So as a dad making some extra money on the side can be helpful. For starters, a baby can become costly if you’re not prepared. Even if you’re prepared having another avenue of income is always important to have as you never know when you could out of a job. If you’re lucky it will turn into a full-time job and you can stop working for someone else. That’s my goal. I want to stop working as a designer for other people’s success. I’ve designed products that have made companies millions and yet I live paycheck to paycheck.
Join me on the quest for freedom. Below are ten money-making side projects for dads some of which I am pursuing. Now, these aren’t a get rich quick scheme. Like anything, it requires you to put in hours and hours of work. Don’t think though that it mean all at once. I put in more then the people around me just by eating my lunch at my desk so when I take my 30 minute lunch I can work on my blog. then when I get home I write for another 30-60 minutes then after the kids go to bed I sometimes do a little more on my blog. So as you can see I’m able to put in 1-2 hours every day by using what little time I have available. Below you will find a couple ideas for all types of dads. From the creative to the handy dad I hope you find some inspiration in these 10 money making side projects.
Online Dad
Youtube
Youtube is something that, if you have the right personality or right information, can be good money. One good viral video could bring in good money. What’s even better is if you find something in one of the below side projects and combine it with YouTube and you got two forms of possible income. For instance, let’s say you are making your daughter a dollhouse. Make two dollhouses and record yourself as you do it. That way you have one for your daughter one to sell and a video to upload to YouTube.
Blog
This is obviously one of the avenues I am going down. I have this daddy blog plus I have a design blog I am starting with my wife. There are so many niches to choose from and even if there are many out there on a niche you are interested in you always have your own voice which is what will make you stand out from the others. This isn’t a quick moneymaker though. It’s all about how much work you put into it. Some make money in the first month some take years.
I’ve been doing it for almost 2 years part-time ( mostly in the last 9 months) and in a tough niche so it’s taking me longer than most. I still enjoy writing in hopes to help other dads. The key is to blog about something you are truly interested in so you don’t get bored with the subject. I have read lots of different opinions on how you should go about blogging and what is the correct way to do it. I’m not an expert at blogging but if you want to learn more I suggest you search YouTube for “Income School.” I am in no way getting any monetary from them to tell you that they have the best info you will find for free. They have a paid course but with how much info they are giving away you don’t even need it to start.
Tutorials
If you have a particular set of skills that you can do a tutorial around make a course to sell. Maybe you’re a graphic designer who is skilled at illustrations, or a photographer who has learned the art of night photography, maybe you know financing or about home loans. Maybe you are an expert woodcarver and know the best way to sharpen a knife, or a Mechanic that knows classic car repairs better then anyone you know. Even if you are not an expert you are still better then someone who is just starting out and they will pay if the tutorial you’re selling is chock-full of information.
Handy Dad
Hand Crafted Items
If you enjoy creating things out of wood, metal, glass, or whatever medium you are drawn to, for me it’s wood, you should be selling your stuff either locally or online. Maybe it’s family name signs, picture frames, furniture, jewelry, or knives. You could sell locally or online on sites like Etsy. This one, if you are good, has the potential to transition into full-time work probably easier then all the rest. The best part is if like me, you enjoy doing stuff with your hands this won’t even feel like work.
Assembly Service
Assembling things is a pain for a lot of people. I hear people say all the time how much they hate putting furniture together. I personally love it, it’s relaxing, with the exception of when I first put my daughters’ crib together and dropped part of it on my head.
If you are good and fast you could provide a service where you go and set up whatever it is that they need or be on call to provide. If you have a local Ikea then this could be a good place to advertise around.
Car Repairs And Maintenance
If you are handy with cars, do repairs or provide an oil changing service. People tend to go get it done why not provide a service doing it for them. So instead of them paying a big company they come and pay you instead and get it done quicker. Make a mobile service and go to them instead of them having to leave work. My company currently has a mobile car wash service that comes in once a week and charges $20 per car for outside and inside cleaning. They usually have around 10 cars every time. Just think about how much you could make with a mobile service.
Creative Dad
Design Services
If you have any talent in design, drawing, or crafts then I don’t have to tell you there are tons of creative ways to sell your work. I know people personally who do crafts for kids’ birthday parties and make a decent little side income. You can also design shirts and sell them on a number of sites like Society6.
Photography
Shooting photos for parties or other events is a great side hustle. Another could be selling stock photography on sites like istock. You could also sell photo editing services if you are good with photoshop.
Technical Dad
Electronic How To
Provide setup and how to use service for anything that you excel at setting up from printers, computers, stereos, or just about anything.
Tutoring
This could be extremely lucrative if you know how to do it in a way that you can do classes online where multiple people can sign in. For tutoring, it could be computer programs like Adobe or Excel or something you use every day that a newbie could use your expertise in. Maybe you good with basic stuff that others are looking to get better in. I’ve heard of people teaching new citizens basics like English and American history. Whatever it is use it to make you and your family some side income and who knows it might become your full-time job allowing for more time with your family.
As you can see I am just scratching the service of the possibilities of what you could do to make a side income. I hope these inspire you and you get that kick of income to get out of the rat race of work that most of us are stuck in. I’d love to hear what you thought of this and what ideas you have and are currently working on as a side hustle.
In the coming months, I will be adding a new page to this site. It’ll be all about projects and craft you can do for your family, or together as a family with a how-to guide.
