Want to earn extra money?
There are so many creative things to make and sell online to earn extra income, you will be surprised at the list.
Being creative can be a BIG plus if you know how to monetize your hobby. There are many creative gigs that are not only profitable but also quite popular. And the best part is many of them don’t need you to be an expert.
It’s also become a lot easier to create and sell things online with so many online marketplaces being created in recent times. You need to tap into your passion and make money from it online.
Top Picks
Shopify – You can sell anything on Shopify and get started within minutes.
Dog Treats – Bake tasty dog treats and earn money from home.
Printables – Sell printables on Etsy and make money without any expertise.
Here Are Some Creative Things to Make and Sell Online:
#1. Homemade Dog Treats
Did you know that you can make sweets for your furry friends and turn it into a profitable business? Yes, you can. Making dog treats is a great side gig, and it can be extremely satisfying if you love baking. If you want to take it part-time, then it can pay around $500–$1,000 per month. If you want to learn more about how to start a dog treat bakery business, read this interview I did with Kristin, who runs the successful Diva Dog Bakery course and shares everything about her journey.
#2. Subscription Boxes
If you are great at curating gifts and making great gift boxes, then subscription boxes can be a great side gig or a profitable business. You can create beautiful subscription boxes with different products of your choice and build clientele.
There are many things you can include in subscription boxes like kids’ monthly reading books, worksheets, soaps, scented candles, etc.
#3. Jewelry
How many times have you come across a beautiful piece of jewelry on Etsy? I am sure many of them are made by someone creative as a side hustle. If you love making amazing creations with metal, stone, beads, or wire, you are looking at a great money-making gig. It does take some time to research and niche down on your type of jewelry, find out which platforms are good to sell on like Shopify, and get your materials.
Once you are all set up, it’s all about creating beautiful masterpieces and selling them online.
Related:
- 11 Best Places to Design and Sell T-Shirts Online
- 20 Best Places to Sell Clothes Online for Most Money
- How to Make Money Selling on Poshmark in 2024
#4. Art
Whether it is photography, painting, or abstract art, you can sell your creations online for good money. If this is your passion, then you can use marketplaces like Etsy, Shopify, UGallery, etc. You can also start a blog to showcase your creative skills and use social media channels like Instagram for marketing your art pieces.
There is no shortage of places you can sell art; it just takes some time and research to find the right one.
#5. Greeting Cards
Making greeting cards is a fun hustle plus there are many niches that you can try with greeting cards like wedding cards, thank you cards, cards for holidays, etc. The biggest requirement to start this business is having a clear idea about your niche. Once you identify your audience, you can start making cards using print-on-demand websites like Printify or Zazzle. You can also sell your greeting cards on your own website.
#6. Journals/Planners
Journals are in super demand and there are many new designs that come up everyday. If you know what kind of journals/planners you want to design, you just have to go to websites like Printify or Vistaprint to create your products. You can create planners or journals on many topics like wedding planners, daily journals, recipe planners, etc. Keep in mind that studying the market and knowing what is in demand will ensure you are successful in this business.
If you want to first test your design, then try Wepik. Wepik allows you to design and customize your own journals.
#7. Fonts
Did you know that you can sell your fonts? Though this is a competitive industry, if you know your niche, you can sell your fonts for good money. You can design and sell your fonts on reseller websites like MyFonts or Fonts.com or you can choose to sell them on your own website. Here is an interesting article about how to create fonts that sell.
#8. Courses
Are you someone who likes to share your knowledge with others? Then why not make this an income stream by creating online courses. You can create valuable courses in your areas of interest and sell them online through platforms like Teachable, Kajabi, Thinkific, etc. All these course platforms are very simple to use and have loads of features to make it easy for you to create courses.
No matter what you are interested in, creating courses is one of the easiest and most passive ways to make money.
Read more about the best online course creation platforms.
#9. Baking
If you love baking or whipping up sweet treats, then you can surely start a profitable home business. It’s one of the most popular home businesses around and has a great income potential. You do have to get some permits depending on where you live. You can always start with social media marketing and create a website to promote your side gig.
#10. Candles
Candle making is a quite popular home business/side gig. Though it might seem very complicated, candle making is very easy to learn and you can start off with low-cost materials. Once you have decided how to make your candles unique (using different materials, scents, packaging, etc.), you can start marketing your stuff through local markets or websites like Etsy.
Read more about how to sell homemade candles online.
#11. T-Shirts
You must have come across a lot of fun and quirky sayings on T-shirts. Well, designing T-shirts is very easy, and websites like Zazzle, Teespring, and CafePress make it a smooth process. All you need is your creativity and way to market your business.
Many of the above websites let you open a store online and sell your stuff. You can also have your own website to promote your creations.
Learn more about designing and selling T-shirts online.
#12. Photos
Photography is very special to me. If you are a shutterbug like me, I am sure you will want to make money from your passion. There are so many ways to earn good money if you are a photographer. You can earn through sponsorships, collaborations, commission work, etc. Alternatively, you can sell your prints, presets, photo books, etc. entirely online.
#13. Printables
Do you love designing cute printables or online journals? There are so many things you can do like calendars, checklists, wall art, etc. The options are endless. If you are thinking about the process of creating printables, it’s quite easy. You can use online design tools like PicMonkey or Canva to design your printables and then sell them on Etsy.
I love how easy and passive this hustle is; you just have to carve out a niche for yourself and promote.
I interviewed Julie Berninger, who started selling printables on Etsy and now her shop has over 1,000 sales!
#14. Homemade Cosmetics
Have you ever made a beauty concoction for yourself and felt great? Homemade cosmetics are growing in popularity as more and more people want natural and nontoxic ingredients in their cosmetics.
You can make things like face wash, moisturizer, lip balms, hair oils, etc. This is like any other home business and requires you to research the market and be clear about the ingredients when you are promoting your products.
You can start off with your local markets and scale up to supermarkets.
#15. Soaps
Soapmaking is pretty much like making candles. You have to zero in on the type of soaps you want to make and get all the required materials. Once the products are made, you can sell them on platforms like Etsy or Amazon Handmade.
#16. Homewares
Handmade homewares have a huge market. Think ceramics, bowls, home decor, etc. You can even make kitchenware out of wood if you are interested in that. Promoting your products can be done through social media like Instagram or through your website.
Here is a popular Etsy store with unique homewares.
#17. Baby Clothes
Designing baby clothes is such a fun and satisfying gig. If you have the creative eye for designing clothes, then why not make something for the kiddos? The baby clothes market is quite competitive, and you will have to first zero in on your USP before you jump in. This is one of the home businesses that has a huge potential to earn a great income.
Here is how Monica + Andy (a super popular baby clothes brand) started.
#18. Bags
Homemade tote bags, handbags purses, beach bags, etc. are some of the things you can sell if you are thinking about selling bags from home. You can even sell crochet bags that you made with your crocheting skills. You can sell them on websites like Etsy, Amazon, eBay, etc.
#19. Toys
When it comes to selling baby stuff, handmade toys are some of the most popular items you can sell. Stuffed and woodwork toys mainly sell more on Etsy. This is one of the easiest side gigs you can start if you are a beginner.
#20. Bath Bombs
Bath bombs are pretty similar to soaps and have almost the same process of manufacturing. In recent times, bath bombs are some of the most sold items in the handmade industry. Keep in mind that in some countries, you do have to get a permit to sell bath bombs.
#21. Gift Basket
Do you love curating amazing gifts to give to your friends? This could be your next side gig. The gift basket business is perfect for someone who loves to select and arrange gifts according to the customer’s personal choices.
Once you know your target market, you can factor in your expenses and any licenses you need to get depending on the place. The rest is all getting the word out about your business.
#22. Stickers
Who doesn’t love making fun and quirky stickers? I would love to do that. Making stickers is one of the beginner-friendly side gigs you can start if you are on the creative side. You can make logo stickers, kids’ stickers, bumper stickers; the options are endless. You can design and sell your stickers online on websites like Printify.
#23. Graphic Designs
Another very flexible and creative side gig is graphic design. You can sell amazing designs to your clients. In some cases, it’s better if you’ve done a course in graphic design, but it’s not compulsory. You can start your own graphic design business and start by freelancing first on websites like Fiverr.
#24. Perfumes
If you are someone who loves discovering new scents and wants to start a business, then the perfume business is just for you. It will take quite a creative approach to invent new scents and make your business unique, but if you have a passion for this biz, it’s all possible. Formulating new scents, packaging them in attractive bottles, and promoting your business through various channels is what it takes to start this business.
Roadmap to Make and Sell Things Online
#1. Choose a Product
This is probably the most vital part of your potential business. With so much competition in every industry, you must spend a good amount of time deciding on your product. Think about the market, the demand, and your target customers.
Being unique in your products and process is one factor that can make you stand out from the competition.
#2. Choose Your Platform
When you are done with your product creation, choosing the right platform to sell it on makes a big difference. Choose the platform that suits your product, factor in any charges, and check if the website ships internationally.
#3. Promote on Social Media/Blogs
Marketing your business is the last but most crucial part of being successful. You can rely on offline or online marketing. These days online marketing is becoming the go-to method for any business. You can promote on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. You can also do giveaways or contests to create interest in your brand.
Having a website can help you create useful content around your brand and sell your stuff.
#4. Think Outside the Box
Starting a brand new business or side gig is surely overwhelming, but it all depends on taking risks and following your passion. At every step, think outside the box and come up with new ideas so you can better serve your clients. This is the best way to lay a strong foundation for your successful business.
#5. Places to Sell Your Items
There are many things to make and sell online/offline
The choices are infinite if you want to make and sell things online. Whether it is bath bombs or graphic designs, you can choose a lot of things to make and sell online. Just go through the above choices and decide on the one that interests you.
