You do
not always have to spend money to make money. If you want to launch a side gig
to generate regular part-time income, or if you are looking
for some quick extra cash, there are websites that can help you do it.
Of course, it depends on your definition
of “quick cash.” Sometimes earning fast cash still means putting in a decent
time investment. That is why our list of ways to make money online is in order
from approximately the longest time investment to the shortest time investment.
Because time is, after all, money.
Consider these top resources to make
money online:
Fiverr.com - Upwork.com
- Etsy.com
- TaskRabbit.com
- Merch by
Amazon
- Neighbor.com
- OfferUp.com
- Fat Llama
- Wonder.com
- UserInterviews.com
- ThredUp.com
- Swap.com
- Gazelle.com
- CardSell.com
- Quick
Rewards
Depending on whether you are looking to earn extra money quickly or build a
long-term income stream, each of the following websites offers unique
advantages (and sometimes disadvantages) tailored to different needs and
interests. Read on for more information on each site.
Fiverr
How it works: This is a popular website that can
be helpful for freelancers. Know something about
digital animation? You can work for someone who doesn't have these skills and
pick up some extra cash. Even better, you can offer to compile web research for
someone.
Drawbacks: Fiverr's name comes from the fact
that many people used to work for $5 a task. You can ask for more, but many of
your prospective clients may expect low rates. Keep in mind, Fiverr takes a 20%
commission.
Time
investment: Possibly
considerable. If you are asked to create a digital animated short, for
instance, that is not something you are going to whip up in 20 minutes. In
addition, it may take 14 days for your money to reach your bank account after
your work has been approved, although if you are a regular on Fiverr, you may
get it in seven days.
How it works: Up work is essentially a meeting site where businesses and
freelancers throughout the world can connect and collaborate on certain
projects. Businesses hire freelancers for a variety of services, including
writing, web design and any work that can be done on a computer.
Highlights: Up work takes a commission from 5%
to 20%, but the more money you make, the less commission you pay.
Drawbacks: Up work is popular, so there is a
lot of competition on the website, and that can be a real drawback for people
who are new to Up work, says Sacha Darosa, owner of a digital marketing agency
in Toronto called The Shirtless Web Guy.
"Before I started my business in
web design, I created profiles on websites such as up work. In the beginning,
it was a struggle to attract any attention from buyers on those platforms
because there is so much competition. And much of the competition was from
overseas, which made it impossible for me to compete with others on
price,"
Time investment: As with Fiverr, you may be working for
days or a week or so. If you’re tasked with creating someone’s website, that may
take a little time. Then after your work has been approved, it can take 10 days
to get paid. If you are working regularly for someone, you may be able to be
paid weekly.
How it works: If you're an artistic person who can make custom jewelry
or refrigerator magnets, Etsy is the place to sell your products.
Highlights: It's easy to navigate the site and
set up a shop.
Drawbacks: There's a lot of competition on
Etsy. On one hand, a lot of people know about Etsy. But once you put up your
wares, as with Upwork and Fiverr, you are among scores of people selling stuff
on Etsy. It may feel a little overwhelming.
Time
investment: How
fast does it take you to make custom jewelry or refrigerator magnets? You’ll
work at your own pace, so depending what you make or sell, it could take a
week, or it could take a couple hours. Generally, you get your money about
three days after your point of sale. After three months on Etsy, you’ll start being
paid the next business day.
How it works: Are you willing to get your hands dirty? People come to
this site to find those willing to do various tasks, such as putting together a
bookcase, cleaning out a garage or running an errand. Do as many tasks as you
want, and this could become quite the part-time (or full-time) job.
Highlights: You can apply for tasks, but you
can also create a profile, explaining what tasks you're skilled at, and people
may seek you out for work.
Drawbacks: Many of the tasks you will find on
TaskRabbit are, as noted, physical – like setting up furniture. Of course, if that
is your jam, that is a plus.
Time investment: Plan on several hours. Generally, these
tasks are not huge time investments. Payments are usually approved within 24
hours of task completion, and you can expect the money to land in your bank
account three to five days later.
How it works: John Frigo, an affiliate manager for a website called MySupplementStore.com, says he sometimes makes money on the side by creating designs for T-shirts. He also sells on Merch by Amazon as well as other platforms like Redbubble.com.
Drawbacks: You probably won't get rich. For instance, Merch by
Amazon offers examples of royalty prices, and for a T-shirt that sells for
$15.99, the royalty would be $2.21. Still, once the hard work – designing the
piece – is done, it's easy money. If somebody buys your T-shirt, that is.
Time investment: Let us assume at least a few hours.
Maybe you’re an artist who can knock designs out in a hurry. Maybe you take
weeks. But for most people, logic would suggest you should put aside a few
hours. As for when you see your money, assuming you’re doing a brisk business
selling your products, you could get paid once a month.
