While most people like having money, they prefer their hobbies over their jobs. There’s nothing wrong with having fun doing what you love, but that doesn’t pay the bills. But what if it could?

Fortunately, almost any hobby can be turned into an income stream. Using the right channels and techniques is all that you need to do, and we can help.

In this article, we’ll cover ten hobbies that you can turn into money-making ventures today.

10 Hobbies that Can Make You Money

All of the following hobbies can help you turn fun into cash, from classics, like photography, to more modern ones, like drone flying:

1. Photography 

The best part about photography is that you don’t necessarily need a fancy camera; it’s all about technique, timing, and your story-telling skills. You can always become a freelance photographer and try to land gigs through friends or family, but there are other paths you can take too. 

Here are some ways to monetize your photography hobby:

• Take photos for clients.
• Start a photography blog.
• Sell stock photos.
• Write an ebook about photography.

2. Blogging 

There are many ways bloggers can earn, but whatever their strategy, blogging is a terrific way to focus on your side interest. Blogging can allow you to share your passion with the world, while also bringing in plenty of cash.

While you will need a significant time investment to grow a blog into a consistent revenue stream, you can use your blog as a platform to push countless other ventures. And if you get tired of it, you can always sell your blog.

Here are some ways you can make money from a blog:

• Publish sponsored content.
• Sell your own products.
• Promote the products of other people.
• Displaying ads.

3. Speaking

For extroverts who like to be the life of the party, there are plenty of platforms to turn speaking into a side income. There’s always demand for people that feel comfortable speaking in front of others, be it in person or with a camera. The only thing you need is a little practice!

An ideal place to start is:

• Speaking in academic seminars.
• Becoming a panel speaker at conferences.
• Offering voice-over services on a freelancing site.
• Doing voiceover work. 

4. Language

Anyone who is proficient in even one language can earn a decent salary, regardless of where they come from. A number of opportunities exist in translation services, proofreading for non-native speakers, and transcription services. 

At most, you would need to incorporate automated tools to speed up and perfect the process in order to gain language proficiency.

Here are some ways to monetize a language hobby:

• Working as a proofreader.
• Offering translation services.
• Working as a transcriptionist.

5. Flying Drones

People love flying drones, but what many don’t know is that you can make a surprising amount of money this way. With a drone, you can take pictures and capture video from angles and distances that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to. You can sell these services to real estate agents, event planners, or other businesses that show interest.

How to make money flying a drone:

• Capture video and photos for real estate agents.
• Create a Youtube channel about drone photography.
• Teach people how to fly drones.
• Offer videos for weddings or events.

6. Writing

Writing is one of the most popular ways to turn a hobby into a new income stream. You can try freelance blogging, ebook writing, or just starting your own blog. There’s plenty of opportunities for talented writers, and they pay very well.

Some of the ways to make money from writing include:

• Writing an ebook.
• Writing for blogs and websites.
• Writing sales copies.

7. Playing Video Games

In the past, making money from video games might have sounded like a crazy dream, but these days it’s one of the most popular ways to turn hobbies into profit. From online streaming to video game tournaments, a lot of kids these days are making thousands every month from the comfort of their gaming chairs.

If you love to game, consider doing one of the following:

• Streaming online on Twitch, Facebook Gaming, or YouTube.
• Going Pro.
• Starting a YouTube channel or Podcast about games.

8. Comedy

If you are usually the type of person that makes everyone around them laugh, it’s time to stop doing it for free. While comedy isn’t the easiest hobby to monetize for people, it can quickly grow if you manage to get the ball rolling. And with the rise of TikTok, YouTube, and social media in general, it’s far easier to make money on the side with jokes than it was in the past.

If you have funny bone, try the following ways to make money with it:

• Standup comedy.
• Starting a Youtube sketch channel.
• Creating a parody news website.

9. Taking Surveys

Filling out online surveys can be a great way to make money on the side if you love answering questions and sharing your opinion. Many reliable and high-rated websites will pay you for simply sharing your opinion on a given topic, and longer surveys usually take only 15-20 minutes. While this isn’t the most profitable item on the list, it is certainly the easiest and most flexible. You can take a survey while watching TV, surfing the web, or even eating.

If you are interested in making money through surveys, try these websites:

• Swagbucks.
• Survey Junkey.
• Inbox Dollars.
• MyPoints.

10. Surfing the Web

Did you know you can also make money just by going around the web? Like the previous item on the list, you won’t be getting a ton of money this way, but it can be a fun and relaxed way to enjoy your free time while making some cash on the side. All you have to do is sign up for one of the programs that pay you for navigating online.

Here are some of the platforms that can pay you for surfing the web:

• Swagbucks.
• UpVoice.
• Nielsen Computer & Mobile Panel.

Leverage Every Small Pocket Of Spare Time

It’s okay if your hobby wasn’t listed. With the rise of the gig economy, there are countless ways to make money these days. No matter what passion you have, you can always find a way to monetize it. You can turn any hobby into a real income stream using Youtube, podcasts, or online websites. Now is the time to start implementing all these ideas. Everything can be monetized these days, for better or worse, so don’t be afraid to go for it.