Working mom home-based businesses for today — broken down that helps mothers seeking flexibility earn additional revenue

I'm gonna be honest with you, being a mom is absolutely wild. But you know what's even crazier? Attempting to secure the bag while managing kids, laundry, and approximately 47 snack requests per day.

I started my side hustle journey about three years ago when I figured out that my Target runs were becoming problematic. It was time to get some independent income.

Virtual Assistant Hustle

Here's what happened, I started out was doing VA work. And honestly? It was perfect. I was able to get stuff done when the house was finally peaceful, and literally all it took was my trusty MacBook and a prayer.

Initially I was doing easy things like email sorting, managing social content, and entering data. Pretty straightforward. I started at about $20/hour, which wasn't much but as a total beginner, you gotta build up your portfolio.

Here's what was wild? I would be on a client call looking completely put together from the chest up—full professional mode—while sporting pajama bottoms. Living my best life.

My Etsy Journey

About twelve months in, I decided to try the handmade marketplace scene. All my mom friends seemed to have an Etsy shop, so I was like "why not me?"

My shop focused on creating PDF planners and digital art prints. The beauty of printables? You create it once, and it can sell forever. Genuinely, I've gotten orders at ungodly hours.

The first time someone bought something? I literally screamed. He came running thinking I'd injured myself. Nope—it was just me, celebrating my five dollar sale. No shame in my game.

The Content Creation Grind

Then I ventured into the whole influencer thing. This particular side gig is a marathon not a sprint, real talk.

I launched a mom blog where I shared what motherhood actually looks like—everything unfiltered. None of that Pinterest-perfect life. Simply real talk about how I once found a chicken nugget in my bra.

Building traffic was painfully slow. Initially, it was basically creating content for crickets. But I didn't give up, and eventually, things gained momentum.

Currently? I generate revenue through affiliate marketing, collaborations, and display ads. Last month I made over $2K from my blog alone. Crazy, right?

Managing Social Media

When I became good with managing my blog's social media, local businesses started reaching out if I could run their social media.

Real talk? A lot of local businesses struggle with social media. They recognize they should be posting, but they're too busy.

That's where I come in. I oversee social media for a handful of clients—different types of businesses. I make posts, queue up posts, handle community management, and monitor performance.

They pay me between $500-1500 per month per business, depending on the scope of work. Best part? I can do most of it from my phone.

The Freelance Writing Hustle

For the wordy folks, freelance writing is where it's at. I don't mean writing the next Great American Novel—I'm talking about blog posts, articles, website copy, product descriptions.

Companies constantly need fresh content. I've written everything from subjects I knew nothing about before Googling. You just need to research, you just need to know how to find information.

On average make $50-150 per article, depending on the topic and length. Certain months I'll create 10-15 articles and earn one to two thousand extra.

Here's what's wild: I was that student who barely passed English class. These days I'm a professional writer. The irony.

The Online Tutoring Thing

When COVID hit, virtual tutoring became huge. I used to be a teacher, so this was kind of a natural fit.

I started working with several tutoring platforms. It's super flexible, which is crucial when you have kids with unpredictable schedules.

My sessions are usually basic subjects. Rates vary from fifteen to twenty-five hourly depending on the platform.

What's hilarious? Sometimes my kids will interrupt mid-session. I've literally had to be professional while chaos erupted behind me. My clients are usually super understanding because they're living the same life.

Flipping Items for Profit

Okay, this hustle wasn't planned. I was decluttering my kids' room and put some things on Mercari.

They sold immediately. That's when I realized: you can sell literally anything.

Currently I visit thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections, hunting for quality items. I'll buy something for three bucks and flip it for thirty.

It's definitely work? For sure. I'm photographing items, writing descriptions, shipping packages. But there's something satisfying about finding a gem at a garage sale and turning a profit.

Also: my kids think I'm cool when I score cool vintage stuff. Last week I discovered a retro toy that my son absolutely loved. Got forty-five dollars for it. Mom win.

The Truth About Side Hustles

Let me keep it real: these aren't get-rich-quick schemes. It's called hustling because you're hustling.

There are days when I'm exhausted, wondering why I'm doing this. I'm grinding at dawn being productive before the madness begins, then all day mom-ing, then more hustle time after the kids are asleep.

But this is what's real? This income is mine. No permission needed to get the good coffee. I'm adding to the family budget. My kids see that you can be both.

What I Wish I Knew

If you're thinking about a side hustle, here are my tips:

Don't go all in immediately. You can't start five businesses. Choose one hustle and become proficient before starting something else.

Use the time you have. If you only have evenings, that's okay. A couple of productive hours is a great beginning.

Comparison is the thief of joy to the highlight reels. The successful ones you see? She probably started years ago and has help. Run your own race.

Learn and grow, but strategically. Free information exists. Be careful about spending massive amounts on training until you've tried things out.

Batch tasks together. This changed everything. Set aside days for specific hustles. Monday might be writing day. Wednesday could be organizing and responding.

Dealing with Mom Guilt

Let me be honest—guilt is part of this. Sometimes when I'm focused on work while my kids need me, and I feel guilty.

But I think about that I'm modeling for them what dedication looks like. I'm showing my daughter that you can be both.

Also? Earning independently has improved my mental health. I'm happier, which makes me a better parent.

Income Reality Check

The real numbers? On average, combining everything, I bring in $3K-5K. Some months are lower, some are tougher.

Is it life-changing money? Nope. But this money covers stuff that matters to us that would've caused financial strain. Plus it's creating opportunities and knowledge that could evolve into something huge.

In Conclusion

Listen, being a mom with a side hustle isn't easy. There's no magic formula. Often I'm making it up as I go, surviving on coffee, and praying it all works out.

But I don't regret it. Every single dollar earned is proof that I can do hard things. It shows that I have identity beyond motherhood.

If you're on the fence about beginning your hustle journey? Take the leap. Start messy. Your tomorrow self will thank you.

And remember: You're more than getting by—you're building something. Even when there's probably old cheerios stuck to your laptop.

No cap. It's where it's at, chaos and all.

From Survival Mode to Content Creator: My Journey as a Single Mom

I'm gonna be honest—single motherhood wasn't on my vision board. I also didn't plan on turning into an influencer. But here we are, three years later, earning income by posting videos while parenting alone. And I'll be real? It's been life-changing in every way of my life.

How It Started: When Everything Fell Apart

It was three years ago when my divorce happened. I remember sitting in my half-empty apartment (he took what he wanted, I kept what mattered), staring at my phone at 2am while my kids were asleep. I had barely $850 in my account, two kids to support, and a paycheck that wasn't enough. The anxiety was crushing, y'all.

I was on TikTok to numb the pain—because that's the move? when we're drowning, right?—when I came across this divorced mom sharing how she became debt-free through posting online. I remember thinking, "That can't be real."

But desperation makes you brave. Maybe both. Probably both.

I got the TikTok studio app the next morning. My first video? Completely unpolished, talking about how I'd just blown my final $12 on a dinosaur nuggets and snacks for my kids' school lunches. I shared it and felt sick. Who gives a damn about my broke reality?

Spoiler alert, a lot of people.

That video got 47,000 views. 47,000 people watched me almost lose it over $12 worth of food. The comments section was this safe space—fellow solo parents, folks in the trenches, all saying "this is my life." That was my lightbulb moment. People didn't want filtered content. They wanted honest.

Finding My Niche: The Real Mom Life Brand

Here's what they don't say about content creation: finding your niche is everything. And my niche? It happened organically. I became the single mom who keeps it brutally honest.

I started sharing the stuff no one shows. Like how I lived in one outfit because laundry felt impossible. Or the time I served cereal as a meal several days straight and called it "breakfast for dinner week." Or that moment when my kid asked why daddy doesn't live here anymore, and I had to have big conversations to a kid who is six years old.

My content was rough. My lighting was non-existent. I filmed on a phone with a broken screen. But it was unfiltered, and evidently, that's what resonated.

Two months later, I hit ten thousand followers. Three months later, 50K. By six months, I'd crossed 100K. Each milestone felt impossible. Real accounts who wanted to follow me. Plain old me—a struggling single mom who had to ask Google what this meant months before.

A Day in the Life: Balancing Content and Chaos

Let me paint you a picture of my typical day, because being a single mom creator is the opposite of those perfect "day in the life" videos you see.

5:30am: My alarm sounds. I do want to throw my phone, but this is my work time. I make coffee that I'll microwave repeatedly, and I start recording. Sometimes it's a morning routine sharing about budgeting. Sometimes it's me prepping lunches while talking about parenting coordination. The lighting is natural and terrible.

7:00am: Kids wake up. Content creation goes on hold. Now I'm in parent mode—cooking eggs, finding the missing shoe (where do they go), packing lunches, referee duties. The chaos is next level.

8:30am: Getting them to school. I'm that mom creating content in traffic at red lights. Don't judge me, but I gotta post.

9:00am-2:00pm: This is my productive time. Peace and quiet. I'm editing content, replying to DMs, thinking of ideas, doing outreach, checking analytics. Everyone assumes content creation is simple. Wrong. It's a entire operation.

I usually create multiple videos on specific days. That means making a dozen videos in one session. I'll swap tops so it seems like separate days. Life hack: Keep wardrobe options close for easy transitions. My neighbors probably think I'm unhinged, filming myself talking to my phone in the parking lot.

3:00pm: School pickup. Mom mode activated. But this is where it's complicated—many times my biggest hits come from real life. Recently, my daughter had a epic meltdown in Target because I refused to get a $40 toy. I made content in the car afterward about managing big emotions as a single parent. It got 2.3 million views.

Evening: Dinner, homework, bath time, bedtime routines. I'm completely exhausted to film, but I'll schedule content, check DMs, or prep for tomorrow. Some nights, after the kids are asleep, I'll edit for hours because a client needs content.

The truth? Balance is a myth. It's just organized chaos with some victories.

Let's Talk Income: How I Really Earn Money

Look, let's talk numbers because this is what everyone's curious about. Can you really earn income as a content creator? For sure. Is it easy? Not even close.

My first month, I made zilch. Second month? Also nothing. Month three, I got my first collaboration—one hundred fifty dollars to share a meal box. I literally cried. That $150 covered food.

Currently, three years in, here's how I generate revenue:

Brand Partnerships: This is my biggest income source. I work with brands that align with my audience—practical items, parenting tools, kid essentials. I bill anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per deal, depending on deliverables. This past month, I did four collabs and made eight thousand dollars.

Platform Payments: Creator fund pays very little—a few hundred dollars per month for tons of views. YouTube ad revenue is actually decent. I make about fifteen hundred a month from YouTube, but that required years.

Affiliate Income: I post links to items I love—anything from my go-to coffee machine to the bunk beds in their room. If they buy using my link, I get a kickback. This brings in about $800-$1200/month.

Online Products: I created a financial planner and a cooking guide. They're $15 each, and I sell dozens per month. That's another $1,000-1,500.

One-on-One Coaching: New creators pay me to teach them the ropes. I offer 1:1 sessions for $200/hour. I do about 5-10 a month.

My total income: On average, I'm making $10,000-15,000 per month these days. Some months I make more, some are less. It's unpredictable, which is stressful when there's no backup. But it's 3x what I made at my corporate job, and I'm present.

What They Don't Show Nobody Talks About

Content creation sounds glamorous until you're crying in your car because a video flopped, or dealing with vicious comments from strangers who think they know your life.

The haters are brutal. I've been accused of being a bad mother, told I'm problematic, accused of lying about being a single mom. One person said, "I'd leave too." That one destroyed me.

The algorithm is unpredictable. One month you're getting insane views. The following week, you're lucky to break 1,000. Your income fluctuates. You're constantly creating, never resting, nervous about slowing down, you'll fall behind.

The mom guilt is amplified exponentially. Each post, I wonder: Am I oversharing? Are my kids safe? Will they hate me for this when they're older? I have firm rules—limited face shots, no sharing their private stuff, nothing humiliating. But the line is hard to see.

The I get burnt out. There are weeks when I have nothing. When I'm depleted, over it, and totally spent. But rent doesn't care. So I do it anyway.

What Makes It Worth It

But here's the thing—even with the struggles, this journey has given me things I never anticipated.

Money security for the first time in my life. I'm not rich, but I cleared $18K. I have an safety net. We took a actual vacation last summer—Disney, which was a dream two years ago. I don't panic about money anymore.

Schedule freedom that's priceless. When my son got sick last month, I didn't have to ask permission or stress about losing pay. I worked from the doctor's office. When there's a school thing, I'm present. I'm present in my kids' lives in ways I couldn't be with a normal job.

Community that saved me. The other creators I've connected with, especially solo parents, have become true friends. We support each other, exchange tips, encourage each other. My followers have become this beautiful community. They celebrate my wins, lift me up, and show me I'm not alone.

Identity beyond "mom". Finally, I have an identity. I'm not just someone's ex-wife or only a parent. I'm a business owner. A businesswoman. Someone who built something from nothing.

My Best Tips

If you're a single mom wanting to start, here's my advice:

Don't wait. Your first videos will be trash. Mine did. Everyone starts there. You learn by doing, not by waiting until everything is perfect.

Be authentic, not perfect. People can spot fake. Share your real life—the mess. That's what connects.

Protect your kids. Establish boundaries. Know your limits. Their privacy is the priority. I protect their names, protect their faces, and never discuss anything that could embarrass them.

Multiple revenue sources. Diversify or one way to earn. The algorithm is unstable. Diversification = security.

Create in batches. When you have available time, make a bunch. Next week you will appreciate it when you're unable to film.

Connect with followers. Respond to comments. Respond to DMs. Connect authentically. Your community is what matters.

Track your time and ROI. Time is money. If something takes four hours and gets nothing while something else takes 20 minutes and goes viral, change tactics.

Take care of yourself. You matter too. Rest. Protect your peace. Your sanity matters more than going viral.

Stay patient. This requires patience. It took me eight months to make meaningful money. My first year, I made maybe $15,000 total. The second year, eighty thousand. This year, I'm projected for $100K+. It's a journey.

Don't forget your why. On bad days—and there are many—think about your why. For me, it's supporting my kids, time with my children, and validating that I'm stronger than I knew.

Being Real With You

Here's the deal, I'm telling the truth. This journey is challenging. So damn hard. You're running a whole business while being the lone caretaker of tiny humans who need you constantly.

Many days I second-guess this. Days when the nasty comments get to me. Days when I'm drained and wondering if I should quit this with insurance.

But then my daughter shares she's happy I'm here. Or I see financial progress. Or I get a DM from a follower saying my content changed her life. And I know it's worth it.

The Future

A few years back, I was scared and struggling an in-depth guide how to survive. Today, I'm a professional creator making more than I imagined in my 9-5, and I'm home when my kids get off the school bus.

My goals moving forward? Hit 500,000 followers by end of year. Start a podcast for solo parents. Possibly write a book. Continue building this business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.

This journey gave me a lifeline when I was drowning. It gave me a way to provide for my family, be there, and create something meaningful. It's a surprise, but it's perfect.

To any single parent wondering if you can do this: You absolutely can. It won't be easy. You'll struggle. But you're managing the most difficult thing—doing this alone. You're tougher than you realize.

Jump in messy. Stay consistent. Protect your peace. And know this, you're doing more than surviving—you're changing your life.

BRB, I need to go record a video about why my kid's school project is due tomorrow and surprise!. Because that's the reality—content from the mess, one video at a time.

No cap. Being a single mom creator? It's everything. Even if there's definitely crushed cheerios all over my desk. Living the dream, one messy video at a time.