Working mom home-based businesses right now – explained for busy moms make extra income

Let me tell you, being a mom is not for the weak. But here's the thing? Attempting to get that bread while managing kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.

This whole thing started for me about a few years back when I realized that my random shopping trips were becoming problematic. I needed some independent income.

Being a VA

Here's what happened, my initial venture was doing VA work. And real talk? It was ideal. It let me hustle while the kids slept, and the only requirement was a computer and internet.

I began by basic stuff like handling emails, managing social content, and data entry. Pretty straightforward. I charged about fifteen dollars an hour, which seemed low but when you don't know what you're doing yet, you gotta build up your portfolio.

Here's what was wild? Picture this: me on a Zoom call looking like I had my life together from the waist up—full professional mode—while rocking sweatpants. That's the dream honestly.

The Etsy Shop Adventure

After getting my feet wet, I wanted to explore the selling on Etsy. All my mom friends seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I thought "why not start one too?"

I started designing downloadable organizers and digital art prints. Here's why printables are amazing? Make it one time, and it can make money while you sleep. Genuinely, I've made sales at ungodly hours.

That initial sale? I lost my mind. My partner was like something was wrong. Nope—I was just, celebrating my first five bucks. No shame in my game.

Blogging and Creating

Eventually I ventured into writing and making content. This venture is definitely a slow burn, real talk.

I launched a blog about motherhood where I wrote about my parenting journey—all of it, no filter. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Only honest stories about finding mystery stains on everything I own.

Building up views was painfully slow. Initially, I was basically writing for myself and like three people. But I didn't give up, and over time, things gained momentum.

Now? I make money through affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and ad revenue. Just last month I earned over $2K from my website. Wild, right?

The Social Media Management Game

As I mastered managing my blog's social media, other businesses started reaching out if I could help them.

Here's the thing? Tons of businesses are terrible with social media. They understand they need a presence, but they can't keep up.

This is my moment. I handle social media for three local businesses—a bakery, a boutique, and a fitness studio. I create content, schedule posts, handle community management, and track analytics.

My rate is between five hundred to fifteen hundred monthly per business, depending on the complexity. Here's a quick overview what's great? I manage everything from my phone while sitting in the carpool line.

Freelance Writing Life

For those who can string sentences together, writing gigs is a goldmine. This isn't writing the next Great American Novel—this is content writing for businesses.

Websites and businesses need content constantly. I've written articles about everything from literally everything under the sun. Being an expert isn't required, you just need to be able to learn quickly.

Usually earn $0.10-0.50 per word, depending on length and complexity. Certain months I'll crank out a dozen articles and pull in a couple thousand dollars.

Plot twist: I was the person who barely passed English class. Now I'm earning a living writing. Life is weird.

Virtual Tutoring

After lockdown started, virtual tutoring became huge. As a former educator, so this was perfect for me.

I joined various tutoring services. It's super flexible, which is absolutely necessary when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.

I mainly help with basic subjects. The pay ranges from $15-25 per hour depending on the platform.

The funny thing? Occasionally my children will photobomb my lessons mid-session. There was a time I be professional while chaos erupted behind me. My clients are very sympathetic because they get it.

The Reselling Game

So, this one I stumbled into. While organizing my kids' things and listed some clothes on copyright.

They sold instantly. That's when I realized: people will buy anything.

These days I frequent estate sales and thrift shops, hunting for things that will sell. I purchase something for cheap and resell at a markup.

It's definitely work? For sure. You're constantly listing and shipping. But there's something satisfying about discovering a diamond in the rough at the thrift store and turning a profit.

Bonus: my kids think I'm cool when I score cool vintage stuff. Just last week I grabbed a collectible item that my son absolutely loved. Flipped it for forty-five bucks. Victory for mom.

The Truth About Side Hustles

Real talk moment: this stuff requires effort. It's called hustling because you're hustling.

Some days when I'm running on empty, doubting everything. I'm up at 5am being productive before the madness begins, then doing all the mom stuff, then working again after everyone's in bed.

But this is what's real? I earned this money. I don't have to ask permission to get the good coffee. I'm adding to our financial goals. I'm teaching my children that moms can do anything.

What I Wish I Knew

If you want to start a mom hustle, here's what I'd tell you:

Begin with something manageable. You can't do everything at once. Choose one hustle and nail it down before expanding.

Use the time you have. Whatever time you have, that's totally valid. Two hours of focused work is more than enough to start.

Stop comparing to other moms. Those people with massive success? They've been at it for years and has resources you don't see. Do your thing.

Don't be afraid to invest, but carefully. You don't need expensive courses. Be careful about spending $5,000 on a coaching program until you've proven the concept.

Work in batches. This saved my sanity. Block off days for specific hustles. Monday could be content creation day. Use Wednesday for handling business stuff.

Dealing with Mom Guilt

I have to be real with you—the mom guilt is real. Sometimes when I'm working and my kid wants attention, and I struggle with it.

But I think about that I'm showing them how to hustle. I'm showing my daughter that you can be both.

Plus? Earning independently has been good for me. I'm more satisfied, which translates to better parenting.

Let's Talk Money

The real numbers? Typically, from all my side gigs, I bring in three to five thousand monthly. Some months are better, some are tougher.

Is this millionaire money? Not really. But I've used it for family trips and unexpected expenses that would've stressed us out. Plus it's developing my career and expertise that could evolve into something huge.

Final Thoughts

Listen, hustling as a mom takes work. There's no such thing as a perfect balance. Most days I'm improvising everything, fueled by espresso and stubbornness, and praying it all works out.

But I'm glad I'm doing this. Every penny made is evidence of my capability. It's proof that I have identity beyond motherhood.

So if you're considering diving into this? Do it. Begin before you're ready. Your tomorrow self will be so glad you did.

And remember: You're more than getting by—you're building something. Despite the fact that there's probably old cheerios on your keyboard.

For real. It's pretty amazing, mess included.

My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom

I'm gonna be honest—single motherhood wasn't part of my five-year plan. Nor was becoming a content creator. But yet here I am, three years into this wild journey, supporting my family by creating content while doing this mom thing solo. And not gonna lie? It's been scary AF but incredible of my life.

The Beginning: When Everything Came Crashing Down

It was three years ago when my divorce happened. I can still picture sitting in my bare apartment (I kept the kids' stuff, he took everything else), wide awake at 2am while my kids were finally quiet. I had $847 in my account, two kids to support, and a salary that was a joke. The fear was overwhelming, y'all.

I'd been mindlessly scrolling to escape reality—because that's self-care at 2am, right? when our lives are falling apart, right?—when I came across this single mom discussing how she made six figures through making videos. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."

But desperation makes you brave. Or both. Probably both.

I installed the TikTok app the next morning. My first video? No filter, no makeup, pure chaos, explaining how I'd just used my last twelve bucks on a cheap food for my kids' lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Why would anyone care about my broke reality?

Spoiler alert, thousands of people.

That video got forty-seven thousand views. Forty-seven thousand people watched me nearly cry over frozen nuggets. The comments section became this safe space—fellow solo parents, people living the same reality, all saying "same." That was my turning point. People didn't want perfection. They wanted real.

My Brand Evolution: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand

Here's what they don't say about content creation: finding your niche is everything. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the mom who tells the truth.

I started sharing the stuff no one shows. Like how I wore the same leggings all week because laundry felt impossible. Or the time I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner several days straight and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my daughter asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who believes in magic.

My content wasn't polished. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was unfiltered, and apparently, that's what worked.

After sixty days, I hit 10,000 followers. Three months later, fifty thousand. By month six, I'd crossed six figures. Each milestone felt surreal. Actual humans who wanted to know my story. Plain old me—a barely surviving single mom who had to figure this out from zero months before.

My Daily Reality: Balancing Content and Chaos

Let me show you of my typical day, because this life is nothing like those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm goes off. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that I'll reheat three times, and I start filming. Sometimes it's a morning routine sharing about money struggles. Sometimes it's me making food while sharing parenting coordination. The lighting is natural and terrible.

7:00am: Kids emerge. Content creation stops. Now I'm in parent mode—feeding humans, the shoe hunt (why is it always one shoe), packing lunches, mediating arguments. The chaos is intense.

8:30am: Carpool line. I'm that mom creating content in traffic in the car. I know, I know, but content waits for no one.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my power window. Kids are at school. I'm editing videos, engaging with followers, brainstorming content ideas, doing outreach, reviewing performance. They believe content creation is simple. Absolutely not. It's a entire operation.

I usually batch-create content on specific days. That means making a dozen videos in one sitting. I'll swap tops so it looks varied. Pro tip: Keep several shirts ready for outfit changes. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, recording myself alone in the backyard.

3:00pm: Picking them up. Mom mode activated. But plot twist—sometimes my viral videos come from the chaos. Recently, my daughter had a massive breakdown in Target because I couldn't afford a $40 toy. I filmed a video in the Target parking lot once we left about dealing with meltdowns as a solo parent. It got 2.3 million views.

Evening: All the evening things. I'm completely exhausted to create content, but I'll plan posts, reply to messages, or outline content. Some nights, after the kids are asleep, I'll work late because a partnership is due.

The truth? Balance doesn't exist. It's just controlled chaos with occasional wins.

The Financial Reality: How I Generate Income

Alright, let's discuss money because this is what people ask about. Can you really earn income as a online creator? For sure. Is it simple? Nope.

My first month, I made nothing. Month two? Still nothing. Third month, I got my first sponsored post—$150 to post about a meal kit service. I broke down. That hundred fifty dollars fed us.

Fast forward, three years in, here's how I generate revenue:

Collaborations: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that my followers need—things that help, single-parent resources, children's products. I bill anywhere from $500-5K per collaboration, depending on the scope. Last month, I did four brand deals and made eight thousand dollars.

Ad Money: TikTok's creator fund pays pennies—$200-$400 per month for massive numbers. AdSense is more lucrative. I make about $1,500 monthly from YouTube, but that took forever.

Affiliate Marketing: I share links to things I own—anything from my beloved coffee maker to the beds my kids use. If someone clicks and buys, I get a percentage. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.

Downloadables: I created a financial planner and a cooking guide. $15 apiece, and I sell 50-100 per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.

One-on-One Coaching: New creators pay me to guide them. I offer 1:1 sessions for two hundred dollars. I do about 5-10 a month.

Overall monthly earnings: Most months, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month now. Some months are higher, some are lower. It's unpredictable, which is terrifying when you're the only income source. But it's three times what I made at my old job, and I'm available for my kids.

The Dark Side Nobody Posts About

Content creation sounds glamorous until you're having a breakdown because a post tanked, or reading hate comments from internet trolls.

The haters are brutal. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm a bad influence, accused of lying about being a divorced parent. One person said, "I'd leave too." That one destroyed me.

The platform changes. One month you're getting insane views. The following week, you're struggling for views. Your income varies wildly. You're never off, never resting, scared to stop, you'll fall behind.

The guilt is crushing to the extreme. Every upload, I wonder: Am I sharing too much? Am I doing right by them? Will they hate me for this when they're teenagers? I have strict rules—limited face shots, nothing too personal, no embarrassing content. But the line is not always clear.

The exhaustion is real. Sometimes when I have nothing. When I'm done, socially drained, and totally spent. But rent doesn't care. So I show up anyway.

The Unexpected Blessings

But here's what's real—despite everything, this journey has created things I never anticipated.

Money security for once in my life. I'm not a millionaire, but I paid off $18,000 in debt. I have an savings. We took a vacation last summer—the Mouse House, which I never thought possible two years ago. I don't dread checking my balance anymore.

Time freedom that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to use PTO or stress about losing pay. I worked from the pediatrician's waiting room. When there's a class party, I'm there. I'm there for them in ways I wasn't able to be with a corporate job.

My people that saved me. The other influencers I've found, especially single moms, have become real friends. We talk, exchange tips, support each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They celebrate my wins, lift me up, and make me feel seen.

Something that's mine. After years, I have my own thing. I'm more than an ex or someone's mom. I'm a entrepreneur. A content creator. Someone who built something from nothing.

My Best Tips

If you're a single mother thinking about this, here's my advice:

Just start. Your first videos will be terrible. Mine did. That's normal. You learn by doing, not by waiting until everything is perfect.

Authenticity wins. People can tell when you're fake. Share your true life—the chaos. That resonates.

Guard their privacy. Set boundaries early. Be intentional. Their privacy is sacred. I protect their names, minimize face content, and protect their stories.

Multiple revenue sources. Don't rely on just one platform or one way to earn. The algorithm is unreliable. Diversification = security.

Batch your content. When you have time alone, create multiple pieces. Future you will thank present you when you're unable to film.

Interact. Reply to comments. Reply to messages. Build real relationships. Your community is crucial.

Track metrics. Some content isn't worth it. If something is time-intensive and gets nothing while another video takes 20 minutes and gets 200,000 views, pivot.

Self-care matters. Self-care isn't selfish. Rest. Set boundaries. Your mental health matters more than going viral.

Stay patient. This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It took me half a year to make real income. The first year, I made $15K total. Year two, $80,000. Now, I'm hitting six figures. It's a long game.

Remember why you started. On difficult days—and there are many—remember why you're doing this. For me, it's supporting my kids, time with my children, and validating that I'm more than I believed.

Being Real With You

Real talk, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Content creation as a single mom is challenging. Really hard. You're operating a business while being the only parent of kids who need everything.

Many days I doubt myself. Days when the negativity hurt. Days when I'm burnt out and wondering if I should get a regular job with insurance.

But then my daughter shares she's proud that I work from home. Or I see my bank account actually has money in it. Or I receive a comment from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I understand the impact.

The Future

Years ago, I was scared and struggling how I'd survive as a single mom. Fast forward, I'm a full-time creator making triple what I earned in my old job, and I'm available when they need me.

My goals now? Get to half a million followers by this year. Begin podcasting for solo parents. Consider writing a book. Keep growing this business that makes everything possible.

Content creation gave me a second chance when I had nothing. It gave me a way to feed my babies, be there, and build something real. It's not the path I expected, but it's perfect.

To every single mom out there considering this: Hell yes you can. It isn't simple. You'll want to quit some days. But you're handling the toughest gig—doing this alone. You're more capable than you know.

Start imperfect. Be consistent. Prioritize yourself. And remember, you're more than just surviving—you're building something incredible.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go make a video about another last-minute project and surprise!. Because that's the content creator single mom life—content from the mess, video by video.

Honestly. This life? It's worth every struggle. Even if there might be old snacks everywhere. No regrets, one messy video at a time.