15 SIDE HUSTLES SINGLE MOMS CAN ACTUALLY START RIGHT NOW

You know how people always say, "just start a side hustle?" Like it's that easy. And you're like...with what time? what money? what energy? As if you're not already doing five jobs in one.

But still, I get it. You might need a little extra. Not to "get rich". But just enough so the month doesn't feel so tight. Something that fits between work, dinner, chores, kids and your kid's random last-minute school project.

So this isn't a list of fantasy jobs that needs three hours of peace and a ring light. These are side hustles that actually fit into a single mom's life. No huge time commitment. No upfront money. Just you, your phone or laptop, and little pockets of time after bedtime or between laundry cycles.

15 Side Hustles For Single Moms

Online Surveys and User Testing

When your brain's too tired for anything that needs thinking, online surveys are something you can do half asleep. You basically give your opinion or test websites and apps for brands that pay for feedback.

It's not glamorous, but it's something you can do while sitting in the school pickup line or while your kid's watching a show.

You can make a few bucks per survey, maybe $5, sometimes $20 if it's a longer one. You can try sites like Swagbucks, UserTesting, or even Respondent.

The catch is it's inconsistent. You won't get rich with this, but the small amounts will add up over time.

Virtual Assistant Work

This one's for the moms who are already the unofficial manager of everything. You already handle emails, schedules, and follow-ups. You can do it for other people too.

Being a virtual assistant just means helping small businesses or busy people with admin work, posting on social media, data entry, and random digital errands.

You can do it from home, on your own hours, and some clients pay pretty well once you prove yourself. Maybe $15 to $30 an hour.

It's flexible but you'll have to set your boundaries, because clients can forget you're actually a real person with a real life.

Selling Printables and Digital Downloads

If you've ever made your own meal planner, any sort of checklist, or affirmation sheet, you could sell those. Canva is free, and Etsy makes it easy to upload and sell digital files. Once it's up, it just stays there and sells when people find it.

It's quiet work but satisfying. No shipping, no stock. Just something creative that earns you passive income over time.

Some people make a few bucks a week, some make hundreds. You'll have to spend some time promoting your stuff so that people can find you if you want to be serious about actually earning something.

Transcription

Transcription is literally listening and typing what you hear. Podcasts, interviews, recorded notes. It's repetitive, but calming once you get in the zone. Perfect if you like quiet, no-talking work.

You can start on platforms like Rev or TranscribeMe, no experience needed.

They pay per audio minute, which usually works out to $15 to $25 an hour. It's flexible, so you can do one file a night, or five if you're on a roll.

Captioning Videos

Like transcription, but visual. You add subtitles to video. Some platforms like Rev or CaptionMax let beginners in. It pays around $15 to $30 an hour. You can do it at night or during naptime.

It's tedious, sure, but also calm. You don't deal with people, just audio and text.

Babysitting or Pet Sitting

This one is simple, especially if you have big kids. You already have the experience of looking after kids. Or maybe you love animals.

Babysitting or pet sitting can easily fit easily around your life, especially if you already have kids who can join in. You can ask around. Post in your local Facebook group. People always need help. It's not "passive", but it's straightforward.

You show up or they can send their kid or pet to you, and you'll end up with $15 to $30 an hour, depending on where you live. Some moms turn this into regular weekend income.

Tutoring

If you're good at, math, reading, English, you can actually teach it! You don't have to be a full-time teacher.

Online tutoring platforms like Wyzant or Tutor.com are always looking for people. You pick your hours and rate. And you can expect to earn around $20 to $50 an hour. You'll have to block your time and it does require focus, but it's rewarding too. You're helping kids, you're using your brain, and you're earning money without even leaving your home.

Coaching or Mentoring

You've been through a lot. You have your experiences. There's probably something you've figured out that another mom wishes she knew. It can be about budgeting, self-care, single parenting routines and hacks.

You can offer one-on-one calls or mini sessions online. You don't need a certification to start small. Just your honesty. Help one person. Then another. You can charge $25 to $75 once you get comfortable. It feels meaningful too, not just income.

Voiceover Work

You don't need a recording studio. Just a quiet room and your voice. You can read scripts for videos, reels, or audiobooks.

Check Fiverr, ACX, or Voices.com. Some will pay $25, some a few hundred depending on how they are.

It can be really fun and definitely doable. And if you like reading to your kids and you like being animated doing it, you might actually enjoy this one.

Proofreading

If you're the one who catches typos in your friends' texts or Instagram captions, you might as well make money off it.

Proofreading is super chill. You don't need a degree or anything. Just a sharp eye. No training, no start-up cost. Try Fiverr, or find bloggers who need help editing.

It's not huge money right away, but $20 to $50 an hour adds up when you're doing it after bedtime.

Selling Old Stuff Online

This one's quite easy. Go through your house. Kids' clothes, toys, that stroller in the corner, furniture you're sick of. Sell it on Facebook Marketplace or Poshmark. It clears space and puts money back in your wallet. You don't need to "flip" things professionally.

You can list what you already have that you want to let go of. Some weeks you might make $50, others $300.

It's a side hustle that doesn't really feel like one. Just think of it as decluttering, with benefits.

Customer Service Or Chat Support

If you're looking for something more stable, look up remote customer service jobs. You answer emails or chats from home. Companies like Liveops or FlexJobs post these opportunities all the time.

The hours are normally flexible, but you'll need a quiet corner to work. It pays around $15 and more with experience.

It's predictable money, but it can get repetitive. Still, if you want something steady you can plan around, this is the one.

Affiliate Marketing

You know how you're always sharing product recs with your friends? Like "this serum actually fixed my skin" or "you need to read this book"? That's literally what affiliate marketing is all about.

You share links, someone buys, and you get paid. Simple. Amazon, ShareASale, LTK all have affiliate programs.

It's not quick money, but over time it grows. One day you'll check your email and see random commissions from stuff you even forgot you posted. It's like a tiny reward for being honest about what works for you.

Social Media Management

You already know how to post, reply, scroll, and find trends before everyone else. That's a skill. A lot of small businesses need that. They'll literally pay someone to make their pages look alive again. And that could be you.

You don't need a fancy degree or a marketing background. Just a bit of creativity and consistency. Start small. One client, maybe two. You can charge a few hundred dollars a month per account. And grow from there.

And it's kind of fun. Like using your regular scrolling habits for something that actually pays.

Freelance Writing

If you like writing, or you've ever thought "I could explain that better", try freelance writing. People pay for blog posts, social media captions, and website content. No degree needed, but maybe a portfolio of your writing samples. Just clear writing and a voice people can relate to.

Start small. Pitch to blogs or businesses that talk about things you already know. Single parenting, budgeting, life hacks.

It's slow to build at first, but one job will lead to another. Some can pay $50 a post, others hundreds. It's something you can do from your couch, at night, with your laptop and a snack.

You don't need to do all fifteen. You don't even to have it all together. Just pick one that feels easy to start with. Something that doesn't ask too much from you right now. You can build from there when life calms down a bit, or not.

The goal isn't to hustle harder, it's to make your life a little lighter.

If you enjoyed this post, I'd love it if you shared it on Pinterest! Thanks!