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30+ Small Business Ideas To Become Your Own Boss In 2023!

Last Updated: May 22, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Are you looking for the best small business ideas?

Whether you are looking for an online business that you can start and do from home, an in-person business, or something else, there are many different businesses that you can start.picture of items (piggy bank, clock, plant, books, notepad) on desk with words that say "30 small business ideas to become your own boss in 2023"

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are 31.7 million small businesses in the U.S. And 81% of these small businesses (25.7 million) have no employees.

If you’ve dreamed of being one of those 30 million plus people who work for themselves, then this list of small business ideas is for you!

Many of the businesses on this list are affordable to start and require minimal equipment. And you will probably be surprised that you already have what you need to start many of these top small business ideas.

I have been running my business (this blog!) for a little over 10 years now, and I am extremely grateful for it. Even though I’ve made seven figures from my blog over the years, it’s still a very small business overall.

What I love about my business is that I don’t have to commute, I get to be my own boss, I can decide how I earn a living, I am able to create a flexible schedule, and I can travel whenever I want.

There are many other small business ideas on this list that offer the same positives I have experienced from blogging.

Many small business owners I talk to will tell you about benefits!

Today, I am going to talk about the many different small business ideas that you can start this year. I hope you are able to find the perfect one for you and your liking and needs. [Read more…]

2 Comments
Filed Under: Budget, Career, Extra Income Tagged With: Career, Extra Money

How To Get $20 PayPal Now: Quick and Easy Steps for Immediate Cash

Last Updated: May 20, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Looking to learn how to get $20 PayPal now?

Whether you want to learn how to get $20 in 5 minutes or if you have a little more time such as a day or even a week or so, there are many ways to learn how to make $20 fast so that you can make extra income and real money.How To Get $20 PayPal Now

Earning an extra $20 through PayPal may seem like a daunting task at first when you are in real need of making money fast, but it is doable.

In this article, I’ll introduce a few simple ways to get $20 in your PayPal account, allowing you to use the extra cash for whatever you need.

Whether you have a last minute bill that you need to pay, or if you are looking to put a little extra money into your savings (for example, maybe you’re just looking to put an extra $20 a week towards a vacation fund or emergency fund), there are many ways to make $20 right now.

You may decide to find a part-time gig answering questions online, freelance writing, dog sitting, or more. These are just a couple of the many ways to earn $20 with PayPal.

Some of the ways mentioned today may allow you to work from home, such as from your cell phone or your laptop.

[Read more…]

Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Extra Income Tagged With: Extra Money

Why All Solopreneurs Should Consider Opening a Solo 401k

Last Updated: May 15, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 10 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Today, I have a very informative article from Paul Kim of Ocho all about the benefits of having a solo 401k, how much you can contribute each year, and how a solo 401k works. Since many of my readers are self-employed, I thought this would be the perfect topic to cover today, as saving for retirement is so important! Enjoy Paul’s article below.

A solo 401k is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools for self-employed individuals. It comes with the highest contribution limits of any retirement plan, tax-free compounding, the ability to invest in any asset class, and more."Why All Solopreneurs Should Consider Opening a Solo 401k" text written over image that has piggy bank, calculator, and books on desk

I’ve been self-employed for most of my professional life – 9 years to be exact. In my early 20s, I discovered the possibility of making money online, taught myself how to build blogs, learned SEO, and have been making a great living growing content businesses for nearly a decade.

Recently, I joined the team at Ocho as a full-time employee, and many people have asked me why I would ditch working for myself to become an employee.

I have two answers for them:

First, the founder of Ocho, Ankur Nagpal, built and grew his last company, Teachable, to a $250 million business in just a few years. Being able to work alongside him, along with the talented founding team he recruited, is an amazing opportunity. And after nearly a decade of solopreneurship, I crave working as part of a group to achieve a greater goal.

Second, what Ocho is building is something I passionately wanted to exist for a very long time – a supercharged, intuitive solo 401k plan for self-employed people like me.

I had heard of a solo 401k before joining Ocho, but like many people I’ve talked to, eventually dismissed the idea after realizing how complex (and expensive) it can be to set up and maintain a self-directed account. Major banks only offered a cookie-cutter version of the plan without any of the good features, and none of the other third-party providers looked promising enough to trust with my retirement savings.

At Ocho, we launched our self-directed solo 401k plan with checkbook control. And we completely reimagined the sign up flow and user experience to make it as intuitive and accessible as possible.

If you’re a business owner or self-employed (ie. you run a blog, freelance, or are a creator), I’d love to share some reasons why you should look into getting a solo 401k.

Even if you don’t care about retirement savings right now, the tax benefits of having an account can potentially save you tens of thousands of dollars each year.

[Read more…]

10 Comments
Filed Under: Career, Extra Income, Retirement Tagged With: Extra Money, Retirement

Want To Get Paid To Watch Movies? Here Are 15 Legit Ways

Last Updated: May 19, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 5 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Do you want to learn how to get paid to watch movies? 

Did you know that you can get paid to watch movies? Yes, you can actually get paid to do something that you probably do all the time.picture of orange couch in a living room

Watching TV and movies might be something you do to relax or be entertained, but the reality is that there are ways to make money doing something you enjoy.

And if you are someone who spends a lot of time watching movies, then finding ways to make money too only makes sense.

According to Statista, the average person spends 153 minutes a day watching TV. That’s at least one movie or several TV shows a day. Now imagine getting paid for that time!

If you find yourself spending a lot of time watching movies and TV, then this could be an easy way to make some extra money.

What most people don’t realize is that there are legitimate websites that will pay you for watching movies, videos, ads, and more.

There is a wide range of options if you want to get paid to watch movies. Some can become a full-time job, while others are just an easy way to make a little extra money.

This article will explain how you can get paid to watch movies, list legitimate websites that pay you to watch short videos, and answer some questions that you may have about this topic. [Read more…]

5 Comments
Filed Under: Budget, Extra Income Tagged With: Extra Money

How To Become A Medical Writer And Make $100,000 Each Year

Last Updated: April 3, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Looking to learn how to become a medical writer? Here’s how you can find freelance medical writing jobs and work from home.

Today, I have a great interview about how to become a medical writer with Austin Ulrich.How To Become A Medical Writer

Austin started his freelance medical writing business in 2019 and grew it on the side for over 3 years. He eventually quit his job as a pharmacist and now works full-time as a medical writer.

He currently earns around $200,000 each year as a freelance medical writer.

Austin is also a blogger. On his blog austinulrich.com, he writes about creating freedom and time by earning and keeping more income. 

Today’s interview answers questions such as:

  • What is medical writing?
  • What is a freelance medical writer?
  • Who hires medical writers?
  • How much can you earn as a medical writer?
  • Do I need a medical degree to become a medical writer?

Today’s interview will help you get started and perhaps even introduce you to a new way to make money from home. [Read more…]

2 Comments
Filed Under: Career, Extra Income Tagged With: Career

How To Sell On Etsy Successfully In 2023: A Beginner’s Guide

Last Updated: March 20, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 1 Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Do you want to learn how to sell on Etsy?

You can sell all different kinds of products on Etsy, from digital products, to both new and vintage physical items. You can sell printables, jewelry, craft supplies, clothing, home decor, furniture, art, and so much more on the Etsy website.Learn how to sell on Etsy successfully in 2023. Here are the steps to start your Etsy shop and figure out what to sell on Etsy.

Today, I have a great interview to share with you on how to sell on Etsy successfully. I interviewed Nancy Badillo, an Etsy shop expert. She helps Etsy sellers turn their passions into profits by teaching them how to start, manage, and scale their Etsy shop to a full-time income.

Nancy has 7 years experience as an Etsy seller. She started selling on Etsy in 2016 and made $21,000 in her first year. She then made $60,000 by her second year on Etsy.

Are you wondering questions such as:

  • How much money can you make on Etsy?
  • How can I decide what to sell on Etsy?
  • What sells best on Etsy?
  • Is it still worth it to sell on Etsy in 2023?

Today’s interview will help you get started selling on Etsy and perhaps even introduce you to a new way to make money. Or, you may learn how to improve the Etsy shop that you already have!

Also, Nancy created Etsy Mastery Course, which has been taken by over 8,000 people. This course will help you to learn the exact steps to make a full-time income from your own Etsy shop. You will learn how to choose a profitable product to sell, how to decide on an Etsy shop name, learn all about Etsy SEO, how to price your items on Etsy, how to provide an excellent customer service experience, and so much more. This course is jam packed full of educational lessons so that you can learn how to sell on Etsy. [Read more…]

1 Comment
Filed Under: Career, Extra Income Tagged With: Career, Extra Money, How To Sell On Etsy

9 Best Ways To Find Free Gas Cards

Last Updated: May 19, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 4 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Are you interested in finding free gas cards and saving money on fuel?

Your monthly gas spending is probably one of your biggest expenses each month. And if the increasing price of gas is getting you down, there are ways to save money on gas and find free gas cards!how to find free gas cards

Gas prices are higher than normal these days, so you are probably paying more than usual.

Despite rising prices, gas is something most people need to get to work, school, run errands, socialize with others, and more. It’s not a luxury that you can completely cut out of your life. 

There are ways to save on gas, like bulking your errands together or carpooling, but as I said, buying gas is essential for most people. 

Fortunately, even though filling up your car’s gas tank can get pretty expensive, there are plenty of ways to save money.

Learning how to save money on gas and knowing how to get free gas cards online can help low-income families and those who need financial assistance. This can help you and your family get to work, school, medical appointments, and to live life.

In today’s article, I have put together a list of resources for you that includes places and websites where you can find free gas cards, apply for free gas vouchers, and sign up for assistance programs for gas expenses.

There are a surprising number of ways to find free gas cards, and I look forward to sharing them with you today!

I’ve also included simple ideas for saving money on gas. You may have tried some of them before, but I hope you find even more tips to try. [Read more…]

4 Comments
Filed Under: Budget, Extra Income Tagged With: Budget

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Hello and welcome!
My name is Michelle and I'm the author/owner of Making Sense of Cents. Learning how to save money and make more money changed my life. It allowed me to pay off $40,000 in student loans, start my own business, and I now travel full-time.

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