With flexible working and side hustles becoming more popular, many people in the UK are looking for genuine work from home jobs.
Since March 2020, I’ve actually been working from home full-time. I’ve also hired many freelancers who work from home for different tasks over the years.
I decided to cover 9 genuine jobs that you can do from home either part-time to supplement your income, or full-time if you have the right skills or experience. Just make sure you have a good internet connection!
Best Genuine Work From Home Jobs UK
#1 – Online Tutor
#2 – Voice Over Artist
#3 – Copywriting
#4 – Video Editing
#5 – Graphic Design
#6 – Data Entry
#7 – Virtual Assistant (VA)
#8 – Consulting
#9 – Coaching
Other factors to consider
What to do next
I’ve freelanced as a private tutor in the past, as well as offering accounting/business services whilst working from home.
And, as a chartered accountant who’s often worked from home, it’s important not to forget a few other considerations. Tax, insurance and lifestyle factors are all worth thinking about when deciding to work from home. I’ll cover these at the end.
#1 – Online Tutor
I worked as a private tutor in London soon after I graduated from the London School of Economics. It was fun and it can pay very well.
With the rise of virtual learning, the demand for online tutors has grown significantly which means it’s now a genuine work from home job.
What does it involve?
Guiding/teaching a student which could mean kids or adults.
Any skills/experience required?
You will need good subject matter knowledge if you are going to teach school or university students. Typically, you’ll need a degree in the subject to be able to tutor undergrads. A professional qualification is also very useful. For example, as a chartered accountant, I could earn £100+ per hour during exam season helping accounting students with revision.
Teaching English as a foreign language (ESL) may be a good starting point – you only need to have good English skills!
Who’s it suited to?
Anyone who likes teaching, has patience and is presentable – as you’ll probably be on camera.
Earning potential
£20-100 per hour depending on experience/qualifications and the subject. The very best tutors can earn even more, sometimes over £1,000 a week. Just remember that if you sign up to agencies, they will take a cut. When I worked for an agency in Kensington 10 years ago, they would charge £40 per hour and keep £15, meaning I’d take home £25 per hour.
If you build a reputation and make good contacts, you can move away from agencies and freelance. Then you can charge your own prices.
Working from home as a tutor means you won’t have the travel costs that I used to have!
How to get started
It’s easier to start off with an agency but you can begin with freelancing. You’d probably need to have strong academic or professional qualifications to go it alone from scratch, though.
If you are tutoring anyone under the age of 18, you may need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Some tuition agencies require it – you can find out more at the Tutor’s Association website here.
Anything else to consider
Time commitment is a factor. If it’s a technical subject, you will need to stay ahead of the syllabus and ensure you have strong knowledge.
However, one of the perks of online tutoring is being able to set your own timetable.
Useful links
Take a look at the Tutor’s Association website for more information. To get started, you can simply search online for “private tutor jobs” and you’ll find a list of agencies.
#2 – Voice Over Artist
What does it involve?
Voice overs can mean recording scripts, narrating a video or reading an audiobook. Essentially anything that requires a spoken voice.
My mum worked for many years as a voice artist and even had her own home studio. These days, microphones and recording quality on laptops and home computers is much better. Which is good news, as you can get started using your laptop or phone microphone for basic jobs from home.
Any skills/experience required?
No qualifications required but usually a distinctive voice or the ability to do different accents/tones of voice is required.
Who’s it suited to?
Anyone with an interest in drama and has a distinctive voice or are able to do different accents and voice tones.
Earning potential
Jobs can start from £100-200 each, which will often be a whole day’s work. The very best voice actors who get work consistently can make 6-figures a year or more. For professional jobs, you’ll need to invest in a decent microphone and sound proof setup for your home.
How to get started
If you think you have what it takes to do voice overs, start by practicing recording at home first. Play it to other people and then start a fiverr account, upload your recording demos and start applying for jobs.
For professional jobs, for example TV or radio, you’ll need to audition first. The first step is usually sending a demo, or sample recording of your voice so make sure you have this ready if you want to apply for professional jobs.
Anything else to consider
If you have a top of the range smartphone, or a decent laptop, you can get started by making recordings on them.
You may want to look into buying a professional microphone if you’re serious about voice acting.
Useful links
Check out this overview on how to get started as a voice actor to get some useful insights.
#3 – Copywriting
What does it involve?
As a copywriter or freelance writer, you’d be writing content for online or offline publications. These could be information articles or reviews depending on the topic. There are tons of blogs and content websites for most topics and niches out there.
Any skills/experience required?
You don’t need formal qualifications but if you’ve never written for other people before, you’ll need to showcase your skills.
If you are a technical expert, for example a vet or a doctor, your writing will be considered more valuable and you can charge more.
Equally, if you have extensive experience at something you may also find high demand for your opinion.
Who’s it suited to?
Anyone who loves to write, particularly if you’re an expert on a certain topic.
Earning potential
Expect to be paid around £20 to write a good article on a non-technical topic. For specialist or technical topics, you can expect to be paid much more for a high quality article.
How to get started
You could start your own blog or website to showcase examples of articles you’ve written. This will help publishers view your skills and hopefully hire you.
Pitching directly to publishers or websites you think will be interested could be a good start too.
Anything else to consider
Really think about whether it’s right for you. If you struggled to hit the word count on school essays, copywriting may not be for you!
Don’t underestimate the time commitment involved. As a beginner you’re unlikely to be able to churn out a well-written 1,500 word article in just a couple of hours.
If you love writing though, then go for it. Especially if you have strong knowledge or skills in a specialist area.
Make sure to proof-read your finished articles – check out the links below for help.
Useful links
Grammarly and Hemingwayapp are great tools to help with sense checking and proofreading.
#4 – Video Editing
What does it involve?
As a video editor, you will be using software to manipulate videos. You could be cutting sections of video out, adding effects such as fades, or transitioning between different video sequences.
This could be for YouTube creators, digital ads, social media videos and gamers. Videos of people playing video games is an increasingly popular niche.
Any skills/experience required?
No specific qualifications are required, but you will need to be able to demonstrate your abilities.
Who’s it suited to?
Anyone creative who loves working on videos.
Earning potential
Varies depending on the difficulty of the job. You could earn £15-25 to edit a 1 minute video for social media.
If you can do special effects, advanced graphics or any other more complex video editing techniques, then you can earn a lot more.
How to get started
You will need a computer/laptop and ideally a good sized screen. You can get started with free software such as iMovie.
But you’ll need specialist software for more advanced video editing, such as Adobe After Effects.
Anything else to consider
When starting out, editing a video can be time consuming. You’ll also need the right software and probably a good sized screen.
It is a lot of fun though, and if it’s something you enjoy you can make a good living from it.
Useful links
Get started on fiverr or PeoplePerHour.
#5 – Graphic Design
What does it involve?
You could be creating logos, designing branding or coming up with packaging designs. I’ve hired a few graphic designers in the past for logo work, branding and creating custom diagrams.
Quite a lot of small companies will hire graphic designers to create social media content. This could mean editing and branding images for Facebook or creating info posts for Instagram.
Any skills/experience required?
You will need to be able to demonstrate your graphic design skills. No formal qualification is needed, but you could be competing with people who have a degree in graphic design.
There are some great courses out there for beginners who want to learn graphic design.
Who’s it suited to?
Creative people, anyone with an artistic side or who loves to design or draw.
Earning potential
Earnings will depend on your skillset and how complex the job is. Graphic designers are often paid per job rather than per hour. You can expect to be paid £10-20 for a basic logo for a small business.
Quality graphic designers can earn a lot more.
How to get started
You will need professional software tools, but the days of expensive photoshop software are gone.
You can quite easily get started on Canva for free to design logos. Their paid plan gives you many more options which you will need if you’re serious about becoming a graphic designer.
There are also some great courses you can do if you’re a beginner and want to learn graphic design. Check out Udemy to start.
Anything else to consider
If you go on Fiverr or People Per Hour, you’re going to see a lot of competition from lower wage countries. These designers will typically charge a lot less than UK/US-based designers, which can lower earnings.
However quality counts, so if you’re good you can charge a premium. I’ve gone for cheaper designers in the past only to have to pay a UK-based designer afterwards for better quality.
Useful links
Check out what graphic design services are being offered on fiverr and PeoplePerHour. For courses, click the Udemy link above.
#6 – Data Entry
What does it involve?
Literally typing data into a system or word processing software. Often, data entry jobs can require some basic creative writing, e.g. adding words to social media posts.
Or it could mean simply entering numbers into a system, for example to help with processing orders and inventory for an online retailer.
Any skills/experience required?
No, but proficiency in the language you’re working in will be useful.
Who’s it suited to?
Anyone who’s good with a keyboard and won’t get bored by manual tasks.
Earning potential
Very basic jobs can pay around £5 per hour, but the more complex jobs can pay up to £30-40 per hour.
How to get started
You can get started by creating an account on People Per Hour or fiverr and applying for jobs. Another good starting point is Amazon’s job marketplace called Amazon mTurk.
Anything else to consider
Given the low barriers to entry, there may be a lot of competition for the basic jobs.
But if you’re good with word processing and comfortable using different data systems, you can target the higher paying jobs.
Useful links
Check out Amazon mTurk for a good starting place.
#7 – Virtual Assistant (VA)
What does it involve?
Virtual Assistants – or VAs – complete admin tasks online for another person or business.
There are various tasks that this could involve, from data entry to managing online orders for an e-commerce business.
It’s usually part-time but there are full-time VAs who work for a number of businesses at once.
Any skills/experience required?
Nothing specific, other than being a highly organised person! The ability to think logically and plan your time is also important.
Who’s it suited to?
Someone who’s worked in admin in the past. Or anyone who is proactive and organised.
Earning potential
A good VA can earn £20 or more per hour. Full-time VAs can earn up to £30,000 a year.
How to get started
You will need a laptop/computer and a reliable internet connection as some tasks may be required to be completed quickly.
Then, decide which tasks you are best suited to. This could be managing diaries, SEO research for a content website or handling customer orders/returns.
Anything else to consider
As with other remote working jobs, there is competition from lower wage countries which can lower earnings.
But if you’re enthusiastic and can demonstrate your skills you can get going pretty quickly. Certain tasks will also favour those who are native English speakers.
Useful links
Have a look on fiverr to see which services are being offered and what you’re best suited to.
#8 – Consulting
What does it involve?
Consulting essentially involves selling what you know. “Selling what you know” is rising in popularity as a side hustle. It involves people with a particular skill or qualification offering their services to a person or business who’s seeking someone with those skills.
As a chartered accountant, I’m well aware that accounting is an area that’s in demand for consulting. For example, a start up business may need specific advice from a professional on how to keep basic bookkeeping records, or how to register with HMRC.
That’s where a freelance accountant can be helpful, perhaps by offering a 2 hour paid consultation.
Any skills/experience required?
Yes, you almost certainly need specific skills, qualifications or experience in the area that you want to consult for.
Who’s it suited to?
Anyone with specialist skills or experience in a particular area who wants the flexibility of freelancing rather than a full-time job.
Earning potential
Depends on the area of expertise and your level of skills/experience. A freelance chartered accountant can charge anywhere from £25 to £250 per hour depending on the job and level of experience.
I know several freelancers in accounting and marketing who earn 6-figures a year, mainly working from home.
How to get started
If you have skills that you think a business will find useful, then you can set yourself up as a freelancer.
Check out what services are being offered in your area of expertise on fiverr and People Per Hour, then set your own profiles up.
Anything else to consider
You will need to be clear on how you will attract clients and how you can demonstrate your track record.
Creating a portfolio website is a good idea. Think about any references you can get from people or businesses you’ve worked with before.
If you create accounts on fiverr and People Per Hour, think about how you can stand out. Did you work for a big name employer in your industry for a number of years? Do you have a top-level qualification you can show off?
Useful links
Check out the professional services offered on People Per Hour.
#9 – Coaching
What does it involve?
I’ve listed coaching separately to consulting because it’s a broader area and is more focused on lifestyle than business.
You could be a fitness instructor, a yoga teacher or a life coach. The rise of home workout instructors like Joe Wicks and home classes through Peloton bikes means that even fitness can now be done from home!
Any skills/experience required?
You’ll need to demonstrate a decent level of experience or expertise in the area you want to coach.
Many fitness coaches are simply people who are in great shape and post workout routines on social media to build followers. Once they have a good following, they can offer products or services, such as coaching and workout plans, to their followers.
Who’s it suited to?
Anyone with a passion which they can coach other people in.
Earning potential
Earnings will vary significantly depending on the area that you’re coaching in.
How to get started
It depends on the area you want to coach in, but building a social media presence is a good starting point. Search online for coaching in the area you’re interested in and see what other people are doing.
Anything else to consider
The barriers to entry in non-technical areas are often very low, meaning lots of competition. Be sure to work out how you’ll stand out against competitors. Particularly if you’re going into a competitive area like fitness or yoga.
Useful links
Check out this interview with someone who set up as a freelance coach.
Other factors to consider
Tax
Starting a work from home job often means setting up as a freelancer with your own clients/customers. This means you’ll be receiving income and will likely need to register with HMRC for self-assessment. Or you may want to set up your own limited company if it makes sense to do so for your particular area and circumstances.
It’s a good idea to get a basic understanding of self-employment and how to use business expenses to keep your tax bill down. You can register for self-employment here, and HMRC has a good overview on business expenses here.
Insurance
There are two types of insurance you need to be on top of when working from home.
First is your home insurance, and whether this covers working from home. If it doesn’t, any insurance claim could be invalidated if you’re shown to have been working from home.
Some policies will cover home-based work, but it’s important to check.
Secondly, you may want to consider public liability insurance. Particularly if you are offering advice or coaching services. In the unlikely event that a client or customer suffers damage (financial or otherwise) as a result of your services, public liability insurance could cover any claims.
Read this overview on public liability insurance by the Association of British Insurers to find out more.
Lifestyle
It’s important to think about your lifestyle if you do end up working from home full-time, or even as a side hustle.
The flexibility can be great, but you may miss the social interaction that you get from meeting people in person.
If you’re looking for a genuine work from home job as a source of extra income on top of your main income, it’s important to manage your time well. Coming home from work to then open your laptop and continue working takes a certain level of motivation, so think it through carefully.
What next?
Take your time to think about the type of work you want to do from home, and whether you can commit to it full-time or part-time.
Once you’re making some extra cash from one of these genuine work from jobs, see our article on where you should put your savings.
