Are you searching for work when you want jobs? Then, keep reading! Here is a list of flexible ways to make money anytime!
Think of all those times you’ve needed extra cash to make it through the month. Maybe you’re hoping to earn extra money, but you have an unconventional schedule (or a newborn). Wouldn’t it be great to find ways to make money on the side that fit with your schedule?
Well, guess what? You can! There are many unconventional ways to bring in extra money without working a 9-5, going to an office, or feeling tied to your computer all day long.
Here are 13 flexible work when you want jobs!
1. Administrative Tasks
Do you have administrative experience, or are you particularly good at organizational tasks? Becoming a virtual assistant or picking up some administrative tasks can be a great way to earn extra money—and the best part is that you can do it right from home! If you like variety and have small pockets of time, try Byron or Fancy Hands platform. With these freelance gigs, you can choose the projects you work on and how much or how little you work.
For more structured roles, try BELAY or Boldly. They offer part-time hours and some flexibility when you start and stop working. You must be available Monday through Friday, working during normal business hours, but assignments don’t have a strict schedule.
2. Transcriptionist
If you have quick and accurate typing skills and excellent listening skills, transcribing audio files into text documents is an excellent way to work when you want. Freelance transcription jobs allow you to create your own schedule and work anywhere as long as you can meet your deadlines and turn in high-quality work. There are many companies that hire beginners, too. However, you must take and pass a short assessment exam before taking on assignments. Companies that regularly hire for these roles include TranscribeMe, Rev, and CrowdSurf.
One thing to note with transcription jobs is many companies pay per audio hour or minute, which is not the same as hours or minutes worked. This is the amount you’re paid to complete the transcription of the audio file. So, if the rate is $20 per audio hour, and it takes you three hours to transcribe one hour of audio, you’ll earn $20 for your three hours of work.
3. Online Tutor
Another work when you want job is online tutoring! People all around the world are willing to pay for your expertise, whether it is in a subject like math, reading, a foreign language, accounting, web development, and more! With these independent contracting roles, you can create your own work schedule and make good money in your free time! Of course, you’ll need to provide proof of your expertise, but once you apply and submit the appropriate credentials, you’re good to go! If you want to help others learn new skills, explore platforms like Studypool, EF, VIPKid, and Course Hero.
4. Customer Service Representative
While most customer service jobs require agents to work a set schedule, some companies hire freelancers to handle calls while offering flexible schedules. With these remote jobs, you’ll schedule your shifts in advance, usually in 2- or 4-hour blocks. With this flexible work option, you’ll need a hard-wired high-speed internet connection and a good working computer. If you have a passion for helping others and enjoy chatting on the phone, check out ACD Direct, LiveOps, NexRep, Omni Interactions, and Working Solutions for job postings.
5. Start a Print-on-Demand Business
Do you have a great saying that you want to put on a T-shirt? Have you ever wanted to design and sell graphic tees? You can make good money anytime, and no sewing skills are required.
If you have a flair for design or a great sense of humor, you can create popular designs and slogans for T-shirts, tote bags, coffee mugs, phone cases, and more! With print-on-demand (POD) companies, you create your designs, upload them to the platform, and decide what types of products to sell and how much to charge. When a customer purchases an item from your shop, the POD company prints the design on the product and ships it directly to the customer. From the total sales price, the POD company subtracts the costs to make the product and a small fee, and what’s left is your profit.
No special skills are needed with this opportunity, and you can work when you want and earn passive income from the products you sell. To get started for free, check out Spring or Spreadshirt, or to get more info on running a POD side hustle, check out this interview with Jessica Roop from I Love Print on Demand.
6. Rideshare or Delivery Driver
If you enjoy driving, have your own vehicle, try being a driver for hire to make money whenever and wherever you want. Of course, you can transport people with apps like Uber and Lyft, but a safer option for women is transporting food, kids, pets, or groceries! With apps like DoorDash, HopSkipDrive, and CitizenShipper, you can pick up food from restaurants, transport children to and from school, or deliver furry friends to the owner’s desired location. Because you can choose when to work, these flexible work options better work-life balance for busy people.
Related Content: 23 Flexible Ways to Make Money With Your Car
7. Freelancing
If you’re skilled in an area like graphic design, writing, translation, SEO, web development, bookkeeping, video editing… You can work when you want as a freelancer! With online freelance marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, People Per Hour, Guru, Textbroker, and Toptal, it’s never been easier to connect with clients who need your skills. You and each client will determine the scope of work, timeframe, and pay, and as long as you can turn in high-quality assignments on time, you can work any time of the day or night!
To get started, you should have some samples of your work and an online portfolio to show potential clients. From there, you can apply for jobs online, use a freelance marketplace to connect with clients, or start pitching your services to relevant clients.
8. Proofreading
Do you have an eagle eye? Do spelling and grammar errors drive you nuts? Then, consider working as a freelance proofreader. While many people think proofreading and editing are one and the same, they’re not. Proofreaders review documents, searching for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, and this can all be done whenever you want, as long as you meet your deadlines.
Some companies may require a bachelor’s degree, while others will give you a proficiency test before you can work on projects. If your English skills are rusty, or you’d like to break into the field, check out this free webinar from Proofread Anywhere. Or, if you’re ready to start applying for gigs, look into companies like ProofreadingPal or Scribendi.
9. Content Creator
Another flexible job that you can do part-time or full-time, depending on your goals, is content creation. With content creation, you’ll choose a niche like beauty, food, fashion, personal finance, or DIY, and then you’ll choose the platforms for which you want to create content. Your options include starting a blog, podcasting, writing on Medium, starting a newsletter via Substack, or social media platforms like YouTube or Instagram. Then, you’ll start creating your content and building your following whenever you want. As a content creator, you can earn money through advertising, brand sponsorships, affiliate marketing, digital products, creator funds, coaching, and more!
10. AI Trainers
With the explosion of AI tools comes an ever-increasing demand for humans to train these AI models. And the great thing about these side gigs is you can work when you want! For most of these AI training jobs, you’ll need excellent writing, editing, and research skills, as well as a high level of attention to detail. Some projects will require more advanced expertise in coding, math, a foreign language, or science. To get started, apply with companies like Appen, DataAnnotation Tech, TELUS Digital, and Welocalize. After you set up your profile, you can browse projects and take an initial exam to prove your proficiency. Once approved, you can often work on as many projects as you want, anytime, day or night.
11. Complete Short Tasks
If you only have small pockets of time in your day, try out some short task gigs. Companies like Gigwalk, Amazon MTurk, and Clickworker are crowdsourcing platforms where people can post small jobs they need help with, and workers can work on one-off tasks when they have free time. Tasks may include taking surveys, proofreading, data entry, data annotation, translation, transcription, text creation, research, and more. These gigs are usually on the lower pay end but can be a good way to make extra money in your spare time.
12. Test Websites
As a website tester, you can get paid to assess websites and apps on your mobile device or computer to determine a platform’s user-friendliness. Does it sound complicated? It’s quite simple, and you can earn extra money outside your normal work hours. Testers may be filmed or recorded via audio so web designers and developers can get a snapshot of your initial reactions. While these gigs are sporadic, you can sign up with multiple companies to increase your chances of landing opportunities. If this sounds like an interesting way to earn extra cash, check out UserTesting, Respondent, and User Interviews for available gigs.
13. Social Media Manager
If you live and breathe all things social media, turn your passion and skills for social media into a flexible work from home job! With so many social media platforms to manage and new ones popping up all the time, many business owners need around-the-clock help with content generation, customer service, running ads, and moderation. Companies like $99 Social, ModSquad, LiveWorld, and Social Bee hire freelancers to help companies manage their social media channels, and you can create your own hours! You can also search for freelance social media management positions on FlexJobs, LinkedIn, and Remote.co.
Work When You Want Jobs
It’s surprising just how work when you want jobs are available! Just because your schedule isn’t open to a 9-5 in an office in the city doesn’t mean you can’t earn extra money on the side and find ways to generate income. Get creative and think outside the box. There are plenty of at-home opportunities and less conventional ways to earn money!
For more surprising ways to earn extra money — check out this post!
What are your favorite ways to earn extra money? Are there a few quick and easy ways that didn’t make this list? Let us know in the comments.
Originally published January 3, 2027. Content updated January 2025.