10 Profitable Side Hustles for Stay at Home Parents

Profitable side hustles for stay at home parents have become essential lifelines for families balancing childcare and financial needs. While the role of raising children is invaluable, many parents seek a profitable side hustle that don’t compromise their primary job of parenting.

Stay at home mum jobs come in surprising varieties with impressive earning potential. Online tutoring can generate between £15 and £100 hourly, depending on expertise, while freelance writing typically starts at £20 to £30 per hour. Furthermore, virtual assistants earn approximately £19.19 hourly, and transcriptionists average around £20 per hour.

The possibilities extend well beyond digital work. Whether you’re interested in creative pursuits, service-based businesses, or online opportunities. This article explores ten proven ways stay at home parents can generate income without sacrificing precious time with their children.

Pet Sitting or Dog Walking: A Fun Way to Earn

Walking dogs and pet sitting are two ways that animal enthusiasts can make money off of their hobby. This flexible opportunity allows stay at home parents to earn extra income without sacrificing family time or requiring extensive qualifications.

Pet sitting services for stay at home moms

Pet sitting encompasses several services that stay at home parents can monetise based on their availability and comfort level:

• Dog boarding: Hosting pets in your home (highest earning potential)
• Home visits: Checking on pets at the owner’s home
• Overnight stays: Staying at the client’s residence
• Doggy daycare: Providing daytime care for dogs

The appeal for stay at home parents lies in the flexibility—you choose which services to offer and when to work. Professional pet sitters say dog boarding clients can earn twice as much and receive requests faster than those offering other services. Platforms like Rover and PetCloud provide support systems, including pet care training and 24/7 assistance.

Dog walking pricing and income

The income potential from pet care services is surprisingly substantial:

• Pet sitters typically charge AUD 38.22 for a 30-minute visit
• Professional pet sitters earn an average of AUD 24.46 per visit
• Dedicated sitters can potentially earn up to AUD 152,900 per month
• Dog walkers and sitters make between AUD 22.93 and AUD 45.87 per hour

When calculating potential earnings, consider that spending 30 minutes with three dogs could average AUD 48.93 per hour.

Photography Services: Capture Moments and Make Money

Many stay at home parents with a knack for capturing family moments can transform this creative skill into a profitable side hustle business. Photography is a profitable side hustle allowing parents to maintain their primary caregiving responsibilities.

Photography niches for stay at home parents

The photography business model works exceptionally well for parents primarily because of its scheduling flexibility. Unlike traditional employment, photographers can:

• Schedule sessions around family commitments
• Work primarily during naptime or after bedtime for editing
• Experience seasonal fluctuations that align with school holidays
• Complete most shoots in just 2-3 hours away from home

Family and child photography represents a natural fit for ways stay at home parents can generate income. Being in a similar life stage to potential clients creates an intuitive connection.

Photography pricing and packages

Photography income potential varies significantly based on specialisation and experience:

• Event photography: Typically charges between AUD 305.80 and AUD 764.50 per hour
• Portrait photography: Starting packages between AUD 229.35 and AUD 458.70
• Graduation photography: Packages ranging from AUD 152.90 to AUD 611.60 per session
• Wedding photography: Average cost around AUD 3,057.98

Despite initial equipment investments, the photography business doesn’t require formal education, making it one of the accessible ways stay at home parents can generate income.

Handmade Crafts and Etsy Shops

Turning creative hobbies into income streams has become increasingly viable for stay at home parents seeking a profitable side hustle. Handmade crafts combined with online marketplaces like Etsy offer a powerful earning opportunity with minimal startup costs, allowing parents to maintain their primary responsibilities.

Popular handmade products to sell

The craft market offers diverse options for parents with varying skills and interests:

• Personalised gifts: Custom merchandise and engraved items can earn between AUD 15.29 and AUD 76.45 per piece. Personalised items like nursery name signs, wall quotes, and milestone markers remain popular among customers looking for unique presents.
• Bath and beauty products: Homemade soaps, bath bombs, and natural skincare items command AUD 7.64 to AUD 30.58 per item. 
• Digital downloads: Printables represent one of the most accessible entry points for new sellers. Digital planners, stickers, and artwork require minimal physical inventory and eliminate shipping concerns.
• Textile crafts: Handmade baby products, knitted items, plush toys, and face masks offer excellent profit margins. 

How to price handmade crafts?

Effective pricing requires balancing costs, profit goals, and market expectations. The Etsy Seller Handbook recommends a two-pronged approach:

Top-down methodology:

1. Calculate material costs for each item
2. Add shipping expenses if offering discounted shipping
3. Factor in overhead costs (studio rent, equipment, marketing)
4. Include fair compensation for your time and labour
5. Determine target profit margin

Bottom-up considerations:

1. Research comparable market prices
2. Identify your target audience’s budget and expectations
3. Evaluate shipping costs’ impact on conversion rates
4. Test different price points through A/B testing

Generally, one should aim for lower profit margins initially while building a customer base, subsequently adjusting prices upward as reputation grows. The gross profit margin calculation (revenue minus costs, divided by revenue, multiplied by 100) clarifies business sustainability.

Childcare Services: Turn Parenting Skills into Profit

Stay at home parents can leverage their child-rearing expertise by establishing home-based childcare services, creating a dual benefit of income generation whilst focusing on their children.

Offering childcare services from home

Several childcare service models suit stay at home parents:

• Family Day Care: Operating from your home with multiple children, ideal for parents who enjoy group activities
• In-Home Care (IHC): Providing care in clients’ homes, perfect for those preferring varied environments
• Remote Family Care: Short-term programmes for families in isolated areas

Family Day Care educators can typically care for up to 7 children simultaneously, with no more than 4 being preschool age or under. These services must comply with state and territory regulations regarding safety, space requirements, and educator qualifications throughout Australia.

Childcare pricing and regulations

• Family Day Care: Hourly rates typically range from AUD 20.64 to AUD 28.29 per child
• Centre-Based Day Care: National daily average of AUD 205.22 before subsidies
• In-Home Care: Hourly rate cap of AUD 59.43 per family

Event Planning: Organise Memorable Moments

Exceptional organisational abilities are valuable assets that stay at home parents can monetise through event planning services. This profitable side hustle allows parents to manage their schedules whilst utilising skills they’ve likely honed through planning family activities and celebrations.

Event planning services for stay at home moms

Event planning suits parents seeking flexible working patterns that accommodate family responsibilities. The ability to conduct much of the planning from home and schedule business meetings during convenient hours makes this an ideal choice for balancing parenting with professional aspirations.

Parents can specialise in various event types based on their interests and strengths:

• Virtual events (online conferences, workshops, birthdays)
• Children’s celebrations (party planning expertise)
• Small private gatherings (dinner parties, milestone celebrations)
• Corporate functions (team-building activities, workshops)

The work involves primarily remote tasks such as vendor coordination, timeline creation, and budget management, with occasional on-site visits and attendance at the actual event. Indeed, many event planners delegate tasks to trusted team members or vendors, freeing time to focus on areas where they excel, such as building client relationships and developing creative concepts.

Event planning pricing and packages

Several pricing models exist for event planning services:

Fixed pricing simplifies the billing process, as clients know exactly what to expect regardless of circumstances. This structure works well for standard events with predictable components.

Hourly fees often provide better returns for less time-intensive projects, although they require accurate time tracking. Rates typically range depending on experience level and event complexity.

Percentage-based fees involve charging a portion of the total event budget (commonly 15-20%), which aligns the planner’s interests with the client’s financial constraints.

Custom pricing offers maximum flexibility and is ideal for complex projects with numerous components. This approach involves breaking events into sections based on required expertise and charging accordingly.

Many successful event planners also offer add-on services, such as design meetings, additional setup assistance, or marketing support, to enhance their income potential.

How to find event planning clients?

Building a client base requires strategic networking and targeted marketing efforts. In addition to traditional business cards and flyers, event planners should leverage their existing connections to build initial momentum.

Online presence is important—creating professional profiles on social media platforms and developing a website highlighting previous work helps attract clients searching for event planning services. Furthermore, testimonials from satisfied clients serve as powerful marketing tools, especially when starting.

Stay at home parents can begin by planning events part-time, dedicating 5-10 hours weekly to business development whilst maintaining family commitments. Through careful time management and boundary setting, event planning can develop into a profitable side hustle that grows alongside changing family circumstances.

Selling Baked Goods and Homemade Treats

Culinary skills in the kitchen can transform into a sweet source of income for stay at home parents. Home baking businesses require minimal startup costs whilst offering the flexibility to work around family schedules and childcare responsibilities.

Pricing homemade treats

Effective pricing strategies balance costs against market expectations:

1. Calculate all costs: Add ingredients, packaging, utilities, variable costs (cupcake liners, labels), and overhead expenses.
2. Value your time: Set a realistic hourly rate based on skill level. 
3. Apply appropriate markup: A standard formula is: (Cost of Goods Sold × markup percentage) + Cost of Goods Sold = Sales Price. For example, a cookie costing AUD 1.01 to produce with a 50% markup would sell for AUD 1.51.
4. Monitor profit margins: Track which items generate the highest profits to guide future production decisions.

How to market your baking business locally?

Effective local marketing strategies include:

• Community involvement: Participate in farmers’ markets, where repeated exposure builds credibility.
• Collaboration: Partner with complementary local businesses.
• Word-of-mouth: Prioritise exceptional customer service to encourage referrals.
• Traditional marketing: Distribute flyers and business cards in targeted neighbourhoods.

Therefore, with proper pricing strategies and targeted marketing efforts, selling homemade treats represents an accessible and potentially profitable side hustles for stay at home parents with baking skills.

House Cleaning and Organising Services

Daily organisation skills acquired through household maintenance can be converted into a successful home cleaning business with minimal startup costs. This reliable income stream offers flexible scheduling essential for managing family responsibilities.

House cleaning services for stay at home moms

Home cleaning services encompass daily household maintenance, specialised deep cleaning, and home organisation. Stay at home parents can choose between offering standard services like vacuuming, mopping, and bathroom cleaning or specialised options such as window washing, oven cleaning, and professional organising.

Pricing house cleaning jobs

Various pricing models exist for home cleaning services:

• Hourly rates: The average hourly rate for house cleaners in Australia is currently AUD 43.35, with professionals charging between AUD 30.58 and AUD 50 per hour.
• Flat fees: Standard house cleaning costs AUD 152.90-200 per service.
• Room rates: Charging AUD 152.90 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom home plus AUD 15.29-20 for each additional bedroom or bathroom.
• Square footage: Rates ranging from AUD 0.08-0.16 per square foot.

Essentially, pricing calculations should include labour costs, cleaning supplies (typically 6% of total costs), overhead expenses (approximately 50% of hourly rate), and a profit margin (around 33%).

Voice-Over Work: Use Your Voice to Earn

Stay at home parents can transform their vocal talents into a rewarding income stream with a quiet space and a quality microphone. Voice-over work offers exceptional flexibility, allowing recording sessions during naps or after children’s bedtime.

Voice-over niches for stay at home parents

The voice-over industry spans far beyond cartoons and movie trailers, providing numerous opportunities for parents with diverse vocal qualities:

• Commercial voice-over often serves as the bread and butter for many voice actors, promoting products or services for television, radio, and web platforms.
• E-learning narration proves ideal for parents with clear, instructional speaking styles.
• Audiobooks have become increasingly popular, creating substantial opportunities through platforms like Audible.
• Corporate voice-over typically involves training materials and tutorials for large companies.

Voice-over pricing and income

Voice-over work offers remarkable earning potential, even for beginners:

Industry rates vary considerably based on project type:

• Non-broadcast jobs (corporate videos, e-learning) average AUD 53.51-1,299.64 per hour
• Commercial spots command higher rates depending on the distribution reach
• Audiobooks typically pay per finished hour (PFH)

Setting up a home voice-over studio

Creating a professional home studio needn’t break the bank. Essential components include:

• A quality condenser microphone (AUD 152.90-382.25)
• Closed-back headphones to prevent sound leakage
• Recording software like Audacity (free) or Adobe Audition
• Basic soundproofing materials or a quiet space

Proofreading and Editing Services

Keen attention to detail and language proficiency are valuable skills that stay at home parents can monetise through proofreading and editing services. This flexible career option requires minimal equipment and offers the freedom to work during convenient hours.

Proofreading services for stay at home moms

Proofreading is ideal for parents seeking flexibility whilst using their natural skills. Typically, proofreaders check text before publication to ensure it’s correct and complete.

The work primarily involves:

• Correcting spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
• Ensuring text flows well and appears in the correct order
• Checking that references and hyperlinks match
• Confirming consistency in style throughout documents

Of course, for many parents, flexibility represents the biggest advantage. 

Proofreading pricing and rates

Proofreading offers respectable earning potential for part-time work:

Professional proofreaders in Australia earn between AUD 22,000 (starter) and 34,000 (experienced) annually. Hourly rates vary substantially, with experienced professionals charging anywhere from AUD 19 to 46 per hour. The recommended hourly rates for professional self-employed editors in Australia range from AUD 137.61 to 198.77+ depending on experience.

Central Editing, a company that works with businesses and government sectors, typically quotes AUD 91.74 to 122.32 per 1,000 words for proofreading services.

Selling Personalised Gifts and Custom Merchandise

Creating customised products for sale represents an excellent opportunity for parents seeking income without leaving home. The personalised gifts market is booming, valued at USD 30,754.10 million in 2023 and projected to reach USD 53,948.50 million by 2032.

Popular personalised gift ideas

Several gift categories prove consistently profitable for home-based sellers:

Customised home décor items perform exceptionally well, including throw pillows featuring unique designs and wall art with personalised messages. In conjunction with this trend, personalised travel accessories like custom luggage tags offer sentimental value to recipients.

Personalised calendars marking special dates, custom ornaments, and engraved jewellery are even more profitable – items that command higher prices due to their emotional significance.

Pricing custom merchandise

Effective pricing remains crucial for profitability. For custom t-shirts, the typical price range falls between AUD 24.46 and AUD 41.28. To maximise returns, aim for a profit margin of 50-60%, meaning if production costs total AUD 15.29 per shirt, pricing should be AUD 30.58-AUD 38.22.

Multiple pricing strategies exist, including cost-plus (adding a set percentage to production costs) and dynamic pricing (adjusting based on demand).

Conclusion – Profitable Side Hustles for Stay at Home Parents

Finding the right profitable side hustles for stay at home parents while raising children presents unique challenges. The ten side hustles outlined above certainly offer viable solutions, each combining flexibility with genuine earning potential. Pet sitting provides approximately AUD 45 per hour for animal lovers, while photographers can earn between AUD 300-750 per session. Handmade crafts sold through online marketplaces generate substantial income without requiring formal qualifications or significant startup costs.

Parents ultimately benefit from selecting profitable side hustle aligned with existing skills and interests. A parent with exceptional organisational skills might excel at event planning or home organising, whereas those with creative talents could thrive selling personalised merchandise or voice-over work. The beauty of these opportunities lies in their adaptability—parents can scale their involvement based on changing family circumstances and childcare responsibilities.

These flexible ventures are great ways stay at home parents can generate income without sacrificing precious time with their children. Selecting one opportunity that interests you and acting on it right now is the first step towards financial independence.