19 Ways to Make Money Online for Beginners without Paying Anything

By: Dan Chadney

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Struggling with the economy? Soaring prices?

Don’t sweat. You’re in the right place.

Whether you’re a beginner or not, earning money online without paying a dime is doable.

And guess what? It’s not just for a vacation trip, a new home, or your kid’s college fund.

It’s for you to break free from financial constraints.

Here’s how to earn money online without paying anything.

Leverage your skills, tap into the vast digital marketplace, and build a side hustle with zero cash needed, that can even turn into a full-time income. Opportunities include freelance writing, online tutoring, selling online courses, managing social media accounts, creating digital products, and more.

The great thing about many online business models is that many of them can be passive, meaning you don’t have to work a full 8 hours to earn cash. This allows you to generate passive income while focusing on other activities.

No more wondering where to start – we’ve got you covered. Whether you have specialized skills or are just starting out, there are opportunities like taking online surveys, selling photos on stock photo websites, or even web development.

In this guide, you’ll explore, you’ll learn, and most importantly, you’ll earn.

Let’s go!

  1. Rent Out Your Belongings or Space

  2. Blogging

  3. Affiliate Marketing

  4. Leverage Artificial Intelligence

  5. Sell an Online Course

  6. Create a YouTube Channel

  7. Voice Acting

  8. UGC Content Creator

  9. Transcribing, Data Entry, and Online Surveys

  10. Get Paid to Test Websites

  11. Become a Virtual Assistant

  12. Freelance Work

  13. Create Original Digital Products

  14. Make and Sell Printables

  15. Sell Print on Demand Products

  16. Sell Products on Amazon

  17. Become a Life Coach

  18. Sell Stuff Online

  19. Earn Cashback and Rewards Online

  20. Online Tutoring and Education

#1 PICK

Getting Started

Making money online can seem daunting, but with the right mindset and tools, it’s entirely achievable. The digital world offers a plethora of opportunities, from freelance writing and online tutoring to selling digital products and managing social media accounts. The key is to start small, leverage your existing skills, and gradually expand your online business.

The beauty of making money online is that it doesn’t require a significant upfront investment. Many online platforms allow you to start earning with minimal resources. Whether you’re looking to supplement your income or build a full-time online business, the possibilities are endless. So, take a deep breath, dive in, and explore the vast digital marketplace waiting for you.

Essential Skills for Online Success

While specialized skills like web development and graphic design can be beneficial, they’re not necessary to start making money online. What you do need are basic computer skills, a reliable internet connection, and a willingness to learn. These foundational skills will enable you to navigate various online platforms and tools effectively.

Additionally, developing skills like content creation, social media management, and online marketing can significantly enhance your success. These skills help you reach a broader audience, engage with potential clients or customers, and build a strong online presence. Remember, the digital world is constantly evolving, so staying curious and open to learning new things is crucial.

Setting Up Your Online Presence

Creating a professional online presence is vital for attracting clients, customers, or students. Start by setting up a website or blog where you can showcase your skills, services, or products. Platforms like WordPress or Wix make it easy to create a professional-looking site without needing advanced technical skills.

Next, create social media accounts on platforms relevant to your niche. Consistency is key—use the same profile picture, bio, and branding across all your accounts to build a cohesive online identity. Regularly update your profiles with valuable content to engage your audience and build trust. A strong, professional online presence not only attracts potential clients but also establishes your credibility in the digital marketplace.

Affiliate Marketing

One of the best ways to get started making money online without paying any money upfront is affiliate marketing – and it can be used alongside many of the ideas in this post.

The key is to start small, leverage your existing skills, and gradually expand your side hustle.

You can start making money today without paying anything.

You don’t need a website or even a social media presence to get started.

How to start making money online

Whether you’re a beginner or someone a little more experienced, there is bound to be an idea here that will work for you.

If you’re looking for ways to make ends meet, online income is the perfect way to make more money.

In my own experience with loamandlore.com, I started out just doing small things to earn money and eventually created an e-commerce business that scaled to 6-figures.

Loam & Lore - Dan and Amy Chadney's Ecommerce brand.

My ecommerce brand was started with no money – just an idea!

The great thing about many online business models is that many of them can be passive, meaning you don’t have to work a full 8 hours to earn cash.

Before I sold the business in 2022, it only took 2-3 hours per week to run because it was fully automated!

While specialized skills like web development or graphic design can be beneficial, they’re not necessary to start making money online.

I’ve included my favorites at the top of the list, and also included what you need to get started with each method.

1. Rent Out Your Belongings or Space

The quickest way to make money online is to utilize what you’ve already got!

These days apps like AirBnb, VRBO, Turo, or Neighbor make it possible to earn money from your house, car, garage or even your driveway!

Neighbor.com

Neighbor.com

Neighbor helps you make money online instantly by renting out any spare space you have.

Consistency is key—use the same profile picture, bio, and branding across all your accounts to build a cohesive online identity.

What kind of stuff can you rent out? We’re talking parking spots, sheds, storage in your garage, attics, and even side yards. The big-shot hosts are raking in thousands of dollars a year without much effort.

Become a neighbor host

2. Blogging

Blogging nowadays isn’t just for sharing personal stuff, but you can still earn cash by creating helpful content.

Do you have something you’re really into or know a lot about? If you can provide answers about that topic people are looking for, you’ll start getting more visitors.

It might take a while before you start seeing any benefits from your blog. That’s just because you’ll have to put in the time and effort to write your blog posts and find people who want to read them. But it could totally pay off in the end.

You’ll need to learn about search engine optimization, but once you start to rank in Google for specific keywords, there are tons of ways to make some cash from your blog. You can show ads, do some affiliate marketing, or even sell your own digital products or online courses. If you pick the right affiliate program it’s possible to make hundreds of dollars with just one sale or make recurring income every month.

Learn more about blogging

3. Making Money Online with Affiliate Marketing

If you’re looking to learn how to make extra money as a beginner, and want to make money fast, affiliate marketing is a great option.

You don’t need to have a website or a huge social media following to start making money – all you need is some good content.

If you pick the right affiliate program it’s possible to make hundreds of dollars with just one sale or make recurring income every month.

Here are some examples of great affiliate programs for beginners:

GrammarlyPerfect for beginners. Earn $20 for every sign-up.Sign UpFiverr AffiliatesLots of different ways to promote with varying commission rates.Sign UpSurferSEOAn AI SEO and Writing Tool. 25% commission rate.Sign UpShare A SaleAffiliate network with 100s of opportunities

Sign Up

Look for programs with high commission rates (10-40%) and long cookie storage (up to 90 days).

There are lots of different programs out there, so do your research and find one that suits your niche. And remember, social media is a great way to promote your affiliate links – so don’t be afraid to leverage your following!

Write for clients – Use an AI writing tool to generate content for influencers, businesses, or bloggers.

You can easily earn money online with affiliate marketing as a beginner – it really is the ideal way to start making money online. Plus, over time you can build this into a full-time online business.

Literally, anything that other people want to learn can be packaged up as an online course and sold on a multitude of platforms. Platforms like Udemy and Teachable make it easy for beginners to start selling online courses.

4. Leverage Artificial Intelligence

You’ve probably heard of ChatGPT, but did you know that there are already so many ways that you can use AI to make money?

Here are a few creative ways you can use tools like Jasper.ai to make money:

  • Create art with Jasper art or another AI art generator like MidJourney and sell print-on-demand products with your designs.

  • Create a daily newsletter like the popular daily newsletter Morning Brew. Use AI to write it, build a following, and use affiliate marketing and sponsorships to make money.

  • Write for clients – Use an AI writing tool to generate content for influencers, businesses, or bloggers. Create high-quality content extremely fast and charge the same rates as professional writers.

Platforms like Udemy and Teachable make it easy for beginners to start selling online courses.

There are plenty of other ways you can build a business using AI, such as developing custom AI apps, and providing AI services such as consulting or research.

Check out my full article on how to make money with AI

5. Sell an Online Course

This was my favorite idea when considering how to make money online because anyone can create an online course.

I’ve seen people create online courses on a huge variety of skills or knowledge.

Literally, anything that other people want to learn can be packaged up as an online course and sold on a multitude of platforms.

Plus, you don’t even need to have a website or audience of your own with websites like Skillshare.com or Udemy.com.

Before you build your course, you’ll need to identify your target market and determine what they’re looking for in a course. Then create engaging and informative content that meets their needs.

If you have a website or social media account, there are now a number of platforms that make it easy to create and sell courses online, such as Kajabi, Teachable, and Podia.

If you are really going for cheap and easy starting out, use a platforms like Stan.Store, or Systeme.io where you can create an online shop for free.

If you don’t want to show your face, consider starting a faceless YouTube channel.

Learn more about selling courses online.

professional african american fashion designer wit 2022 01 04 22 57 38 utc 19 Ways to Make Money Online for Beginners without Paying Anything

6. Create a YouTube Channel

This is one of my favorite ideas! Video is so powerful – it’s an amazing way to build a business with customers/followers who are super engaged fans of you and what you do.

There are lots of ways to make money with a YouTube channel, but the best way to really find success is by creating a channel that people will love to watch. This can be anything from playing games and reviewing them to talking about online platforms and how to use them.

As long as you’re providing value and entertainment, people will keep coming back for more. Not only will this help you earn passive income, but it will also give you a chance to build a brand and a following that you can monetize in other ways down the line.

If you don’t want to show your face, consider starting a faceless YouTube channel. Use inVideo to automatically generate videos for you and get started making money online today!

Start making videos with inVideo.

young businessman online selling product by steami 2021 09 01 00 26 22 utc 19 Ways to Make Money Online for Beginners without Paying Anything

7. Voice Acting

Voice acting is an incredibly rewarding profession and one that can be quite lucrative – if you know where to look.

To become a professional voiceover actor, here are some things you should know:

  • You need to be able to read and perform scripts clearly.

  • Becoming familiar with the different types of voices (i.e., character voices, accents, etc) is essential to success.

  • Voiceover actors must develop their own unique style and understanding of the craft. This can be done through classes or workshops.

  • Having an understanding of how to use audio equipment is beneficial for recording auditions.

Using a website like Collabstr, brands will hire you to create specific pieces of content, and you get paid for each piece of content you create.

Voices.com is a great platform for finding all kinds of voice acting jobs, from audiobooks and animation projects to commercials. You can create a profile showcasing your voice-over experience and apply for job postings directly from employers.

Start earning with Voices.com

8. UGC Content Creation

Becoming a UGC Content Creator is a great way to make money online as a beginner.

UGC stands for User Generated Content, which is content created by users of any platform that can be used for commercial or other purposes.

Collabstr UGC website

Market research is a growing industry that offers many opportunities to make money online. How does it work? Using a website like Collabstr.com, brands will hire you to create specific pieces of content, and you get paid for each piece of content you create.

The content could be images, videos, audio recordings, or written articles.

Start earning with Collabstr.com

9. Transcribing, Data Entry and Online Surveys

Transcribing

Transcriptionists convert audio recordings into written text, and the demand for transcription services is growing as more businesses move online. The great part about becoming a transcriptionist is that no experience is required – all you need is a computer, headset, and good typing skills. Perfect for beginners!

transcriptionist

There are a number of different companies that offer transcription work, so finding a steady stream of clients shouldn’t be difficult. The pay can vary depending on the company you work for and the difficulty of the audio recording, but most transcriptionists earn between $10 and $30 per hour.

Data Entry

This has typically been one of the most popular ways to make money online for beginners. It involves entering information into online forms and databases.

For many people, data entry is the perfect way to earn money online, as it can be done from anywhere in the world and doesn’t require any special skills or qualifications.

Online Surveys

Market research is a growing industry that offers many opportunities to make money online. There are a number of survey sites that pay panelists for their opinions on a variety of topics. In most cases, you can sign up for free and start earning rewards right away. Taking online surveys is a beginner-friendly way to make money online, requiring no special skills or resources.

Respondent.io is the perfect opportunity for people who are looking to make some extra money on the side or simply enjoy doing surveys! With projects available in both US and internationally, you can earn from $50 to 250$ per research.

Start earning with: transcribeme.com, Upwork.com, Flexjobs.com

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10. Get Paid to Test Websites

Websites need to be tested for functionality, design, and content before they are made live to the public. Testing is essential to ensure that users have a positive experience when using the site.

For example, freelance writing and web development are high-demand skills that can be marketed and sold as digital services.

Usertesting.com is a service that allows companies to find testers from around the world who can provide feedback on their site.

UserTesting.com 19 Ways to Make Money Online for Beginners without Paying Anything

Testers sign up for an account and are then given a list of websites that they can test. They are typically given a set amount of time to complete the test, and they are paid an hourly rate for their work.

This is a great way for companies to ensure that their site is user-friendly and free of errors. It is also a great way to make money online for beginners since you don’t need any specialist knowledge to get started.

Try: UserTesting.com or Trymyui.com

11. Become a Virtual Assistant

Becoming a virtual assistant is a great way to earn income online while working from the comfort of your own home. There are many companies that are always in need of virtual assistants to help with tasks such as customer service, data entry, social media management, and more.

People with creative flair can earn money by selling their digital products online. Photographers can also make money by selling their photos on stock photo websites like iStock and Shutterstock.

It’s beneficial to have experience in the field that you are interested in working in. For example, if you want to work as a virtual assistant for a real estate company, it would be helpful to have some previous experience in the real estate industry.

You can search for online jobs on Fiverr or Upwork.

Fiverr.com 19 Ways to Make Money Online for Beginners without Paying Anything

12. Freelance Work

There are a number of ways to get freelance work online, but as a beginner, you may not be sure where to start. The first step is to identify your areas of expertise and develop a strong portfolio that showcases your skills. Once you have a strong portfolio, you can begin reaching out to potential clients and pitching your services.

Types of Freelance Work

  • Graphic design

  • Web design

  • Photography

  • Video editing

  • Social media management

  • Blog content writing

  • Online tutor

  • Copywriting

  • Translating

  • Online tutor

  • Marketing

  • Web or Software Development

  • Accounting & bookkeeping

  • Proofreading & Editing

You can sell your designs on sites like Etsy or make your own website to showcase your work. Additionally, you can manage social media accounts for businesses to promote your printables and reach a wider audience.

There are a number of ways to find freelance work online. You can search job boards like Dribbble, Fiverr or freelancer platforms like Upwork, or you can reach out to clients directly.

13. Create Original Digital Products

This is a favorite idea for me when researching how to make money online because digital products are evergreen money earners, providing passive income. This means you only need to invest the time or money once to continue making money long into the future.

People with creative flair can earn money by selling their digital products online.

  1. Choose a marketable product, such as an e-book, an audio file, or a piece of artwork.

  2. Once the product is created, set up a sales platform, such as a website or an online store.

  3. Promote the product and drive traffic 

cooking food using recipe on a digital tablet 2021 08 31 08 42 23 utc 19 Ways to Make Money Online for Beginners without Paying Anything

Etsy is a great place for selling digital products but recently has become overrun with people trying to make a quick buck, but still worth giving it a go. There still are lots of people making good money on Etsy selling digital products.

You could also create your own online store using WordPress or another website builder.

14. Make and Sell Printables

If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to make money, why not try selling printables and Cricut templates online? All you need is a printer and a cutting machine, and you can create high-quality products that people will love.

You can sell your designs on sites like Etsy or make your own website to showcase your work. There are endless possibilities when it comes to design, so let your imagination run wild! And who knows, you might just make a killing!

I’ve got friends who make $10k/month selling what they make on Etsy. Go for it!

15. Sell Print On Demand Products

Designing and selling print-on-demand and personalized products is a great way to make some extra money or even start a full-fledged business. And with today’s technology, it’s easier than ever to get started.

work with accounts with social networks online or 2021 08 29 23 03 18 utc 19 Ways to Make Money Online for Beginners without Paying Anything

There are a few different ways to go about creating personalized products, but the easiest is probably print-on-demand (POD).

With POD, you can create custom designs and have them printed on a variety of items – from T-shirts and mugs to phone cases and pet collars.

The best part is that you don’t need to order large quantities of products upfront; you can just print what you need as you receive orders.

Printify is one of the best platforms to sell print-on-demand products. Others include Printful, Redbubble and Teemill.

16. Sell Products on Amazon

Amazon is the world’s largest e-commerce platform, with over 310 million active users. For businesses, selling on Amazon can be a great way to reach a large audience of potential customers.

One of the benefits of selling on Amazon is that it can help businesses to expand their reach. With Amazon’s vast customer base, businesses can sell to buyers all over the world.

Amazon Selling

Amazon offers a convenient fulfillment option known as Amazon FBA. This service allows businesses to store their products in Amazon’s warehouses and fulfill orders with quick shipping times.

This can be a great option for businesses that want to focus on marketing and leave the logistics to Amazon.

The main options for selling on Amazon are:

  1. Physical products

  2. Print-on-demand products

  3. Books and eBooks through Kindle Publishing

  4. Audiobooks through Audible.com

If you want to learn how to be successful on Amazon, the keyword research software Helium 10 has an amazing free course that comes with a software subscription. It is well worth it, plus you can get a free trial if you sign up with my link: Helium 10 and Freedom Ticket

If you don’t have any money and you really want to launch a product on Amazon without paying anything, try out Amazon Merch or create a book to sell on KDP.

Also, have a look at my guide to making passive income on Amazon.

17. Become a Life Coach

If you’re interested in becoming a life coach, there are a few things you need to do in order to get started. There is no shortage of free materials and training available online to help you gain the skills you need to get started.

  1. Get some training

  2. Decide what area or areas you want to coach people in. This could be anything from relationship coaching to career coaching.

  3. Decide on your niche

  4. Start branding yourself online. This means creating a website and social media profiles that showcase your life coaching services. You should also consider creating online courses or writing books related to your chosen niche

  5. Once you have a strong online presence, you can start selling your services to clients. You can also join online entrepreneur groups and collaborate with other coaches to help promote each other’s businesses.

18. Sell Stuff Online

Selling your stuff can be a great way to make extra money, clear out clutter, and potentially discover a new passion for entrepreneurship

  • Sell clothing – Poshmark, Vinted

  • Collectibles, tech, musical instruments (and nearly everything else) – eBay, Craigslist

  • Cars, furniture and larger items – Facebook Marketplace

Good luck with your sales, just watch out for scammers!

19. Earn Cashback and Rewards Online

There are many ways to earn cashback and rewards online. One easy way is to sign up for a direct deposit service like Drop.

With Drop, you can earn cashback on your everyday purchases at any of their partner stores. Plus, you’ll also get automatic entry into sweepstakes and other exclusive offers.

Some rewards programs even offer bonus points for completing certain tasks, such as signing up for a trial subscription or taking a survey. In addition, many rewards programs have partnered with popular brands, so you can often earn points by shopping at your favorite stores.

drop How to Make Money Online for Beginners - 54 Easy Ideas

Another great way to earn cashback and rewards is with a cash-back credit card. Some cards offer up to 5% cash back on all purchases, and many have special categories where you can earn even more cash back.

You can also use apps like Ibotta and Shopkick to earn rewards at select stores. And finally, don’t forget to sign up for loyalty programs at your favorite stores.

20. Online Tutoring and Education

Online tutoring and education have become increasingly popular, offering a fantastic way to monetize your expertise. If you have knowledge in a particular subject, you can create and sell online courses, offer one-on-one tutoring services, or even develop educational resources like ebooks and printables.

Platforms like Udemy, Teachable, and TutorMe make it easy to get started. These platforms provide the tools you need to create engaging courses and connect with students worldwide.

Whether you’re an expert in math, science, languages, or any other subject, there’s a market for your knowledge. Online tutoring and education not only allow you to earn money but also make a positive impact by helping others learn and grow.

Avoiding Scams and Staying Safe

When making money online, it’s essential to be aware of potential scams and take steps to protect yourself. The internet is rife with opportunities, but not all of them are legitimate. Here are some common online scams to watch out for:

Common Online Scams to Watch Out For

  • Phishing scams: Be cautious of emails or messages that ask for personal or financial information. Always verify the sender’s identity before clicking on any links or providing sensitive information.

  • Pyramid schemes: Be wary of opportunities that promise unusually high returns with little effort. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

  • Fake job postings: Research companies thoroughly before applying for online jobs. Look for reviews and testimonials from other users to ensure the legitimacy of the job offer.

  • Online survey scams: Be cautious of survey sites that ask for payment or personal information. Legitimate survey sites will never ask you to pay to participate.

Always do your research, trust your instincts, and prioritize your safety while exploring ways to make money online.

Conclusion

There you have it – you can get started making money online right away, even if you have zero money to invest!

As you can see, there are many options to choose from for every age and skill set. And there are many more ways to make money online than what’s listed here.

The important thing is to get started and not get overwhelmed. Pick one or two of these methods and give them a try. And remember, the more you diversify your income streams, the better off you’ll be.

So what are you waiting for? Get started today and start earning money online!

FAQ

What are best ways to make money online for beginners?

One of the easiest ways to make some money online is by renting out your space. Apps like Neighbor.com allow you to rent out any space for others to store items. This could be a garage, driveway or even your attic!

Do you need lots of skills or experience to be successful online?

This is certainly a concern for many, but there are lots of opportunities to make money with zero skills required. Many online money-making opportunities do not require specialized skills, making them accessible to beginners.

How can I make $100 a day online?

There are plenty of ways to make money online these days. Whether you’re looking to earn a few extra dollars or save up for a big purchase, there are options out there for you.

Here are just a few ideas to get you started: – Sell your old clothes, textbooks, and other items you don’t need anymore on sites like eBay.com or Poshmark.com. – Provide your services as a tutor or pet-sitter through websites like Tutor.com or Rover.com. – Do odd jobs for people in your neighborhood through TaskRabbit or Fiverr.

Complete short online surveys and receive payments for your time through panel companies like SurveyJunkie.com or InboxDollars.com. With a little effort, you can easily make an extra $100 dollars a day online – and have some fun while doing it!

How to make $100 dollars a day online as an artist?

If you’re an artist or creative person, you may have struggled to make a good living. Even though you have loads of talent, it can be hard to find ways to monetize your creativity. However, there are plenty of opportunities to make money online as an artist.

One way to do this is to sell your artwork through an online marketplace. You can also offer your services as a graphic designer or illustrator.

Another option is to create and sell digital products, such as ebooks, courses, or templates. And if you have a knack for promoting and marketing, you could launch an online store or blog to sell your products.

With a little effort and creativity, you can easily make $100 a day online as an artist. So don’t give up – keep pursuing your dreams, and you’ll eventually find success.

Can I make money online without a computer?

Yes! If you have a smartphone many of the ideas in this post will work. If you don’t have access to a computer many libraries have computers you can use and it’s possible to set up a small business in as little as 1 hour per day.

How can a beginner make money fast?

Yes! Making money online fast is certainly possible, but not always the best way to build a long-term income. Here’s a list of ways you can quickly get started earning cash today:

ADHD Body doubling Rent your electronics, clothes, furniture, or other stuff Rent Your Car Rent Out a Room in Your House Bank hop  Sell your unused gift cards Become a Transcriptionist Do Data Entry Online Sell your unused internet connection Participate in market research online surveys Sell your clothes, shoes, or accessories Earn cashback and rewards online Monetize your location data Trade in old phones or unused technology Sell what you make on Etsy Create original digital products Complete micro tasks Answering text messages Become a Virtual Babysitter

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    Dan Chadney
    Author: Dan Chadney
    My name is Dan Chadney and before starting Indie Brand Builder, I spent 20 years as a visual designer. I've owned multiple successful businesses and I'd love to help you build yours! Check out my online business guides and learn how to make your business stand out