29 Best Self-Employed Jobs (For 2023)

Are you looking for jobs that let you be your own boss? We cover 27 of the best self-employed jobs you can find.

We have you covered, from entry-level jobs to self-employment business opportunities that leverage years of school and professional experience. You won’t believe that number 12 went from being a surgeon’s assistant to making millions a year, but it’s true (listen to the interview to find out how)!

That’s the perk of asking “How can I work for myself?” These self-employment ideas will give you unlimited earning potential.

Get ready to find your answer to the question “How to work for myself?”

What are the Best Self-Employed Jobs?

The answer to that question depends on your skills and interests. What most people are really asking, though, is “What are the highest-paying self-employed jobs?” With that in mind, here are some jobs where you can be your own boss that are consistently profitable business ideas.

Job #1. Digital Marketing

•  Average Annual Revenue: $817K
•  Average Profit Margins: 6.9%
•  Startup Costs: $100-$10K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
•  Best for: Marketing and advertising pros, entrepreneurs with social media and data analysis skills, content creators

Having an effective social media presence is essential for many businesses today, but not all entrepreneurs understand social media marketing. As a result, the digital marketing sector has grown by 28.2% per year on average over the past five years.

This wealth of opportunities is what puts digital marketing among the best-paying self-employed jobs for those who want to set their own hours. Digital marketing isn’t just social media marketing, either. Other digital marketing niches include SEO-focused web design, Google Ads expertise, or helping clients start successful blogs.

While having a bachelor’s degree can help build trust in your services, you don’t necessarily need one to become a digital marketer. A large personal social media presence, for instance, can demonstrate your skills as well as any credential.

Check out our interview with Eric, the owner of Single Grain. Who bought SMMA agency for just $2:

#2. Cleaning Business

•  Average Annual Revenue: $74K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 6.7%
•  Startup Costs: $500-$30K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
•  Best for: Self-motivated, independent, and detail-oriented entrepreneurs

If you have about $1,000 saved up to invest, look no further than a cleaning business. When it comes to success rate and ease of getting started with no experience, it blows most self-employment ideas out of the water.

The best part is that you can start with no employees but have the option to scale as soon as you have money coming in. Imagine getting rid of your day-to-day responsibilities and operating a business like the leader you are. This is not just another 9-to-5.

A former guest of ours, Chris Mondragon, did $18,220 in his second month of starting a cleaning business. He’s now well over $1.5M a year in revenue. If you’re curious how he did it, check this out.

Watch our interview with Chris below:

Job #3. Financial Advisor

•  Average Annual Revenue: $1.8M+
•  Average Profit Margins: 36.1%
•  Startup Costs: $500-$5K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.2%
•  Best for: Accountants, investors, and finance professionals, detail-oriented entrepreneurs with strong math, communication, and research skills

You can make good money as a financial advisor working for a firm or bank—the average salary for financial advisors in 2021 was around $94,000, and you can easily make a six-figure salary in this career path.

Becoming your own boss gives you complete control over your financial advising career, allowing you to make more money while setting your own hours. Financial advising is among the best self-employed jobs because there’s high demand for these services from people who are willing and able to pay for them. After all, the people who seek out financial advice are normally those who have savings that they want to invest.

The main role of a financial advisor is to help clients grow their wealth and meet their financial goals. Retirement planning is one of the most in-demand niches in this sector. Captrust Financial Advisors in New York saw more than 30% growth year-over-year in new retirement planning clients in 2021, and while this is just one example, it’s indicative of a trend.

This is one self-employed job where a bachelor’s degree is a hard-and-fast requirement. You will also need to obtain several licenses to legally operate your own business as a financial advisor. Certifications like CPA or CFP are optional but can help you build trust with prospective clients and grow your business faster.

Job #4. Software Developer

•  Average Annual Revenue: $400K-$1M+
•  Average Profit Margins: 14.5%
•  Startup Costs: $100-$50K, depending on size and scope
•  Time To Revenue: 3 months to 2 years
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 3.1%
•  Best for: Coders and developers adept in programming languages, independent and self-motivated entrepreneurs with strong communication and project management skills

The average salary of a software developer was over $120,000 in 2021, and with demand for these services continuing to rise, there are ample job opportunities for developers seeking traditional employment. That said, you can achieve both financial freedom and the freedom to set your own schedule by pursuing self-employment.

Some developers work with clients as independent contractors or on a freelance basis. Often, they’re brought on by businesses to help them develop and maintain software systems in their organizations, or to create new apps and software for use by their customers.

You can also truly be your own boss as a developer by designing your own programs and selling them straight to users. Going this route opens up more potential for passive income, too.

The career path to become a developer usually starts with getting a bachelor’s degree. There are also boot camps and professional certifications that can grow and verify your proficiency in programming languages and coding best practices.

Workello started as an agency to connect business leaders with freelance writing talent, but they truly unlocked their potential when they pivoted to become an SaaS company. Find out how they built their software business in this podcast episode:

#5. Vending Machine Business

•  Average Annual Revenue: $182K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 4.3%
•  Startup Cost: $2K-$10K
•  Time To Revenue: 3+ months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.5%
•  Best for: Those who like to tinker with machines and understand mechanics and those who enjoy driving

TIME is our single biggest enemy as entrepreneurs. Most self-employment ideas require a time commitment most of us don’t have…but vending is a different breed. It’s one of those rare self-employment ideas that’s perfect to start on the side. 

If done right, once you place your vending machines, you’ll only need a couple of hours a week to maintain them. In fact, as we speak, one of our friends, Adam Hill, is operating his six-figure vending machine business working just two days a week. 

He’s done so well for himself that we bugged him until he agreed to create a FREE masterclass for our UpFlip readers. It reveals exactly how he did it.

Watch our interview with Adam below:

Job #6. Makeup Artist

•  Average Annual Revenue: $47K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 7.1%
•  Startup Costs: $500-$5K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.9%
•  Best for: Creative and artistic entrepreneurs knowledgeable about fashion, style, and trends, people who are detail-oriented with strong communication and collaboration skills

Are you the person your friends turn to when they need makeup for a big event or help with their Halloween costumes? Then you may want to consider working for yourself as a freelance makeup artist.

The average salary for makeup artists is $66,000 per year, though this varies widely. Those just starting out may earn as little as $30,000 per year, while experienced MUAs can earn $120,000 or more.

You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to hold a self-employed job as a makeup artist. Depending on the type of makeup you do, though, you may need a cosmetology or esthetician license, or to be a Certified Makeup Artist, in order to start your own business (learn about the state-by-state requirements here).

Job #7. Business Consultant

•  Average Annual Revenue: $364K
•  Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
•  Startup Costs: $1K-$3.5M
•  Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.2%
•  Best for: Executives and business leaders, entrepreneurs with management or business expertise, people with strong analytic, problem-solving, and communication skills

Business Insider lists business consultant as the fourth highest-paying side hustle in 2022. With the potential to earn up to $98 per hour, it’s among the top high-paying self-employed jobs.

A consultant’s role is to help people who own their own businesses run them better. To do this, you need a firm understanding of effective business management. Most people who thrive as consultants pivot into freelance jobs after gaining experience in the corporate world or as successful business owners.

This experience is more important than your education, and if you have business expertise, you don’t need a bachelor’s degree (or even a high school diploma) to succeed as a self-employed individual in consulting.

Self-Employed Job Ideas in the Skilled Trades

Job #8. Painter

•  Average Annual Revenue: $76K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 7.2%
•  Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
•  Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: -2%
•  Best for: Home improvement pros, construction workers and contractors, people who enjoy physical work and have a sharp eye for detail

The hassle and mess of painting a home leads many homeowners, property managers, and business owners to hire someone to do it for them. A self-employed individual in this field can earn as much as $50 per hour for exterior home painting, significantly more than the average salary of painters employed by other companies.

Starting a house painting business is an excellent self-employment idea for those seeking a scalable niche. Joshua Douglas started his company, A Painter’s Touch, with $6,000, and has since grown to five crews bringing in upward of $25,000 a month.

His goal when starting the business was to achieve better balance between his work and personal life, but he ended up making more money than he had in his previous job, too. Hear his story in this podcast interview:

Job #9. Handyman

•  Average Annual Revenue: $204K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
•  Startup Costs: $500-$5K
•  Time To Revenue: 3+ months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.7%
•  Best for: People with construction and home repair experience, mechanically minded and detail-oriented entrepreneurs with strong customer service skills who like working with their hands

If you’re a whiz at troubleshooting and fixing problems around the house, working as a handyman could be the best self-employed job for you. Handyman services are in high demand, and you can charge as much as $100 per hour for performing basic home maintenance tasks like cleaning gutters, mounting TVs, or repairing cabinetry and drywall.

One advantage of self-employment as a handyman is that there’s a very low barrier to entry. You don’t need any special licenses or permits, or even a high-school diploma, to start booking jobs. The startup costs are minimal, too, especially if you already own basic repair tools.

Caleb Ingraham worked as a contractor before becoming a self-employed handyman. Five years in, he averages $25,000 a month in revenue and is booked up six weeks out. See how he built his business in this interview:

Job #10. Electrician

•  Average Annual Revenue: $1M+
•  Average Profit Margins: 6.2%
•  Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
•  Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.9%
•  Best for: Certified contractors and electricians, people with high dexterity who enjoy working with their hands, strong problem solvers with excellent customer service skills

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for an electrician is just over $60,000 per year and the industry is expected to grow at a rate of around 7% per year through 2031. That means wages and demand for employees are expected to grow faster than revenue.

Like other jobs in the skilled trades, the consistent demand for electricians is what makes it one of the best self-employed jobs. You’ll have a lot of options to find work, whether you work with customers directly or as an independent contractor for other construction firms.

You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to work as an electrician, but you will need to get licensed to demonstrate you can perform electrical work safely. The specific requirements vary state by state but normally require 4,000-8,000 hours of experience as well as passing an exam.

Once you have these skills, the sky’s the limit when it comes to earnings. Joe Walsman looked for self-employment options after the 2008 recession and decided to start his own business, Jefferson Electric. Today, it makes $500,000 a month in revenue on average. Hear how he built his business in this podcast interview:

Job #11. Construction

•  Average Annual Revenue: $696K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 3.4%
•  Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.3%
•  Best for: Contractors, builders, and makers, people with strong math skills who like physical work

If you excel at bringing designs to life and love building things by hand, construction could be the best self-employed job to go to work for yourself. While surging interest rates have put a damper on new construction, the long-term forecast calls for growth, with a CAGR of 5.2% through 2027.

This is another industry with a low barrier to entry. You don’t even need a high school diploma to do construction work, though contractors do need to be licensed by their state.

That doesn’t mean you need tons of experience to get started, though. Avanni Petras started his own business in construction at just 19 and in his first year made more than $125,000 in revenue. See how he built his business from scratch here:

Self-Employed Business Ideas You Can Start with a High School Diploma

Job #12. Delivery Driver

•  Average Annual Revenue: $131K
•  Average Profit Margins: 3.6%
•  Startup Costs: $100-$9.5K
•  Time To Revenue: 3+ months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 6.7%
•  Best for: Skilled drivers and navigators, organized and reliable entrepreneurs who are strong communicators

The rise in on-demand delivery is one trend from the pandemic that seems likely to continue long-term. Food delivery alone has more than tripled its market value since 2017, and that’s just one of the work-for-yourself jobs available in this sector.

The easiest way to become a self-employed food delivery driver is to sign up through a service like DoorDash or Uber Eats. You can do the same with a grocery delivery service like Instacart. These services allow drivers to set their own hours, so you don’t need to build a company from scratch to balance your self-employed job with your personal life.

You can also start your own business in the delivery sector. Doing so will require more time and money invested up front but can bring you much higher revenue down the line than delivering groceries or food through an existing app. If you’re considering this option, check out this interview with the founder of Trellus Same-Day Local Delivery to hear how they got started:

Job #13. Lawn Care and Landscaping

•  Average Annual Revenue: $272K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 8.7%
•  Startup Costs: $2K-$10K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.1%
•  Best for: People who love green spaces and working outside, gardeners and plant experts, detail-oriented entrepreneurs who excel at customer service

Landscaping and lawn care services are great business ideas for lovers of the outdoors. The number of landscaping businesses in the United States has increased by an average of 3.2% per year over the last five years, and demand for them is continuing to grow right along with it.

Some self-employed landscapers have bachelor’s degrees in landscape architecture or a similar area of study, but that’s certainly not a requirement to get started. You also don’t need a ton of money or specialized equipment, giving lawn care an overall low barrier to entry.

Not only is landscaping among the best self-employed jobs, but it can also easily be scaled into a very profitable business. Mike Andes grew Augusta Lawn Care to more than $1 million in revenue by age 24, then scaled it even further by turning it into a franchise. You can hear how he got started in this YouTube interview:

Job #14. Nanny or Childcare Services

•  Average Annual Revenue: $143K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 0.9%
•  Startup Costs: $0-$1K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 51.7%
•  Best for: Teachers, tutors, babysitters, parents, caregivers, compassionate and patient entrepreneurs with strong organization and multitasking skills

Childcare services are in high demand, especially in rural areas, where nearly 60% of families don’t have access to the childcare they need. Parents in urban areas need reliable childcare, too, and thanks to this rising demand, the overall childcare market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.8% through 2027.

This opens up a lot of self-employment opportunities for entrepreneurs who have experience teaching, watching, or caring for kids. It’s also driving up the average salary for childcare professionals across the country. The average hourly rate for a nanny is $17-$18 in 2023, but that can go much higher depending on where you live and if you bring other skills like tutoring or medical knowledge to the table.

This is another self-employed job that has lots of growth potential. While you can certainly make a good living as a one-person operation, you can also build on those skills to start a small business like a daycare or nanny agency.

Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency has grown to more than 20 locations with a cumulative annual revenue of $11.2 million since it was started in 2011. Find out how its founder went from being a surgeon’s assistant to making millions per year:

Job #15. Event Planner

•  Average Annual Revenue: $94K+ as wedding planner
•  Average Profit Margins: 12.2%
•  Startup Costs: $500-$5K
•  Time To Revenue: 3+ months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 1%
•  Best for: Organized and social entrepreneurs who are strong networkers and planners, creative problem-solvers

Like other sectors that rely on large gatherings of people, the pandemic put a damper on the event-planning industry. The good news is, it’s bounced back in a big way in 2023. The event-planning market is expected to surpass $1.5 trillion in value by 2028, which represents a growth rate of 11.2%.

There are many niches you can go into as an event planner. Wedding planning and corporate events are among the most consistently profitable, but the truth is you can earn a sizable revenue by planning any kind of event, from social gatherings like parties and reunions to business events like product launches and conferences.

Having connections to other local businesses like event venues, caterers, and entertainment is key to success when you’re working for yourself as an event planner. This makes it one of the best self-employed jobs for people with experience in hospitality, food service, and similar industries as they can draw on that knowledge to grow their new business quickly.

Job #16. Virtual Assistant

•  Average Annual Revenue: $35K-$50K
•  Average Profit Margins: 10.5%
•  Startup Costs: $100-$200
•  Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
•  Best for: People with strong organization and communication skills, those who want to work from home and set their own hours

Virtual assistants work with busy professionals on a freelance or contract basis, handling administrative tasks so they can focus on their other responsibilities. The things you’ll do as a virtual assistant can include replying to emails, scheduling meetings and travel, managing and posting to social media accounts, and similar types of tasks.

You can start a virtual assistant business online by creating an account on a freelance platform like Upwork or 24/7 Virtual Assistant. While you’ll need basic computer skills and a reliable internet connection, the most important traits for virtual assistants are soft skills like reliability, communication, and multitasking, and you certainly don’t need a bachelor’s degree or other formal education.

Job #17. eCommerce Reseller Business

•  Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
•  Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
•  Startup Costs: $100-$1K
•  Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3% (Based on eBay annual reports)
•  Best for: People with sales and marketing skills, collectors who can spot valuable items, those seeking flexibility and the potential for passive income

Opening an online store costs less than starting a brick-and-mortar retail store. It also gives you more schedule flexibility than many working-for-yourself jobs since it doesn’t involve working with clients.

The inventory you sell will be the main cost of starting an e-commerce business as a reseller. If you have an eye for spotting hidden gems at flea markets, thrift stores, and garage sales, you can make a consistently high profit with this kind of business.

Mike Wilson started Golden State Picker with $1,000 worth of inventory and has grown that into a $30,000-a-month business. Hear how he started in this podcast interview:

Self-Employed Jobs from Home

Job #18. Graphic Designer

•  Average Annual Revenue: $123K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 13.5%
•  Startup Costs: $500-$5K
•  Time To Revenue: 3+ months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 2%
•  Best for: Visual artists, designers, creative and artistic entrepreneurs

In a recent report from Upwork, graphic design topped the list of most in-demand creative skills for 2023. Graphic designers help businesses create their brands, a crucial ingredient in attracting customers and growing sales, so it’s no surprise this service is so needed in today’s market.

The average salary for a graphic designer is $24 an hour, but an experienced freelance graphic designer can charge $100 or more an hour for their services. You’ll be able to charge more from the start if you have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a similar area of study. You can also learn the skills you need from online courses and how-to videos, though, so a degree isn’t a requirement to get started.

Job #19. Web Designer

•  Average Annual Revenue: $239K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 5.3%
•  Startup Costs: $100-$1K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.4%
•  Best for: Programmers with knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, visual artists and designers, detail-oriented entrepreneurs with strong time and project management skills

Similar to graphic design, web design is an in-demand skill, and self-employment is common in this industry. Many businesses hire freelance web designers to build and maintain their websites, and there’s a particularly high demand for designers with e-commerce or SEO expertise.

The average salary for a freelance web designer was $65,000 a year in 2023, which equates to roughly $31 an hour. You can charge more if you have those niche skills mentioned above.

Having a portfolio of past work to show potential clients is the best way to grow a web design business. If you’re just starting out, building your own website or doing some free work for friends and family can help you create this portfolio.

Job #20. Translator

•  Average Annual Revenue: $75K-$200K
•  Average Profit Margins: 12.4%
•  Startup Costs: $100-$200
•  Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
•  Best for: Bilingual or multilingual entrepreneurs, excellent communicators

Translation is among the best self-employed jobs for people who speak multiple languages fluently. There’s a wide variety of work available in this niche, too, from translating books to writing multilingual captions for videos or doing live translation at events and functions.

The pay for translators varies widely, with an average salary of $61,000 per year. You can make more money if you can translate between English and in-demand languages like German, Mandarin, and Arabic.

Job #21. Freelance Writer

•  Average Annual Revenue: $46K
•  Average Profit Margins: 14.6%
•  Startup Costs: $100-$200
•  Time To Revenue: 1 month to 3 Years
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.5%
•  Best for: Writers, editors, and language experts, people with SEO, marketing, and advertising knowledge, creative entrepreneurs

Despite the recent emergence of AI content generators, freelance writing remains among the best self-employed jobs you can start from home with almost no upfront investment.

Freelance writers can take on a wide range of work. Some focus on fiction and other creative writing, either under their own names or as ghostwriters. Technical writing is one particularly high-paying freelance writing niche, with an average salary of $75,700 in 2023. There is also high demand for online content like blog posts and advertising copy.

The bottom line is, if you are a strong writer and wondering how to work for yourself, you can create your own job writing about the things that interest you.

Job #22. Proofreader Business

•  Average Annual Revenue: $25K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 9%
•  Startup Costs: $100-$1K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
•  Best for: Grammar and writing experts, people with a sharp eye for detail

Another great self-employed job in the content creation sector is proofreading. Proofreaders give written texts professional polish, catching and correcting errors in books, blog posts, marketing brochures, and other types of copy.

While proofreading pays less on average than writing, an experienced proofreader can make up to $25 an hour. You can make extra money by adding services like fact-checking or content editing to your business, too.

Job #23. Photographer Business

•  Average Annual Revenue: $50K
•  Average Profit Margins: 7.3%
•  Startup Costs: $1K-$10K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.3%
•  Best for: Visual artists, photographers and videographers, creative entrepreneurs with strong customer service skills

There are lots of ways to make money from photography. You can photograph events, take family or school portraits, or work with businesses to take pictures of their products for store listings or advertisements.

Mile High Productions offers drone photography and videography services for clients ranging from real estate agents to TV productions. They’ve grown to $35,000 a month in revenue thanks to their high-profile clients. You can see how they started here:

Photography equipment is the most significant startup expense for a self-employed photographer. If you already have a professional camera, the main cost to start will be marketing to attract your first clients.

Job #24. Tutor

•  Average Annual Revenue: $389.5K+ (normally has multiple employees)
•  Average Profit Margins: 13.10%
•  Startup Costs: $100-$1K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.5%
•  Best for: Educators, people who are compassionate, empathetic, and can explain complex concepts in simple terms

If you’re knowledgeable about school subjects like math, English, and history, tutoring should be on your list of best self-employed jobs. The rise of online tutoring platforms like Skooli and TutorMe makes it easier than ever before to find students and teach them right from your home. Other than knowledge, all you need to get started is a reliable internet connection.

How much you can make as a tutor depends on your experience and areas of expertise. The average rate is around $24 per hour, and you can charge more if you can offer college-level tutoring or services like standardized test prep.

Ways to Work for Yourself: More Ideas for Self-Employment

Job #25. Real Estate Agent

•  Average Annual Revenue: $298K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 44.6%
•  Startup Costs: $500-$5K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.3%
•  Best for: Skilled negotiators, friendly people with strong sales and communication skills

Most real estate agents are self-employed, even if they work under the supervision of a broker. Typically, this means they get to set their own schedules and choose the clients they work with, putting real estate agent among the best jobs for people who want full control over their workdays.

Real estate agents can represent either the buyer or the seller in property transactions. Some agents switch between these roles, while others have a specialty. Whatever your focus, you will need to be licensed to become a real estate agent. Licensing requirements vary state by state, but the licensing process is typically fairly quick and easy, and you only need a high school diploma or GED to qualify.

Job #26. Property Manager

•  Average Annual Revenue: $372K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 10.1%
•  Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
•  Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
•  Best for: Home maintenance and repair experts, organized and system-focused entrepreneurs who are great communicators

Another self-employment option in the real estate sector is to become an independent property manager. Property managers are often hired as independent contractors by people who own rental properties or commercial real estate. They take care of day-to-day tasks for a property, like collecting rent, arranging or making repairs, and fielding tenant concerns and issues.

Property managers make an average salary of $53,600 in 2023, but there’s the potential to earn six figures or more. Generally speaking, the larger the property, the higher the pay. One highly profitable niche is managing Airbnb properties for their owners. Airbnb business Nicasa manages others’ properties in addition to its own real estate investments and earns $3 million a year in revenue. Learn more about its winning strategies in this video:

Job #27. Life Coach

•  Average Annual Revenue: $63K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 10.5%
•  Startup Costs: $500-$5K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.5%
•  Best for: Excellent motivators, empathetic active listeners, people with strong time management, organization, and problem-solving skills

As a life coach, your job is to encourage clients to become the best versions of themselves. This can mean helping them solve problems in various areas of their lives, from their personal relationships to their physical and mental health or broader life goals.

There are no licensing or formal education requirements to become a life coach. As with other self-employment jobs, though, having some training can help you build client trust when you’re first starting.

This Forbes review of the best life coaching programs is a great place to learn about the top life coaching certifications. A bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or another social science can also help you gain the skills you need to improve clients’ lives.

Job #28. Career Coach

•  Average Annual Revenue: $64K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 2.8%
•  Startup Costs: $500-$5K
•  Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.8%
•  Best for: Recruiting and human resources professionals, strong networkers with industry and job market expertise, effective writers, communicators, and motivators

Career coaches help other people land the jobs of their dreams. This can include tasks like helping write or improve resumes and cover letters, interview preparation and practice, and helping people develop the skills they need to advance their careers.

A career coach usually charges around $100-$150 per session. With a full client load, that adds up to an average salary of $63,300 per year in 2023. You can earn more if you offer specialized services, like executive coaching or helping people navigate career changes.

Job #29. Hair Stylist

•  Average Annual Revenue: $51K+
•  Average Profit Margins: 5%
•  Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
•  Time To Revenue: 3+ months
•  Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.9%
•  Best for: Beauticians and barbers, people with knowledge of fashion and style trends, creative people who are great active listeners and problem solvers

In many salons, the hairdressers aren’t employees. Instead, they’re self-employed stylists who rent a chair or work on commission. For many, this arrangement is the best of both worlds. The salon owner pays for the equipment and does their own marketing, and the stylist gets scheduling freedom and control over their own client list.

You don’t necessarily need to go to beauty school to become a hair stylist, but you will need a cosmetology license (see the requirements for each state here). Apprenticing with an established hair stylist is a great way to build your client list while gaining the skills and experience you need to become a self-employed stylist.

Did You Find The Self-Emploment Job For You?

The best self-employed jobs come in all fields. If you want even more inspiration, check out our blog of 561 self-employment ideas.

Which of the ideas did you like best?

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