Earning from home, sorted

Income from home, sorted by how much of your life it takes.

Every listing tells you who pays you, what it takes to start and what to watch for. No pay figures, no promises, and nothing to buy from us.

Four levels of involvement

Start with how much time, money and responsibility you can really give it. The kind of work comes second.

Level 1: Light

Fits in the gaps. A few hours when you choose them, and almost nothing to buy.
See the level 1 listings
Level 2: Steady

Regular hours most weeks. Some setup, and sometimes a skills test to get in.
See the level 2 listings
Level 3: Hands-on

Customers, stock or animals in the picture, so your week bends around them.
See the level 3 listings
Level 4: Running a business

Licenses, inspections or real startup money. The most control and the most responsibility.
See the level 4 listings

Here are three from the directory, so you know what you're looking at.

Level 1 of 4: Light

Try a website or app while it records your screen, and say out loud what confuses you.

Watch for: Work comes and goes without warning. A real testing site never charges you to join.

Level 2 of 4: Steady

Email, scheduling, data entry and everyday admin for small businesses.

Hours: Usually a set number of hours a week per client.
Schedule: Partly yours, partly your clients' business hours.
To start: A computer and whatever software your clients already use.
Paperwork: Contractor tax records and a simple written agreement with each client.
Who pays you: Your clients, directly or through a freelance platform.

Watch for: A new client who mails you a check for equipment and asks you to send some of it back.

Level 4 of 4: Running a business

Selling baked goods, jams, candy or other foods made in your own kitchen.

Hours: Baking, packaging, labeling and selling at markets or online.
Schedule: Orders and market days.
To start: Ingredients, packaging, printed labels and possibly a permit fee.
Paperwork: Your state's cottage food law decides which foods you can sell from home, where you can sell them and what the label must say. The rules vary a lot.
Who pays you: Customers, directly or at markets.

Watch for: Foods that need refrigeration often aren't allowed under cottage food rules.

Who pays me, and for what? If the honest answer is “the people you sign up,” walk away.
What do I pay, and when? A job shouldn't cost you anything to get. A business has costs, but you should know every one of them before you pay.
What happens if I stop? You should be able to walk away without owing anyone.

A short note when we add a listing or spot a new scam going around. No “be your own boss” subject lines.

The list isn't hooked up yet, so this won't send.