Making money online can be a great way to supplement your income and can even be a full-time job. We've compiled 35 popular ways to get started.
If you are more interested in advice on how to choose the best way to earn money for you, or information on the legal aspects of online income, you can access that information directly .
How to make money online: freelancing and remote work
With a computer and a good internet connection, you can take on various types of jobs, ranging from short-term to long-term. However, be aware that you need self -employed status to be able to sign freelance contracts with other companies (even through online platforms).
1. Perform online tasks as a freelancer
Online freelancing involves offering your skills to third parties. You may already know your clients, or find them on platforms like Fiverr , Malt , or Upwork . You can accept various assignments such as writing, graphic design, or social media management. Keep in mind that all your skills can be monetized.
You can dedicate just a few hours a month to it in your free time, or make it your main activity. Furthermore, it allows you to work with clients from all over the world. However, it will require perseverance and a good reputation to make a living as a freelancer .
2. Become a website tester
Being a website tester involves evaluating a website according to your client's criteria. This might include testing features, performance, or the user interface's usability. You can test websites before or after they go live. As a tester, your role is to report bugs or usability issues, for example. You will also be asked to provide your overall opinion on the website and its user experience.
Depending on the tasks, more or less technical skills may be required. Platforms like UserTesting , Testapic , or Ferpection allow you to find paid assignments.
3. Offer transcription services
Being a transcriber means transcribing videos or audio recordings into text. Your clients will provide you with various types of content, such as interviews, conferences, or podcasts. Your job is to listen to them and write down what you hear. Depending on the client's needs, you may have to rewrite sentences to make them easier to read.
Some fields require specific knowledge (legal, medical, etc.). Platforms like Rev , Scribie , or TranscribeMe make it easy to find assignments.
4. Provide virtual assistant services
Becoming a virtual assistant means helping others (entrepreneurs, businesses, or individuals) manage administrative, organizational, or commercial tasks. You might be required to manage emails, schedule appointments, enter data, provide customer support, or manage social media. Platforms like Upwork , Fiverr , and Freelancer allow you to find assignments that match your skills and experience. With experience, you can specialize in specific areas (HR, accounting, digital marketing).
5. Work as a writer or content manager
Web writing is a field where you need to produce written content for various platforms: blogs, websites, product descriptions, or social media posts. Content management involves overseeing the creation of this content to ensure its relevance and impact.
This type of role requires a strong command of the language and skills in search engine optimization (SEO). The biggest advantage of these jobs is the opportunity for career advancement by specializing in copywriting, storytelling, or content marketing.
6. Managing social media communities
A community manager is responsible for their clients' social media accounts. They must manage and moderate these accounts and develop online communities. They may work on large platforms such as Facebook , Instagram , X , or TikTok . Their responsibilities include creating and sharing content, interacting with followers, responding to messages, and analyzing their performance. A community manager can work for a company, an agency, or as a freelancer for their own clients.
7. Participate in market research
Participating in market research involves giving your opinion on products or services by answering questionnaires. Some brands even send free products for participants to test and rate. You may also be asked to participate in group discussions about the product or service being sold. Platforms like Toluna , Swagbucks , and Testapic provide access to these opportunities and allow you to be paid based on your time.
Making money online: content creation and sales
Content creation and sales are jobs where you need to build a following and a community to earn money. In addition to using your creativity, you may also need to interact regularly with your subscribers.
8. Create a blog
You can create your own blog and share specific content: your travels, recipes, opinions, or even your personal development journey. You can monetize it in several ways: with advertising, sponsored articles, affiliate content, or by promoting a product or service and getting paid for it.
Starting your own blog is very simple and free on platforms like WordPress or Blogger . However, the competition is fierce, and you'll need solid SEO knowledge to be visible.
9. Create a YouTube channel or a video blog
If writing isn't your strong suit, you can start a video blog. On platforms like YouTube or social media, you can produce video content on topics you enjoy. These topics can be educational or entertaining and revolve around your passions.
Monetization of this content is achieved through YouTube ads, partnerships, or affiliate marketing. This type of blog requires consistent posting to engage your community and comply with your social media algorithms.
10. Launch a podcast
Podcasting is another format for creating content and sharing it with your community. During your audio recordings, you can talk about many topics: current events, personal development, culture, entrepreneurship, or life stories.
You can monetize your podcast through advertising, sponsorships, or paid subscriptions. Platforms like Spotify , Apple Podcasts , and Anchor make it easy to publish and distribute your episodes.
11. Develop online courses or video tutorials
Creating online courses or video tutorials is about sharing your expertise on a specific topic. You can teach photography if you're a photographer, or language courses if you're bilingual.
You can create free courses or tutorials that you monetize through advertising or affiliate marketing. By placing products for brands in your videos, you can earn money.
12. Selling course recordings
Your courses and tutorials can also be monetized. You can record yourself teaching subjects you've mastered and share your knowledge online. Platforms like Udemy , Teachable , Podia , and Gumroad allow you to broadcast your courses and get paid for them.
Generally, this type of content requires more equipment and needs to be more professional than free videos. However, it has the advantage of quickly generating passive income if your recordings are well-received.
13. Writing and publishing e-books
Ebooks are entirely digital books that don't exist in print. You can write on many different subjects and self-publish for free. You can write novels, essays, educational books, or guides and sell them on sites like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Kobo , Apple Books , or Gumroad .
By self-publishing, you have complete control over your content, pricing, and marketing strategy. Self-publishing also avoids the constraints associated with traditional publishing houses.
14. Selling photos and videos
Whether you're a photographer or videographer, you can sell your creations online. Platforms like Shutterstock , Adobe Stock , iStock , and Alamy allow you to offer your work for free.
Typically, this content is purchased by businesses, content creators, or marketing agencies to illustrate their websites or advertising campaigns. Once the files are online, they can be resold multiple times with minimal effort.
15. Selling digital products (drawings, illustrations, models)
Selling digital products involves creating downloadable files such as drawings, illustrations, graphic models, icons, fonts, or templates for software like Photoshop , Canva , or Wordpress .
Platforms like Etsy , Gumroad , Creative Market , and Redbubble allow you to easily sell your creations. This type of project offers great creative freedom and the opportunity to monetize your talent.
16. Becoming a brand ambassador
Brand ambassadors are successful individuals who partner with brands. They extol the virtues and promote the values of these brands through their own networks. Brands seek out influencers, content creators, or people with an engaged community to recommend their products through sponsored posts, product reviews, or promotional events.
You first need to build a loyal community to then attract the interest of brands. The more followers you have on your social media, the more lucrative partnerships can be.
17. Engage in affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing involves promoting other companies' products or services on your website, blog, or social media. In exchange for this promotion, you can receive a commission on each sale generated through your referral.
Affiliate platforms like Amazon Associates , ClickBank , or Rakuten allow you to choose products to promote and track your performance. You can also join affiliate programs specific to certain sectors or brands.
How to make money online: commerce and rentals
Everything is accessible on the internet. And you can participate in online commerce at your own level. There are many types of products and services you can offer online, both nationally and internationally.
18. Selling second-hand items and clothing online
In addition to clearing out your closets and decluttering your home, reselling your unwanted items or clothes is an eco-friendly approach. Platforms like Vinted , Leboncoin , eBay , and Depop allow you to list your belongings in just a few clicks.
You can also hunt for interesting items at low prices and resell them for a profit. For example, the sneaker market is a real financial market. You can buy limited-edition pairs and offer them at exorbitant prices on these platforms.
19. Selling handmade products on Etsy
Etsy is a global marketplace specializing in the sale of handmade, vintage, and craft products. If you are crafty and creative, you can offer your handmade creations such as jewelry, decorations, clothing, accessories, or even personalized items.
You'll need to acquire marketing skills (high-quality photos, detailed descriptions, SEO optimization) to attract potential customers to your shop. This type of job allows you to develop your own unique brand and monetize your talents.
20. Starting dropshipping
Dropshipping is an online sales model where you don't need to manage any product inventory. Essentially, you create an online store and offer items for sale, but you don't physically own any of those products. When a customer places an order, you purchase it directly from a supplier who then ships it to the customer on your behalf.
21. Open an online store
Opening an online store involves creating a website to sell physical or digital products. Several solutions exist for this purpose, such as Shopify , WooCommerce , or BigCommerce , which allow you to easily set up a store, manage payments, and track orders.
Products can range from clothing and accessories to handcrafted items or digital services such as training courses or ebooks. Skills in search engine optimization (SEO), online advertising, and influencer marketing are essential.
22. Offer on-demand printing services
Print-on-demand (POD) services allow you to sell personalized products, such as t-shirts, mugs, posters, or bags, without having to manage inventory. When a customer places an order, the item is manufactured and shipped directly by a supplier, such as Printful or Printify , which handles the printing and logistics. You, as the seller, are responsible for creating the designs and managing your online store.
23. Buying and reselling domain names
Buying and reselling domain names involves purchasing inexpensive or undervalued internet domains and then reselling them at a higher price to interested individuals or businesses. This can include generic domain names, popular brands, or specific terms that have value based on market trends.
Platforms like GoDaddy , Namecheap , and Sedo allow you to manage the buying and selling of domain names. You can make profits on relatively small, or even zero, investments if you are able to identify domains with high potential.
24. Rent out your property
Renting out your property means letting out a piece of real estate that you own. This could be a room or outbuilding directly in your home, an entire apartment, or even a house.
Platforms like Airbnb , Booking.com , and Vrbo make it easy to connect with short-term tenants. This type of business can be adapted depending on the rental duration and the type of property (short-term, seasonal, or long-term).
Make money online using your technical and development skills
If you are skilled in IT or trained in digital software, you can sell your services in various forms.
25. Create websites and web applications
If you have programming skills (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.) or UX/UI design experience, you can offer your services to create websites. From design to deployment, you can get paid to create digital platforms tailored to your clients' specific needs. Keep in mind that even with limited programming skills, platforms like WordPress or Shopify allow you to create custom websites.
26. Develop mobile applications and software
Developing mobile applications and software involves creating programs designed for use on mobile devices (smartphones, tablets) or computers (desktop software). You can create utility applications, games, productivity applications, management tools, or industry-specific software.
This type of development requires programming skills (Swift, Kotlin, Java, C++, Python) and an understanding of mobile platforms (iOS, Android) or software development environments (Windows, MacOS, Linux).
27. Create designs and illustrations to sell
Creating designs and illustrations involves designing graphic works that you can offer on online marketplaces like Etsy , Redbubble , Society6 , or Creative Market . You can create original illustrations, designs for t-shirts, posters, logos, icons, or even graphic elements for websites. The tools used are often design software like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop , or online design platforms like Canva .
How to make money online: investments and finance
If you're comfortable online and have an interest in finance, you can certainly generate income online by combining these two skills. These methods can't really be considered "work" in the traditional sense, but investing can yield returns. Keep in mind, however, that all stock market transactions carry significant risk, and bank investments rarely offer substantial returns.
28. Investing in the stock market
Investing in the stock market involves buying shares, bonds, mutual funds, or other financial instruments with the hope of making a capital gain or receiving dividends. Investors can buy securities directly through online brokers or invest in indices or funds to diversify their portfolios. Stock market investments can be made for the short, medium, or long term, depending on your investment strategy.
29. Make financial investments through online banks
Investing through online banks involves investing in financial products such as stocks, bonds, investment funds, or fixed-term accounts using online banking platforms. These platforms often offer lower management fees and direct access to financial markets. Online banks also make it easy to manage your investment portfolio with personalized tracking and advisory tools.
Making money online in the fields of education and consulting
To make money online, you can offer educational content or courses. You can also mentor people and share some of your skills with them.
30. Become an online mentor or teacher
Becoming an online mentor or teacher gives you the opportunity to offer courses or educational support remotely. You can offer your services in academic subjects (mathematics, languages, sciences) or in more specific areas (music, programming, personal development).
Platforms like Preply and iTalki offer opportunities to tutor students. Lessons can be one-on-one or in groups, using tools like Zoom , Skype , or Google Meet .
Depending on your skills, there are also specialized platforms. For example, if you have experience in the world of software development, sites like OpenClassrooms regularly seek mentors.
31. Work as a life coach or consultant
Working as a life coach or consultant involves supporting individuals or companies in achieving their goals. You can advise them on a personal level (stress management, building self-confidence, work-life balance) or on a professional level (business strategy, career management, leadership).
You can offer your services through video conferences, webinars, or online programs. As a life coach or consultant, you can specialize in a specific niche or offer more general services.
32. Teaching languages or other skills online
If you are fortunate enough to speak several languages or have a particular skill, you can teach your knowledge online. In addition to sharing your expertise in a specific field (such as English, Spanish, computer programming, photography, etc.) through online courses, you can also earn money.
Platforms like iTalki , Preply or Udemy allow teachers to create online courses, offer live sessions or provide educational resources that students can follow at their own pace.
Make money quickly online: micro-tasks and paid searches
If you want to start earning money without dedicating all your time to it, you can integrate micro-tasks into your daily routine or participate in paid research. This type of work allows you to maintain your routine while generating income.
33. Responding to paid surveys
Taking paid surveys involves participating in online surveys to give your opinion on products or services. These surveys are offered by companies seeking to gather information to improve their offerings or marketing strategies.
In exchange for your participation, you receive rewards in the form of cash, vouchers, or points redeemable for products or services. For example, you can purchase a product in-store and receive a refund if you complete a questionnaire about it.
34. Perform micro-tasks
Performing microtasks involves completing small, often very simple, online tasks such as transcribing texts, verifying data, or categorizing content. Platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) offer these tasks, which are generally paid per task.
Microtasks can be done anytime, flexibly, and require no special skills. Although repetitive, these small tasks can be completed at any time, for example, during your commute on public transport, and allow you to earn a little extra income.
35. Testing products and sharing reviews
Product testing and reviewing involves receiving free or discounted items in exchange for your honest and detailed feedback. Many companies, through platforms like BzzAgent , Influenster , or SampleSource , offer this opportunity to gather feedback on their products before they are released or to improve existing ones. You may be asked to test a variety of products: cosmetics, electronic gadgets, food products, and more.
How to choose the best way to make money online without investing?
To choose the most suitable method for making money online:
- Choose an activity that matches your talents and level of expertise. For example, if you have writing skills, blogging or content management could be good options. If you're good at design, selling digital creations or freelancing as a graphic designer might be more suitable.
- Choose jobs you have time to complete. Some methods, like micro-tasks or paid surveys, require little time but also pay less. Others, like creating a blog, a YouTube channel, or an online business, require a significant initial investment of time and effort before becoming profitable.
- Evaluate how much you can realistically earn with each method. Affiliate marketing, selling digital products, or freelance services can offer significant income, while paid surveys or micro-tasks are often less lucrative.
- Find out about legal and tax obligations. Some activities require you to declare your income, create a micro-enterprise, or comply with specific regulations, particularly for selling products or investing in the stock market.
- Choose an activity that aligns with your values. For example, prioritize responsible investments, sell digital products rather than physical ones to reduce your carbon footprint, or avoid unethical practices such as promoting low-quality products through affiliate marketing.
Making money on the Internet: what does the law say?
In France, any regular activity that generates income must be declared. If your income is occasional, it must be reported on your tax return. As soon as your turnover becomes significant, registering a business is mandatory.
The micro-entrepreneur status is the simplest, with a revenue ceiling of €77,700 for services and €188,700 for sales. It has simple accounting requirements and is exempt from VAT up to €36,800 (services) and €91,900 (sales).
Social security contributions vary between 12.3% (sale of goods) and 21.2% (services). Above these thresholds, you must opt for a sole proprietorship (EI), a single-member limited liability company (EURL), or a simplified joint-stock company with a single shareholder (SASU), subject to income tax or corporation tax (15% to 25%).
0 Comments