New year, new you? If you’re pursuing this ideal in terms of you’re career, take a look at these self-employed jobs.
While the saying’s become a meme, the arrival of a new year marks an excellent opportunity to take action on ways to improve yourself and achieve goals.
Since New Year’s resolutions are often made to solve problems, it would be no surprise if many make their resolution related to business. Over the past few years, volatility across a myriad of financial markets has created a chaotic situation where timing, vulnerability, and pure luck have significantly impacted the current and future outlook for millions around the globe.
No matter your motivation, there are plenty of ways to take control of your professional and economic situation. Below, we’ve highlighted a few popular self-employed jobs that allow you the opportunity to be your own boss in 2024.
Create an Amazon business
Chances are you’ve bought an item off Amazon before, but did you ever think about how it got on Amazon in the first place? Whether a name-brand item like an Apple Watch or Nintendo Switch or a generic product such as a phone charger or heated blanket, it’s on Amazon because someone took a business to Amazon or started their own online business.
And many don’t know just how easy starting your own Amazon business can be with the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program. Amazon uses its world-class logistics platform for FBA, making it as easy as ever to create and manage your online business. In this program, Amazon handles the logistics of your online business (storage, picking, shipping, delivery, etc.) in exchange for a fee, much of which is reliant on the success of your business.
To learn more about how to sell on Amazon, check out our step-by-step guide about how to sell on Amazon.
Find a product to sell, a supplier to make and ship it, and optimize your listing, advertising and overall offering to the best of your abilities to become one of the many who have made their entrepreneurial dreams come true thanks to Amazon and hard work.
There are quite a few ways to make money on Amazon, so you can go all-in on Amazon or find your own Amazon FBA side hustle.
Freelance writing and editing
Do you have a way with words and find writing a strength? Turn your skills or passion for writing into a business with one of the most popular self-employed jobs from home (or the coffee shop), freelance writing and editing.
You can find hundreds of potential opportunities to bring home the dough by creating a profile on freelancing networks such as Fiverr and Upwork, which connects freelancers to businesses or people with projects.
With opportunities ranging from translations, articles and blog posts to proofreading and editing, it’s never been easier to flex your writing skills and expand your portfolio while bringing home some extra cash. Whether you aim to be a jack-of-all-trades or master a niche, there are plenty of self-employed jobs in the writing and editing world.
In addition to creating compelling written content, you’ll want to make sure your professionalism, communication, and ability to nail your deadlines are on-point to ensure happy customers so you can garner positive reviews to keep the projects coming.
Drive for a ride-sharing company
While it may blur the line of what constitutes being your own boss, driving for a ride-sharing app like Uber or Lyft is technically and legally considered self-employment. After all, these drivers are listed as independent contractors who get to set their own hours, create their work environment (within their vehicle, of course), and provide a direct service for a large market.
Similar to how Fiverr or Upwork connect clients with potential servicers, driving with Uber or Lyft connects drivers with passengers. This option can significantly appeal to those looking to make quick money without the dedication of long, set hours. While it lacks the more typical “sky is the limit” reward of entrepreneurship, this method certainly does have its perks.
At its core, anyone with a car that meets the minimum age requirement with at least one year of driving experience who can clear a background check can get started. At the very least, this self-employed job’s a great way to make a quick buck without a significant time commitment.
If this doesn’t scratch your entrepreneurial itch, it may be an effective method to bankroll your next money-making opportunity!
Create your own clothing shop
Whether you have the fashion design skills to make your own gear or an uncanny understanding of the trends, creating a clothing shop could be your calling.
For those with design skills, an abundance of online marketplaces exist to turn your ideas into a profitable business. From cutting-edge fashion designs to mastering a skill in clothing, such as tie-dying or bleaching, to creating graphics for a niche market, making your own clothing business can be quite profitable.
In addition to the money, creating something tangible and potentially seeing it out in the world can be an extremely rewarding feeling.
If you have more of a passion for fashion and are savvy about the markets, but perhaps lack the design skills, thrifting and reselling could be a hit for you. Setting up a resale shop on websites like Etsy and Shopify, or local marketplaces such as the Facebook Marketplace makes it convenient-as-can-be to make the most of your thrifting skills.
In the thrifting world, one man’s trash can truly be one man’s treasure.
If you’re a sneakerhead with an eye for which kicks go for the most, you can spot market inefficiencies by being a regular at thrift spots such as Goodwill and Plato’s Closet. Follow the trends and tastemakers to stay up-to-date on what’s hot and not and scout out your local and online stores for used gear, and you might be surprised at how well it can pay.
Either way, running your own clothing shop provides an excellent opportunity. It ranks as one of the most coveted self-employed jobs from home, especially as more online marketplaces continue to increase accessibility.
Selling Handmade Items
Yet another way you can craft an opportunity to be your own boss is by creating and selling handmade items. From carving wood to sculpting to knitting to creating unique pieces of art, this self-employed job lets you turn a hobby into cold hard cash.
On top of being an incredibly cool and useful skill, the intrinsic reward of visualizing and creating a good that people want never gets old. If you possess the materials needed for your items, selling made-by-hand goods can be one of many self-employed jobs from home that allow you to add to your bank account without leaving the house.
Amazon Handmade and Etsy shops have become increasingly popular in recent years, as people search for decorative art and handcrafted items in place of mass-produced goods from Walmart, Target, and other popular retailers. Whether your artisan skills are already top-notch or you are considering a new skill, being a quality craftsperson comes in handy for anyone who wants to be their own boss.
Conclusion: Self-Employed Jobs
Of course, the options above are just a few ideas for how to work for yourself. If you possess a very particular set of skills that can create value, there’s a way to capitalize on it. At the end of the day, it’s all about finding the method of money-making right for you.
When weighing out the optimal self-employed job for you, be sure to consider the time and money you’re willing to put into your operation. Also, think about your personal risk tolerance to ensure you can move forward in confidence with your chosen direction.
Like many New Year’s resolutions, the challenge isn’t starting, but sticking with it. Once you weigh the best self-employed job for you and your available resources, it’s easy to stick with it and create something long-lasting for yourself.
Congratulations on making it to the new year and we wish you the best of luck as you sift through self-employed jobs on your pursuit of financial freedom!
