Being a stay-at-home mom is one of the best jobs in the world because you get to watch your child grow up, but it comes at a financial cost for many families. It can be hard to keep a tight budget or pass on activities and vacations because of the cost. What if you want to be a stay-at-home parent but contribute to your family’s finances? It’s a challenge, but you can do it. Read on for how to make money as a stay-at-home mom.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation when you click on a product link or purchase an item linked on this site. Click here to learn more.
1. Work a corporate job part-time
Due to COVID-19, most office jobs turned remote and many have stayed that way. This is a great opportunity for many stay-at-home moms to return to their previous work.
If you have past work experience or a skill for a job that pays well, it may be worth doing that work again in a part-time and as-needed capacity.
There are of course challenges to committing to a corporate or office job, even if it’s part-time and remote.
Your schedule may be fixed. If you commit to 3 hours a day or 3 days a week, you have to work during those hours. You won’t be able to tend to your children during those times, so you would need someone else to watch them.
Co-workers or bosses may not understand that you’re only available during the hours that you work. You’re juggling many work obligations on top of parenting duties.
These things might negate your goal of being a stay-at-home mom.
If you pursue corporate work, you may want to seek a job with flexible hours. This could allow for interruptions from children and time off for appointments and other parental duties. Another option is to find a job with flexible hours to work on the weekend or after the children go to bed.
2. Freelance writing
If you have writing skills, you can use them to make money from home by freelancing. Several websites allow you to post your services and/or bid on writing projects such as
You’ll need samples of your work. You can send people pieces or direct them to your website or a website where your work has been published.
You can also ask family and friends if they know anyone who would be interested in hiring a writer for any of their projects. If you already have clients, you can ask for referrals or connections to others who might need your work.
Another way is to email businesses and bloggers in niches that you write, send links to your samples, and ask if they would like to hire you to write for them. You can write articles, ebooks, and marketing materials.
3. Virtual assistant
If you have great organizational and administrative skills, virtual assistant jobs can be a great way to earn money from home. Lots of big and small businesses need virtual assistants to handle all sorts of tasks.
You might be surprised to learn that good virtual assistants with the skills businesses want can be hard to find. So if you have those skills, you can get plenty of work.
Some sought after skills for internet business VAs:
- Content writing for websites
- SEO implementation for websites
- Video creation and editing
- Graphic design
- Writing marketing emails
- Moderate Facebook groups
There are many other types of businesses that use VAs. They may seek skills that you have.
You can offer your services on freelancing websites like those mentioned above or create your own website and promote your services there.
4. Social media management
Many businesses need help managing their social media accounts, and if you have a background in marketing or social media, you can offer your services as a social media manager. Things you can do as a social media manager:
- Edit website content
- Make graphics (e.g., Pinterest pins) for blog content
- Create social media campaigns
- Post to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
- Run Facebook or Pinterest ads
Social media management can be done remotely. Many aspects of social media can be scheduled in advance, so you have the flexibility to work when you want.
You’ll need some proof of your abilities to get clients.
- Provide examples of your past and current clients.
- Show your own website or social media account.
- List social media courses you’ve taken.
- Discuss the strategies you use for growth.
This can be a very lucrative stay-at-home job. Top-performing social media managers and virtual assistants can make a lot of money depending on the skills they have.
5. Transcription jobs
Transcription jobs are possible for people with no or little experience. The pay is low to start, but you can earn more as you increase your experience. You can also earn more by getting training for certain types of transcription.
For example, you can start by transcribing videos for Facebook and YouTube or transcribing podcasts. Those don’t take much training or experience to get started.
If you want to get into medical or legal transcription, you will need training to know the profession’s terminology.
You’ll need
- Ability to type quickly and accurately
- A headset so you can listen to the audio files to transcribe
- A computer and possibly transcription software
- Attention to detail for accuracy
This post covers several companies where you can find the best transcription jobs.
6. Make money by using your skills
If you have valuable skills like accounting, graphic design, website design, or professional-level baking, see if there are any opportunities to work from home or provide consulting to help others in the business.
I know a few people who have earned extra income this way:
- a neighbor who sells customized sweets for celebrations like birthdays and graduations
- a woman who sells her chocoflan cake and cookies locally via Instagram
- a relative who gets paid to organize services and groups at her church
7. Reselling online
You can resell items online for profit. Reselling online has become increasingly popular in recent years in part because it’s very easy to enter the business.
You can sell items from your own home, from family and friends, or that you find in stores. You can purchase items cheaply from thrift stores, discount retail stores, outlets, and dollar stores and resell them online for more.
Some popular places to sell:
- eBay
- Poshmark
- Mercari
- Facebook Marketplace
- OfferUp
When selling items online, be sure to take pictures of the item from multiple angles and list all of the details, including the condition of the item and any flaws.
Price your items competitively by researching how those items have sold in the past. Factor in shipping costs if you have to pay for them.
It can take some time to find the right buyer for your items, which is why you want to sell things that are more valuable and in demand. Some stay-at-home moms make thousands of dollars each month reselling in their free time.
8. Start a blog
If you’re passionate about a topic, starting a blog can be a great way to make money from home while sharing your thoughts with the world. You can start for only a few dollars a month to cover web hosting and a theme for your website.
Ways to make money blogging:
- Ad revenue
- Become an affiliate for items you support and publicize them. When the item sells, you’ll receive a share of the sale.
- Create your own products to sell on the website
- Offer services through the website
Be aware though that blogging is not a get-rich-quick endeavor. Blogging requires writing and marketing. It’s hard work and you may not see income from it for a long time.
It’s common for new bloggers to see no income for the first 6-plus months of their blogging. They may make only a few hundred dollars a month after a year of blogging.
There will be many people who say they earn a full-time income, make 6 figures, and work 10 hours a week. While that’s true for some, it’s not true for most people, especially not at the beginning of their blogging experience. The people who do achieve that probably worked hard to get there.
9. Sell digital photos
If you are a photographer or have the ability to take great photos, you can sell your photos online. There’s a huge market for buying stock photos for everything from website designs to marketing materials.
One common way to do this is to sell your photos to stock photo websites. Depending on the website, there may be an approval process or qualifications that you have to meet before you can sell your photos.
You don’t get to set the price for your photos, and you’ll be competing against many other photographers to get yours sold. But it can be profitable, flexible, and passive once your photos are up for sale. Check out this post on the best places to sell your photos online.
Another option is to establish your own website to sell your photos. You can set your own prices, sell prints of your photos, and offer other services, but you’ll have to market yourself well to bring customers to your site.
Note though that it’s not only pictures of nature and animals that sell well. Many people in blogging and business need stock photos that reflect working from home or working in the office. Sites like HauteStock are successful at catering to female entrepreneurs.
10. Sell on Etsy
If you have a knack for making or finding beautiful things, then consider selling them on the popular website Etsy. Things you can sell on Etsy:
- Handmade items
- Vintage items (items at least 20 years old)
- Craft supplies
While it doesn’t seem like you can sell much at first glance, a quick browse through Etsy shows that there are thousands of things you can sell:
- Vintage thrift finds
- Personalized items like kitchen towels and t-shirts
- Children’s printable activities
- Wall art
- Custom-made stickers
- Home decor
Take a look and find what you can make or source that might sell well. It’s easy to set up a store on Etsy and get started selling right away. It may take time to gain traction, but some sellers make consistent part-time and full-time incomes off Etsy. You can do it too if that’s what you want.
11. Tutoring
If you’re an expert in a particular subject, you can offer your tutoring services to students online or in person. One benefit is that you can set your own rates. And now with online education, you can work with students from all over the world.
I have one friend who does well tutoring students in college prep work such as SAT testing. I’ve heard of several other women making money teaching English to students overseas.
One of the most well-known companies for teaching English is VIPKid. You don’t have to be a credentialed teacher. VIPKid provides lesson plans, grading, and communication with parents so all you have to do is teach.
VIPKid says you can make the equivalent of $14-$22 per hour. Note though that most lessons are taught to children in China so your lessons may take place at odd hours if you live in the US. This may be a benefit for some parents.
Tutor.com, Tutor Me, Teach Away, and GoGoKid are alternative websites that can connect you to clients. You can teach a variety of subjects, not only English.
12. Be an interpreter or translator
If you are fluent in more than one language, you can earn money as an interpreter or translator. Interpreters work with language orally while translators work with written language.
There’s a high demand for quality interpreters and translators, and many interpreters and translators work from home. Depending on the company, you may be able to set your own schedule or work on your own timeline.
Some jobs will require certification, particularly in the medical field. You may be able to find a certification course at a local community college or online.
A Google search can help you locate jobs for interpretation and translation. You can offer your services on websites like Upwork, where you can set your own rates.
13. Childcare
You’re already taking care of your children. Could you take care of one or two more?
If you have formal experience working with children such as in daycares or as a teacher, you’ll likely be more sought after.
Reach out through your social network and community to see if there is a family at your children’s school or in your neighborhood that may need childcare.
You can also find jobs through Care.com or SitterCity.com. You can set your availability, rates, and qualifications on these sites. Parents will contact you if they’re interested in your services.
14. Create curriculum
There’s a need for quality educational materials for homeschooled students and children who need extra lessons.
One of the best ways to get started creating curriculum or individual lessons is to browse Teachers Pay Teachers. You can find lesson plans, worksheets, and other resources created by teachers and other professionals.
Look at what’s already available and what’s selling well. Do you have a specialty area that you would like to target? Perhaps you’re good at math and want to make math worksheets, or you speak Spanish and can create lessons for children learning the language.
Programs like Powerpoint or Canva make it easy to make materials such as printable worksheets.
Creating materials can be a lot of work, but it can be very rewarding, especially if your resources are well-received.
15. Data entry
Another good stay-at-home job is data entry, which often requires little more than good typing skills, an eye for attention, and a computer with internet access.
You can find data entry work with a Google search or on freelance websites. You can also advertise your services on sites like Upwork and Craigslist.
16. Take online surveys
You can earn money with surveys by signing up with a company that conducts research studies and pays its members for participating in them. My favorite of these sites is Swagbucks and SurveyJunkie.
Fill out surveys and earn points that you can trade in for cash, prizes, or other rewards. I do these to earn gift cards between $5 and $25 to Amazon, Athleta, Starbucks, Target, and other companies every few months. Of course, you could earn more if you spend more time at it.
The gift cards are helpful for household purchases, treats for the family, and gifts. This is a good way to make small amounts of money here and there, but isn’t a great way to earn a lot of money consistently.
Sometimes there are specials where you can earn gift cards faster. For example, a $25 gift card usually requires 2,500, but it will sometimes be on special for 2,200 points.
17. Writing-related jobs
Freelance writing was mentioned above. But what if you don’t want to write? You could also work as a proofreader or copy editor.
You need to have good knowledge of English and be able to pay close attention to catch errors in the work you’re reviewing.
As a proofreader, you’ll be looking for errors such as misspellings, punctuation mistakes, and consistency of style. As a copy editor, you’ll do that and more. You’ll research and fact-check work and ensure that a piece is fluid and understandable to readers.
18. Direct sales
Direct sales has its advocates and critics. Why the criticism?
This is because many are multi-level marketing schemes that require you to pay hundreds of dollars upfront for their products before you ever make a dime. Many women end up selling few products and making little money or losing money despite their time and efforts.
Some people are top sellers and make thousands of dollars in sales. Many other women make few sales. Their only customers may be friends and family who they ask to buy from them. This can be okay for a while but is rarely a sustainable plan for consistent income.
Some direct sales companies:
- Mary Kay
- Avon
- Rodan+Fields
- Stella & Dot
- The Pampered Chef
- Herbalife
If you’re thinking about signing up for direct sales, read online reviews and speak to past and current sellers before you do. Go in with a clear understanding of what you need to do to earn money and how you’re going to do it.
Wrap Up
There are plenty of opportunities for stay-at-home moms to make money by using their skills and talents. With a little bit of effort, you can find a job that fits your schedule and allows you to earn some extra money while taking care of your children.