17 Best Legit (No Experience Necessary) Ways to Make Money in 2021 as a Stay at Home Mom

There are a few of money-making trends hitting the news lately.

Trading crypto or YOLOing on meme stocks is not only high risk - they're not a reliable source of income when you have mouths to feed and bills to pay.

So let's get honest here, you need a REAL way to make money while still being able to take care of your family and your home.

But wait, what if you have zero experience to draw on here.

No problem.

I have plenty of options on the table for you to choose from.

TBH, if you want the absolute best way to make money as a stay at home mom, you can scroll down to my #1 recommendation...

I won't tell anyone you went straight for the gold!

Well, let's dive in!

17. Trading Collectable Cards

Sports cards are the most popular trading card for collectors and dealers but there are a variety of other options too.

Baseball and basketball have dominated overall. 

People in the know are touting soccer as the next sport to get into as it rises in popularity in the US.

It's best to do your research and know what to look for and how to value trading cards.

e-Bay is one of the most popular trading card platforms.

Likewise, you can find conventions and special events where fans are traders get together.

With sports cards, there are 2 main approaches:

You can find auctions selling multiple copies of the same card or cards of the same athlete.

When they start to blow up with a great performance or break out season, you can list them for a lot more, making a profit on the sale.

The more reliable money is in the historic players but it's also a long-play strategy and will require more capital to get started.

What do you need to get started?

A little bit of money to get your first few cards to trade.

For knowledge, there are plenty of YT videos and blogs to learn what to look for to find cards that are going to grow in value.

Once you get started and build a decent stock of cards, you can have dozens of them listed for sale.

In reality, fanatically following sports and all the media hype might not be your cup of tea. 

However, many moms do enjoy being creative.

If that sounds more appealing, you might find print on demand to be the perfect fit.

16. Print On Demand

For one thing, having a print on demand business makes it possible for absolutely anyone to get involved in dropshipping.

You can sell print on demand t shirts, mugs, hats, or any number of items.

How does print on demand work?

There are a number of print on demand companies to choose from;

Redbubble has been the most popular of late but Shine On and Print Tech allow different customization options by the customer which can boost sales.

In short, you need to do your research and take into consideration which platform suits your requirements.

What do you need to get started?

You'll need some designs to use for your print on demand store and a method of promoting them to generate sales.

Many people rely on paid ads and that comes with huge risk if you don't get it right.

One of the best mentors for print on demand is Sarah Chrisp of Wholesale Ted. You can find tons of great info on her YT channel.

Once you set up a design on your store, it can remain there and generate sales while you add more options.

It should be noted that you'll need to pay for the goods when you make the sale.

Then you don't receive the money from your customer right away.

In fact, sometimes there can be a significant delay in getting paid - especially in the beginning until you earn credibility.

Generally speaking, you'll either need a decent chunk of start up capital or access to a credit card to get the ball rolling.

In spite of all the videos making dropshipping and print on demand sound easy, it does require work.

There is also the risk of ad spend with no guarantee of income.

Instead, if you're looking for something with no financial outlay to start, take a look at my next suggestion.

15. Writing for Medium

You might have comes across an article on Medium.com before.

Read on to learn how to write for Medium & get paid for it?

There's a daily limit to how many articles you can view - unless you become a paid subscriber for $5 a month.

For articles published behind this paywall, writers can get a small amount of money for posts that becomes popular among readers.

Medium will also take curated articles and ask for permission to syndicate them to other sites.

This helps generate more exposure and helps increase readership.

What do you need to get started?

Join the Medium Partner Program and get writing.

However, if you're serious about monetizing your work, you'll need to learn how to:

Okay, admittedly the earning potential isn't great here but it could be cash coming in passively over time without much additional work.

BUT I do like the idea of these articles being able to generate passive income over time - IF you get it right.

In reality, the downside to Medium is the limited capacity to make regular income from it.

Next, if you live in a populated area, this one is for you.

14. Flipping Items from Yard Sales or Stores

Buying things from yard sales or stuff that's heavily discounted in a store and reselling it for a profit has been trending for a while.

You can either use eBay or go the local route with platforms like OfferUp where you post stuff for sale and whether or not you deliver.

There are a number of areas you can focus in on:

If you're thinking about clothing or accessories, there are specialty sites like Poshmark and TheRealReal which are a fantastic option.

Of course, you'll need bit of cash to get started with purchases and a camera to take photos (a phone camera works just fine).

Although you can get a start by selling some of the stuff you own to generate some seed money.

You can make some decent money but only if it's more of a lifestyle choice to hunting for bargains all the time.

On the other hand, maybe you don't want to be dragging your kids around town bargain-hunting or dealing with all the clutter.

Then, this next one offers a much more laid back approach to earning some extra money.

13. Loaning Out Your Car

Let's say you have a car sitting around that's not being used, how about renting it out to earn money?

The Turo platform has become a popular alternative to the usual car rental companies.

Think of it as like the Airbnb of a car rentals.

There are examples of people who’ve made renting on Turo into a full business cash flow by purchasing multiple in-demand vehicles to rent out and have been able to scale their income.

See the Turo platform to sign up and get started.

Plus it helps to be in a location that has a decent level of tourism or other reasons that car rentals are in demand.

Speaking of Airbnb's, are you maximizing the revenue opportunities available from your home?

12. Airbnb / VRBO Rentals

I really prefer using assets to make money over trading time for dollars.

Don’t worry, you don’t need some grand house to get started on AirBnB. 

You can make money just renting out a room in your home.

While providing a comfortable and nice environment is important, being a great host can really help your listing standout.

To get started, you’ll need to sign up.

Remember, it really helps to make the space feel comfortable and welcoming to your guests.

It's worth going that extra mile to earn the 'Super Host' badge because it stands out as a badge of trust to travelers.

So, let's say that you don't have space to rent or you just don't want to have strangers staying in your home, this next one gives you the ultimate choice over location.

11. Host Airbnb Experiences

Paying for quality or unique experiences is beginning to take off as people look for ways to spend their time traveling or a to just enjoy a change of pace.

If you think about it, there's bound to be something you can offer that others will enjoy.

It could be location-related, something you can teach, or a skill that you're good at that creates a memorable experience.

It's worth browsing the experiences on Airbnb for some inspiration.

There are plenty of ideas:

Think about what activities would be popular for travelers or that you can offer online.

To get going, decide on the experience you're offering and list it on Airbnb experiences.

It's important to note that you're trading your time for money and you'll need to carve out the time to give 100% attention to your guests.

This is going to suit some moms down to a T.

However, if you'd prefer something where you can clock in and out without stressing about reviews, this next one might be a better alternative.

10. Be a Virtual Assistant

Many business owners need some extra help with admin tasks but aren't in a position to hire someone full-time.

Instead, they are turning to hiring a Virtual Assistant to help with specific duties.

It could be managing someone's email, transcribing documents, data entry, or handling online customer service.

You can state exactly what services you offer.

You'll need computer and internet access to get started.

You may also need some specific programs but you can usually manage with the free Google alternative for many of the common office tools.

Keep in mind that it's important to maintain a positive reputation by earning good reviews from your clients.

Unfortuntely this is another gig where your income potential is limited by how many hours you can put in.

It's worth mentioning that being a virtual assistant can be a bit repetitive and that will drive some people nuts.

If you're looking for variety, check out option #9.

9. Social Media Management

You probably already use social media but did you know there are tons of businesses who desperately need help managing their posts and engagement?

Most business owners are too busy to handle their own social media but don't have enough work to need to hire someone in-house to do it.

They also know it's not the best use of their time to learn how to do it really well.

If you've spent time on social media channels, you probably have a good idea of what posts work well and catch your attention.

There are also tons of YouTube videos and Facebook groups with great info on creating content and engagement.

A quick note here, one of the keys to managing multiple social media clients is being well organized.

Calendars and schedulers are essential to being consistent.

Generally speaking, social media management has become a bit too saturated with lots of competition.

While there is still opportunity here, you have to keep clients happy which can be a lot of work.

Next up, let's look at a simple way to make a bit of extra money without much effort on your part.

8. Renting Out Your Driveway

If you have a private driveway or parking spot NOT being used, you might be able to rent it out to generate some extra income.

You can opt for renting it out on a daily basis or target a month-to-month option for higher income potential.

There are a number of sites you can check, depending on which country you're in.

You could have a hot-ticket parking spot if you're located near:

Likewise, if you're near some office or business locations where parking is at a premium, there's potential there too.

To get started, check out the online platforms available in your country and sign up.

Obviously, if you have more than 1 space, you can scale but this is more of a side-income for some extra spending money than a route to making a real full-time income.

But what if you don't have parking space you can rent.

How about taking advantage of a hobby for some extra cash?

7. Paid Book Reviewer

If you enjoy reading books and can express your opinion concisely, this could be a good way to bring in a little bit of cash for something you enjoy.

There are numerous places where book reviews are needed. 

Some publishers hire freelancers to read and supply reviews that are used professionally in the book promotion industry.

To get the ball rolling, search for openings on publisher and book review sites.

An example I found is Kirkus Reviews who are looking for freelance book reviewers.

If you poke around the internet, you'll be able to find more openings.

You could also offer your services on a freelancer site too.

Now, obviously you're trading your time for money here...and not a lot of money compared to how long it takes to read a book.

In the other hand, if you're an avid reader and devour books by the boat load, earning a few extra bucks for something you're already doing doesn't hurt.

In the event that you're looking for something more people-orientated that can really scale, check out the next one.

6. Gift Basket Service

People are always looking for hassle-free ways to send gifts for special occasions.

Specialty gift baskets are a great option.

You could create general baskets or niche down and target something specific to create more of a branded or customized feel.

Some possible options could be:

You could also do some quick research and ask friends and local businesses exactly what they would like to see.

You could find your first customers that way too!

You'll need some initial resources to get started:

There are examples of people bootstrapping it on a budget as well as people who invested $25,000+

Both were successful at building a business long-term.

The key is keeping costs low to maximize your profit margin.

There's always a risk when starting a business that requires an upfront investment.

It is beneficial to do your research while also generating a list of contacts who are genuinely interested in ordering from you.

If you're in your zone when it comes to networking and influence, many a stay at home mom has done really well with direct sales - let's have a closer look.

5. Direct Sales/MLM

Sadly, direct sales has gotten a bad rep over the years.

Not surprising given that most people are expected to push their products in their own network with friends and family being the prime target.

There are some reputable companies where people will go looking for a local rep.

Avon is a good example that comes to mind here.

Amway is one of the biggest MLM companies with a worldwide network and numerous products on offer.

The first step is to do your research and decide on a product or company you want to represent.

Do you want a single-level company where there is no recruiting expected or an MLM where you also receive a commission on what your recruits sell too?

It's worth noting that most MLMs have their own specific culture around personal development and mindset.

It's important to go into these ventures with your eyes wide open to all the expectations in addition to hitting certain sales targets.

Some have mandatory meetings, events, and subscriptions involved.

I know people who pull in 6-figures a year in revenue (not the same as profit) but their schedule is insane.

With these things in mind, I'd encourage you to look at something that can produce passive income over time.

If you have a way with words, this next one is for you.

4. eBook Authoring

It's easier than ever now to self-publish with Amazon.

You could draw on your life experience to write about a non-fiction topic or you could research something you're interested in.

There are some great options for outsourcing some of the tasks too.

For example, you can hire a freelancer for creating an eye-catching cover or to proof read and edit your book.

If you really want to, you can even hire someone to ghost write your book for you!

My recommendation is to browse through Amazon's Direct Publishing training area with tons of great recommendations.

You'll also need to decide on what topic you're writing about or learn a bit about character and story line development if you're going the fiction route.

To get started, all you need to do is come up with an idea and start writing.

It can help to create a writing routine to make a bit of progress each day.

On the negative side, what if you've always dreaded writing ever since school or you're just not good at it?

Maybe you'd prefer something in the visual arts instead that can produce passive income. Check out opportunity #3.

3. Creating Stock Footage

With so much more online content and the rise of social media, content creators need great images or video to use to increase visual appeal and engagement.

You can sell stock photography but stock footage earns more money per usage.

What types of stock footage sell the best:

A platform that is changing the game in the stock footage world is BlackBox.

You can upload footage there and it handles the distribution to the major stock platforms for you.

You don't need some fancy, high-end camera to produce quality video.

You can get started with a good cellphone camera for now.

I'd recommend having a look at what footage is popular and in demand.

Then find a way of making your own, only slightly better or with slight variations.

You'll then need to edit your footage and upload it.

It's important to remember that it will take time to build up enough assets to see any meaningful income.

Still thinking passive income here but perhaps something with multiple monetization streams is more appealing and that's our next look.

2. Blogging

There's a blog for everything and anything these days. 

However, did you know there are multiple ways to monetize a blog?

Here are the most common ways people are making money with their blog:

Many bloggers combine multiple income channels to bring in more revenue.

So, how do you get started with your blog?

It's worth noting that it usually takes at least 2 years to build up enough traction to see decent income levels from your blog.

Certain topics - especially the higher-ticket niches - are hyper competitive so you'll need to learn some SEO hacks or pay for help in this department.

Of course, there is a good chance that your blog won't make any money and just become a burden.

Now, if you're serious about having your cake and eating it too - there's only 1 way I know for certain that works for stay at home moms to make serious coin.

Check out my undoubted #1 pick for you.

1. Local Lead Generation

No matter what happens with the economy, there services that people can't manage without and businesses are competing for those customers.

Now, what if you were the person to bring them those customers?

With local lead generation, you set up simple websites and route the leads straight to a business.

In return, that business owner pays you a 'sliver to deliver'.

Here's an example of one of my towing clients who pays me weekly.

I have dozens of these 'digital assets' all working to pay me money 24 hours a day.

And the best part?

Once each asset is in place, it's mostly passive income from there.

It's like having digital real estate that I can rent out to make money.

Okay, I'm not going to lie...there is a bit of a learning curve at the beginning.

But wait.

That's actually a good thing.

Why?

Because it creates a barrier to entry which means it WON'T become saturated any time soon like so many other income-generating methods have.

And if you find a good mentor or training program, like I did, you can pick it up quickly.

So, there are 3 reasons I love local lead generation:

1 - You're building assets that passive income forever.

2 - It's just rinse and repeat to scale your income.

3 - The insane profit margins mean you keep most of the money.

Indeed, the fact that it's passive frees up my time to work on my business, not in it, or to spend quality time with my kids.

Local lead gen is the opposite of trading time for dollars.

I'm connected with a number of moms who do local lead generation.

They've not only been able to stay at home and run a successful business.

More importantly, they've generated the kind of income levels that have meant being able to move to a nicer house, being able to afford private school tuition, and amazing family vacations.

If you're trying to figure out how to have it all as a stay at home mom, you owe it to yourself and your family to learn more.