? Consider working as a Travel Agent.
How do I get started? You can either start your own business or work for an agency. This stay-at-home mom who started her own Travel Agency tells us how to do both here.
How much can I make? Glassdoor states the typical salary ranges from $29,000 to $58,000 a year, but it all depends on experience and number of clients.
18. Make Printables On Etsy
Do you consider yourself to be creative? Do you enjoy browsing Pinterest for ideas? If so, you could make a nice passive income with Printables on Etsy. The best part about printables is that you make a printable ONCE and can earn money from it FOREVER!
You will really want to niche down if you want to make money with printables. Check out this Free 22 page ebook of ideas of seasonal printables for ideas on what to sell online.
How do I get Started? Check out my interview from Boss Mom Julie who is doing this and she takes us through the process on how to get started.
How much can I make? You could easily make a passive income of $500-$1000 per month.
I also had a great interview with a mom who’s been wildly successful on etsy and turned her hobby into a $350,000 business and GROWING in my article on How to Sell on Etsy Successfully.
19. Interior Designer
Do you have those creative genes to decorate rooms and arrange furniture? Do you watch HGTV and think, I can do that, I want to do that? See how Boss Mom Julie Putzel became an Interior Designer in my How to Become an Interior Designer article earning Six-figures!
For this job, it would be good to have someone who could watch the kids while in client meetings and shopping for clients.
How do I get started? To become an Interior Decorator (this is different from Interior Designer) I recommend starting a website, take quality photos of your work, ask friends and family if you can work for them at no charge to help add to your portfolio, once you’ve created a polished visualization of your work you can then start to charge for your service.
To get started as an Interior Designer, check out my article on How to Become an Interior Designer.
How much can I make? You can make anywhere from $50-$150 per hour as an Interior Decorator. Interior Designers can make six-figures or more.
20. Search Engine/Social Media Evaluator
Do you know what a Search Engine/Social Media Evaluator does? They basically rate social media ads and search engines results for relevancy.
This is one of the best jobs for stay-at-home moms with no experience because it does not require any training, it does not require you to get on the phone, and you make your own schedule.
There are many pros to this job, and because of that, there may be lows in available work.
How do I get started? Apply to the only two companies I recommend in my article on How to Work from Home as a Web Search Evaluator
How much can I make? $12.50 – $14 per hour, this varies by company see list of recommended companies here.
21. In-Home Childcare
If you love children and have a passion for the opportunity to impact a young life, this is a great opportunity to work from home. You also get the added benefit of playtime and socialization with your kids.
How do I get started? I recommend taking this neat course on How to Start a Home Daycare Business. Ladonna operated her own profitable home daycare and shows you how you can do the same along with all the information you’ll need to get started.
You can also check out Care.com and your local FB mom groups for opportunities to grow your business.
How much can I make? It really depends on where you live, but you could charge $30 a day which turns out to $600 per month (assuming its for 8 hours a day), while some daycares will charge $900 or more a month for one kid.
Feel free to raise your price and check the daycare costs in your area to stay competitive.
Tips: Make sure you add childcare endorsement to your home owner’s insurance in case someone gets hurt and check your State regulations on the number of children you can care for without a license.
22. Photography
If you’re the family photographer and love taking pictures, you should look into Photography as it is a great side income that could turn into something more.
My sister recently purchased the Canon EOS Rebel T6i Body, and she takes AMAZING pictures (she literally has NO experience at ALL), she also purchased the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens which is a KEY component of taking quality photos.
It is an investment that can pay off significantly.
How do I get started? Start taking pictures of any and everything, take classes and learn photoshop to polish off your photos and add quality finishes.
Related: See the top two apps to make money from your phone taking pictures here (no previous experience needed).
Post your best work on your social media networks and start your online portfolio on 500px (it’s Free!).
You can also:
- Contact your local real estate agents and offer your services to take professional pictures of their new listings
- License your photos through stock photography sites like iStock and Shutterstock
- Submit images to The Sun Magazine
- Offer your services for free to friends and family who want to take holiday, newborn, senior, weddings pictures, etc. If you do a good job, those same people could turn into paying customers
How much can I make?
- Wedding Photography -$700 – $3,500+
- Senior Portrait Photography – $100-$300 a session
- Small local businesses – $25 – $200 per image
23. Customer Service
Customer service positions typically provide product or service information. It is a growing trend to hire customer service reps remotely.
You will be required to become well informed of the company that you will choose to work for and will need to be prepared to efficiently answer the questions that will come your way.
This is for the moms that have help or kids are in school during the day.
How do I get started? Normally these positions only require a High School diploma, but some companies want you to have previous customer service experience. Consider applying to the companies below.
How much can I make? The pay ranges from $10-$21 an hour per Glassdoor.com with a rating of 4/5 star rating or higher:
24. Clean Houses
If you can get someone to watch your kids two days per week you should consider cleaning houses. This job is very flexible as you decide which hours work best for you and it doesn’t cost much to get started.
I have a great article on how to start a cleaning business from someone who does this today. He’s not a mom but he did this to take care of his family part-time and now helps moms start their own business doing this.
How do I get started? Check out my article on all the information you need to get started.
How much can I make? Ken was earning $1,000 per week and shows you how to do the same part-time.
25. Do Laundry
Yes, that’s right, Laundry. You can make up to $500 a WEEK doing it. It’s an ongoing chore that we all do, BUT for some, who don’t have the time but do have the money, outsourcing is the new normal.
See how you can make money doing laundry.
Bonus Tips!
Sign up for Research Studies – Up to $400 per study
You can make quick easy money by participating in research studies. Below are the best-paid companies to sign up for
- Respondent – $50-$400
- User Interviews – $50 – $100 per study
Take paid online surveys (Up to $50-$100 or more each month)
I never wanted to be that person to stay home and take surveys BUT when you need extra money, why not?
Share your opinion to help brands deliver better products and services and get paid in the form of gift cards or through PayPal. I recommend signing up for Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, and PrizeRebel.
The more Survey websites you sign up for, the more you’ll earn.
Tip: Open a separate email account solely for surveys. You’ll start to get inundated with emails and it will be more manageable in a different account.
Use Upwork
I have found many freelance projects on Upwork. I sift through the available work options to see which project suits me the best.
I only apply to the jobs I KNOW I can do well because after the project is over its important that I get a good review so I can continue to get more jobs.
I suggest the following when applying to jobs on Upwork:
- Focus on the projects with only 5-10 proposals or less submitted (less competition)
- Check that the client has the “blue verified payment check” before applying
- When you see a job that fits you, apply for it immediately!
- If you live in the U.S., make sure to check “U.S. Only.”
- If you are pitching your first job, try to offer your services for free for one week to ease the client’s mind since you have no references or reviews. If the client likes you move on with the “paid service” the following week. That’s how I won my first job, and the client still paid me for my first week.
For a full list of freelance services you can provide on Upwork click here.
Get Paid to Test Apps and Websites
Companies need feedback on the user experience of their websites, and they’ll pay you to get it. This is a fast and easy way to make money online.
Here are two reputable companies to sign up for:
- User Testing (up to $60 per test)
- UserFeel ($10 per test)
Get FREE Oil Changes, Car Repairs & Food as a Secret Shopper
I recently had a GREAT experience as a secret shopper at a restaurant with my family where I had to rate the food, staff, and cleanliness of the restaurant.
They actually required that I order coffee, two entrees, and Pie! I’m like, okay :-).
I did the survey on my phone while I was there so I wouldn’t forget anything. I took a picture of my receipt and they reimbursed me!
A full brunch for my family and I for FREE! They have way more opportunities for oil changes and car repairs which is AMAZING!
I’ll do this any day of the week. You can sign up here and see what opportunities are available in your area.
I’d love it if you used my referral id as the person who recommended you, it’s IN35543.
Earn $75 or more as an UpVoice Panelist
Get paid for the time you spend on Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, YouTube and more.
I did a full review of this site, and it’s literally one of the easiest ways to make money online. Currently only applicable to candidates in the United States.
Did you see any jobs that may work for you? If not, check out FlexJobs. With FlexJobs, you can access hand-screened remote, part-time, freelance, and flexible jobs—quick and easy! Use my code FLEXLIFE for 30% off.
The normal fee each month would be $14.95 a month but it’s less using my code. I’m not a fan of paying to find work but I get they have to get compensated somehow for hand-screening each job they post.
Once you find a job you can cancel and if you don’t think it’s worth it, you can request a refund…so there’s no real risk.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this list of stay at home mom job ideas that you can try out and experience the best of both worlds, to raise your kids and make money from home.
If you found this content helpful, please be sure to subscribe to our mailing list as we continue to find additional ways to make money from home and save.
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