Last Updated on September 1, 2024 by Rebecca Lake
Are you looking for some profitable home business ideas for moms you can start to bring in extra income?
I hear ya!
There are so many great reasons to start a business from home:
- You can make money while still being available for your kids.
- It’s a way to be creative and do work that you enjoy while working a schedule that fits your lifestyle.
- With so many home business ideas to choose from, there’s practically unlimited earning potential!
But which online businesses make the most money? Today, I’m spilling the beans on five at-home business ideas for moms that can help you bring in $3,000 or more each month in extra income!
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Table of Contents
What Is a Good At-Home Business for Busy Moms?
There are a LOT of ways to make money but some of them are more suited to busy moms than others.
The best home businesses have these things in common:
- You can use the skills you already have to make money.
- Scheduling is flexible and you can run your business in a way that best fits your lifestyle.
- Startup costs are low while money-making potential is high.
- You don’t need to leave the house to run them.
The home business ideas for moms I’ve included below check of all those boxes. Ready to learn how you can be your own boss and make money from home? Let’s go!
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Profitable Home Business Ideas for Moms
1. Freelance writing
Freelance writing is hands-down one of the best home business ideas for moms who enjoy writing and want an opportunity to build a sustainable source of income.
The average freelance writer makes around $24/hour, according to ZipRecruiter, with an upper-income average of $33/hour.
It’s entirely possible to make a six-figure income from freelance writing. I know, because I’ve done it every year since 2018.
If you want to make a living as a freelance writer, here’s what you’ll need:
- Good writing skills. You don’t need to be the best writer ever to make real money freelancing. I’m certainly not. You just need to have some solid writing skills and a willingness to learn how to improve them.
- Writing samples. If you want to get paid to write, you’ll typically need to have some samples of your writing to show to prospective clients. These are easy to create–you could write a demo article in Google Docs and save it as a PDF. You could also start a blog to showcase your writing and sharpen your skills.
- PayPal account (or a bank account). Once you start getting writing work you’ll need a way to get paid. Most of my clients pay via direct deposit or wire transfer, but I’ve also worked with clients who prefer PayPal.
- Laptop and internet. The great thing about starting out as a freelance writer is that most people don’t have to buy any special tools or equipment. As long as you’ve got a laptop or PC and an internet connection, you’re good to go.
You’ll also need to think about what you want to write about. For example, I’m a personal finance writer–anything I write for my clients deals with money in some way.
But you might prefer to write about parenting or gardening or health. My best tip for choosing a writing niche or specialty is to pick a topic you’ll never get tired of writing about.
So how do you find freelance writing jobs?
There are lots of ways to find work but one of the easiest is to check out freelance writing job boards. Some are free to browse, while others require a subscription fee. But I can tell you from experience that paid job boards almost always feature higher-paying, better-quality gigs.
If you’re looking for some job board suggestions, here are my absolute faves:
Learn more about how to become a freelance writer with no experience.
2. Virtual assistant
Virtual assistants get paid to help business owners run their businesses. As a VA, you might be responsible for:
- Checking or answering emails
- Copywriting for a website
- Drafting or proofreading blog posts
- Answering phone calls
- Creating spreadsheets or PowerPoint presentations
- Designing flyers or infographics
- Scheduling appointments
- Drafting content for social media
- Responding to blog or social media comments
- Handling customer queries or complaints
- Managing Pinterest accounts
Some VAs specialize in just one thing, like Pinterest management; others do a little bit of everything.
I worked as a virtual assistant for about a year before I transitioned to freelance writing. The work was always different, which was great for someone who gets bored easily, and I could work around my busy mom schedule which involved taking care of a toddler and a newborn.
On average, VAs earn around $26 per hour, which isn’t too shabby. But just like with freelance writing, it’s possible to grow your income to much higher levels if you’re targeting a profitable niche with high-paying clients.
So, what kind of skills do you need to start a VA business?
The great thing about being a VA is that you can use the skills you have, which can include:
- Writing skills
- Social media know-how
- Organizational skills
- Communication skills
- Excel, Word, and Google Docs skills
- Graphic design skills
Time management skills are also important. If you want to start a VA business, you’ve got to be great at juggling lots of different balls at once.
Learn how to start a VA business from scratch and start making money. Then explore the most in-demand VA services you can offer.
3. Proofreading
Proofreaders are hired to review written copy for grammatical errors, typos, and spelling mistakes. Online proofreaders can work for large corporations, small businesses, and bloggers to correct things like:
- Blog posts
- Sales landing pages
- Newsletters
- Case studies
- White papers
- Legal documents
Some proofreaders are generalists, meaning they can work with a wide range of clients. Others specialize in court and legal transcription. On average, online proofreading jobs pay around $28/hour.
This is one of the best home business ideas for moms who are detail-oriented. You don’t need an English degree either; it’s possible to learn everything you need to know to become a proofreader online.
If you want to learn more about proofreading there’s a free workshop I recommend. It’s from Proofread Anywhere and it offers an excellent overview of how to make money proofreading so you can decide if it’s right for you.
Want to get paid to proofread?
Sign up for a FREE webinar to learn how to make money proofreading online!
4. Outschool teacher
Outschool is an online learning platform for students K-12. Courses are created and led by Outschool teachers, including plenty of moms who are using the platform to make money.
Here’s why it’s one of my favorite home business ideas for moms:
- You don’t need a teaching degree or teaching background to create and offer courses on Outschool.
- You get to decide what you want to teach, with approval from Outschool, so it’s a great way to share your interests with curious kids.
- Outschool allows teachers to decide when to schedule courses, which makes it a flexible way to earn an income.
- You can decide how much to charge and how many classes to offer so you’re in control of your earning potential.
The average Outschool teacher makes around $36 per hour but I’ve heard of some teachers making $100 an hour or more.
If you’re curious about how it works you can browse my guide to making money on Outschool. Or you can head over to the platform and start your application to become an Outschool teacher!
Interested in making money as an online teacher? Outschool is a great way for stay-at-home moms, single moms, working moms, and retirees to make extra money, no teaching degree is required! Apply to become an Outschool teacher and make $50+ an hour!
5. Transcription
Transcriptionists convert digital files into written form. Some transcriptionists are generalists while others specialize in legal or medical transcription.
On average, transcriptionists make $21 an hour but the more experience you have, the more you could charge for your services. This kind of business is great for moms who want to work independently and use their typing skills to make money.
Similar to proofreading, you can learn everything you need to know to start a transcription business online. And I’ve got a helpful resource for that.
It’s a free mini-course from Transcribe Anywhere. Similar to the free proofreading workshop I mentioned earlier, this course offers an overview of:
- What online transcriptionists do
- How to start an online transcription business
- Where to find high-paying transcription jobs or clients
I always recommend the try before you buy route, so if you’re at all interested in transcription as an at-home career, this mini-course is an excellent resource.
Want to get paid to type?
Learn how to become an online transcriptionist in this free mini-course!
Final Thoughts: Make Money With an At-Home Business
Running a business has its challenges but once you realize just how much you could earn while still being there for your kids, you’ll wonder why you didn’t get started sooner. The home business ideas I’ve shared here are just some of the ways busy moms can make a real income without a 9 to 5 job.
Need more money-making ideas? Read these posts next:
