A single mom can earn extra money through jobs with flexible hours (also called gig jobs). Best careers for single moms include freelance writing, online tutoring, virtual assistance, babysitting, and starting an online business, which can include blogging, e-commerce, or affiliate marketing. Having a flexible job will enable you to work from home while caring for your children.
Let’s be honest, though, as a single mom, you are already busy juggling parenting, household responsibilities, and financial obligations. So, finding time to earn extra money can seem impossible. Luckily, you can incorporate practical and flexible ways to fit work into your hectic schedule. If you are a single mother, looking for how to work as a single mom without help, or passive income for single mothers, these single mom business ideas may work for you.
In this guide, we will share 15 realistic ways for how to make money as a single mom, from freelance services to starting your own business. The goal is to help you reach your financial goals while still having quality time with your children.
How to Make Money as a Single Mom: Flexible Jobs and Ideas
1. Freelance Writing or Editing
Freelancing work is one of the most demanding and high paying jobs for single moms, and a great way how to work as a single mom from home. If you have a skill in writing or editing, platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr connect you with people needing blog posts, articles, or website content. You can work during nap times or at night after you put your kids to bed, so it’s great for single moms working from home. Over time, with content that will eventually rank, or through self-published ebooks, freelance writing can become a stream of passive income for single moms.
- How to start: Create profiles on freelance sites, share writing examples here, and look for blogs or companies that require content.
- Earning potential: $20 to $100 an hour, depending on experience and niche.
2. Virtual Assistance
For single mothers, working as a virtual assistant offers an attractive side income that allows them to work from home. For jobs like scheduling, social media management, email management, and customer service, businesses frequently need and engage virtual assistants. Thus, it is a flexible option for single moms who are looking for how to make extra money as a single mom without wasting their time in training.
- How to start: Join online communities such as Belay or Time Etc., or begin by contacting small businesses.
- Earning potential: $15-$50/hr, with the potential for longer contracts.
3. Online Tutoring or Teaching
If you have good knowledge about any subject or have a set of skills, online tutoring is an excellent option for how to make money as a single mom. For example, platforms like Tutor. com, Chegg, or VIPKid, give you opportunities to teach students online at any level. So it’s perfect for the stay-at-home single mom who needs a flexible schedule and is looking for how to make money as a single mom and be there for the kids.
- How to start: Create an account on tutoring websites, enter your credentials, and finish any necessary tests.
- Earning potential: Earnings vary greatly depending on the platform and subject, but they often fall between $10 and $60 per hour.
4. Selling Handmade Products or Crafts
If you are creative, then making and selling handcrafted items for an online store can be a great way for single moms to make some extra money from home. Whether it’s jewellery, home decor, or a customized gift, these single mom side hustles can help you turn your hobbies into cash. Furthermore, if your goods get popular, it’s also potentially a path to being a rich single mom.
- How to start: First, set up an Etsy shop. Make your product or digital goods with Canva or similar tools, then list them for sale. Lastly, advertise your company and goods on social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram.
- Earning potential: The pay rate is quite different; the most successful salespeople make $500 to $5000 per month.
5. Blogging or Content Creation
Blogging or starting a YouTube channel are two of the greatest business ideas for single mothers. They both enable them to generate both active and passive revenue. Share your parenting, recipes, or even lifestyle with your platform and then profit with ads, sponsorships, or affiliate marketing. This is great for single mothers looking for ideas on how to make money as a single mom, as they may build a flexible source of income over the years.
- How to start: Choose a niche, create your blog and YouTube channel, and consistently generate quality content.
- Earning Potential: Depending on the monetisation model you choose and the amount of traffic you receive, you could earn $100 to $10,000+ per month.
6. Dropshipping or E-Commerce
Dropshipping is a low-risk way to earn extra income for single moms by starting an online store without inventory, making it one of the best option for them to make money from home. Single moms do this through platforms like Shopify, and the supplier handles shipping. As a result, this one is an excellent choice for single moms who need to know how to make money fast as a single mom.
- How to start: First, look into popular products, set up a Shopify store, and use social media to promote it.
- Earning potential: $500–$10,000+ per month with hard work and smart marketing.
7. Childcare or Babysitting Services
8. Online Surveys and Microtasks
For moms who need quick extra income from side jobs for single moms, online surveys, and microtasks are a simple solution. Sites such as Swagbucks, Amazon Mechanical Turk, or UserTesting pay for survey completion, web testing, or small activities. However, not a road to being a rich single mom; it’s among the quickest and best careers for single moms to make some extra money.
- How to start: Sign up on multiple platforms to boost your chances, and try to complete a few tasks daily.
- Earning potential: $50–$500 monthly, depending on time invested.
9. Affiliate Marketing
If you’re searching for how to make money as a single mom, then remember that through affiliate marketing, you can sell a product and earn money through it as a referral fee for every purchase. Single moms searching for how to make money as a single mom can start this low-investment side business. By adding links to blogs and websites, they can earn from home and eventually turn it into a full-time income..
- How to start: Join affiliate programs like Amazon Associates or ClickBank, and integrate links into your content.
- Earning potential: A single mom can earn between $100 and over $5,000 a month. However, it depends on the size of her audience and her level of engagement.
10. Print-on-Demand Business
If you’re searching for how to make money as a single mom, then know that you can create and sell customized products (t-shirts, mugs, etc.) without having to maintain stocks by starting a print-on-demand company. Such services that let single moms make simple money by managing printing and shipping are TeeSpring and Printful. At this point, you can create products, sell them online or on social media, and make a profit with every sale.
- How to Start: Sign up for a POD platform, design items with free tools such as Canva. Then, promote them on social media or an online store.
- Earning Potential: $100 to $5,000+ per month, depending on design quality, size of your audience, and advertisement.
11. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
If you’re wondering how to make money as a single mom, and if you like animals, you can consider pet sitting and dog walking. Pet sitting, dog walking, and house sitting are flexible, fun ways to build some cash flow. Apps, such as Rover and Wag, will connect you with owners needing services like dog walking (the owner does not have to be at home all the time) or sitting their pets when the owner is on vacation. Moreover, pet sitting and dog walking fit around your free time, and require no special gear except animal love.
- How to Start: Register on Rover or Wag, then set up a profile highlighting your affection for animals and accept upcoming bookings.
- Earning Potential: $10–$50 per hour or per night, depending on services and location.
12. Online Course Creation
Developing and selling online courses is not only profitable for single moms but also a way to share experience (parenting, cooking, or professional skills) online, for those who are searching for how to make money as a single mom. Sites such as Udemy, Teachable, or Skillshare let you develop your courses to be sold and also earn passive income in the future. Consequently, this job is Ideal for single mothers who are looking for how to make money as a single mom and long-term passive income for the future.
- How to Start: Select a course idea, use a video editing tool to create it, and upload it on platforms like Teachable. Then promote through social media or a blog.
- Earning Potential: $100 to $10,000 + each month, depending on how well the course sells and how much you market it
13. Personal Shopping or Errand Running
Personal shopping or errand running is a great side hustle for single moms. You will help busy people with errands, such as grocery shopping or picking up dry cleaning. There’s even a platform like TaskRabbit, which connects you to clients, and you can set your rates. Also, it’s flexible, and the best part is that you can include your kids and make errands into quality family time.
- How to Start: Sign up on TaskRabbit, make a profile, and offer your services in the area where you live. Advertise your availability through local groups.
- Earning Potential: $20–$100 per hour, depending on tasks and location.
14. Transcription Services
Recording audio or video into written text is a flexible side job for single mothers with good typing accuracy and speed. For how to make money as a single mom, you may transcribe legal recordings, podcasts, or interviews at home with websites like Rev or TranscribeMe.
- How to Start: Register for transcription services, complete any necessary tests, and start taking jobs.
- Earning Potential: $10–$30 per hour; higher rates for expert transcription, such as medical or legal.
15. Renting Out Space on Airbnb
If you have an extra bedroom or some extra empty space in your home, clean it and prepare it for seasonal guests. Rent it to workers or those traveling and visiting your region for a consistent and dependable small income with very little work on your part. This could be useful for single mothers who can rent the spare part of their home on weekends or those times when their kids are with the other parent.
- How to Start: Set up an Airbnb listing, make sure local laws are followed, and concentrate on building a neat, inviting environment.
- Earning Potential: Depending on location and availability, $100 to $5,000+ monthly.
Tips for Single Moms Starting a Side Hustle
As a single mom, starting a side hustle can feel time-consuming, but taking it one step at a time can help alleviate the pressure. Here are some tips to help you for how to make money as a single mom:
- Use your expertise: Start with something you are already competent in. This could be anything from writing and teaching to crafts and resume building.
- Use free resources at first: Utilize free tools, like Canva, WordPress, and social media, while you establish your new hustle, rather than worrying about initial investments.
- Work around your schedule: Use 1-3 (nap time, school time, evenings) and then commit to a few more hours as you gain experience.
- Focus on one idea: Choose one hustle that you want to get started on and build it slowly from there.
Mistakes to Avoid When Earning Money as a Single Mom
While gathering ideas of how to make money as a single mom, here are some common mistakes to avoid:
- Expecting overnight success – Building income takes time and consistency.
- Not tracking expenses – Always separate personal and business finances to understand your real earnings.
- Overcommitting – Don’t take on more than you can manage; burnout affects both you and your kids.
- Ignoring self-care – Remember, your health and energy are your biggest assets in any hustle.
Final Thoughts on How to Make Money as a Single Mom
Being a single mom is a full-time job by itself, but figuring out how to make money as a single mom or extra streams of income doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether it’s freelance work, tutoring, or starting a small online business, there are many flexible options that can adapt to your home life and parenting needs and generate passive Income for single moms. The secret is to start small, be consistent, and choose something that excites you most.
Remember, learning how to make money as a single mom is about more than simply covering bills – it is about having an independent source of income that feels empowering, and is creating a positive future for you and your children.
You can do these little things – you have the strength, skills, and determination to make things happen, one at a time. With some hard work, you can even become one of the rich single moms running successful home businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
For single moms, side hustles can include freelance options such as writing, virtual assistant work, and online tutoring, all of which present great flexibility. Other flexible options for earning money as a single mom include selling products online, pet care, or renting out some property and making income from home.
Customer service, data entry, and social media manager positions often require few qualifications, making them ideal side jobs for single mothers without a degree. In addition to these work-from-home options, other best second jobs for single moms include childcare provider and delivery driver jobs, which generally allow single moms to earn money quickly without a formal college education.
Yes, you can begin dropshipping in the kids, babysitting, or crafting-related business with no experience. For example, you can utilize online workshops and free resources to learn the basics and get started.
Selecting flexible jobs, such as blogging or dropshipping, and working during nap times or evenings helps single mothers work from home. Moreover, give tasks fitting with your parenting schedule top priority.
The internet provides endless income opportunities. From blogging and affiliate marketing to dropshipping and online courses, these online jobs help single moms build sustainable income streams.
