Tired of answering to someone else and working a 9-to-5 job? Interested in gaining freelance experience and making money in ways that don’t include a traditional job? Becoming your own boss is more attainable than ever in this day and age! Here are a few ways you can take control of your time, income, and life and learn how to be your own boss.
1. Get certified online
There are plenty of online courses and training programs that offer certifications for a wide array of skills. Google Certificates provides training for jobs in fields like IT, project management, and data analytics, to name a few. There are thousands of opportunities to work independently and remotely once you gain marketable, sought-after skills.
You have to invest in yourself before people will invest in you. If you’ve always wanted to learn a new skill, now is the time! You can find cheap but incredibly valuable courses on Skillshare and LinkedIn Learning. Many of these courses also give you a lifetime of access to the course, meaning you can return to the training program after obtaining your certification.
2. Sell a product or service
Do you make your own jewelry? Are you a skilled graphic designer? Are you an amazing artist? Make money online by selling products on Etsy or Instagram! You’ll have access to millions of social media users, meaning you can advertise your work and start to make money from the comfort of your home. Plus, you won’t have to spend a ton of money on marketing!
If you are proficient in a particular skill, you can profit from it by selling your services to others. With Angi Ads, you can advertise your business to people who are in need of services from people like handymen, lawnmowers, or home cleaners. Love dogs? Become a dog walker or sitter with Wag for an easy way to make money while spending time with adorable animals!
3. Sell a course
We’re living in an age where online education is preferred, and people want to learn skills from others who know the ins and outs of certain industries. Whether you’re a great photographer, an experienced hairstylist, or a reputable fitness instructor, you can create an online course to teach others the skills that you already have.
Udemy makes it possible for people like you to create courses and sell them to people in search of insight into all sorts of industries. You can place advertisements for your course on Instagram and Facebook as well to drive more traffic to your course!
4. Start a blog
Research a niche you’re interested in writing about. This could be travel, fashion, cooking, or lifestyle. Then, break down your niche and try to make it more specific to your interests. This will allow you to stand out in a very saturated market.
Once you have narrowed down your niche, plan out your first ten blog posts. Plan to have five blog posts written and ready to post prior to the launch of your blog. This will ensure that you have plenty of content for people to browse when they visit your new site.
The more you write and the more you market your blog, the more likely it is that you’ll receive offers for paid sponsorships and advertisements. It doesn’t happen overnight, but with consistency and hard work, you’ll reap incredible rewards over time.
5. Become an influencer on social media
Many people pair their blog with their social media presence, but you don’t have to have a blog to be an influencer. You’ll still need a niche and a personal brand, but once you’ve done your homework, you can begin creating content.
Keep in mind that because of the Instagram algorithm, you have to post informative content regularly that people will engage with consistently. Otherwise, Instagram will hinder your reach and make it even harder for you to interact with your target audience.
Once you’ve established your presence online, expect to begin receiving emails from brands who want to collaborate and have you post their products on your feed. As your audience grows, your follower count increases and your engagement improves, you’ll need to set your rates so that you can make money to support yourself and your business!
6. Tap into real estate
There are so many ways to make money in the real estate industry. Start by getting your real estate license. You could sell homes part-time at first and slowly work your way into a full-time position. Working as a real estate agent is a great way to make side income until you can afford to quit your other job.
Once you become knowledgeable and experienced in the housing market, you could even begin to buy, flip, and sell houses at a higher price than you purchased them for. Or instead of selling the homes, you can rent them out to tenants or promote them on hosting websites such as Airbnb. If that’s too risky for you, do you have an extra room to spare? You could always rent out one room to make extra money, too!
7. Turn a hobby into a side hustle
A side hustle can provide you with extra income to start building your bank account and finding your dream job. It can also act as an opportunity that will provide you with the cash you need when you need it if you find you’re a bit of a commitment-phobe.
Not sure which side hustle to start? Think about capitalizing on something you’re good at or enjoy doing. For example if you love being around people, side hustles like driving for Uber and Lyft allow you to use your free time to drive people to different destinations and flex those people skills. If you love helping people or keeping busy, another flexible option is to get paid to run errands like grocery shopping for food delivery services.
You can create your own schedule and decide when you want to hustle. Start by testing out what you like and don’t like by trying a few different jobs. From there, choose the option that suits you best and pursue it full-time!
8. Do multiple odd jobs
Still not sure how you want to bring in some extra dough? Apps like TaskRabbit can connect people like you to those who need help completing an array of tasks, ranging from moving furniture to mounting a TV and everything else in between.
You could even use this opportunity to decide which task you excel in the most. If you find people are constantly hiring you for a specific type of job, look into doing that full-time. Or if you are more of a creative type, check out Fiverr. It’s an app that lets you market your ability to complete more creative tasks like graphic design or copywriting.
If you’re looking for something really different, consider being a focus group participant or a luxury house sitter. These ideas are legitimate and they can pay pretty well depending on the gig!
Take control of your future
The key to being your own boss is not only being great at what you do but also being committed and dedicated. With a lot of online resources to choose from, you’ll have quick and easy access to marketing tools as well as numerous ways to connect with people who want to be your client.
Your dreams are totally possible and you deserve to live life on your terms! The world is waiting. And if you need a bit of extra cash to get started and you want to build your credit along the way, consider joining MoneyLion’s Credit Builder Plus membership program.
You’ll get a low APR loan and access to interest-free cash advances. But don’t forget to start a bank account dedicated to your business, too! It will help you keep track of your income and make paying taxes much less of a headache during tax season. With a RoarMoney℠ account, you’ll have access to amazing features like cashback deals on everyday purchases. You’ll also be able to track your spending to budget like a pro, helping you fund your dreams even faster!
Frequently Asked Questions
What jobs can I be my own boss?
Nearly any service, amenity or product can can be turned into a full-time hustle. A good way to begin thinking of a way to be your own boss is by finding a need for a product or service in the marketplace. From there, you can determine how much money, time or resources you’d need to make this idea come to life. This can range from starting a business from scratch or being an independent contractor driving for Uber.
Is being your own boss worth it?
This can depend on the person. Some prefer the consistency of a paycheck and comfort of a job. However, other’s might desire schedule flexibility, control over their finances and desire to fulfill an entrepreneurial need. If you can successfully become your own boss, the rewards can outweigh any doubt or struggle.
