Side hustles for mums are something you may be seeking out to boost your income or help you make money from home.
If you are looking to make some extra cash then these brilliant side hustles that are perfect for mums can be done flexibly in your own time.
As you no doubt know, having kids means you have a lot to juggle. I’ve found fitting work around my kids is so much easier since getting started with side hustles.
I myself make money from a few of these side hustle ideas, in fact blogging has now become a full-time income for me. But I work just five hours a day so I can enjoy quality time with my kids.
What is a side hustle? It’s work or a hobby you do that generates an income in addition to your actual job.
Or if you’re a stay-at-home-parent, like me, it’s a way to bring in some cash flexibly while you continue to raise your kids.
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Legit ways to make money online
Best side hustles for mums
The key to a great side hustle is something that fits into your existing daily schedule and generates money.
Some can be scaled to a bigger income over time, others remain a simple way of making extra cash every month.
Here are my top picks for flexible work, including work you can do purely from home and ways to make money right now.
- Blogger
- Virtual assistant
- Social media manager
- Make and sell digital products
- Print on demand
- Etsy seller
- YouTuber
- Online transcription
- Take online surveys
- Sell stock photography
- Online tutoring
- Create an e-course
- Dog walking
- Cleaning
- Mystery shopping
- Freelance writing
- Freelancing with your skillset – graphic design, website building, marketing, bookkeeping, etc
- Sell other people’s stuff for them
Online side hustles for mums
Prefer to work from home on your side hustle? These are all ways to make money from home in your own time!
Let’s take a closer look.
Virtual assistant
A virtual assistant helps an individual or company with a variety of tasks while working remotely.
It suits mothers who want to work from home and are looking for flexible hours.
The type of stuff you do as a virtual assistant may include answering emails, organising travel plans, social media assistance and other administrative work.
There are all sorts of types of businesses and entrepreneurs who may need the help of a virtual assistant, so you can find roles that require the number of hours that suit your lifestyle.
Proofreading
A proofreader looks over material and checks for grammatical and spelling errors, as well as to ensure it all makes sense.
The types of content that requires proofreading includes:
- Social media content
- Marketing and advertising materials such as leaflets, catalogues and booklets
- Ebooks
- CVs and cover letters
- Academic reports
- Transcripts
- Translations – which may involve working alongside a translating service to check their work
Potential earnings are between £15 and £40 an hour.
Social media manager
A social media manager posts content to social media channels for individuals and companies, provides feedback on engagement levels and other key metrics, and responds to messages.
I’ve been a social media manager as my side hustle for several years. It’s great because you can schedule content in advance, meaning you can make the hours fit your own schedule around your family.
When you work for a smaller company then the hours aren’t full-time, which fits well if you need to only work in school hours.
If you do get more time to work, then you could freelance for multiple companies to fill your working hours.
Start a blog
When blogs first started out they were a kind of online journal where you could share your thoughts on stuff and what you got up to at the weekend.
These days blogging for money involves creating content in a specific niche that helps your audience.
There are blogs about pretty much anything you can imagine from gardening to gaming and travel to renovating your home.
Bloggers make money through a variety of ways once they have built up a website with a decent amount of content.
Those include:
- Advertising – you can partner with ad networks who will put adverts on your site and pay you for views.
- Affiliate marketing – this is where you promote products sold by other companies and receive commission for any sales made through your own affiliate links.
- Selling your own products – this could be digital or physical products, coaching services or online courses.
Read more about how to start a blog here.
Make and sell digital products
There’s huge demand for digital products online, with people selling them from their own websites, on social media and on platforms such as Etsy.
You can also sell them from your own social media or website. This is where different types of side hustle can start to complement each other, such as becoming an influencer on a social media channel like TikTok.
Types of digital products you can sell include:
- Checklists
- Workout plans
- Planners
- Journals
- Digital stickers
- Diaries
- Invitations
- Labels – for things such as kitchen cupboard boxes and craft supply boxes
Start a print on demand biz
If you’re on TikTok then you may have seen money making TikTokers talking about print on demand and how its passive income.
This method of making money certainly is simple to operate, as once you’ve set it up then in theory it earns you money without you needing to have any involvement in packaging and shipping products.
Print on demand involves creating a unique logo or artwork for items to sell, such as tops, sweaters, mugs and posters, that are printed on a per-order basis.
You, the seller, set up an account with a print on demand partner such as Printify or Redbubble that will print your orders for you. Your products can then be promoted on a platform such as Etsy or Amazon, or your own website.
Make and sell your own physical products
From artwork to clothing and furniture to personalised cookware, there’s a market for handmade, artisan items!
One place where you can sell such products is Etsy, which is all about selling handmade products.
It’s a huge global marketplace that is popular with creatives because it means you can sell what you make without worrying about setting up your own website or drawing in an audience.
As someone who has an Etsy store, I would say it takes a bit of work to stand out and get noticed on there. You need to create products that are in demand, but also have something a little unique about them.
Tapping into new trends in fashion and style can really help.
Types of product you can sell on Etsy:
- Jewellery
- Home decor such as candles and art
- Craft supplies
- Party bags – from cute cake pops to craft kits
- Bags
- Clothing
- Toys
Find out more about making digital products to sell on Etsy.
Become a YouTuber
Making money with a YouTube channel can be done just with ads alone, but some people also use their YouTube channel to promote their own products are services.
Growing a YouTube channel requires some dedication in terms of time and learning skills when it comes to filming and editing your videos.
However it’s a fantastic way to make money speaking to people about something you are passionate about – there are YouTube channels out there about pretty much anything you can think of.
If you do not fancy appearing in a YouTube channel then it is possible to make a faceless YouTube channel.
I make around £350 a month from my YouTube channel and it probably takes me between two and four hours to make each video.
Types of YouTube channel that do really well include:
- Food
- Entertainment
- Beauty and make-up
- Fashion
- Gaming
- Product reviews
- DIY how-tos
Check out this guide to how to make money on YouTube.
Online transcription
A transcriptionist takes audio recordings and turns them into a written record.
There are several different types of companies that may be looking for help from transcription, including businesses and doctors who need medical notes written up.
There are agencies that allow you to work remotely and send you tasks to complete from home.
You can find out more about working in online transcription here.
Take online surveys
There’s a huge number of survey sites and apps that you can sign up to.
If you have a few hours a week to devote to filling out surveys then you can earn £100+ a month.
PRO TIP
My favourite survey sites include:
Find out what the best online survey sites in the UK are here.
Sell stock photography
Stock photography is in huge demand online – from pictures of places to photos illustrating a particular type of food or even mood.
If you have an eye for photography then you can sell your photos to stock websites that will pay you in royalties when your picture gets sold.
Shutterstock and iStock photos are two places to start, and Etsy also has a market for stock photos.
Online tutoring
Becoming an online tutor is a great side hustle for qualified teachers, however it also works for anyone with a high level of skill and/or training in a particular subject.
If you are very competent with a musical instrument and have trained up the highest grade then you could provide online music lessons.
University students can also provide tutoring help to children in their specialist subject to make extra cash.
You can earn between £15 and £40 an hour doing this type of work, so potentially it’s very lucrative!
Freelance writing
If you love to write or have a particular subject that you know a lot about then writing is a great option for making some money flexibly.
There’s all sorts of different freelance writing jobs, from writing for newspapers to producing written blog content for websites.
It can help to find a specialism to write about, this way you can build up clients through word of mouth.
Places where you can find freelance writing work includes:
- Fiverr
- Indeed
- Upwork
- ProBlogger
- Contena
I recommend signing up to Elna Cain’s mailing list and checking out her helpful content about getting started with freelance writing.
There are more tips on becoming a freelance writer here.
Create an e-course
Whether you are particularly handy at a type of craft or you know a lot about marketing, there’s demand for so many different types of online learning courses.
Your course will typically be broken up into lessons that are either written, and may have some images or illustrations, or have video classes.
E-courses can either be hosted on your own site, or you can use platforms like Teachable or Kajabi.
Check Fiverr for freelance jobs
There are lots of freelancers making good money from selling their services on Fiverr.
People turn to the freelancers marketplace for all kinds of help with tasks, such as graphic design, video editing, website maintenance, voiceovers and more.
Take a look at the types of work freelancers are offering on the site – you can search by category – and see what you could potentially do.
Think about your existing skillset to decide what types of freelancing you could do, or consider what skills you might need to to gain in order to do the type of work you would love to do.
Provide technical support
If you’re a whizz at website design, troubleshooting for specific issues such as website speed or can advise on SEO (search engine optimisation), then you could offer freelance technical services.
Finding this type of work can be really easy if you’re in the right groups on Facebook and other networking forums online.
There are often businesses that are quite small that don’t employ their own people to do this type of work looking to outsource the odd job.
Sell other people’s stuff online
Are you a whizz at using Vinted? Why not do it for other people!
There are plenty of people clearing out their wardrobes who don’t have the time or patience to upload their stuff to Vinted, or other online marketplaces, to sell them on for cash.
This is where you can come in! I know one mum local to me who is busy every single month selling on other people’s unwanted clothes. She takes a hefty cut of the final sale and passes on the rest to the original owner.
You’ll need to set up a corner of your home where you can take good pictures of the items – whether they be clothes, toys or furniture.
Find out more about selling on Vinted.
Rent out your clothes
If you have a brimming wardrobe featuring designer clothing that’s in fashion then you can make money renting out your clothes.
This lady makes thousands a month renting out clothes – she buys items in several different sizes that she knows will be popular for rentals.
You can also rent out designer bags.
Interior design consultancy
If you have an eye for colour schemes and a great sense of style then offering your help to people doing up their homes is perfect!
You can get started with this without any qualifications, however it does help if you get some training in the software designers use to produce proposals for layouts of rooms.
The Interior Design Institute offers training for this.
Interior design consultancy may involve offering help with whole house renovations, helping with designing a kitchen or bathroom, or putting together furniture, flooring and wall colours/wallpaper to redesign a room.
My friend started a super successful interior design consultancy a couple of years ago. Most of her clients come from her Instagram account, where she shares pictures of her own home renovation project.
Flexible side hustles ideas
If you aren’t worried about leaving the house to do your side hustle then these great side hustle ideas will give you lots more inspiration!
Delivery driver
If you have your own car then you could sign up to be a casual delivery driver.
Amazon has its own Amazon Flex team, which allows you to sign up to blocks of time that are convenient for you with no minimum requirement for working hours.
There’s also food delivery companies, such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats.
Catering and baking
Do you have the skills of a Masterchef contestant in the kitchen?
There’s huge demand for catering for events and gatherings, as well as baked goods like cakes and doughnuts delivered to offices, parties and more.
You’ll need to register your business with your local authority in order to show you’re adhering to food standards.
Babysitting and childminding
If you want a job that fits around your kids then babysitting other kids is a great way to get them some extra playmates.
Many childminders do the school run for their own kids and other people’s children, then bring them home and give them tea before their parents collect them in the late afternoon or early evening.
Casual babysitting does not require any formal qualifications or have any need to officially register.
If you are going to work as a childminder for kids under eight then you may need to register as a childminder with Ofsted.
Pet sitting or dog walking
Love animals? This could be the perfect side hustle for you!
Lots of people need help with their pets, from feeding them while their owners are away to walking dogs during the day while their owners are at work.
There are also agencies, such as Tailster, that can connect you with pet owners to help you find clients when you’re just getting started. https://www.tailster.com
Ironing
There’s huge demand for ironing services, as many people simply don’t have the time or inclination to do it themselves!
To get started you can sign up with an ironing agency, or start your own business and advertise your services locally in Facebook groups and elsewhere.
Photography
If you have a passion for taking photos then why not turn it into a side hustle?
It’s something you could do during school hours only, or at weekends.
I have a friend who launched their photography business – largely doing weddings and corporate headshots – while caring for his children full-time. He would work when the kids were with their mum at weekends.
Over time the business built up and he’s now able to do far more work because the kids are at school.
Cleaning
If you love cleaning and organising then becoming a cleaner can be a great side hustle for you.
There are all sorts of different cleaning jobs, from helping people get their homes organised or cleaning them every week to cleaning schools or businesses.
Home organisation
Have you binged every episode of Sort Your Life Out with Stacey Solomon? Do you watch the Home Edit on repeat? Becoming a pro organiser could be right up your street!
Some people just do not have time to declutter and get their home in order. So they outsource the work to professional organisers.
You can get training with the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers (APDO) in order to get started.
Fitness instructor
A freelance fitness instructor may specialise in classes for new mothers, or clients with specific fitness goals such as marathon-running.
Of course you’ll need to be very much into fitness yourself and most fitness instructors have some form of teaching qualification so they know how to run sessions.
A friend of mine worked as a freelance fitness coach for several years and found it a great flexible way to make extra cash! She would run classes from her own back garden or local parks.
Gardening
Do you have a green thumb? Then you could sell your services to people who do not – like me!
There are so many people who dream of a picturesque garden but do not have the time or the inclination to do the work themselves.
You’ll likely need all the key tools to get started. This is a great one to do if you love working outside!
Mystery shopping
Mystery shoppers are set tasks at shops, restaurants and businesses to test out their products, customer service, marketing and shop layout.
Signing up to multiple agencies increases your earning potential – which may be £10 an hour or more depending on the individual job.
Agencies that you can sign up to and become a mystery shopper include:
- iShopFor Ipsos
- Market Force
- ProInsight
Task apps
This is similar to mystery shopping but you will be set tasks, such as photographing a display, and asked to feed back through an app in your phone.
There’s lots more potential for earnings if you live close to a big town centre where there will be plenty of potential jobs.
You could make £10 to £20 a day, depending on how many tasks you can sign up to.
Apps to download to get started include:
- Roamler
- Steetbees
- Field Agent
- BeMyEye
Become a doula
A doula provides emotional and practical support to women in labour, and in the run-up to their due date.
While this type of work is not as flexible as the others mentioned in this list, as you’ll need to be available at potentially short notice to support a client through labour, it is a great idea if you love working with people.
If you do this working for yourself then you can choose your client load and keep it local to minimise the impact on your own schedule with your family.
To get started with this work check out Doula UK’s guide and course for becoming a Doula.
Kids party entertainer
There’s a huge demand for children’s party entertainment – people who play the music, organise the party games and help the kids have a magical time by dressing up as their favourite characters, such as Elsa from Frozen.
You can find work such as this with local party companies or franchises. Or you could just strike out on your own.
Think about what type of entertainer you will be and what equipment you will need. For example my friend DJs for kids parties and has to bring his own speakers and stereo.
Seek out casual work
If you live close to a busy town there’s going to be a lot of options for casual work that you could take on.
Options include shop worker, lunchtime assistant at a local school, fruit picking, kitchen porter, and bar and pub work.
Tips for getting started
Now you’ve got an idea of some great side hustles that are perfect if you need to make money in flexible hours, here are a few tips for getting started.
Do your research
When you’re getting started with any new venture it’s a good idea to begin by researching how others are making money with it, and take a look at the potential pitfalls.
There’s a ton of free resources online regarding starting your own business or being successful with freelancing, so devote some time to learning.
Find other people doing the same
Seeking out a tribe to support you can be the difference between succeeding and failing.
There are usually Facebook groups and forums online for pretty much any type of work you can imagine! I’ve seen lots of things like virtual assistants, and Facebook groups have taught me so much about blogging over the year.
So get signed up, see what other people who are actually doing this side hustle say. Ask questions and figure out the path to getting started. Are there courses you should take? What’s the advice on the best one.
Advertise what you’re doing
Once you get started it’s time to put yourself out there – which is the scary bit!
With many of these side hustles word of mouth is hugely important, such as being a kids party entertainer, photographer or dog walker.
Once you get a few clients you will get to a stage where people mention you when someone else asks for a person who does X Y or Z really well.
How you advertise your services may depend on what type of work you’re doing, but for local clients the local Facebook groups are a great place to start. You can also take out ads in the local paper or hang up flyers in local community hubs to get yourself noticed.
Don’t give up
Making money can be a bit of a case of trial and error. Some side hustles may not be a good fit for you, but it’s important to remember that the only difference between people who succeed and people who don’t is often that the successful people didn’t give up.
You may face a few setbacks and have some quiet months – I certainly have had a lot of disappointments since I started making extra cash for myself from home. But stick with it! It’s so worth it.
Remember to keep records
It’s important to keep records of all of your income and your outgoings.
Even if you are not yet earning enough to pay any tax, you will need to make declarations to HMRC about what you earn.
Remember to keep receipts and emails proving all transactions and things you have had to purchase for your side hustle.
Pay your tax
Be sure to declare your earnings and pay your tax every year.
You can do a self assessment online every year and as long as you have kept detailed records of your earnings and expenses it’s pretty straightforward.
