Month: August 2019

Get Paid to Do ASMR Videos: How to Turn Sounds into Cash

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Whether you find it soothing or creepy, people are getting paid to make ASMR videos on YouTube.

You know these videos – they’re people whispering on screen, eating loudly, doing a ton of noises, sounds, tones, and other activities to help other people relax.

ASMR videos are part of an interesting phenomenon.

ASMR artists are part of a growing online community of people that make pleasurable sounds either live or pre-recorded in hopes of reaching a person who might find those particular sounds relaxing.

Those videos may seem boring to anyone not familiar with ASMR, but to an entire population of people sensitive to these triggers, it can mean hours-long of genuine relaxation.

What is ASMR, exactly?

ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) is a term that was coined in 2010. It refers to the relaxing sensation a person feels from the scalp, crawling to the spine and down the body.

ASMR has been described as ” mild electrical current” or chills people get when someone whispers into their ear or plays with their hair.

ASMR is triggered by numerous auditory and visual things, including specific hand movements, loud chewing/crunching noise, nail tapping, rubbing fabric and whispering, among others.

Many people feel that watching ASMR videos is deeply relaxing. (Check Google Trends and the term “ASMR sleep” consistently ranks high around sleeping time regardless of country of origin). Pretty cool, right?

Renowned painter and iconic artist Bob Ross, more specifically his soft dulcet-toned voice, has been regarded an ASMR trigger.

Those who discover Bob Ross only recently feel that the reason for his popularity is how Bob’s voice made people deeply relaxed.

How does ASMR work?

You either have ASMR, or you don’t.

This means if you watch a trigger like crinkling paper and you do not have experience a tingling sensation because of it, it simply means your body didn’t react to this particular trigger (and probably opt out of the video).

In some cases, you can still discover a specific trigger that lets you experience ASMR.

Sometimes you never do.

Contrary to what others may think, ASMR isn’t ALL sexual.

However, this doesn’t mean a person watching ASMR cannot get turned on.

Heck, there’s a sub-niche of ASMR devoted completely to sexual ASMR.

Watching ASMR videos is a slippery slope.

This is because the tingling sensation felt (or ASMR) varies from one person to the next. A person may get turned on by watching someone stirring a bowl of soup today, and feel completely different about that same ASMR video tomorrow.

And since there’s very little science behind ASMR, what we know about this sensation and the triggers behind it come from those who watch and those who get paid to do ASMR videos.

Highest Paid ASMR Artists and Their Work

As you can see, ASMR isn’t exactly an easy topic to explain. But to give you an idea how many people get paid to do ASMR videos these days, here are 6 examples:

1. SAS-ASMR

  • Specialty: ASMR with Mukbang (Korean words for “eating” and “broadcasting”)
  • Subscribers: 7.6 million (from April 2016 to present)
  • Income: She reportedly has a net worth of $7.5 million and earns about $120,000 a month

On this video, she eats all of the most popular foods from her channel – honeycomb, aloe vera, seagrapes, and octopus – in one go with her trademark extremely loud chewing, crunching and gulping sounds.

2. Makenna K Kelly (of Life with MaK)

  • Specialty: She does role-plays and a ton of whispering
  • Subscribers: 1.6 million (from November 2017 to present)
  • Income: The teen earns a whopping $1,000 a day from her ASMR videos

As the youngest popular ASMR YouTuber (she’s only 14 as of 2019), her channel is highly controversial and the continuous flagging means YouTube takes her content down more often as she’d hope.

For example, her video role-playing a first class flight attendant has been viewed about 3 million times. Her mom tries to protect Makenna by blocking comments on YouTube, but this doesn’t stop bloggers and other YouTubers from poking fun of the teen’s ASMR videos.

3. Maria Viktorovna (of Gentle Whispering channel)

  • Specialty: natural sleep aid videos
  • Subscribers: 1.7 million (from 2011 to present)
  • Income: Maria earns a whopping $130,000 a year from YouTube alone.

On this particular video, she taps her face, “taps” the viewers face, talks to her viewers in a whisper and smiles every now and then.

4. Taylor Darling (of ASMR Darling)

  • Specialty: known for her affirmation, compliments, face touching, hair brushing, hair play and ASMR makeup videos
  • Subscribers:4 million (from 2014 to present)
  • Income: Earns around $12,000 a month with a net worth of $1m as of 2019

Darling is truly adorable and wholesome. On this video, she explains 20 triggers that can help people sleep or happy.

5. Gibi ASMR

  • Specialty: cosplay, makeup ASMR, role-playing and whispering
  • Subscribers:2 million (from June 2016 to present)
  • Income: Has an estimate net worth of $1.5m as of 2019

Of all the ASMR explanation videos, Gibi’s video is probably the most entertaining.

Other examples of ASMR artists on YouTube:

Even celebrities like Eva Longoria is aware (and took a crack at ASMR) for W Magazine.

5 Ways to Get Paid to do ASMR Videos

Now that you understand the whole picture of ASMR and if you’re lucky enough to have found your triggers quickly, are you interested in becoming an ASMR artist?

If you answered “yes,” here are 5 ways ASMR artists get to earn from their content:

1. Create videos for YouTube

Many ASMR artists have called YouTube home since starting their ASMR channels. As long as the content remains clean (not sensual in nature), you’ll be find earning from YouTube ads. Learn more about YouTube monetization here.

If you prefer to create adult content (sexual ASMR), you’re going to be flagged on YouTube for sure. TwitchTV would be a better platform for you.

2. Live stream on Twitch

TwitchTV is massive in the online gaming/livestreaming world, but there’s no reason not to try your luck here if you’d like to showcase ASMR trigger live.

MaryJLeeee’s TwitchTV features her in sexy costumes, but her live-streamed ASMR is pretty wholesome (except of course when she does “mic licking” to make listeners feel their ears being licked).

MaryJLeeee details how she tries to keep it clean so she’d be taken seriously as a professional that helps with mental healing, but argues that other ASMR like Amouranth (who embraces her sex appeal on her ASMR channel) makes it hard to do so.

Whether you keep it clean or not, TwitchTV gives you more control over the money you can potentially earn.

You have ad revenues like YouTube, donations, subscriptions, paid livestreams, gifts, and other monetization.

Visit my TwitchTV guide if you want to check out this platform.

3. Setup a Patreon Account

YouTube and TwitchTV is where you upload your ASMR videos directly.

Meanwhile, Patreon complements you chosen platform.

If you wish to talk to your fans directly and offer perks in exchange for paid subscription tiers, this is the way to go.

4. Solicit Donations

There are several ways you can ask donations from your followers.

Some ASMR artists like Life with MaK leaves a link to her PayPal, so fans could send donations directly. Others include donation buttons on Patreon or TwitchTV.

Adding a donation button is perfect for supporters who prefer to have some control on the amount they wish to give. This is particularly true for TwitchTV and Patreon “plans” (with corresponding amount) that the ASMR artist already made in advance.

5. Get Sponsored

This monetization option is mostly reserved for ASMR artists who have millions of followers.

This is because brands would want to spread news about its products with the biggest audience they could find within their niche.

So if brands like Revlon or MAC want to enter the ASMR world, they’d probably look into artists who create makeup ASMR with a significant number of followers.

The Future of Getting Paid for ASMR

Even at its peak, ASMR has remained popular only within subset of people on the internet.

But it’s slowly growing and reaching mainstream.

In fact, at the Super Bowl 2019, Michelob Ultra ran an ASMR-triggering ad featuring Zoë Kravitz whispering into two microphones, playing with the beer bottle and pouring a glass altogether. It’s a pretty ballsy move, especially since Super Bowl traditionally feature big, loud and attention-grabbing ads.

However, only half of those 100 million viewers during Super Bowl “get” the ad. It divided the internet completely.

ASMR will always be misunderstood, since not everyone is sensitive to ASMR.

That is, of course, until more science can explain why some people are triggered by different visual and auditory cues (and some do not).

But it shouldn’t stop you from discovering your triggers and sharing them to the world, while you get paid to do ASMR videos.

How Ordinary People Make Money with Patreon

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Patreon is a crowd-funding membership platform, which means you can make money with Patreon if people like you enough to pay and subscribe to your channel in order to access your content.

Compared to YouTube, Patreon is a bit underrated as a money-making platform.

However, it is one of the most highest-paying platforms for the creative crowd online.

There are over 100,000 creators on Patreon, with the top tier earning salaries of $2 million monthly (or more).

These creators range from YouTubers to writers, musicians, podcasters, comic artists, videographers, online gamers, and other creatives with interesting skills to share with the world.

Today, you’ll learn how you can make money with Patreon: how Patreon works, how it’s different from YouTube, and who earns the most on this platform so you can be inspired and encouraged.

How Does Patreon Work?

Many YouTube stars who have made money from YouTube embraced YouTube and Patreon equally.

But the original way people earned money through YouTube was via AdSense.

A viewer must watch an ad for 30 seconds, or click the ad featured before or somewhere in the middle of a YouTuber’s video. Only then will the YouTuber earn money.

It sounds simple but YouTubers don’t earn a lot this way. It would take about 1,000 views for a YouTuber to earn $10 to $20.

Unless a YouTuber’s channel has millions of viewers, earning through YouTube’s AdSense would take a lot of time, effort, and content.

To complement this income generation, many YouTubers took to Patreon and made it their second home.

In Patreon, musicians, singers, painters, writers, video game writers, and other creators were able to set subscription fees in exchange for VIP-style access to their work.

Several types of fan support at Patreon exist:

  • Monthly subscription – Fans of a creator pay a monthly subscription fee in exchange for freebies and insider news (sometimes being first to listen to a new song, asked opinions about a new comic character, and so on). Depending on your Patreon plan, you can create tiers of memberships with various monthly subscriptions. For instance, you can set entry-level memberships at $3/month, a mid-level tier at $10/month, and a high-level tier at $20/month.
  • Per-creation campaign – Let’s say an independent ukulele player wants to release a new album, but has no funds to do so. She then creates a campaign on Patreon specifically for this project. Fans can support this album one-off without having to pay a monthly subscription fee.
  • Donation – If you’re a fan and you donate money to a creator you like, you’re in control of how much you want to give, and when you want to send your donation. You don’t need to be a paying subscriber or a support of a campaign to donate. The catch is that donations often do not include freebies. Of course this isn’t set in stone, since the creator can still send gifts your way as a donor.

You might think: why go to Patreon, if YouTube is already the biggest video-sharing platform on the planet?

Here are several reasons why…

Patreon vs. YouTube Channel Membership

  • Patreon filled a void – At the time of Patreon’s launch in 2013, YouTube has not yet launched its own Channel Membership program (this came out in mid-2018). Those who have started out at Patreon’s membership service stuck with it even after YouTube’s launch.
  • Patreon takes a smaller percentage – Patreon is still a service, so it charges its users for using the platform by taking a percentage of their monthly income. Depending on which Patreon plan you subscribe to, they get 5% (for Lite), 8% (for Pro), or 12% (for Premium). This is aside from the payment processing fee. It sounds more Compared to YouTube’s massive 30% cut, Patreon is more friendly to its users.
  • Patreon’s terms do not change drastically – Google, the mother company of YouTube, is notorious for updating its terms regularly. These terms include changes with monetization, which can be off-putting to YouTubers.
  • No minimum patrons required – At Patreon, there were no requirements regarding the number of patrons upon sign-up. With YouTube’s Channel Membership, your channel had to have at least 100,000 subscribers.

When it comes to pledges of supporters, Patreon and YouTube have similar starting points.

The starting price for YouTube channel memberships is $0.99/month at YouTube Channel Membership, while the starting price at Patreon is $1/month.

How Much Can You Earn With Patreon?

It has been proven that you can make money with Patreon, but it’s simply impossible to state an estimated income you can get from Patreon mainly because the number of supporters and how much they’re willing to shell out are different among Patreon users.

Below are a few of the top creators making the most money on Patreon, according to Graphtreon:

  • True Crime Obsessed (Earns an estimated $103K to $293K per month with over 38K patrons) – True crime podcast hosted by Gillian Pensavalle and Patrick Hinds
  • Chapo Trap House (Earns more than $164,000 per month with over 36K patrons) – Political comedy podcast by hosts Matt Christman, Will Menaker, Virgil Texas, Felix Biederman, and Ambe A’Lee Frost
  • Yagami Yato (Earns an estimated $49K to $289K per month with over 33K patrons) – NSFW Vocal artist, ASMR, and interactive fiction
  • DarkCookie (Earns more than $68K per month with over 25K patrons) – Creator of NSFW game Summertime Saga
  • Brandon Stanton (Earns an estimated $38K to $197K per month with over 20K patrons) – Photographer and creator of the Humans of New York photo series on social media and now published as books
  • Amanda Palmer (Earns an estimated $18K to $136K per month with over 14K patrons) – Singer, musician, podcaster, and blogger
  • CGP Grey (Earns more than $42K per month with over 13K patrons) – YouTuber with educational explanatory videos on a wide variety of subjects, mostly through animation

As you can see from these creators, it is definitely possible to make money with Patreon no matter what type of content you publish as long as you have followers (or in this case: “patrons”).

As a creator, you will dictate the tiers (membership levels) and the corresponding benefits for every tier.

You can add multiple tiers, as well as multiple benefits. And choose if you’d like to include tangible items, such as t-shirts, stickers, CDs, and various other merch or digital items, such as access to a livestream or a copy of an unreleased song.

Who Can Make Money with Patreon?

Anyone can open up a Patreon account.

However, once you begin earning money from the subscriptions, Patreon gets a cut from your monthly income.

As I’ve mentioned, the percentage will depend on what type of Patreon plan you chose: Lite (5%), Pro (8%), or Premium (12%).

The pricier the Patreon plan you choose, the more add-ons you get, such as detailed analytics, accounts for team members, a dedicated partner manager, and so on.

If you’re planning to join Patreon, but is not sure if you’d fit in, you’d be surprised at the impressive range of Patreon users there are.

To give you an idea, here are some real Patreon users and how they’re using this platform to earn money online:

1. Podcasters

We know crowdfunding is a legitimate way of making money from podcasts.

You don’t need to be a professor, public speaker, or celebrity to create a podcast. As long as you’re creative, smart, and entertaining enough, people will naturally want to listen to you and hear more.

Aside from the Chapo Trap House, The Last Podcast on the Left is another popular podcast hosted by friends Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks, and Henry Zebrowski.

Since 2011, these guys have been releasing 1-hour podcasts about the horrors of the world, both imagined and real. Think zombies, serial killers, and so on. While Zebrowski is a comedian on his own right, his co-hosts mostly found massive fame through the podcast.

2. Teaching and Education

There is massive potential for teaching at Patreon.

From musicians creating music lessons for their patrons to English teachers creating lessons for their ESL students, the possibilities are endless.

You’d find essay writing lessons, painting courses, cooking lessons, and many more.

3. Musicians

Singers and musicians are big at Patreon.

A cappella groups Pentatonix and Home Free are perfect examples of music acts that opened their world to patrons, which ultimately helped them create music, tour more places, and produce music videos.

If you’re trying to learn guitar, you can find many expert guitarists sharing their knowledge at Patreon.

You just gotta dig deeper and learn how other musicians take care of their patrons.

4. Video Creators

These group of creators bring a wide range of content to the world.

Some share educational videos like cooking or experiments, while others stick with pranks, family funny videos, and so on.

5. Visual Artists

The internet threatened traditionally-beloved professions like comic book artists and other similar fields.

But the technology, tools like drawing tablets and software, and services like Patreon paved the way for visual artists to make money online.

Today, exceptionally-talented artists like Brian Gordon (of Fowl Language) and Nick Seluk (of The Awkward Yeti) are able to do what they love the most and earn a living from their comics too!

Thanks, in part, of their fans who helped bring money to the artists by buying their merch, joining Kickstarter campaigns, or subscribing to their Patreon.

6. Writers

The cool thing about Patreon is that creators can offer their content in phases, which is ideal for authors working on their novels.

They can choose to be “paid” as they go.

Journalists also have a nice little home here, especially those with very specific niches.

7. Game creators

Video game creators join Patreon and release updates and sneak peaks of their games to their patrons.

Some go as far as asking their patrons to help shoulder the game development bill.

Watching online gamers do their thing (and narrate what their characters are doing on screen) has been around for several years and who wouldn’t want to get paid to play video games?

It’s no wonder these popular names from the gaming industry are using Patreon to share more content in exchange for income from monthly subscriptions.

8. Communities and Organizations

Of course, organizations (whether private or non-profit) and communities can turn Patreon into their go-to fundraising headquarters.

Patreon was made exactly to unite a community of people into one (or more) goals.

Tips to Be Successful on Patreon

Making money on Patreon isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it type of task. It involves constant work on your end to keep your existing patrons, get new ones, and create new content.

Here are a few tips for success on this platform.

1. Carefully consider whether signing up as a Patreon creator is a good fit for you.

As I keep stressing above, anyone can sign up on Patreon and start making money.

But just because you can doesn’t always mean you should.

First, compute your overhead costs. If whatever you’re creating requires expensive raw materials, labor, or any other upfront costs, you might want to reconsider having Patreon as your main source of income.

Second, you need to come into Patreon with a fan base, whether from social media, your regular clients, or yes, even YouTube.

Patreon can help you get funded, but without enough online followers opening their wallets to support you, your Patreon campaign may go unfunded.

Lastly, you need to be able to handle enormous pressure.

Having a virtual line of patrons outside your virtual door, waiting for your next creation to drop, and being vocal about it (after all, they invested in your work) will either motivate you to get off your behind and start working.

Or the overwhelming pressure can break your resolve.

Know yourself enough to decide whether you can handle it.

2. Set achievable goals.

The best thing to avoid reneging on a promise is to not promise anything you can’t deliver.

Lots of sites will advise you to create multiple tiers of support, starting from entry-level, 1 to 3 mid-levels, and a limited VIP tier open only for a number of patrons. These multiple tiers would naturally have different rewards or perks.

And I’m here to tell you to set reasonable goals for yourself in terms of whether you’re able to deliver these perks.

Will you be able to meet the demand for content if you ever reach thousands of patrons?

Ask yourself this question constantly when you’re planning out your tiers and rewards.

3. Constantly be creating high-quality content.

Even if you were able to optimize your tiers, promote your Patreon page, and increase the number of your patrons, you’re not going to make money on Patreon for long if your content is less than your best.

Your followers became patrons because they’re fans of the free content you’ve already put out there. Asking for their monetary support and then delivering goods that are far from what they’ve come to expect is the fastest way to ensure that monetary support dries up.

4. Keep creating for non-patrons

Speaking of free content, suppress the urge to make all your content exclusive to patrons.

You’ll want to continue growing your audience outside of Patreon so you can reach more potential patrons who will invest in your project.

And they won’t do it if they don’t know what you’re about.

5. Keep an attitude of gratitude for your patrons.

While there is no bigger “thank you” than delivering what your promised, it’s still a good idea to thank your patrons in many different ways.

This is especially important during the early days, when only a few of them liked your content enough to have faith in you and invest in you.

Personalized messages and special perks to your early patrons will go a long way in promoting goodwill and ensuring you have loyal patrons.

At the same time, new patrons need to feel appreciated, too.

You might not be able to send personalized messages after a certain point, but never forget to thank them and acknowledge their contribution somehow, such as a special shoutout in your work.

Final Thoughts on Making Money With Patreon

Wouldn’t it be nice if creating content sold itself and paid for itself so you can keep doing it.

Unfortunately, it can’t.

Fortunately, making money on Patreon so you can sustain your passion is now possible.

I hope this article helped you make up your mind if Patreon is a good fit for you and inspired you with Patreon success stories.

Are you signing up for Patreon? Or are you already there and loving it? Tell us your stories (and maybe drop your Patreon link?) in the comments!

5 Insider Tips to Make More Money on Upwork

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Whether you’ve been feeling the need for a career change and just got into freelancing, or you’re a seasoned freelancer with many hours of work under your belt, you’ve probably heard of Upwork and wondered whether it’s worth joining up.

Can you make enough money on Upwork to support a sustainable lifestyle, or is it a pit of cheapskate gigs and lowball offers?

Below I talk about my experience on the platform so far, and give some insider tips on how you can start making money on Upwork.

Why Upwork?

There are many reasons why people turn to freelancing as a career path instead of sticking to the 9 – 5 full-time setup.

Personally, I’ve never been able to see myself as someone’s full-time employee, and the few short months I spent doing just that after finishing my degree made it painfully clear that the boss/employee dynamic will never work for me.

So on the advice of a friend, I took a chance on Upwork as a stepping stone to achieving personal and financial freedom.

Starting out on Upwork felt like a safer way to approach freelancing than trying to find clients on my own.

Like many others who are new to the workforce, I wanted to kick-start my career but had serious doubts about my abilities and didn’t want to take too big of a leap into the unknown.

Upwork felt like a better option than trying to get things set up myself, and this gamble worked out in the end.

Sure, there are other freelance marketplaces like PeoplePerHour and Freelancer, but I couldn’t get the same sense of security and support from them that I did get from Upwork at the time.

That said, getting used to the bidding system – with plenty of other people clamoring to get at the same jobs – was daunting at first and I didn’t make a lot of money off Upwork for the first couple of months.

1. Avoid Getting Drowned Out by an Endless Sea of Voices

Despite recent changes to its bidding system, Upwork is still the largest online talent marketplace in the world, with millions of freelancers looking for the financial stability a platform like that can offer.

But with thousands or even millions of other people to contend with for job opportunities – how do you single yourself out above the noise that so many voices inevitably create?

Here’s what I learned:

Don’t climb into the shallow, shark-infested waters with the rest of them.

I don’t want to get paid $5 for a full day’s work and neither should you. No matter the industry you’re in, whether it’s design, bookkeeping, writing, programming, or any one of the host of career paths listed on Upwork, you deserve to be paid a livable wage.

It’s easy to get frustrated and discouraged when looking for jobs on a bidding platform like Upwork, because there are thousands of listings that expect perfection for literal peanuts and yet there are still dozens of applicants going for them.

Don’t fall into that same trap.

Even if you’re just starting out as a freelancer, you have something valuable to offer.

Whether it’s your education in a specific field or niche knowledge you’ve built up through experience. A client will value what you have to bring to the table, but you need to sell it effectively.

This is why it’s so important to specialize right from the beginning.

You might feel pressured into applying for anything just so you can start making money on Upwork, but that isn’t going to help further your career or help you land high-paying gigs.

Your profile will be your greatest asset in this regard, and you have to make sure to set it up in a way that attracts the type of clients you’re aiming for.

Upwork has a great job filtering system as well, and you need to use that to your advantage too. Make your searches as niche as you can, and ignore any job posts that have poor/unclear descriptions or don’t pay what the job is worth.

2. Create a Specialized Profile

Setting up your profile is the first thing you’ll do on Upwork and it’s very important to get this right.

Your profile and your cover letter are the only things clients will have to base their decision off of, which means they need to be professional, coherent, and present the assets you bring to the table in a favorable way (without lying of course).

Upwork now also provides the ability to create multiple specialized profiles that you can apply with, depending on the type of job.

I haven’t tested this new feature enough to be able to comment on its merits, but I know enough about the importance of specializing as a freelancer to know that you should definitely utilize this system to its full potential.

That said, it is possible to make money on Upwork without backing yourself into the “expert” corner.

You can apply to a wide variety of jobs within your field and get contracts that way – I’ve done that too and earned enough to scrape by.

But if you’re looking to earn more then you need to specialize and find quality, long-term clients.

3. Bid Correctly on Upwork

I mentioned changes to Upwork’s bidding system earlier, so let’s get into that as it will have an impact on how you approach applying for jobs on the platform.

The company recently went public and, without getting into all of the details of what that means, let’s just say that Upwork is working really hard to make more money right now.

Which has (unofficially) led to a couple of changes to the way they charge clients and freelancers.

What that means for you, is that you will now have to pay for connects to apply to jobs, with each job requiring a different amount of connects.

This is on top of the percentages that Upwork charges you per job.

Here’s my advice:

Take the amount you’ll be paying for connects into account when bidding on jobs.

If the probability of you getting that job doesn’t seem high enough to warrant the connect payment then don’t do it. Unfortunately, this system is pretty skewed in that it benefits established freelancers on the platform while keeping new ones down.

The best advice I can give you is to take your time when applying (even though it’s frustrating) and to only apply to high-paying jobs. That way, the finances kind of balance themselves out and Upwork takes less of your hard-earned money overall.

4. Know When to Quit Working With Difficult Clients

Upwork might be a great way to attract new clients, but that doesn’t mean those clients are always great.

Every now and then you might come into contact with a client who’s demanding and even unreasonable at times.

When this happens, you have one of two choices:

  1. End the contract
  2. Do your best to keep them happy

Ending the contract might seem counterproductive, but on Upwork, a poor job success score equals career death on the platform, and a difficult client often leads to a subpar score – even if you did your best to do everything right.

On Upwork, a client cannot rate you if they haven’t paid you.

So sometimes, even if the money is good, it’s better to end the contract and refund them early on than waste your time on a client who’s going to give you a poor rating no matter what you do.

5. Get Better at Managing Your Time

As a freelancer, time is your biggest commodity and it’s important to think about how you spend it because even though Upwork saves you a lot of trouble in terms of finding clients and handling payments, it still takes up a lot of time.

After you’ve landed your first gig and more start rolling in, it can feel like one grand old adventure as you traverse the field and work with people from many different places and backgrounds.

It’s easy to get swept up in that sense of accomplishment when landing another client, but then the dreaded deadline steps in and you realize that you’ve made a grave mistake.

Suddenly there’s pressure from all sides and you find yourself scrambling; working around the clock just to keep all of the promises you’ve made – a freelancer is only as good as their reputation after all and you can’t afford to burn any bridges.

Time management is a valuable skill in every freelancer’s pocket and it’s a hard beast to master.

So don’t apply indiscriminately to every Upwork job that teases your fancy (because that takes up a lot of time too) and don’t accept every client invitation.

It’s extremely tempting, but you have to prioritize.

Otherwise, you’ll end up burning yourself out on lowball jobs that take up more time than they’re worth, while you could have been spending that time finding and building up relationships with quality clients.

The Funny Thing About Eggs and Baskets

While I’ve been using Upwork for a few years now, there’s no denying that the platform has its faults and I’ve been tempted to seek greener pastures plenty of times.

Certainly, there has been no shortage of people echoing that whole eggs and basket analogy – which shouldn’t be ignored.

But the funny thing is, I probably wouldn’t have found the same success on the site had I not put as much time and effort into building myself up on Upwork.

At the end of the day, you need to do what’s right for you.

Maybe Upwork will just be one source of income for you as a freelancer and that’s completely fine too.

How To Make Money as a Personal Grocery Shopper

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It’s almost dinner time and you’re just getting off work, only to realize that your fridge contains a carton of milk and two pieces of stale cheese, which means it’s time for that one dreaded household chore you’ve been putting off: visiting the grocery store.

This is a recurring experience for a lot of us, and many people wish they could just have a personal grocery shopper do it for them instead.

I know I certainly do.

You might not be a big fan of grocery shopping yourself, but as a side gig, you couldn’t ask for better.

Becoming a professional grocery shopper is super easy and it doesn’t matter where you live. As long as there are people, your services will be in demand.

Look at it this way:

Grocery shopping is generally a pretty hated activity.

It’s time-consuming, the parking and aisles are crowded, the lines are long, and it’s overall a very tedious experience. But you can seize this opportunity to provide a service and earn money from it in return.

Whether you’re just looking for an easy part-time job that won’t take up too much of your time, or helping people really appeals to you, getting paid to buy groceries for others is a very accessible way to earn some extra money on the side.

I’ve delved quite a bit into the secret shopper biz before, which has you working for the retail company and not the customer. But now I wanted to see what getting paid to shop is all about when the clients are other people with the same needs as you.

Let’s look at how personal grocery shopping works, what you can expect to earn, and what your future prospects are.

What Does a Personal Grocery Shopper Do?

The name is pretty self-explanatory, but for clarity’s sake, here’s what the job entails.

A personal grocery shopper is someone paid to buy and deliver groceries.

It’s their job to find out what the client needs, get to the store, buy the groceries, and then deliver them to the client at a pre-arranged time and place.

Usually, clients don’t pay ahead of time, meaning you have to buy the groceries out of pocket and have them reimburse you after you’ve delivered.

However, many companies now provide a debit card for you to use while shopping so you don’t have to use your own money.

Who Needs Personal Grocery Shoppers?

Those who book personal grocery shoppers generally fall into one of four categories:

  • Busy people who don’t have time left in the day to get to a supermarket and buy groceries for themselves or their families.
  • Families who have a holiday home or hire a vacation rental and want a fully stocked kitchen when they arrive. (If you already have an Airbnb business going, then adding grocery shopping to your list of services could be a great additional income source for that too.)
  • The elderly or physically challenged who struggle to or cannot leave their homes unaided.
  • People with agoraphobia, severe anxiety disorders, or other mental disorders for whom going outside is extremely difficult.

Not only can becoming a personal grocery shopper be a flexible part-time job, but it can also be a surprisingly fulfilling way to help others.

I’ve talked a fair amount about flexible jobs on here because that’s sort of a staple for anyone looking to set up their own part-time side hustle, but few of them give you the added satisfaction of helping out someone who really needs it.

Pros and Cons of Being a Personal Grocery Shopper

So why is this a viable opportunity for side cash, full-time income, or home-based business?

First, it’s cost-effective. With a grocery shopping app, you can start earning with as little as a few hundred bucks for gas money.

Even if you are going on your own, you can market your business through social media, free listings, or word of mouth.

Second, it allows you to have flexible hours. You can work part-time, full-time, for as few as 2 hours a day or as many as 12 hours a day if you want.

So you can start right away as a part-timer while you have a full-time job, and then move up in hours when you decide you want to do this as a business.

Third, there’s no need for an office or even physical space to do your work. Just hop on your vehicle and start earning.

Lastly, you get paid quickly. Often, you get your tips real-time, and the company pays you your fee or commission either immediately or on a weekly basis.

Being a personal grocery shopper does have its cons, too.

First, you’ll need a vehicle, which may not be affordable for some. That said, depending on the area you serve, you can start with at least a bike or a motorcycle.

Second, no matter how high the demand in your area is, your earnings are limited to how many orders you can fulfill in a day, which can be hindered by store limitations, out-of-stock items, heavy traffic, and many other factors.

What Do You Need to Start Being a Personal Grocery Shopper?

Well, for starters, you’ll need to be above 18 years old (at least 21 for a few grocery shopping apps).

You’d also need the following:

  • A smartphone that can handle delivery and GPS apps
  • Access to a reliable vehicle
  • Auto insurance
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Clean driving record
  • Physical ability to carry heavy bags of groceries, possibly up and down stairs
  • Time management skills
  • Decision-making skills
  • Empathy and patience, especially for older or impaired clients

Once you have all these, you can get started in one of two ways.

You can either sign up with a company as an independent contractor or set up your own personal grocery shopping business from home.

Let’s take a closer look at each of them below.

Join a Personal Grocery Shopping Company

Thanks to the rising demand for personal shoppers, especially during the pandemic, there are several companies you can join in kickstarting your side cash venture.

You’ll have to apply to become one of their registered shoppers and will likely have to go through an interview process, but the requirements are usually simple.

Generally, to apply to become a personal shopper for grocery delivery companies, you’ll need to be over 18, own a car and a phone, and have the ability to lift and carry around 40 pounds worth of grocery bags.

While these companies will dictate how much work you’ll get and how much you can be paid, they definitely provide an easier way to find clients since they do all the marketing, handle customer service, and maintain the technology (i.e., the apps) themselves.

Here are some companies to consider joining.

1. DoorDash

DoorDash is mostly known for restaurant deliveries, but they’ve recently expanded their services and partnered with grocery stores and convenience stores selling grocery items.

Your earnings are determined by your Base Pay (calculated based on time, distance, and demand), Peak Pay (allows Dashers to earn more during peak hours), Challenges (earn extra for completing a certain number of deliveries in a certain amount of time), and your tips (you get 100% of tips).

To apply to be a Dasher, you’ll need to be 18 and above, have a smartphone with an up-to-date operating system (Android or iOS), have access to a reliable vehicle (car, scooter, or bicycle in select areas), and pass a background check.

2. Instacart

With Instacart, you can choose to be either a full-service shopper or an in-store shopper.

Full-service personal grocery shoppers work as independent contractors, receiving orders on their app, shopping, and delivering these groceries to Instacart customers.

By contrast, in-store shoppers are Instacart employees who work in-store to shop for groceries, bag them, and prepare them for pickup.

For both roles, you’ll need to be 18 and above, have a smartphone with an up-to-date operating system (Android or iOS), be able to lift at least 30 pounds and pass a background check.

Full-service shoppers need a valid driver’s license, car insurance, and access to a reliable vehicle.

3. Shipt

Shipt is yet another grocery delivery app with customers in several major cities all over the country except Alaska.

Shipt Shoppers get paid when they complete orders plus they get 100% of customer tips.

They also have the Shipt Perks program for their Shoppers, including such rewards as Covid-19 assistance, tax prep discounts, discounts on auto, lifestyle, fitness, and insurance products, and free Shipt membership as long as they’re active Shoppers.

In contrast to other apps on this list, Shipt interviews all shopper applicants, even though they’re independent contractors.

To apply as a Shipt Shopper, you’ll need to be 18 and above, have a smartphone with Android 5.1 or newer or iOS 10 or newer, have a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, have access to a reliable vehicle (1997 or newer), be able to carry 40 pounds or heavier, and have a broad knowledge of produce selection.

When you get accepted, you get sent Shipt-branded gear and a Shipt card that gets loaded with funds every time you accept orders on the app.

4. Gopuff

Gopuff is a platform that allows customers to get groceries, home goods, food, alcohol, medicine, and other essentials right to their homes.

What makes Gopuff unique is that they have local warehouses (called micro-fulfillment centers) per area they serve.

Thus, when you work as a Delivery Partner in a certain area, you only have one pickup point, with free, reserved parking and plenty of people to ask for help.

Your earnings are composed of your Base Pay (the flat fee you earn for every order you deliver) and Tips (Delivery Partners get 100% of their tips).

As a Delivery Partner, you can reserve blocks of time in advance when you’re willing to accept grocery orders from a specific facility. When you do, you get a minimum earnings guarantee for that block so that even if demand is low, you’ll still earn a predictable rate per hour.

To apply as a Delivery Partner, you have to be at least 21 years old, have a smartphone with the latest operating system (Android or iOS), have a valid driver’s license, own an insured vehicle under your own name, be able to pass a motor vehicle and criminal background check, and be willing to pass an alcohol delivery training course.

5. Grubhub

Grubhub is more popular as a food delivery app, but you can also be a personal grocery shopper with them.

Your earnings are based on time and mileage per order, tips (you keep 100% of tips), and incentives.

Scheduling blocks of time ahead of time when you can drive around and deliver orders will increase the possibility of getting orders. Unlike Gopuff, though, there’s no minimum earnings guarantee, meaning if you don’t get any orders during that time block then you don’t earn anything.

Being a Grubhub driver actually has its perks in the form of discounts on tax, healthcare, and car services. They also recognize drivers who have high attendance and order acceptance rates while having low block drop rates by giving them more opportunities to earn.

You’ll have to be at least 19 years old, have a smartphone, vehicle, driver’s license and auto insurance for drivers, and valid state ID or driver’s license for bike riders to apply to be a Grubhub driver.

Build Your Own Grocery Shopping Business

Starting out as a personal grocery shopper for a company gives you the experience as well as the opportunity to get to know some local clients, not to mention the chance to save some of your income to use as capital for your own grocery shopping business.

The good news is that you don’t need much; as long as you have your vehicle, a smartphone, and a way to pay for the groceries, you can actually start taking on clients.

Here are some factors to look at when starting your own grocery delivery business.

Demand

Are you in a location where there are people who will actually need your services?

Take a look at the list above of the people who are most likely to need the services of a personal grocery shopper. Are there people like that in your area?

Business Licenses

You’ll need to register your business with the state, not just because it’s a legal requirement but also so that you can begin getting tax deductions on your gas costs as business expenses, and also your insurance premiums would have to be adjusted.

Having a registered business also gives you some leverage if you want to start collaborating with local grocery stores and partnering up for promotions.

Marketing

When you’re just starting out, it can be a challenge to find customers to sign up for your service, so it’s more practical to prioritize spending your capital, both time and money, on marketing at first.

Try setting up different channels to reach people who would want to make use of your new service to know what works. You mostly want to target local customers first, and then expand from there.

It could be things like posting on Facebook groups and other online channels, handing out flyers and coupons at the grocery store, visiting retirement homes, and posting your details on notice boards.

If you’re into couponing, that is a great complement to your personal grocery shopper business. You can use couponing as a unique selling point for your business because not many grocery shoppers offer this as part of their service yet.

It might be especially attractive for people who want to make use of your services but have lower budgets to contend with.

The key to the success of your personal grocery shopping business lies in emphasizing convenience. It’s all about making an inconvenient chore as convenient as you possibly can so your clients keep booking your service and refer you to their family and friends.

Think of unique ways you can help make their lives easier.

Set up a newsletter with the week’s specials at popular stores in the area, create a loyalty system with different perks, or offer to buy them groceries with no delivery fee on their birthday.

There are a lot of ways you can set yourself apart from the competition, which could lead to a profitable business where you’re your own boss.

Another thing you might want to set up is a grocery checklist or website where your customers can indicate what they need and where you should buy it from.

Technology

Setting up a website is something you should definitely look into because it enables your customers to combine scheduling, listing, and payment in one place, making it more convenient for you and your customers.

Plus, having a website to refer customers to lends a more professional feel to your business.

You can also look into creating your own app so your customers just need their smartphones to order and schedule delivery.

However, setting these up takes some design skills and investment that you might not currently have. It could always come later though, as you grow your business.

How Much Can You Earn Through Grocery Shopping?

If you choose to be a personal grocery shopper through a grocery delivery company, your pay is normally for a set amount per grocery run, plus the tips from your clients.

This set amount varies per site, but it’s widely reported that you can get as much as $25 per order.

How Can I Earn More?

Depending on the company you work for, clients can pay you tips and you get to keep up to 100%.

Here are some things you can do to increase your tips from your clients.

  • Be mindful when shopping. Select the best produce, pick out canned goods with no dents, and carefully check the expiration dates.
  • Be respectful of your clients’ time. Make every effort to deliver their groceries on time.
  • Be pleasant. Keep a smile on your face when shopping, especially when you’re at a grocery store you’ll be frequenting. You may need the employees’ help to find the freshest goods and the best deals. Most of all, smile when delivering the groceries to your clients.
  • Be available. You can work any time you want but bear in mind that the busiest times are weekday afternoons and weekends. You’ll want to be available to clients during those times.

If you ‘re doing this on your own, take note that some grocery shoppers charge per hour, but most charge a fee based on the total size of the grocery bill. This can either be a percentage of the final bill, or a flat rate based on different pricing tiers.

Either way, you’re looking at around $20 per grocery order of $100 to $200, on average. You don’t want to charge too much, but you want enough to at least cover your costs and make it worth your time and effort.

Keep in mind that you have to figure in mileage, car insurance, and any extra errand services you might offer, like unpacking the groceries for the client.

Become a Personal Grocery Shopper Today!

Whether you’re going to work as a personal grocery shopper for delivery companies or starting your own grocery shopping business, it is a potentially lucrative endeavor for the right person.

Hopefully, this article helped you get an idea of whether personal grocery shopping is for you.

24 Ways for Kids to Earn Money Online and Offline

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If you’re intrigued by how other kids earn money online and in real life, and want your own kids to learn from the success (or failures) of children their own age, this post is definitely for you.

The internet has provided income opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender, beliefs, profession, and age. Young or old people can get a slice of the pie, as long as they’re willing to learn how.

Even reading stories online of 10-year-old CEOs building businesses from the ground up can burn a fire in your kids and inspire them to follow in their footsteps.

But as parents, I understand that you’d want to learn the ins and outs of such opportunities first, before showing them to your kids. And that’s totally okay.

Before I share the list, be aware that:

  • When I say “kid,” I’m talking about school-kid age to pre-teens (about 8 to 12 years old). If your child is already a teenager, maybe my post about online jobs for teens would be a more appropriate fit.
  • The following list of money-making side jobs no longer include house chores or any tasks paid by you (the parents), or any member of the family. I only included jobs for kids that they can make independently, or outside of their family.

11 Traditional Ways Kids Earn Money

I wanted to kick this list off with a mix of traditional and new-age ways kids can earn money.

1. Lemonade Stands

Lemonade stands may seem so cliché, but they still work. And your kids are old enough to do the squeezing of lemons, setting up shop, and selling the drinks.

You can always turn the classic lemonade stand into something more.

Just ask Me & the Bees Lemonade owner Mikaila, who began her bottled lemonade business at 4 years old. She won an investment on the show Shark Tank.

2. Pet sitting

Like errand jobs that require you to travel around the city, walking the dogs on their own may not be safe for young kids.

However, pet-sitting is perfect.

The owners can just drop off the pet at your house and your kid will be responsible for it throughout its stay.

Your kids can charge depending on the length of stay, how demanding the pet/s are, and the number of pet-related errands included (giving baths, giving medicine, etc.).

3. Wash cars

Bring out a sign at your garage. Send out flyers throughout your neighborhood. Then wait for customers to line up.

Washing cars is great exercise too, so if your goal is to keep your kids off gadgets during their school breaks, then this gig can be a lucrative activity.

4. Take care of the lawn

Kids will be able to build discipline and strength by cleaning gutters, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, raking leaves, and providing a wide range of lawn care services.

Take photos of the lawn before and after working on it.

Use these photos on your website or Facebook page as proof of how well your kids can maintain a lawn.

5. Watering service

If mowing and raking leaves sounds like too much, watering plants may be a better option for your kids to earn money.

If you can find families who work long hours, are going on vacation, or disabled or elderly neighbors who need a hand with their plants.

6. Sell Candies, Cupcakes, or other Sweets

Everyone loves sweets. And if your kid does too, kids can earn money by cooking or baking sweets and selling these sweets to their classmates, family or friends, and even around your local community.

Eventually, you can ship out your sweet treats to other places in the country.

Zollipops was developed by then-7-year-old Alina Morse and her dad as sugar-free, acid-free lollipops that are teeth-friendly. Now, they have expanded to Zolli Drops that are “sugar-free, non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, kosher, and made with natural flavors and colors in the USA.”

Look at Mr. Cory’s Cookies as well. He ships them to customers and even introduced a cookie subscription at one point, which sends cookies to customer’s doorsteps each month.

7. Become Tech Support Staff to the Elderly

Your 8-year-old kid is probably more tech-savvy than you.

They’re most likely more knowledgeable than their grandparents when it comes to using smartphones or the computer.

Their generation is hooked on technology, so why not take advantage of this?

Set-up a tech support business where kids can help seniors send emails, upload photos, check Facebook, perform tasks like data entry, teach them blogging, introduce them to games, and so on.

8. Start a Fashion Business

If you create bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and other DIY jewelry, you can start a fashion business and sell the items at your school, local markets, or online.

This also goes for kids who have an eye for fashion.

  • Moziah Bridges took the lack of bow options in the market to heart and created his own with Mo’s Bows.
  • Brandon and Sebastian Martinez developed their own line of socks called Are You Kidding.

9. Sell Your Own Brand

You can sell almost anything you want, as long as you believe in your product 100%.

Good examples of super-young entrepreneurs are:

  • Asia Newson — Known as the youngest Detroit-based entrepreneur, Asia began selling candles at age 5. She now leads her own company, Super Business Girl, and trains other youth on how to succeed in business.
  • Sisters Lily, Chloe, and Sophie Warren — Launched their beeswax-based skincare products under the brand Sweet Bee Sisters when they were 8, 6, and 4 years old.

10. Market Your Skills

Do you have a special talent you want to share with the world?

10-year-old twin sisters Amira and Kayla make up a DJ duo that caters to children’s parties for 4- to 9-year-olds.

They’re kind of a big deal, deejaying at New York Knicks Games, Kids Rock! New York Fashion Week and other events.

11. Rent Your Stuff Out

Unlike grownups who can rent their homes, extra rooms, garage, and other properties out to strangers, kids are not yet ready for such big responsibilities.

However, they can start small by arranging the garage for items to rent out or setting up a neighborhood library where they can lease books for a minimal fee.

The Reality of Becoming YouTube Stars, Influencers, and other Internet Sensations

Ask any kid who has been exposed to the internet about what they want to be when they grow up, and more than half of these kids would answer “YouTuber” without batting an eyelash.

The successes of YouTube stars are truly awe-inspiring.

Who wouldn’t want their kid to be the next Ryan’s World (formerly Ryan ToysReview) or his idol EvanTubeHD? These two boys are the stars of the most popular kid channels on YouTube and they earn millions of dollars each year. Just by unboxing toys, playing with them, and reviewing them in front of the camera.

Sounds pretty easy to replicate, right?

Unfortunately, it isn’t as easy as it sounds. Evan and Ryan have several things in common:

  • They were the brains of their own channels (even if the parents joined in on the fun after awhile). You can see that the kids wanted it 100%
  • They are naturally gifted on camera. They are adorable and have excellent communication skills.
  • They are relatable, good-mannered kids. (If I were a parent and saw my kid watching these two, I wouldn’t have any issue with it. But if I see my kid watching YouTubers who tantrum as their skit, or embark on crazy pranks, they’re probably blocked for good).

Not everyone’s kids can be the next Evan or Ryan.

And the sooner parents like you and I understand that becoming popular on YouTube doesn’t come overnight or happen to everyone, the easier it is for us to decide if we’re going to allow our kids to star in their own channel.

This goes for influencers (kid models on Instagram becoming brand ambassadors), game-streaming stars, or other internet sensations as well.

13 Ways Kids Can Earn Money Online

Despite what I said about kids aspiring to become the next internet sensation, there are ways for kids to earn money online. Here are some of them.

  1. Take Surveys Online — There are legitimate companies around and they actually like to know what people think. Surveys are usually categorized by age group, so if there are surveys that target kids, they’ll definitely have the chance to participate and get paid. Doing this can bring in $50 to $100 a month.
  2. Sell Your Used Items Online. If your kid is an only child, you may have plenty of toys they’re not interested in or clothes they’ve outgrown. Have your child sort out which toys, clothes, books, and even small furniture they can let go of and help them set up an eBay shop to sell them.
  3. Sell a Subscription — People love subscriptions, especially if they’re receiving something from the mail. A good example of this is the Stem In A Box by TopSecretScience (owned by an 8-year-old LA-based kid named Max), which ships out science kits each month. A kit includes a chapter of a story and other science projects that kids can enjoy.
  4. Turn Your Crafting into a Business — Whether you make paper dolls, origami, wooden projects, and other crafts, Etsy can turn these items into cash. It can also help kids develop their creativity and time management skills since orders come with scheduled shipping and you should be able to ship out your products on time.
  5. Launch a Design Firm — You can start selling t-shirts, mugs, prints, and other products with print-on-demand companies. Kids see differently from adults, so let them create designs with their own ideas and insights.
  6. Build (and Sell) an App. Children as young as four are being taught how to create apps. App builders for kids like Kids App Maker and Appy Pie make it a snap. Kids can then sell them on App Store or Google Play Store.
  7. Sell Photos — If your kid is a budding photographer, they can get paid for the work by licensing photos to stock photography sites like Shutterstock or iStock. You can also check out other apps that pay for photos.
  8. Sell Slime —Samantha Zumwalt of Samantha Slime Shop makes and sells her own range of slime online.
  9. Become a Tester — Some kids earn money through jobs like product testing. Test websites, test video games, test Amazon products, and so on.
  10. Solve a Problem With a New Product — You may think that the world has run out of problems to solve, but you’d be surprised at how many inventions are still created today. For example, Lacrosse player Rachel Zietz wasn’t happy with the equipment available in the market, so she designed her own products and sold them on Gladiator Lacrosse.
  11. Become a motivational speaker — Caleb Maddix is a motivational speaker who began as early as 12 years old. Today, he owns Apex 4 Kids, the world’s first-ever relatable, entertaining, and powerful personal growth for kids.
  12. Write and Publish an eBook. Even the youngest kids do have something to say or a story to tell. Help them write an eBook and self-publish it. Get inspired by such young authors as Alec Greven and Brittany and Brianna Winner
  13. Build a Website — Juliette Brindak Blake was only 10 years old when she launched the website Miss O and Friends. Today, it’s a safe place for kid, tween, and teen girls, providing age-appropriate content with a safe messaging system.

How to Teach Children About Money

It’s not enough for kids to earn money; they should also be taught about its value, how to spend it wisely, and how to save up small amounts to make big purchases later on.

It starts by teaching them to look at price tags at the supermarket, showing them various ways to pay for purchases both in real life and in online stores, and even playing pretend “store” at home complete with play money and play credit cards.

Here are some online resources to help you teach your kids about money:

It’s not easy for kids to earn money

Some kids earn money online, while others prefer to do it old school.

However, since we’re talking about younger kids, parents like you and I still need to guide them on whatever money-making opportunity they plan on embarking.

They don’t have to be CEOs of a company or internet stars, but exposing them to jobs or businesses at an early age can be exceptional training to prepare them for the real world.

Which of these money-making opportunities will your kid be likely to be interested in? Share it with us and other fellow parents in the comments!

10 Online Jobs for Doctors to Do From Home

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It seems unbelievable that online jobs for doctors are available since our traditional idea of physicians doesn’t really fit the work-from-home model.

We think, how can they diagnose a disease or prescribe treatment if there’s no actual contact between doctor and patient?

Well, we do live in a time when there are plenty of online medical jobs for physicians, students studying to be physicians, or other people working in the medical field.

And whether you want to establish a full-time medical career from home or just want extra income, it’s likely you’ll find an online job that suits your schedule and skills.

Today, let’s go over 10 remote physician jobs that can be done from home (or from the beach, from the desert, from a mountain, or wherever there’s an internet connection).

10 Online Jobs for Doctors Worth Exploring

I’ve never met a doctor who didn’t already have a completely exhausting schedule.

Online jobs for doctors could help alleviate some of the stress and allow you to have a little more control over your time.

1. Teledoctor

More and more health plans are adding an option of video-calling with a doctor instead of coming into an office.

Teledoctors, also called telemedicine doctors, are those who assess patients remotely and prescribe treatment.

Nowadays, there are various telemedicine companies offering remote consultations over the internet. As long as patients have a computer, web camera, and an internet connection, they can go into a telemedicine site and consult with a teledoctor.

Plenty of them also have smartphone apps available to download.

Telemedicine companies are continually employing teledoctors. They’re looking for doctors of various specializations, such as pediatrics, internal medicine, psychiatry, and even dermatology.

Here are the top telemedicine companies to consider:

  • Teladoc — One of the first companies in the US to provide telehealth services, they provide a wide variety of specialists, including pediatrics, dermatology, psychiatry, substance abuse, sexual health, and many others. They also have family doctors on call 24/7.
  • MeMD — MeMD doctors can treat dozens of routine health issues, including urgent care concerns, men’s health, women’s health, teen’s health, and psychiatry.
  • Doctor On Demand — What sets this website apart is that patients can add doctors to their favorites list, which is good for you because it increases the chances of repeat patients.
  • Amwell — They can handle the usual conditions such as acne, bug bites, pink eye, and flu, as well as psychiatric, nutritional, cardiologic, and pediatric conditions.
  • PlushCare — PlushCare offers easy access through a membership model that allows users to message your healthcare team and book appointments for the same day.

2. Medical Director

Medical directors are the “managers” in the medical field.

As such, the job involves a plethora of tasks, such as ensuring excellent patient care, managing a team of physicians, overseeing medical trials, and assisting in the recruitment or training of new staff members, among others.

If you’re in search of online jobs for doctors, but prefer some kind of management role, check out opportunities offered by companies like Humana, PAREXEL, CVS, and Cigna.

3. Research and Development Consultant

If you love the research and development aspect of medical science, you can have work-from-home employment opportunities from pharmaceutical companies, labs, and other similar employers.

For example, Jazz Pharmaceuticals hire pharmacists, physicians, and other medical practitioners to serve as medical science liaisons and oversee clinical studies, analyze data and treatment, present programs, conduct testing, and perform other tasks.

4. Online Medical Practice

If you don’t want to commit to other online jobs for doctors yet, you can simply bring your consultation online.

Third-party companies create a platform for doctors (and their patients) can use.

  • Lybrate – This is a healthcare mobile app, where doctors are given this platform to create a schedule and accept as many patients as you can handle. Patients can ask you questions directly, but it’s up to you if you want to answer for free (or charge them a consultation fee).
  • MDLive – The company provides 24/7 online medical counseling services to patients and keep doctors and other medical professionals in-house. If you’re hired, you’ll have access to an iOS or Android app, where you’ll provide your consultation when needed. Payment is sent on a monthly basis.
  • SERMO – This social network of doctors (with 800,000+ verified physicians as members) allow doctors their own space, where they are paid to answer health surveys.

5. Teleradiologist

Radiologists are medical doctors that specialize in diagnosing and treating patients with injuries or illnesses using medical imaging procedures such as X-rays, CT scans (computed tomography scans), MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound, nuclear medicine, or PETs (positron emission tomography).

Teleradiology is the transmission and interpretation of digital images resulting from the above imaging procedures between doctors and other health care practitioners.

Teleradiology service providers, such as vRad, Inc., continually hire radiologists who can work from home and use their medical knowledge and experience to provide teleradiology services.

You can also find teleradiology jobs on RadWorking.com, a job board especially for radiologists.

Aside from having high-speed internet and a computer to work on, radiologists must also hold at least one state license, BR or ABOR certification, and is eligible for hospital credentialing.

6. Medical Transcriber

Medical transcription isn’t for everybody.

Aside from being a fast typist, you’d need to be knowledgeable with medical terms to be able to do the job as efficiently and as error-free as possible. As a doctor who has studied medical books for years and medical experience or a medical practice, transcribing audio should be much easier for you.

Depending on which companies you want to apply to, medical transcription certification may be needed, but for other companies, knowing that you’re a licensed doctor may be enough to get the job.

Click here for a guide on how to work as a medical transcriptionist plus a list of companies to apply to.

7. Insurance Claims Specialist

As a doctor, you can understand diagnosis, patient charts, medications prescribed, recommended treatments, and other details of a patient’s medical records.

Insurance companies, or third-party companies like Concentra or Professional Dynamics Inc. (PDI), hire doctors to review patient records and assess if the medication or treatment prescribed were medically necessary and if they are covered under the patient’s insurance plan.

Other jobs for which insurance companies hire doctors include insurance agents, auditors, underwriters, clinical consultants, and many more.

8. Medical Biller

Like in medical transcription, doctors are the perfect fit for medical billing jobs since they already have a grasp of medical terminologies.

Their accounting and finance skills are the only things that will be put to test when applying for medical billing jobs.

Medical billing jobs pay somewhere between $15 to $17 per hour, but you can get higher if you specialize in a particular field.

Certification is often required, but you can check with these companies hiring people to fulfill medical billing jobs if your credentials are enough for the job.

9. Medical Illustrator/Animator

If you’re an artist and a doctor, you might be interested in working as a medical illustrator or animator.

A medical illustrator is a professional artist that has specialized training and advanced education in medicine and science, as well as visual technology, art, and design.

Medical animators take it a step further and use 2D or 3D animation to depict more complicated concepts in an accurate, clear, and engaging way.

In addition to creating the visual media, medical illustrators and animators work with medical writers to make sure the text matches the image, as well as creative directors, consultants, and content developers.

You can find medical illustrations and animations in various educational materials, both print and digital. They’re also used in courtroom exhibits and trade shows.

The Association of Medical Illustrators is a great resource for jobs and continuing education for artists, as well as conferences to meet the best in the field.

10. Medical Writer/Editor

Medical writing involves producing and developing digital or print documents dealing specifically with medicine or health care.

Medical writing is a broad field and provides many online job opportunities for doctors, depending on one’s writing skills and interests.

You can go into regulatory medical writing to communicate important information to government agencies, compliance officers, and other stakeholders.

Or you can go into detailing, documenting, and sharing industry news as well as revolutionary research findings, devices, or services to other medical professionals and administrators.

Medical editing is an alternative career in medical communication. This involves correcting spelling, grammar, syntax, and punctuation errors in medical documents, as well as copyediting to make sure that the writing is concise, accurate, and smooth flowing.

Companies that hire medical writers and editors include clinical research organizations (CROs), biotechnology companies, science communications and marketing agencies, medical book publishers, medical device companies, medical news outlets, and many others.

If this is a virtual job that interests you, the American Medical Writers’ Association provides many useful resources, a community, and a job board where you can look for job openings.

The Bottom Line

Recent events have opened up a lot opportunities for all walks of life to shift towards remote work, and doctors are no exception.

You are only limited by how much time you can commit to a specific job or project and which money-making side jobs you choose.

Whether you’re planning a leave from work or have a need for supplemental income, it’s nice to know that more and more work-from-home job options are becoming available for doctors.

5 Ways to Earn From Handwriting Jobs From Home

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Do you have good handwriting? Are you studying and perfecting calligraphy as a hobby? Why not learn how to earn from it by doing handwriting jobs from home?

But where do you even start? What jobs can you apply for? What kind of services can you offer, and can you create any products that people will buy?

Well, wonder no more. Today, I list down 5 ways you can make money from doing handwriting jobs from home.

5 Ways to Earn Money From Doing Handwriting Jobs from Home

Below are just some of several options to get paid for your handwriting, mostly from commissions and the art industry.

If you’re looking for homebased and remote jobs, the first place I would suggest looking is on FlexJobs. Especially in the beginning, when you don’t have a lot of contacts or knowledge in the field, it’s important to only look at reputable companies.

FlexJobs takes care of it by verifying the employers that post job listings for them, so you can rest assured that every job listing is valid and from a legitimate employer.

Currently, there aren’t any listings for “handwriting jobs” in particular, but it’s worth keeping FlexJobs in your bookmarks.

1. Work As A Freelance Calligrapher

Calligraphy is the classic art of fine handwriting, a beautiful visual art that gives the words written with it more significance because of its aesthetic quality and makes everything extra special.

When everyone thought calligraphy would go extinct, with everyone stuck to their phones and computers, seemingly forgetting about the good old pen, the art of calligraphy suddenly made a comeback.

Calligraphy requirements

You don’t need to have formal training, but some calligraphers take up short courses in history to learn ancient alphabet and writing styles.

Other requirements for these online handwriting jobs include:

  • Calligraphy pens and ink – If you’re doing brush calligraphy, you’d need a brush pen or a brush marker. If you’re doing pen calligraphy, you would need a calligraphy pen, with a holder (usually wood, but can be plastic) and a nib.
  • Drawing tablet and stylus – Computers can now help with calligraphy, thanks to drawing tablets and pens, but some customers still prefer the look and feel of handwritten calligraphy on specialty paper.

If you’re a beginner to calligraphy looking to be commissioned for handwriting jobs, Etsy is a good place to start advertising your services.

Just take a look through some of the current handwriting offerings on Etsy to get an idea of what kind of work you should be aiming to sell.

Eventually, though, you can start your own website and offer your freelance services from there. You should really aim to become the best calligrapher locally, as word-of-mouth endorsements go incredibly far and I think most people feel pride in supporting someone local.

How much do calligraphers make?

In very rare cases, calligraphers find employment with design firms and companies involved in events or the wedding industry.

However, calligraphers mostly work freelance.

To give you an idea of how much you can make, let’s use the most frequent commission you’ll probably get.

For instance, many couples commission calligraphers to address their wedding invites, who then charge anywhere from $4 to $8 per invitation envelope, depending on the materials and any special requests.

Each envelope can take between 12 to 15 minutes to complete, so this comes out to around $16 to $40 per hour.

Exactly how much you will make will vary based on your experience, the project, technique used, equipment, materials, and so on.

Other wedding projects you’ll likely be commissioned for include signs, place cards, souvenir invitations for framing (as in the entire wedding invite, not just the envelopes), menu cards, vows, and thank you cards.

Those who have put some time, effort and marketing into their calligraphy craft has turned their Etsy shop into a full-fledged business earning up to $49,000 annually from custom, online handwriting jobs.

2. Sell physical products.

Aside from custom work, many calligraphers also create handmade products so that even during slow seasons for weddings, they’ll still have a way to generate income.

Again, Etsy is the go-to place to sell crafts, but if you already have your own website, you can offer your handmade products there, too.

Some examples of crafts you can make and sell include greeting cards, raw or framed prints, postcards, generic signs, stickers, mugs, glasses, tumblers, and other knick-knacks and gifts you can write on.

If you can get hold of a supplier who can give you a good price, you can also try selling calligraphy supplies, such as brush pens, markers, pen holders, nibs, calligraphy ink (some calligraphers sell their own formula), ink bottles, specialty paper, and other handwriting and calligraphy essentials.

3. Font Creation: Passive Income Generation from Home

Another way to make use of your handwriting skills is to make and sell fonts.

Before I explain how this works, here’s a major disclosure: you won’t get rich with font design overnight.

Some font designers don’t even earn a cent for months or years after they’ve created a particular font.

However, font design allows you to earn passive income; once you sell a font, you can sell it again and again for numerous times and collect payment for each sale.

Visit DaFont and look around under handwritten category.

Do they look like fonts that you can write yourself?

If you answered “yes,” then you’re halfway there.

Font Design Requirements

  • OLD METHOD: In the past, font designers scan handwritten fonts to convert their artwork into digital versions. They used paper, various kinds of writing materials from pens to markers, a scanner and computer.
  • NEW METHOD: Today, font designers can directly write and draw from a drawing tablet and digital pen, see their work on a screen live as they work on a particular font, and edit when necessary.

Of course, if you’re new to font design, you can use any of these routes even today.

Your choice would probably depend on your proficiency and availability of equipment.

How Much do Font Designers Make?

Unlike other kinds of handwriting jobs for home, there is no general salary estimate for font designers.

This is because font designers sell their work in 3 different ways (each with varying fees, commissions, and terms).

Font Foundry

When you join a foundry like FontSpring, FontShop, Linotype, Monotype or P22, you sign a contract that says you’re selling your font with them exclusively. The royalties font designers earn can be from 20 to 50% depending on the company. You don’t have control on pricing here, but you also don’t need to promote your fonts anymore.

Font resellers

Becoming a member of resellers like Fonts.com or MyFonts.com bring your font to a wider audience. You can join multiple sites, but the percentage-per-sale is often small.

Sell on Your Own Website

As with selling your services and physical products, you’ll have 100% control on pricing, marketing and promotions, but the work involved is definitely more challenging than the other methods of selling fonts.

To learn more about selling your font, I wrote a comprehensive font selling guide comparing these three routes.

4. Work as a Letter/Mail Handwriter

Another handwriting job that may sound interesting to you is being a letter handwriter, in which you handwrite a previously composed letter. Sometimes, you only have to address envelopes.

The good thing about this job you don’t really have to know calligraphy; you only have to be able to write clearly and legibly in either print or cursive.

Businesses who send direct mail are interested in this service, as it improves mail response rates; after all, we’re more inclined to open a hand-addressed envelope and read a handwritten letter than typewritten or computer-printed ones.

But because direct mail marketing is on the decline, there aren’t a lot of companies offering this service anymore, and you might have to offer this yourself as a freelancer.

5. Work in the Graphology Field

Graphology is the study of handwriting, particularly the physical characteristics and visible patterns of one’s writing, with the aim of identifying the writer or learning about their personality traits.

Although graphology is generally considered a pseudoscience, companies still hire companies that analyze handwriting through graphology for recruitment, jury screening, behavioral assessment, criminal and civil investigations, and sometimes even in medical diagnostics.

Check ScanMyHandwriting to get a clue how businesses use graphology and if you’d be interested in pursuing this kind of job.

The Outlook of Handwriting Jobs

Other handwriting jobs exist. Check job sites like Fiverr.com and you’ll see people and business owners looking for one-of-a-kind gigs.

For example, someone is accepting applicants for a handwriting project and requires anyone interested to have any Samsung Galaxy Note smartphone model with an S-pen, since you’ll be copying all the text assigned to you through the screen of your phone.

Calligraphy will always be a beloved art; as long as the wedding industry is alive, you’ll have clients in the foreseeable future. And as long as handmade crafts are appreciated, someone will buy them.

Font design is a bit saturated, but if you have new ideas and don’t mind aggressively marketing your fonts, then you can have a chance at competing with the millions of fonts already available to the public.

You can always invent a business that relies solely on your handwriting.

For instance, if you have perfect cursive handwriting, make a YouTube channel and teach the next generation how to do calligraphy.

Other Jobs From Home

The only problem with handwriting jobs is its physical demands. Calligraphers and handwriters can work probably 3 to 4 hours straight without compromising the quality of their product.

If you’re interested in other work-from-home jobs that you can do while taking a break from your handwriting job, check out our massive list of work from home jobs.

Have you been doing calligraphy as a hobby? Looking to earn from it? Share your stories with us in the comments!

10 Ways to Find a Book Typing Job from Home

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The demand for book typing jobs from home is on the rise and is unlikely to wane any time soon.

We have digitization to thank for that.

Records, texts, data, and all sorts of information that exist only as analog or hard copies are being converted into digital formats. The trend toward digitization has been embraced across all industries, but none more so than publishing.

Consider this: publishing is a centuries-old industry, while electronic book publishing began in earnest only with the launch of Amazon’s Kindle in 2007. They have some catching up to do.

Some publishing houses are still sitting on large caches of backlist titles and archived issues of magazines, many of them out of print and no longer available from any other source.

The best way to convert them to passive-income-generating e-books and even audiobooks is to make them available in a digital format and discoverable to their target audience.

For e-books, this is done by manually transcribing the text and reproducing it as a digital file. Optical character recognition (OCR) scanning, which converts scanned physical documents into editable text, cannot be counted on for high-quality results. It is still an imperfect technology.

Fortunately, authors and other publishers can outsource this service to professionals who can help make their masterpieces available and accessible in digital forms.

What are Book Typing Jobs?

Book typing may be classified under the bigger umbrella of data entry, where information is reproduced from one format to another. In book typing, that is converting traditional books into digital text files.

Other common data entry jobs include:

Book typing jobs are not limited to commercially published fiction and nonfiction books. This could also involve typing up handwritten journals, manuals, texts in images, old manuscripts, speeches, and personal documents like letters.

Here are a few examples of the kinds of projects you may encounter in work-from-home book typing:

  • A pharmaceutical company is looking to dispose of its physical library and decides to outsource the typing of its books, manuscripts, journals, and other text-based documents to a third-party service provider. Because it will involve technical terms and medical jargon, this type of project is best suited for a reputable medical transcription company.
  • A motivational speaker wants to be inclusive to the deaf community and hires a virtual assistant to transcribe their speaking engagements, seminars, speeches, and other audio or video-based content and make it available as books.
  • A law firm wants its case files uploaded into the cloud. After scanning all their documents, they find that image versions are too limiting. Converting these into text files means it can be searched for keywords — something they cannot do on an image-based document. This type of project will usually be handled by a legal transcription company.

Book Typing Job Requirements

Book typing lends itself well to a home-based setup.

There is no formal educational requirement for this job. You don’t need specialized training to excel at it, nor do you need expensive software and equipment.

What you need instead is a reliable PC or a laptop, and a work area conducive to productivity.

As for skills, you will need an above-average typing speed and the diligence to read through plenty of material. It also helps to have proficiency in proofreading and, depending on what you are working on, some technical background.

10 Ways to Find Book Typing Jobs from Home

Here’s the tricky part. Almost all legitimate data entry companies can accommodate book typing requests and it may go by many names, like copy typing, book transcribing, and many more. Searching for “book typing jobs from home” will yield pages upon pages of results for general online typing jobs.

To exclude overlapping results for transcription and data entry jobs, you’ll need to try out other keywords to narrow down the search results.

Here are some tried and tested websites that will help get you started on your search.

1. FlexJobs

This job board is a must for any work-from-home freelancers. If you’re interested in online book typing jobs, enter “typing” on the search bar to see which opportunities are available. Bookmark this site and check regularly for fresh job postings.

You do need to experiment with keywords since getting exact-match results for the phrase “book typing jobs from home” is quite rare.

Don’t forget to tick “100% remote work” on the Remote Work Level filter to further narrow down the results.

2. QuickTranscriptionService.com

This US-based company provides various transcription services across several states. One of the services on offer is book typing.

They hire part-time and full-time transcription service providers from anywhere in the world.

While they don’t disclose payment terms for their employees, their published rate for their clients for book typing jobs is $2.63 per page. That should give you an idea of how much you can earn by typing books online for this company.

3. Freelancer.com

This website has been around for years and is still incredibly popular. It’s home to almost every job request you can imagine. As such, you’re bound to find book typing jobs here.

Do note that Freelancer.com is a bidding jobs site, so competition for work is always high, especially for entry-level jobs. While past clients can give you first dibs on future projects, landing your first job on Freelancer.com might take some time.

Payment for book typing jobs will also depend on the client. The project budget will be posted along with job details, so proceed only with applying only if the fees are acceptable to you.

4. Fiverr.com

Fiverr.com is the better alternative to Freelancer.com, especially if you’re looking for more control fee-wise.

This is because Fiverr.com lets freelancers post the services they offer, including details and pricing, which is visible to everyone. If a client wants to hire a certain freelancer, the order button is right there.

It will be up to you to find ways to stand out, showcase your skills, and promote your data entry, transcription, or book typing services.

5. Upwork

Upwork is one of the most popular and established global job boards for freelancers. Anyone can post a job ad for free.

Aside from the specifics of the job, these ads would usually include the project budget. Jobseekers may send proposals with their own rates. It’s not open bidding like in Freelancer since the proposals are not public.

One of the best things about Upwork is its proactive anti-fraud measures that protect both freelancers and employers.

For instance, payments will be put in escrow once a contract has begun and will be released only upon completion of the project or a milestone.

6. 3PlayMedia

This company hires online transcriptionists, English/Spanish voice transcribers and real-time closed captioners as independent contractors.

3PlayMedia is a Boston-based company, but they hire anyone willing to work remotely and in-house. When hired, you can set your own working hours and just turn in your work before deadline.

According to Glassdoor, employees here earn an average of $18 to $19 per hour.

7. Rev

Rev offers a number of client services, such as translation, captioning, subtitles, and transcription.

You have to pass a qualifier exam to join Rev. Once you’re in, you can commit to as many assignments as you’d like.

Payment ranges from $24 to $39 per audio hour. It is estimated that the average Rev transcriptionist earns about $245 a month, depending on how many assignments one accepts.

8. CastingWords

This company offers transcription services (turning audio files to text).

To join, fill out a form with your personal details. CastingWords require applicants to join their workshop and pass their transcription test (you’re going to transcribe a short audio file).

If your test is accepted, you can accept any job posted in their workshop, as long as you follow their style guide for every project.

The pay varies. Quality control agents will score your submissions, which then affects your pay.

9. Tigerfish

Since 1989, Tigerfish has been helping clients with video productions, legal proceeding transcriptions, medical dictations and notes, corporate transcription, academic lectures, and other similar projects .

Tigerfish does not publish the pay rate of its contractors, but Glassdoor reports that transcriptionists earn half a penny per word.

The company hires entry-level transcriptionists as well as seasoned transcriptionists.

Note that the job page may show that they’re currently not hiring transcribers, but this often opens up multiple times each year, so it’s worth checking back on this page.

10. Start Your Own Book Typing Business from Home

Here’s the thing, book typing work-from-home job opportunities are hiding in plain sight.

Almost all businesses across all sectors use some kind of book typing service. How else do PDFs and image-scanned books, and other paper documents become available as digital copies?

Not all businesses will have the manpower to handle this task in-house. They will look to outsource this service to an independent contractor or to an agency that offers book typing services.

Unfortunately, if you’re looking for book typing jobs online, you may encounter two kinds of people:

  • Scammers who prey on people looking for data entry and typing jobs. There is a great demand for this service and many freelancers looking to get into it, so it’s rife with opportunism.
  • Lowballing clients or agencies who price these job requests way beneath the time and effort it will take to complete it.

The surest way to avoid book typing scams and bad deals is to put up your own book typing business and offer this specific service to prospective clients. As a business owner, you have control over every aspect of your business, from pricing, promotion, to the kinds of projects you’ll accept.

Setting up a business website is easy; even newbies can get a business website up and running in a day, thanks to ready-made templates.

How Much Can You Earn from Book Typing?

For this type of job, you will most likely get paid for your output rather than on an hourly basis. The amount you earn from typing old books depends on several factors.

If you join a company as a freelancer, you’d probably earn somewhere from $1 to $5 per page of the book typed. The rate largely depends on the length and complexity of the material.

If you offer your typing services to sites like Fiverr, then the rate depends entirely on you. This is also the case for people planning to put up their book typing business. You’ll dictate the fees you’re willing to work for.

Payment terms vary as well. For instance, jobs posted on Freelancer,  Fiverr, and Upwork are paid after tasks are completed, while transcription companies may pay their contractors on a weekly or bimonthly basis.

If you’re interested in other opportunities like these that are simple and non-stressful, here’s a list of jobs that pay weekly you should look into.

The Future: Digitizing Books

The quality of retyped books is higher than OCR scanning, but as technology catches up with the need to digitize old books and manuscripts, you might want to learn how to digitize books aside from typing them out.

Learn how to classify and organize books digitally so that publishers and authors can access them easily.

Study how to handle fragile old books and scan microfilm so you can offer your services to libraries and widen your pool of potential target customers.

Familiarize yourself with the latest developments in digital publishing, indexing, applying metadata, and cataloging so you can convert physical books into electronic ones that are easily accessible and searchable via keywords, whatever eBook format a reader uses.

The more you know about digitizing books, the more clients you can get and the more you can expect to make per hour from your added expertise.

The Bottom Line

As far as work-from-home jobs go, book typing has many advantages.

The requirements are simple and your earning potential is directly proportional to your skill, speed, and effort you put in.

If you’re a good typist, you enjoy reading, and you prefer working independently, you may find this to be a non-stressful and even fairly easy way to earn money. Head over to these specific guides – medical billing jobs, transcription jobs, and closed-caption jobs – if you’re interested in one of these specializations.

If you’re serious about pursuing a book typing job that you can do from the comfort of your own home, we hope this guide helps get you started.

5 Legit Paid Online Survey Sites Worth Your Time

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Paid online surveys attract many people since it’s an easy way to make money online.

Who wouldn’t want that?

I’ve resisted touting survey sites because, for the most part, I’ve felt that they waste too much time and effort.

Sure, you can make a few bucks here and there with a survey. You might even score an in-depth webcam-enabled interview that nets you $40 or $60.

However, getting decent-paying surveys is a crapshoot, and best not relied upon for a steady income.

Or is it?

I went through the hundreds of survey sites that are out there and found the 5 best paid online surveys you should consider joining.

Below are an additional 15 that, while they aren’t as good as my top 5, they are still worth joining to maximize your number of survey invites.

My 5 Best Paid Online Survey Sites

1. Opinion Outpost

Opinion Outpost logo

Opinion Outpost leads off this list by keeping things simple.

I’ve been recommending them since I first started this site way back in 2007, and their longevity is proof enough that they are as legit as they come.

Register an account, answer surveys, get paid in cash. They make the process as easy as possible and are committed to providing you with as many surveys as you qualify for.

2. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie

If you’re after the highest paying online surveys, then look no further.

Survey Junkie is home to over 5 million members, and so far, no major complaints about lack of surveys or payment delays.

A survey can take around 10 minutes to complete.

You earn points after finishing a survey. You can then have it converted into cash via PayPal (or Amazon gift cards) once you reach the $10 payment threshold.

Generally, you can earn from $10-$15 an hour with Survey Junkie surveys.

TO JOIN: Create an account, fill in your profile, and wait for Survey Junkie to match you with their surveys.

You’ll be notified when surveys are available. Complete them, then earn points.

3. Swagbucks

Swagbucks Surveys

Swagbucks isn’t just a survey site. It provides dozens of ways to earn money by doing ordinary online activities, such as watching videos, playing games, online shopping, searching the web, and so on.

Swagbucks has been paying people around the world over $600 million in rewards and they’re not stopping anytime soon.

I’ve personally cashed over $1,000 in rewards from Swagbucks.

Swagbucks Proof

You can answer surveys and polls daily, which take a maximum of 10 minutes to complete. The coolest thing about Swagbucks is that you can even receive consolation points if you don’t qualify for a particular survey.

Generally, you can earn around 30 to 150 Swagbucks per survey. That’s probably around $6.50 an hour. You can then have your Swagbucks converted into cash or vouchers, or you can use these to join Swagbucks-run contests.

TO JOIN: Create an account (and be awarded $5 for signing up), fill in your profile, then explore what Swagbucks has to offer.

4. Pinecone Research

Pinecone Research

Pinecone Research is probably my favorite paid online survey company in this group.

Surveys come in at a flat rate of $3 per survey and generally take around 10 minutes to fill out, making this the highest pay-per-hour survey site you can join.

Your first check will be issued on completion of your first survey.

On top of normal surveys, you may be sent new products in the mail to try out. You get to keep whatever they send on top of being paid to answer questions about it.

TO JOIN: Create an account here, confirm your email address, and fill out the demographic survey to immediately start making some money.

5. Inbox Dollars

InboxDollars

InboxDollars is another site that offers paid online surveys that pay you in cash instead of points.

From their website, InboxDollars has paid over $80 million in cash rewards to its members for answering surveys, as well as doing relatively simple tasks, such as watching videos, playing games, and shopping (through cashback).

TO JOIN: Sign up on their website (and get a $5 bonus just for signing up!). You’ll then have to answer a few simple demographic questions, such as your income, race, education, and other information that will help them match you with surveys you’re eligible for.

15 More Survey Companies to Join

The following companies are legit and are worth joining if you want to maximize the number of surveys you get each month. I’d suggest clicking through to all of them and seeing which ones feel like they’re worth joining.

  1. American Consumer Opinion
  2. SurveySavvy
  3. Toluna
  4. PaidViewpoint
  5. PointClub
  6. LifePoints
  7. Global Survey Group
  8. Maru Springboard America
  9. Panda Research
  10. OneOpinion
  11. Survey Voices
  12. i-Say
  13. Harris Poll Online
  14. Valued Opinions
  15. Branded Surveys

That wraps up my list of approved survey companies, but keep reading to learn how to maximize your earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions About Paid Online Surveys

The following questions are probably the most-asked questions about online surveys, and it’s worth going over the answers to these for good reason: they’re going to save you a lot of time.

How much can you really make taking surveys?

Yes, you can make some money.

But most of the time, the amount is totally exaggerated.

  • Yes, you can earn an extra $500 to $1000 a month answering online surveys, but this would take up all your time throughout the day (8 working hours or more).
  • Yes, you can get paid just by joining online survey sites, but you can’t withdraw that signup bonus immediately. In most cases, you’ll need to earn your first $20 before requesting a payout.
  • Yes, there’s no stopping you from joining all the survey sites you can find, but some just pay pennies.

Realistically, you can earn an average of $5–$10/hour for paid online surveys.

You could be picked for special $50-per-survey gigs, but this rarely occurs.

How long does answering surveys take?

The time you need to complete a survey varies completely.

Some surveys are as short as regular sign-up pages, while others are part of a full-blown study.

If you’re planning to do this on the side of a full-time job, or during downtime at school, then you’d probably just commit an hour or two for surveys.

Is everyone qualified to take surveys?

Generally, the best survey sites welcome individuals 16 years old and above.

Countries allowed to join vary, but they’re mostly available for everyone around the world. The problem lies in the payment method since some countries do not have PayPal options, while others cannot accept remittances.

Why do these survey sites pay you, anyway?

Brands, companies, and organizations will pay a premium just to know what and how their target audience thinks.

Opinions of survey takers such as yourself shape the products and services that these brands develop and how they are marketed.

What types of questions can you expect to be required to answer?

You can expect to be asked about your activities, interests, and hobbies.

You’ll also likely be asked about your spending habits and decisions; for instance, what makes it likely for you to choose a brand over another?

Essentially, expect questions that will help a brand develop new products or fine-tune existing ones.

How do you get paid?

Depending on the survey site you chose to join, you can either be paid through:

  • Cash – Straight to your PayPal or a bank account
  • Points – You can use these points to buy stuff from the survey site’s store, or convert into cash
  • Gift cards – If you love shopping online and prefer to be paid with Amazon gift cards or other types of online gift cards, some survey sites provide this option.
  • App store credits – Maybe you’re just answering surveys because you need extra cash for your games and apps. If this is the case, you can actually get paid with Google Play credits.

How to Make Paid Online Surveys Worth It

There are literally hundreds of survey sites around, but they’re not built equally.

If you decide to answer surveys for money right now, it’s important that you choose only the best and highest-paying online surveys.

Doing this saves you a lot of time and headaches that scammy survey sites may bring.

1. Calculate how much your time is worth.

The first thing you should do before taking any online surveys is to calculate the least amount of money you are willing to make per hour.

Typically, this is done by taking your current yearly compensation and dividing it by 2,080, which is 52 weeks per year multiplied by 40 hours per week.

Use this hourly rate to determine the value of your time.

If you are unemployed, don’t assume that your time is free.

You can still complete other tasks to make money, including taking up a part-time job, house and pet sitting, becoming a microjobs agent, etc.

2. Learn how much each survey is worth.

It’s easy to get sidetracked by a supposedly easy survey that takes just “minutes” to complete.

For example, a survey that claims to take 20 minutes to complete and pays $3 may not really end up making you the equivalent of $9/hour.

Because many surveys require a pre-qualifier survey, you may end up working 10 minutes on the pre-qualifier before you even get to the real survey. That drops your earnings significantly. And if you fail the pre-qualifier, you’ve just wasted 10 minutes of your time.

If you have a selection of surveys to choose from, choose those surveys that pay you at least $10/hour.

Also, it’s far better to spend more time and effort on surveys that promise to pay $50+ even if they do take more time to complete because, once you’re in, you’ll probably be webcam interviewed.

That may sound intimidating at first; however, webcam-enabled interviews are better because they last a shorter time and are more likely to send you a payout.

3. Download online survey mobile apps.

If an online survey site announces that it has a mobile app version of its platform, download it.

Why?

Online surveys are best performed when you are already wasting time standing in line at the store, waiting for a doctor’s appointment, etc.

They are usually not the best use of your time when you are sitting at home and could find many other (and better) ways to make money.

4. Choose survey sites with low payout thresholds.

Back in the early 2000s, a steady crop of survey sites popped up and promised large amounts of money to survey takers.

What they didn’t advertise was the fact that survey takers would not be able to cash out until they had reached $100+ thresholds. By the time such thresholds were reached, the sites had either disappeared or just didn’t have enough work for their survey takers.

Before you commit to working with any online survey site, read the site’s fine print about payout thresholds.

Alternately, if you’d rather collect gift cards, find out how much you need to spend to obtain those gift cards. You don’t want to be almost at your points goal for payout only to learn that your survey site shut down.

5. Don’t game the system.

Many survey takers try to fool survey sites by deliberately lying on pre-qualifying surveys and claiming to have tried product X, have children ages 2–4, etc.

While such lies may initially get you qualified for a higher number of paying surveys, eventually, your lies will catch up with you.

How does this happen?

Survey sites track survey takers and create profiles on them. Some survey sites work with other survey sites.

If your supplied information doesn’t match up across different platforms, or even across different surveys, you’ll eventually be found out and banned from these sites.

6. Use survey sites as a stepping stone.

Online surveys can lead to better-paying opportunities.

Oftentimes, survey companies collaborate with clients that want more direct feedback than just online answers.

Once you are recruited into a more “live” panel, your pay can jump from a few dollars per survey to $100 or even higher.

How to Know Which Paid Online Survey Sites to Avoid

The survey sites on our list are legit, but you’re probably going to want to search for new ones, especially when there is a lack of surveys on some of the sites you’re working with.

Here are some telltale signs that a survey site is not worth the time or effort.

When you do a search, it turns up nothing or mostly negative reviews. Survey sites that are trustworthy are talked about and even praised by their users. They also have proof that these survey sites indeed pay.

They ask for payment. A legitimate survey site will NEVER ask you to pay in exchange for surveys.

They ask for personal information. You should not be asked to provide your social security information, driver’s license information, or bank account information (if they’re not going to pay through your bank account).

Their websites look sketchy or outdated. If they can’t be bothered to update and maintain their website properly, they probably can’t be bothered to pay their members, either.

They continually disqualify you for surveys. Of course, there are surveys that you’re not going to be qualified to answer or to be paid out. But if it’s proving to be too difficult to even be qualified for surveys, it might be wise to just cut your losses and move on to another site.

The Bottom Line

Paid online survey sites can be a good way to supplement your income.

The caveat to this conclusion is that you should be aware of how much time you spend filling out those online surveys.

Valuable surveys should take up the majority of your time and energy.

Less valuable surveys are better off being filled out when you are bored and/or waiting for something else, such as a dental appointment.

Look into getting paid to join a focus group, test products, or participate in online research studies.

All of those offer higher-paying alternatives for similar lines of work.

Which of these paid online survey sites have you encountered or signed up for? Can you share your experiences with them? Tell us in the comments!

How to Get Paid to Quit Smoking and Live Longer

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If you’ve been a smoker for a long time and have tried every method of smoking cessation to no avail, maybe the idea of getting paid to quit smoking might help you finally give up on cigarettes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 70% of smokers say they want to stop, but only about 6% of them succeed.

The nicotine in cigarettes is so addictive that current statistics show that it can take a smoker up to 30 attempts before they succeed, even if they know the negative consequences to their health and their loved ones’ health.

Having the right support can make all the difference. Smoking cessation programs focus on nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), medication, counseling/therapy, or all three.

But a recent study has shown that monetary incentives work. Smokers in the study who received cash rewards were more likely to have stopped smoking compared to those who didn’t.

So, how can you get paid to quit smoking?

5 Ways You Can Get Paid to Quit Smoking

Aside from the money you’ll save by not buying cigarettes anymore, there are additional ways you can also make money on top of kicking this habit.

Here are the 5 best ways to get paid to quit smoking.

1. Join a Paid Clinical Trial

The medical and research industries actually want people to succeed in quitting smoking. They’ve been paying volunteers to participate in clinical trials for years.

These paid clinical trials are offered by the government, non-profit organizations, and private companies. They’re mostly involved in the development of smoking cessation products, such as patches, inhalers, gum, prescription tablets, and other quit smoking aids.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Get free tools — You may receive free patches, meds, training materials, and other tools needed for the study. Sometimes, you also get vouchers, transportation passes, and other extras to make it easier for you to participate in the trial.
  • Get paid after the study — To make sure volunteers participate until the end of the clinical trial, payment is given after the study.
  • Payment amount varies — You can get paid to quit smoking for a couple of hundred dollars for a day or two of clinical trials. The longer the duration of the trial, the higher you can get paid. For example, a study may pay $1,500 for a two-week commitment wherein you’ll need to physically go to a center each morning and get your heart rate checked.

You can find clinical trials in local universities, local hospitals, and research centers.

I keep an updated list of paid clinical studies here, as well as a list of paid online research studies. Check these pages regularly as there may be studies targeting smokers specifically.

The National Institute of Health’s website ClinicalTrials.gov also keeps an up to date list of quit-smoking clinical trials from both government agencies and private organizations.

As of this writing, there are 166 different smoking cessation clinical trials currently recruiting. Keep an eye out for the words “financial incentive” to be compensated for joining.

2. Find a Program From a Private Organization

You can find plenty of support from the private sector. Some pay cash for you to get into a quit-smoking program, while others give away free aids.

  • Kick It California — If you’re a California resident, you may be eligible for a two-week supply of free nicotine patches, sent directly to you. To see if you qualify, call 1-800-300-8086.
  • Quit Partner — Minnesota residents can sign up to receive free quit medications (choose from nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges) along with a customized quit guide. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to sign up.
  • NY SmokeFree — If you’re a resident of New York State, you may be eligible for free nicotine patches. To find out if you qualify, call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487), apply online, or request a call from them.
  • Project Quit — They are a research team based in the Medical University of South Carolina aiming to develop and improve smoking cessation treatments. Join their program and if you qualify, you’ll be paid to participate.

Even your church and other similar organizations have partnered with the federal government in giving support to people who are quitting smoking.

The CDC has a list of faith-based organizations with smoking cessation programs for their community.

3. Let the Government Help You

It has been proven that the government can save 50x more money for every dollar spent on helping people quit smoking.

In fact, California’s tobacco control program saved $134 billion in personal health care expenditures from its start in 1989 to 2008. That’s a whopping ROI of $55 saved for every $1 spent on the program.

As such, both the national and local governments offer plenty of smoking cessation programs.

Probably the most important and significant out of all the U.S. government’s programs come from The Affordable Care Act (ACA), which pays potential quitters with money through Medicare, Traditional Medicaid, Medicaid Expansion, or other health insurance plans.

The American Lung Association lists down all health plans and the type of smoking cessation program covered.

4. Ask Your Employer

Employers know that they can save up to $5,000 annually for every employee who quits smoking.

Not only do smoking cessation programs extend the lives of employees, but it also saves the company money from lowered healthcare costs, increased workplace productivity (since there are fewer smoking breaks), and prevented premature deaths.

Aside from participating in clinical studies, some companies also create their own smoking cessation programs.

In 2015, the National Business Group on Health surveyed 121 large companies and discovered that that the average money won by those deciding to quit smoking was $900 every year.

The cash incentive varies from one company to the next. For example:

  • A 200-employee-strong IT company may offer $300 in reimbursements a year to employees buying smoking-cessation aids or meds
  • A 50-employee ad agency may give an employee a $250 check to quit smoking.
  • An architectural firm may pay an employee $300 to get an age-appropriate checkup (with an extra $300 if they take their spouse with them).

Even if most companies pay only up to $500 a year, cash incentives are still effective for some people.

Unfortunately, companies are having trouble going all-in on cash-based smoking cessation programs because non-smokers are finding them unfair.

Non-smokers do have a bigger percentage discount on health insurance, while smokers can pay up to 18% in penalties as long as they continue their smoking habit.

5. Find Extra Money from Quitting

These methods do not actually reward an ex-smoker any money, but these are the ways that your decision to quit smoking will result in extra money in the bank.

These include:

Tax savings from cigarettes

The government increases the taxes for cigarettes and alcoholic drinks regularly in hopes of discouraging people from buying them. Unfortunately, based on government statistics, levying heavy taxes on cigarettes doesn’t seem to inspire people to quit smoking.

The taxes on a single pack of cigarettes range from 17¢ to $5.10, depending on which state you live in.

If you smoke a pack a day in New York (a state which adds $4.35 taxes per pack), you can easily save $130/month or a whopping $1,500/year just by quitting your smoking habit.

That’s money in your pocket instead of ash in your ashtray.

Note that this is only your savings in tax, which is on top of your savings in the actual retail price of the cigarettes.

Health insurance savings

Like the tax savings you get from quitting smoking, the savings you get from your health insurance premiums will be significant enough that you can afford an annual trip, or buy the newest smartphone every year.

Insurance companies are given the right to charge up to 50% higher premiums on health plans for smokers.

It’s written under the Affordable Care Act, too! As such, if you’ve been a smoker for over a decade or so, you could be paying double the amount compared to a regular health plan for a non-smoker and their family.

Translated to its monetary value, that’s more or less $300 to $500 extra premium/year that you’ve been paying as a smoker. Of course, this amount will depend on the insurer, your health plan, and the state where you reside in.

“Get Paid to Quit Smoking” Apps

You can find many awesome quit-smoking apps for both Android and iOS.

Different people can have different motivations to quit smoking, and this selection of apps have been proven to work in different ways. It’s a matter of finding the app that best fits you and your lifestyle.

What these apps have in common is that they track how much money you’ve saved so far from not smoking.

With this information, you can pay yourself that amount of money or keep a jar where you can put in the amount, so you have a more visual reminder of those savings.

At the end of a week, month, or year, buy yourself a reward with the savings. Essentially, you paid yourself to quit smoking.

Time to Kick the Habit and Live a Healthier Lifestyle

I hope you can find one or a few programs from the list above that can help you actually get paid to quit smoking.

While you’re quitting smoking, you may want to change other aspects of your lifestyle to lead a healthier life. Why not get paid to lose weight, get paid to walk, or get paid to eat?

Or if quitting smoking has got you feeling idle and don’t want to do anything, know that you can get paid to do nothing as well.

20 Companies Offering Work from Home Airline Jobs

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Work from home airline jobs are becoming more and more common as airlines are moving their support services out of the office and into homes.

These jobs are perfect not just for those who have been employed in the travel industry and have just retired, but also for anyone looking for a career change.

And like most work-from-home jobs, they don’t discriminate against applicants on the basis of age, gender, race, or disability.

Types of Home-based Jobs from Airlines

Work-from-home airline jobs are mostly divided into four categories:

  • Reservations Agents – This type of job can be chat-based, email-based, phone-based, or all of the above, depending on positions needed by the airline. With airline reservation jobs from home, you are representing the airline company in the comfort of your own home and entertaining incoming inquiries of would-be customers looking for travel options.
  • Customer Support – Those who handle customer requests (changes in flight details, cancelation, etc.) and complaints fall under this category.
  • Internal Support – These are the people who support airline employees in their day-to-day operations. In-house technical support, human resources, training, and accounting are some departments that offer work-from-home jobs.
  • Sales and Marketing – Airline jobs from home are not just exclusive to support duties. If you are knowledgeable about sales and marketing, you can also join promotion campaigns of airlines and bring in ticket sales.

These jobs have different requirements, salaries, and job descriptions depending on the airline company.

All of these jobs are open to bilinguals, who are usually offered higher rates.

20 Companies Offering Work From Home Airline Jobs

The following companies offer work from home airline jobs throughout the year.

If you don’t find any openings now, don’t be discouraged. Bookmark the websites and check back when you can.

Better yet, these airline companies normally have talent communities you can join so you can get updates whenever there are job openings that suit your qualifications, which you state on your resume.

Do note that a lot of the companies will require some on-site training before you can transition to a remote position.

1. Alaska Airlines

This company doesn’t publish work-from-home reservations agent positions, but if you land a job as an agent, you’ll be given an option to work from home.

The caveat is that you’d have to be residing within 100 miles of their call center in Kent, WA or Boston, MA, so you can attend additional training when needed.

In addition, past home-based Alaska Airlines agents complain about being micromanaged once they transfer switch to working remotely.

Pay ranges from $15-20/hour.

And since you’ll be working for an airline, you’ll receive travel benefits and excellent insurance packages.

2. American Airlines

The company has been around since 1934 and has provided flights across 250 cities around the world for decades.

It is the largest airline in the United States, which is why they have the most work from home positions available year-round.

As long as you are at least 18 years old, legally allowed to work in the U.S. either as a full-time or part-time employee, and with a GED or high school diploma, you are welcome to apply.

Unfortunately, you need to be living in or near Dallas or Ft Worth, TX, Miami, FL, Cary, NC, or any of their other centers so you can come for the personal interview and 10-week, on-site training.

Once you pass this phase, you’ll be allowed to work from home. Employees must commit to working around shifts (including nights, weekends, and holidays). As an American Airlines agent, you must also provide your own computer and high-speed internet with a landline phone.

Pay is around $10+ an hour with opportunities for raises.

If you’re interested, just use the search terms “reservations agent,” reservations representative,” “customer service agent,” or “member services representative” with the filters “work from home” or “home-based.”

3. Delta Airlines

The Atlanta, GA-based airline has been around since 1924 and is considered the oldest operating airline in the country.

While Delta Airlines work-from-home positions are posted rarely, they can be perfect for the right people, particularly those who are:

  • Residing in or near Texas, Minnesota, Utah, or Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Willing to undergo 6 months of training on-site
  • Looking for work as a sales and service representative, bilingual reservations representative, or reservations agent.
  • Good with the $12.85/hour salary, which is eligible for a pay raise every six months.

After you complete the six-month training, you may work from home as a Delta virtual employee.

4. JetBlue

The company headquarters is located in Long Island City, New York, but there are customer support positions offered in other JetBlue locations such as Salt Lake City, UT, and Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Some of the work-from-home positions they offer or have offered in the past include reservations crew, customer support, in-house IT support, and receptionist.

Anyone who wishes to apply must have at least two years of customer service experience.

Note that you have to be residing near a Jet Blue location, since training will be onsite even if the job is completely remote.

5. Southwest Airlines

You can find flexible home-based airline jobs at Dallas, TX-based Southwest Airlines, too! And if you’re a fan of this budget airline, which has been providing low-priced tickets since its 1971 launch, then you’re in luck.

Aside from the regular reservations and customer support positions, Southwest Airlines is pretty open to flexible jobs. The company also opens up slots for QA analysts, email marketing, human relations, and other positions traditionally held in the office.

Pay ranges from $10 to $20 an hour, depending on the position.

6. Spirit Airlines

Spirit is a low-cost carrier headquartered in Miramar, FL but operates out of Ft Lauderdale.

They’ve offered remote jobs such as service desk analysts, support analysts, and customer service agents.

7. United Airlines

Headquartered in Chicago, IL, United Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, operating more than 4,500 flights to more than 300 airports in 5 continents.

Possible departments that offer work from home jobs for this airline include customer service, reservations, human resources, and information technology.

8. Virgin Atlantic Airways

Founded by Richard Branson in 1984, Virgin Atlantic Airways is famous not just for providing world-class flight services, but also for its numerous awards in the industry.

This is the only non-US airline on this list, but it sometimes posts freelance and telecommuting positions if you’re interested. Possible openings include account manager and public relations manager.

9. Frontier Airlines

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Frontier Airlines is committed to delivering “Low Fares Done Right.”

Some perks of working for them include flight benefits for you and your family, medical, vision, and dental benefits, and a 401k plan.

The current remote positions available include customer service policy specialists, data analysts, financial systems analysts, technical services engineers, and technical pricing analysts.

10. Allegiant Air

Allegiant Air is the ninth-largest commercial airline in the US, operating out of more than 100 airports across the country.

They also offer charter travel options across the US, Mexico, and Canada.

Their telecommute jobs are mostly customer service positions. You can apply on their Careers page.

11. Southern Airways Express

Southern Airways Express operates one of the largest commuter airlines in the country, flying over 200 daily departures.

They’re currently looking for Virtual Call Center Agents based anywhere in the US but can work Eastern Time Zone, Hawaiian Time Zone, and weekends, IT/Tech Support Specialists based in Kahului (mostly virtual with occasional travel required),

12. Sun Country Airlines

Sun Country is a low-cost airline based in Minneapolis, MN operating over 100 routes between 81 destinations.

They periodically open up positions that can be done remotely. Currently, they’re looking for Reservations Specialists who are based in the Green Bay and Eau Claire, WI areas to train for 3 weeks and then work from home.

13.  Breeze Airways

Working for an airline company that calls itself the “World’s Nicest Airline” is a dream… since the people and culture here is actually super-nice.

If you have experience as a technical customer service rep, make sure to check the careers page and filter the results with “Remote” location to show all available openings.

Work-From-Home Airline Jobs Outside Airlines

If looking for work from home jobs in these airlines’ websites is a bust, you might want to try airline staffing companies. Here are a few that offer remote jobs.

14. American Express

Yes, the same American Express card that you use to pay for your travel has a division that focuses solely on travel.

Note that AMEX has thousands of jobs, but if you’re looking to join the travel industry,  you need to enter either of these two things into the job search:

  • “travel” on search by keyword, or
  • “remote” on the location

15. Hire Aviation

Hire Aviation is a staffing firm specializing in the aviation and aerospace industries. They’ve placed a wide variety of technical, corporate, and executive aviation professionals in various companies.

Some of the currently open work from home jobs on their site include Passenger and VIP Charter Specialists, ACMI Leasing Director, and Senior Business Analyst.

16. Aviation Recruiting

Aviation Recruiting is a full-service aviation staffing firm operating for 22 years out of Fleming Island, Florida.

Remote positions currently open include Charter Brokers, Cargo Sales Manager, OEM Contracts Managers, Business Development Managers, and Human Resource Managers.

17. JSfirm

JSfirm.com is a job board specifically for the aviation industry and has been around for 20 years.

Positions that allow remote or hybrid work arrangements include Airline Crew Scheduler, Service Desk Analyst, Talent Data Specialist, and many more.

18. TUI

This global travel and leisure experience company isn’t an airline like the rest on this list, but it’s one of the leading tourism businesses with millions of staff across 100 travel destinations.

What’s good about working for TUI is that remote jobs aren’t exclusive to customer service and contact center. You can also find home-based jobs in their Retail, Holiday Destination and Tech departments.

When searching for work-from-home airline jobs at TUI, make sure to choose “Remote” on Workspaces filter.

19. World Travel Holdings

World Travel Holdings specializes in selling dream vacations to millions of customers. It is one of the nation’s largest distributors of cruises and airline sales.

As a work@home World Travel Holdings employee, you are given your own equipment, paid training, and ongoing development opportunities.

You benefit from working with a travel industry powerhouse while enjoying the perks and comfort of your home.

20. Expedia Group

Expedia Group, Inc. is US-based travel tech company that owns and operates several big-named travel fare aggregators and travel metasearch engines like Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Vrbo, Travelocity, Orbitz, CheapTickets, CarRentals.com, Expedia Cruises, and Trivago.

The company occasionally hires for remote positions related to travel and customer service. To find the roles, search using the keyword “Remote” and check out the available positions.

Tools of the Trade

The company that hires you to work from home rarely provides for your equipment, so you’d have to invest in your own computer and high-quality stable internet connection.

In most cases, the airline will simply give you access to a portal where you’d find customer inquiries, or answer e-mails, chats, or calls.

Sometimes, they’ll provide you with software or an app to help you do your job.

Because you’re going to be dealing with customers, it’s important that you are:

  • Superb at communicating – Both written and verbal, especially if you’re going to handle both voice and chat support.
  • Equipped with problem-solving skills – Most of the customer support jobs come with ready-made templates you can use to reply to inquiries. However, some complicated problems require some problem solving to get the job done more effectively.
  • Highly organized and detail-oriented – Your job relies largely on making sure the person on the other end of the line, whether they are a customer or an airline employee, feels taken care of. You can only pull this off if you know the airline’s products and services from top to bottom.

If you landed any of the customer support gigs, then the job requirements are mostly the same: a GED or high school diploma, basic computer knowledge, legal working age, and so on.

As amazing as work-from-home airline jobs sound, you do need to keep in mind that your home needs to be a certain distance from an airline’s main office, hub, or call center.

This is because you’d often need to have in-person training and certification before starting your remote job.

In addition, just like in any contact center, schedules can be pretty tight. Yes, even if you’re working from home, you might be assigned shifting schedules that may eat up your weekends, holidays, and evenings.

How Much Can You Earn With Work From Home Airline Jobs?

Customer service and reservation agent jobs are entry-level jobs, while IT and service desk positions require more skills and experience and thus pay more.

If you’re bilingual, the extra languages mean even more of a pay bump for you.

The hourly rate of work-from-home airline jobs isn’t that great, but if you’re in between jobs or prefer to skip the daily commute in exchange for lower pay, then the $10 to $15 hourly rate could work for you.

Are Remote Airline Jobs For You?

Working airline jobs from home may start as a low-paying job, but it’s a legitimate way of earning money.

Plus if you’re big on traveling, you’ll love all the perks working for airlines can bring.

If you’re interested in other travel-related, work-from-home jobs, check out this useful home-based travel agent guide or this list of ways to get paid to travel.

40 Small Business Grants to Check Out

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Small business grants allow entrepreneurs to get additional money to be put back into the business without getting a loan.

Anyone who owns a business knows it isn’t all peachy.

Setting it up is one thing, but expanding your business often requires additional investment, more employees, extra money for advertising, and other unplanned expenses.

If you launched a business with very minimal capital, such as blogging for business, affiliate marketing or other online businesses, then you’re lucky.

But for the thousands of other business owners, looking for funding often leads to getting loans, which doesn’t always end up as a ladder for improvement. Getting business loans has a 50% chance that it could lead to a revolving door of debt.

So if you’re a business owner with an impressive product, innovative idea, or one-of-a-kind service, discover if you have a chance to win a business grant.

3 Important Things to Know about Small Business Grants

Before I give you a list of legitimate business grants to apply to, there are 3 things you must understand:

1. Small Business Grants Are NOT Easy to Obtain

You shouldn’t consider small business grants as handouts because they’re actually super-hard to obtain.

Grants generally do not need to be repaid, which is why the competition for small business grants will be tough and requirements are plenty.

You’d have to provide a comprehensive business plan (for start-ups) and proof of finances, operations, expansion or other detailed plans (for existing businesses).

2. Small Business Grants Are NOT Transferred Overnight

Note that most grants only accept applications once a year.

Let’s say you prepared a highly impressive plan and applied for a business grant.

It’s realistic to assume that you’re going to be competing with thousands of people for any specific grant, so the government agency or other organizations may take months to a year to go through all applications.

If you won the grant, you will be notified either via e-mail, a call, or snail mail, and will include details about transfer of funds.

Just don’t expect a business grant as a short-term solution for a funding shortage of your business.

3. Small Business Grants Are Mostly Awarded to Existing Businesses

Does your business already need to exist when applying for small business grants? Or are they available to people with an idea that are looking to start a business?

It is rare to be chosen, especially if you haven’t started your business yet. However, this isn’t a rule. In fact, many startups in the tech and research industries are awarded grants, especially if the business idea is ground-breaking or one of a kind.

No one can deny that majority of businesses given grants are existing businesses, which is why experts would recommend looking for a loan if you’re just starting out.

40 Business Grants You Can Apply for

Now that you know how to manage your expectations, I hand-picked 40 of the most popular small business grants.

  • Most government grants are offered to everyone, regardless of age or gender.
  • Some grants offered by private companies are made exclusive only to a specific gender (only women), age group (only seniors), certain occupation (IT-related jobs), and so on.
  • Requirements vary between grants

15 Business Grants from the Government

Grants.gov is the most useful website for searching business grants from the government, but it is primarily for federal grant search. T

here are hundreds on this database, but these 15 stood out most:

1. SBA.gov (The Small Business Administration)

One of the most important websites for any small business in the country, SBA.gov should be your go-to resource if you’re interested in traditional funding (loans, etc.) and grant programs. Under the SBA, check out these main grants:

  • Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) – Exclusively for research-based businesses. You can apply to this grant from 12 federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and National Science Foundation.
  • Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) – Like SBIR, the STTR grant is only awarded to businesses involved with research, but only available from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, NASA, Department of Health and Human Services, or National Science Foundation.
  • State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) – If your business is involved in exporting, check SBA’s STEP program if you’re qualified.

2. National Institutes of Health

For companies involved in the research and development of biomedical tech, the National Institutes of Health can help you fund your business.

3. Environmental Protection Agency

Is your business trying to develop sustainable tech? The EPA has programs that reward eco-friendly businesses.

4. Dept. of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food & Agriculture

Businesses supporting the agricultural field, whether it involves food science and nutrition, animal protection, forestry, or biofuel products and services can check out the National Institute of Food & Agriculture for applicable grants.

Rural Energy for America Program (renewable energy), VAPG program (agricultural production), and Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant (health services) are other Department of Agriculture grants that award cash from $50,000 to $500,000.

5. Department of Homeland Security

This agency awards grants to small businesses invested in cyber security, biological/chemical defense, and other security technologies. One notable program is the CyberTipline Grant, which helps businesses that are developing technology that can be used in preventing children exploitation and sex trafficking.

6. NASA

If your business is involved in renewable energy and similar technologies, NASA is interested in awarding you to collaborate with them.

7. National Science Foundation

Perfect for small businesses getting into the fields of medicine, science or engineering.

8. Recovery Challenge Grant

Launched by the Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service, this grant provides assistance (of up to $3 million) to small businesses involved in preventing wildlife endangerment.

9. National Institute of Standards & Technology

Check the NIST, which is under the Department of Commerce, if your business is involved with healthcare, energy, manufacturing, trade, cyber security, software, and other technology fields.

10. Department of Transportation’s Volpe

This small business innovation research program assists businesses in developing technologies that can be used for highways, railroads and aviation building.

11. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

At NOAA’s Technology Partnerships Office, grants are offered to businesses involved in climate adaptation/mitigation, healthy ocean monitoring, and r&d of coastline communities.

12. Department of Education

Visit the National Center for Education Research if you’re interested in assistance for your business if you’re involved with behavioral learning, language learning and STEM skills.

13. Department of Defense

If you’re producing a technology or product that could help the Air Force, Navy and Army, The Department of Defense can assist you in funding and commercializing these ideas.

14. Economic Development Administration (EDA)

Is your business involved in the improvement of your community’s infrastructure? Check back to EDA’s funding opportunities to check once its grants become available.

15. Department of the Interior’s Recovery Challenge

Businesses involved with preventing animal endangerment and promoting the reintroduction of species into their natural habitats can be awarded grants amounting to up to $3 million.

State Level Grants

State-level small business grants exist, so you should check with your state to learn about the funding available.

The easiest way is to visit your state’s commerce website, similar to Arizona Commerce Authority.

If it’s available, your state’s grants portal would list programs, such as Texas Young Farmer Grant or New York City Commute Enhancement Grant.

Aside from your state, your city or town may also have business grants.

Good examples of this include the Chicago IncentOvate or Detroit NEIdeas Grants.

Do note that federal grants have more budget than local grants, so depending on your business plans, find the most appropriate grant for your business needs.

10 Business Grants for Women

Some non-profit organizations and private companies award small business grants for women exclusively. If you have an innovative product or idea, check these 10 funding options:

16. SBA InnovateHER

This is a government grant run by the SBA. It is exclusive to women entrepreneurs with a total of $70,000 grant fund every year, which will be split between 3 winners.

17. Cartier Women’s Initiative Award

This annual grant is awarded to 18 female entrepreneurs from around the world with existing businesses.

Top 7 wins $100k and one-on-one business mentoring from a Cartier-chosen expert, while the other 14 winners get $30,000 each.

18. Womensnet.com’s Amber Grant

Launched in 1998 to honor the memory of female entrepreneur Amber who died too young to fulfill her dreams, the Womens Net grant awards $2,000 monthly to a woman business owner, who can get a chance to win a bigger $25,000 grant prize at the end of the year if voted by the online community.

19. Community Action Grants of the American Association of University Women

These grants award women who lead initiatives or non-profit organizations that help k-12 and community college girls, as well as women involved in the fields of math, engineering, science and technology.

Some grants are offered yearly, while others are available every 2 years.

20. Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program

This program has been awarding women entrepreneurs with grants since 2009.

Aside from the $5,000 grant, winners will also receive a yearlong fellowship, four days of workshops and network with Tory Burch’s industry, including a pitch day to influencers.

21. Open Meadows Foundation

Awards $2,000 to eligible, women-backed projects, but the organization only accepts businesses with less than $75,000 budget resources, so prepare to show financial documents aside from proof that your business promotes racial, gender or economic justice.

22. Eileen Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant Program

Chooses 10 women-owned businesses and awards up to $10,000 each.

The finalists need to have an existing businesses (3 years or longer).

They should also make positive environmental and social impact through their businesses.

23. The Girlboss Foundation Grant

Launched in 2014 by entrepreneur Sophia Amoruso (you probably remember her for the Netflix series “Girlboss.”), this biannual grant is awarded to women working in creative industries.

The small business grant winner not only receives $15,000, she also gets free online exposure via the Girlboss site.

24. The Halstead Grant

While the application for this one is comprehensive (they ask you to answer a ton of questions), if you’re the perfect fit and you own a business in the jewelry industry, you can receive a $7,500 grant, plus $1,000 toward Halstead jewelry supplies.

25. GrantsforWomen.org

This isn’t a company or org that awards business grants for women, but it is a comprehensive resource for funding opportunities for women regardless of industry.

15 Popular Small Business Grants

The following grants for small business owners come from the private sector, and have different eligibility requirements, so better check with them (links are provided) if you’re interested in sending an application:

26. FedEx

Annual, first place winners $25,000 grant money with $7,500 in FedEx print and business services, while second place receives $15k cash + $5k in FedEx services.

Eight 3rd placers get $7,500 grant money and $1k in FedEx services.

27. Lending Tree

Awards up to $50,000 to small business grant winners.

28. StreetShares Foundation

Supports veteran-owned small businesses by awarding $15k (1st place), $6,000 and $4,000 for second and third placers respectively.

29. Visa’s Everywhere Initiative

Visa announces different challenges for startups to meet (similar to SBIR/STTR programs) and awards up to $50,000 grant money and a chance to work with Visa.

30. Etsy Maker Cities Grant

Perfect for creative artists and makers of ceramics, crafts, art, furniture and everything in between, Etsy supports your business with up to $30,000 (for research grants) or up to $60,000 (for program grants).

31. Chase Mission Main Street Grants

JPMorgan Chase & Co divides $3 million each year to support 20 small businesses (that’s $150,000 each), but the application is more comprehensive than most.

Winners also receive workshops to Google, and other tools to help with their businesses.

32. Walmart Foundation Grants

Walmart has two types of grants – community grant program (awards $250 to up to $5,000 to local non-profits) and the national giving program (awards $250,000 and above to national nonprofits).

33. Wells Fargo Community Giving Grants

Wells Fargo grants are offered by state, but are awarded to non-profits and educational institutions year-round.

34. AT&T Aspire

There is no set grant money amount set, but these AT&T grants are awarded to small businesses that help improve education.

35. Coca-Cola Foundation

Exclusive to small businesses and non-profits that empower women, and promote community building with clean water and youth development.

The application guidelines can be vague, but there’s good news: there is no dollar limitation, so if your company can impress Coca-Cola’s community-giving branch, then you can receive a chunk of funding.

36. National Association of the Self-Employed (NASE)

Gives self-employed business owners $4,000 grant money monthly.

You’d have to be a member of NASE to apply, which requires membership fee, so think about it first.

37. Fundera’s Zach Grant

This grant is annual and awards $2,500 for the best video entry, which explains why you started your company.

Aside from the video, you just need to follow Fundera on social media and your application is good to go.

38. Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

Exclusive to American minorities, the main MBDA grant is different because the winner gets to run one of MBDA’s Minority Business Centers.

MBDA hosts other grant competitions, but this vary from year to year.

39. Sam’s Club Grant Program

Sam’s Club grant program, which is also under Walmart Giving, is aimed at non-profit organizations that support small business owners.

Check the grantees list, so you can go directly to these non-profits instead.

40. ActivityHero Business Grant

This grant is co-sponsored by web hosting service GoDaddy and awards $15,000 grant money to businesses involved in children’s camp or activities.

7 semi-finalists are also awarded $500/each in services.

The Bottom Line

Grants are the closest “free government money” you can get to start a small business, but it isn’t the easiest to obtain. If you know your small business is innovative enough to win a grant, then apply to any or all of these 40 grants for small business.

And if you’ve had experiences with any of them, I’d love to hear about them below…