Hello, stay-at-home dads everywhere! I think every parent in the world would agree with the fact that staying home with the kids is work in and of itself. School drop-offs, meals to prepare, and attempting to decipher why my child is convinced that she is a dinosaur.
But honestly, I also want to feel like I'm earning and creating something for our household. Ringing any bells?
Listen, I want to share something with you, there are plenty of opportunities to monetize what we are good at.
Believe me, I've been in your shoes before, and I'm here to offer some insights that may help ignite something big in your life as well.
I’ve assembled some great business ideas ideal for dads like us who require flexibility but don’t want to give up on those dream pursuits. Your next big idea may lie right here.
Let me tell you, I never believed that my grandmother's old sewing machine would be the foundation of a serious side hustle. And yet, here we are!
If you have even minimal sewing skills, or are interested in learning, becoming a sewing and alterations business owner will surprise you.
Just consider this: everyone has that one jacket or those one pair of pants that is perfect but requires altering or repairing. You may be the one to rescue all their fashion problems.
Now, let’s discuss numbers. Realistically, if you’re willing to put in the effort and establish strong client relationships, you could earn between $500 and $3,000 a month depending on how hard you work.
Not bad for something that you can do while watching your favourite TV shows in marathon fashion, right?
And there’s something incredibly fulfilling bringing one person’s “I thought this one was ruined” piece of clothing back to life and making it one of their new favourites.
Confession time, I probably rolled my eyes a bit at blogging back in the day when it first got started. But guess what? It actually works. Like, it totally works. And honestly, as a stay-at-home dad, it is sort of ideal because you can do it whenever it suits your schedule. Nap time? Blogging time. Kid asleep by 9 tonight? Blogging time once more.
The trick is to discover a niche that is meaningful to you and that you enjoy writing about. For me, that is parenting, domestic life, and of course, being a gay dad and all the trials and tribulations that come with living in today’s world.
Once you determine your angle, concentrate on writing wonderful, engaging content that resonates with your readers. Build your list, write with regularity, and don’t forget to add some personality. Readers remain loyal because they like you, not necessarily because of the subject.
Now, how much are you going to earn? That depends on how hard you work. You may only earn $100–$200 per month from ads or affiliate links in the beginning.
But if your blog becomes better, and believe me, it will if you stick with it, you may be able to earn between $1,000 and $5,000 per month. There are bloggers who reach six figures, but that is often after several years of hard work and commitment.
Yet even a couple hundred extra each month is worth it, particularly if you're living with others in a household.
Here’s the thing, if you’re excelling at breaking things down and making things understandable, tutoring may be your golden ticket. Whether it's math, science, English, or even music, parents are out there desperate to keep their children ahead of the curve. Teaching is already in our daily lives as parents, so why not monetize it as a side hustle?
It doesn’t take much to get started. Choose something that comes easily to you, create a basic website (there are plenty of free programs that will allow you to do so, Namecheap is a good one), and begin telling others. Social media groups, neighbourhood bulletin boards, and good old word of mouth will all work in your favour to bring in clients.
In terms of income, most tutors will charge between $20 and $50 an hour, depending on the subject and your level of experience. Booking even 5–10 hours a week of tutoring will give you an additional $400–$1,000 each month. Not so bad for lending your brainpower, right? And watching kids learn and thrive is reward enough in and of itself.
I'll confess, that I used to believe that selling online was only for geeks or those with stockrooms of products. It turns out to be so much simpler than that. You always fantasize about having your own retail business but don't want the headache of maintaining a physical store?
E-commerce is the place to be. All you need is enthusiasm for a product (even a keen eye on what’s trending) and a platform like Shopify or WooCommerce that makes it easy to begin.
One of the greatest things about e-commerce is that it is so flexible. Want to sell craft products that you've made yourself? Okay. Prefer to stock up on cool gadgets that all your friends are raving about? You can do that as well.
Of course, there is some startup effort, creating your site, determining shipping arrangements, and promoting your shop, but after that, the sky is the limit.
And geography is not your limiting factor. Your market may be down the street from you, or halfway around the globe.
In reality, earnings are whatever effort you put in. There are some who keep it simple and earn a few hundred dollars a month doing it as a side hustle, and others who ramp it up and earn between $2,000–$5,000 or more a month.
You don't have to be Shakespeare to write and publish e-books. Seriously, if you have a laptop and a good idea, chances are you're halfway there.
The best part is, it's affordable and flexible. If it's during nap time, the middle of the night, or whichever time inspiration hits, this job allows you to work on your own schedule.
Begin by choosing something that you are interested in, and preferably one that you understand that others are looking for. Parenting strategies, LGBTQ+ family experiences, hobbies, or even recipes are all possibilities. Conduct research, write honestly, and self-publish through sources like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.
Once published, promote your book using methods like social media, email lists, or good old word of mouth.
Initially, you may earn only $100–$300 per month, particularly if you're establishing your catalogue. Each book that gets published brings in yet one more stream of passive income.
Those streams will accumulate in the long run. There are authors who reach between $1,000–$3,000 or more per month once they have established a good library. Yes, it is going to require some patience, but the reward is often worth the effort.
If you enjoy listening attentively and typing fast, transcription is probably your ideal side hustle. Consider it: podcasts, videos, interviews, legal briefs, all these have to be transcribed and turned into text, and companies are willing to pay.
Starting is not as scary as it is made to sound. Take a course online to hone your craft, purchase a good headset and foot pedal (seriously, it will improve your work), and practice, practice, practice, until you feel good about what you're doing. Ready?
Sign up with freelance sites like Rev or TranscribeMe to obtain customers. With time, you will have a consistent list of regulars and be able to increase your rates as your skills improve.
How much are you able to earn? Transcriptionists typically offer rates ranging from $10 to $25 hourly, depending on how fast and accurately they work.
Assuming that you are able to steal away 5–10 hours every week, that is between $500–$1,000 every month without affecting your dad's responsibilities. Not too shabby for converting sound into text, no?
Virtual assistants help busy professionals manage tasks like email, scheduling, social media, and data entry, all from home. One major perk is flexibility: set your hours, pick your clients, and control your workload.
To begin, focus on tasks you enjoy, and build a simple website or profile on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. VAs typically earn $15–$40/hour based on skill and task complexity. Even part-time, that’s $800–$2,000/month. Helping others stay organized makes the job rewarding.
Data entry is also a simple way to earn from home, just input info, organize spreadsheets or update databases. All you need are basic computer skills and a good eye for detail.
Avoid gigs that ask for money upfront, and stick with legit platforms like FlexJobs or SmartCrowd. It’s not flashy work, but it’s reliable. Most jobs pay $10–$20/hour, and working 5–10 hours weekly could bring in $500–$1,500/month. It’s a practical side hustle that fits easily around family life.
Have you ever been told, 'Wow, you're really good at that!'? Well, as it turns out, maybe they are right. If you possess specialized knowledge in one area or another, project management, marketing, HR, or handling the challenges of gay parents, then that knowledge may be turned into a consulting firm.
Consulting is a massive industry, with an approximate value of $250 billion worldwide. Companies and individuals alike need help from experts to resolve problems or expand operations.
To begin with, define your specialty, hone your skills, and develop a professional online reputation. Networking is also important, contact old contacts, participate in online groups on LinkedIn, or attend virtual seminars to market your services.
Remote work has been a life hack for me as a stay-at-home dad, and I’ve written about it aplenty on my blog (hint: take a look at AustinPlease.com). It allows us to develop careers based on our families, not the reverse.
Yes, it's not ideal, remaining patient while parenting is challenging, and boundaries are essential. But with some discipline and imagination, working from home allows us to make money and spend time with our children. And all one needs is minimal to begin with.
A laptop and internet connectivity can unlock so many opportunities.
If you're interested in how remote work fits into your life, drop by my blog. I further explore balancing work, family, and all those things in between.
Disclosure: I may receive affiliate compensation for some of the links below at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a paid plan. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy. This site is not intending to provide financial advice. This is for entertainment only.
