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Here are 14 creative ideas for making money (both online and offline), whether you’re looking for a fun way to make some extra cash on the side or a full-time business idea. #1. Play and Test Pre-Release Video Games
Earning potential: Up to $100 per month.
Video game companies hire testers to play pre-release games in an effort to find bugs before the games are available to the public. If you enjoy playing video games, it’s a great way to get paid for your hobby.
Video game testers work as independent contractors for third parties, which companies like Nintendo hire to provide feedback. The biggest such company is Global Beta Testing, which works with 20,000 independent contracts across the world.
On a smaller scale, there are apps like Mistplay for Android, which allows you to earn points by playing existing and pre-release games. You can then redeem those points for gift cards.
You’ll earn less with Mistplay than you would by working directly for a company like Global Beta Testing, but what’s nice is that you can get started today.
Learn more: How to Get Paid to Play Games. #2. Create an Online Course
Earning potential: Top course instructors earn seven figures per year on Udemy.
When you hear the words “online course,” you may initially think you have nothing to teach people. But before you rule out this option, consider the story of Teresa Greenway.
On food stamps, and having to be home to take care of her autistic son, Greenway decided to create an online course about baking sourdough bread, which was one of her hobbies.
It may not sound like a bread course would bring home much dough, but her course generated $86,000 of income in just the first two years. The description for Teresa Greenway’s sourdough bread baking course.
Sites like Udemy and Skillshare make it easier than ever to share your expertise online, so take some time to browse the current offerings and see if you find inspiration to create a class of your own.
Thinkific, an online course platform for creators, has an excellent 10 step guide to launching a course. #3. Grow a Hobby YouTube Channel
Earning potential: For every 1,000 views your channel gets, you’ll earn around $4. Learn more about the earning potential is this article on how much YouTubers make.
The world’s most popular YouTube channels bring in millions of dollars each year. While starting a channel that grows to that level is difficult, there are also tens of thousands of smaller channels that make a great side income for their creators.
For some people, that might be general hobbies like carpentry, cooking, crafts or home brewing. But YouTube has a diverse and worldwide audience, so don’t discount the potential of more obscure hobbies; chances are there are enough people who share your interests to support a channel. And often, starting a channel in a less competitive niche makes it easier to get established and garner eyeballs.
As an example, the YouTube channel Primitive Technology, which was launched in 2016, documents creator John Plant’s adventures in building structures with primitive materials and tools.
The success of his channel led to a book deal, as well as a consistent stream of extra income from the ad revenue generated by his more than 10 million subscribers.
You can learn more about launching your own channel in Shopify’s in-depth post, Lights, Camera, Cash: 7 Ways to Earn Money From YouTube Today. #4. Sell Your Photos
Earning potential: It takes time to build up inventory across all the popular stock photo sites. But the work compounds (because you can sell each photo multiple times), which makes it a legitimate source of passive income.
Have a flair for photography? One of the more creative ideas for making money is selling your photos online. You’ll earn cash each time your image is purchased.
One good photo that really resonates with people can earn an impressive amount. And even if you only bring in a little bit of extra cash from each photo, it’ll add up quickly if you post a lot of pictures.
There is no shortage of stock photography sites you can sell your pictures on.
Here are a few of the bigger ones: DepositPhotosGettyImagesShutterstock
If you have certain pictures that are performing very well, you can even consider selling high-quality prints on an eBay, Amazon or an Etsy shop.
Learn more: Get Paid to Take Pictures With Your Phone. #5. Design Graphics
Earning potential: Medium to high. Skilled freelance graphic designers are very valuable to businesses and can often charge a premium price.
Graphic design is a creative hobby that can generate good money. Pursued as a part time job or an online business, it can be one of the absolute highest-paying side hustle ideas.
Businesses are constantly in need of graphics, including everything from brochures to infographics to logos. And while getting a full-time job as a graphic designer typically involves a design degree, freelancing as a graphic designer is all about your portfolio — which can include non-client samples you created to show off your skills.
Learn more: Our guide to getting started as a freelance graphic designer. #6. Start an Etsy Shop
Earning potential: There’s strong potential for Etsy store owners. It’s possible to make over six figures with an Etsy store, although most owners make a few hundred dollars per month.
The opportunities on Etsy go far beyond selling crafts (though selling crafts can be lucrative). If you have any kind of artistic skill, the site can be a great place to get your feet wet as an online business owner.
You can quickly set up a shop, make some product listings, set your prices and start selling.
Etsy is a smart path because you can do it on the side on your own schedule, or turn it into a full-time online business once you pick up momentum.
It’s not unheard of for people to make good money on Etsy, but make sure you set your prices at a level where you can still afford materials and turn a profit.
Learn more: How to Make Money on Etsy. #7. Become a Freelance Writer
Earning potential: High. Professional freelance writers can earn a six-figure income.
Freelance writing is another skill-based yet creative endeavor that can be anything from a small side hustle to a part time job to a full time, six-figure career.
At the lower end of the scale, you can work for what’s called a “content mill,” which is all about cranking out as many articles as possible — often, without much regard for quality.
This can be an OK way to make some extra money in your spare time, but you want to avoid it as much as possible because there are much better opportunities available. Check out our guide to starting your career as a freelance writer to learn more.
From there, the key is to specialize in one (or a small handful) of topics.
If you’re looking to grow your creative side, look at some of the most interesting jobs on Upwork and you’ll often find opportunities like the one below, which would give you the chance to write romance, crime, religious, sci-fi and horror novels. Upwork job listing for a novelist.
Or, in what I’d consider a more standard gig, working as a copywriter for a small real estate office: Upwork job listing for a marketing copywriter.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of creative ways to make good money with freelance writing. Spend 15-30 minutes seeing what’s available on Upwork.
And if you’re interested, read our guide to getting your first job on Upwork.
The objective is to find a high-paying niche you enjoy immersing yourself in, while taking advantage of your existing skills and abilities. #8. Retail Arbitrage
Earning potential: Medium. Takes some work to find a niche, but can be a great source of side income.
One growing money-making opportunity is retail arbitrage, which is also known as flipping or reselling. What you’re doing here is buying a product in one place and reselling it for a profit somewhere else.
If you frequent garage sales, flea markets, Goodwill stores or the far-back sale racks at discount stores like Marshalls and T.J.Maxx, you can make money reselling those items.