Whether you’re looking to start a business or need more cash to cover a surprise bill, sometimes it’s time to earn some extra money—fast.
There are plenty of ways to use your time, effort, and skills to make a thousand dollars quickly, on your own schedule. Digital marketplaces and the gig economy have made it easier than ever to make money in a variety of ways, including tutoring, delivering food, and selling items online—most of which you can do on the side of a full-time job or as a weekend side hustle.
In this guide, discover 16 quick ways to make $1,000 fast. With many of these options, you’ll be able to not only make some quick cash, but also build multiple income streams that last.
How to make $1,000 fast
- Sell stuff you already own
- Deliver food
- Pick up a part-time job
- Rent out unused space
- Start freelance writing
- Try affiliate marketing
- Drive for a ridesharing service
- Find odd jobs
- Tutor clients
- Offer services on digital marketplaces
- Become a virtual assistant
- Sell your own art
- Offer marketing services
- Provide IT support
- Refurbish and resell used items
- Make money with AI
Here are some of the ways you can use your time and talents to earn $1,000 quickly—sometimes in as little as just a few days.
1. Sell stuff you already own
You might have furniture, jewelry, antiques, sneakers, or electronics you no longer use or need. Make a list of items you own you’re willing to sell, then list them for sale in one of the following ways:
- Online through your own ecommerce website
- Using platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Poshmark
- At in-person garage sales or yard sales
If you’re selling online, take high-quality photos of the items and write a product description that uses relevant keywords for potential customers searching online. Include any necessary information about the condition of your items, and choose a reasonable price that accounts for shipping costs.
“I was using Wix before, and it was really easy to build the website, but I needed to have a website that could handle more,” says Hannah Perry, owner of Floof Cotton Candy, in a Shopify Masters interview. “A lot of people were talking about Shopify.
“Shopify really just made my business feel more professional, and it saves me a lot of time in communicating with customers. It was a big step, but it was crucial to do because I really needed more from my website.”
2. Deliver food
Food delivery services involve picking up food items from grocery stores and restaurants and delivering them to customers who order online, either directly or through a food service app like DoorDash, Postmates, Instacart, Grubhub, or Uber Eats.
Food delivery services charge fees based on a percentage of the cost of food items, sometimes as much as 30%. Food deliverers receive a share of that fee and any tips from customers.
You’ll need an eligible bicycle or vehicle to make $1,000 as a food delivery driver—but most services make it easy to access your money once you’ve earned it. Uber, for example, has Instant Pay. You can cash out up to five times every day, as well as earn extra cash through promotions when they’re available.
3. Pick up a part-time job
You don’t need to find a 9-to-5 job to make a thousand dollars quickly. Part-time jobs sometimes ask for around 10 hours of your time each week, making them an ideal route to quick cash for beginners or stay-at-home parents.
Explore online employment marketplaces like ZipRecruiter, Indeed, LinkedIn, SimplyHired, and Glassdoor. For example, you could:
- Look into retail positions at boutique shops as well as big-box stores
- Offer administrative assistance to small local businesses
- Pick up a part-time server, barista, or bartender position to earn some extra money fast through cash tips
- Offer child care services, such as babysitting, to busy working parents
- Become a remote customer support specialist
What’s great about this money-making tactic is that depending on your employment contract, your employer can handle tax filing for you. They can deduct money from your earnings so that any tax owed is paid at source, rather than at a later date through a self-employment tax return.
4. Rent out unused space
If you own extra space that you don’t use, consider renting it out to people who need space for living, working, storage, or vacationing. This could be anything including a spare room, second home, parking space, or garage. It’s the closest thing to “free money” since you’re monetizing something you already own.
For short-term vacation rentals, look into companies like Airbnb and Vrbo. For longer-term rentals, use platforms like Zillow, HouseStay, and Apartment Finder. You can also list your extra space for rent on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
This is a great way to make $1,000 fast, especially if you’re in a tourist area or throughout peak season. For example, if you live close to a stadium or arena, you could rent out a parking spot on your property for attendees. A one-off $20 parking fee can quickly add up if you make the space available for several events over the season.
📚Read more: Best Secret Websites to Make Money Fast
5. Start freelance writing
Freelance writing involves making money online by creating content for clients on a project-by-project basis. These writing services can range widely based on your skill set and interests, and is a great low-cost business idea. All you’ll need is a laptop and a solid internet connection—hence why some freelance writers are virtual nomads who use their skills to make money while traveling.
You could:
- Work as a copywriter for companies that need articles or blog posts, advertising materials, website copy, social media posts, grants, and technical manuals
- Lend your services as a ghostwriter for individuals and companies that need help bringing a book to life
- Specialize in résumé writing to help people showcase their skills, experience, and accolades to land full-time jobs
You can find freelance work on networking platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork. Competition is high, though—you’ll need solid writing samples and a niche to stand out. The fastest payout periods for either platform range from five to seven days.
If you want ultimate control over your money-making abilities, you could also start your own blog to share your experiences and interests. Write optimized content, share it on social media, and use blog monetization techniques such as sponsored content and affiliate marketing to make $1,000 from your site.
6. Try affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing involves promoting a product or service by sharing an affiliate link. When people buy a product or service after clicking on your unique link, you earn money. Commission rates can range from 5% to 30%—you could earn over $1,000 fast by making 17 sales of a $200 product at 30% commission.
Explore different affiliate marketing programs and choose ones that align with your audience and content style. Here are some examples:
- Shopify: Best suited to entrepreneurs with an audience who want to sell online. Earn up to $150 for every eligible referral, and get paid through direct deposit to your bank account or PayPal.
- Amazon Associates: Ideal if you want to promote a specific product that’s sold on Amazon. Commission ranges from 1% to 20% depending on the product category, though there’s a 60-day payout delay on any earnings.
- eBay Partner Network: If you’re known for finding a good bargain, monetize your hobby by becoming an eBay affiliate. Commission ranges from 1% to 4%, and you can get paid by direct deposit or PayPal.
Invite friends and family to buy the products you’ve recommended, and post your affiliate links on your social media accounts. The more followers you have that are engaged with what you’re sharing, the greater your remote earning potential will be.
7. Drive for a ridesharing service
If you have a reliable vehicle and some spare time, consider working as a driver for a rideshare service like Lyft or Uber.
This money-making idea gives you the freedom to work on your own schedule and accept or decline rides as needed. Keep an eye on the changing rates of the ridesharing apps you’re using to learn when demand is high and the rates are better.
Indeed reports the average independent contractor driver earns $26.93 per hour, so it’d take around 37 hours to make $1,000 through this idea. Just bear in mind that there are some startup expenses associated with ridesharing: fuel, specialist insurance, and any vehicle repairs. Ask an accountant if you can write these off to lower your tax liability.
8. Find odd jobs
Another way to make some quick cash is by performing tasks for paying clients in your local area. It’s a great money-making opportunity for college students or those looking to earn $1,000 their spare time.
This could include paid gigs helping with:
- Yard work
- Pet sitting
- House cleaning
- Car washing
- Laundry
- Building or fixing furniture
Although gigs like this rarely pay more than a few hundred dollars per job, they can add up if you’re willing to pick up several gigs. It’s also a quick monetization strategy: You can make fast cash since you don’t need a portfolio of work nor tons of experience to get started.
Search for odd jobs through online platforms like TaskRabbit, Airtasker, and Thumbtack, or post in local communities (such as Facebook Groups or city-specific subreddits) to find local clients who are willing to pay for your help.
9. Tutor clients
Make some extra income by offering in-person or online tutoring sessions. Start by identifying an area of expertise that you can teach to others. For example, if you’re bilingual, become a private tutor and teach local students how to pick up your second language. You could earn between $25 and $80 per hour.
You could also focus on high-demand educational services, like SAT training, or use your experience playing music, writing code, or editing software to tutor others.
The best place to find tutoring gigs depends on what you’re teaching. Platforms like Verbling and Preply offer language tutoring opportunities, for example, while Facebook Groups likely have local parents who are looking for private tuition for their children.
💡Tip: If you have enough educational materials from past tutoring sessions, consider repurposing it into a digital product. Online courses, workbooks, and eBooks offer passive income automation—you can transform existing material into a digital product that you can sell as many times as you’d like.
10. Offer services on digital marketplaces
Gig economy updates have opened the door to remote income opportunities that help entrepreneurs make $1,000 quickly—and in many cases, all you’ll need is a laptop with a reliable internet connection.
Here are some examples of services you can sell online, and where to find high-paying gigs online through specialist marketplaces:
- Graphic design: 99designs, DesignCrowd, and Dribbble can connect you with businesses who need graphic design assistance. Help with anything from websites and social media graphics to product packaging and logo design.
- Coding: Apply to join marketplaces like GitHub Marketplace or Codementor to find clients who are looking for coding experts. You could help them code websites, custom software, or mobile apps.
- Transcription services: Make $1,000 quickly by finding clients who need audio or video content transcribing through platforms like Rev or TranscribeMe.
- Audio narration: Help authors turn their books into audio books by picking up freelance narration gigs through digital marketplaces like Audible, Bunny Studio, and Voices.
11. Become a virtual assistant
A virtual assistant helps clients with administrative tasks like scheduling meetings, making travel arrangements, performing data entry, and managing emails.
Virtual assistant positions range in hours and rates but can become a lucrative way to generate income remotely, especially if you’re a project management whizz with great organizational skills. This online business idea offers variety: You might help an entrepreneur schedule meetings one day, and assist a busy homeowner with interviewing cleaning services the next day.
Search virtual assistant jobs on platforms like Upwork, Fancy Hands, and Zirtual. They can be full time, part time, or on a freelance basis—the route to get an extra $1,000 in your bank can depend on how many hours you pick up.
12. Sell your own art
Creative individuals with skills in art forms such as painting, photography, and graphic design can earn extra cash by selling their artwork online. You could also sell in-person at art fairs and pop-up shops.
There are different types of artwork you could sell:
- Original prints
- Paintings
- Sculptures
- Photography
- Greetings cards
- Custom art commissions, such as pet portraits
To make more money, turn your artwork into physical products with print on demand. This business model works similarly to dropshipping; you won’t need inventory to get started and it’s easier to scale your business.
Choose a print-on-demand company, select the products you want to print your artwork onto, and list them for sale on your ecommerce website. Your chosen printing partner will manufacture and ship the product directly to your customer whenever you receive an order.
“With Printful, I’ve also worked with a couple of other dropshipping and print-on-demand companies, and I really appreciate the ability to connect everything together,” says Raven Gibson, founder of Legendary Rootz, on a Shopify Masters episode.
“I have an idea. I’m able to go in. See if they have a product that serves me or serves that idea that I have, get that sample created. And once it’s approved through me, cause I’m the approver, obviously I’m able to go in and it’s all connected to Shopify. I love it.”
13. Offer marketing services
Not all businesses have the time, skill, or expertise to manage marketing campaigns in-house. They rely on freelancers, consultants, and agencies to assist.
If you have a knack for marketing—perhaps you’ve started your own blog or accumulated several hundred social media followers—you could provide digital marketing services to paying clients who need help marketing their products and services.
Here are some examples of marketing services you could offer:
- Conducting market research
- Overseeing social media campaigns
- Running search engine optimization (SEO) programs
- Managing email marketing campaigns
- Designing and managing advertising campaigns
Start by helping local businesses. That’ll help you develop a positive track record that you can use to attract more clients, both locally and remotely. Freelance websites like Fiverr and Upwork can also connect you with potential clients who need marketing services.
Once you’ve landed your first few gigs, compile your best work on a portfolio website. Make sure to include testimonials from happy clients and highlight the concrete results you’ve gotten for them.
📚Read more: How to Make Money on Shopify in 2025
14. Provide IT support
Use your technical savvy to earn money from individuals and small business owners willing to pay for help with their technology systems.
For example, you could help a local company install anti-virus software or set up a secure firewall. You could also help individual clients with more basic technology needs like resetting passwords or setting up video conferencing tools. Or, brush up on your coding skills and design a website theme to sell through the Shopify Theme Store.
Technical skills are in high demand, so it’s relatively easy to monetize your IT skills to make $1,000 fast. Indeed reports the average hourly rate for an IT support professional is $26.04 per hour, although you can charge significantly more if you have a specialty, such as coding or cybersecurity.
15. Refurbish and resell used items
Another way you can earn $1,000 quickly is by searching for valuable used items and reselling them for a higher price. That might include:
- Antiques
- Books
- Vintage clothing
- Unwanted furniture
- Faulty electronics
Scour garage sales, estate sales, and online marketplaces like eBay to source inventory for your resale business. Use your skills to refurbish the item and bring it back to life, then relist the product for sale at a markup. You’ll keep the difference in profit.
16. Make money with AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) has made it easier than ever to make your first $1,000 online. Most tools are free or low-cost to use, which helps entrepreneurs explore low-cost business opportunities without sacrificing significant earning potential.
It’s also quicker to make money with AI since it can handle repetitive tasks. Instead of writing multiple social media posts to announce your tutoring services in local Facebook Groups, for example, you could use ChatGPT to do it for you.
Other more sophisticated use cases of AI to make money include:
- Creating AI chatbots for businesses to handle customer support tickets.
- Selling AI-generated content, such as social media or blog posts.
- Designing AI-generated artwork to create print on demand products from.
- Selling video editing services using AI video editing software.
- Teaching entrepreneurs how to write their own AI prompts.
How to evaluate quick money options
Not every money-making opportunity will be right for every entrepreneur. Here’s what you’ll need to consider when shortlisting fast cash opportunities:
- How quickly do you need the cash? Aside from making the money through sales, consider any payout delays that marketplaces or platforms might inflict. Amazon, for example, has a 60-day delay on any affiliate commission payouts. If speed is important to your cash flow, opt for fast-paying platforms like Shopify.
- What skills do you have? If you’re looking to make extra money on the side of your full-time job as a marketing manager, for example, picking up a gig as a freelance virtual assistant or marketing freelancer can help monetize your existing skills—and add up to making $1,000 quickly.
- What digital channels do you use? If you’re a social media whizz with more than 1,000 followers, you can quickly monetize your audience by selling digital products or recommending products with affiliate links.
How fast can you really make $1,000?
Whether you want to save money to cover an unexpected bill or start a business, how quickly you can make $1,000 depends on the fast cash opportunities you’re pursuing.
The quickest way to make money online is by monetizing your skills and leaning on your existing network. If you’ve learned Spanish, for example, tell your Facebook friends that you’re offering Spanish tutoring services. If you’ve got experience running your own blog, announce that you’re offering writing services to other small businesses who want the same type of content.
If you have neither a specialized skill nor an existing network, the gig economy is full of marketplaces that can connect you with people who are willing to pay for services.
For example, you could find people who need assistance assembling flat-pack furniture on TaskRabbit, or a busy homeowner looking for gardening help on Airtasker. These jobs tend to pay less than specialist skills, but it’s still possible to make $1,000 over the next few months by picking up odd jobs in your spare time.
How to make $1,000 fast FAQ
How can you make $1,000 passive income?
Examples of passive income streams to earn $1,000 quickly include renting out space, selling online courses, and starting an affiliate marketing program.
What side hustles pay weekly?
There are a variety of digital side hustles that allow you to make money weekly and fill up your savings account, including tutoring, food delivery, and odd jobs like pet sitting or yard work.
How can you make quick money right now?
Some of the ways that you can make some extra cash quickly include taking paid online surveys, selling items you already own through online marketplaces or a yard sale, and driving for a ridesharing service.
Which methods have the highest earning potential in 2025?
- Digital marketing
- Dropshipping business
- Selling online courses
- Freelancing
- Becoming an influencer
- Selling art online
- Monetizing a podcast
- Starting a YouTube channel
- Selling unwanted stuff
Are there tax implications for quick cash earnings?
The IRS states that entrepreneurs must file a tax return if they earn more than $400 in self-employment income. Keep records of how much quick cash you’re earning, as well as any allowable expenses, to file your tax return.
How to get $1,000 in a week?
To earn $1,000 in a week, lean on your existing skills and network. Popular options include freelancing, tutoring, delivering food, renting out unused space, and reselling items you already own.
