10 Simple Hobbies That Can Make You Money Online

11 min read

Any successful entrepreneur can tell you that passion is the backbone of a good business. And what activities are you more passionate about than your hobbies? Follow that line of thinking a step further, and you might just realize those “hobbies” could also be a pretty sweet source of income.

Whether it’s illustrating children’s books or training cats, there’s probably someone out who finds your hobby valuable enough to pay for it. And because anyone can set up an online store with platforms like Ecwid E-commerce, it’s never been easier to give your passion project a try.

So what are some of the best hobbies to start earning a side income? Here are ten money-making hobbies — you might already be doing — that could become your next side hustle.

How Do I Find a Hobby to Make Money?

Many aspiring entrepreneurs are wondering: “Can you earn money from a hobby? If so, what is a good hobby to make money?” Here are some tips that can help you find a profitable hobby.

First, make a list of hobbies you enjoy and the skills you already have. For example, you’re good with your hands, and you love making DIY crafts for your home. You can write down knitting, sewing, or even home carpentry work and refurbishing furniture.

Second, consider costs. Supplies and equipment aren’t free, so you need to determine how much it costs to create a product. Don’t forget the value of the time you’re putting in!

After you create a list of hobbies that can make you money, it’ll be easier to see which one of your pursuits has the potential of bringing not only joy but income too.

What Are the Best Hobbies to Make Money?

You probably already know a thing or two about hobbies that make money from home. You might’ve even tried to turn some of your interests into an additional income. Still, it won’t hurt to learn more about some of the best hobbies to make money.

1. Handmade сards

There’s always a good reason to buy a greeting card. A birthday… a wedding… an anniversary… or even just to remind an old friend they’re still cool. Handing out personalized notes on fancy cardstock will never go out of style.

If you love to draw and write puns and have a fairly decent eye for design, creating handmade cards might just be for you. Plus, it’s one of the cheapest hobbies to make money. A trip to the local arts and crafts store should be all you need to get started.

Cloud 9 Design store

As a visual medium, cards are a great candidate for selling on Instagram. With Shoppable Instagram posts, followers can easily purchase your products right from your posts by tapping a shopping tag. You don’t even need a website to get started.

2. Cookies

What’s better than a dozen homemade cookies? If you have a knack for baked goods, try selling a few batches online.

If you do decide to sell your famous double-chocolate chip cookies, some permits and special preparations may be required. And when your operation gets big enough, you might want to consider an industrial kitchen for your income hobby. But hey, that’s for later.

Hunger-Bomb Cookies

With a free e-commerce website optimized for small businesses, you can start accepting your first orders immediately. If you bake at home in your free time, use Ecwid’s In-store Pickup option to let customers pick up their orders right from your front door.

3. Prints

If you dream about making money with hobbies, got an eye for aesthetics, and know your way around a graphic design program, printmaking could be for you. Create prints of your favorite quotes, artsy maps of your city, a doodle of a kangaroo — the skies the limit. Literally. You could make a print of the sky. And you know what? Someone would probably buy it!

And getting your prints on t-shirts, mugs, and posters has never been simpler with Ecwid and Printful. With Ecwid’s integrated print-on-demand model, you can create your design, upload it to Printful, give it a shout out, and let Printful take care of the rest.

When a customer places an order, their request is automatically sent to Printful, where your product is then printed and shipped to the customer. No inventory. No packaging boxes. And little-to-no investment. Awesome.

FatMarker Clothing

4. Knitting and embroidery

It’s no secret that knitting and embroidery are among the most popular craft hobbies that make money. They’re low-impact, easy-to-learn, and at the end of it, you get fancy clothes. Custom-made knitwear like sweaters, scarves, and hats make great, practical gifts.

Embroidery may be a little trickier than knitting since it requires a bit more precision and practice, but if you get good enough, you could be handsomely rewarded. These clever DIY embroidered patches have been popular among the younger crowd for a few years and could make for an easy sale if you know what you’re doing.

Jake’s Patches

5. Jewelry

It might take a few years to create a jewelry masterpiece, but that doesn’t mean you’ll need to wait years to make your first sale. Start by watching tutorial videos, buying the supplies, and collecting some good inspo on your Pinterest board. Practice, practice, practice. And when you’ve got something you like, give it a go!

In fact, several of Ecwid’s finest turned jewelry making into a hobby that pays.Learn how they got started and what they do to keep the sales going.

Sand and Stone Jewelry

6. Candles

Some shoppers look at candles as a way to relax. Others just want an easy way to make their homes smell nicer. But you might be surprised to learn that making scented candles is actually a fairly simple process and one of the lucrative hobbies.

What’s more, candle making supplies are fairly inexpensive and pretty easy to get online or in your local arts and crafts store.

M.A.D Candle

7. Soap and bath bombs

Like with the candles, soaps and bath bombs are an easy, inexpensive hobby. And with an endless array of shapes, scents, and ingredients to experiment with, you can really let your creative juices flow.

Tip: check out our post on packaging ideas to deliver a unique, branded experience for your products.

Rohi Ranch

8. Cooking

Imagine selling your grandma’s famous sauce or creating your own raw vegan energy bars. Put ’em in some pretty packaging, set up an online store, and before you know it, you’re in business.

Even pets need some cooking done for them. That’s why more and more people have started selling fancy home-cooked treats.

Marieke Gouda

Also read: Rules and Regulations for Selling Food Online

9. Vegetable gardening

If you happen to live on a farm or just have a large backyard, try growing and selling vegetables and herbs or fruits and berries. What’s more organic than veggies grown on a small local farm down your street? If you want to try something very contemporary, you might also set up a local organic vegetable subscription service, keeping your customers’ mailboxes filled with fresh fruits and veggies on a recurring basis.

Les Fermes Valens

Sell vegetables online, in-person at fairs and street markets, or both! With Ecwid E-commerce, managing your inventory is simple as it stays synced automatically across all the available sales channels.

10. Floral design

With nothing more than a class or two in floral design, you can make extra money decorating weddings and baby showers with beautiful flowers. You can even start a flower delivery service. You don’t need to be snobby about things — don’t shy away from using faux flowers as you get started. As your business grows, you may be able to sell your arrangements as home decor pieces.

Helen Olivia Flowers

Find Your Easy Hobby to Make Money

Hopefully, now you know the answer to the “What hobbies can I make money from?” question.

If any of these hobbies seem appealing to you, don’t hesitate to look some tutorials up on YouTube, buy supplies, and start creating. When you’re ready, check out our article on how to make your first sale online.

And check out this story of one Ecwid solopreneur who sells handmade cosmetics both online and in-person for a little extra inspiration.

Good luck exploring your interests and seeing which of them can turn into a business!

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Dec 28, 2020

About the author

Daria is a writer and editor. She's keen on writing articles helping people make their lives safer and more fulfilling. In her free time, she records song covers and cooks vegan stuff.