Author Bio: Ryan Howard runs Smart Parent Advice, a site that provides parenting advice for moms and dads. Ryan writes about all of the different ups and downs of parenting, provides solutions to common challenges, and reviews products that parents need to purchase for babies and toddlers.

Whether you’re looking for a way to supplement your family’s income while staying at home with the kids, or you’re looking for something to occupy your time once they go back to school, here are 10 Great Side Hustles for Parents that are not only fun but can be surprisingly lucrative.

I know a lot of stay-at-home parents who find that doing something for themselves can break up the monotony of the day, give them a feeling of purpose outside of taking care of their kids all the time, and give them a little extra spending money.

So, What Are 10 Great Side Hustles for Parents?

1. Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is one of the best jobs for stay-at-home parents. It might not pay a lot at first, but it’s easy to get into. There are plenty of freelance-specific hiring sites like Fiverr, ProBlogger, and Upwork that allow you to peruse writing opportunities that fit your skillset.

You can expect to start out getting paid about $0.01-0.02 per word, but as you get more work and start building a portfolio, you’ll be able to prove yourself and your abilities for higher-paying gigs.

And here’s a helpful hint: as a stay-at-home parent, you already have all of the credentials you need for a parenting blog.

2. Web Design

Web design can be quite lucrative for those who have that bent, and it’s an easy thing to do from home. Whether you find a firm that needs a remote employee or you start your own web design business with a simple website, you’ll find that if it’s what you truly love to do, any extra cash you can make doing it is worth the work.

You can market your services to local businesses, your neighborhood moms group, or a community you’re already involved in. Get up and running with a few jobs here and there, and with some focus and attention to detail, you may soon find you have more work than you know what to do with.

Note from Matthew @ QUIK: If you’d like more information on this topic or the one below, just contact me!

3. Graphic Design

Much like web design, if you’re skilled in this area, you can do it from home. You can work for yourself or someone else, but it’s an in-demand field that needs talented people of all kinds. Start creating from home in your spare time and then send your portfolio to local agencies or put up your own website.

You can create anything that appeals to you and sell it on Etsy or in a local mom’s group.

Note from Matthew @ QUIK: Check out my friend Allison’s new bakery biz – BubaLux Bakery!

4. Baked Goods

Most stay-at-home parents find themselves cooking and baking for their kids anyway, so if it’s something you love to do, you can turn it into a business. Starting small is likely your best bet, whether you make kiddos birthday cakes for a local moms group or you create custom dog treats for a local shelter.

Check your local regulations to ensure your side hustle is legal, whether that means getting a license to sell food or operating at a smaller capacity without one.

5. Data Entry

Although not glamorous, data entry is something that nearly every business needs, and you can do it on your own timetable. Many of these jobs are remote and only require you to have to type 40-50 words per minute.

6. Pet Sitting

You’re at home with your kids all day anyway, right? You can open up your home to other people’s animals, and your kids would absolutely love making new furry friends. As long as you’re up for it, you can also offer a pet sitting at your client’s homes. Bring your kids along and teach them a little bit about responsibility. Whether you give them a portion of your profits or not is up to you.

7. Start an Etsy Shop

Setting up an Etsy shop is pretty simple, but there’s a lot of competition on there if your items aren’t unique. However, if you enjoy designing jewelry, sewing, screen printing, or doing arts and crafts, this may be a good way for you to make a few extra dollars.

It’s also another thing you may be able to let your kids help with.

8. Babysitting

You already have the experience, and you’re already at home. Taking on a couple of extra kids a few days a week doesn’t require you to have a license, and it could make you a lot more money than you think.

People will pay top dollar for good babysitting. Plus, you have built-in playmates to occupy the kids you watch, making your job even easier!

This job isn’t for everyone, but if you decide to take it on, a lot of other local parents may thank you for saving them.

9. Uber/Lyft

If you love talking to strangers, then perhaps driving your SUV around for Uber or Lyft is an enticing proposition. It’s relatively safe these days, and it’s a great way to meet interesting characters from all walks of life, especially if you are driving in a large city or near an international airport.

10. Refereeing

Finally, if you have kids in sports, or play sports yourself, you know that a lot of sports need referees! Most organized leagues, whether it’s baseball, football, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, volleyball, or whatever are always looking for more referees to help out, and they usually pay well enough to make it worth your time!

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re already staying home or you’re wondering whether you can afford to quit your day job, these 10 Great Side Hustles for Parents should give you an idea of what kind of things you can do from home to make a little bit of extra money. Added bonus: some of these are good for your kids as well!