As a dad who made the conscious decision to stay home with my kids, I’ve learned firsthand that there are numerous ways for stay-at-home dads like you and me to make money, find purpose, and still be fully involved in our children’s lives. So here’s my guide on how to make money as a stay at home dad…
Summarizing Your Options
Before we dive deep, here’s a quick overview of how to make money as a stay at home dad. These are the solutions that other stay-at-home dads and I have found to be the most viable. They are all centered around flexibility and the ability to work around your family’s schedule.
- Make Money Working from Home (The Active Income Path): These are jobs where you trade your time and skills for direct payment. They are often project-based or hourly, offering the flexibility you need.
- Freelance Writing, Editing, and Proofreading
- Virtual Assistant Services
- Online Tutoring or Teaching
- Social Media Management
- Bookkeeping and Accounting
- Web Development and Graphic Design
- Make Money Through Passive Income Channels (The Long-Game Path): These are ventures that require an initial investment of time and/or money, but can generate income with minimal ongoing effort.
- Blogging and Affiliate Marketing
- Creating and Selling Digital Products (eBooks, courses, printables)
- E-commerce and Dropshipping
- Selling Stock Photography
- Make Money With The Hybrid Approach (The Best of Both Worlds): Combining active and passive income streams to create a diversified and sustainable income.
Section 1: The Active Income Path
This is where most of us start. I did too! It is suitable if you have a set of skills, and you’re looking for a way to use them without a traditional 9-to-5 commitment. These careers for stay at home dads are perfect for leveraging your existing expertise or learning a new skill in your spare time.
Freelance Writing, Editing, and Proofreading
If you have a passion for writing, this could be an excellent opportunity for you. You can write for blogs, websites, or even magazines and get paid per article or project.
Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer make it easy to find writing gigs.
- How it works: Businesses, blogs, and marketing agencies are always in need of quality content. You can write articles, blog posts, website copy, or marketing materials on a contract basis.
- The Dad Advantage: This is the ultimate “naptime hustle.” You can write an article in the quiet hours after the kids go to bed or during their morning cartoons.
- How to get started: Build a small portfolio of your work, even if it’s just a personal blog. Create a profile on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Contently. Start with smaller gigs to build your reputation and then work your way up to higher-paying clients.
Virtual Assistant Services
If you’re a master of organization and a multitasking maestro, becoming a virtual assistant (VA) is a natural fit. As a stay-at-home dad, you’re already juggling schedules, emails, and a dozen other things—now you can get paid for it!
- How it works: VAs provide administrative, technical, or creative assistance to clients remotely. This could be anything from managing a calendar and scheduling appointments to handling email correspondence and social media.
- The Dad Advantage: This role plays to your strengths as a caregiver. You’re already an expert in time management and prioritization.
- How to get started: Identify your strongest skills (e.g., data entry, customer service, email marketing) and create a service package. Market your services on social media or freelance sites.
Online Tutoring or Coaching
Did you excel in math, science, or a foreign language in school?
Don’t look at me – I wasn’t good at maths, but I was praised for teaching others things so easily.
You can provide personalized coaching or consultancy services to individuals or businesses and charge for your time or expertise. I read a quora comment not long ago about a guy that was offering consultation services from his bed and was making quite a decent amount (five-figures) monthly.
- How it works: You teach students of all ages through video calls on subjects you’re an expert in. Platforms like VIPKid, Outschool, or Wyzant connect you with students. You can also set up a coaching/consulting service. Websites like Teachable or Udemy allow you to design and sell courses that generate income for you long after you’ve created them.
- The Dad Advantage: The hours are incredibly flexible. You can schedule sessions in the evenings, on weekends, or during the day if your kids are at school.
- How to get started: Choose your subject, sign up for a tutoring platform, or create a simple website to offer your coaching/consulting services. You can also market your services directly to parents in your local community.
Bookkeeping and Accounting
If numbers are your friend and you’re meticulous with details, a career in remote bookkeeping or accounting can be very rewarding.
- How it works: Many small businesses outsource their financial records management. You can handle tasks like tracking expenses, preparing invoices, and managing payroll from home.
- The Dad Advantage: The work is predictable and can be scheduled around your family’s needs. You can get a lot done during naptime or in the evenings.
- How to get started: You’ll likely need a certification (like QuickBooks) to get started. Once you’re certified, you can find clients through freelance platforms or local business networks.
Section 2: The Passive Income Path
Passive income is the holy grail for stay-at-home parents. It’s about building something once that continues to generate revenue over time. It’s not “get rich quick,” but it is a powerful way to create a sustainable income stream that grows even when you’re busy with dad duties.
Blogging and Affiliate Marketing
I’ll be honest—this is a long-term play, but it’s one of the most rewarding. Starting a blog about a topic you’re passionate about can turn into a significant source of income.
- How it works: You create valuable content (blog posts, videos) that attracts an audience. Once you have a following, you can monetize your content through:
- Affiliate Marketing: Recommending products and services and earning a commission for every sale made through your unique link.
- Ad Revenue: Placing ads on your website or YouTube channel.
- Sponsored Content: Partnering with brands to promote their products.
- The Dad Advantage: You can blog about your life as a stay-at-home dad, sharing tips on parenting, cooking, or home improvement. Your unique perspective is a great way to build a connection with an audience.
- How to get started: Choose a niche you love, create a website (WordPress is a great option), and start writing consistently. Learn the basics of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to help people find your content.
Creating and Selling Digital Products
Do you have a skill that could be taught or a system that could be packaged? Think about turning that knowledge into a digital product.
- How it works: You create a product once—an eBook, an online course, a set of printable meal planners—and sell it to your audience. The initial work is front-loaded, but once it’s created, you can sell it indefinitely.
- The Dad Advantage: This is truly passive. Once your product is live, it can generate sales while you’re at the park with your kids or building a LEGO castle.
- How to get started: Identify a problem you can solve for your target audience. Use platforms like Gumroad or Shopify to sell your products. Promote them through your blog, social media, or a small email list.
E-commerce and Dropshipping
Have you ever thought about selling products online? E-commerce has never been easier to get into.
- How it works: You can sell your own handcrafted goods on a platform like Etsy or start a dropshipping business where you sell products without holding any inventory. With dropshipping, a third-party supplier handles all the packaging and shipping.
- The Dad Advantage: You can run the entire business from your laptop. With dropshipping, you avoid the time and space constraints of managing inventory.
- How to get started: Research a product niche, set up an online store using a platform like Shopify, and find a reliable dropshipping supplier.
Section 3: The Hybrid Approach
The most successful stay-at-home dads I know don’t rely on just one source of income. They create a hybrid model that blends the stability of active income with the growth potential of passive income.
For example, you could be a freelance writer (active income) who also runs a blog about fatherhood (passive income).
The blog provides a platform to showcase your writing skills, attract potential clients, and eventually generate revenue through affiliate marketing and ads. This multi-faceted approach creates a safety net and allows you to scale your earnings over time.
You can also
- Sell Handmade Crafts: If you’re good with your hands, consider selling handmade items like jewelry, toys, or artwork on Etsy or Shopify. I saw this facebook post of a dad who retired recently and his wife provided him with a knitting kit and pointed him towards some YouTube videos. He’s now making sales whilst still in the house. He’s probably earning from sharing the tutorial videos of making these knitted items on YouTube and Facebook, while running a blog, selling on Etsy/Shopify, and in his neighborhood. Cool!
- Offer Pet Sitting or Dog Walking Services: If you love animals, dog walking or pet sitting could be a profitable side hustle. And you can do them when the kids aren’t around.
- Food Delivery or Ride-sharing: If you need flexible work, consider driving for companies like Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash when your partner is at home to look after the kids.
Finally,
Start small. Don’t try to do everything at once.
Choose one or two ideas that resonate with you, and give them your full attention during those precious quiet moments. I started with a simple freelance writing gig, and it’s grown into so much more. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in the margins of your day. So go on, dad. Find your hustle. The dishwasher can wait.
