While being a stay-at-home dad can be challenging, it presents many opportunities to find multiple income streams through stay-at-home jobs that help with domestic expenses.
Below we will explore the best jobs and side hustles you can take while caring for your children. These include remote jobs, part-time jobs, and stay-at-home dad business ideas.
Remote Jobs For Stay-At-Home Dads
Below is a list of remote jobs for stay-at-home dads that you may want to consider to boost your income while at home.
1. Online Tutor
As a parent, you may have taught your child to read and helped them with assignments. Monetize this by signing up to become an online tutor at sites like Canada Online Tutoring.
There are no startup costs, and you can be your own boss. But it may require patience and persistence, and the hours can take a toll on your routine.
The average pay of an online tutor in Canada is $21 per hour.
2. Freelancer
Freelancing can be anything from copywriting to editing, designing logos, developing websites, and data entry. Sign up at freelancer sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and FlexJobs to find freelance jobs.
Freelancers earn an average of $40 per hour, depending on skills, experience and the type of job they choose.
Being a freelancer lets you choose clients and the work you want to do at your own hours. The drawbacks are inconsistent work, tax obligations, and less job security.
3. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistant work includes writing and proofreading, handling social media accounts, managing emails, bookkeeping, etc.
This job is highly flexible, there are no start-up costs, and you can set your own rates. The disadvantages include time management issues, multiple tasks and deadlines, and lack of job security.
You can apply for virtual assistant jobs on LinkedIn, Upwork, and job boards. VAs can earn $15 to $30 per hour.
4. Online Survey Taker
Earn extra cash by answering surveys at apps like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, and Branded Surveys.
Sign up for an account at these apps or websites to start completing surveys that let you earn money. Earn more by using the apps to watch videos, shop, and play games.
Your earning potential for this side hustle can be anywhere from $50 to $100 per month.
5. Customer Service Representative
If you are adept at helping people, working as a customer service representative may suit you. You can find such positions on job boards, Upwork and Freelancer.com.
Working as a customer service representative trains you to resolve problems, develop people skills and practice creative thinking. The drawbacks include experiencing burnout and stress and handling many responsibilities.
The average earnings of a Customer Service Representative in Canada is approximately $18 per hour.
6. Online English Teacher
If you are a native English speaker, you can easily qualify to teach English online and find jobs at Indeed or LinkedIn or at sites like Magic Ears or QKids.
As an online teacher, you can choose your schedule and find multiple work opportunities. Disadvantages include time zone challenges, absence of contracts, and inconsistent salary.
Online English teachers can earn anywhere from $14 to $25 per hour.
7. Proofreader
Proofreading may be ideal for you if you have a keen eye for typos and grammar errors. Find proofreading jobs at Upwork or Fiverr.
Being a proofreader is among the best remote jobs for stay-at-home dads due to flexibility and the demand for the job. A major downside to this job is the repetitive nature of the work.
Proofreaders can earn an hourly average of $22 or up to $40 per hour.
Related: Proofread Anywhere review.
8. Copywriter
Copywriting is a recession-proof job that you can apply to various industries. Find copywriting gigs and projects at Upwork or Freelancer.com and on job boards like Indeed.
Copywriters can find work in any field or profession, and the job is flexible. Some disadvantages include burnout and the need to put in long hours.
A copywriter in Canada can earn an average salary of over $57,000.
9. SEO Specialist
A stay-at-home dad skilled in digital marketing can have a lucrative career working as an SEO specialist earning around $40 an hour.
The duties of an SEO specialist include monitoring website performance, checking analytics, building links, and optimizing websites for search engines to make them rank higher and gain organic visibility.
While this type of work is in demand and indispensable, a lot of the work is systematic and may become tedious and repetitive. The key is to understand the importance of the work and be results-oriented.
10. Online Course Creator
If you have a specific skill, consider creating an online course. It can be a video, podcast, ebook, or other digital products you can sell individually or combined with other courses.
Selling an online course is a great passive income generator that you can repeatedly sell through email marketing, affiliate marketing or Facebook ads.
You can earn anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000 selling your course, depending on your traffic, conversion rate and the price of your online course.
11. Website Tester
Website testing is a crucial process in website development. Testers provide feedback on the function of a website and identify performance flaws that need refining.
Several websites in Canada offer website testing jobs, such as UserTesting, Userlytics, uTest and test IO.
Earn $10 for a 20-minute test or up to $120 for live interviews through video conference calls. Some sites, such as UserInterviews, offer testing tasks that can pay up to $100 per hour.
12. Graphic Designer
If you are skilled in graphic design, there are several ways to earn money. First, you can create, upload and sell your designs at sites like Fiverr and 99designs.
You can also use your skills to create templates, flyers, posters, logos, or even design your online courses and educational materials.
If you want to teach graphic design, sites like Thinkific can help you create, market and sell courses. Freelance graphic designers can earn up to $43 per hour.
Part-Time Jobs For Dads
If you prefer to work part-time jobs for dads rather than getting full-time employment, here are some ideas to start with.
13. Pet Sitter
Starting a pet daycare in your home can be an ideal job for a stay-at-home dad who adores pets. Create a schedule that works for you and set up a safe and fun environment for the animals.
The average rate for a pet-sitting job is $15 to $30 per visit, depending on location, type of pet, the required service, and your qualifications.
Pet sitting can be challenging due to difficult clients, or the animals may hurt you. But overall, if you genuinely love pets, the work can help relieve your stress.
Here are petsitting apps that you might want to check out.
14. Dog Walker
Being a dog walker is a side job that boosts your income with its $18 hourly rate while improving your health through regular walks.
Dog walking involves taking a pet out at suitable times while ensuring its safety and notifying owners if it becomes sick or injured while under your care.
As a dog walker, your responsibility includes less favourable tasks like picking up poo and taking dogs for all-weather walks.
Related: Make money walking dogs.
15. Personal Trainer
Are you an exercise buff? You can earn extra cash by getting others fit by being their personal trainer. It involves helping people identify their fitness goals and overseeing their routines.
Being a personal trainer can be rewarding and lets you set flexible hours, but it can lead to working odd hours. It also lacks job benefits and job security.
A personal trainer in Canada can make around $30 per hour. You can earn higher by getting formal training and obtaining licences and certifications.
16. Babysitter
Make quick cash by extending your babysitting activities to sit for other children. The average salary of a babysitter in Canada is $28,275 per year or $14.50 per hour.
In this job, some children can become difficult to handle, and you may need to work odd hours to accommodate client requests.
Despite that, babysitting can be a good side hustle for a stay-at-home dad since the requirements are negligible, and you can opt to schedule it around your life.
17. Travel Agent
Working as a travel agent is excellent for a stay-at-home dad because you can do it remotely, whether booking flights, hotels, car rentals, tours, or selling travel insurance.
The median wage of a travel agent in Canada is around $20 per hour. It requires no college degree. Plus, you can work anywhere and set your own hours.
If you have clients travelling worldwide, you may have to be on call 24/7 due to time differences.
18. Bookkeeper
Many small business owners need help keeping track of the money that goes in and out of their business.
Being their bookkeeper makes for an excellent and flexible side hustle that can earn you an average of $22 per hour.
As the job involves routine data entry, it can lead to eye strain and fatigue. Practicing good ergonomics can help prevent these issues.
19. Freelance Photographer
If you enjoy taking photographs, consider selling your pieces to sites like Alamy, where you can earn extra by selling iPhone photos and get up to 50% of direct sales.
You can also open an Etsy photography shop and sell your photos quickly. Etsy takes a 5% cut from each sale.
As a freelance photographer in Canada, you can earn an average of $44,625 per year and up to $64,735 per year.
20. Recruiting Coordinator
Earn up to $43,875 a year as a recruitment coordinator helping clients find candidates for open positions.
A recruiting coordinator oversees a client’s hiring process, from posting open positions on job boards to evaluating resumes, scheduling interviews, and managing hiring documents.
The compensation of recruiting professionals may be variable and inconsistent because they often earn through commissions.
21. Podcaster
Do you have ideas and thoughts you want to share with others? Consider becoming a podcaster and earn up to $76,000 per year.
Create a podcast about a theme you are passionate about as a stay-at-home dad. Establish the goal and format of your podcast. Interview relevant guests and share advice.
You may need to shell out around $400 for a basic podcast setup. Once you get enough audience, you can get sponsorships, sell your own merchandise and earn more.
22. Subtitler
If you have excellent language and translation skills, it may appeal to you to work as a subtitler. In Canada, the average salary of a subtitler is $54,602 or $26 per hour.
Subtitling is a remote job that you can do during your preferred hours. It involves following guidelines in translating dialogues and writing captions.
Find open subtitler open positions at the transcription company Rev or Netflix. Subtitling jobs are also available at Upwork and Indeed job boards. At Rev, freelance captioners can earn up to $1,570 per month.
23. Chat Agent
A chat agent provides real-time support and assistance to customers besides troubleshooting technical issues.
As a chat agent, you can choose your hours and what company to work with. Start your search for chat agent open positions at companies like Amazon and Apple.
In Canada, a chat agent can earn around $21 per hour or up to $42,000 a year on average.
24. Voiceover Artist
Voiceover artists are in demand due to the need to produce audio content for TV commercials, videos, audiobooks, podcasts, and more.
Voiceover jobs let you choose your clients and how you work. Find voiceover and voice talent jobs at Upwork and Freelancer.
A voiceover artist in Canada can earn up to $73,135 per year or $37.50 per hour. A basic voiceover setup can cost about $600 to $1,000, depending on the quality of your equipment.
Stay-At-Home Dad Business Ideas
Here are some stay-at-home dad business ideas you may want to think about if you have always wanted to start a business.
25. Dropshipping
Stay-at-home individuals may find dropshipping a profitable business model without the hassles of inventory or shipping.
Start by creating an online store such as Shopify, choosing a reliable supplier, adding your products and marketing your store.
Successful dropshippers can earn up to $100,000 in their first year of operations. The challenge lies in finding a niche market, promoting your storefront everywhere and having a reliable supplier.
26. Selling On Etsy
Selling on Etsy is another potentially lucrative side hustle for stay-at-home dads. Among the easiest things to sell on the site are printables.
Create unique and original designs. Set your retail prices for every design you make. Partner with print-on-demand shops like Printful and Printify for order fulfillment and shipping.
At the start, sales may be slow, earning you anywhere from $10 to $100 weekly. To increase your sales, promote your Etsy shop on social media and other platforms you frequent.
27. Flipping Furniture or Clothing
Flipping stuff for profit is another great way for stay-at-home dads to earn extra income. The earnings potential of flipping items ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 per month.
Called retail arbitrage, flipping is a method that involves buying used stuff, such as furniture or clothing, repairing the items, and reselling them at a higher price.
Sell your flipped items on Etsy or on Facebook marketplace. It may take a while to sell your items at first, so marketing your store earnestly is crucial.
28. Starting a YouTube Channel
Being a YouTuber allows you to share your interests, knowledge and viewpoints with the world while earning on the side at your own schedule.
Once you have enough audience and subscribers, it is essential to start earning through merchandise sales, ad revenue or sponsored content.
With a YouTube channel, you can have passive income that can earn you up to $1,000 a month.
29. Starting a Blog
Blogging is one of the best side hustles for stay-at-home dads. If you have a specific skill, use it to create content about a particular niche that helps others.
Use simple, user-friendly blogging platforms like WordPress to create your blog. Monetize your site through display ads, affiliate marketing, and selling your own products.
While blogging requires time and hard work to build up traffic, it is possible to earn up to $50,000 a year through blogging.
30. Renting Out a Room On Airbnb
Make extra cash as a stay-at-home dad by renting your room on Airbnb. Choose whether to rent it on specific periods or on a full-time basis.
Sign up at the Airbnb website and create a free listing. Set your rates, availability, requirements and house rules. Use the Airbnb calculator to determine how much you will earn.
Airbnb often pays hosts 24 hours after a confirmed guest is scheduled to arrive. As a host, you will be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep costs.
31. Becoming a Social Media Manager
As a social media manager, your work requires managing a company’s social campaigns and developing strategies to increase its followers and online presence.
It covers several fields, including marketing, communications, public relations, advertising and journalism. In this job, time management is crucial to avoid burnout.
As a social media manager, you can earn around $33 per hour. If you are more experienced, you can make over $182,000 per year.
32. Designing or Programming Websites
Designing websites can be a complex task for some people who just want to sell their products using their online shops.
As a web designer, you can make around $28 per hour designing sites that online businesses can use as a storefront.
You can find web design gigs at freelancer sites and job boards. But the job market can become competitive, so you may need to build your reputation as a web designer.
33. Starting a House Cleaning Business
A house cleaning service is perfect for establishing a business with a low start-up cost. It can earn you anywhere from $100 to $300 for each house you clean.
You can start your cleaning business for as low as $3,000. If you need funding for your business, you can find options from the Canadian government.
Running a house cleaning business can be physically demanding, and income may initially be slow. But with reliable services and a good marketing plan, you can slowly build a solid client base.
34. Starting a Home Daycare Center
Daycares are in demand in Canada, with Statistics Canada reporting that 52% of Canadian children younger than 6 years were in licensed or unlicensed child care in early 2022.
You can start your own daycare business from home with a basic setup for as low as $3,000. How much you earn depends on your rates and the number of children you accept.
Daycare owners in Canada can earn an average of $80,361 per year.
35. Becoming an Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate marketing lets you earn commission by marketing other people’s products. If you have a favourite product, join their affiliate program and share the affiliate link with your audience.
You can promote the product through your social media accounts. When someone clicks through your affiliate link to make a purchase, you earn a commission.
Commission rates vary from one affiliate program to another. You can either get a fixed fee or a percentage of every sale, which can range from 5% to 50%.
What is the Average Stay-At-Home Dad Salary?
The average stay-at-home dad salary in Canada is $57,348 per year.
Government Assistance For Stay At Home Dads
If you are in charge of family and domestic responsibilities, you may be eligible for government assistance for stay-at-home dads (Canada only).
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
Are you a single parent and have a child under 18? You may be entitled to receive the CCB. This benefit, which the Canada Revenue Agency administers, is available to qualified individuals.
Eligible parents receive a monthly tax-free payment. The amount will be based on the parent’s circumstances, the number of children, and the location.
HST/GST Tax Credit
The Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) credit is a tax-free quarterly payment given to low- and modest-income individuals and families.
The benefit helps offset the HST/GST they are required to pay annually. You are automatically considered for the tax credit when you file your taxes.
Conclusion
While it can be tough being a stay-at-home dad, it has many perks. The best one is being able to watch your children growing up.
Another benefit is that you can earn money while taking care of the household. You can choose from the many remote jobs for stay-at-home dads, or you can go with part-time jobs.
Whatever you decide, literally being there for your kids strengthens your bond and gives you an exceptional level of fulfillment and personal satisfaction.
