Top 50 Ways to Make Money in 2026

1. Digital Products (ebooks, templates, printables)

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

2. Online Courses / Coaching

• Cost: Low–Mid

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

3. Social Media Management / Content Creation

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

4. Freelance Copywriting / Marketing

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

5. Affiliate Marketing

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy–Moderate

• Income: High (passive)

• Viability: 🔥

6. Print-on-Demand (merch, mugs, planners, journals)

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 🔥

• Why: No inventory, unlimited niches.

7. Subscription Membership Community

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High recurring

• Viability: 🔥

8. Blogging + Ad Revenue + Affiliate + Digital Product Funnel

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

9. Self-Publishing (Books, Guides, Workbooks)

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 🔥

10. Real Estate (agent, rentals, property mgmt)

• Cost: Med–High

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

11. YouTube Channel (AI, adulting, entrepreneurship, etc.)

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

12. Podcast + Monetization

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 👍

13. Tutoring / Special Needs / Academic Support

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 🔥

14. Digital Marketing Agency (micro-business focused)

• Cost: Low–Mid

• Difficulty: Advanced

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

15. Virtual Assistant Services

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium

• Viability: 👍

16. Notary / Loan Signing Agent

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 👍

17. Airbnb / Short-Term Rental Management

• Cost: Low (if managing others’ properties)

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

18. Dropshipping

• Cost: Low–Mid

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 👍

19. 3D Printing Business (models, merch, prototypes)

• Cost: Medium

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 🔥

• You already do this — big advantage.

20. Local Niche Website (Hutto, tourism, directories)

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

• You’re literally building this.

21. Lifestyle + Niche Influencer

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 👍

22. Brand Sponsorship Creator

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 👍

23. Web Design Services (Squarespace, Wix, Shopify)

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

24. Subscription Box Business

• Cost: Medium

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High recurring

• Viability: 👍

25. AR/VR or AI App Creation

• Cost: High

• Difficulty: Advanced

• Income: Wild

• Viability: 🔥

26. Drone Photography / Video

• Cost: Mid

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: Med–High

• Viability: 👍

27. Event Planning + Community Events

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 👍

28. Meal-Prep / Home Chef / Food Business

• Cost: Low–Mid

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 👍

29. Home Cleaning Business

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium

• Viability: 👍

30. Mobile Car Detailing

• Cost: Low–Mid

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 👍

31. Pet Services (pet sitting, grooming, walking)

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 👍

32. Handmade Etsy Products

• Cost: Low–Mid

• Difficulty: Easy–Moderate

• Income: Medium

• Viability: 👍

33. Graphic Design Services

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy–Moderate

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 🔥

34. Stock Photography + Asset Licensing

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy–Moderate

• Income: Medium–Passive

• Viability: 👍

35. Software Developer / Automation Specialist

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Advanced

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

36. Cybersecurity Consultant

• Cost: Low–Mid

• Difficulty: Advanced

• Income: Wild

• Viability: 🔥

37. Virtual Fitness Coaching / Wellness

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy–Moderate

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 👍

38. Nutrition Consulting

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 👍

39. Resume Writer / College Admissions Helper

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 🔥

40. Career Coaching for Young Adults

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

41. Digital Art + Clipart Business

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 🔥

42. Local Small-Business Consulting

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 🔥

43. Property Preservation Services

• Cost: Low–Mid

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 👍

44. Cleaning Airbnb Turnovers

• Cost: Low

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 👍

45. Party Rentals (bounce houses, tables, decor)

• Cost: Mid

• Difficulty: Easy–Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 👍

46. Event Photography

• Cost: Mid

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 👍

47. Yard Care / Lawn Services

• Cost: Mid

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium–High

• Viability: 👍

48. Storage Rental (shed, garage, container)

• Cost: Mid

• Difficulty: Easy

• Income: Medium–Passive

• Viability: 👍

49. Buying & Flipping (furniture, appliances, cars)

• Cost: Mid

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Income: High

• Viability: 👍

50. Solve-A-Problem Startup (the wildcard)

• Cost: Varies

• Difficulty: Hard

• Income: Wild

• Viability: 🔥