Balancing parenting with earning money can be a challenge, especially with rising child care costs making the decision to stay home even tougher. However, today’s flexible work options provide opportunities to add to family income while caring for your kids. Whether you want to use skills from your past career on a more flexible basis or try simple ways to earn extra cash that fit your schedule, there are numerous side hustle ideas that you can balance with parenting.
Care and service-based side hustles
Child care: Child care can be an ideal side business for stay-at-home parents. You’ll care for other children while being there for your own, using your parenting experience to help other families. Pros include your kids getting built-in playdates and social interaction, working from home in a familiar environment, and using skills you already have as a parent. Cons include managing multiple children requiring extra energy and attention, your home becoming a workplace, and some states requiring licensing for informal home child care. The earning potential for child care is around $21.50 per hour, with rates varying by location and local market prices. To get started, chat with other parents in your neighborhood and see if they need daytime child care.
Pet sitting: If you want to earn money caring for others without watching more children, consider dog walking or pet sitting. Pros include working around your family’s schedule, spending time outdoors with your kids while walking dogs, and choosing which services to offer based on your preferences. Cons include some pets needing special care or having dietary restrictions, needing to travel to clients’ homes, and high-energy pets requiring more attention and time. Pet sitters typically charge $25 for a 30-minute visit, with overnight pet sitting in your home earning even more. To get started, create profiles on Rover or Wag, or advertise your services on Nextdoor.
Fitness coaching: If you’re passionate about fitness, coaching could be your ideal side business. Pros include setting flexible hours for in-person or virtual training, staying active while earning money, and building connections in your community. Cons include needing to travel to gyms or training locations, child care costs affecting your earning potential, and requiring initial certification. Fitness coaches earn between $40 and $100 per hour, with $60 as the national average. To get started, get certified in your chosen fitness specialty, then contact local gyms about training opportunities.
Online tutoring: Share your expertise—whether it’s speaking multiple languages, knitting, or writing résumés—by teaching others online. Pros include reaching students worldwide from home, setting your own schedule, and choosing subjects you’re passionate about. Cons include keeping students engaged virtually taking extra effort, competition from established tutoring platforms, and finding consistent student bookings. Tutors typically earn $18 to $30 per hour through online tutoring platforms. To get started, connect with mentees live through networks like Wyzant and Preplay.
Photography: Turn your eye for capturing family moments into a photography services business. Many parents who’ve mastered photographing their own kids find success in child and family photography. Pros include scheduling shoots around family commitments, working from home or on location, and building a creative portfolio. Cons include photo editing taking significant time, equipment costs being high initially, and managing client expectations and deadlines. Experienced photographers can earn $100 to $300 per hour, according to VSCO. To get started, offer your services to families in your network and increase your portfolio and business through social media and word-of-mouth referrals.
Creative and design side hustles
Freelance graphic design: Use your graphic design skills to create logos, social media graphics, and marketing materials for clients. Pros include working remotely on your schedule, expressing creativity through work, and choosing projects that interest you. Cons include building a consistent client base taking time, managing multiple project deadlines, and staying current with design trends. The national range for freelance graphic designer is $19 to $48 per hour on average. To get started, create a portfolio of your work, including logos, social media graphics, and marketing materials. Then, connect with potential clients through freelance networks like Upwork or Dribbble.
Freelance video editing: With 88% of businesses prioritizing video marketing but lacking time to produce content, freelancers with video editing skills are in high demand. Pros include working remotely on flexible hours, choosing from diverse projects, and setting your own rates. Cons include balancing video editing with child care, managing multiple project deadlines, and keeping up with editing software updates. Rates vary by experience, with beginners earning $20 to $50 per hour on average, intermediate editors charging $50 to $100, and experienced editors looking at $60 to $120 per hour. To get started, share your portfolio with businesses, publishers, and editors who need help editing footage.
Freelance web development: Web development jobs are growing 16% faster than average, creating opportunities for parents with technical skills. Pros include working remotely with flexible hours, staying current with industry trends, and choosing projects that match your expertise and interests. Cons include meeting tight deadlines, managing client expectations, and balancing complex projects with family time. Web developers typically earn around $75 per hour. To get started, apply to freelance opportunities on sites like LinkedIn or Indeed.
Printables or digital designs: If you’ve got artistic talent or are developing your design skills, creating and selling digital designs or printables can be a profitable side business. Pros include creating flexible, scalable income selling digital products, no inventory or shipping costs, and working on your own schedule. Cons include a competitive market, taking time to build visibility, and requiring consistent new designs. Your income will vary based on your competition and pricing strategy. Research similar products in your niche to set competitive prices. To get started, create original art and then decide where you’d like to sell it. A great option is to start your own Shopify store.
Content creation: For creative and driven stay-at-home parents, content creation offers exciting opportunities to build a business around your interests and expertise. Pros include working on your own schedule, building multiple income streams like sponsored posts, brand partnerships, affiliate links, or even your own online store, and expressing creativity daily. Cons include income being unpredictable, high competition, and taking time to build an audience. Influencers creating content for businesses like blog posts, social media posts, or videos earn $30 to $50 per hour at entry level, and $100 to $150 per hour with expertise. To get started, choose a niche, decide on a platform (like TikTok or Instagram), and start creating. If you’re going the corporate route, a detailed portfolio is essential.
Voice-overs: With a quiet space and proper equipment, you can build a voice-over business from home. You’ll find opportunities to narrate commercials, audiobooks, video games, and educational content. Pros include working from any quiet space, choosing diverse projects, and setting flexible hours. Cons include a competitive industry, requiring quality equipment, and needing a consistently quiet environment. Rates range from $35 to $850 per hour, depending on the type of work. To get started, create a demo reel, set up a home studio, and join voice-over websites to connect with clients.
Writing and content side hustles
Freelance writing: Put your copywriting skills to work creating content for magazines, blogs, websites, and other publications. Whether you excel at long-form articles or snappy copy, there’s demand for skilled writers. Pros include the flexibility to work remotely on your schedule, express creativity through work, and choose projects that interest you. Cons include meeting strict deadlines, managing multiple projects on top of parenting responsibilities, and income varying monthly. Your earnings will depend on your experience, industry focus, and the types of content you create. Writers can build substantial income by developing expertise in specific niches. To get started, create a portfolio of writing samples, then connect with potential clients through networks like LinkedIn, Superpath, Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr.
Freelance proofreading and editing: If you have a sharp eye for detail and strong language skills, proofreading and editing can be an ideal side business. Pros include flexible working hours, working from anywhere, and choosing your projects. Cons include managing tight deadlines, coordinating with writers and content managers, and balancing multiple clients. Income varies widely based on your experience, skill set, and clients. Check resources like the Content Marketing Salary report from Superpath to benchmark your rates against industry standards. To get started, build your client base through freelance platforms like Upwork or join editing communities like Editage for networking opportunities.
Podcasting: Give yourself a creative outlet and connect with others by starting a podcast. You can record episodes on your schedule while sharing your expertise or discussing topics you love. Pros include recording on your own schedule, discussing topics you’re passionate about, and starting with minimal equipment. Cons include a competitive market, taking time to build an audience, and regular content creation required. You can earn through sponsorships, ads, or listener support once you build an audience, but income varies widely. To get started, identify a theme, decide on a format, get recording equipment, and record your first episode.
Social media management: Turn your social media expertise into a business by helping small businesses grow their online presence. If you’ve built a following on TikTok, you can leverage that experience to make money from your hobbies. Pros include working remotely with flexible hours, using your digital marketing skills, and choosing your clients and projects. Cons include requiring a consistent online presence, long hours monitoring feeds, and a fast-paced environment. Beginning social media managers typically earn $25 to $35 per hour, according to SocialPilot. Rates vary based on experience and whether you charge hourly or per project. To get started, build a strong online presence, create a portfolio showcasing your skills, and find opportunities through Upwork, Fiverr, or LinkedIn.
Virtual business side hustles
Virtual bookkeeping: Put your financial management skills to the test by helping businesses track their finances. Managing your family’s budget gives you valuable experiences in tracking expenses and managing cash flow—skills that could lend themselves to a bookkeeping side hustle. Pros include working remotely from home, setting flexible hours, and using existing financial skills. Cons include handling sensitive data, staying current with tax laws, and high attention to detail required. Experienced bookkeepers typically earn $60 to $80 per hour. To get started, choose a bookkeeping platform like FreshBooks or QuickBooks, create a professional website, and start marketing your services online.
Virtual assistant: Your skills in multitasking, time management, and organization make you ideal for helping busy professionals manage their work. Virtual assistants handle schedules, meetings, emails, and other tasks remotely. Pros include working from home, setting your own hours, and using organizational skills. Cons include workload being unpredictable, tasks may be repetitive, and needing to find reliable clients. Virtual assistants earn around $19.19 per hour on average. To get started, connect with potential clients through freelance networks like Upwork or Fiverr.
Online customer service: Help businesses support their customers through chat, email, or phone. Many companies need customer service representatives during all hours of the day. Pros include working while kids are at school or asleep, using communication and problem-solving skills, and choosing flexible hours. Cons include it can be emotionally demanding, requiring patience, and may need specific hours. Customer support reps typically earn $8 to $20 per hour. To get started, learn popular customer service tools like Gorgias, Intercom, and Zendesk. Take customer service courses through Shopify Academy or Coursera, then apply for online customer service positions.
Data entry: Put your attention to detail to work entering information from documents, updating records, or transcribing audio files. Data entry jobs can fit well around your family schedule and don’t require extensive technical skills. Pros include starting with basic technical skills, working flexible hours, and easy to learn. Cons include work can be repetitive, lower pay than other options, and competition for jobs. Data entry specialists typically earn $10 to $30 per hour. To get started, develop your typing skills, build a portfolio, and search for opportunities on LinkedIn, Fiverr, and Indeed.
Consulting: Use your professional experience to help businesses enhance performance, solve problems, and achieve their goals. Consulting lets you use your expertise without committing to full-time work. Pros include leveraging your industry experience, high hourly rates, and choosing your clients. Cons include having demanding deadlines, income may be irregular, and building client base takes time. Your rates will depend on your experience, industry, location, and specialty. Research competitors with similar experience to set appropriate rates. To get started, create a strong LinkedIn profile showcasing your expertise. Reach out to prior work connections and ask if they need support, or apply directly to part-time consulting jobs online.
Digital products and marketing side hustles
Online courses: Share your experience by creating and selling online courses. If you’re knowledgeable in a particular niche, online courses can generate ongoing income once you’ve done the initial work. Pros include creating passive income, reaching a global audience, and working at your own pace. Cons include a significant upfront time investment, a competitive market, and platform fees may apply. Income varies widely based on your topic, audience size, and marketing strategy. To get started, create video lectures and course materials on platforms like Udemy and Teachable.
Dropshipping: Start an online dropshipping business to earn passive income without managing inventory by having suppliers ship products directly to your customers. Pros include minimal overhead costs, no inventory management, and unlimited opportunity for growth. Cons include a competitive market, initial time investment needed, and managing supplier relationships. The dropshipping industry is expected to be worth more than $500 billion by 2026. Your earnings will depend on your products, pricing, and marketing strategy. To get started, research profitable niches like dropshipping CBD products, jewelry, or one of 100 other dropshipping ideas.
Affiliate marketing: Affiliate marketing lets you earn commission by driving traffic or sales to other companies’ products through your social media presence, blog, or website. Pros include creating content about topics you enjoy, working from anywhere, and choosing products you believe in. Cons include requiring strong marketing skills, time-intensive content creation, and income can be unpredictable. New affiliate marketers typically earn $0 to $1,000 per month, with potential to grow. To get started, join affiliate programs like the Shopify Affiliate Program or Amazon Associates and start creating content to promote products you love.
In conclusion, there are numerous side hustle ideas that stay-at-home parents can explore to balance parenting with earning money. Whether you choose care and service-based side hustles, creative and design side hustles, writing and content side hustles, virtual business side hustles, or digital products and marketing side hustles, there are opportunities to add to your family income while caring for your kids. With the right skills, dedication, and a bit of creativity, you can successfully navigate the challenges of balancing parenting and earning money through a side hustle.
