Simple Ways to Make Your First $100 Online (Beginner-Friendly)

Simple Ways to Make Your First $100 Online (Beginner-Friendly)

Updated: • Reading time: 7–9 minutes

If you’re starting from zero and just want a fast, realistic plan to make your first $100 online, this guide is for you.
Every method below is beginner-friendly, takes little or no upfront cash, and can scale if you keep at it.
Where it helps, I’ve added tools and resources — and a single universal Amazon link so you can browse any gear you might need.



Table of contents

  1. Resell items you already own
  2. Micro-gigs and quick freelance tasks
  3. Simple print-on-demand designs
  4. One-link “starter” affiliate post
  5. Local services with online booking
  6. Sell a tiny digital product
  7. Bonus: surveys/earning apps (low effort)

1) Resell items you already own

Walk your home with a notes app and list 20 things you haven’t used in 6+ months
(headphones, kitchen gadgets, old phones, books). Photograph in daylight against a plain background and post to
Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or eBay. Price at 60–70% of the going used rate to move fast.

Helpful gear: If you need bubble mailers, a cheap postage scale, or packing tape,
browse Amazon supplies here
and pick what fits your budget.

2) Micro-gigs and quick freelance tasks

Spin up fast wins with short tasks: remove photo backgrounds, simple data entry, or turn audio notes into text.
Pitch in local Facebook groups or on Fiverr/Upwork with a 1-paragraph offer and 3 examples.

  • Tip: Package offers (“10 product photos background-removed for $15 in 24 hours”).
  • Tooling: Free web tools like PhotoRoom/Canva get you started; upgrade later if needed.

3) Print-on-demand: simple text designs

Create 5–10 short, niche quotes (pets, trades, hobbies) and place them on shirts or mugs using
Printify/Printful integrated with Etsy. Keep designs text-only at first — black/white typography sells.

Research in 10 minutes: Search Etsy for your niche + “shirt”, sort by “Top customer reviews,”
note phrasing themes, then create something fresh (not copied).


4) The “one-link” starter affiliate post

Don’t overthink it: write a 600-word post recommending your 3 favorite budget tools for your hobby or work —
but link every “Buy on Amazon” button to one universal link so you never have to build product links.

  • Your universal link:
    Shop on Amazon
  • Template sections: problem → what I used → what I’d buy today → quick setup tips.
  • Conversion tip: Put the “Shop on Amazon” button above the fold and at the end.

Example snippet you can reuse

“If you only get one thing today, make it a reliable USB microphone so your calls sound clean.
You don’t need fancy — just something that doesn’t hiss.
Shop on Amazon →

5) Local services with online booking

Offer a simple service (lawn cleanup, car interior detail, window washing, dog waste pickup) and
let people book through a free calendar link. Post before/after photos and a flat “$49 starter” package to remove friction.

6) Sell a tiny digital product

Whip up a 3-page checklist, recipe pack, or printable habit tracker in Google Docs/Canva.
List it on Gumroad/Ko-fi for $3–$7. Promote in one relevant subreddit or Facebook group (following their rules).

7) Bonus: surveys & earning apps (snack money)

Won’t make you rich, but if you’re waiting in lines a lot, stacking a couple of legit apps can nudge you over $100
in your first month. Treat this as filler time, not your main plan.


Next step (today)

  1. Pick one method above.
  2. Schedule 90 minutes on your calendar.
  3. Post your first offer or list your first 5 items.

Need basic gear? Use the universal link and grab only what’s necessary:
Shop Amazon.


Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases —
at no extra cost to you.