How to Make $100 a Day - 20 Simple, Legit Ideas

What would you do if you could make an extra $100 a day? You might devote that $100 to credit card debt repayment or save money for an important financial goal. Let’s assume you work to earn $100 five days a week. After a month or two of rigorous saving, you’d have enough for a vacation. After one year, you’d have enough to buy a car. And if you put that money into a retirement account for 30 years, you’d have around $1.5 million after-tax to fund your retirement.

It’s not easy to make $100 a day, but it is possible. There are plenty of additional ways to make money that don’t require you to quit your full-time job. If you leverage your skills and interests to find the best side hustles for you, earning extra cash might not even feel like work. While some of these options won’t earn you $100 a day on their own, the right combination will help you reach your goal in no time.

Featured ways to make $100 a day

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How to make $100 a day: 20 simple, legit options

1. Take online surveys

There are plenty of opportunities to make money taking surveys, but you won’t be able to make $100 per day sharing your opinion online. While you probably won't earn a full-time income taking surveys on platforms like SurveyJunkie, Freecash, Testerup, or InboxDollars, even if you make $1 to $5 a day online, it’s something you can do from your phone while you’re waiting in line or on the couch while you’re watching TV. With most sites, you’ll earn points you can exchange for gift cards or cash. Check out some of the best survey sites to get started.

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2. Open a new bank account

Switching banks may sound like a hassle, but it can be well worth your while. You could get a higher interest rate or even a big bonus just for opening the account. Whether you want to open a new checking account or earn more interest with a high yield savings account, comparing promotions from different banks could make a difference. See below for our favorite bank account bonus offer right now.

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3. Get paid to provide feedback

Freecash is an online platform that has opportunities to earn money during your free time by completing simple offers. Payouts can be as high as $225 per offer and can include downloading fun games, taking surveys, or even joining Netflix or TikTok. Because you can complete these offers while you’re lying in bed, it can be an easy way to pick up some extra cash.

Most of the offers on Freecash only take 5-10 minutes to complete. Once you’ve completed an offer, you can cash out instantly with PayPal starting at only $5. To get started, sign up with your email here.

4. Deliver groceries and goods

You usually don’t need any specific experience to deliver takeout or groceries via an online delivery service. In some cases, you don’t even need a car; in certain cities, you can deliver by bike or foot. And it’s usually quick and easy to get started as well.

The amount of money you earn with UberEats, Doordash, and Postmates will vary based on a few factors, including your geographic location and the time of day you work. Typically, the more hours you work, the more you’ll earn. Shipt, the grocery delivery service, reports that experienced drivers typically make between $16 and $22 per hour.

5. Play games online

Do you like to play games on your phone? Downloading games that pay real money could be a great way to earn extra money in your spare time. Many apps are modeled after popular games like Solitaire, bingo, or virtual pool, and every time you win, you could earn real cash. Since you are usually matched up with players at the same level, these competitive games can be a fun, skill-based challenge. Take a look at our current top pick below.

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6. Earn just by using the right credit card when you spend

One super easy way to earn each day would be to use a cash rewards credit card. With the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card you can earn 2% cash rewards on purchases. Using this card is simple because there aren’t any spending categories to think about. For example, you don’t have to wonder what cash rewards rate you can earn from filling up your gas tank compared to buying groceries — you earn the same rate on each eligible purchase.

Plus, right now, new cardholders can earn $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

For more details, check out our Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review.

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7. Become a virtual bookkeeper

If you are looking for a flexible, remote gig, consider becoming a virtual bookkeeper. As a bookkeeper, you record day-to-day transactions and maintain accurate financial records for business clients.

You don’t need an accounting degree to start, but completing an online bookkeeping certification could help you gain confidence and credibility. You can also familiarize yourself with how to use software like QuickBooks Online and Xero from their free online certificates. It could help to enroll in a 3-class intro from Bookkeepers.com to learn more about how to operate as a bookkeeper and grow your list of clients.

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8. Walk dogs or pet-sit

If you love dogs and getting outside for brisk walks, why not combine those two interests and make some extra cash? Websites like Care.com or Rover let you sign up as a dog walker and connect with local pet owners and their pooches. In addition to walking dogs, you can also offer other pet care services like pet-sitting, boarding, and doggy daycare. 

According to Rover, the average part-time salary for dog walkers and dog sitters is $1,000 per month. While you may need to combine this with another side hustle to earn $100 a day, it's a great option if you're an animal lover who would enjoy hanging out with dogs in your spare time. Set up your Care.com profile here to sign up and start connecting with pet parents in your area. 

Find Paying Pet Care Jobs in Your Area

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9. Become a freelancer

Whether you’re a writer, a graphic designer, an accountant, or a social media, SEO, or affiliate marketing whiz, chances are you can offer your skills as an independent contractor and make money online. Start by listing your services on Upwork, Fiverr, or a freelancing platform that aligns closely with your skillset. You could also learn a brand new, in-demand skill and start offering your services. 

You may need to start by offering a low rate or providing your services to friends and family members while you gather customer testimonials, but you could also hit the ground running if you have a lot of previous experience at your day job or hold related certifications. Be sure to include successful past projects in your profiles, along with a good photo. Research other freelancers’ rates in your area to get an idea of what you should charge.

10. Rent a spare room in your home

Airbnb is one of the most lucrative opportunities in the gig economy. The amount you earn as an Airbnb host will depend on where you live and the type of space you have available. It’s free to list your space on Airbnb, and most hosts pay only a 3% service fee.

You might also choose to list your space on Vrbo, which will incur a 5% fee for Vrbo’s commission. If you have extra storage space, Neighbor.com is another popular platform. Wherever you list your space, make sure to post plenty of well-lit photos, upgrade your decor with appealing touches, and respond to potential guests in a timely manner.

11. Become an Amazon reseller

During a yearlong period ending in 2020, American small businesses selling products on Amazon.com had an average of $160,000 in sales, according to Amazon’s 2020 Small Business Impact Report. If you want to launch your own online business, there’s definitely an opportunity to make money selling on Amazon, especially if you have the right tools. You can use Jungle Scout to research the right product to sell, and you can take advantage of Amazon FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) to let the company pick, pack, and ship your items for you, along with handling customer service and returns.

The cost of selling on Amazon is relatively minimal, which means you’ll be able to keep more of your profits. You can pay 99 cents per item you list or sign up for the $39.99/month professional plan for unlimited items. There are also some additional selling fees, shipping fees, or fulfillment costs. For more information, check out our Jungle Scout review.

12. Open your own Etsy shop

Etsy sellers generated $1.76 billion in income in 2018, according to an Etsy report. They typically combine income from multiple sources. Although an Etsy shop might not be your ticket to $100 per day, it could be one of the ways you earn money from home, especially if you’re crafty. And some sellers who have a unique product that’s in high demand have found the site to be lucrative. When selling on Etsy, you’ll be charged only a 20-cent listing fee and a 5% transaction fee. If you choose to advertise, there will be costs associated with your marketing efforts as well.

To get started, pick a category of handmade or resold items, and then do research into your competitors to set yourself apart and charge a fair price. Next, gather your materials and start creating your first product. If you need more advice, here’s how to start an Etsy shop.

13. Become a rideshare driver

If you enjoy exploring your city and meeting new people, you might find it fun to drive for a rideshare company in your spare time. The amount you earn will depend on the total amount of hours you work and if you work during busy times. You’ll typically need a reliable car, a driver's license, and insurance. You’ll also need to pass a background check. From there, it’s pretty easy to start driving with Uber or Lyft.

14. Rent your car out

If you’d rather sit at home while your car makes money for you, consider renting it out with Turo or Getaround. Turo reports that a luxury car like an Audi A3 earns an average of $738 per month, and a compact vehicle like the Ford Fiesta earns an average of $497 per month. Of course, the amount you make with this side gig will also depend on how often your car is available for rent.

This is a mostly passive income opportunity (you’ll need to maintain your vehicle and keep it clean, and if you use Turo, you’ll also need to meet with renters to give them the keys). Given that it won’t take much of your time, you can get involved in other side hustles while your car is earning income for you. And if you’re worried about something happening to your vehicle, don’t sweat it; both Turo and Getaround offer robust insurance policies.

15. Get started as a virtual assistant

If you have administrative experience, such as scheduling appointments, responding to phone and email communications, and making travel plans, you might be able to make money and help people from the comfort of your own home as a virtual assistant. According to Payscale, the average hourly pay for a virtual assistant is about $16 per hour, but you could earn more than that as you gain more experience and take on more clients.

You can try listing your services on Upwork or Fiverr. You’ll need to charge a low rate to start and collect testimonials from customers. You may also want to host your own website that showcases your skills and past clients.

16. Create an online course

Although creating an online course requires significant effort upfront, it can become a passive income opportunity later on as students continue to pay for access to your content. Pick a topic that you’re knowledgeable about. It’s helpful to hold degrees, certifications, or awards in that area so prospective students will trust your authority on the subject matter.

Once you’ve created your course content, you can upload it and sell it on a learning platform such as Thinkific or Teachable. Thinkific even has a guide for pre-selling your course if you’re worried it won’t make good money. Teachable plans start at $29 per month, whereas Thinkific plans start at $39 per month.

17. Teach English online in your spare time

There are several online platforms that allow you to teach English as a second language, with opportunities to earn up to $25 per hour. These are virtual teaching jobs, so you can work from home or wherever you can find a reliable internet connection. For most virtual teaching jobs, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, and some require prior teaching or childcare experience. Some companies also require you to have a TEFL certificate, which you can get through Bridge or another program. Because you’ll be working with children, you’ll likely need to pass a background check as well. Check out the following companies and their application processes, if teaching English sounds like an interesting option to you:

• VIPKid
• Qkids
• Skooli

18. Participate in a focus group

Many companies use focus groups to conduct market research or to get an idea of how popular an idea or product will be with a demographically diverse group of respondents. On-site focus groups tend to pay more, so search for focus groups near you on Google or Craigslist. There are also some online opportunities through the following sites:

• Focusgroup.com
• mindswarms
• 20|20 Panel
• Engage Studies

Participating in a single focus group, which usually lasts an hour or two, can earn you up to $150 or more. You may not be able to find these opportunities on a daily basis, but they can be a great way to snag some extra money fast.

19. Complete tasks for others

If you’re handy, enjoy cleaning, or can offer skills such as photography and DJing, you may be able to sell your services on a platform such as Testerup, TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, Handy, or Care.com. These opportunities allow you to make your own schedule, and you can typically set your own rates.

Handy has a flat-rate structure for payment, but you can earn anywhere from $14 per hour for cleaning to $35 per hour for handyman services, depending on your region. With TaskRabbit, you’ll pay a one-time $25 registration fee; and with Thumbtack, you’ll pay only for leads. On all these platforms, experience and customer service is important. Make sure to collect testimonials from satisfied customers if you want to grow your business.

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20. Become a blogger or a YouTuber

While building a blog following or attracting subscribers to a YouTube channel takes time, if you are passionate about creating content and have a decent social media following, this side hustle could earn you some extra cash. The amount you can earn by blogging or sharing content on YouTube can vary widely based on your niche, how well you market yourself, and how frequently you publish. However, over time a side hustle like this could help you easily achieve your goal of earning $100 a day.

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21. Become a secret shopper

If you enjoy interacting with people and don’t mind visiting a variety of businesses, secret shopping could be a good fit for you. You’ll also need a smartphone, and computer access could be helpful as well.

You typically receive assignments through third-party services, so you’ll want to sign up with as many as possible. Some sites to consider include:

• BestMark
• Intellishop
• Market Force

Perspectives

Melinda Sineriz, ABFP™

Lead Editor

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Melinda Sineriz is a Lead Editor at FinanceBuzz and an Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional™ designee. Melinda has a B.A. in English from Miami University and a master’s degree from Bard College. Before focusing on personal finance content, she worked in insurance for six years, educating clients on Medicare supplements, life insurance, long-term care, and annuities.

My experience with secret shopping

I’ve made over $100 in a day with secret shopping. For example, for one assignment, I was paid $175 to evaluate a testing company. I made an appointment, “took” the exam, and reported on the overall experience. It took about three hours to take the exam and complete my report.

FAQ

How to make $100 a day: bottom line

1. Take online surveys
2. Get a cash bonus for opening a new bank account
3. Watch videos online
4. Deliver groceries and goods
5. Play games online
6. Earn just by using the right credit card when you spend
7. Become a virtual bookkeeper
8. Walk dogs or pet-sit
9. Become a freelancer
10. Rent a spare room in your home
11. Become an Amazon reseller
12. Open your own Etsy shop
13. Become a rideshare driver
14. Rent your car out
15. Get started as a virtual assistant
16. Create an online course
17. Teach English online in your spare time
18. Participate in a focus group
19. Complete tasks for others
20. Become a blogger or a YouTuber
21. Become a secret shopper

If you were wondering how to make money, hopefully, we’ve given you a few creative ways to buy yourself some financial freedom. Draw from your skills and experience to choose the part-time money-making opportunities that will be most lucrative for you, and make sure to find something fun that fits into your schedule so you don’t burn out. 

If you don’t have any skills or experience, there are still side hustles you can pick up to earn extra cash. Check out our mega list of side hustles for lots of ideas. It may require a few different ventures, but if you put in the effort, you can rake in $100 of extra income every weekday to supplement your income.

FinanceBuzz is not an investment advisor. This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.