With the advancement of cryptocurrencies, there has been a rise in the demand for digital wallets to store these currencies. While most exchanges and trading...Read More
The post 7 Best Ethereum Wallets of 2022 (Ranked and Compared) appeared first on Adam Enfroy.
Starting an online business has never been easier, which is one of the many reasons now is a great time to create your own company....Read More
The post The Ultimate List of Startup Statistics for 2022 appeared first on Adam Enfroy.
The process of starting an ecommerce business is becoming easier and more accessible. You can now create an online store in minutes with platforms like...Read More
The post The Ultimate List of Ecommerce Statistics for 2022 appeared first on Adam Enfroy.
Making the most of affiliate marketing programs is a great way to earn income as a website or blog owner. The process is simple at...Read More
The post The Ultimate List of Affiliate Marketing Statistics for 2022 appeared first on Adam Enfroy.
Knowing what’s working (and what’s not) is vital if you want to promote your products or services, make money on YouTube, or increase your brand...Read More
The post The Ultimate List of YouTube Statistics for 2022 appeared first on Adam Enfroy.
Branding a company over the long term can be difficult, as creating a successful branding campaign takes time, effort, and money. While personal branding and...Read More
The post The Ultimate List of Branding Statistics for 2022 appeared first on Adam Enfroy.
The post Sites Like MTurk to Explore appeared first on Millennial Money.
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a popular crowdsourcing website that businesses use to outsource tasks.
MTurk — which operates as part of Amazon Web Services (AWS) — will pay you for completing a wide variety of small jobs. Some examples include tagging objects in images to improve search and advertising targeting, helping companies select the best pictures for online advertisements, and classifying objects in satellite imagery, among other things.
On MTurk, requesters can choose how much they want to pay. The average pay for MTurk is $11 per hour. However, some jobs pay far less — so make sure to figure out how much a gig pays before signing up.
While MTurk is a popular destination for side hustlers, there are many other sites to explore if you’re looking to make money online.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best MTurk alternatives to explore.
Clickworker is an app that lets you earn extra money for doing random small tasks.
For example, you can use Clickworker to make money writing product descriptions, categorizing website data, editing and proofreading, researching, taking surveys, and testing apps, to name just a few examples.
To get started, create an account at Clickworker.com and complete the short assessments. If you pass, you’ll receive access to immediate paying opportunities. The company pays out on a weekly and monthly basis.
The app also provides 24/7 support from the Clickworker community if you run into any trouble.
Microworkers is another crowdsourcing site where you can make money completing small tasks like data tagging, data mining, transcription, comparing content, and taking surveys.
The site makes it very easy to understand what a job entails before you start. Each task displays a set of instructions, the time necessary to complete it, and the amount you get for finishing the job.
By completing small tasks, you can boost your satisfaction rating and get more jobs. Once you reach the company’s minimum withdrawal amount of $9, you can request payment with a Skrill, Dwolla, or PayPal account.
RapidWorkers is a micro jobs platform that connects businesses with remote workers.
To start, register for RapidWorkers and browse the list of open jobs. When you see one that looks good, simply sign up and complete the simple task. For example, the site might ask you to upload photos to a site, fill out a form, or follow someone on social media.
After you complete a task, submit proof of the work and the company will issue payment. Once you collect $8 worth of earnings, you can cash out and receive money via PayPal.
Swagbucks is the granddaddy of survey sites. It offers the opportunity to make money by completing simple tasks like watching videos, taking surveys, playing games, searching the internet, and participating in focus groups. The company also offers cashback rewards for online shopping.
When working with Swagbucks, you can collect either gift cards or PayPal rewards. The site lets you withdraw your earnings once you rack up at least $25.
InboxDollars is very similar to Swagbucks. In fact, it’s owned by the same market research company (Prodege).
The platform offers access to paid tasks like watching videos and taking online surveys. You can also earn cash back by shopping at partner retailers.
InboxDollars is a legit survey site that pays in actual cash instead of points or gift cards. However, the minimum payout of $30 is a bit higher than Swagbucks, which is something to keep in mind as it will most likely take a few weeks to build up to that amount.
Crowdtap is a market research portal that rewards members for answering surveys, testing products, and participating in online discussions. The site issues points for completing tasks, which can be redeemed for gift cards to leading online retailers.
Most tasks on Crowdtap don’t take long to complete, and they are very simple to perform. The site is also very easy to navigate. Crowdtap lets you cash out once you collect at least 1,000 points.
TaskRabbit is perfect for people who like doing physical jobs. By signing up for TaskRabbit, you can make money as a Tasker by taking on local assignments — like painting, repairing fences, raking leaves, and shoveling snow.
Unlike most other online job sites, TaskRabbit brings you out into the real world. So if you like getting out and interacting with people face-to-face, this site is worth looking into.
The amount you make on TaskRabbit varies depending on the job. Once you complete a task, the client has to approve the work. When that happens, the payment goes through TaskRabbit. To cash out, you can use PayPal or request a check from TaskRabbit.
When you do a good job, you’ll earn positive ratings, making it easier to land future gigs.
Best of all, TaskRabbit doesn’t charge any fees to Taskers.
Craigslist is another excellent option for finding micro tasks. People post all kinds of jobs on this online marketplace, ranging from freelance graphic design to helping with yard work.
As a public message board, you’ll have to work privately with individuals when completing jobs and collecting money through Craigslist.
That being the case, it’s important to watch out for scams. As a best practice, avoid giving personal information whenever you’re collecting money. You’re probably best off collecting cash in person or using a service like PayPal to protect your identity.
OneSpace is a one-stop shop for freelancing. This site makes it easy to submit work, receive feedback, and collect payments.
The company pays users daily — which is really sweet, if you ask me. Also, there are multiple ways to earn income on the site, including copywriting and editing, performing product research, and doing data entry tasks.
OneSpace is highly flexible, and you can work on your own schedule. This can be a great way to collect experience and boost your skills for your resume.
Upwork is a massive online platform where you can find freelance jobs.
Just keep in mind that Upwork charges a commission for any work you do. The company takes 20% for the first $500 you bill, 10% for invoices between $500.01 and $10,000, and 5% for anything on top of that.
Fiverr is another MTurk alternative for finding freelance gigs. The site operates similarly to Upwork. You can build a profile and find jobs that match your skills and experience.
Fiverr takes a 20% cut on anything that you bring in — in perpetuity. As long as you are comfortable handing over a commission, Fiverr can be an awesome way to find random online jobs.
My two cents: Build up your experience and resume using hubs like Fiverr and Upwork and then go out and land your own clients.
The Nielsen Computer and Mobile Panel is a market research program that rewards you for using your own computers and mobile devices.
Simply sign up for the service and allow Nielsen to monitor your browsing habits. In exchange, you can receive up to $50 in points for gift cards, a monthly $10,000 sweepstakes entry, and instant win game tokens.
If you’re looking to make some extra cash on the side, why not give Nielsen a whirl?
i-Say provides rewards in exchange for consumer surveys.
By signing up and providing opinions about brands, you can receive points and redeem them for things like food items, donations, Amazon gift cards, and Visa prepaid cards.
The company also offers product testing opportunities. If you’re the kind of person who likes trying new gadgets and gizmos, you might want to check i-Say out.
If you love to take surveys, Surveytime is another viable option.
This site provides instant $1 rewards for each survey you complete. Users can redeem $1 rewards on sites like Amazon, PayPal, Target, and Decathlon.
ShortTask is an online task site that pays members to work from home. For example, you can get paid for doing online research, performing data entry, and doing design jobs.
Just like with the other task sites, ShortTask offers a range of paying gigs. Once you collect $10 worth of rewards, you can cash out via PayPal.
Designhill is an online graphics and logo design marketplace.
As a service provider, you can make money by creating Y-shirt designs, logos, and websites. If you’re a talented graphic designer, I recommend signing up to see if there are any worthwhile gigs.
Appen recently purchased micro task site Figure-Eight, which was formerly known as Crowdflower.
Using Appen, you can get paid to complete micro-tasks like transcription and freelancing assignments. The company issues payments monthly via PayPal or Payoneer.
Last but not least, there’s JobBoy, which makes it easy to find and complete micro jobs. Just like the other micro task sites in this post, you can make money on JobBoy by completing various online tasks (e.g., doing product reviews and commenting on social media posts).
As soon as you collect $10 worth of earnings, you can withdraw your earnings and receive payment within 48 hours.
Micro jobs pay people small amounts of money to complete various tasks. Some jobs are online and some jobs are offline. So depending on what you’re interested in, you should be able to find something you enjoy doing.
These jobs usually don’t take long to complete and are relatively simple to execute. In some cases, you may need special skills, while other jobs are more general. Just be sure to read the fine print before signing up.
Learn More:
Unfortunately, most of the sites listed in this piece don’t pay a whole lot of money.
To maximize your earnings, one trick is to work across multiple platforms and minimize the amount of time it takes you to complete each task.
The more jobs you take on, the more money you can collect. Just don’t expect large payouts.
Amazon MTurk is a legit place to find micro jobs. However, it isn’t the only site that pays workers to complete tasks. Other sites like JobBoy and Appen are also very handy.
If you want to maximize your revenue working micro jobs, it pays to distribute your time across multiple sites. This way, you can increase your earning potential and find interesting opportunities that you actually enjoy doing.
Skrill is a site that you can use for transferring money. The service facilitates instant, secure payments, making it a great way to collect money when working online. All you need is an email address to collect money, just as you would with services like Zelle and PayPal.
As you can see, there are tons of ways to make money online in your free time — and if you have an Android or iOS device, you can start earning as soon as today.
And while working micro jobs won’t quite equate to a full-time salary, your earnings will add up over time. After all, the amount of money you make depends on the types of jobs you take on and how much you’re willing to work.
It might not be glamorous, but hustling micro tasks can help you stack cash and reach financial freedom faster.
Whatever you do, never forget how every dollar counts on your journey toward financial independence.
The post Sites Like MTurk to Explore appeared first on Millennial Money.
Telemedicine Software is one of the essential tools in the medical industry. Telemedicine provides various benefits and is very useful in many aspects, such as...Read More
The post 7 Best Telemedicine Software of 2022 (Ranked and Reviewed) appeared first on Adam Enfroy.
The post How Much Do Realtors Make? appeared first on Millennial Money.
A growing number of people are looking into becoming Realtors with the hopes of cashing in on the rising home prices of today’s real estate market.
But how much do Realtors make? Keep reading to find out how much you can expect to earn as a real estate agent.
To understand how much a Realtor makes, you first have to know the difference between a Realtor and a real estate agent.
In short, a Realtor is a trademarked term that refers to someone who is a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Not all real estate agents are Realtors. Further, the term Realtor applies to a wide variety of jobs like property managers, appraisers, and counselors. So you don’t have to actually broker deals to be a member of the NAR.
About half of the real estate agents in the U.S. are certified Realtors and abide by a Code of Ethics. This forces them to uphold a set of standards and 17 professional articles that govern how they’re allowed to act.
According to Indeed, Realtors now make an average income of $84,074. However, pay typically varies year to year because it’s based heavily on performance and commissions. So if you have a great year in real estate and sell some million-dollar properties, you can significantly increase your earnings.
Furthermore, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average real estate agent salary is around $49,000.
As you can see, the earning potential varies widely. It all comes down to how hard you work, your personality, your ability to close deals, and luck. Sometimes, deals will fall in your lap from referrals, while other times, you have to really push to get them done.
Home buyers and sellers can be difficult to work with. During your first year after getting a real estate license, you might not earn much, especially if you treat real estate as a part-time job.
Real estate sales is not easy, and new agents often struggle to make a livable annual salary.
Total earnings also depend on the arrangement that a real estate agent has with their broker. Commissions are split between the seller’s agent and broker and the buyer’s agent and broker.
Additional benefits may come in several different areas. For example, Realtors may receive cell phone reimbursement, health insurance, a stock purchase plan, gym memberships, professional development assistance, and paid time off.
Realtors are also often allowed to work from home, saving money on gas and travel. This is a common benefit in the post-COVID economy.
It’s important to understand that as a Realtor you’re required to work either as a broker or with one.
Generally speaking, you can operate as an independent Realtor, which could mean higher commissions and more freedoms. However, this requires getting certified as an official broker and obtaining a license.
The more common approach is to work on behalf of a certified broker for either a small firm or a large organization.
Both options have pros and cons. Working with a smaller broker can be more flexible, but you won’t have access to the same resources that large firms can provide.
Smaller firms also tend to be less organized and efficient in their processes. That can create problems during the fast-paced real estate process, when communication needs to happen quickly.
Working with a firm that doesn’t have its act together can slow you down and lead to lower commissions.
On the other hand, working with large national firms can be more restrictive, as you may need to follow specific policies even when they work against your interest.
Another important thing to consider is, if you work for a brokerage firm, you have to be exclusive to that firm. You can’t get paid directly or go off and close deals on your own as an independent contractor.
Realtors are responsible for forming an agreement with their broker regarding real estate commission.
Most of the time, the commission is an even 50/50 split. However, highly talented and sought-after salespeople may be inclined to ask for more, depending on their ability and experience. At the same time, newer Realtors may have a hard time asking for an even split or more.
In many ways, success depends on how you deal with the broker. Don’t be afraid to command top dollar if you’re a successful Realtor or real estate agent.
Remember that real estate is not for the timid. Ask for what you deserve, and don’t be afraid to shop around and compare different brokers if you don’t like the total commission package that you’re offered.
It’s also important to be careful about signing any exclusive deals with a real estate brokerage firm unless you’re completely comfortable with the arrangement. Consider having an attorney look over the agreement and try to write in an exit plan so that you can terminate the agreement if you have to.
As for the payment itself, this will be outlined in the listing agreement. This is essentially a contract between the listing broker and seller that outlines the exact terms of the real estate transaction.
The broker has the right to negotiate the commission. In most cases, commissions run in the 4% to 6% range, although this is not always the case. The commission is usually baked into the asking price and either paid at the time of closing or paid over time through monthly payments.
The average real estate agent or Realtor won’t get anywhere near full price on the commission of a property, even when agents work hard and have years of experience.
Instead, you get a commission based on a small percentage of what the listing broker gets. For example, suppose a house sells for a sales price of $150,000 and the agent gets a commission rate of 5%. That would amount to $7,500.
If the buyer’s agent and listing broker split the commission, that would amount to just $3,750. From there, the broker and listing agent would split the money based on their arrangement. So even under an optimal 50/50 commission split, the Realtor walks away with only about $1,875 before taxes.
As you can see, you have to work very hard in real estate to make a substantial amount of money. That’s why real estate agents typically go after the best properties in the most profitable areas. If you get hung up selling condos and houses in low-value neighborhoods, you’re not going to make a lot of money — especially if you work with a broker that takes 50% or more of each deal you bring in.
That said, if you’re serious about making money in real estate, consider going through the certification process and becoming your own broker to cut out the middleman. Of course, this might take time, and you probably also want to learn the game by working with a broker first. But in the long run, it’s a better way to go.
Each state has its own process for becoming a certified real estate broker.
For example, the state of Florida requires brokers to complete a 72-hour Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC)-approved pre-licensing course, submit an application fee and fingerprints to the state, take and pass the Florida Real Estate Broker Exam with a grade of 75 or higher, activate the license, and then complete a 60-hour FREC-approved post-licensing course.
Check with your individual state to see how it compares and whether the process makes sense. For example, states like Texas, California, New York, and Arkansas all have different rules.
But becoming a broker could be a good long-term decision if you have the resources and connections to pull it off.
Learn More:
A listing agent is a real estate agent who represents the seller of a home. This person works for the seller, as well as a broker. In some cases, the listing agent may also be a certified broker.
No form of investing is truly secure. However, real estate is generally considered a pretty secure form of investing, compared to stocks and non-traditional assets.
Remember that there’s a big difference between selling real estate and investing in real estate. Working as a real estate agent is not the same as putting money into properties. This is an entirely different hustle.
It’s not a matter of saying that one type of real estate is better than another. Both markets have pros and cons that Realtors should be aware of. Spend some time researching both markets before getting involved in commercial or residential real estate.
Working as a real estate agent or Realtor can be a stressful undertaking. It involves putting in long hours, racking up a lot of miles on your car, and dealing with all types of buyers and sellers. You also need to have strong people skills, tenacity, and expert negotiation capabilities.
Yet for those who can swing it, a real estate career can be highly rewarding. If you’re good at it, you can earn an above-average salary as a real estate agent. You can also potentially find real estate investment deals before others do and reinvest your profits in those — further adding to your net worth.
Here’s to finding a real estate career that fits your financial and lifestyle goals.
The post How Much Do Realtors Make? appeared first on Millennial Money.
Want to go directly to the best coaching platforms? Check out Thinkific and Acuity Scheduling. Coaching clients and getting them the results they want is...Read More
The post 7 Best Coaching Platforms of 2022 (Ultimate Guide) appeared first on Adam Enfroy.
Want to jump straight to the best employee training software right now? My picks are Thinkific and AbsorbLMS. One thing that employers seem to dislike...Read More
The post 7 Best Employee Training Software of 2022 (Ranked and Reviewed) appeared first on Adam Enfroy.
The post How to Buy Royalties: Invest in an Interesting Alternative Asset appeared first on Millennial Money.
If you’re serious about reaching financial independence, creating a passive income stream has to be on your to-do list.
In the words of author H. W. Charles, the key is to work extremely hard for a short period, create abundant wealth, and then make more money through wise investments that generate passive income for life.
There are a few ways you can go about generating passive income — and one of the most interesting is to buy royalties.
Keep reading to learn what royalty investing entails, how it works, and why you should consider it on the road to financial freedom.
Royalties are a popular type of alternative investment. When you invest in a royalty, you receive compensation for the ongoing use or ownership of a physical or intellectual asset — like a song or a product.
During a royalty negotiation, both parties agree to terms and lay them out in an official licensing agreement. The royalty rate that you receive is typically expressed either as a payment per unit or as a percentage of sales for a specific period — up to and including “in perpetuity.”
Property owners often decide to sell royalties because they need funding. For example, a songwriter, band, or record label may sell royalties to their music to fund a new personal or business-related project.
In another example, someone might sell a piece of intellectual property to turn an idea like a new invention into liquid capital. The person may have a great idea but lack the means to turn it into a viable product.
As a seasoned investor, you’d be wise to keep your eye out for royalty opportunities. If you come across a surefire money-maker, it could be worth providing funding, becoming a rightsholder, and potentially receiving royalty income payouts.
But as you can imagine, royalty investing isn’t for the faint of heart.
Next, let’s go over the different categories of royalties that you can find.
Learn More:
There are several types of royalties that you can invest in, including copyrighted works, natural resources, and businesses.
Copyright royalties can include items like books, works of art, and music.
For example, you might invest in a new or classic song from Eminem or Rihanna or a book from a leading author like John Grisham. Another option would be to buy the rights to a classic film like Trading Places starring Eddie Murphy — one of my faves!
Performance royalties are fees that users pay for the right to play someone else’s music in a public environment.
For example, bars and restaurants, streaming services like Spotify, and radio stations all commonly pay performance royalties to trending artists.
A mechanical royalty is a fee specifically for reproducing a musical composition. Mechanical royalties can apply to physical, digital, download-to-own, and streaming services.
Musicians often sell their music in printed sheets to publishers for reproduction. In exchange, publishers pay print music royalties for the right to sell their material in physical or digital form.
Content producers pay synch royalties when using copyrighted music in audiovisual productions like movies, advertisements, and television shows.
Extractors often pay property owners for the right to take natural resources from their property.
For example, a property owner sitting on a lucrative piece of land might want to make money selling oil and gas royalty licenses to buyers for an agreed-upon period of time. In this case, an extractor would pay the owner for mineral royalty rights.
By securing mineral rights, you can legally remove, process, and profit from someone else’s raw materials.
Inventors commonly make their money by patenting products and then creating licensing agreements that allow other people to use their models.
As an investor, you can buy patent royalties and invest in intellectual property.
Business owners often pay companies a fee for the right to open a franchise under their name. This type of royalty is common in the fast-food industry — like McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A.
Now that you have a better idea of what royalties are, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you might want to invest in them.
Royalty streams can be an effective way to put steady money in your pocket without having to go through the trouble of producing something of value — like a song or book — or starting up a restaurant from scratch.
For example, you might structure a music royalty in a way that enables you to get a commission every time someone downloads a song or plays one in a bar. This strategy allows you to use other peoples’ hard work, ideas, and assets as a way to generate income for yourself.
Of course, if you’re a talented musician, you can also sell the rights to a new song you write and produce and receive steady payments for your work without having to play gigs every night.
Another great reason to invest in royalties is you can potentially generate much stronger returns on your investments.
For example, music catalogs often have royalty investments that promote yields of 10% or more.
Most investors start by putting money into the stock market and investing in equities, bonds, ETFs, and funds. But once you establish yourself as an investor and build a foundational portfolio, it’s a good idea to branch out and explore some different types of alternative assets.
Royalty assets provide a great way to diversify your portfolio and shield yourself from market volatility. They also give you exposure to different types of investments that can lead to stronger profits.
Investing in royalties may seem complicated at first. But truth be told, it actually has a surprisingly low barrier to entry.
Use the following steps to start investing in royalties and increasing your earnings.
All investments carry some amount of risk, and royalties are far from an exception. So before you do anything, make sure you can afford to take on risk in your portfolio.
For example, music, art, and entertainment all carry valuation risk. In other words, you may overpay for someone else’s property. There’s also the threat of counterparty risk. That being the case, you must do your due diligence and ensure that the person selling an asset owns what they’re hawking.
Additional factors to consider include inflation, changing regulatory policies, and technological innovation — all of which can impact the value of an asset. There are simply no guarantees that your royalty interests will pan out.
This is especially important to consider when buying property like a patent or business. Just because something looks good on paper — or maybe you have even connected with it emotionally — doesn’t mean it will pan out and turn into a viable or secure source of revenue.
Ready to move forward? The next step is to figure out what type of royalty you want to invest in.
My advice is to keep it simple. As with any investment, focus your resources and energy around something you understand.
For example, if you are looking for passive long-term growth and you have above-average knowledge of fine art, then investing in art and entertainment royalties could be the way to go.
If you’re a foodie and have some restaurant experience, you may want to franchise a fast-food business. If you’re a tech guru or inventor, you could invest in someone’s intellectual property.
Whatever you decide, figure out a direction that you’re comfortable with and excited about and proceed from there.
To buy royalties, you typically have to go through an online exchange.
Here are some of the top online marketplaces to check out if you’re interested in investing in this space.
Royalty Flow is primarily for buying and selling entertainment royalties. The site provides access to a full catalog of royalties from downloads, album sales, and streamlining sales.
Royalty Exchange is a leading royalty marketplace for buyers and sellers. Here you can buy royalties in music, film, books, oil, and pharmaceutical companies.
SongVest is another app that makes it easy to buy and sell royalties. This platform deals solely with music.
This is a great place to invest in new and old albums in a way that is convenient and secure.
Once you have an idea of the type of royalty that you want to purchase, the next step is to hunker down and research the targeted asset.
For example, you might find a hit song that you think has long-term playability. But before you put money into it, you should do some market research and try to get a sense of how solid the artist is. During this process, it pays to look into the musician’s reputation, popularity, and customer base.
Try and get a sense of who would play the artist’s music and when. Does the artist have a solid following on social media?
Keep in mind that a song that is wildly popular one minute could easily disappear from the music charts the next minute, reducing its potential to generate revenue.
The main takeaway here is to treat a royalty like any serious investment. Avoid making emotional decisions and make sure the long-term potential looks promising before putting any money into it.
A life of rights document gives you the right to collect royalties from an asset during the duration of the specified agreement. It’s one of the most critical pieces of documentation that you can collect when buying royalties — and something you should carefully scour before signing.
It largely depends on the type of royalty you’re considering. Some royalties can be a great investment, while others can turn out to be complete disasters.
Personally, I prefer to invest in the stock market. But every investor has different goals and preferences.
You can secure most royalties through an online marketplace like Royalty Flow or Royalty Exchange. These apps make the royalty-buying process easy and provide a wealth of insights to help you make informed decisions.
One of the secrets to making money is to always keep your ears and eyes open for new investment opportunities. Expanding into a different asset class like royalties can boost your income stream and help diversify your portfolio.
However, getting to the point where you can collect royalty payments isn’t easy, and you need to be aware of the risks that come with this type of investment.
Putting money into the music industry or film industry can lead to big gains, but it can also be pretty risky if you don’t know what you’re doing — especially if you invest a lot of money.
The good news is that you could make a small fortune if you play your cards right. But if you play the wrong hand, you could seriously set yourself back financially.
My two cents: Don’t consider royalty investing until you already have a well-rounded, six-figure stock portfolio built up, plus six months’ worth of expenses stashed away in cash.
At the end of the day, you need to remember that there are no shortcuts to prosperity. But if you are willing to hustle and make smart financial decisions, anything is possible.
Here’s to making the smartest decisions on your journey to financial freedom!
The post How to Buy Royalties: Invest in an Interesting Alternative Asset appeared first on Millennial Money.
Running a call center can be a daunting task. There are so many different moving parts it’s hard to keep track of them all. From...Read More
The post 7 Best Call Tracking Software Apps of 2022 (Ranked) appeared first on Adam Enfroy.
If your business revolves around providing customer service away from your office or workshop, you need field service management software. This is a specialized type...Read More
The post 7 Best Field Service Management Software of 2022 (Ranked) appeared first on Adam Enfroy.
The post How to Make Money Singing appeared first on Millennial Money.
If we’re being perfectly honest, I love singing karaoke. But does that mean I can make a career out of singing? No.
That said, if you have a golden voice, why not make some money with it?
In this post, I’m going to cover the top ways to make money singing. From street performing to teaching and everything in between, if there’s a way to get paid using your voice, you’ll learn about it here.
Here’s a list of my favorite ways to bring in extra money using your voice.
Take a walk through any large city, and you’re bound to find someone playing an instrument or singing and collecting a fair amount of cash.
The official term for this is busking—and it’s a fun way to gain free exposure and collect a few bucks in the process.
Busking is illegal in many places, so make sure to check the local rules in your area before getting out there. With that said, if you tend to see performers playing regularly—without getting hassled by the police—it’s probably safe for you to test the waters.
If you’re interested in the idea, be strategic about where you set up. Avoid busking on private property or in front of a business that might not want you there. The last thing you want to do is scare potential customers away. At the same time, if you’re really good, you could potentially draw people in.
As a tip, busking is all about entertaining the public. It’s perfectly fine to mix in some original music, but people generally tip more when they hear cover songs they are familiar with.
When you play music that others want to hear, they may even want to join in and sing with you. Go along with it and show them a good time. It may lead to more tips.
Make fun of me all you want, but one of my favorite songs is “Give Me a Break,” the jingle that still has people everywhere thinking about Kit Kat bars. The same goes for hits like Subway’s “Five Dollar Footlong” and Chili’s “I Want My Baby Back.”
If you have a professional-grade singing voice, you can work for an ad agency as a singer and help companies bring their jingles to life. Once you break into the music business, other opportunities will inevitably pop up.
You can also freelance and create custom songs, ads, and tutorials for your clients. Offer your services on sites like Fiverr or Upwork to find these types of gigs.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Corporate events are an awesome side hustle for singers.
These events can range in size and scope, from cocktail hours to networking events and seasonal parties.
Companies will often pay thousands of dollars to entertain their guests, and so this can be a great way to make money, form business connections, and land recurring jobs.
YouTube is a potential gold mine for emerging vocalists. It’s your digital stage to the world. You can instantly reach global audiences. And the best part is that it’s completely free.
If you have an amazing voice and focus on producing the right type of content, you could potentially go viral.
The only thing you need to be aware of is that YouTube has millions of users trying to make it in the music industry. That being the case, you have to put your best foot forward if you want people to notice you.
Learn how much money Youtubers can make here.
The most traditional way to make money singing is to form a band. Once your band is up to speed, contact your local bars and restaurants to find gigs. You can also make money playing house concerts and local community events.
If you can sing the blues, rock, jazz, country, reggae, pop, or hip hop, you should have no trouble finding local gigs. This is especially true in the post-COVID economy, where many local businesses are looking for musical entertainment to attract customers.
The only real downside of playing in a band is that you will have more expenses and less revenue because you have to share the money you bring in with everyone else.
Eventually, your band may get to the point where it puts out an album. This can potentially lead to recurring revenue streams, a record label, and a job traveling around making music.
Churches of all faiths depend on music for their services. As it turns out, many of them pay professional singers to enhance the worship experience.
In most cases, you don’t even have to be religious to join a choir. As long as you can sing well, read music, and show up on time to events, church performances can be a solid side hustle.
If you’re considering launching a full-time music career, becoming a music teacher could be one of the best decisions you can make.
Teaching music full-time will lead to steady money, with the average salary for a full-time music teacher hovering around $44,000. In addition to a decent salary, most music teachers also typically enjoy excellent benefits and a pension.
But to make it in this line of work, you have to be comfortable working with young people and planning the curriculum. If you’re great with kids and love to teach, this could be your calling.
And best of all, you can make extra money teaching lessons and performing your own gigs on the side. Two awesome online teaching platforms that I have personally used are TakeLessons and LessonFace.
Learn More:
Who hasn’t dreamed of performing on “American Idol?”
These shows typically offer massive cash prizes. They also provide national exposure and the chance to ink a record deal.
Most of the time, anyone can show up for tryouts. For example, there are currently open auditions for “America’s Got Talent.” So, if you like to sing and you aren’t camera shy, this could be your ticket to fame and success.
Not that long ago, you had to literally print out CDs to sell your music. But today, the process is much simpler. All you have to do is make a track using a microphone and your computer and post it on SoundCloud.
SoundCloud is an artist-first platform with a global community of independent musicians and listeners. Altogether there are over 250 million tracks on SoundCloud, from more than 30 million artists across 190 countries.
SoundCloud can serve as a direct launchpad into the music industry. Take the example of Billie Eilish, whose song Ocean Eyes went viral on the platform back in 2016. The exposure from SoundCloud helped turn Billie Eilish into a Grammy-winning artist with an international fan base.
Who knows? Maybe the same thing could happen to you.
Patreon is a content creation platform that enables musicians to earn income from fans. As a content creator, you will have to pay a 5% fee on the cash you earn, which is not the worst deal in the world.
The trick on Patreon is to maximize your fan base, encourage downloads, and have each fan give you a small amount of money. With the right approach, you could earn some decent cash this way.
Don’t worry: Artists on Patreon retain full control over content and can post tracks on their own schedule.
Last but not least, if you’re into acting, dancing, and singing, you might want to look into becoming an actor or voice-over artist.
If you pursue this line of work, there are a number of ways you can make money—including performing in hits on Broadway, filming musicals in Hollywood, or even doing voice-over work for animated shows and films.
While this is an incredibly competitive field to be in, you could make a lot of money while showcasing your singing talents to a wide audience. You never know when you might become the next biggest thing on the stage or silver screen.
As you can see, there’s no shortage of ways to make money singing today. It’s just a matter of pursuing the right one for you.
With that in mind, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you consider your musical future.
Let’s be honest: It’s going to be difficult to earn money singing if you’re not that good at it.
To test the waters, put together some samples and ask a friend to listen to you sing. If people are telling you that your voice is one in a million, you should find a way to gain more exposure as quickly as possible.
On the other hand, if the windows shatter and cats start howling when you sing, it may be a sign that you need some training.
I believe anyone can sing and be successful with enough practice and patience. But it helps to understand your current ability so that you can save time and maximize your earning potential.
Musicians often scour at the idea of selling out and working with companies. However, when you’re just starting, you have to go where the money is.
My advice is to take paid gigs wherever you can find them. If a company is willing to pay you money for your music or singing skills, you are very lucky to have that opportunity and should jump on it.
Even if it’s not the best-paying gig right now, it will likely lead to better-paying opportunities down the road.
Any serious musician knows that you need to regularly practice your craft if you want to stay good at it. Paying for lessons is an easy way to ensure that you’re using your voice to the best of its ability.
You don’t have to be Frank Sinatra. But if you can pull off “New York, New York” with your eyes closed, you’re probably on the right track.
It depends on your natural ability, your ability to make your music, and your willingness to use social media to spread your name. When it boils down to it, anyone can make money online with a bit of effort and dedication.
The type of microphone you should use will vary depending on the music that you are making and your location. But generally, for home computer recording you can’t go wrong with a Blue Yeti Microphone, which currently goes for $99.99. This is a high-quality, multi-purpose microphone, and it’s available on Amazon, too.
The easiest way is to use your computer’s built-in recording software and microphone. But to achieve superior sound quality, you’ll want to buy sound recording software and a decent microphone.
GarageBand is an excellent program that you can use to record audio, as it comes with a range of easy-to-use functions and tools. Soundtrap by Spotify is another excellent recording program.
My advice is to explore these two options to see whether one of them catches your eye.
Yes. For example, ArtistShare is a site where trending musicians can post demos and receive funding for specific projects. It’s a viable way to gain exposure and gather funding for your creative endeavors.
Of course, you can also use the big platforms, like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, to finance your next music project (like an album). Just be ready to get creative with rewards.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t take much to start making extra cash with your own voice. After all, you bring your voice with you everywhere you go, so it’s easy to practice your singing and show up for gigs ready to work.
With a bit of luck, you could someday wind up on music streaming services like Pandora or iTunes, selling merch, and playing live shows in front of thousands of people. And along the way, you could potentially make a lot of money.
My advice is to participate in as many live performances as possible, post music online, and find freelance opportunities doing voice-over recordings and commercials. You may also want to try and connect with music producers who can open new doors for you and help you develop your career.
Singing is like everything else worthwhile in life: The more you do it, the better you’ll get, and the more you can earn.
Here’s to accelerating your journey to financial freedom—while belting out some tunes along the way.
The post How to Make Money Singing appeared first on Millennial Money.
The post The Best Real Estate Side Hustles for Extra Income appeared first on Millennial Money.
Whether you’re already a real estate agent or just looking for a side job in the industry, you’ll be glad to know there are plenty of real estate side hustles to choose from.
In this article, you’ll learn about some of the best side hustles for active and passive income in the real estate industry. None of them require a real estate license.
When considering ways to make extra cash in the field of real estate, it’s not always necessary to be a real estate agent.
There are plenty of things you can do that are related to the industry of real estate but don’t require a real estate license.
However, if you’re a real estate agent wanting to supplement your income while waiting for the next sale, there are several side hustles you might feel right at home with.
If you’re not an agent but would like to test the waters with a side job close to the real estate industry, here are some ideas that can put cash in your pocket and introduce you to the world of real estate.
This is an excellent way to get some exposure to housing transactions. If you’re a professional photographer, or an amateur with a good eye, providing photography services to real estate agents could be a great fit.
Every property that’s being offered for sale needs photographs for online listings as well as paper flyers. If you can photograph houses in your spare time, this can be a very steady money maker.
Another great side hustle in the real estate business is taking video of houses that are going on the market. Both interior and exterior videos — as well as aerial drone views — are in demand.
These days, due to the pandemic, most people like the option of a virtual house tour — not to mention the fact that it’s convenient.
So this is the perfect opportunity for a creative who likes video to make extra money. It’s also extremely flexible and can be done in your spare time.
If you love interior design and have a good eye for a clean, minimalistic look, you’d be perfect for a side job in house staging.
This is where a home seller clears out their home completely and a designer comes through with high-end furniture and art to give the home a polished look.
Staging a house usually happens before photographs are taken for the listing. Putting nice touches on a home and clearing the owner’s clutter makes it more appealing to buyers.
Whether you start a little business of your own or work for a staging company in your spare time, staging homes can be a really fun way to make money in real estate without being a realtor.
A notary public helps people sign legal documents by providing a licensed witness. Sometimes it’s hard to make time to search for a notary, so having one come to you is very convenient.
This can be done for extra money on the side when buyers or sellers need a notarized signature for their paperwork.
The great thing about becoming a mobile notary is that not all states require formal training. And it’s a relatively inexpensive side hustle to start.
Check with your local secretary of state to get the requirements for your particular location, and you’ll be in business in no time!
Every house that’s on the market has to be appraised. Meaning, it’s assigned a market value in the area in which it’s being sold. Becoming an appraiser can be a great real estate side hustle that doesn’t require a real estate license.
While this job takes some education and training, it can be a very rewarding way to make money on the side and be involved in real estate at the same time.
And since most home appraisers are self-employed, this could give you the flexibility you need to earn cash on the side of a regular job.
A home inspector thoroughly inspects houses before the final sale so buyers will know if there’s anything seriously wrong with its structure, inside systems, or basic safety.
Similar to a real estate appraiser, a home inspector must have some training and certifications in most states. When looking into this side hustle, read your state’s requirements carefully.
If you’re a real estate agent in between listings and would like some extra income, these side jobs are just for you. Since some are either directly or loosely related to your industry, you may not need much training before jumping in.
With rental properties being so popular, property management is definitely in demand. If you’ve been a real estate agent for a while, your expertise would make this a great fit.
There are many different types of properties that could potentially require someone to manage the day-to-day rental operations. From rental homes to duplexes, apartments, and even Airbnb rentals.
Having dependable property management is especially valuable to out-of-state homeowners or commercial rental property owners.
Becoming a real estate consultant can be a great source of side income for a real estate agent. There aren’t any clear-cut requirements for becoming a consultant unless you choose to work for an agency.
This type of consulting involves advising clients, who could be commercial buyers, real estate investors, or developers, about real estate market health, various transactions, advisable investments, and the like.
These days, it’s fairly common to see real estate agents doubling as loan officers or lenders. If you’re already in real estate, why not go for your lending license?
Also called a mortgage broker, a lender helps home buyers secure a mortgage so they can purchase their home.
Licensing requirements vary by state, but offering lending services on the side can certainly be a lucrative real estate side hustle. It can also be quite flexible if you’re working for yourself.
Staging houses, doing home photography for listings, and videography work can be great sources of flexible income for real estate agents as well.
In fact, if you have a strong creative side AND real estate experience, you’ll likely have no problem finding clients. After all, agents know the perfect angles for those photographs that can grab a buyer’s attention.
As for staging, most agents are well versed in the minimal, fresh, and roomy atmosphere most buyers expect when touring a prospective home.
The best thing about these creative side hustles is that you can offer them as a freelance worker. Just put together a portfolio of your work and start offering services.
An obvious side hustle choice for real estate professionals is buying fixer-uppers and restoring them to sell for a profit.
Some distinct advantages for agents who want to fix and flip:
This is essentially buying real estate with the purpose of dividing up the house or multifamily property into rental units while you live in another part of the dwelling for free.
The supplemental income you can earn with this practice can be substantial. One of the primary benefits, if you live in an in-demand area, is that your rental income can pay for your own housing.
When you’re short on time or already spread thin — but still need some extra cash flow — here are a few alternatives that don’t require as much hands-on involvement.
These include:
REIT investing is all about investing money in real estate trusts that own a variety of commercial properties that bring in steady profits.
A real estate investment trust is an entity that owns, finances, or rents out lucrative commercial real estate. These properties can include anything from shopping malls, entertainment venues, apartments buildings, and hundreds of others.
Investing in REITs can provide real earning potential if done wisely. These come in the form of stocks, mutual funds, and EFTs.
As a possible source of regular monthly income, REITs can be especially helpful since they’re required to pay out profits as dividends on a regular basis.
Learn More:
If you’re not up for purchasing your own rental property, or don’t have the upfront cash to put down on a mortgage, crowdfunding can be a great passive investment in real estate.
This is where you pool your money with other investors to fund commercial real estate projects and reap the rewards when they turn a profit.
There are many types of properties and projects to invest in — as well as rates of return and timelines for when you’ll get paid.
Real estate crowdfunding isn’t without risks, so be careful. Some projects never complete, and some real estate doesn’t appreciate as expected.
Direct lending is related to crowdfunding. would be If you have extra cash to invest and want to put it in real estate, you could go the direct lending route.
This entails working with a direct lending provider to find those who need funding. They do all the managing and finding clients for you. All you’d need to do is invest your money and hopefully watch it grow.
While not totally hands-off, vacation rentals like Airbnbs aren’t as involved as having a side job where you’re offering your services day in and day out.
Some benefits of Airbnb renting:
If you have a little extra space, but you’re more comfortable hosting inanimate objects than people, consider renting out storage space with Neighbor.
Learn More:
Whether your side hustle is related to real estate, or you’re looking for extra money as a real estate agent, there are many perks to having regular side income:
A real estate side hustle could be the perfect answer for:
The earning potential of any side hustle depends on many factors, such as the area you live in, the rates for your services, how many hours you dedicate, and which side job you choose.
Any of them have the potential to provide a nice steady side income. If you have little time, investing in real estate may prove to be very lucrative.
If you have time and money for training, home inspection or appraisal could reap some nice rewards as well. Loan officers can also make good commissions on mortgages they sell.
The first thing you’ll need to get started with a side hustle in or related to real estate would be time. Make sure you’re not already overextended in your primary job.
When you’re ready to move forward with a side job, check with your state for any necessary paperwork or licensing they require.
You may need to file information with your state if you plan to offer services as a self-employed contractor. Even if it’s part time.
Other things to consider are money and time for extra training, as well as any necessary equipment per your chosen service.
For example, notaries will need notary stamps and supplies, and home staging requires access to inventory for sprucing up a house that’s going on the market.
We’ve discussed many options for side jobs in real estate that don’t require much money. A few don’t really require any money.
If you’re already a real estate agent, you can offer consulting and advising services. This will likely require only your time.
For photographers or videographers who already own equipment, the only investment you’ll make is time when it comes to taking pictures and videos of real estate properties.
Real estate property management services are also mostly an investment of time. As is renting your home or property out on Airbnb or similar platforms.
Avoid biting off more than you can chew when considering a real estate side hustle. If you don’t have spare time, consider waiting until you do.
It’s possible you’d want to avoid spending any money on costly training programs if you’re not sure about a certain service.
Try asking a professional in that space (an appraiser, for example) to discuss their daily tasks. Or better yet, see if you can join them on a few jobs.
Also avoid jumping into real estate investing or real estate flipping until you’ve consulted experienced professionals who can guide you.
Side hustles aren’t for everyone. But if you’re in real estate — or are interested in learning more about the industry — a real estate side job may be just the thing to earn extra cash and discover a new passion.
The post The Best Real Estate Side Hustles for Extra Income appeared first on Millennial Money.
With an increase in the number of big data tools available on the market, along with more generated data every single day, more businesses are...Read More
The post 7 Best Machine Learning Software of 2022 (Ultimate Guide) appeared first on Adam Enfroy.
The post Best Side Hustles for Teachers appeared first on Millennial Money.
Teachers tend to love what they do — even if they don’t love their salaries. That’s why many teachers work a second job to make more money.
Whether you could use the extra income to help pay off your student loans or credit card debt or want to start saving for retirement, there are plenty of side hustles you can do during the school year or as a summer job.
In this post, we’ll look at some of the best side hustles for teachers… and anyone else who wants to earn extra money.
Some folks are content to use survey sites like Survey Junkie to earn gift cards or a few extra bucks here and there. But in this side hustle list, we’re going to focus on lucrative side hustle ideas that make the best use of your talents.
If you’re a teacher with wordsmith experience, freelance writing can be a great option for making money.
Companies are always looking for help building out content on their websites or social media accounts. And highly skilled writers can charge a high premium for freelance writing
And if you’re very knowledgeable about grammar and content structure, you might find editing to be a great side hustle for you.
Freelance writing and editing are popular teacher side hustle ideas because you can often do these jobs on your own time, from anywhere. You can write or edit on the weekend, after school, or even while you’re on vacation with your family.
A great way to start finding gigs as a freelance writer or editor is through online platforms like Fiverr or Upwork.
When I was getting my master’s degree in business administration, many of my adjunct professors were full-time school teachers who worked for the college part-time.
Being an adjunct professor is even easier today, because there are options to teach as an online course instructor. These jobs tend to pay quite well, and you can still enjoy your weekends and holidays off!
Check your local community college or university to see what part-time opportunities might be available to you.
If you’re great at getting other people organized (and let’s face it, that’s a large part of teaching!), becoming a virtual assistant could be the perfect side hustle for you.
Many small businesses are often looking for a virtual assistant. This usually entails doing odd jobs like answering emails and scheduling appointments.
Virtual assistants might also get hired to manage a company’s social media presence.
This is a great choice if you’re looking for a work-from-home job. However, note that you may be expected to work during normal business hours, when you may be teaching a class.
Teachers Pay Teachers is a platform that lets teachers sell their original lesson plans and classroom materials to other teachers and homeschool parents.
This is a great way to make passive income. Just upload your lesson plan, activity instructions, bulletin board designs, etc. — and get paid whenever someone makes a purchase. Because you’re selling digital files, there’s no need to ship anything.
During the summer months, why not continue doing what you love and teach summer school? Many public school systems and private schools offer classes year-round for students who need extra time in the classroom.
That sounds like a cheesy horror movie, right? But in reality, you can have a lot of fun working at a summer camp or other outdoor program.
Working at a YMCA summer camp, serving as a lifeguard, and leading kids into the wilderness with Outward Bound are popular summer jobs for teachers.
You could also consider becoming a local tour guide and teach visiting youngsters about what your area has to offer.
Learn More:
When I was in high school, many of the teachers taught sports throughout the year. The science teachers coached tennis and football. My English teacher also coached softball. A friend of mine’s father was a high-school administrator as well as a football coach.
There are plenty of online teaching jobs that you can look into. There are options for after-school tutoring, public and private online or offline tutoring. Just a quick Google search returns more than 471 million results for tutoring.
Often students and parents of students will seek out tutoring services for test preparation. Higher test scores can be a competitive advantage for college admissions as well as possible job opportunities. This means that parents or students may be willing to pay a premium to work on earning a higher test score.
Wealthofgeeks.com mentions 23 online tutoring services for $20 – $100+ per hour. Some tutoring jobs are English-specific, but other opportunities range from different subjects. The article suggests tutoring as a Kaplan Test Prep Instructor or using PrepNow.
Iliketodabble.com states that the average pay for tutoring is around $25 per hour but can be up to $7,500 per month.
On the other hand, you can become an online teacher with a platform such as Outschool. I know a number of teachers who use this site to make quite a lot of money doing what they love best.
But you have to hustle… the most successful online teachers are comfortable promoting themselves on social media.
A lot of people are earning extra money teaching English online. A few of the online services they use are VIPKid, EF Teach Online, Qkids, and others.
If you’d rather teach English in person, some churches and other neighborhood resources offer English as a second language classes.
These may be volunteer services, however. But there also may be opportunities to offer private ESL lessons to those who want more help.
Learn More:
Classful.com isn’t exactly a site for teachers to make extra money. It’s a fundraising site that lets you raise money to buy materials and cover other education costs.
Classful.com sends the funding directly to the teachers without imposing a waiting period like some other crowdfunding sites.
According to Adoptaclassroom.org’s June 2021 survey, on average, teachers spend $750 of their own money to buy school supplies for their students. And 30% spend $1,000 or more on school supplies each year.
By raising funds through Classful.com, you can keep more of your income in your pocket. In fact, it could end up as lucrative as any of the other side hustles mentioned in this article.
No matter which side hustle idea you decide to run with, there are plenty of ways for teachers to earn extra cash when not in the classroom. Teachers tend to have a variety of in-demand skills that clients and employers want.
When you’re not stressed out about money, you can give 110% to your students — after all, they’re why you decided to take up this profession!
The post Best Side Hustles for Teachers appeared first on Millennial Money.
