20 Ways To Make Money Online and Offline in Australia

1. Pick up freelance work online

Freelancing websites offer opportunities to do a variety of contract work, such as writing, programming, design, marketing, data entry and being a virtual assistant. No matter what freelancing you do, keep track of the going rate for the kind of work you provide so you know if you’re charging the right amount. 

2. Sell your own products online

Are you a budding artist or a craft-fiend? If so, you can sell your goods online. 

Sell your handmade items: Have a penchant for woodworking, jewellery-making, embroidery or pottery? If so, you can sell your goods on various platforms built for artisans selling home goods, art and knickknacks.

Sell digital goods and prints on demand: Some sites let you upload your artwork to sell as prints, T-shirts, phone cases and more. There are also marketplaces specifically designed for photographers. Depending on the site you use, a subscription fee may be required, but these sites typically provide additional perks like cloud storage, password-protected galleries or customised website. You’ll need to have all the necessary rights to the images you sell before you start.

Setup an e-commerce site: Want more freedom? You can set up your own website and sell goods directly to the consumer.

3. Start dropshipping

Dropshipping is the process of selling products online that are shipped by the supplier, not you. You’re essentially a middle man, facilitating the sale of goods between a manufacturer and buyer. There are various dropshipping platforms that connect you with suppliers, both local and international, and ship the products for you. 

4. Become a private online tutor

Turn your maths, science, foreign language or HSC-prep expertise into a lucrative side gig by becoming a private tutor. You can tutor people online or in person. What you charge depends on your experience, expertise and what’s in demand. To get started, sign up for an online tutor platform and create a profile. You can also advertise your services at local schools, universities and community centres.

5. Sell your gently used clothes

Selling clothes you no longer wear is a quick way to make some money. Start with local consignment shops to make money quickly or use online sites to find buyers. If you go the online route, be sure to take clear, well-lit photos of your pieces and research similar items to set competitive prices. If you sell your clothes through online consignment platforms, the items may go through various inspections before being accepted, and some sites may only accept certain brands. 

6. Offer online translation or transcription services

Fluent in a second language? Check online job boards and specialised sites, or drum up business through a site of your own. If you’re a quick typer, you may have a good chance of getting transcription work through sites with stricter application standards.

7. Test websites and apps

Another way to make money from home is on sites. You get paid for your thoughts on how well — or not so well — certain websites and apps worked. You’ll have to complete a short test to be accepted and then you’ll be paid depending on the test type.

8. Pick up tasks on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk

Even in the age of automation, some jobs still require a human touch. Companies often outsource those jobs to services like Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. As a “worker,” the tasks you’ll be assigned can be tedious — tagging images, transcribing videos, cleaning up data — and can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Temporary employers or “requesters” set the price for each task and get to approve the finished product before paying you. That can leave room for scams, so do your research. 

9. Complete surveys for money

You can make money from home by taking online surveys, but don’t expect to be rolling in dough. Survey sites don’t typically offer a big payoff, and many sites are more useful for earning gift cards than cash. Survey sites could be an option for how to make money online for beginners because you can register with a site and start taking surveys in a matter of minutes. 

10. Make money on social media

Whether you’re a wannabe video blogging or fashion influencer, there are ways to monetise your passion. 

Make money from your blog as an affiliate: If you’re a blogger who gets decent traffic, you could make money by joining an affiliate network. Affiliates (that’s you) get paid when someone clicks through from the website to the partner site and buys something there.

Get advertising revenue from your blog or YouTube channel: Turn your cat videos into cash videos. If your YouTube videos or blog posts draw a big audience, you may be able to make money from advertising. YouTube sets 1,000 subscribers as the benchmark creators must make before applying for the YouTube Partners Program. YouTube Partners then get access to Google AdSense, a service that businesses pay through to advertise around your content. The service is free, but there are requirements you must meet. 

Become an Instagram or TikTok influencer: Companies are using influencers — people with large, dedicated followings on social media platforms — to rep their products. You can get in on the action by applying for opportunities via a marketing platform or by contacting the brands you want to work with.

Monetise your Twitch channel: Gaming could be a way to make money from home if you have a steady following on Twitch, the go-to site for gamers. Broadcasters can receive donations from viewers and even get a share of subscription and ad revenue if they reach Affiliate or Partner status.

11. Trade in old phones or electronics for cash

Have an old smartphone, iPad or gaming system lying around? Sell it online or check out trade-in programs from third-parties. Alternatively, you can sell them directly to consumers online or at a garage sale. Just don’t forget to restore your device to factory settings first.

13. Rent out your car

If you don’t tend to use your car for days or weeks at a time, you may want to look into services that let you rent out your car by the hour or day. Typically, you take home the majority of those earnings, while the company earns a commission based on the type of plan you choose.

14. Sign up for AirTasker

If you enjoy putting together Ikea furniture or standing in long lines, you may be cut out for doing daily tasks for other people. Websites like AirTasker can connect you with people who need help with a variety of things, such as moving, cleaning, delivery and handyman services. The site also offers several virtual and online tasks, such as helping with a research project or data entry. 

15. Drive for a rideshare service

Join up to a rideshare service and make money by driving passengers around. Just don’t forget to factor in petrol and maintenance costs. You need an eligible car in good condition and must agree to a background check and a review of your driving history.

16. Make deliveries for Amazon or Uber Eats

Take advantage of the growing delivery trend where you sign up for a service and get paid per delivery, in most cases, and can even earn tips. A car isn’t always required — some services let you use a bike or scooter to make deliveries. However, a background check almost always is part of the deal. 

Some gig apps have waitlists, which means it can take a few months for your application to be approved. Applying for multiple delivery or rideshare apps at the same time can help increase your chances of getting work quickly.  

17. Sign up to be a mystery shopper

Businesses often want to know how they’re performing from a customer’s perspective. Sign up to be their eyes and ears. Just beware of scams and do thorough research before signing on.

18. Find seasonal work

Need a gig for a few months? Try something seasonal, like being a lifeguard or working at a retail store during the holidays. Employers typically staff up a month or two before their busy season, so plan ahead to get on their payroll.

19. Put your drone to work

The market for drones is expanding. Companies hire out work like aerial inspection, photography and land mapping. So if you’re already a drone enthusiast, why not make extra money with your aircraft? You first need to apply for a remotely piloted aircraft, or RPA, licence with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Then, you can apply for gigs as a drone pilot. 

20. List your spare bedroom on Airbnb

Renting out your home or spare bedroom on holiday rental sites like Airbnb is another way to make extra money. Be prepared to spend some money to clean and keep up the property. Scrutinise your rental agreement before you get started to double-check you’re allowed to have paying guests.

If you’re in the United States, read this article on the NerdWallet US site.