45 ways to make money with a laptop: earn money from the comfort of your home

Make money with your laptop in 45 different ways. From writing to affiliate marketing, get expert tips to boost your online earnings.

You can make money with a laptop in many ways, including creating and selling online courses, ebooks, downloadables, SaaS, and running a paid community. As long as you have a laptop with an internet connection, you're ready to make money online.

Whether you're looking to earn a little extra on the side or build a full-blown business from scratch, everything you need is already at your fingertips. The real question is where to start.

That's why we're here. Below, we'll tell you everything you need to know to make money online, including the most profitable gigs to consider.

45 ways to make money with your laptop

There are heaps of ways to make money with your laptop, but not all of them are worth your time.

To save you the hassle of trial and error, we’ve done the heavy lifting and rounded up 45 of the most effective, profitable, and beginner-friendly hustles to turn your laptop into a money-making machine.

Before we dive into the full list, though? Check out these top 5 hustles:

Content side hustles

These first few hustles all involve creating content, from writing to short-form video and everything in between.

If you're a creative, these are the best ways for you to make money from your laptop.

1. Earn a steady income with freelance writing

"There's one off jobs on gig sites like Upwork and Fiverr. They're likely not going to be very well paid but the focus at this point is just to build up your portfolio."

— Keisha Singleton from Whop on finding freelance writing jobs

Writing is a huge industry with a wide range of sub-niches, from things like web copy to API documentation, romance novels to press releases, food journalism to podcast show notes, and so much more.

Freelance writing can earn you a lot of extra money – it might even become your full-time gig! The number of freelance workers globally is expected to reach 90.1 million by 2028.

To start looking for freelance writing jobs, you can use platforms like LinkedIn, Upwork, Reddit, or Indeed.

• What you need: Writing skills, creativity, and field-specific skills like technical knowledge for technical writing or marketing for copywriting. AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude can help brainstorm, outline, and edit your work
• How much it costs to start: Free
• How much you can make: $50-$3,000+ a month, depending on the field

2. Sell stock photos

Selling stock photos is a great way to earn some (possibly passive) income, but with the explosion of AI, it's a more competitive market.

If you want to sell your images as stock photos, you have to be smart about it. It's not all about photo quality — do some market research to figure out the most in-demand stock photo types.

With stock photos, you'll likely be paid per download or purchase on a monthly or yearly basis.

• What you need: A phone or a camera
• How much it costs to start: Free to $22.99 for editing software like Photoshop
• How much you can make: $5-$100+ per image

3. Run a blog and monetize it

Anyone can start a blog — and you can write about virtually anything. But if you’re hoping to make money from it, your blog niche matters.

Blogs that offer helpful, actionable, or relatable content tend to outperform personal or diary-style blogs when it comes to monetization. In short, the more useful your content is to readers, the more potential it has to generate income.

So, how do you make money with a blog? By selling to your audience and earning from ads placed on your content.

You can monetize your blog with Whop by offering your readers something extra, from online courses to access to a special, exclusive community just for you and them.

• What you need: Writing and marketing skills
• How much it costs to start: Free to $10 for hosting or premium subscriptions to hosted solutions
• How much you can make: $50-$3,000+ a month

4. Start your own podcast

Podcasting is a pretty fun way to make money from your laptop (and also in your pajamas, if that's your thing).

But it's not effortless: to start your own podcast, you need a podcast idea, equipment, and a quiet place to record.

"Podcasting is a great online business to start because not only can you make money from sponsors you can also send traffic to your own digital products."

—Brett Malinowski from Whop on podcasting as a business

You can invest in quality sound and editing equipment, or you can start with what your laptop already comes with and increase in quality as you go.

Make sure you start monetizing your podcast early, and as soon as you have an audience that supports it, diversify.

You can host live events, use affiliate marketing or direct sponsorships, or even create a subscription on Whop to let your followers get some extra VIP content.

• What you need: A recording device and audio editing software
• How much it costs to start: Free to $50+ for equipment and audio editing software
• How much you can make: $50-$5,000+ a month

5. Create your own YouTube channel

You don't need a viral hit to change your life. I've helped creators get 500 plus million views in the last 12 months, long-form only.

— Leroy ter Braak from Creators United

The chances of you becoming the next MrBeast or Dream are rare, but you can still make a huge amount of money with a YouTube channel.

In fact, most full-time YouTube creators make a living for themselves without even cracking a million subscribers.

Sure, these numbers require dedication to the grind as you build your subscriber base, but that pays off in the end.

• What you need: Video editing skills
• How much it costs to start: Free
• How much you can make: $50-$10,000+ a month

6. Create YouTube thumbnails for creators

Creating YouTube content takes a long time, and most professional creators outsource parts of the effort, like scripts, thumbnails, and editing.

Thumbnails are one of the most commonly outsourced parts of YouTube videos.

There are many creators looking for talented people to come up with great video thumbnails that drive people to look and click on their videos.

With the recent developments in AI image generation and Photoshop's AI features, creating amazing YouTube thumbnails has become a fun and rewarding hustle.

• What you need: Design skills
• How much it costs to start: $0-$20 for AI and Photoshop subscriptions
• How much you can make: $10-$50+ per thumbnail sold

7. Work as a copywriter

Marketing agencies, ecommerce companies, startups, content platforms, and nonprofit organizations all need content to flesh out their online presence, ad campaigns, packaging, and more — and they're willing to pay for it.

That's where you come in with your copywriting skills.

Many copywriters charge per project, in which case you may get between $50 and $3,000 or more (depending on your skills and portfolio). Typical hourly rates range from $20 to $100.

Once you’ve built up samples and visibility, you’ll be ready to market yourself and start landing paid projects.

• What you need: Writing and marketing skills
• How much it costs to start: Free
• How much you can make: $50-$3,000+ a month

8. Start making money through Instagram

You don't have to be an influencer with millions of followers to make money on Instagram.

Micro-influencers like Emma Cortes ($60k) and Taylor Lorenz ($40k) make this income yearly through sponsored content and brand partnerships. 

The key to their success is that both of them understand how to work their analytics and work with brands that align with their audience. 

Like most types of social media work, your top source of revenue will not be Instagram itself but rather monetizing Instagram in other ways, like sponsorships, affiliate links, and more.

• What you need: A phone, creativity, and content creation skills
• How much it costs to start: Free
• How much you can make: $50-$1,000+ a month

9. Turn clips into cash

"If you're looking to make money online, Content Rewards is one of the easiest side hustles to start with 0 experience.

There are people making 10, 20, even 30 thousand dollars a month by simply making copy-paste clips or UGC."

— Dylan Lundgren, Whop

You've come across reshared videos of YouTubers and streamers. These posts can get hundreds of thousands (even millions) of views.

Those are called 'clips': short-form content that's taken from a long-form one, like a YouTube video or a stream.

These can be remixes, reaction vids, highlights — anything that creates a short-form video from long-form content.

By becoming a clipper, you can get paid to cut long-form content and post it on your social media. The original creator gets promoted, and you get paid - it's a win-win.

• What you need: Video editing skills
• How much it costs to start: Free
• How much you can make: $1-$1,000+ per clip

10. Create UGC

"I kept seeing the same type of content, the same delivery, and the same aesthetic.

And I knew brands — especially male focused ones — needed something different. So I leaned into what made me different."

— Experienced UGC Creator

UGC (user-generated content) is created by regular people rather than influencers or professional creators. What matters most isn’t your follower count, but the authenticity of the content itself.

You don't need an upfront investment, a following, or expensive equipment to become a UGC creator — all you need is the ability to create engaging and authentic content around products or services you already use and like.

To get started with UGC, check out Whop Content Rewards to find paid UGC work, or build a profile on freelancing platforms to find work opportunities.

• What you need: Content creation skills (and video editing skills if you're creating video UGC)
• How much it costs to start: Free
• How much you can make: $10-$500+ per piece of content, depending on its type

11. Make money with TikTok

"TikTok offers three main sources of income for creators of any size. Number one is the TikTok Rewards system: for this you need about 10k followers and 100k views in the last 30 days.

If you're up and coming, then you can make money with TikTok Shop. The next best (third) way to make money is with brand partnerships."

— Tristan, VYRL Premium

Making money on TikTok is similar to making money with Instagram or YouTube, but with its own rules.

• What you need: Content creation and marketing skills, and a phone
• How much it costs to start: Free
• How much you can make: $10-$500+ a month

12. Offer voiceover services

"All you need is a quiet room, a decent USB microphone, and a free recording software, like Audacity.

Entry level gigs often pay 50 to 150 but with experience, that can go all the way up to $500 which is not uncommon."

— Experienced voice actor

If you can speak clearly and confidently, you can turn that into an income stream right from your laptop.

Businesses, content creators, audiobook publishers, and online course instructors all need high-quality voice recordings for their projects.

Find voice work gigs on freelancing platforms, through direct outreach to brands, or via voiceover-specific marketplaces like Voices.com.

Don't stress, you don’t need a recording studio — a good USB microphone, pop filter, and soundproofed corner of your home can go a long way.

• What you need: A quality microphone, editing software, and a quiet recording space
• How much it costs to start: Free to $50-$300 for basic equipment
• How much you can make: $20-$200+ per project depending on length and usage rights

13. Write and sell newsletter subscriptions

Email newsletters aren’t dead, guys. They’re thriving. 

Platforms like Whop, Substack, and Beehiiv let you create and distribute niche newsletters while monetizing through paid subscriptions. 

So what kind of newsletters can you write? Honestly, anything.

Share industry insights, curated content, personal essays, or deep dives into a hobby. Loyal readers will pay for consistent, valuable content.

Promote your newsletter through social media, guest posts, or by cross-promoting with other newsletter creators. Over time, a small but engaged audience can become a steady stream of recurring income.

Ministry of Pop Culture is a popular Substack newsletter run by five friends and pop-culture writers devoted to in-depth cultural storytelling.

• What you need: Writing skills, a niche or theme, and a newsletter platform account
• How much it costs to start: $0-$20 for domain and branding (optional)
• How much you can make: $5-$15 per subscriber

14. Write and sell YouTube video scripts

There are new YouTubers posting their first video every on the platform - some write their own scripts, some use AI, and some pay others to write for them.

While writing scripts can sound easy, it gets difficult for some people after they hit a certain quality threshold, and that's where professional script writers come in.

If you can do research, learn new topics, and know how to capture the attention of YouTube viewers, you can start offering script writing services to YouTubers on platforms like Upwork, Whop, or Fiverr.

• What you need: Writing skills, ability to learn and extensively talk about new topics, and delivering fast results
• How much it costs to start: $0, you don't need to spend any money to write YouTube scripts
• How much you can make: $10-$500+ per script depending on the lenght

Digital and physical product business ideas

If you’ve worked in sales or retail, you already know how to market and sell products — these side hustles are perfect for you.

Most involve digital products you can create once and sell over and over. Prefer physical products? There are a few easy options for those, too.

15. Create and sell your own online courses

Online courses are some of the top-selling digital products. They can be made once and sold over and over again, typically for anywhere between $50 and $500.

Some courses are evergreen and don't require many updates, but the ones that'll earn you the most money in monthly subscriptions are the ones that stay updated frequently.

Confused about what to charge? Find out how to price your course the right way.

• What you need: Expertise in a field and video editing skills
• How much it costs to start: Free
• How much you can make: $50-$500+ per sale

16. Write ebooks for a living

"What worked for me was thinking about what the book is really about, and only keeping what related directly to that, without overexplaining."

— Jeremie Lander, three-times published author

Ebooks are a booming market. The global ebook market is projected to reach $23-46 billion by 2030, so there's ample room to cash in.

Ebooks can be fiction, non-fiction, self-help books, or even guides to topics ranging from finance to cooking to pet grooming techniques.

You can sell your ebooks easily with Whop. For even greater profit, bundle them with other products, such as an online course.

• What you need: Writing skills, editing software knowledge (like InDesign) and knowing how to use AIs if you're looking to get AI assistance
• How much it costs to start: Free
• How much you can make: $5-$50+ per sale

17. Make or resell PLR digital products

Don't want to make your own ebook or course? With PLR (Private Label Rights), you buy digital products from the creator and rebrand them as your own.

PLR products are often sold in bulk, so you can buy a bundle of, let's say, 100 digital planners and customize them. You can turn them into things like ADHD habit journals, weight loss trackers, or seasonal journals, and sell them at a profit.

Most products sell for $5 to $50, but it all depends on what you turn them into.

• What you need: Marketing and editing skills
• How much it costs to start: $20-$200+, depending on your initial purchase
• How much you can make: $50-$500+ per sale

18. Design and sell print-on-demand 

Print-on-demand products check a lot of boxes for some people.

Passive income? Check. Only need a computer? Check. Ability to produce on a flexible schedule and be your own boss? Another check. 

With print-on-demand you can easily make up to $5,000 a month — as long as you can produce enough content and market yourself well. 

Not an artist? Adobe's AI features and Midjourney make thumbnail and graphic creation easier than ever.

Some of the most popular platforms for this include Redbubble, Teespring, Amazon Merch on Demand, and Society6.

• What you need: Unique designs, marketing skills, and a reliable print-on-demand supplier
• How much it costs to start: $20-$200 for commissioned designs and store subscriptions
• How much you can make: $20-$3,000+ per month, depending on your marketing and designs

19. Open your own dropshipping business

"Start with common product. Learn how to brand them and then use ads to funnel in sales.

The luxury of this is the product ships straight from the supplier to your customer so you don't even have to hold inventory."

— Ronnie Jourv from Savage Ecom

Dropshipping lets you run an online store without holding inventory. You set up your storefront and select products to sell.

When a customer makes a purchase, the supplier ships the item directly to them. 

Dropshipping is perfect for anyone who wants a low-cost, low-overhead business.

You can set up dropshipping stores on platforms like Shopify, eBay, Amazon, AliExpress, and Etsy. 

• What you need: Capital for initial purchases and supplier connections
• How much it costs to start: $50-$500 for samples, marketing, and store fees
• How much you can make: $100-$3,000+ per month

20. Resell online with digital dropshipping

Digital dropshipping works on an affiliate basis. You don't have to create the product yourself — that's the whole point.

You just need to build an audience that might be interested in buying a digital product, such as an ebook or a course, and then funnel sales to the original creator.

In return, you'll get a piece of the pie, with income ranging from $10 to $1,500 (and way, way more) per month.

• What you need: Marketing skills, including basic content creation
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: $10-$1,500+ per month

21. Make and sell digital products

Digital products are a pretty broad term, but it's also pretty self-explanatory: digital products are anything that's not a physical product.

SaaS? Digital product. Courses? Yup, also digital products. Whop access? Yup, digital product.

These products can be tailored to make an active or a passive source of income, and there's no cap on how much you can earn; some of the top creators on Whop earn $250,000 per month.

Even the average Whop creator earns more than $7,000 per month.

• What you need: Content creation/marketing skills and a good digital product idea
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: $20-$2,000+ per month

22. Develop and monetize Whop apps

"Look for sellers that need apps. You can either DM them on Whop directly or go over to X, look through the Whop community, and just DM the founders.

Once you have a couple people that say they want the same thing, stick to the idea and start building it out."
-Cale, co-founder of Spark Studio

Turning your idea into an app can be a game-changer — plenty of developers have made impressive money by simply identifying a problem and building a solution.

Think of apps that estimate calories from a photo of your meal, or habit trackers that use gamification to keep users motivated.

With the right concept and execution, even a simple app can take off.

Luckily for you, developing apps is much easier than before, thanks to recent advancements in AI. But still, you're bound to face some difficult steps like integrating user authentication or payment processing.

• What you need: A good app idea and coding skills, or knowing how to use AI platforms
• How much it costs to start: $0-$20, for AI subscriptions
• How much you can make: $100-$1,000+ per month

23. Create and sell low/no-code websites

If you have experience in coding languages like CSS, JavaScript, and HTML, you might already know how to build websites.

Don't worry if you don't - what's important is your creativity. With AI tools like Bolt and Lovable, you can now create entire websites by describing what you want in plain English.

By targeting small, local, or startup businesses, you can easily find clients to work with. You can alternatively set up a store page for yourself on Whop.com or join freelancing platforms like Fiverr or Upwork.

• What you need: Web development skills, coding software, hosting/domain
• How much it costs to start: $20-$300 (AI subscriptions, hosting)
• How much you can make: $200-$5,000+ per month, depending on your clients and project complexity

24. Set up an exclusive paid community

"The people inside of the communities are the ones that are cheerleading for you the most".

— Jasen Hunt, creator of the world's only 'land survey drafting' community

Yes, you can make money weekly or monthly by running a paid online community.

Paid communities are one of the best ways to make money online, simply because they work with so many side hustles.

Are you a fitness coach? Run a supportive community and host live classes. Are you a gamer? Set up an exclusive whop for fans of the games you play.

• What you need: Strong communication skills, a community platform, and moderation skills
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: $100-$5,000+ per month, depending on the niche and community size

25. Run your own mastermind

Mastermind groups offer support, networking, and brainstorming. If you run your own, you bring together people who actually want to pay to swap ideas and level up together.

But these aren’t study groups. They’re exclusive — only a few people with the right skills and knowledge get in. Plus, you’ve gotta be an expert yourself to lead and attract the right crowd.

Also, masterminds don’t last forever. They usually run for 4 to 12 weeks of focused, intense work.

"When you can identify a big problem, whether it is a knowledge or experience gap, often this is where you can sell what you know for money, especially when not a lot of people know it.

Then, make content on YouTube or short form content to spread your voice and address the problem and solution of the people you're trying to help."

- Jordan Kilgour from XFACTR

Because of that, they can be big money-makers — some creators charge anywhere from $1,000 to $25,000 for a spot.

• What you need: Organizing skills, optionally expertise in a field, marketing
• How much it costs to start: $50-$300 (marketing and paid management)
• How much you can make: $200-$1,500+ per session

26. Create and sell digital tools and templates

Digital templates and tools are a low-maintenance income source that can sell over and over without additional work: planners, budgeting spreadsheets, Notion workspaces, social media templates, and Canva design kits.

Once you’ve created your product(s), you can sell them on marketplaces like Etsy, Gumroad, and Whop.

Stuck for ideas? The trick is to solve a specific problem for specific audiences, like a content calendar template for TikTok creators, or a Notion workspace for college students.

• What you need: Design or spreadsheet skills, and an understanding of your target market’s pain points
• How much it costs to start: $0-$50 for optional design tools like Canva Pro
• How much you can make: $10-$200+ per month per template

27. Create and sell starter AI automations

Some people think super complicated AI systems that looks like it can run its own business when they hear AI automation - but majority of them are much more simpler than you think.

There are many businesses that would benefit from automation, whether that's lead categorization, auto-DM systems, or content scheduling tools - and most don't even realize it.

If you can identify the pain points of businesses (preferably small ones at start), you can offer them simple starter AI automation made with platforms like N8N or even simple custom scripts with a bunch of API calls.

• What you need: Knowledge of AIs, APIs, automation systems, and the ability to idenfity pain points
• How much it costs to start: $20-$150+ for platform subscriptions and API calls
• How much you can make: $50-$2,000+ per automation, depending on the complexity

Making money with online services

Confident you have a skill that people would pay you for? Great, let's use it.

Whether it’s something you learned on the job or in school, a service-based business lets you turn that expertise into income.

28. Become a social media manager

"Being a social media manager is a very competitive field and you'll definitely need to do something to stand out from the crowd.

As every other client related job, this one also requires to be highly professional at all times. To avoid chaos, you need to build a system."
-Karina Egle from Whop

Social media management is one of those jobs that can earn you full-time money while taking far less time to do.

This is because most of the hard tasks can be scheduled through social media management apps.

You can set aside one block of time at the beginning of the week to plan out content, make any graphics or additional elements you need, and schedule the posts.

From that point on, a bit of daily engagement is all you really need to commit to. 

As a freelance social media manager, you can look to make between $22/hr and $38/hr. Many SMMs choose to work with multiple clients instead and send them checkout links to get paid.

• What you need: Content creation and marketing skills, knowledge of social media management and scheduling tools
• How much it costs to start: $0-$50 for content creation software and scheduling tools
• How much you can make: $150-$2,000+ per month, depending on the niche of the account(s) and how many you run

29. Offer online coaching

Fitness, relationships, finances, wellness – coaching is varied, and has the potential to make you good money, right from your laptop.

If you want to get started as an online coach, here are some quick tips:

• Find your niche: Pick a specific area you’re good at and focus on clients who want help there. It makes marketing way easier.
• Create a signature program: This shows people exactly what they’ll get from your coaching and how long it usually takes.
• Build a sales funnel: Use free resources or sample sessions to grab attention, then turn that interest into paying clients.
• Collect testimonials: Every time you help someone succeed, ask for a review. Social proof goes a long way.

• What you need: Expertise in a niche, strong communication skills, and knowledge of scheduling tools
• How much it costs to start: $0-$50 for the initial setup of your services
• How much you can make: $500-$3,000+, depending on the number of your clients and your niche

30. Do data entry work

Data entry won’t make you rich overnight, but it’s one of the easiest ways to earn money online with minimal skills required.

Typical tasks include updating spreadsheets, transferring information from one system to another, or formatting documents.

The work is repetitive, but that also makes it flexible — perfect for evenings, weekends, or whenever you’ve got spare time.

You can find gigs on sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and Indeed.

• What you need: Accuracy, attention to detail, and basic spreadsheet/typing skills
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: $50-$500+ per month, depending on volume and clients

31. Become a translator

"If you know more than one language, congratulations, you have potential for making money with that.

I am fluent in three languages and since teenage years it has provided me with numerous side hustle opportunities."

— Karina Egle from Whop on translation business

If you know more than one language, you can definitely make money online through translation services.

Different languages pay different amounts, so it's helpful if you can focus on one that plays a big part in the global economy. 

As far as pay goes, your mileage may vary based on your experience and location. Common rates range from $25 to $60 an hour, but specialized fields get significantly more.

You can get jobs through services like ProZ.com, TranslatorsCafe, Gengo, and Stepes.

• What you need: Fluency in at least two languages and writing skills
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: $0.02-$0.25+ per word, depending on your experience level

32. Offer transcription services

If you can type quickly and accurately, transcription is an easy way to make money with your laptop.

Companies, podcasters, and YouTubers pay freelancers to turn audio or video into written documents.

Platforms like Rev, TranscribeMe, and GoTranscript make it simple to get started.

• What you need: Good listening and typing skills
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: $50-$1,000+ per month

33. Offer tutoring services online

"For anyone making money online, if you're in a career and you've been doing that career for a long time, the next logical step is always going to be to teach others how to do what you do and create an additional source of income for yourself."

— Volky, Digital Nomad Community

If you have any skill or expertise in a specific area, you can be an online tutor for students and professionals. Tutoring can get you up to $150 per hour, depending on the subject.

As a tutor, you can work through various platforms and let them take a huge chunk of your earnings, or you can start your own tutoring business on Whop and retain up to 97% of all your revenue. I know what I'd choose.

• What you need: Expertise in a field and teaching skills
• How much it costs to start: $0-$50+ for marketing
• How much you can make: $25-$100 per hour, depending on which niche you're offering services for

34. Become a community manager

"One question I get a lot is if it's worth becoming a community manager in 2026. And the answer is easily yes. A great community manager is basically heart of the business."
-east from Whop

If you’re on your computer a lot, why not get paid for it?

When you join communities on Reddit, Whop, or Discord, you’ll notice some people have moderator or admin roles – those are community managers.

What do they do? It depends on the platform, but usually, they chat with members, enforce the rules, help out with questions, and make sure the space stays safe and welcoming.

You can find community manager gigs on freelancing sites, or just reaching out to communities you like and asking if they need someone to help run things.

• What you need: Strong communication skills, community platforms (Discord, Telegram, Whop), moderation skills
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: $100-$1,500+ per month, depending on the community size and experience level

35. Use affiliate marketing for passive income

If you want more of a "set it and forget it" style of income, you can explore affiliate marketing. The right type of affiliate marketing content can continue to earn you revenue long after you've promoted the product or the service. 

For some options, you may have to team up with companies or influencers directly. Others, such as becoming an Amazon affiliate, are more open to the general public and create a less personal working relationship.

Want to know more? Check out our article on the best niches for affiliate marketing.

• What you need: Marketing skills
• How much it costs to start: $0-$20 for content creation software subscriptions
• How much you can make: $100-$1,000+ per month, depending on how successful you are at marketing and the commission rate

36. Offer virtual assistance or PA services

"I get to help people, I get to work my own hours, and I get to work from home."

— Matthieu Ratrimoson, virtual assistant

Admin, scheduling, inbox maintenance, appointment setting – the list goes on.

Virtual assistant work can be pretty varied, and it's always in high demand, especially with creators and entrepreneurs who need to outsource.

You can start as a general VA or specialize in a niche like social media management, bookkeeping, or customer support.

Many VAs work with multiple clients, which means you can scale your income as you build your skills and reputation.

• What you need: Organizational skills and basic software skills (Google Workspace, Zoom, Trello, etc.)
• How much it costs to start: $0-$50 for basic software subscriptions
• How much you can make: $15-$50+ per hour

37. Create and sell whops or other community platforms

"Every day, creators and coaches are launching communities but have no idea how to set them up. What channels to create, how to organize them, etc.
Now, to do this well, you need to really know the ins and outs of whatever platform you are working with."
-east from Whop

Communities are big right now, but a lot of aspiring creators don't know how to set things up properly.

If you're proficient in using community apps, you can create complex and well-made servers or platforms and sell them either as ready to use out of the box solutions or as customizable templates.

You can even offer community management services after creating the server or platform to extend your service.

• What you need: Expertise in community platforms and marketing skills
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: $15-$25+ per hour

38. Become a remote customer support rep

Customer support is one of the most in-demand online jobs, and you don’t need a fancy degree to get started.

As a support rep, you’ll help customers via email, chat, or phone — answering questions, troubleshooting issues, and keeping people happy. Companies of all sizes, from startups to global brands, hire freelancers and remote workers for both part-time and full-time roles.

Once you gain experience, you can move into higher-paying specialized roles like tech support or customer success.

• What you need: Strong communication skills, problem-solving ability, and patience
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: $12-$25+ per hour, with potential for more in specialized roles

39. Offer SEO/GEO audits and consulting

“SEO is still great to get into, with the caveat that things have changed a lot in the last few years. You really do need to have an understanding of LLMs and AI and how that factors into how people are searching these days. But, there's still a lot of demand for SEOs.”
- Colin, Head of SEO at Whop

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) may sound intense, but they're an acquired skill – and they're something that can make you good money.

SEO/GEO can end up being a full-time job or a lucrative consulting side gig, and all you really need is a laptop. Your job will be to perform in-depth SEO audits for your clients' websites, and often, that means also fixing a lot of the problems yourself.

These days, it's important to also optimize for generative AI (think chatbots like ChatGPT). If you can provide that knowledge and skill, people will definitely hire you.

• What you need: Knowledge of SEO, GEO, and LLMs
• How much it costs to start: $0 to $500+ if you need to pay for your own SEO tools
• How much you can make: $50-$300 per hour

40. Become a video editor

Video editing is still a useful skill, even in the age of AI. You just need to get in touch with the right sort of people.

Content creators constantly need help with clipping, so Whop Clips is a fantastic way to make money. But, you can also work with influencers, such as YouTubers, and edit long-form videos for them. This can often lead to a running gig.

All you need is some knowledge of programs like DaVinci Resolve, Lightworks, or Shotcut. You can also offer your services to people like photographers, who often have footage that needs editing from events, like weddings.

• What you need: A good eye for video editing and knowledge of some of the most popular programs
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: $20-$300 an hour

41. Sell graphic design services on-demand

Unlike regular graphic design services, immediate on-demand graphic design means you're easily approachable (as in easily findable on platform like Whop or Upwork) and can deliver fast results.

Selling graphic design services is a popular way to make money using your laptop, but one thing most graphic designers miss is the availability approach. If you have more free time than other graphic designers, this can be a great opportunity for you.

There are businesses, brands, and people who are looking for immediate graphic design help all the time - you can find them especially on platforms like Upwork, quickly complete the task, and get paid.

• What you need: Graphic design skills, ability to work fast, and free time
• How much it costs to start: $0-$20+ for software subscriptions
• How much you can make: $10-$100+ per project

Quick online hustles

Just need to make cash, fast? Okay, I hear you.

Try these quick hustles for size – but remember, they're not fully-fledged business ideas.

42. Make a little extra cash with paid surveys and focus groups

Surveys may not bring in a lot of money, but they can be steady money in exchange for a small time commitment.

Daily paid survey takers on Reddit report being able to make between $30 and $60 per week, but that's from multiple survey apps, not just one.

"It definitely won't make you rich, and it won't replace your full-time job, but it's a great way to earn a little bit of extra cash on the side."

— Keisha Singleton, Senior Editor at Whop

Use a mix of these apps to maximize your income potential.

• What you need: Survey platform accounts
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: $20-$60+ per week, depending on how many surveys you complete and what kind of survey types you participate in (online surveys, focus groups, academic research, etc.)

43. Learn how to invest

"The easiest thing to do is find a company that you believe in in their long-term success and growth and invest every time the stock takes a downward hit."

— ItsMikePoarch on investing

You don’t need a fortune to begin investing — just a small amount of seed money and the willingness to learn.

The process might seem overwhelming at first, but sticking to simple strategies makes a big difference. Start small, diversify your investments, and avoid putting all your eggs in one basket to reduce overall risk.

Remember: investing is a long-term journey, not a quick win. Reacting emotionally can hurt your returns more than market fluctuations. Stay the course and think years, not days.

The best way to get advice is to find communities where investors gather to discuss the best prospects. You can find plenty of options on the Whop marketplace.

• What you need: Starting capital, dedication, and trading platform knowledge
• How much it costs to start: $50-$100+ for the starting capital
• How much you can make: Depending on how well your investments go, you can make nothing to tens of thousands per month.

44. Use money-making apps

If you want to use apps to make money, you have a lot of options. First, there are apps like Lyft, Uber, Grubhub, or DoorDash, which pull you out of the house and into your car or onto your bike. Then there's Rover if you're a pet lover.

Use a few apps at once to make even more money!

• What you need: Time availability, a phone, a vehicle (for apps like Lyft and Uber)
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: Depending on which app you use, you can make a few bucks to a few hundred or more per month.

45. Test websites and apps for usability

Another easy one if you’re already chronically online. Companies pay everyday users to test their websites, apps, or games and provide feedback on the user experience. 

Your job is to follow instructions, record your screen, and talk through your thoughts while navigating the site or app. Sure, it’s not huge money – but it adds up, and you can do it in your spare time.

User testing platforms like UserTesting, TryMyUI, and PlaytestCloud connect you with opportunities. Some even pay more for specialized testing, like ecommerce checkout flows or mobile game mechanics.

• What you need: Laptop, microphone, and internet connection
• How much it costs to start: $0
• How much you can make: $5-$60 per test

Make money from your laptop with Whop

If you want to make money from your laptop, sign up to Whop.

We're here for hustlers like you who want to make money online. Courses, communities, digital products, apps, clipping – you can find it all here.

We know entrepreneurship — and we know there’s no single path to building wealth. That’s why we bring nearly every type of online hustle together in one place.

Take charge of your earnings and make money with your laptop. Sign up to Whop and start selling today.

FAQs

Is it possible to make money just with my laptop?

Yes! Actually, most digital hustles only require a laptop and the internet. From freelance writing to online tutoring, social media management, and selling digital products, you can earn money entirely online without needing extra equipment.

Do I need any skills or qualifications to start?

Not always. Some hustles, like freelance copywriting or web design, require skills you can easily learn online, and often for free. Others, like paid surveys, user testing, or selling print-on-demand products, need little to no experience to get started.

Which online side hustle is the best for me?

Think about your interests and strengths. If you love writing, try blogging or freelance copywriting. If you’re active on social media, look at UGC or social media management. The best hustle is the one you’ll stick with and enjoy. Have something valuable to teach? Build a course with Whop's no-code builder in hours.

Can I start a laptop side hustle while working a full-time job?

Yeah, lots of people do. Virtual assistance, freelance services, or selling digital downloads can be done in your spare time. Bigger projects like running a paid community or dropshipping may require more hours each week.

How much money can I actually make online?

Depends on the hustle. Quick gigs (like surveys, watching ads, or caption writing) might pay a little extra cash, while skills-based hustles (like copywriting, coaching, or video editing) can grow into full-time incomes. Community memberships, SaaS tools and subscriptions are hugely profitable, too.

How long does it take to start making money?

Some hustles (like using gig work or survey platforms) can start paying within days. Others (like building a blog, YouTube channel, or online store) take months before you see steady income. 

Which tools or platforms do I need to get started?

Most hustles only need your laptop, WiFi, and a few free tools (like Google Docs, Canva, and social media). As you grow, you might invest in better software (like editing tools, email platforms, or website builders).

To start selling online for free, sign up for Whop: crazy low fees, native payment processing, and a marketplace of hungry buyers. Sell anything from memberships to templates, coaching to apps – all in one place.