How to Make Money Online as a Writer? [From Home in 2024]

Updated: February 22nd, 2024

Are you looking for ways to make money online as a writer? You're in luck! There are a number of great opportunities available to a writer who want to work from home. In this post, we'll discuss some of the best ways to make money online as a writer. We'll also provide tips for getting started.

So, if you're ready to start making some extra money online from home, keep reading!

1. Start a website editing service ($6K/month)

A website editing business involves helping individuals and businesses improve their websites’ look, functionality, and content.

The website editor business involves tasks like fixing broken links, updating outdated information, improving the layout, and enhancing the overall user experience. You can also offer services like proofreading and editing content to ensure it’s clear and error-free.

To start this business, you’ll need basic knowledge of website platforms and editing tools, which can be acquired through online resources and tutorials. With minimal upfront costs, such as a computer and internet connection, you can launch this venture and provide valuable services to clients seeking to enhance their online presence.

How much you can make: $6,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $50 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

2. Start a content planning business

How much you can make: $2,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)

3. Start a ghostwriting business

How much you can make: $1,500 — $62,500/month

4. Start a short-story writing business

Are you passionate about writing but not sure which business you can start? If you are creative enough, you could start writing short stories and selling them via online platforms.

Short stories refer to a content category with less than 100 pages comprising approximately 20,000 words.

Starting a short story business takes a lot of legwork and dedication. Choose a niche, and focus on creating attractive and entertaining content. With a serious commitment to your business, you could be on your way to earning a six-figure profit monthly.

How much you can make: $62,500/month

How much does it cost to start: $35 (?)

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

5. Become a ghost blogger ($12.2K/month)

A ghost blogger is simply a writer who specializes in producing blogs for other people.

As a ghost blogger, you can earn between $300 and $1,500 per week, depending on word count and topic.

Ideally, the ideas and knowledge contained in the article originate from the publicly named author.

Therefore, as a ghostwriter, your role is to put the ideas into words.

How much you can make: $450 — $24,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $125 (?)

How long does it take to build: 62 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

6. Start a freelance writing business ($67.2K/month)

Freelance writing can be a good career choice if you are looking for a flexible online job.

Working as a freelancer gives you the flexibility to define your work schedule. You can work from home at any time. Freelance writers work across various niches, writing about various topics assigned by the client,

To earn good money as a freelance writer, you need the following personal qualities:

  • Strong writing skills
  • Ability to meet deadlines
  • Stay on the cutting edge
  • Be a self-starter
  • Be up-to-date with the current writing tools & writing trends
  • Proper communication skills

How much you can make: $700 — $320,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $300 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

7. Start a resume writing service ($14K/month)

A resume writing service offers professional assistance in crafting compelling resumes for job seekers.

With this service, your day-to-day activities revolve around collaborating with clients to gather their employment history, skills, and achievements, and transforming that information into well-crafted resumes that highlight their qualifications.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $62,500/month

How much does it cost to start: $35 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 8 hours/week

8. Start a monetization business

How much you can make: $150,000/month

9. Become a copywriter

Copywriting is a high-demand, high-reward job. This kind of work can be done from anywhere - all you need is a computer and an internet connection.

With services like Upwork and Fiverr, it's easier than ever to find work, build up your clientele, and make a substantial living copywriting.

Once you've gained experience and connections in this field, you may consider venturing out on your own and starting your own copywriting business.

How much you can make: $500 — $160,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $859 (?)

10. Start an article

How much you can make: $50,000/month

11. Start a data monetization business

How much you can make: $150,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

12. Become a blogger

Are you looking for a business idea you can start from home? One great option to explore is to start your own blog.

With the flexibility of location independence, you can work on your blog from anywhere in the world!

What’s amazing about blogging is that anyone can start with just a computer and the internet! Besides, you don’t need any special talents or previous experience to start.

It’s an open field that welcomes anyone who has a passion for writing and sharing their thoughts with the world. The best part is that it can be one of the most rewarding passive income business ideas you can start.

How much you can make: $2,500 — $25,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $199 (?)

How long does it take to build: 6 days (?)

13. Become a blog content promoter

The blog content promoter business idea involves helping businesses promote their blog content to a broader audience. This can be done through various methods, such as social media marketing, email marketing, and paid advertising. The goal is to increase the visibility and reach of the blog, ultimately driving more traffic and engagement to the website.

To run a successful business in this line, it’s important to have a strong understanding of digital marketing and how to promote content online effectively. It’s also helpful to have a network of connections in the industry, as this can help you secure partnerships and collaborations that can further promote the blog content.

Some tips for running a successful blog content promotion business include:

  • Research and understand your target audience: Knowing who your audience is and what type of content they are interested in will help you tailor your marketing efforts to their needs and interests.

  • Stay up to date with the latest marketing trends: The world of digital marketing is constantly evolving, so it’s important to stay on top of the latest trends and best practices.

  • Use analytics to measure the success of your campaigns: By tracking and analyzing the performance of your marketing efforts, you can identify what’s working and what isn't and make adjustments accordingly.

  • Collaborate with other businesses and influencers: Collaborating with other businesses and influencers can help you reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to the blog.

By following these tips and staying focused on delivering value to your clients, you can build a successful blog content promotion business that helps businesses get their content seen by more people.

How much you can make: $15,000 — $90,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

14. Start an educational website business

How much you can make: $10,000 — $3,735,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 190 days (?)

15. Start a themed content business

How much you can make: $40,000/month

More business ideas

  • 16. Start a portfolio website business

17. Start a social media content creator ($250K/month)

How much you can make: $800 — $8,333,333/month

18. Start an online writing business

How much you can make: $2,000 — $208,333/month

How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)

19. Start a digital writing business

How much you can make: $2,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)

20. Start a writing & editing business

A writing and editing business is a business that provides writing, editing, and sometimes proofreading services. Such businesses market their services to businesses, corporations, and individuals who might require those types of services.

The earning potential of writing and editing is incredible. Freelancing is one of the best ways to earn some extra money. If you like writing and editing, then freelancing can provide you with an opportunity to prove yourself as an expert, increase your network and help steer your career in a new direction.

Writing is one of the easiest businesses you can start. You might dream of becoming a professional writer, selling your stories to famous magazines, or writing books that millions around the planet will read.

How much you can make: $1,200 — $208,333/month

How much does it cost to start: $300 (?)

How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. -1 hours/week

21. Write a book business ($75.5K/month)

How much you can make: $1,000 — $149,986/month

22. Start a content writing company ($38.3K/month)

Content writing involves writing, editing, and publishing content in a digital format. Examples of content include a blog post, product description, and podcast script—eBooks, press releases, or landing page content.

Becoming a content writer allows you to work as your boss. Therefore, you choose whatever working schedule suits you and take a manageable workload. Moreover, content writing helps you develop essential skills you may not obtain from regular writing.

Content writing is a highly-on-demand service, as companies compete for the online audience who often begin their shopping journey by searching for relevant and educative content online. Therefore, a content writing company is an excellent source of passive income.

To start a content writing company, research the market and choose a suitable niche. Sketch a proper business plan and create a website. Hire a pool of talented writers and leverage modern technology to streamline operations.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $250,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $550 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

23. Become a children's book writer ($6K/month)

If you are passionate about early childhood education, why not become a children’s book writer? Starting a children’s bookstore is a low-barrier-to-entry business you can start today.

You can write storybooks or subject textbooks for kids, publish and distribute them through the bookshops or your online bookstore, or sell them on Amazon and other online bookstores.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $50,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,600 (?)

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

24. Start a product description writing business

A product description writing business is a service where you create compelling and informative descriptions for products that are being sold online.

This type of business involves using your writing skills to craft engaging content that helps potential customers understand the benefits and features of a product.

You can start this business with minimal investment, mainly requiring a computer and internet connection.

To get started, you can offer your services on freelance platforms or reach out to e-commerce businesses directly, offering to write product descriptions for their online store.

As your business grows, you can expand your services to include additional writing tasks and potentially hire other writers to help meet the demand.

How much you can make: $2,000 — $100,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

25. Start a freelancer community

How much you can make: $2,000 — $20,000/month

26. Start a reddit posting business

With approximately 52 million daily active and 430 million monthly users, Reddit is a good platform for creating niche discussions and getting answers from highly engaged subreddits. Thus, starting a Reddit posting business can pay off well if you identify or create engaged subreddits. You can post about topics of interest, so you grow a subreddit quickly and receive many views.

More business ideas

  • 27. Start a freelance researcher

28. Start a speech writing business

Starting a speech writing business can be a lucrative and fulfilling career for those passionate about language, public speaking, and crafting compelling narratives.

The business involves writing custom speeches for clients in various industries, including corporate, political, academic, and personal events. These speeches can range from formal presentations to wedding toasts and may be delivered to small or large audiences.

To start a successful speech writing business, it is vital to have strong writing skills and an ability to understand the needs and goals of each client. Researching and understanding current events and relevant industry topics can also be beneficial in crafting appropriate and engaging content.

In terms of marketing and building a client base, networking and relationships with event planners and public speaking coaches can be helpful. An online presence, including a professional website and social media accounts, can also help attract potential clients.

To succeed in this business, it is essential to meet tight deadlines and have excellent communication skills to collaborate with clients and deliver high-quality work effectively.

A willingness to continuously learn and improve writing skills is also essential in staying competitive in the market.

Starting a speech writing business can be a rewarding and flexible career for those with a love of language and a desire to help others effectively communicate their ideas and messages.

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

More business ideas

  • 29. Become a freelance journalist

30. Start a handwriting analysis business

Graphology or handwriting analysis is a field of study that seeks to identify and understand people’s personalities, behaviors, and characters.

Handwriting analysis tools help forensic document examiners enlarge and examine a script and reach a conclusion.

With the increased need for handwriting analysis tools, starting a business that focuses on this line can be profitable.

31. Start a start a blog

How much you can make: $100,000/month

More business ideas

  • 32. Start a podcast editing service
  • 33. Become a linkedin manager
meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.