You want to start freelancing and making money online, but you feel overwhelmed by the myriads of self-proclaimed experts and advice out there, who all tell you, “Build a website,” “Grow your audience,” etc. You’ve probably been stuck in research mode for the longest time now.
So how do you actually start? How do you know if your freelance business idea will actually work?
Ever heard of the quote, “The secret to getting ahead is just getting started”? It might sound cliché, but when it comes to making a career decision, this is the soundest advice you can ever act on, because it shifts you from procrastination, analysis paralysis, and wishfully dreaming about your goals, to tangibly taking action and beginning to see real results fast, even if they’re just baby steps and small wins to begin with.
There’s nothing that beats the feeling of seeing a small win, because that’s when you know you’re on track and you’re doing something right.
Beyond this, there’s actually a science behind starting small when you’re launching a side hustle or starting your career as a freelancer. Everyone knows that when launching a business, you should maximize and leverage existing resources as much as possible, and be wary of spending just because it’s flashy or an influencer recommends it. Starting with the limited resources you have allows you to be thrifty and not waste or overspend, and it also enables you to build the capital you need for greater ventures or to help you scale your existing one.
So even if you don’t have a website and, worse, don’t even have a strong social media following (yet), you can still start where you are to turn your skills into tangible income streams so you can get paid what you’re worth as a professional, be in control of your career, and manage your work flexibly.
The key is to start small…now. Then build later.
How To Start Making Money Online As A Beginner In 2025
Here are some beginner-friendly ways to make your first $500 or more online in 2025, even without having a strong online presence to begin with:
1. Flip Items In Your Home
Let’s start with the easiest idea of all. This one doesn’t require any exceptional skills or tech. You just need access to an e-commerce marketplace and you’d need to take a look at items in your house, storage, closet, garage, etc. that need to be decluttered. Think books, furniture, electronics, even clothes.
Take clear photos and use AI to generate descriptions, then list them on platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Taking this approach, you can easily make $500 within a weekend, especially if you have items that are relatively new and are high value at the same time.
Later, you might decide to start a print-on-demand or dropshipping e-commerce business, but this will take some time and research. Flipping existing items you don’t need is a great way to learn about users’ buying habits and dip your toes in the water.
2. Sell Your Study Notes
If you’re a student or just recently graduated from your studies, you could upload and sell your study notes, flashcards, etc. on platforms like Stuvia. Once uploaded, you can build recurring passive income and know that you’re also benefiting potentially thousands of other students who need assistance and guidance through their studies.
Through the income generated, you might decide to reinvest a portion of it into building a website and launching your own tutoring service online. Uploading your class notes to Stuvia and similar websites requires zero background or experience apart from the field of study you’re engaged in, and you don’t need followers as the audience is already sitting there waiting on these platforms.
3. Join A Freelance Marketplace
Another way to start making money online without having a website built yet, is to join a freelance marketplace like Upwork, TopTal, or Fiverr. UpWork and Fiverr have relatively low barriers to entry compared to more exclusive networks like Contra or TopTal, so it’s easier for you to create an account, complete your profile, and start applying for projects or posting your service offers and packages.
For instance, you might offer video editing for Instagram reels for $50. With just 10 clients, you would’ve made $500 from your spare time.
4. Get Discovered On LinkedIn Services
Last but not least, one way that you can temporarily have a miniature website and make money, without needing to actually build one, is to utilize LinkedIn’s Services feature.
Through adding a service like coaching or consulting to your profile, creating a service page describing your work, and uploading a few samples you’ve created showcasing tangible outcomes, you can become visible in LinkedIn’s Services section when people search for specific keywords related to your service. They will start contacting you and requesting you for projects without you needing to cold-pitch.
To ensure this is as effective as possible, dedicate some time to building a highly optimized LinkedIn profile, and check that all sections have been completed.
These four ideas you can start right now from where you are, within the comfort of your home. You don’t need any technical set-up and you certainly don’t need hundreds or thousands of fans or followers. That will come later. What matters right now is taking action. Start now, see results, repeat, and double down.