How to Make $1,000 a Month Working From Home

By Holly Reisem Hanna

When I first launched my blog, I wanted to make an extra $700 a month, so that I could continue to participate in my weekly exercise classes, pay for my daughter’s baby and me classes, and enjoy my weekly Starbuck's habit.

Even though I was working 10 hours a week as a social media manager, the money I made from that job covered bills, food, and my blogging expenses. To cover my extracurricular activities, I sold things online and at thrift stores, I participated in paid focus groups and even worked an occasional weekend shift at my old nursing job.

Fortunately, my blog gained traction quickly, and within three months I started earning money from it. Today my blog is my primary source of income. The point of my story is, if there is a will there is a way. If you need to make $500 a month – you can do it. If you need to make $1,000 a month  — you can do it.

Here are some ideas, stories, and ways for you to get started bringing in the cash!

1. Teacher Document Creator – $500 – $1,500 a month

I am a teacher turned stay at home mom. When I first left the classroom, I discovered a website called Teachers Pay Teachers. It is an open marketplace where teachers create resources that they sell to other teachers. I joined the site and opened my own store on the site called Sara J Creations. I create and design digital activities that other
 teachers, parents, tutors, etc. can purchase and download. It is an
 awesome way to use the creative teacher part of my brain while getting to stay at home and raise my family. It helps keep me up to date on best practices and connect with other teachers and moms. I started out slow only earning a few dollars a month but I now earn anywhere from $500-$1,500 a month. – Sara Jonckheere

If you'd like to find out more about making money with Teachers Pay Teachers, check out this post.

2. Astrologer – $1,000 a month

I'm Astrologer and do phone readings and appear at parties doing readings. I make over $1,000 a month from working my business from my home. – Suzan Hayden

3. Pet Blogger – $1,000 a month

I currently earn $1,000 through my dog nutrition blog Keep the Tail Wagging. I write about raw feeding and dog nutrition and I make money through freelance writing, affiliate marketing, blog sponsorship and I'm now beginning to create products for sale and will be adding a membership feature to my site next month. I got started as a pet blogger because I was so crazy about my dogs and needed an outlet other than friends and co-workers. I transitioned to writing about raw feeding in 2014 and my traffic and revenue spiked and I realized I was on to something. On average, I make $1,000 a month. – Kimberly Gauthier

4. Complete Short Tasks – $1,200 a month

Fiverr is an online platform where you post tasks that you’re willing to complete for $5.00. People sell everything from writing services, design services, voice over services, to making phone calls, and videos. Once you make a sale, Fiverr will keep of fee of $1.00 and payments will be made via PayPal. Doesn’t sound like much money? Connie Brentford is making good money on Fiverr, she even wrote an e-book about it, How I Made An Extra $1,200 Per Month At Home Using One Free Website.

Note: Connie's book is currently unavailable. However, there is a Fiver Mastermind Group that contains six successful Fiverr sellers that each earns $100K per year — they too have an e-book worth checking out: The Fiverr Master Class: The Fiverr Secrets Of Six Power Sellers That Enable You To Work From Home.

5. eBay and Amazon FBA Seller – $1,200+ a month

When I first started my stay-at-home business pursuits, I began in stock trading, then added reselling on eBay, and then Amazon FBA. As I continued to add income streams, Amazon FBA stayed #1 as my personal favorite and as my most profitable income source. The first year, I started with reselling on eBay. The first month, I made $400, then $600, then $800. I worked it up to $1,200 a month working part-time, the first year. When I added Amazon FBA, I instantly doubled my income. When I went full-time, I then doubled my income again. – Tracy Smith

6. Haircare Creator – $1,000 – $2,000 a month

I've always had a big entrepreneurial spirit. However, as any mom knows, having young ones at home does not allow for much free time to pursue those passions. Many of my ideas were also very large in scope. That is, until I came up with an idea for a hair product about 18 months ago. This product concept would absorb oil and cover roots, allowing busy women more time between shampooing and salon visits. Slowly, during nap time and after the little ones were asleep, I worked on my idea, stalked beauty counters, and consulted a chemist. In 2014, I launched Saving Grace Beauty, LLC. My average monthly income is $1,000-2,000.- Erica Harriss

7. Cloth Diapering Blogger and Marketer – $1,300 a month

I started ChangeDiapers.com in 2009 as a blog about cloth diapering. Over the years I have picked up clients via word of mouth doing social media management and other marketing tasks for cloth diaper companies and D.C. area businesses. I net about $1,300 a month after expenses and taxes. – Maria Moser


8. Graphic Designer – $1,600 a month

I work from home as a graphic designer. I originally worked for the company when it was based in my hometown. The company relocated and I was laid off. Later I was offered a freelance position with them. I make roughly $1,600 a month from home. – Randi Sparkman

Make sure to check out this article, some really interesting ways to make an extra $1,000 a month – including face painting, parking lot trash pick up and selling worms!

9. Home Referral Consultant – $3,000 a month

I make more than $3,000 a month pre-screening and referring home improvement contractors. I came up with the idea for this type of service after my husband and I purchased our first home and realized how difficult it was to find reliable home improvement contractors. My business is like an outsourced sales and marketing force for local contractors and a personal concierge-type service for local homeowners. Contractors pay me a pre-negotiated commission for work secured and my service is free my clients. I've also recently launched Aging In Place Referrals as a resource for aging Baby Boomers looking for reliable contractors. – Debra Cohen

10. Freelance Writer and Blogger – $3,500 a month

I started blogging a little over two years ago about my personal financial journey. As a full-time actress, money had always been tight and I was tired of working as a waitress or babysitter just to scrape by in between gigs. As I shared my stories, I found they were resonating with people and I became increasingly involved in the personal finance world guest posting for other bloggers and pitching to media. A few months later I was offered a weekly contributor spot on US News & World Report. The position was unpaid, but my articles got picked up by major media outlets, giving me exposure and credibility. Within a few months, I was making over $1,000 each month freelance writing. Now I work for bigger corporate clients and collect proceeds from my recently released book. My income in 2015 has averaged around $3,500 a month. – Stefanie O'Connell

11. Chloe + Isabel Merchandiser – $4,000 a month

I found Chloe + Isabel when a gorgeous statement necklace was featured in Glamour magazine. When I came across the company, I wanted to switch careers. I always loved the idea of being in the fashion industry and have a really strong interest in entrepreneurs. I wanted to be my own boss and Chloe + Isabel was the perfect opportunity for me to reinvent my life. The average sales for a pop-up (show) is about $1,000. Because of Chloe + Isabel's generous commission structure for those that achieve business milestones, I earn 40% commission, so $400 a pop-up. I also manage one of the larger teams at Chloe + Isabel through our leadership team, so annually, I earn about $50,000. – Gina Lukas

12. Marketing and PR – $6,800 a month

My business is Famous in Your Field. It's a marketing and PR consulting business that I run from my home office. My clients
are small business owners and professionals, based all across the U.S. I typically work from 9am to 4pm, while my two children are in school.
Last year's revenues were $82,000, which works out to a monthly income of about $6,800. – Lori Nash Byron

13. Affiliate Marketing and Blogging – $7,000 – $9,000 a month

Blogging was at first a hobby to me and a way to express my opinions. During my blogging journey which started in 2008, I learned that I could make an income from my blog through affiliate programs so I started to include affiliate links in my posts and it has become a way for me to make money from my blog. I am now making $7,000-$9,000 a month with my blog through affiliate marketing. – Louida Martin

14. Certified Online Business Manager – $8,000 a month

I started my business in 2011 working as a VA. I learned everything I possibly could and found out I had a real passion for online business systems and technology. Shortly, my business was fully booked and I hung up my bookkeeping hat. Knowing I wanted to learn more, I went from being a VA to a Certified Online Business Manager where I helped busy entrepreneurs organize, run and grow 
their online business. I currently make about $8,000 a month, but when I first started part time it was around $1,000 a month. – Sara Wagners

15. Virtual Assistant – $8,300+ a month

I started my VA business on December 1, 2008, and it’s been quite the journey. My hope was to replace my income (I was earning $82,000) within three years. By year two I had grossed over $60K, and by year three I had grossed more than $100K. – Michelle Mangen

16. Direct Sales Consultant – $8,300 a month

In the fall of 2000, I signed up with the direct sales company, Tastefully Simple. I have made a six figure income for years, but the intangible that is given to me through my job is more significant than the dollars. I have more friends, in more places than I ever could have imagined. I have traveled to over twenty places I would have never seen or afforded otherwise (many with my husband and totally free)!

We moved to our dream home on the water a few years ago while the kids are still home to enjoy it instead of after we retire. My three boys can not only go to college but choose where they want to go. I can’t put a price tag on financial freedom, but it is certainly an incredible deal for partying for a living – don’t you think? – Karen Huntley

17. Entrepreneurial Coach – $15,000 – $20,000+ a month

I run a business that provides training, support, and strategy consulting to doctors, therapists, coaches, thought leaders, and other idea-driven business owners. I work completely from home, although I travel regularly to speak and teach. I got started working from home after my daughter was born. My first website launched in January 2009 and I've been working on this iteration of my business for about five years. Most months, revenue for my business is about $15-$20k dollars. But it also pushes to $30-100k several times throughout the year. – Tara Gentile

18. Virtual Assistant – $30,000 a month

My company now turns over around $30,000 a month; I love to inspire other virtual assistants to go out there and really push the limits of their business which is why I have now posted two income reports, one in January this year and one from 3 years ago showing the company’s progress. – Michelle Dale

19. Blogger and Course Creator – $90,000+ a month

I run a blog and coaching business. I make an average of $70,000 a month, and in July of 2016, I made over $112,000. I started my business on the side of my full-time job. It all started as just a blog, and then it quickly grew from there. – Michelle Schroeder

How are you making money from home?

Whichever of these practical ideas you choose, you’ll be well on your way to earning extra money in any given month.

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Originally published June 3, 2015. Content updated June 12, 2017.

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