If you have a passion for music or have mastered the paleo diet, consider turning your pastime into extra income. Even though you may not be a pro, there are plenty of ways to share your knowledge and talent with the world — and get paid in the process. A little bit of confidence, some business know-how and a few leads on where to market your skills may be all it takes to cash in on your talents and expertise.
Here are 11 ways you could be making money from your favorite hobbies or skills.
1. Cartoonist. If you’ve always loved drawing and have a natural talent for sketching characters, you could earn money creating comic strips or cartoon characters for publishers and businesses. Newspaper publishers, magazine publishers and even some mainstream blogs and websites hire cartoonists to engage and attract readers with comics. Freelance cartoonists make anywhere from $54,000 to $75,000 per year, according to JobMonkey, a jobs search site.
2. Facebook cover designer. There’s a growing demand for well-designed Facebook cover images and artwork. Whatever tools you use, your digital designs could bring in some extra cash. Consider selling unique designs on eBay or even on sites like Etsy where you can customize a Facebook cover for individuals and businesses. Templates and cover photos sell on Etsy from $6 to $10 or more.
[See: 10 Foolproof Ways to Reach Your Money Goals.]
3. Professional organizer. If you enjoy organizing homes or offices, consider offering your skills as a service to the less-than-organized. You can become a certified professional organizer, or CPO, by the National Association of Professional Organizers and charge anywhere from $35 to $100 per hour for your tidying skills.
4. Home decorator. Realtors often need the help of a professional decorator to make a property look more appealing. If you have a background in interior design or fashion, you could be busy reinventing spaces and decorating other people’s homes. Designers can charge from $50 to $200 per hour, according to Fixr, a resource with cost and hiring advice for home remodeling projects. An experienced interior designer who works independently can charge as much as $150 per hour or a $350 one-time consultation fee.
5. Digital photographer. Working as a freelance photographer can be a fun way to improve your skills and earn some money on the side. If you have a knack for taking great photos, consider offering photography services to friends and small businesses on a freelance basis. Create a web portfolio of your work to share with potential clients or keep things simple with a dedicated Facebook page. You could even sell stock photos on sites like iStock where you earn a royalty on every download. For example, iStock pays between 28 cents and 34 cents per file on any photos licensed with a subscription.
[See: How to Live on $13,000 a Year.]
6. Video editor. Amateur YouTube stars, small business owners and hobby bloggers all need editors to cut and organize their video content. If you have the tools and skills to edit YouTube videos or commercial content, consider offering video editing services on a freelance basis. You could be earning up to $40 an hour for your efforts and charge project fees for large-scale projects.
7. Kindle book publisher. Love to write? Get in on the Kindle publishing game to sell your works of fiction or nonfiction in the Amazon marketplace. From mystery novels to how-to books, the Kindle store is your platform to share your masterpieces with the world. Chris Guthrie, of UpFuel.com, a resource for learning how to build profitable websites, earned an average of $377.87 per month for a year selling a Kindle book priced at just $2.99. Your success relies on the quality of your book and your online marketing skills.
8. Online music teacher. Whether you play the piano or love to sing, consider sharing your talents as a music teacher or coach. You could offer online courses or simply set up a Skype session with your students to coach them through different lessons. You could be earning about $30 an hour for your efforts, according to PayScale.
9. eBay reseller. If you’re a bargain hunter by nature and love to seek out the best deals on clothing, household goods and other items, consider becoming an eBay reseller. You can shop around and haggle for the best deals at garage sales, Craigslist or Amazon before you list your items for sale on eBay. If you’re an avid collector, you know already what collectibles should cost — and how to market them to other collectors for maximum return.
[See: How to Save $500 This Month.]
10. Personal shopper. If you have an eye for style and enjoy the thrill of finding great deals on the season’s latest fashions, consider offering personal shopping services as an independent contractor. Your rates will depend on experience, the types of clients you cater to and how involved you are in the shopping process. You can even get certified as an image consultant through the Association of Image Consultants International.
11. Meal planner. If the idea of putting together meal plans and menus, spending hours at the grocery store, and preparing those meals sounds like your ideal day, consider becoming a meal planner. If you’re a registered dietitian or nutritionist, you could offer customized meal plans for certain lifestyles and provide services over the phone or via email with a monthly subscription. For example, ThePaleoMom, a blogger, partnered with the online meal planning service Real Plans to offer her paleo recipes and meal plans for $6 a month. Why not turn your skills or knowledge into a high-protein, low-carb source of income, too?
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11 Ways to Earn Real Money From Your Favorite Skills and Hobbies originally appeared on usnews.com
