10 Ways to Make Money as a Stay at Home Mom (That Aren't MLMS!)
Between the feedings, the diaper changes, and trying to get your baby to enjoy tummy time, it can be tough to squeeze in a sliver of time for anything else as a stay-at-home mom. But, if you want to bring in some extra income for your family, there are remote jobs that you can do to make money from home. You're in the driver's seat, so you can make your own schedule and decide what kind of side hustle you're going to do to bring in extra money.
As you start thinking about what type of home jobs you may want to do, you should be aware that there are some schemes out there. They may come in the form of multi-level marketing gigs, but in reality, are pyramid schemes.
A multi-level marketing business (MLM) sells products or services through person-to-person sales. While you may make some money actually trying to sell the products, many of these businesses require you to recruit others to join. When they join you make a commission off of their sales. If a company will only pay you based on your recruits and their success, it's a pyramid scheme although they may present themselves as a multi-level marketing business. In these situations, you're often told you have to buy more products even before you sell the ones you have. This ends up actually costing you money without you making a penny.
It's important to be on the lookout for those types of scams because they can often prey on stay-at-home moms who are looking to make some extra cash.
The Best Jobs for Stay-at-Home Moms
There are some legitimate jobs out there as you try to figure out how to make money from home and set your own hours. Whether you're a SAHM or a stay-at-home dad, any of these home jobs may bring in more extra cash than you would think.
1. Start a Daycare or Offer Babysitter Services
Finding a trustworthy daycare or babysitting service can be tough, just ask any parent. But, if you have a network of friends who are always asking about babysitting or daycare, maybe you can be that provider.
A babysitter can make anywhere from $13-$18 an hour. That's per child! If you decide to take on just two children a week for 8 hours a day at $15 an hour, that's $1200 a week! You don't even have to take on that much, but that's just to give you an idea of the earning potential that's sitting right in your living room. You can still be home with your own child or children and make extra income for your family as a sitter. Plus, your little ones can have some playmates!
If you want to go the more professional childcare route and take on a full-fledged daycare at home, you'll have to go through the proper channels. This includes getting licensed as well as following any local regulations. Since you'll be taking on more kids, you will be making more money, but there's likely going to be more work involved. This may begin to look more like a full-time job. Consider whether you want that on your plate as a SAHM.
2. Transcriptionist
If you're looking for home jobs that give you a break from Sesame Street and changing diapers, don't worry there are plenty out there. A transcription job is just one of them. As a transcriptionist, you can set your own hours, even if that means working at 3 a.m.! That's one of the many perks! This job entails transcribing audio files. Once you get into a system, you view a database and choose the transcribing jobs that fit your ability and schedule. Transcriptionists can make an average of $15/hour.
3. Pet Sitting
While this may not be something you could do 24/7, offering pet sitting services can bring in extra cash if you're an animal lover. If you know people are going on vacation or are just going to be away for a day or two, you could offer to watch their pets. Many people often look for dog walkers or people who will just keep an eye on their pets when they're away. Of course, you need to be comfortable with having someone else's pet inside your home and you want to make sure it's going to be safe for your own children.
4. Graphic Designer
Many stay at home parents quit some pretty amazing careers to stay home with their children. But, that doesn't mean that they can't still use those skills to make money at home. If you have a creative background as a graphic designer, your side hustle is waiting for you. Browse career websites for clients who need graphic design work. You can do this part-time from home on your schedule. Graphic designers can make $35 an hour. Talk about some extra cash for your family! If you get enough clients, you could end up averaging a full-time income.
5. Freelance Writer or Proofreader
If your pre-baby days involved writing, you may want to explore the world of freelance writing. You can pick up gigs writing articles, copywriting, or doing blogger work when it's good for you. The same goes for proofreading jobs. Sites like Upwork and Fiverr can connect you with businesses that need these types of services. Rates here can be all over the scale. Search for gigs that fit your schedule and your skills so that you're getting paid enough for your services. You can also use these sites to find graphic design work as well as any side hustles that may be trending.
6. Bookkeeper
Calling all organized SAHMs! If you have a skill set that includes being good with numbers and paying attention to detail, you may want to consider a bookkeeper job from home. This job entails tasks like reviewing financial records and updating statements. While you may have to meet with clients over the phone during business hours, you can do all of your data entry at whatever time works best for you whether it's your child's nap time or bedtime. Bookkeepers can make an average of $18/hour.
7. Virtual Assistant
Social media savvy moms can make money by being virtual assistants. This type of job can include managing a calendar for a client or their social media accounts. You may also be asked to answer emails or do research. The exact tasks will depend on what your client needs. All of the work is done remotely which is a bonus for any stay-at-home parent. Many virtual assistants make upwards of $20/hour.
8. Start an Etsy Shop
There are plenty of ways to make money online with an Etsy shop if you're crafty and have some unique items that people will want to buy. Everything from jewelry to custom-made shirts to stationary can all be a good side hustle for any crafty momma. You can create the items when you have time and post them. Do your own marketing by posting them on social media and asking friends to share. The items can pretty much sell themselves once you create them. You're just responsible for shipping them out once they're purchased.
9. Tutor
If you have an educational background, you may want to consider a side hustle as a tutor. The average pay is $20/hour. Whether you're teaching English or helping with algebra, tutoring can be done from your home or virtually. It's a great way to help children and keep up on your skillset if you're in the education field.
10. Phone Survey Conductor
All you need is your cell phone or landline phone for this job. Many companies and organizations want to get peoples' opinions and pay people to conduct surveys over the phone. While this is not one of those home jobs you can do at 3 a.m., it is something you could do after dinner or during nap time. If you like talking to people and don't mind spending some time on the phone, this side hustle could be for you.
Things to Remember When Looking for a Stay-at-Home Mom Job
As you consider the options we've listed for you, remember if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. While we'd all like to earn a passive income, you need to do some work to make money. Whether it's a side hustle, full-time or part-time job, expect to put some hours in to earn that extra income for your family.
Also, think about the skillsets you had before you stayed home and make those work for you. You would be surprised at how much work can be done at home.
Finally, remember that one of the perks of having a job while being a stay-at-home mom is being able to spend time with your child while making some extra cash. Once you learn to balance the two, you'll be surprised at how successful you can become at both!
