Mother money-making projects right now – for beginners helping women entrepreneurs generate financial freedom

Here's the tea, motherhood is not for the weak. But what's really wild? Trying to hustle for money while dealing with children who have boundless energy while I'm running on fumes.

I entered the side gig world about three years ago when I realized that my Target runs were way too frequent. I was desperate for some independent income.

The Virtual Assistant Life

So, my first gig was jumping into virtual assistance. And real talk? It was perfect. I was able to get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and literally all it took was my laptop and decent wifi.

I started with simple tasks like email sorting, doing social media scheduling, and basic admin work. Pretty straightforward. I charged about fifteen dollars an hour, which seemed low but as a total beginner, you gotta build up your portfolio.

Here's what was wild? I would be on a Zoom call looking like I had my life together from the waist up—full professional mode—while wearing my rattiest leggings. Peak mom life.

The Etsy Shop Adventure

After a year, I wanted to explore the whole Etsy thing. Every mom I knew seemed to be on Etsy, so I was like "why not get in on this?"

My shop focused on designing printable planners and home decor prints. The thing about selling digital stuff? Design it once, and it can keep selling indefinitely. Literally, I've made sales at ungodly hours.

That initial sale? I lost my mind. My partner was like something was wrong. But no—I was just, doing a happy dance for my five dollar sale. Don't judge me.

The Content Creation Grind

Next I discovered blogging and content creation. This one is definitely a slow burn, real talk.

I created a family lifestyle blog where I wrote about what motherhood actually looks like—the good, the bad, and the ugly. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Just the actual truth about finding mystery stains on everything I own.

Building up views was slow. For months, I was basically my only readers were my mom and two bots. But I stayed consistent, and eventually, things took off.

At this point? I earn income through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and ad revenue. This past month I made over $2K from my website. Wild, right?

SMM Side Hustle

After I learned my own content, other businesses started asking if I could manage their accounts.

Real talk? A lot of local businesses are terrible with social media. They know they have to be on it, but they're clueless about the algorithm.

Enter: me. I handle social media for several small companies—various small businesses. I develop content, plan their posting schedule, respond to comments, and check their stats.

I charge between $500-1500 per month per client, depending on the complexity. Here's what's great? I handle this from my iPhone.

The Freelance Writing Hustle

If you can write, freelance writing is seriously profitable. I don't mean writing the next Great American Novel—this is blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.

Businesses everywhere always need writers. I've written articles about everything from dental hygiene to copyright. You don't need to be an expert, you just need to be able to learn quickly.

Generally earn fifty to one hundred fifty bucks per piece, depending on the topic and length. Some months I'll create a dozen articles and earn one to two thousand extra.

The funny thing is: Back in school I thought writing was torture. Now I'm getting paid for it. The irony.

Tutoring Online

After lockdown started, everyone needed online help. I was a teacher before kids, so this was right up my alley.

I registered on VIPKid and Tutor.com. It's super flexible, which is non-negotiable when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.

I focus on elementary reading and math. Income ranges from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on where you work.

The awkward part? There are times when my kids will crash my tutoring session mid-session. I've literally had to maintain composure during complete chaos in the background. The parents on the other end are incredibly understanding because they're parents too.

The Reselling Game

Okay, this side gig I stumbled into. I was cleaning out my kids' closet and listed some clothes on Facebook Marketplace.

Stuff sold out within hours. Lightbulb moment: you can sell literally anything.

Now I visit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, on the hunt for good brands. I'll buy something for $3 and sell it for $30.

It's labor-intensive? For sure. There's photographing, listing, and shipping. But it's strangely fulfilling about finding hidden treasures at a yard sale and turning a profit.

Bonus: my kids are impressed when I bring home interesting finds. Last week I scored a vintage toy that my son freaked out about. Got forty-five dollars for it. Victory for mom.

The Honest Reality

Real talk moment: side hustles take work. There's work involved, hence the name.

There are moments when I'm completely drained, doubting everything. I'm grinding at dawn hustling before the chaos starts, then handling mom duties, then back at it after bedtime.

But this is what's real? This income is mine. I'm not asking anyone to splurge on something nice. I'm helping with my family's finances. I'm teaching my children that moms can do anything.

Advice for New Mom Hustlers

If you're considering a side hustle, here's what I'd tell you:

Start with one thing. Don't attempt to start five businesses. Choose one hustle and become proficient before starting something else.

Use the time you have. Whatever time you have, that's fine. Whatever time you can dedicate is better than nothing.

Comparison is the thief of joy to Instagram moms. Everyone you're comparing yourself to? She's been grinding forever and has resources you don't see. Do your thing.

Don't be afraid to invest, but smartly. You don't need expensive courses. Be careful about spending $5,000 on a coaching program until you've proven the concept.

Work in batches. This saved my sanity. Block off specific days for specific tasks. Monday could be content creation day. Wednesday might be organizing and responding.

Let's Talk Mom Guilt

I have to be real with you—I struggle with guilt. There are days when I'm on my laptop and they want to play, and I feel terrible.

But then I think about that I'm teaching them work ethic. I'm proving to them that women can be mothers and entrepreneurs.

Also? Earning independently has been good for me. I'm more content, which helps me be better.

Let's Talk Money

How much do I earn? Typically, from all my side gigs, I pull in between three and five grand. It varies, others are slower.

Will this make you wealthy? Not really. But we've used it to pay for vacations, home improvements, and that emergency vet bill that would've been impossible otherwise. Plus it's giving me confidence and experience that could turn into something bigger.

Final Thoughts

Look, doing this mom hustle thing takes work. It's not a magic formula. A lot of days I'm improvising everything, surviving on coffee, and crossing my fingers.

But I'm glad I'm doing this. Each bit of income is validation of my effort. It shows that I have identity beyond motherhood.

So if you're considering starting a side hustle? Take the leap. Start messy. You in six months will be grateful.

And remember: You're not merely getting by—you're growing something incredible. Even when there's likely snack crumbs everywhere.

For real. It's pretty amazing, despite the chaos.

My Content Creator Journey: My Journey as a Single Mom

Let me be real with you—being a single parent was never the plan. Neither was building a creator business. But here we are, years into this crazy ride, making a living by being vulnerable on the internet while parenting alone. And real talk? It's been the best worst decision of my life.

How It Started: When Everything Imploded

It was three years ago when my life exploded. I will never forget sitting in my new apartment (he took the couch, I got the kids' art projects), unable to sleep at 2am while my kids were passed out. I had less than a thousand dollars in my bank account, little people counting on me, and a salary that was a joke. The panic was real, y'all.

I was on TikTok to numb the pain—because that's the move? when we're drowning, right?—when I stumbled on this solo parent sharing how she paid off $30,000 in debt through posting online. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."

But when you're desperate, you try anything. Maybe both. Often both.

I installed the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Me, no makeup, messy bun, sharing how I'd just spent my last $12 on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' lunches. I posted it and immediately regretted it. Who gives a damn about my mess?

Spoiler alert, thousands of people.

That video got forty-seven thousand views. Nearly fifty thousand people watched me breakdown over frozen nuggets. The comments section turned into this safe space—people who got it, other people struggling, all saying "this is my life." That was my turning point. People didn't want the highlight reel. They wanted raw.

Building My Platform: The Hot Mess Single Mom Brand

Here's what nobody tells you about content creation: your niche matters. And my niche? It chose me. I became the unfiltered single mom.

I started filming the stuff nobody talks about. Like how I once wore the same yoga pants for four days straight because washing clothes was too much. Or the time I let them eat Lucky Charms for dinner all week and called it "creative meal planning." Or that moment when my six-year-old asked where daddy went, and I had to discuss divorce to a kid who thinks the tooth fairy is real.

My content wasn't polished. My lighting was awful. I filmed on a cracked iPhone 8. But it was unfiltered, and apparently, that's what connected.

Within two months, I hit 10,000 followers. Month three, 50,000. By half a year, I'd crossed a hundred thousand. Each milestone blew my mind. Real accounts who wanted to hear what I had to say. Plain old me—a financially unstable single mom who had to figure this out from zero recently.

My Daily Reality: Managing It All

Here's what it actually looks like of my typical day, because being a single mom creator is totally different from those pretty "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm screams. I do not want to move, but this is my precious quiet time. I make coffee that will get cold, and I get to work. Sometimes it's a getting ready video talking about financial reality. Sometimes it's me cooking while discussing custody stuff. The lighting is whatever natural light comes through my kitchen window.

7:00am: Kids are awake. Content creation stops. Now I'm in mommy mode—cooking eggs, the shoe hunt (it's always one shoe), making lunch boxes, mediating arguments. The chaos is real.

8:30am: School drop-off. I'm that mom making videos while driving when stopped. Don't judge me, but bills don't care.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my work block. House is quiet. I'm cutting clips, replying to DMs, ideating, pitching brands, checking analytics. Everyone assumes content creation is just posting videos. It's not. It's a entire operation.

I usually film in batches on Mondays and Wednesdays. That means shooting multiple videos in one session. I'll swap tops so it seems like separate days. Pro tip: Keep different outfits accessible for outfit changes. My neighbors must think I'm insane, recording myself alone in the driveway.

3:00pm: Getting the kids. Parent time. But this is where it's complicated—frequently my viral videos come from the chaos. Last week, my daughter had a complete meltdown in Target because I couldn't afford a $40 toy. I recorded in the car once we left about dealing with meltdowns as a single parent. It got over 2 million views.

Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm usually too exhausted to make videos, but I'll queue up posts, reply to messages, or strategize. Many nights, after they're down, I'll work late because a deadline is coming.

The truth? There's no balance. It's just organized chaos with random wins.

Income Breakdown: How I Generate Income

Look, let's talk numbers because this is what people ask about. Can you make a living as a online creator? For sure. Is it simple? Nope.

My first month, I made $0. Second month? Zero. Third month, I got my first brand deal—$150 to post about a meal delivery. I literally cried. That $150 fed us.

Currently, three years later, here's how I make money:

Collaborations: This is my largest income stream. I work with brands that align with my audience—things that help, parenting tools, family items. I get paid anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per campaign, depending on deliverables. This past month, I did four brand deals and made eight thousand dollars.

TikTok Fund: Creator fund pays very little—maybe $200-400 per month for millions of views. YouTube ad revenue is way better. I make about $1,500/month from YouTube, but that required years.

Affiliate Links: I share links to items I love—everything from my beloved coffee maker to the bunk beds in their room. If someone clicks and buys, I get a kickback. This brings in about eight hundred to twelve hundred.

Online Products: I created a single mom budget planner and a cooking guide. They sell for fifteen dollars, and I sell maybe 50-100 per month. That's another over a thousand dollars.

Consulting Services: People wanting to start pay me to mentor them. I offer one-on-one coaching sessions for two hundred dollars. I do about 5-10 each month.

My total income: Most months, I'm making ten to fifteen thousand per month these days. Some months I make more, some are lower. It's inconsistent, which is scary when you're it. But it's a reference here triple what I made at my old job, and I'm present.

What They Don't Show Nobody Posts About

Content creation sounds glamorous until you're crying in your car because a post tanked, or handling nasty DMs from strangers who think they know your life.

The trolls are vicious. I've been called a bad mom, told I'm using my children, told I'm fake about being a single mom. I'll never forget, "Maybe your husband left because you're annoying." That one destroyed me.

The algorithm is unpredictable. One week you're getting viral hits. The next, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income varies wildly. You're always on, always "on", afraid to pause, you'll lose momentum.

The mom guilt is amplified exponentially. Each post, I wonder: Is this too much? Is this okay? Will they regret this when they're grown? I have clear boundaries—limited face shots, no discussing their personal struggles, nothing that could embarrass them. But the line is blurry sometimes.

The burnout hits hard. Sometimes when I can't create. When I'm depleted, over it, and completely finished. But life doesn't stop. So I do it anyway.

The Unexpected Blessings

But here's the thing—despite everything, this journey has given me things I never imagined.

Financial stability for the first time ever. I'm not loaded, but I eliminated my debt. I have an emergency fund. We took a real vacation last summer—the Mouse House, which was a dream not long ago. I don't stress about my account anymore.

Flexibility that's priceless. When my boy was sick last month, I didn't have to call in to work or lose income. I worked anywhere. When there's a field trip, I'm present. I'm there for them in ways I wasn't able to be with a normal job.

My people that saved me. The fellow creators I've met, especially other moms, have become actual friends. We vent, help each other, encourage each other. My followers have become this incredible cheerleading squad. They support me, lift me up, and make me feel seen.

Something that's mine. After years, I have my own thing. I'm more than an ex or only a parent. I'm a content creator. A businesswoman. Someone who made it happen.

Tips for Single Moms Wanting to Start

If you're a solo parent curious about this, here's what I'd tell you:

Begin now. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. It's fine. You improve over time, not by procrastinating.

Be yourself. People can spot fake. Share your actual life—the messy, imperfect, chaotic reality. That's what works.

Guard their privacy. Set boundaries early. Decide what you will and won't share. Their privacy is non-negotiable. I don't use their names, limit face shots, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.

Multiple revenue sources. Spread it out or one way to earn. The algorithm is unstable. Multiple income streams = stability.

Batch create content. When you have quiet time, make a bunch. Tomorrow you will appreciate it when you're too exhausted to create.

Connect with followers. Answer comments. Answer DMs. Connect authentically. Your community is your foundation.

Monitor what works. Be strategic. If something is time-intensive and tanks while a different post takes minutes and gets massive views, adjust your strategy.

Prioritize yourself. You matter too. Take breaks. Protect your peace. Your wellbeing matters more than going viral.

Be patient. This requires patience. It took me ages to make real income. The first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. Year two, $80K. Now, I'm on track for six figures. It's a long game.

Don't forget your why. On hard days—and they happen—remember your reason. For me, it's supporting my kids, flexibility with my kids, and showing myself that I'm capable of anything.

The Reality Check

Look, I'm telling the truth. Being a single mom creator is difficult. So damn hard. You're operating a business while being the lone caretaker of tiny humans who need you constantly.

There are days I second-guess this. Days when the nasty comments get to me. Days when I'm exhausted and stressed and asking myself if I should go back to corporate with a 401k.

But and then my daughter mentions she appreciates this. Or I look at my savings. Or I see a message from a follower saying my content helped her leave an unhealthy relationship. And I know it's worth it.

Where I'm Going From Here

Three years ago, I was lost and broke how I'd survive as a single mom. Currently, I'm a full-time creator making more money than I ever did in traditional work, and I'm there for my kids.

My goals now? Reach 500K by end of year. Launch a podcast for solo parents. Write a book eventually. Keep growing this business that changed my life.

Being a creator gave me a way out when I was desperate. It gave me a way to take care of my children, be available, and build something I'm genuinely proud of. It's not what I planned, but it's meant to be.

To any single parent on the fence: You absolutely can. It isn't simple. You'll struggle. But you're currently doing the hardest job in the world—raising humans alone. You're powerful.

Start imperfect. Be consistent. Keep your boundaries. And don't forget, you're more than just surviving—you're changing your life.

Gotta go now, I need to go film a TikTok about another last-minute project and I'm just now hearing about it. Because that's the reality—making content from chaos, video by video.

For real. Being a single mom creator? It's worth it. Despite I'm sure there's crumbs stuck to my laptop right now. No regrets, mess included.