“Happy is the man who can make a living by his hobby.” Famed dramatist George Bernard Shaw made a lot of good points in his life, but that particular quote might have been one of his most insightful. Hobbies are great, after all. They give us a way to relax, relieve stress and enjoy ourselves. But how much better would it be earning an income from crafts you can sell. It would be great to earn money in what would otherwise be considered leisure time? Fortunately, plenty of people have found a way to make money from a variety of hobbies.
How to Start Making Money from a Hobby
What is your favorite hobby? Do you think you can earn money from it? You might be surprised how many money-making hobby options are available, and how many already apply to your favored pastimes. Do you enjoy sewing, photography or music? Each of those hobbies can become a side gig or a full-time hustle through the following steps:
- Choose a hobby you enjoy. After all, if you aren’t enjoying yourself while you’re doing it, your hobby is just another form of work. If you have a woodshop at home, look into the most profitable woodworking projects to build and sell.
- Look for community needs. Many hobbies can be used to make money in a variety of ways, so look around and be sure there is a market need for your side gig. Find out where to sell handmade items locally or online.
- Practice your techniques. You need to combine skill with your hobby if you want to turn it into a side hustle. Anybody can bake cookies, but not everyone can make mouth-watering sweet treats that customers will demand.
- Start a side gig. Don’t quit your day job just yet. Most small businesses take time to become profitable, and you need to support your lifestyle and your new business venture until that time comes. Start off making money from your hobby as a side hustle, attract a few clients and work toward turning a profit.
- Expand your small business. Once you start making money from your hobby, you can consider expanding your side gig into a full-time small business. This is also a good time to learn how to sell crafts online.
Try Out Some Hobbies That Make Money Today
There are all sorts of hobbies that make money, and many hobbies can be used to earn money in a variety of ways. For example, a person who loves writing can work as a freelance journalist or a blogger, or they can try their hand at crafting their own literature. Likewise, a pet lover could start a side hustle walking dogs, pet sitting or baking their own dog treats. If you don’t already have a hobby, you can try a few of the following hobbies that make money and find where your passion lies.
20 Hobbies That Can Make You Money
Looking for a profitable hobby or a way to turn a hobby you already love into extra money? You can get some ideas by checking out the following 25 hobbies that make money:
1. Jewelry
Do you love everything about jewelry? You can make money selling jewelry, either gems that you buy or jewelry that you make yourself. Perhaps you’ve already accumulated a collection of jewelry you can sell, or you have an eye for finding great buys on attractive baubles. There are ways to create easy jewelry to make and sell online in marketplaces like Etsy or Facebook Marketplace as well as locally.
2. Crafts
Jewelry isn’t the only craft that can become a full-time business. No matter what it is you like making with your hands, from crocheted scarves to wood burned signs, and even needlepoint, there are things to sew and sell. Chances are there is a market for the products you create. And remember there are a lot of sources if you don’t have a new idea. From Christmas craft ideas to sell to other holidays, birthdays, and other occasions, always be on the lookout for new ways to express your craft. If you aren’t already a skilled craftsperson, you can get ideas of products to make from online marketplaces like Etsy and Artfire. Once you start creating crafts to sell, you can establish your own online store, use Amazon Handmade, or sell your wares at local events.
3. Writing
There are a variety of ways to make money from your hobby if you enjoy writing. Many professional writers start out by freelance writing on the side as they build their portfolios and accumulate a clientele. Look for blogs that pay writers or seek freelance writing opportunities at online job boards for freelancers such as Contena or Upwork. Skilled writers with excellent grammar also can seek gigs editing work for publications or for other freelance writers.
4. Dog Walking
Are you an animal lover who gets along great with other people’s pets? You can turn your passion into a small business by becoming a dog walker. People love their dogs, but dog walking is a task that few enjoy and many just don’t have time for in their busy days. You can schedule multiple clients at specific times throughout the day and week, and before you know it, your love of animals can grow into a successful small business.
5. Graphic Design
Do you love to draw or have an eye for design? You can earn money from your artistic hobbies by finding work as a graphic designer. You can start a side gig designing logos or other graphics for fellow small business owners, building your portfolio along the way. You can also make money from graphic design by selling prints of your designs with services like Spreadshirt or Merch by Amazon, which lets you sell your designs printed on everything from t-shirts and bags to cups and phone cases.
6. Social Media
Do you already find yourself spending hours each week on social media platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram? What if you could turn your social media hobby into good money? You can turn your social media skills into a side hustle and earn extra income by managing the social media accounts of other small businesses, brands and personalities. You can then expand you social media manager business by showing influencers how you can boost the engagement with their Instagram account and other social media platforms. Who knows, you might even become a social media influencer in your own right.
7. Blogging
Blogging is a great side hustle for people whose hobby is writing. Anyone can create their own blog and write about their personal knowledge and experiences. You can promote your blog through social media channels, and once you’ve established a following you can make money blogging by selling advertisements on your own website. You can monetize your blog with this ad revenue, as well as by partnering with affiliates to influence sales and discounts offered to their customers.
8. Pet Sitting
Animal lovers don’t have to limit their money-making hobbies to walking dogs. Why not earn some extra money on the side by taking care of others’ furry family members when they can’t be there? You can turn your passion for pets into a side business by sitting for dogs and cats in either a daycare setting or a boarding environment in which you care for pets for days or weeks while their owners are traveling away from home. If you develop a great reputation as a responsible animal lover, you eventually could expand your small business into a full-time venture.
9. Making Videos
Do you love making creative videos? You can turn your videography hobby into a small business by making videos and posting the content to a YouTube channel, Tiktok, Instagram or another popular platform. People will follow your channel to see creative and engaging content, and you can make money in ways similar to a blogger, through advertising on your own channel and affiliate marketing.
10 Playing Video Games
If your dream job is getting paid to play video games, you’re not alone. Believe it or not, you can make money from playing video games. Some talented game players have made thousands in the past few years by streaming their gameplay online with platforms like Twitch, but you can also make some money from playing games through loyalty programs that pay you to pay games and from posting videos of your gameplay to your YouTube channel, which you can then monetize with ads. Certain gamers even have found full-time jobs testing video games for developers.
11. Website Creation
If you enjoy website design in your spare time, you can make money from your hobby by creating websites, either designing websites for others or creating your own website. There is always a demand for web designers, and that demand only promises to grow as the online marketplace expands. Start by designing your own website. Not only will it serve as a start for your portfolio, but it also can be used to make money online as a source of passive income and some extra cash. With a successful web design under your belt, you can start building websites for other small businesses and organizations.
12. Sharing Opinions
Do you find yourself spending your extra time sharing opinions online? If you like to make your ideas known, you can make money by sharing opinions through online surveys. One of the most popular ways to make extra money online, surveys don’t pay more than a few dollars and most people can’t live off the income alone, but the payments can add up over time and serve as a productive and reliable side gig. A variety of sources are available to offer online surveys for pay, since companies rely on this valuable market insight when making important decisions.
13. Flipping Merch
Do you have a great eye for a bargain? Is your idea of a fun hobby visiting yard sales and going on hunts to garage sales? How would you like to make a few hundred dollars from what you would call a typical weekend trip to the local thrift stores or flea markets? You can turn your love for shopping into a thriving business idea by buying and selling used merchandise. Just look for the best deals and bargains, buy the merchandise at the discounted prices, then resell it for a profit through online outlets like Facebook Marketplace and eBay. If you have restoration skills and can clean up the used products, you often can fetch an even higher profit.
14. Exercising
Did you know exercising not only is great for your health, but it also can be one of the more profitable hobbies if you turn it into a career or a side gig? Do you enjoy riding your bike? Why not make deliveries while you’re at it? Are you always working out at the gym? Look into starting a small business as a personal trainer. Is dancing more your style? Why not earn some extra cash working as a street or theater performer? Or, if you’re a highly-skilled dancer, why not teach a class and make money sharing your passion with others?
15. Shopping
Could people call you a shop-a-holic? Do you love hitting the local stores, no matter what you happen to be shopping for? Would you love to make money from shopping instead of spending it? Believe it or not, shopping is a hobby that can turn into a moneymaker. Plenty of people need assistance with their grocery shopping, and you can earn money doing exactly what you love by filling that role. Other ways to make money from shopping include serving as a mystery shopper and working as a personal shopper or personal assistant for another small business owner.
16. Gardening
Gardening is a great hobby for relaxation, and it’s also a hobby that can pay. You can make money by growing your own plants and produce and selling your wares at local farmers’ markets. You also can use your gardening skills to help others beautify their own properties and start a small business as a gardener and landscaper, where you are paid to tend to others’ lawns and gardens.
17. Photography
You can turn your passion for photography into your own business. There are a variety of ways to make money with photography, including taking portraits and other photos for customers, selling posters and other printable merchandise or even making money online by starting a photography blog that you monetize with ads. Many photography enthusiasts turn their passions into side gigs by starting out small with a few jobs, but you can earn more money by expanding your venture into a successful small business.
18. Makeup Artistry
Are you fascinated by makeup? Do you find yourself watching all the latest beauty tutorials on YouTube and trying the looks out for yourself? You can turn your hobby into a side hustle by working as a makeup artist. You also can start your own YouTube channel with plenty of how-to videos, and before you know it you, too, could be a successful beauty influencer.
19. Reading Books
Did you know you can even make money if your hobby is reading a good book? Organizations like Online Book Club ad Kirkus Media are always looking for people to read books and write reviews of them. While you won’t earn a full-time salary from reviewing books, it’s a simple way to make extra money doing what you love.
20. Music
It’s no secret that you can make money as a musician, but most people don’t realize you don’t have to be a superstar to earn money from your music hobby. You can make money as a performer by playing music in a band or as a solo artist in a local venue. You also can make money by teaching music, passing your passion and skill on to students through in-person classes or by teaching an online course. You also can share your music with the world on a Youtube channel, TikTok profile or another social media platform, which you then can monetize based on the size of your following.
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This article, “20 Hobbies that Make Money” was first published on Small Business Trends