Best Work-at-Home Courses to Start Earning Money This Year

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. You don’t need a college degree to have a good-paying home-based career. Even though I have two college degrees, I’m not using any of what I learned in college to make money today.

Everything I’m doing today to earn money from home, I’ve learned along the way. I read books, attended conferences, and took online courses. Not only am I the happiest I’ve ever been in my professional life, but I’m earning more than I ever did as a nurse.

There is absolutely no excuse for you NOT to be making money from home this year! With advances in technology, more jobs can be done from home, and startup costs for launching your own business are little to nothing. Best of all, there are affordable training courses in a variety of niches that can get you up and running in as little as a week!

If you’re ready to make money from home this year — here are some work-at-home courses you MUST check out!

1. Affiliate Marketing 

Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing 

I interviewed Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense of Cents back in 2013. Since that time, her blogging business has seen massive success. Did I mention that she earns seven-figures a year?!

How does she do it?

The majority of Michelle’s income comes from affiliate marketing, and in her course, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, she shares all of her affiliate marketing secrets. I’ve had the chance to look over this course, and it’s an excellent foundation for beginners. The course includes six modules with over 30 lessons, plus worksheets, lots of bonuses, and a private Facebook Group, which is very active. The cost is $197 or two payments of $105. Michelle offers a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee on her course.

• Level: Beginner
• Duration: Self-paced

2. Amazon FBA Business

Amazon Boot Camp

In 2008, Jessica Larrew lost her job and started blogging and selling products on Amazon. Today she and her husband, Cliff, earn a full-time income from selling products on Amazon and teaching others how to do the same. This course contains 14 different modules and includes everything from Amazon basics, tools you’ll need, how to select products, pricing, packing, and so much more. Besides access to the course, you’ll also receive bonuses and membership to a private Facebook Group. The full course cost is $495, or there is a payment plan of $195 for three months. If you need additional assistance, they have an extra support option for $995, and they offer a 60-day money-back guarantee.

If you’re curious about selling products on Amazon, check out their free 9-lesson email course, Everything You Need to Know to Start Selling on Amazon.

• Level: Beginner
• Duration: Self-paced — comes with 10 hours of videos.

3. Bookkeeping Course

Bookkeeper Launch

After starting his own accounting firm, Ben Robinson needed to hire some bookkeepers to help his business clients. Unfortunately, finding good bookkeepers was tough. So, Ben decided to take his CPA knowledge and train individuals to meet his needs. Over time he discovered that great bookkeepers shared seven main personal characteristics. Now Ben teaches others how to work from home as bookkeepers.

There are three different levels with varying degrees of support:

• Pro – $2,499 or 12 payments of $249
• Premier – $2,999 or 12 payments of $299
• Team – $4,999 or 12 payments of $499

Bookkeeper Launch has a 60-day unconditional guarantee and an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau website.

To figure out if you have the right personality for bookkeeping — sign up for Ben’s FREE three-part training series.

• Level: Beginner
• Duration: 10-week course

4. Comprehensive Blogging Course

Elite Blog Academy 

I’ve purchased a lot of blogging courses over my career, and this is the ONE that has helped me the most. In fact, it’s what helped me take my blog to the next level. Created by Ruth Soukup of Living Well Spending Less, this program is excellent for new and intermediate bloggers. It consists of 12 units and includes videos and worksheets, bonuses, and membership to a private Facebook Group.

Enrollment for this training course only opens up ONCE a year (March 2021), so be sure to get signed up for the waitlist. The full cost of the course is $997, and payment plans are available.

Want to know more about Ruth’s teaching style? Grab her FREE e-book, 7 Surefire Ways to Boost Your Blog Income Overnight.

• Level: Beginner to intermediate
• Duration: Self-paced program that can be completed in 12 weeks

5. Facebook Ads

The Facebook Ads Intensive

If you’re trying to grow your business or blog through Facebook ads, this is THE course for doing so. Taught by Beth Anne Schwamberger of Brillant Business Moms, this 12-week intensive is one of the best courses I’ve ever taken!

In this live, guided intensive, you’ll learn:

• Setting up tripwires
• Copywriting techniques
• How to use Facebook Business Manager
• Ad set up
• How to create custom audiences
• Retargeting techniques
• How to scale your ads
• How to evaluate and tweak your ads

Along with the live bi-weekly calls, there is a very active Facebook Group where Beth Anne and her mentors give a lot of feedback to help you perfect your sales pages, copy, and so much more.

With this course, you’ll be expected to complete weekly homework assignments and give feedback to other students. The course is $891 and is broken into three monthly payments of $297 — which I was easily able to recoup my money with the tripwires I set up. Enrollment is only open twice a year, with the next session starting in January 2021; you can apply here for consideration.

• Level: Intermediate to advanced
• Duration: 12 weeks of guided instruction

6. Personal Concierge Business

The Concierge Starter Kit

If you’ve thought about starting a personal concierge business, but you’re not sure how to get started, my friend Kelly Schaefer from Task Complete can help you out. Not only does Kelly run a successful six-figure concierge business herself, but she’s also a mom of four and passionate about helping others who want to break into the industry.

In her Concierge Starter Kit, you’ll get access to forms, templates, flyers, workbooks, video tutorials, checklists, and lots of bonuses on how to successfully run a concierge business from home. The cost of this course is $47, but there is a notice that there will be a price increase soon.

• Level: Beginner to intermediate
• Duration: Self-paced program

7. Start and Grow a Dog Treat Business

Diva Dog Bakery

Do you love to spoil your dog? If so, running a dog treat business from home may be your calling. My friend, Kristin Larsen, ran a dog treat business in college, selling her dog treats on Etsy and at local farmer’s markets. Today, she teaches others how to launch and grow a successful dog treat business.

The course consists of eight modules and four bonuses for $199 or two payments of $127. Enrollment opens up twice a year, the next time being in winter of 2021 — in the meantime, you can sign-up for her free workshop here.

• Level: Beginner to intermediate
• Duration: It takes most students a month to complete

8. Freelance Writer

30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success 

After a decade-long career as a financial advisor, Gina Horkey realized it wasn’t what she wanted to do for the rest of her life and started looking into freelance writing. In six short months, Gina was able to build up her freelance writing business from zero to $4K a month!

Today, Gina earns five-figures a month teaching others how to start their freelance writing business. In Gina’s course, she shares the framework she used for her freelance success, includes nine self-paced modules and lots of resources. The full cost of the course is $297, or three payments of $89, and enrollment is open year-round.

If you’re interested in writing but unsure what to write about, check out Gina’s free list of 200+ writing niches here.

• Level: Beginner
• Duration: 30-days or less

9. General Transcriptionist

General Transcription: Theory & Practice 

If you want to do transcription work from home, this is the course for you. General Transcription: Theory & Practice covers everything from equipment requirements, transcription style guides to where to find legit jobs, as well as practice dictation sessions so you can hone your skills.

The full cost of the course is $797 and includes lifetime updates and access. Janet Shaughnessy, the creator of the course, also has a pay-as-you-go option and discounts for individuals who purchase both the general and legal transcription courses. Want to know more? Sign up for Janet’s free 7-day mini-course here.

• Level: Beginner
• Duration: Self-paced program – can be completed in two-four months

10. Home Stager

Home Staging Business Training Program 

Debra Gould is an internationally recognized home staging expert and has staged millions of dollars worth of real estate through her company. In 2005, she started teaching others how to do the same via her Home Staging Business Training Program. The instant download training program is $995, and the mailed-to-your-door option is $1,295, and there are payment plans available. Debra offers a money-back guarantee, 48 hours for digital download courses, and 30-days for mailed-to-your-door items.

• Level: Beginner
• Duration: Complete in as little as a week

11. Medical Coding and Billing

Certified Medical Coder 

If you’d like to work from home doing medical coding and billing — you’ll need formal training. CareerStep offers this training through an online program that can be completed at home and finished in four months. CareerStep has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and they’re endorsed by the well-known financial advisor, Dave Ramsey. The cost of this course is $3,699; payment plans and military tuition assistance is available. CareerStep also provides graduate support to help you land a job.

• Level: Beginner
• Duration: Self-paced – this program is designed to be completed in four months

12. Proofreading

Proofreading: Theory and Practice Course 

Caitlin Pyle, the brains behind Proofread Anywhere, has been earning a full-time income proofreading since 2012. Today she teaches other aspiring proofreaders how to do the same. The full cost of her course is $497 and includes access to eight different modules that will show you everything you need to know about proofreading as well as starting your own proofreading business.

To figure out if proofreading is the right career path for you — sign up here for Caitlin’s free 76-minute workshop.

• Level: Beginner to intermediate
• Duration: Self-paced — takes approximately one-three months to complete

13. Virtual Assistant

Fully Booked VA System

Like a lot of people, Gina Horkey disliked her day job, so she decided to launch a freelance writing business on the side. As this side business grew, she decided to add virtual assistant services into the mix. Within a year, Gina was able to quit her day job and run her business full time.

Today Gina teaches others how to launch their own successful freelance virtual assistant businesses from home. If you’re curious about becoming a virtual assistant, you can sign-up for her mini-course, Jumpstart Your Virtual Assistant Business (in 4 Quick Steps) which is just $19.

If you already know that this is the occupation for you, check out her monthly membership program, Fully Booked VA System. The cost is $199 a month, or $1,194 if you pay for the full year. This system consists of the main course, VA Foundations, a helpful community, VA leads, certification, and specialization courses like email management, project management, social media, real estate, and creating an agency.

• Level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Duration: 30-days

14. Voice Acting 

Work-From-Home Doing Voice Overs

Julie Eickhoff has been working from her home doing voice-over work since 2011, and now she’s teaching others how to do the same. In this seven-part course, you’ll learn what equipment and skills you’ll need, where to find voice-over work, how to run your business, and access to a free Facebook Group. After you complete the course, Julie will give you a free voice review. The full cost of the course is $297, or there is a monthly payment plan of $37.50 for eight months.

If voice over work sounds appealing, check out Julie’s free mini-course that gives you an inside peek into the profession.

• Level: Beginner
• Duration: Self-paced — contains 3.5 hours of videos

15. Teach English Online

Premier TEFL

Whether you want to teach ESL classes online or abroad, Premier TEFL can help you achieve your goals. With introductory classes to certification for TEFL, Premier TEFL can help you stand out to employers, increase your earnings, and certify you for new teaching specialties. If you’re not sure which course is right for you, they have a free 5-minute quiz to help you understand which option is best for you.

Here are just some of the courses to choose from:

• Teach English Online (30 hours)
• Teaching Young Learners TEFL Course (30 hours)
• Advanced TEFL Course (120 hours)
• Hybrid Master TEFL Course with Teaching Practice (300 hours)

One Last Note About Training Courses

To be successful with any of these training courses and careers — you need to put in the hard work! Success is not going to happen overnight, and to be blunt, and it’s not always going to be easy. But if you’re willing to put in the effort, complete the lessons, and work all the way through the course — you can be successful. If you’re looking for an “easy way out,” this list of work-at-home courses is not for you.

Originally published on August 15, 2016. Content updated on November 19, 2020.