Hey there momma, are you wondering what online businesses for stay at home moms are the easiest to get started?
Online businesses are often much easier to start than your traditional brick-and-mortar businesses because they cost virtually nothing!
If you are strapped for cash and not afraid of work, then one of these ten online businesses for stay at home moms might be the perfect side gig for you!
[Read: Budgeting to be a Stay at Home Mom: How Much Should I Save?]
Ten super cheap or free online businesses you can start today
Many of these online business ideas are free to get started, and the ones that aren’t free cost almost nothing.
But be prepared to work at it! An online business does not equal lazy days with a computer at the beach! Contrary to what most people think. 🤣😂
Although you CAN take your laptop to the beach, you do need to remember that you are starting a business, and therefore, must treat it like a business. This means working every single day, and often for free, at least in the beginning.
It’ll take some time to grow your online business as well, so don’t give up just because you don’t see immediate profits! Just keep plugging away, a little every day.
With that said, let’s dive in, and find the perfect online business for you!
1. Blogging
Blogging is the business of choice for many stay at home moms. This is because blogging is downright fun! 😆
How to make money blogging: bloggers make money with affiliate marketing, advertisements, and sponsored posts. They also offer their own products and services.
How much does it cost to start a blog? You can start for free if you use free hosting platforms. But you are limited then with what you can do, and it doesn’t look as professional. It’s better to invest in a hosting service. I use Bluehost and love it. It costs only $4.95 a month your first year, and you get a free domain as well.
How much do bloggers make? Bloggers make anywhere from absolutely nothing (many bloggers fail) to millions of dollars. It all depends on you!
To inspire you: Ariana Huffington makes $250 million every year!
How to get started blogging: Just read this post: How to Start a Mom Blog – and go ahead and email me with any questions you have! I’m happy to help.
2. Freelancing
A lot of sahms also offer freelancing services, many times in conjunction with running a blog. This is because the fastest way to monetize a blog (make money off it) is to offer a service.
How to make money freelancing: if you have a skill, such as writing, editing, graphic design, website design, office assistance, social media expertise, accounting, etc., then you can offer your services to businesses on a contractual basis.
How much does it cost to get started freelancing? It literally costs nothing to get started. You can use free platforms, such as Fiver and Upwork, to offer your services. All you need is a computer and the internet.
But many freelancers start their own websites as well. If you decide to go that route, you will need hosting and a domain name.
How much do freelancers make? You can make anywhere from a couple hundred a month to a six-figure income, depending on how often you work and what you charge.
For inspiration: Copywriting is one of the highest-paying freelance careers! (I just saw one company paying $42 an hour yesterday and another paying $7,000 a month!)
How to get started with freelancing: First you need to decide what you are good at, and then chose a niche (aka, industry) to offer your services to.
For example, I like writing, so I offer my services to stay at home moms who are starting their own online businesses. I also write in the personal finance and lifestyle niches.
For more information on how to get started, read How to Become a Freelance Writer When You’re a Super Busy Mom.
3. Coaching
You may be surprised to learn that coaching is a viable online business opportunity!
How to make money coaching: All you need, to be a coach, is to have more knowledge about a topic than the person you are coaching. You don’t have to be an expert and you don’t need a fancy degree or certificate.
Common online coaching niches include fitness, business, healthy eating, goal setting, money management, weight loss, and lifestyle coaches.
How much does it cost to get started? It’s pretty cheap to get started coaching. All you basically need is a website, which will cost about five bucks a month if you use Bluehost.
How much do coaches make? You can make anywhere from zero dollars to millions of dollars, but the average is $61,628.
To inspire you: Tony Robbins is a very popular coach making around 6 billion a year.
How to get started with coaching: all you really need is to figure out who you want to coach and set up a website! Read this post to get started: How to Start an Online Life Coaching Career.
4. Digital products
Many stay at home moms sell digital products online, as a way to bring in extra money.
How to make money selling digital products: you can start your own website, and sell them on your site, or you can use a free or paid platform. Some common ones include Etsy and Creative Market.
You can sell anything from printables, to ebooks, to online courses…the sky is the limit!
How much does it cost to get started selling digital products? Ultimately, it depends on the platform you are using. Some are free while others may require a small investment.
How much can you make selling digital products? That all depends on you, your product, and your marketing capabilities. You can make anywhere from nothing to millions!
For inspiration: Steve and Jennifer Chou, from “My Wife Quit Her Job”, made around $80,000 a month (or $960,000 a year)!
How to get started selling digital products: It’s really easy. First, you need to have a product idea that solves a problem. Then, you create it, and finally, you sell it on an online platform or your own website.
Read How to Sell Digital Products.
5. Podcast
Podcasting is quite similar to blogging because you use your content (the podcast episodes) to sell products and services.
How to make money podcasting: Choose a niche and start creating episodes to sell either your own products and services or someone else’s, through affiliate marketing.
How much does it cost to get started with podcasting? It’s relatively cheap, but not free. You’ll do well to invest in a recording microphone, which costs around $50 because phones and computers are not high-quality recording devices. You can find free hosting platforms, though.
How much can you make from podcasting? Anywhere from a big fat zero to millions! It all depends on you.
For inspiration: Joe Rogan makes $30 million a year!!
How to get started podcasting: to get started, read How to Start a Podcast and Make Money in 2022.
6. Start a YouTube channel
Youtubing is also similar to blogging and podcasting.
How to make money YouTubing: Create video content to promote a product or service. You can also make money with advertisements.
How much does it cost to get started with YouTube? You can start for free, with your smartphone and free editing software!
How much can you make from YouTubing? Again, anywhere from a big fat zero to millions! It all depends on you.
For inspiration: Unspeakable makes $38 million!
How to get started YouTubing: to get started, read How to Start a YouTube Channel and Make Money: Beginner’s Guide
7. Become an Instagram influencer
Alas, Instagram falls into the same category as blogging, podcasting, and YouTubing.
How to make money from Instagram: Market your own life and promote products you use on an everyday basis through affiliates and sponsorships.
How much does it cost to get started with Instagram? Nothing! Just use your smartphone and free editing software!
How much can you make from Instagram? Again, anywhere from a big fat zero to millions! It all depends on you.
For inspiration: Christiano Ronaldo makes $880,259 to $1 million PER POST!!
How to get started with Instagram: read How to Become an Instagram Influencer and Make Money Now.
8. Consulting
Consulting is similar to freelancing, only rather than providing a service, you are offering your advice and expertise.
How to make money from consulting: You need to be an expert in your field. Your job is to help your client solve a problem or create a better strategy.
How much does it cost to get started consulting? Nothing! You can use similar platforms, as you would for freelancing, although it would be better to create your own website. You need to look professional, after all.
How much can you make from consulting? A couple hundred bucks a month to six figures, just like freelancing.
To inspire you: A systems consultant makes about $93,956 a year.
How to get started with Instagram: to get started, read How to Become a Consultant: 11 Steps to Doing it Right.
9. Dropshipping
Dropshipping is quickly becoming a hot way to make money online as a stay at home mom!
How to make money from dropshipping: You open an online store, but rather than carrying your own stock, you work with the manufacturer to fulfill orders. They ship the product as the orders come in, leaving you with a hassle-free side gig!
How much does it cost to get started dropshipping? It’s not totally free to get started, because you do need to work with the drop shipper, set up an online store, and you need to have a marketing plan. This can be ads, social media, a blog, YouTube, etc. Still, it can be relatively cheap to get started.
How much can you make from dropshipping? You can make anywhere from zero to $95,000 per month.
For inspiration: Irwin Dominquez went from zero to $1 million in 8 months!
How to get started with dropshipping: to get started, read How to Start a Drop Shipping Business: A Complete Playbook for 2022.
10. Sell T-shirts
Selling t-shirts online is very similar to drop shipping.
How to make money selling t-shirts: You design the t-shirts and sell them, either on your own website or another online platform, and another company actually creates the t-shirt and ships it out as the orders come in.
How much does it cost to get started selling t-shirts? Most platforms are free to get started on, but they do charge a percentage of the sale. You can use a free graphic design tool, such as Canva, to create your t-shirt designs.
How much can you make from selling t-shirts? You can make anywhere from zero to six figures – or more.
For inspiration: Benny Hsu made $100,000 in five months!
How to get started selling t-shirts online: to get started, read The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Print on Demand Business.
At the end of the day…
At the end of the day, momma, you want to start an online business so that you can afford to stay home with your children.
That’s what it’s all about. 🥰
So, here’s ten easy ideas you can start online for little to no cost at all, that have the potential to make huge amounts of money!!
I chose freelance writing, blogging, and selling digital products. 😆
Which one do you want to get started with?
More on starting an online business
19 Exciting Online Business Ideas: How to Make Money as a Stay at Home Mom
35 Online Mom Jobs that Actually Make Money for Stay at Home Moms!
Here’s How to Create the Best Work from Home Mom Schedule
The Secret to a Great Stay at Home Mom Schedule
Wanna Create the Best Ever Stay at Home Mom Schedule? Here’s How!
