If you have been racking your brain on how to make money working from home and online in Canada and the United States, this list of creative side hustles is for you. There are so many real ways to earn additional income when you need to.
Whether you need to make money fast to pay off debt or meet a specific financial need, or you are simply looking for money-making ideas that provide a steady income and Online Shop can replace your 9-5 day job, there’s something for everyone.
Earning extra money using online and work from home jobs can change your life in so many positive ways. You can:Save for retirementPay off debt and stop living paycheck to paycheckChoose to become your own bossDiversify your income sources, de-stress, and improve your quality of lifeTake a much-needed vacationHelp othersSave for your kid’s future college educationEarn cash anywhere in the world and become location independent
This list is not meant to sell you get-rich-quick schemes. To make extra money, you do not necessarily need previous experience but will have to put in some effort.
So, buckle up and come along to see the various ways you can make money working online, from home, and with a part or full-time side gig.
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If you have an internet connection, a laptop/desktop, and can work a mouse, you can take on one or a combination of these legitimate work from home jobs and earn real cash.
The online economy is huge and in most cases, the investment required to participate is minimal. You can make money simply by using your phone.
Below are strategies on how to earn money online in Canada.1. Start a Profitable Blog
A blog is one of the easiest ways to reach a large targeted audience or market. Your blog may be structured to provide free information that people are looking for and/or sell useful products. It is so easy to start a blog these days with web hosting as cheap as $5.25 CAD or $3.95 USD per month.
I have put together an easy and free step-by-step guide you can follow to set up your blog in 30 minutes.
There are many ways to make money from your blog including advertisements, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts. You can earn $1,000s per month with your blog and no previous experience is required.2. Participate in Market Research
Answering online surveys is one way to make money online. While there are many scam surveys on the internet, the best-paid survey sites on my list are worth joining.
Survey Junkie: This survey site is one of the highest paying with members getting several opportunities to make money. Sign up here.
Swagbucks: Complete surveys and earn cash. They have paid members more than $625 million to date. Get a $5 sign-up bonus.
Daily Rewards (Canada): Earn cash by taking surveys plus a $5 sign-up bonus. Americans can sign up for their sister site, Inbox Dollars.
Branded Surveys: This Canada-based rewards site pays you to answer surveys and complete other simple tasks. Join Branded Surveys (+ 100 bonus points).
Pinecone Research: You can earn $3 to $5 per survey with this site. Sign up here.
Ipsos i-Say: Earn rewards when you complete surveys. Join Ipsos i-Say.
Lifepoints: Start earning cash right away when you sign up by completing short surveys. Sign up here.
Harris Poll Online: This is one of the oldest paid survey sites in the world. Get started here.
You can redeem your rewards using PayPal cash or for gift cards from popular retailers like Amazon, Starbucks, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, iTunes, and others.3. Become a Proofreader
Do you have an eye for catching spelling or grammar errors present on any piece of writing? If so, proofreading may be the gig for you.
Proofreaders can work from anywhere in the world. Want to travel and make money while you are on the other side of the world? A proofreading business keeps making money as long as you have access to the internet.
Caitlyn from Proofreading Anywhere made over $43,000 in one year as a proofreader and now she teaches others how to get started. Sign up for her free workshop.
Even if you only make this a side gig, it can really be worth your while when you have the right tools.4. Use Cash Back Shopping Apps
Use cash back shopping apps to make money whenever you spend on groceries and other items. The best cash back apps can reward you with up to 35% in cash back. They are free and easy to use and all you need is a phone, tablet, or computer.
KOHO: Earn cash back on all your spending when you pay with debit (cash) using the KOHO app and card. The free KOHO app is available to Canadians and pays 0.50% in cash back. Sign up to get a welcome $20 cash bonus (promo code CASHBACK is automatically applied).
Check out my complete KOHO review. The bonus is credited to your account after your first purchase with the card. Note that KOHO is only available in Canada.
Drop: Earn cash back automatically when you shop at 5 of your favourite retailers. Available in both Canada and the U.S. Sign up for Drop plus a $5 bonus.
Rakuten: Earn cash back with just a click whenever you shop online at more than 2,000 stores. Sign up here to get a $10 bonus after your first purchase of $25 or more. You can cash out your earnings via PayPal.
Ampli: Available in Canada. New cashback offers are available every week. Cash-out when you have a balance of $15 or more. Sign up here and get a $5 welcome bonus. You can also read my Ampli review.
Other cash back apps you could try are Caddle, Ibotta, Receipt Hog, and Paribus (U.S.).5. Sell Products Online
You can sell products online to a worldwide market. It is very easy to set up an online shop through Shopify in just a few hours. Shopify has everything you need to get an e-commerce store up and running in no time.
The products you sell online do not have to be made by you. You can set up your shop with virtual products and have them shipped directly to the customer through dropshipping. Basically, you hold no inventory. Customer service, shipping, returns, etc., is managed by the manufacturer.
If you are creative and have a hobby making arts and crafts, you can also sell your handmade creations (e.g. printables) on Shopify or Etsy.
Get started with Shopify with a 14-day free trial (no credit card required)!6. Automate Your Investing
How much can you make when you automatically invest your spare change?
Don’t wait until you have large sums of money to invest. Automatic investing apps can help you invest or save your loose change without impacting your lifestyle.
Moka (formerly Mylo) (Canada): Use this app to invest your spare change in low-cost ETFs and start building wealth. Sign up with Mylo and receive a $5 bonus. You can also read my detailed Moka review.
When you have more funds to invest ($500 and more), consider using robo-advisors like Wealthsimple (get a $75 cash bonus) to simplify the investment process, and save on fees.
Digit (United States): This app analyzes your spending and automatically saves money on your behalf. You can also check out the popular Acorns app in the U.S.7. Rent Out Your Car or Deliver Food Orders
You can easily rent out your car on Turo in Canada and the United States. This opportunity offers one of the best passive income ideas you can use if you have a car that seats idle on your driveway.
Listing your car is free on the platform and you earn up to 90% of the fees paid by the renter. Turo also offers you comprehensive insurance.
Alternatively, you can deliver food using your car and earn cash during your spare time. Two of the best food delivery app jobs are DoorDash and Instacart.
Here are some other food delivery jobs.8. Make Money With Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing involves promoting products provided by others and earning a commission when a sale is completed. While most bloggers use their blogs to promote affiliate campaigns, you do not need a blog in order to make money from this online opportunity.
Non-bloggers can use social media like Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc. to make tons of money promoting products that people need.
Michelle’s course, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, shows you how to master the art of affiliate marketing and how she makes $100,000+ every month. Find out how she makes money.9. Sell Services on a Freelance Job Site
Believe me when I say that you have a skill people are willing to pay for. Online sites like Fiverr, Freelancer, 99 designs, and Upwork have thousands of people looking to pay for services such as article writing, data entry, pranks, relationship advice, proofreading, pranks, voice-overs, translation, logo design, resume writing, transcription services, ebook creation, and other gigs.
You can set your own price and the income potential is $5 to $1,000 per project.10. Install Mobile Apps
If you are okay with installing an app on your smartphone that monitors your internet usage and gathers data for research, this gig is for you.