How to Make Money Online in Canada
Making money online is a great way to change up your lifestyle to something that better suits your interests or just to add some extra income to your savings account. Whether you are someone who thrives at working from home on their couch in their pyjamas, wants the freedom to travel the world and work remotely, or just looking for a side hustle, making money online offers a lot more opportunities for Canadians. So, how can you make money online? Let’s dig in.
Online jobs
Not every job is conducive to online work, but there are many that are. The internet has opened up a huge range of new digital opportunities that Canadians can use as a side hustle or a full-time job. From freelancing to tutoring to starting your own business, there are a lot of options out there that will allow you to make extra money online. Sometimes all you need is an iPhone/android device or laptop and a strong internet connection. Here are some of the most popular and successful ideas to get you going.
Content writer
Earning potential: $10-$1000+ per article
One of the most popular ways to make money offline is through content writing. While it does require you to be a good writer, it allows for a lot of diversity. You can write about tech, health, science, medicine, finance, travel, parenting, gardening, and more. Typically, niche topics you are an expert in will pay better than something more generalized. For example, finance pays better than travel. That said, the pay will depend on experience and the publication.
Copywriter
Earning potential: $10-$100/hour
Very similar to content writing, however copywriting is more focused on advertising and marketing in order to sell a product. Content writing assignments are usually smaller projects like emails or advertisements vs longer educational articles that content writers would produce. Content writing may also be a bit more creative than typical content writing since it’s about encouraging the reader to buy or sign up for something rather than educating. Many freelancers are content writers and copywriters.
Proofreading and editing
Earning potential: $15-$35/hour
The same way many companies and businesses want content and copywriters, they also want proofreaders or editors to go over their work. If you have a knack for grammar then this could be a lucrative online job for you. Newspapers, digital magazines, local businesses, and even bloggers all frequently look for proofreaders or editors.
Blogging
Earning potential: $0-unlimited
Another way to make money online is by blogging. This is an incredibly popular online job for many people because of the opportunities for passive income. This includes ad revenue, affiliate marketing, and any revenue bloggers can make by selling digital products. It also allows for other income streams like brand partnerships, speaking engagements, and perhaps even paid travel. Being a blogger can bring in a lot of money. However, earning income as a blogger takes time and doesn’t happen right away. It could take months or even years for your website to start earning a decent income.
Tutoring
Earning potential: $20-$50/hour
If you have a knack for a certain subject, then online tutoring could be a great way to earn some extra income. This is an especially good option for students in high schools and universities. It could be for typical coursework such as math, science or even something more creative like music. Video calls make it easy to tutor online and find times to fit both of your schedules.
Teaching online
Earning potential: $14-$22/hour
For something that offers more earning potential, even in terms of a full-time job, consider teaching online. Teaching English online is an especially popular way for native English speakers to earn money online. VIPKid is one of the most popular websites to work for and allows you to choose how much work you want to take on and create your own schedule. Note that a lot of times, the best hours may be non-traditional hours since many of the children you teach are based in Asia, and you need to worth with their time zones.
Translating
Earning potential: $50-$200/hour
Do you speak another language? Then you may be able to make some money online by translating. This is a pretty niche way to make money but it has the potential to be very lucrative. Translating online can range from translating reviews and blog posts to books and even live remote work. You don’t need to have any official certificates to do this type of online work, however, if you are a certified translator you have the potential to earn higher rates and get chosen for more lucrative jobs.
Virtual assistant (VA)
Earning potential: $10-$50+/hour
Being a virtual assistant is a very flexible way to make money online and can be a part-time or even full-time gig, depending on your availability and the clients you take on. VAs are responsible for several different types of tasks for small businesses, bloggers, and entrepreneurs. This can include research, managing emails, scheduling appointments or calls, digital marketing, proofreading, uploading and more.
Social media manager
Earning potential: $10-$50/hour
If you are social media savvy then taking on the role of a social media manager for businesses, brands, or entrepreneurs could be a great way to earn money online. Social media managers come up with content strategies, create posting schedules, and film or photograph content for various accounts. Social media managers may also engage on behalf of the brand to maintain an online presence and help grow the account. Popular social media accounts that social media managers work with include, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.
Social media influencer
Earning potential: $0-unlimited
One of the big ‘dream’ jobs for many young people these days is to be a social media influencer. These are the Instagrammers and the TikTokers that have hundreds of thousands or even millions of followers and always seem to be working with top brands. Clearly, this kind of success is possible. However, like with blogging, it takes a lot of unpaid time and money to get to the point where you can build an audience and reach the point where you will be big enough and successful enough for these opportunities. If you want to give it a go, then go for it. But it’s not the best plan to start earning money right away.
Youtuber
Earning potential: $0-unlimited
Over the last few years, video has really taken over, and YouTube is the prime video channel in the world. We watch all types of YouTube clips whether it be to laugh, learn a skill, or educate ourselves on certain events or subjects. YouTube platform does allow its creators to earn money through their partner program. The partner program allows you to create revenue from ads, subscriptions, and channel memberships. However, in order to qualify for the partner program, you need to have a minimum of 1,000 subscribers to your YouTube channel and at least 4000 watch hours over the course of the last year.
OnlyFans
Earning potential: $0-unlimited
A more controversial but potentially very lucrative way of making money online is through OnlyFans. OnlyFans is a subscription-based account where creators will share content with their subscribers who pay a monthly fee for access to premium content. OnlyFans can be used for anything but has a reputation for being a site for adult models and 18+ content. For those wondering, yes, you still have to pay taxes in Canada if you earn money through OnlyFans.
Poshmark seller
$0-unlimited
Poshmark is an online marketplace that offers new and second-hand items including clothing, accessories, home goods, and even electronics. Many people use it to sell gently used (or never used) items from their own homes and closets, but some have managed to create a successful side business on the platform. These types of individuals are the ones who like to browse second-hand shops, go thrifting, and check out markets and even garage sales for good deals on high-end items. For example, designer labels at a thrift shop. The Poshmark seller will then purchase the item to resell at a higher value on their online storefront. You can be successful if you have the type of items people are looking for at the right price. But you also need time to go around and source items to sell.
Poshmark is a very common platform for this type of hustle, but you can do similar with Kijiji, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace.
Create your own products
Earning potential: $0-unlimited
One of the best ways to make a passive income these days is by creating a product that you can then sell. This could be a physical product (although physical items can be a bit trickier sometimes) or a digital product. From home workouts to ebooks to online courses and more, there are plenty of options for you to get creative and come up with something that can bring in a steady passive income. You can then sell the product on your website or through a platform like Etsy or even amazon kdp if you go the book route. Keep in mind that creating the product is only part of the project, you also need to market it and that can be the hardest part.
Transcription Services
Earning potential: $15-$30/hour
A transcriber is someone who writes out what they hear on recordings. For example, a journalist may ask you to transcribe a recording of an interview. It’s not a particularly difficult job. However, it’s also not as opportunistic as others on the list. That being said, specific topics can be very lucrative.
Drop shipping
Earning potential: $0-unlimited
Drop shipping is a popular way to make money online that allows you to own a business that sells physical products without you having to actually stock and hold inventory or even have a physical location to store and process orders. Essentially you act as the middleman (or woman) and create an online storefront to sell products then use a wholesaler or manufacturer to complete the orders. Drop shipping is often lauded as a ‘get rich quick’ type of online business but the truth is that a lot of work goes into starting up your e-commerce store. However, those that are successful with their drop shipping businesses do very well for themselves.
Sell photography
Earning potential: $0-unlimited
If you are a talented photographer and enjoy taking photos, you might be able to make some money off of them. You can potentially make money online from selling photography in three main ways.
The first is to sell you photos. You can build your own website and create your own online store. You could also use a popular platform like Etsy. The second option is to work with brands and businesses looking for product photos. Typically, this is easiest if you already have a reputation as a photographer. Finally, you may be able to sell stock photos online to websites like Istockphoto or Shutterstock. However, it is worth noting that stock photo websites have incredibly strict guidelines and can be very competitive.
Airbnb
Earning potential: The 2021 average for Canadian hosts was $19,844/year.
Airbnb isn’t for everyone, but if you are travelling for a while or even have a spare room in your home, you can rent it out on Airbnb to make some extra money. Of course, you need to be comfortable letting strangers into your home and keep in mind that Airbnb does charge you fees to advertise on their website. But it is an option to consider if you have the space.
Tips for making money online
There are a million posts out there for how to make money online quickly or how to make thousands of dollars online in a week. Yes, it is possible, but it’s not as easy and straightforward as it seems. Remember that these high-earning bloggers, Youtubers, and Influencers didn’t start off with all the success. They had to build and grow as you do in any workplace or career. Be realistic in your goals.
Another thing to remember when making money online is that you will likely need to invest in yourself and your online business to grow. This could be something as simple as a professional website. Or something more expensive, like making sure you have the proper tech and gear to get started. Don’t be afraid to invest in your business but start small and stick with what you know. If you aren’t a photographer already, don’t go spend thousands of dollars in camera gear thinking you’ll be able to learn overnight and sell stock photography.
Finally, if you are ready to start an online business, then don’t forget about the financial planning and strategizing that comes with it. Take a look at these best business bank accounts to get you started.
Best websites to find online jobs
Finding legitimate jobs that allow you to make money online can be tricky. There are a lot of MLMs, pyramid schemes, and scams out there so do your research, and if something seems too good to be true, understand that it probably is.
If you are looking for some trustworthy places to find online work, consider the following websites:
- Fiverr – A “gig” site where you can list what kind of jobs you offer and get hired by customers.
- Indeed Canada – A well-known job search website. Use keywords like ‘remote’ to look for jobs that will allow you to make money online.
- LinkedIn – LinkedIn can be a great place to share your skills and connect with people in the industry or field you would like to work in.
- Upwork – One of the most popular freelance websites. You’ll find opportunities here spanning all kinds of topics and fields.
- FlexJobs – A good spot to find remote work. We love that FlexJobs vets the companies who advertise to ensure that it is scam-free.
Finally, don’t forget the power of word of mouth. If you have had clients in the past, ask them to share your name around.
FAQ
Do I need to register my online business in Canada?
This will depend on your business. Not only might you need to register your online business, but you may also need to apply for permits and licenses. Each province has its own rules and regulations regarding this, so you will need to dig in and do some research based on your location and the type of online business you want to run. Typically, online businesses aren’t as strict as physical businesses, but it’s still worth looking into. Keep in mind that all existing Canadian tax laws that apply to any business in Canada will also apply to any business conducted online.
Do I need to register for GST/HST?
This depends on your business. If you make taxable sales in Canada and exceed $30,000 in earnings over four consecutive calendar quarters then yes, you will need to register for GST/HST number. You can also choose to register for GST/HST number before you reach this point. There is no associated fee to do so and many people would argue that it looks more professional as a small business to have the GST/HST number, even if you don’t officially require it. You can learn more about when to register and start charging GST/HST here.
Do I have to pay taxes on money made online?
Yes, you will need to report and claim any money made online. Depending on the business structure, you may have different reporting requirements. You can learn more about freelance taxes for Canadians here.
