The top ways to make money online in Canada are:
- Local lead generation
- Online tutoring
- Software development
- Accounting or bookkeeping services
- Telehealth nursing services
- Meal prep services
- Logistics consulting
- Virtual project management
- Freelance services
- E-commerce stores
To easily make money online in Canada, focus on the country's high-demand markets. Then, find ways to offer remote products or services within that industry. For example, local lead generation is great as it targets small local companies. In Canada, 97.9% of all businesses fall into this category, providing a wide pool of potential clients. And since you're offering quality leads to these owners, they'll be willing to pay around $500 to $3,000 a month.
eSentire, a cybersecurity firm, became successful as it recognized cybercrime as a major issue in Canada. Canadian businesses needed its Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service. Its success comes from early market entry, meeting local needs, and advanced technology. Today, eSentire protects over 2,000 organizations in 80+ countries besides Canada. Its earnings surpass $100 million per year.
Canada is one of the best places to make money online. For one, it has a strong digital economy. According to Made in CA, 72.5% of Canadians shop online, showing they're comfortable with digital purchases. The country also has a multicultural population. This diversity creates opportunities to market to specific cultural groups online. A Quora user says Canada is great for business as people are genuine and work together for the greater good.
However, there are also challenges to making money online in Canada. Popular markets can be competitive, with many offering similar products or services. Large tech companies also dominate the online space, so standing out can be tough. Plus, cyber threats are on the rise. In 2023, Canada saw a 37% rise in cyber cases compared to the previous year. What's more, you'll face complex regulatory and compliance challenges. A Reddit user says many online retailers don't ship to Canada because of all the paperwork and high taxes.
With 10 years of running an online business, I know all the ins and outs of earning big money online. I've also tried my hand at several business models before I found the one that stuck with me. To help you find the right one, I'll list 31 ways how to make money in Canada online. I'll also cover the legal requirements and the best money-making online business in the country.
1. Start a Local Lead Generation Business in Canada
To make money online with local lead generation:
Websites that rank high get the best leads. This is why home service owners like to rent out an already-ranked website. And they're willing to splash out $500 to $3,000 a month for it. To make passive income in Canada, choose an online business with recurring revenue and low maintenance.
In Canada, home service businesses saw steady demand from 2021 to 2024. What's more, most Canadians search online to find these services. For example, 'Brampton plumbing' has 2,400 searches, and "cleaning services Toronto" has 6,600.
This is the business model that earned me big bucks online. It takes some time and effort to create and rank a website. Not too much, though, as you're ranking for local keywords with little competition. After that, find a "renter" and start earning monthly revenue. I earn $52,000 a month from renting out 10 websites!
2. Work as an Online Tutor for Canadian Students
To make money online as a tutor:
Russell P. is a native Canadian teacher offering English online tutoring through Preply. He has taught over 8,000 lessons on the platform and has a 4.7 out of 5 stars from 100+ students. He has already earned approximately $120,000 from this venture. On average, online tutors in Canada earn $25 per lesson/hour or $48,750 yearly.
Russel P. stands out thanks to his qualifications and experience. He's been an ESL teacher for 18 years and holds a diploma from the Teacher's College in Ontario. Like him, you'll need to prove that you're the best online tutor to hire for your topic. This means earning a diploma, gaining experience, or obtaining certifications. So it will take time before you can start earning big.
The private tutoring market in Canada is expected to grow at an annual rate of 9.45% between 2023 and 2028. The country also encourages online tutoring to eliminate geographical barriers. This way, quality education is available to those in remote and underserved areas. According to Superprof, Canada needs more subject-specific tutors. STEM, languages, and test prep are the online tutoring opportunities for making money in Canada.
3. Develop Software for Canadian Industries
To make money online developing software:
The Canadian government buys a lot of software for various purposes. This includes cybersecurity and IT security, cloud services, data centers, etc. If you develop a solution for government use, you could secure a large contract. Besides that, healthcare, financial, and real estate are looking for country-specific software. Since industry software is in demand, the average earnings in Canada reach $72.32 per hour or $141,017 per year.
Kevin Kliman co-founded Humi, an HR, payroll, and benefits software for Canadian businesses. It became successful as it addressed the unique needs of Canadian businesses. It even included features tailored to local practices and regulations. Now, the platform earns a whopping $26.3 million annually.
Developing software requires advanced skills. You must also do deep research on your market to find high-potential ideas. Then, a big investment is often needed to get started, making this a less ideal option for beginners.
4. Offer Accounting or Bookkeeping Services in Canada
To make money online with accounting or bookkeeping services:
In the past year, 70% of accounting and bookkeeping businesses in Canada made more money. 56% said this was mainly because they got more clients. This shows that Canadians are more than willing to hire help for their accounting, taxes, payroll, etc. Cloud-based and full-service are the best remote bookkeeping services to offer in Canada. The average cost for virtual full-service bookkeeping is around $1,000 per month. Cloud-based bookkeeping services average at $80 per month. This is cheaper but 70% of small Canadian businesses have switched to cloud software.
Ugo Soum was successful with his online bookkeeping company, Yoogs Inc. He offered bilingual, worry-free payroll services in Québec. He also specialized in cloud-based and paperless solutions, simplifying the process. Yoogs Inc. has grown to a team of three, serving diverse clients including fast-growing companies. It now has a strong reputation with big clients like Abbeal Canada, a popular IT company.
To be an accountant or bookkeeper, you must know all about your specialized service. It's important to study as much as you can about it. You should enjoy math and working with numbers, too. Also, finances are confidential, so building trust with clients is crucial. It may take time to build that kind of trust.
5. Provide Telehealth Nursing Services in Canada
To make money online with telehealth nursing services:
According to MWT Consultancy, Canadian telehealth nurses earn between $50K to $90K annually. This is more than the average salary for nurses in other countries, usually $45K to $70K. Most successful telehealth nurses in Canada work for companies. This is a top option since clients already trust these organizations.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reports a critical nurse shortage. More nurses are needed, including in the telehealth sector. This is a great opportunity to help those in need and earn big. Moreover, Canadians value saving time and money with integrated virtual care (IVC). Medical Express surveyed Canadian patients about the IVC model. 90% said that they were very satisfied with it.
To become a telehealth nurse, you must first be a licensed nurse. So there's no quick way around it. There's also a big risk of unhappy patients. Sometimes, the best option is to tell clients to go to a hospital to be safe. This can frustrate them and make them feel you wasted their time and money. It's a tricky business as you're only an online nurse.
6. Launch a Canadian Meal Prep Service
To make money online with a meal prep service:
You need to spend money on ingredients and delivery for this online business. According to Metrobi, the average profit margin is usually between 10% to 20%. So if you charge $300 for a monthly subscription, your monthly profit will be $30 to $60 per client.
Fresh Prep is a Vancouver-based meal kit delivery service. The owners, Becky Brauer, Dhruv Sood, and Husein Rahemtulla focus on convenience, sustainability, and supporting local. For this, they offer fresh ingredients and recipes for making meals at home in 30 minutes. They also use Onfleet to optimize routes and scale operations. The company has now achieved $7 million in revenue. They're even planning to expand into Ontario, Seattle, and Portland.
Meal prep is becoming very popular in Canada. The market revenue increased by 4.46% from 2022 to 2023. Consumer spending also reached an all-time high of $66 billion. Plus, independent food services are growing faster than chain services. It's said to grow 6.4% from 2022 to 2027.
Running a meal prep service in Canada is tough due to the high costs of ingredients and delivery. You’ll need to charge high prices or get many clients to keep the business running. Strict food safety rules need proper training and equipment, too. Finally, keeping customers interested is hard. You have to come up with new meal plans all the time so they don't get bored.
7. Become a Logistics Consultant in Canada
To make money online as a logistics consultant:
Given the importance of your role, logistics businesses are willing to pay big for your help. According to Talent.com, the average salary for a logistic consultant in Canada can reach up to $104,352 per year. Entry-level consultants can expect an annual income of $74,500.
A Reddit user shared their success working in a Big 4 consulting firm. They started with an impressive $83,000 salary and up to a 15% bonus. With a promotion, those numbers go up to $120,000 plus a bonus of up to 25%.
Canada's booming e-commerce industry is driving growth in freight packing & logistics services. Currently, more than 3,000 businesses operate in this sector. As the industry expands and demands increase, a knowledgeable consultant is becoming essential. A consultant streamlines operations, optimizes efficiency, and navigates complexities.
Finding your own clients will take time and requires a lot of networking. You need to build trust and show your expertise. You'll also face tough competition from established logistic consultancy firms. Your unique selling point must stand out to make clients choose you over these firms. Moreover, many clients seek highly experienced consultants. As a startup, it will be even harder to get clients.
8. Work as a Virtual Project Manager in Canada
To make money online as a virtual project manager (PM):
Indeed reports that virtual project managers in Canada earn an average of $77,956 a year. One Reddit user says they earn $90K as a PM general contractor. Another user says their project managers earn 105k to $165k and have 10-20% bonuses.
Emily A. is a successful Canadian virtual project manager from Upwork. She works across GovTech, EduTech, FinTech, and eCommerce. Her projects focus on UX design, strategy, and seamless execution. She asks for $150 per project. Today, Emily has earned over $40K with a 96% job success score. With these stats, clients are confident to trust in her work.
The Canadian government shared an update on job prospects for project managers. The results were generally positive for different provinces and territories. This shows that project management is important in the country.
What's more, this industry is slowly shifting online. As a strong industry growing online, virtual project managers can find quality clients.
Many experienced Canadian virtual project managers are already on platforms like Upwork. You need a strong personal brand and unique skills to compete against them. Plus, remote work depends on clear communication, so misunderstandings can happen. You'll also work with different clients, which requires flexibility and good people skills.
9. Offer Freelancing Services to Canadians
To make money online with freelancing services:
Freelancing is how to earn side income in Canada. This is also how to earn money online in Canada for students. A 2024 H&R Block Canada survey found that 28% of Canadians freelanced to earn more. That's an extra $50K per year, according to Glassdoor. Freelancing services can also turn into full-time jobs.
For example, Scott Luscombe from Uxbridge, CA earns over $500,000 on Upwork. Scott offers freelance graphic design, website development, and copywriting services. He sets his rate at $99 per hour as a highly-rated freelancer. He became so successful with local clients that major brands hired him for branding. I'm talking Coca-Cola, Nickelodeon, and the Canadian Cancer Society.
The downsides to freelancing are income instability, high competition, and skill dependency. Freelancers don't have a steady paycheck, especially as startups. Plus, work comes and goes, making it hard to budget. Then, freelancing platforms already have too many people offering similar services. You need high-level skills to stand out and eventually increase your rates.
10. Open a Canadian E-Commerce Store
To make money online with an e-commerce store:
There are no set earnings for an e-commerce store. It all depends on your niche, marketing strategy, and product demand. To give you an idea, I sold shark onesies for adults at $79.95 and put a regular 50% discount to encourage buyers. I also upped my paid ads to make them reach my target audience. I sourced the product from AliExpress for $17.62. With all this, I earned $10,000/mo from Shopify and $15,000/mo from Amazon FBA.
From 2024 to 2029, the Canadian e-commerce market is expected to grow by 9.77%. Online Canadian shoppers make up 11.5% of the country's total retail sales. This industry is already big and keeps getting bigger.
However, sourcing products into Canada from another country is tricky. Some suppliers, like Target, don't ship to Canada due to high taxes and paperwork. You'll also handle import permits, find carriers, follow trade rules, and check for restricted items. You can deal with all that, find a local supplier, or make your own product.
11. Invest in Canadian Stock Market
To make money online investing in the stock market:
Canadian banks offer high dividend yields. For instance, the Royal Bank of Canada has an annual yield of about 3.32%, while the Bank of Nova Scotia offers around 5.65%. Bank of Montreal has a current dividend yield of 4.8%. If you invest $1,500 in each of these banks, your total annual earnings is $206.55. The higher you invest, the more you earn. This is a realistic way to make extra money online.
One Reddit user invested $46K and earned $1.3M over 20 years. This was primarily through investments in Canadian TSX stocks. Another user made a 70% profit in Wealthsimple by investing only in Canadian stocks.
Investing in Canadian stocks comes with a few downsides. It lacks the international presence that US or global stocks provide, limiting growth potential. There are also currency risks. If you invest outside of Canada, exchange rate fluctuations can affect your returns. Finally, the Canadian market is dominated by banking, energy, and mining. It's less diverse and more affected by sector downturns. Plus, these industries are unpredictable, leading to fluctuating stock prices.
12. Sell Digital Products to Canadians
To make money online selling digital products:
Earnings vary widely, from a few dollars to thousands of dollars a month. In Udemy, 75% of online instructors make less than $1K a year. Only 1% make a full-time income of around $50K. Outside the platform, the average course creator earns between $1,000 and $10,000 monthly. Top creators make 6 to 7 figures per year.
Kayla Amma Rose Warner made $93K selling digital planners on Etsy. In her first month, she only earned $45. When she dedicated more time and effort to her Etsy shop, her earnings increased to $1,000. Over time, Kayla's dedication, constant learning, and customer feedback earned her substantial income. Now, she helps others achieve similar results by sharing her strategies and insights.
According to Statistics Canada, two-thirds of the population purchased digital products. Each person spent an estimated $412. The highest spending was on:
- Ebooks
- Audiobooks
- Podcasts
- Online newspapers and magazines
- Computer software
- Mobile apps
- Online courses
- Game downloads
- In-game purchases
Creating your own digital product takes time, skill, and money. You're also the one who does all the market research. The good part is you have complete control over the product. Reselling is easier and cheaper, but you can't control the quality. It will hurt your reputation if it's poor. Real success depends on your marketing skills, no matter how great your product is. You need to know how to promote effectively to earn big.
13. Work as a Canadian Virtual Assistant
To make money online as a virtual assistant (VA):
Indeed.ca reports the base salary of a VA in the country is $21.25 per hour. This amounts to $44,200 per year. As a technical VA, the rate is usually $23.74 hourly or $49,379 yearly.
Billie Gardner proves a virtual assistant business can achieve great success and high earnings. She began her VA journey as a side hustle, juggling it alongside her regular job. Through hard work, she quit her day job within 3 months and transitioned to a full-time VA. By adapting to the evolving industry, she steadily increased her rates, reaching a peak of $45/hour. Today, Billie no longer offers virtual assistance. Instead, she mentors VAs through her Introvert VA Club. With this, she earns passive income while helping others like her.
Many Canadian companies, big and small, are now embracing VA services. Harvard Business Review reported that it cut costs by 30%. Also, the rising demand comes from Canada's underpopulation. Companies, especially in more rural areas, face challenges when finding skilled local workers. So they go online instead. What's more, companies like hiring Canadians as they're known to be friendly and reliable.
However, virtual assistants don't make as much as other online money-making ventures. If you live in a big city, you may have to reduce your expenses. To earn 6 or 7 figures, you'll need a specialized service to charge higher. For this, building your reputation is crucial. Remember, companies can easily hire cheaper VAs from other countries. It will take a long time before you reach great success as a VA.
14. Write a Blog for a Canadian Audience
To make money online by writing a blog:
Truehost research found that bloggers in Canada earn between $60,994 and $82,950 per year. The same study revealed that well-established bloggers earn $360,000 or more. Meanwhile, startups make around $20,000. The earning range varies as it depends on niche, traffic, and monetization strategies.
Angela Liddon is one successful Canadian blogger. Her blog 'Oh She Glows' provides plant-based recipes. Though her exact income is unknown, she probably makes millions as her blog gets 6M visitors a month. She earns through ads, sponsored content, her recipe app, and a cookbook that sold almost 300K copies. Angela's secret was writing about her passion—something she loved enough to do for free. This caught the attention of her readers and made them loyal customers.
Blogs are more influential than you think. According to GILL Solutions, 61% of consumers bought products based on blog recommendations. Another 81% say that they trust information on blogs. Quality and valuable content build a loyal following and turn it into money making ideas in Canada. And if you focus on a Canadian audience, competition won't be so tough.
But it takes time. You’ll be writing without getting paid at the start. Realistically, it takes a few years to start earning big with blogging. That's why a niche you're passionate about is crucial. Also, good writing is a skill that requires consistent practice to develop. Finally, a steady stream of traffic is essential before exploring monetization options.
15. Become a Canadian Social Media Influencer
To make money online as a social media influencer:
Canadians must find alternative ways to earn from social media without reward programs. The great news is you don’t need a huge following to make a substantial income. Today, brands approach influencers with 10K to 50K followers. They pay between $200 to $3,000 per promotional post.
One Reddit user says they have 17.4K followers and already earn $1,500-$2,000 by partnering with relevant brands. Olivia Parker (mrsdrozario) on Threads mentions she and her husband earn $10,000 to $20,000 a month. Their income comes from several outlets, including brand partnerships, reels, and digital products.
Despite limitations, being a Canadian social media influencer is still worthwhile. In 2023, 75% of companies in Canada dedicated a budget to influencer marketing. 62% said they were planning to increase that budget beyond 2023. For affiliate marketing or social commerce, 67% of young Canadians (aged 18-29) buy products influencers use. It’s possible to get brand deals or sell products and earn an income.
One of the biggest challenges is limited access to monetization programs. Many Canadian influencers with thousands of followers still don't earn anything. Then, there's staying updated with the ever-evolving algorithm updates. The effort to produce constant high-quality content is another challenge. Hootsuite detailed the number of posts required to grow your follower base:
16. Start a Canadian YouTube Channel
To make money online with a YouTube channel:
The YPP pays regular videos $2 to $5 per 1K views, while Shorts earn from a shared ad revenue pool. So for 10K views on a regular video, you receive $20 to $50. Meanwhile, 10K views on Shorts range from $1 to $10. Affiliates, sponsorships, and merchandise are how to make money with YouTube Shorts. These are faster ways to earn money through YouTube.
Jeff Thorman is a Canadian YouTuber with 3.33 million subscribers. His channel, Home RenoVision DIY, offers simple home renovation tips and advice. Jeff earns $1,897 from ads and $15K–$17K from memberships. He also has sponsorships and affiliate income. His estimated income today is $202K to $1.21M.
YouTube has a massive user base in Canada. A DataReportal study found that 83.4% of the country's population uses the platform. What's more, YouTube appeals to all ages. You have more opportunities to monetize effectively through diverse content and partnerships.
However, attracting viewers is difficult with millions of videos uploaded daily. You need regular quality content to get more views. But even then, your videos might not reach a big audience. YouTube always updates its policies and algorithms, which impacts your visibility and earnings.
17. List Your Canadian Home on Airbnb or Vrbo
To make money online with Airbnb or Vrbo:
Airbnb hosts make $1,017 per month in Canada. This rises to $7,700 during peak travel seasons. For Vrbo, the Canadian average monthly income is $2,750. Of course, your income will depend on location, listing type, and pricing strategy.
Steve and Nancy Godkin are thriving Airbnb hosts of three units in ParkView on Richmond. Their summer rates are $180 (single bedroom), $200 (double bedroom), and $300-$320 (triple bedroom). The Godkins focus on spotless, high-quality accommodations rather than providing the cheapest option. Nancy even welcomes guests with a fully stocked kitchen and local snacks. They now have a 'Superhost' status and won a heritage award.
Canada is a top travel destination, attracting more visitors each year. In 2023, international arrivals increased by 23% compared to the previous years. With the traveler surge, the demand for accommodations has grown. Also, many people prefer to book through Airbnb and Vrbo rather than hotels and motels. This is especially true for big groups or long-term stays.
Your location is crucial to your Airbnb or Vrbo success. For example, Toronto has the lowest rental occupancy rate in Canada, making it a poor choice. Rural areas also have fewer visitors, so earnings are lower. To maximize bookings, consider these cities with high rental occupancy rates:
- Canmore
- Calgary
- Quebec City
- Whistler
- Edmonton
- Montreal
- Vancouver Metro Area
- Vancouver Island
Buying property in these cities for short-term rentals offers greater earning potential. However, it requires a big upfront investment and involves significant risk. These are the challenges you'll have to undergo.
18. Work as a Transcriber in Canada
To make money online as a transcriber:
The highest-paid transcriptionists in Canada are in the medical and legal industries. On average, the medical field pays $24.60 per audio hour, while the legal field offers $22.60. A general transcriptionist earns much less at $19 and below per audio hour. These rates also depend on your location. For example, the median wage for a medical transcriptionist in Alberta is $31/hr, while in Nova Scotia it's only $15.20.
Charly Warren found success as a transcriptionist after completing the Transcribe Anywhere course. She studied for three months and gained the skills to start her transcription career. Soon after, she landed her first client - a podcast creator who provided consistent work. Her focus is on transcribing inspiring content that she enjoys. Her total earnings are not public, but she now runs her own transcription business. She even hires other transcriptionists and helps them transition to working from home.
Video content is the go-to marketing tool today. In fact, 91% of businesses prioritize videos for promotions. That said, text-based content is still important for searchability and accessibility. So there's a need to convert video into text. Also, the legal, healthcare, language, and finance industries need transcribed documentation. This is why transcribers are in demand in Canada.
While it may sound simple, transcribing audio or video into text is challenging. For one, poor audio quality makes it time-consuming and increases mistakes. Errors in official documents can have serious consequences. Industry-specific jargon is another challenge. You need a deep understanding of your niche to know all the terms. Then, you will likely earn per audio hour. So if you spend 5 hours transcribing a 1-hour audio or video, that's a lot of wasted time not earning.
19. Offer Translation Services in Canada
To make money online as a translator:
Because this service is in great demand in the country, clients are willing to pay well. Glassdoor lists the median salary for a Canadian freelance translator as $71,000 per year. Someone with 1-3 years of experience can ask for $20 an hour or $3,000 a month.
Joy Mo provides English and Mandarin translation services in a Vancouver court. She also works with freelance clients. She became successful without any formal training. She says it was all trial and error to get to the top. Today, she is the author of 'Get Your First 3 Direct Clients Now' and runs the 'Translators Secret Biz' blog, the online magazine 'Translate Your Way to Success', and Joy Mo International Consulting.
Vision Factory ranks Canada as the 4th best country to work as a translator. Canada’s bilingual nature requires constant translation between English and French. This is especially true for government, legal, and business documents. It's also important for creators or international companies targeting the Canadian market. So, there are a lot of opportunities for freelance translators here.
However, translators are losing jobs as machine translation and AI tools take over. Your rates and value may drop as competition grows. Legal, medical, and technical translation aren’t easily replaced by AI, but they're trickier to enter. You'll need to work hard to succeed in those fields or settle for lower rates in general translation. Or, you can use the new technology to offer unique translation services.
20. Sell Print on Demand Products in Canada
To make money online with a print-on-demand (POD) business:
You earn anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars with print-on-demand. Your earnings depend on product pricing, supplier costs, fees, and sales volume. If you sell a POD product for $30, pay your supplier $15, and have other fees of $2.40, your profit per product is $12.60. Selling 10 of these products earns you $126. Higher-priced items or more sales make around $1,000 to $4,000+ monthly.
One Reddit user says their monthly revenue is $20,000-$80,000 with a profit margin of 25%. They put their success down to knowing their niche and good marketing. Another user generates $2,000-$3,000 a month on average, with peak monthly seasons reaching $10,000. He already has 8,000 designs on Merch By Amazon. However, 90% of his sales come from his 10 best sellers.
A print-on-demand business is a good idea as there are Canada-based print providers. Local fulfillment reduces shipping times and costs for you and your customers. What's more, Canadians are fun people who love good designs. Many use or wear items that reflect their national identity, such as maple leaf motifs. Others prefer designs related to popular Canadian sports like their favorite hockey team. This shows that customized and unique products do well in the country.
Earning a full-time income from print-on-demand takes time. Expect to do hard work with very little results at the start. Plus, your income will change every month - sometimes higher, sometimes lower. There's a lot of trial and error, too. Experiment with product designs and marketing strategies to see what works for your audience. Then, you have to spend time making your designs or hiring someone to do it. Print-on-demand is also oversaturated.21. Do Affiliate Marketing for Canadian Brands
To make money online with affiliate marketing:
You earn a commission every time someone buys a product using your affiliate link. According to AffiliateWP, commission rates typically range from 5% to 30%. For Amazon Associates, most categories offer a 2% to 4% commission, with some high-end products going up to 10% to 20%. So your earnings depend on product price, sales volume, and commission rate. On average, successful Canadian affiliate marketers earn $4,416 a month or $53,000 a year.
Devon Hennig is a top affiliate marketer from Toronto. He makes $150,000 to $300,000 through the Vendasta Affiliate Program. And he only started in 2021. He earns a 30% commission by promoting Vendasta software to marketing agencies. Devon convinced people to buy the software thanks to his deep knowledge and expertise on it. Devon's story shows that knowing the product, building authority, and focusing on high-end items can help you earn more.
Affiliate marketing is a BIG thing in Canada. 16% of all e-commerce sales in the country come from affiliates. Brands using affiliate marketing make around $15 for every $1 they spend. Plus, they don't have to worry about promotions. It's no wonder so many Canadian brands are putting out affiliate programs. You'll have a whole array of programs to choose from.
Affiliate marketing is legal in Canada. However, you must follow strict Canadian rules and regulations about it. Not following them causes issues. This online venture also requires a lot of time and effort, especially at the start. You'll need to regularly create valuable content even if you're not earning yet.
Another challenge is that promoting any product won't work today. The focus now is on high-quality products that you buy and use yourself. This is because trust and credibility are big factors when people make purchases. Finally, affiliate marketing success relies on a large audience. This is harder to get since Google hardly ranks informational blogs anymore.
22. Manage Canadian Social Media Accounts
To make money online as a social media manager:
A social media manager in Canada earns around $40K to $60K a year. Top managers, or those with multiple clients, can even make $100K+. A Reddit user shares her success as a freelance social media manager. With 11 clients on her roster, she makes $65K to $82K a year and only works 12 to 15 hours a week. She usually creates social media content for real estate and architecture companies. She warns, though, that taxes are difficult and there's a risk of clients leaving suddenly.
The reason social media managers in Canada earn a lot is because they are in high demand. Remember, social media is a crucial part of modern business marketing strategies. According to Smart Insights, 90% of social media users engage with brands. However, advertising on social media takes time, so business owners hire dedicated managers. Since these managers attract more clients, owners are willing to pay well for their services.
The biggest challenge as a social media manager is keeping up with the algorithms and trends. These can change very quickly. Sometimes, you'll need to adjust your strategy completely to reach a large audience. You must always stay informed so these changes don't catch you by surprise. Finding clients is also a challenge. That's why it's helpful to start by managing social media for family, friends, or even their friends. This gives you experience and a portfolio to show your skills.
23. Start a Canadian Podcast
To make money online with a podcast:
How much you earn with a podcast depends on your monetization strategy. Sponsorships pay about $18 for 30 seconds mentioning their brand and $25 for 60 seconds. The other monetization methods heavily depend on your audience size and promotion skills. This is because you'll need to convince people to buy something or make a donation to earn money. To average everything, expect to make $500 to $900 per 10,000 downloads.
Canadian True Crime is a very successful podcast in Canada. Hosted by Kristi Lee, each episode deep dives into a different crime in the country. Kristi's earnings come mostly from ads and Patreon memberships. Although her total income is unknown, the podcast received 66M downloads in 2024. In 2023, Canadian True Crime ranked as the 5th most listened-to podcast in Canada overall. Canadian True Crime became popular because of Kristi's detailed storytelling and engaging delivery.
Many brands want to place their ads on podcasts, especially ones with an engaged audience. This is because new research found that 91% of podcast listeners responded to an ad they heard about. Additionally, businesses report a 57% increase in brand preference through podcasts. So even with a smaller podcast with a few thousand listeners, there's a chance to secure good ad deals and earn.
The biggest challenge with a podcast is building a large and engaged audience. Without this, attracting advertisers, sponsors, and other revenue streams is difficult. Each episode will take a lot of time and effort. Your topics should always be interesting and your tone engaging. You’ll also need to promote your work - a lot. And for all that effort, it will take a while before you start making good income from it.
24. Become an Online Fitness Instructor in Canada
To make money online as a fitness instructor:
Everybody's fitness journey is different, so instructors adjust their rates based on customizations. New online fitness instructors earn $4 per hour, while others earn $30. More experienced ones may charge $60 to $250 an hour. High-level instructors with big client success can make $40K a month.
To earn more, it's best to start an online fitness training business rather than work for a gym. It takes time to make big money, but you set your own rates and decide how many clients to take on. This gives you more control over your income, even if you start with lower rates.
Connie Beaulieu, a 45-year-old fitness coach from Ottawa, started S.W.E.A.T® Inc. She focuses on fitness that transforms lives, not just lowers numbers on a scale. Her classes are always friendly, professional, and welcoming. She makes everyone comfortable no matter their fitness level. She also offers in-person, live, and online programs to fit her clients' needs. Connie became so popular that IMPACT Magazine named her one of Canada's Top Fitness Trainers in 2022.
Many Canadians are health conscious. A Pacific Blue Cross study found that 72% of Canadians make efforts to improve their health. The same study found that 69% of Canadians watch their eating habits, while 67% focus on exercise. This makes it easy for an online fitness instructor to attract Canadian clients.
However, you need strong credentials to bring clients in. They won't trust you with their fitness goals unless you prove you can help them. This is why freelance fitness instructors usually start small. When they have solid testimonials, they can start reaching out to more clients for a higher rate. Another challenge is that clients are very unpredictable. Some clients get discouraged and leave right away. Others are too busy to attend your classes, causing you to lose clients and money. Some are difficult to work with and may blame you if they don’t see immediate results.
25. Offer Web Development Services in Canada
To make money online as a web developer:
Freelancer.com studied the salaries of web developers in Canada on the platform. They found that the average earnings are $53,562 per year, with the lowest at $28,000 and the highest reaching $100K. Glassdoor salaries' annual average reaches $71,396. Expect higher pay even for basic tasks since web development is a skilled service.
Trish from Windsor, Ontario, started her web development career at 40 after being laid off as a chef during the pandemic. She began to learn how to code with a Web Development course in Coursera. She continued her education through Scrimba's Frontend Dev course and Codecademy Detroit Chapter. Through her dedication, she now supports many clients' websites. She maintains and adds new features whenever necessary. This not only improved her work-life balance but also earned her double what she was making as a chef.
The Canadian Occupational Projection System predicts web development to be the fastest-growing job. The report shows that 54% of new job opportunities will be in this sector. The demand for expert web developers grows as more Canadian companies see the need for a website.
Web development success depends on your skills, effort, and self-promotion. Don't expect to reach the top without doing much. First, focus on becoming the best at what you do. Then, create a unique selling point, as many developers offer similar services. Also, this business does not generate passive income, so you have to constantly work hard. Finally, effective marketing strategies are crucial to get your name out there. This is where you make or break it.
26. Run a Canadian SEO Agency
To make money online with an SEO agency:
According to Ahrefs, the most common SEO pricing is monthly retainers. Clients pay a fixed fee each month for ongoing SEO services. The average monthly retainer rate is $500 to $1,000 a month. Per-project payments are the second most popular. For this, SEO agencies charge anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000, with payments made upfront or in installments. Finally, others charge per hour, ranging from $75 to $100.
Anand Kumar Jha has 7+ years in the field of digital marketing and SEO. He specializes in e-commerce online marketing, keyword research, competitor analysis, and much more. He uses these strategies to help small businesses and startups grow. Thanks to his expertise, Anand is now considered one of the best SEO experts in Canada. He serves 50 happy clients across Canada, India, the UK, Australia, and Dubai.
SEO has proven to be a powerful marketing strategy. About 68% of people start with search engines when looking for products or companies. SEO helps place brands at the top of search results, bringing more traffic and quality leads. It's no wonder many businesses want their websites to rank higher, so they need the skills of an SEO agency.
There are 3 main challenges to starting an SEO agency. For one, Canada's diverse regions, languages, and preferences make local SEO more complex. Tailoring strategies to specific provinces or cities adds an extra layer of work. Then, search engine algorithms, especially Google's, keep changing. Staying updated requires constant learning and adapting to new strategies. Also, many clients don't understand how SEO works or expect instant results. Managing their expectations and explaining the long-term nature of SEO is challenging. They might not want to hire you because they expect quick fixes.
27. Provide Digital Marketing Services in Canada
To make money online as a digital marketer:
New digital marketers earn little in the first few months or years as many clients don't trust them yet. Plus, they must keep rates low to attract budget-conscious clients. However, more established digital marketers earn around $30K to $50K per year. The ones with lots of experience, positive reviews, and a big network make over $80K to $100K!
Fatima Zehra built her digital marketing success on the Contra platform. She stood out by offering a wide range of services to cater to different clients. She has cheap consultancy packages for $350 and full web development packages for $4,997. Fatima even has a monthly content creation and management retainer fee of $2,500 a month. By giving clients exactly what they want, she now has a high rating and 16 client recommendations.
Canadian consumers are turning to the internet to find brands and buy products. To go with that, Canadian businesses are rushing to improve their online visibility. These businesses also prefer digital marketing as it's more affordable than traditional advertising. Digital marketing is growing and is here to stay. There are lots of new opportunities popping up.
To stand out, you have to be really good at what you do. Knowledge alone is not enough. You need the skills to produce real results for your clients. It will take time to master this, so expect it to be hard and slow at first. But as you gain clients, serve them well, and keep learning, you can earn six-figures.
28. Create Canadian Mobile Apps
To make money online with a mobile app:
Users spend about $9.60 in total on in-app purchases. Each transaction averages $1.08. With the subscription model, mobile app developers make less than $50 in the first year. Only a few reach $1,000 in revenue, and even fewer make $10,000 a month. Ads earn between $10 to $200 per day if the app has 1,000 active users. However, if you create apps for a client, the earnings are much higher at $18 to $39 per hour. Some clients are even willing to spend $150 to $200 per hour.
Tim Mensch shares in Quora that he created a mobile game app that generated $20K. Despite its success, he only makes his own apps as a hobby. To earn real income, he works as a mobile app developer for several clients. One of the games he developed for a client earned him $50,000.
A Statista report shows that a whopping 95.2% of Canadians use their mobile phones to access the internet. What's more, 90% of time spent is on mobile apps instead of mobile websites. To increase appeal, brands and companies create mobile apps. So there's always a need for more app developers. Besides that, you can find a local problem that a mobile app can solve and monetize for a bit of side income.
If you create your own mobile app, expect slow earnings. It takes a very useful or fun app to build a steady revenue stream. If you work for clients, you'll need to prove your value by networking and marketing. Additionally, app development is a hard skill to master. You'll need strong interest and perseverance to push through the tough times.
29. Sell Private Label Rights Products in Canada
To make money online by selling Private Label Rights (PLR) products:
How much you earn depends on your niche, product, audience, and marketing skills. Someone from Reddit says they earn $3,00 per month by reselling eBooks. Their strategy was to message accounts with big followings but no links. They asked these accounts to share their eBook link in their bio for a 50/50 revenue split.
Manny Coats achieved big earnings through selling private-label products on Amazon. In his first month, he already made over $75K. He sold almost 2,300 PLR products in the toys, arts & crafts, and home & kitchen department. Coats strategies involved keyword optimization, data testing, quality product photography, effective packaging, and customer engagement.
Canadians view reselling Private Label Rights products positively. According to Fuller Landau, 53% believe that PLR products are as good as branded products. More than half report buying these types of products regularly or most of the time. Canadians don't mind buying resold products, as long as it's high-quality and adds value.
However, it won't work if you buy a PLR product and resell it as-is, since many others are doing the same. To stand out, you must add your own twist and market it in a unique way. What's more, PLR products are often very generic. You'll need to personalize it to fit your audience, which can take a lot of time and effort. But remember, you also need to follow the rules, limiting how much you can change the content.
30. Create an Online Canadian Course
To make money online by creating a course:
Influencer Marketing Hub created a revenue formula for online courses. It goes like this Revenue = Size of Audience x Conversion Rate x Price of Your Course. So if you sell your course for $50, your audience is 500, and your conversion rate is 1%, you'll earn $250. You'll have to increase your price or conversion rate to make more money. A general earning range for successful course creators is anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 monthly.
Barb McGrath is a Canadian who created an online course that generates a 6-figure income. Her course, GetFound, started as an in-person agency offering online marketing consultations. As a wife and mother of two, she found the in-person approach too time-consuming. This is when she switched to creating mini online courses. With more free time during the COVID-19 pandemic, she transitioned to long-form courses. With her online marketing expertise, she reached a huge audience - without spending on ads.
Online courses are very popular in Canada. Made in CA reports that 20% of Canadians take one online course each year, with some taking more than one. Plus, the online learning market in the country is increasing. It's said to grow by 6.10% from 2024 to 2029.
Creating an online course comes with unique challenges. For one, it takes time to improve your knowledge, plan, create content, film, and do ongoing updates. You need high dedication and motivation to push through. You may also face technical difficulties with video production or platform navigation. Then, you must know how to engage students in an online environment to attract and keep students. So you'll have to think up interactive elements and foster a community to keep it interesting.
31. Become a Canadian Twitch Streamer
To make money online as a Twitch streamer:
If you have 20 to 100 average viewers, your potential earning is $200 to $1,500 a month. Twitch channels with 1,000 to 10,000 viewers typically make $5,000 to $30,000 monthly. Top-tier streamers' monthly earnings range from $100,000 to $200,000.
One of the most successful Canadian Twitch streamers is Félix Lengyel, known for his channel xQc. He plays popular games such as Overwatch, Fortnite, and GTA V. He also spends a lot of his time just chatting with his audience. Through subscriptions, donations, ads, and sponsorships, xQc earns $318,821 per month. The one thing that made him stand out was his charismatic and energetic personality. Of course, he made sure to stream diverse content and consistently stream for 16 hours a day.
Twitch streaming is one of the weird ways to make money in Canada but still a great option for Canadians. There are over 100K Twitch users in the country who enjoy supporting local streamers. Focusing on a Canadian audience helps you grow and connect with viewers faster.
Being a Twitch streamer isn't as easy as it seems. You need to do it for hours and do it frequently to build viewership and engagement. No wonder a lot of streamers face burn out and unhealthy work-life balance. Then, you must have a striking or fun personality. This is what draws people in. Monetization is also a challenge as Twitch ads often pay less than other platforms. This is especially true in non-US regions. It will take time to generate significant revenue.
Conclusion: Why Local Lead Generation is the Best Way to Make Money Online in Canada
Local lead generation is the best way to make money online in Canada because:
A short story about me. I've always wanted to make money online and get out of my insufferable 9 to 5 job. I've tried Amazon FBA, dropshipping, affiliate marketing, and paid advertising. I've earned a decent amount with these - from $3,000 to $15,000 a month. However, I was able to earn a "full income" when I switched to local lead generation. With this business model, I make around $60,000 a month with my 10+ websites!
