When starting a business, there’s a golden rule you’ve probably heard before: if you’re particularly good at something, you can make money doing it. So maybe it’s time to turn your hobby into a lucrative business.
So in this article, we’ll look at money-making ideas related to your hobby. At the same time, we probably look at your hobby a little more capitalistically than you’re used to. But that’s okay, because after all, it’s about nothing less than making a living here. So we want to see the euro signs shine in your eyes. Once you get going, you can always take it down a notch.
How to make money with your hobby
To make money with your hobby, you first need to turn your hobby into a product or service that others will want to spend money on. You can take very different approaches. Here are some of the best ideas for making money:
Selling your own creations
Some hobbies naturally produce well-selling products. Hobby bakers, for instance, make bread or cake. Artists making paintings, sculptures or jewelry. By pursuing your hobby, you’re already making products that you can sell in your own online store.
You spend time doing something you love, improving your skills and even earning extra money. If you start small, you can build your business alongside your day job, and grow at your own pace.
Like Franzi and Maria. Her painting and handlettering still feels like a hobby to her, even though many people already buy her cards and posters online.
"Even small slips do not bother us. In the end, the joy of the thing itself always prevails."
Franzi& Maria, from Wildwasserfarben (read the full story)
Just sell online. With Jimdo.
Hobbies that make money by making products:
- Arts and crafts
- Cooking
- homemade cosmetics
- Fashion Design
- Baking
- Woodwork
- Making pottery
If you choose one of these hobbies, you will have to produce a relatively large amount of products. In addition, your products must meet the taste of your customers. But over time, you’ll find the audience that likes your personal style, and land the right commissioned work. Until that time comes, you can use the time to make products for your store and get the sales rolling in.
Most important tasks:
- Make products for sale
- Attract orders
Marketing is the second big aspect you should keep in mind: Presenting your products in a store and sharing them on social media is important to be seen. For example, share pictures of your work on Instagram. If you connect your store with Instagram, enthusiastic followers can buy your products immediately. Artists can benefit tremendously from sharing their work or website on designated sales platforms.
The most important marketing channels for creatives:
- your own online portfolio or online shop
- social media
- Professional blogs and platforms
Selling special products
Where would you look for curling equipment?? Or a potter’s wheel? Or the latest edition of a manga? These products have one thing in common: they are important for a certain niche, but unknown to most people. And most people who need these products for their hobby are willing to spend money on them.
If your hobby is rather unusual, you know what the few existing providers are doing right and wrong and what your community wants to see. Another way to make money with your hobby is to sell the special, hard-to-find items needed for your hobby. You can easily find out if this competitive advantage applies to you: You know your products and your community like no other. Go with the latest trends as they emerge.
Benedikt, Annika and Gosia did just that. They wanted to give dancers the opportunity to elegantly handle the issue of sweat. They developed special dance cloths for this purpose – and their community was at their feet. They look like fancy scarves while absorbing sweat like regular towels.
"We are most pleased that it has become normal to bring a towel to the dance evenings. They have become real accessories that show style and care."
Benedikt from Dancetowels
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Hobbies that make money with specialty products:
- unusual sports
- Arts and crafts
- foreign literature like manga
- Preparing international dishes
Selling specialty products is a very special adventure that involves selecting and offering very specific products. Start small first, with a small number of products, and gain some experience. Once you get the hang of attracting customers and shipping products, you can gradually expand your product line with feedback from your customers.
Main Tasks:
- Promotion& Advertising
- Delivery
- Shipping
To attract customers, you need to let your niche know that your store exists – both online and offline. Show your presence at events with your own booth, hand out flyers, ask your network to mention you in their blogs and newsletters. Last but not least, of course, your own social media will make you visible in the online community.
The most important marketing channels for store owners*:
Impart knowledge
If you were to watch an absolute beginner trying to get started in your hobby, you would probably want to share a few tips right away. You would easily spot the beginner mistakes and know how to correct them. And that’s something a lot of people are willing to spend money on.
Give classes or coaching sessions and use your knowledge and experience to help others. For example, you can teach runners better posture, gourmets about the subtle flavors in wine, or help people improve their violin playing.
Solveig has perfectly combined her knowledge of wine and her love of travel in one job. She researches the details of local wines and organizes wine tasting trips for her clients.
"My customers appreciate my commitment and always like to come back to Weingutscout."
Solveig from winery scout ( read the full story)
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Hobbies that make money by sharing knowledge:
- Sports
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Music
- Life Coaching
- Cooking
- Wine tasting
As a coach, you should prepare and design your courses skillfully: They should be fun, ensure progress, and help avoid beginner mistakes. Depending on what your class looks like, you’ll need either a fixed location or a streaming tool (if you’re offering your class online) to do this.
Most important tasks:
- Promotion
- Prepare and run courses
Use your network to spread the word about your course. For example, draw attention to your course offerings at the next event related to your hobby. To reach people you don’t know yet, you should get your own social media accounts and join the conversation on social media. Create a well-structured website where your visitors can book courses.
The most important marketing channels:
- Website
- Social Media
- Streaming platforms
Offer expertise as a service
Pianos need to be tuned. Classic cars need to be maintained. Referees are needed in sports. And often it’s volunteers who step in – because they just love to do it. The better they get, the more often their expertise is called upon. So this is also a good way to make money.
If your expertise is recognized and in demand, it’s a good indication that you can turn your hobby into a profession. Many people have a hard time with this step. They see themselves only as "above-average amateurs". Put an end to these self-doubts. You are good at what you do. So dare to take the next step.
Alex is the perfect example. When he became a father, he wanted more flexibility and more time at home. Gradually his hobby, woodworking, became a business.
"It’s these little moments of gratitude that always make me realize why I enjoy this work so much. And that it was the right decision."
Alex from Craft Cafe Hamburg (read the full story)
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Hobbies that make money through your expertise:
- Tuning musical instruments
- Fixing classic cars
- Record and mix music
- Offer massages and beauty treatments
- Provide tutoring
- Walking the dog
- Babysitting
- Being a referee
- Planning events
Offering your expertise to clients has a lot to do with professionalization. You will have to do some paperwork (like all companies) and also advertising will become an integral part of your life. Because it’s important for companies to keep attracting new customers.
Most important tasks:
- Promotion
- Customer contact
- Using your expertise
If you invest a little time in SEO, your website will be found better on Google. Easy-to-understand information on a confidence-inspiring website is the first step to converting those visitors into new customers. You can drive additional exposure for your business and website by sharing pictures and videos of your daily work on social media.
Key marketing channels:
- Website
- Social Media
Performing in front of an audience
How many times do you have to rock an open mic session before you can call yourself a professional comedian? How many bedtime stories do you have to read in a funny disguised voice before you can earn money doing it as a voice actor*? It’s hard to say. But anything is possible.
Thousands of people perform in front of audiences in their spare time. Simply because they enjoy it. Who doesn’t love singing a power ballad in the shower?? But if you have a talent for inspiring an audience, it can become more than a hobby.
This was also the case with Micha. He is a born performer. It was not so long ago that he was working as an employee in a bank. His skillful blend of music and village comedy has now made him an Instagram star with over half a million followers.
"I probably work twice as much now as I did before, but I get up every morning and look forward to getting back to work!"
Micha from the ramp ( read the whole story)
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Hobbies that make money by performing in front of an audience:
The trick is to balance the business with the creative. A virtual assistant or label can take a lot of administrative and paperwork off your hands so you can focus on your work. If you are just starting out, you will still have to do these tasks yourself. Be conscientious and build a solid foundation for your future career.
Most important tasks:
- Create material
- Landing gigs
- Appearance
To attract new fans, you should share your material on different channels on the Internet. Music marketing plays an important role for artists. You can hardly do without social media if you want to distribute your videos, songs and concert pictures. To land new gigs, it’s a good idea to have a website where you can showcase your work and where potential clients can book you quickly and easily.
The most important marketing channels:
- Video platforms
- Social Media
- Customer acquisition website
Rate products as an expert
What equipment would someone just getting into your hobby need?? Which items are good value and which are overpriced? As a connoisseur, you know what’s important and can help others avoid bad purchases.
Customers find reviews extremely helpful, especially when they come from experienced experts. You could, for example, publish comparisons between similar products and explain the strengths and weaknesses of each product. Or show why a new product is suitable for beginners and offer appropriate tips for it.
Your reviews will help others to buy the right product. And you can earn money by advertising on your own website or YouTube channel. Another potential source of revenue is so-called affiliate links that you add to your reviews. If visitors click on the link and buy a product, you will get a commission. Or you can open an online store where you sell the products you have reviewed well.
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Hobby equipment that lends itself well to reviews:
- Equipment like running shoes or kitchen knives
- Places like z. B. Stadiums where your sports team plays
- Books about your hobby or biographies of people in the community
- Articles, podcasts, and other media related to your hobby
You will spend most of your time creating your reviews. Whether you put them in writing on your website, share them as videos on YouTube and social media, or record them as podcasts, you’ll need to produce a lot of reviews and comparisons before you build a reputation. Research keywords for your post in advance to help it rank better in search engines.
Most important tasks:
- Write or record lots of content
- SEO
If you decide to earn money with advertising, the motto is: attract as many visitors as possible. You can use social media, for example, to draw people’s attention to your website or video channel. If you want to use affiliate links as a reviewer, it’s even more important to convince people to click on those links. So invest a little time in writing compelling call-to-actions.
Key marketing channels:
- Video platforms
- Social Media
- Website or blog
Focus on a specific niche
Many companies with broad target audiences have a hard time showing their personality. You are afraid that too much of your own style might scare off potential customers. However, if you dare to focus your marketing on a specific niche, your personality will automatically become your strength!
Your customers will feel understood and appreciated. They will most likely prefer to spend their money with a small business that uses the phrases, inside jokes, and abbreviations that are common in the community. So use your marketing to celebrate the specialties of your community.
Comedian Micha does just that: his music and comedy are aimed at young people growing up in the countryside. He pokes fun at city dwellers and addresses the everyday problems of rural kids. His online store sells clothing that expresses this village culture.
Use social media to draw attention to yourselves.
Where did you look for information about your hobby before you made it a profession? Which websites, social media hashtags, and YouTube channels were that? These channels bring together hundreds and thousands of people interested in your hobby. And now that you are a business, that means hundreds and thousands of potential clients.
On these platforms you can attract the attention of your target audience. Participate in discussions, comment on videos, and share news that interests the community. This is how people get to know you and want to know more.
This is also where your website comes in, the place where you can tell your story in your own way. You can explain your mission on your about me page and add videos, photos, playable tracks, interviews or a recording of your band’s very first song. Your website gives you the freedom to present your business the way you want, without being limited by any social media formats.
Combining these channels pays off, especially if you manage to get your community involved. Some small business owners, like Dance Towels, even showcase their social media testimonials on their website. This is a great way to convince new visitors!
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Do you want to make money with your hobby?
Most of us will spend a large part of our lives working. So the more you enjoy your work, the more you can enjoy life. If you can make money from your hobby, you decide what your day looks like and what projects and strategies you want to pursue. Not exactly the worst way to earn a living, is it??
At the same time, this will mean a big change in your hobby. When you start making money as a running coach, running will always remind you of your work. So you may have to look for other ways to clear your head after a long day.
Part hobby, part work
Earning money from a hobby doesn’t have to mean that you can’t do anything else for a living. Many Olympians who have turned their hobby into a career also supplement their income with a side job. You work for a company to earn your income. And spend the rest of their time doing a sport they love, even if it doesn’t make as much money.
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You think there is no money in your hobby?
Really not? Want to see. Because it is quite likely that you also have a hobby that can earn you money. We’ll show you some examples of hobbies that don’t seem particularly lucrative at first glance:
Run
You might think there’s no money in walking from A to B. If you are an experienced runner, you can offer your services as a running coach. Or open an online store with the best running equipment?. Or both … The global market for running equipment is estimated to grow to $58.3 billion by 2026. There’s sure to be a piece of the pie in it for you, too!
Watching series
You are couch potatoes who watch every streaming show there is? Perfect. How about recording video reviews to inspire your audience on YouTube?? Tell them your theories about the story and let the comments roll in!
Sleeping
Also interesting: Sleep. Earn money with sleeping? Seriously? Yup. There are many people who have sleep problems. Help them develop a good sleep routine, and build a community for yourself. Or test mattresses, pillows and sleep masks and sell them online.
This does not necessarily mean that money can automatically be earned with the work that she likes to do the most. Not all runners are enthusiastic running coaches. And many a couch potato does not like to be the center of attention.
So first of all, get clear on what your goals are: Are you concerned with money or is a fulfilling professional life more important to you? Maybe the money you earn will make up for the tasks you don’t enjoy as much. Create a business plan, calculate your projected earnings, and consider how your hobby compares to other ways of earning money.
If fulfillment in your job is more important to you, you should pursue a job that you enjoy. If your hobby does not offer you this possibility at the moment, it is better to look elsewhere. Your hobby can remain your hobby. Or you can earn something on the side instead of making a full time job out of it.