As a single mom, getting ahead financially can seem impossible.
And with children to take care of, some side hustles are completely out of the question.
The good news is that there are plenty of easy side hustles for single moms.
15 Side Hustles for Single Moms That Actually Make Extra Money
Not all side hustles are created equal.
And a lot of the suggestions you’ll find from a Google search are fairly useless.
I’m sure some people make money taking online surveys, playing games online, and selling their unwanted things.
But you deserve better than that lazy advice.
I created this list to trim the fat—all of these side hustles can actually help you earn money. Real money.
1. Freelance Writing
Every single business needs writers.
And since the good ones are so few and far between, companies pay handsomely for them.
Most businesses don’t have the continuous need for them, either. So, they hire freelance writers instead.
It’s also a highly profitable side hustle—a good freelance writer can earn anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over $1,000 per blog.
If you already have a knack for writing, you can easily get started with freelance writing and start making money.
Of course, this side hustle comes with a major caveat: You have to know how to write well (which isn’t as easy as it seems).
But if you are well-versed in a certain subject (or subjects) and can learn to write, freelance writing is potentially one of the highest-paying jobs on this list.
2. Online Tutoring
The average pay for an online tutor varies wildly—from $20 to $100 per hour.
On the lower end, low-grade tutors (i.e., tutors for elementary school students) get paid around $20 per hour.
On the higher end, those with a college degree and high-level subjects can make up to $100 per hour. And tutors who specialize in a nuanced subject—like SAT or ACT prep—can command even higher rates for their expertise.
Online tutoring is also one of the most flexible side hustles for single moms.
If you are a stay-at-home mom, you can hold tutoring sessions at home or online. And if you have a busy work schedule during the day, you can tutor students after your day job.
To find virtual tutoring jobs, you can search on job boards like Indeed or find local clients through sites like Nextdoor. If you have a college degree (or other forms of higher education), another option is to apply to platforms like Tutor.com or Skooli.
3. Serving or Bartending
As a single mother, you might already have your hands full.
But single moms who have other family members who can look after their children can work a side job as a waitress or bartender.
These are great, relatively low-stress jobs that not only provide you with a steady paycheck but also offer the chance to earn tips from customers.
At nicer restaurants, plenty of servers and bartenders are able to earn six figures.
Waiting tables can be tiring, but it’s perfect for single moms who work from home during the day and don’t use too much physical energy.
4. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking
If you love animals, you can make extra money as a single mom caring for others’ pets.
If you want to start this side hustle on your own, you can find your own customers privately or advertise on Facebook. And if starting a pet-sitting business sounds too daunting, you can also use one of the following apps to find clients in just a few hours:
Most dog walkers make between $10 and $20 per 20-minute walk—enough for single moms to save money or pay off bills.
Pet sitters typically make around $50 per night, which means that making upwards of $1,000 per month isn’t unrealistic.
In the case of both pet sitting and dog walking, your earning potential is higher if you have a veterinary or dog-training background.
5. Becoming a Personal Stylist
For all the fashion-forward single moms out there, becoming a personal stylist is one of the best side hustle ideas out there.
Companies like Stitch Fix offer remote styling services with the help of virtual stylists. This job offers flexible hours, and you can assist clients in finding their favorite clothes from the comfort of your home.
Thank you, Stitch Fix!
Amazon also offers part-time virtual stylist positions, but keep in mind that candidates must be available to work various shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Applicants also need to have at least two years of fashion experience, making this opportunity better suited to single parents with other experience in the retail or fashion industries.
6. Rideshare Driving
Rideshare apps make it easier than ever for single moms to make extra money by giving people rides.
Uber and Lyft drivers can make a decent hourly wage, depending on the city they work in.
This is especially true when driving during peak hours, such as rush hour, Friday and Saturday nights, and weekends of major events (e.g., festivals, conventions, two-day concerts).
During peak times, it isn’t uncommon for drivers to make upwards of $75 to $100 per ride.
The best part? It’s the epitome of working on your own schedule—any time you want to drive for Uber or Lyft, you can hop in your car and update your status.
The only drawback to rideshare driving is the wear and tear on your car. Depending on how often you drive, you might need to replace tires, change oil, and get tuneups more frequently than average.
7. Delivering Food and Groceries
Single moms who want to work their own hours can also drive for DoorDash, Instacart, Uber Eats, and other delivery apps.
These companies pay drivers a set fee to pick up food or groceries from various stores and deliver them to customers.
Most delivery drivers make an average hourly rate above $20 per hour. Considering how easy it is to get started, making extra income through these apps is an excellent addition to or substitute for ridesharing.
8. Freelance Design Work
Just like writers, designers can make an excellent living doing freelance work.
Although this side hustle is easier to start for single moms who already work in a design profession, you don’t need to be a professional graphic designer to make good money as a freelancer.
Most platforms like Fiverr and Upwork offer entry-level jobs for designers with almost no experience—all you need is basic knowledge of Photoshop or Illustrator and the willingness to learn.
9. Consulting
If you have experience in a certain field, you can charge an hourly rate to consult others in the same area.
This side hustle is perfect for single moms who have years of experience in a certain profession and want to use their knowledge to make extra money without sacrificing too much time or energy.
Consulting rates vary wildly based on the industry and level of impact they can make on the company, but rates of $200 or more per hour are relatively common.
Examples of profitable consulting niches include:
- Small business
- Personal finance
- Investment planning
- IT and business software
- Marketing and advertising
- Digital media
- College counseling
Most consultants have extensive networks they can tap into for referrals, and successful ones also build their personal brand on social media.
If you want to find success as a consultant, you should begin to create content that can attract inbound leads.
10. Blogging
If you aren’t strapped for cash and want to explore your interests, creating your own blog is one of the best side hustles that you can grow over time. And since you’ll be making money online, you can care for your child while setting your own hours.
Bloggers typically make money from advertising and affiliate marketing, but the real money comes when they turn their blog into a membership site or launching courses and products related to it.
You won’t make money from your blog right away—Google takes around half a year just to start ranking your new website. But building online platforms is the ultimate way to make passive income.
The key to making it as a successful blogger lies in finding the right niche, creating high-quality content, and driving traffic through social media and SEO. If you’re willing to learn these nuanced skills, there’s no limit to the potential earnings you can make.
11. Selling Products Online
As a single mom, there are plenty of ways you could approach online product sales:
- Sell crafts online on Etsy, eBay, or Amazon.
- Sell used clothes and furniture on sites like Facebook Marketplace
- Set up an Amazon store and sell white-label products
- Set up a Shopify store and sell your own products
Considering the saturation in most of these areas (and small upfront investment required), side hustles that involve online product sales aren’t the easiest.
Still, there are plenty of single mothers who find something they love, sell it, and turn their financial situation around completely after running their own business.
12. Working in Customer Service
Customer service can be a full-time job. But single moms with spare time can also provide customer service on a part-time basis.
Especially if you work for a large company like Apple (which starts its customer service employees at nearly $30 dollars per hour), customer support can be a fairly lucrative field.
Customer service isn’t exactly the most glamorous job on this list—dealing with rude customers every day can get old if you don’t have thick skin.
But if you’re willing to look past the negatives, you can make extra cash from the convenience of your own home by taking support calls for a few hours each day.
13. Virtual Assistant Services
A virtual assistant is someone who provides administrative and other services to clients remotely.
The great thing about becoming a virtual assistant is that you don’t need a college degree or special certifications—all it takes is some basic computer skills, an internet connection, and reliable communication.
Virtual assistant duties can range from customer service to data entry, transcription, bookkeeping, and more.
Depending on your experience and the client in question, you can make anywhere from $20 to $30 per hour, according to Indeed data —not bad for a side hustle!
14. Create and Sell Online Courses for Adults
Are you a single mom who knows a lot about single parenting?
Or, what about business, finance, accounting, or another professional field?
If so, you can combine your expertise in a particular area with the power of online learning and create an online course. Once you launch it, you’ll be able to make more money from it for years to come.
Using a platform like Thinkific, you can create an online course using a drag-and-drop course builder.
Once you make money selling it, you just have to market it and continue to update the course material to ensure the content is still relevant. You can also look into affiliate marketing, which allows you to earn money by referring people to other products or services.
15. Offering Child Care
You’re already caring for one child. Why not help out other single moms by providing babysitting services?
Child care is one of the most in-demand side hustles for single parents, and it’s also one of the easiest ways to make extra money.
The easy way to get started with offering child care is to create a profile on Care.com or Babysits and apply for babysitting jobs. You can also join local networks like Nextdoor, an app for connecting with people in your area.
If you’re feeling more ambitious, you can also look into starting a childcare business. You’ll need to obtain a license and pass background checks, but the extra effort will be worth it.
If you run your own business, you can also charge a premium for your services, so long as you provide top-notch care for children.
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