The top ways to make money in UK are:
- Local lead generation
- Search engine optimisation (SEO)
- Affiliate marketing
- Social media management
- Dropshipping
- Paid surveys
- Online market trading
- Cashback sites
- Translation services
- Freelance writing
These money-making opportunities have high demand in the UK. For example, local lead generation caters to local home service businesses. In the UK, this sector makes up 20% of all companies. SEO, social media, and freelance writing meet the growing need for digital services.
Phil found success in the UK with high-ticket dropshipping. He used the ever-growing trust in online shopping to sell expensive products. By selling items priced at around £2,000 with a 30% profit margin, Phil earned £600 per sale. Using strategies like niche selection and automation, Phil streamlined his business operations. Today, he earns £52K.
The UK is a great place to earn money. A 2021 Circular Board Report showed that a whopping 91% of entrepreneurs succeed in the UK. This is thanks to the country’s:
However, the UK comes with challenges. For one, there are tax implications for every money-making activity. In affiliate marketing, you must report your income to HMRC, depending on how much you make. This means paying income tax and possibly National Insurance Contributions (NIC). These taxes are a heavy burden for startups. Moreover, misunderstanding or breaking tax rules causes fines and legal trouble. Then, most opportunities in the UK are in London and the Southeast. It's harder to get noticed outside of these areas. You'll have fewer influencers, agencies, and media to promote your business. One Redditor comments that the British are more hesitant to pay big for services.
I've been running my business for 10+ years. I now earn almost £39K a month. But it wasn't smooth sailing at the start. I switched between several business models before I found the one that worked for me. This shows that if you choose the right model, you can stick with it and earn big.
To help you find your ideal income stream, I'll go over 73 ways to make money in the UK. I'll also detail the British tax implications and what generates the most money.
1. Local Lead Generation in UK
To make money with local lead generation:
Since home service companies always need customers, they'll be willing to pay £400 to £2,700 a month. Plus, many UK company owners know the value of being online but lack the resources or know-how to start. It'll be easier to persuade them to take advantage of your offer - an already ranked website.
This is the business model that brings me £39K every month. And not to sound too cliché, but it has changed my life. In 2014, I was stuck in an insufferable 9-5 job at an auto part company. I was only earning £1,700 a month. Today, I get to travel the world, pursue my hobbies, and dedicate more time to mastering SEO. I barely have to worry about my websites because they require minimal maintenance. The best part? The initial startup costs are just £40-£80.
Of course, it will take some getting used to at the start. The biggest challenge is landing your first deal. You'll have to make offers to local contractors confidently. It took me 7 months before I started earning enough. But once you know how to create a website, use local keywords, optimise for search engines, and talk to clients, it'll be a breeze.
2. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) in UK
To make money with SEO:
How much you earn will depend on your pricing strategy. In the UK, all-around SEO service providers typically charge between £600 and £1,500 per month. Others offer hourly rates from £60 to £250, while project-based pricing is around £500 to £7,000.
Daniel Foley Carter is a successful, London-based SEO consultant who charges £5,000 to £10,000 a month. His fees are big because of his 24+ years of experience and 95% success rate in SEO campaigns. His proven success led him to work with brands like Virgin Holidays, Ladbrokes, and Claims.co.uk.
An SEO agency is a good business to start as it's one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country. Artios predicts that 21.2% of retail sales will happen online in 2024. This statistic drives many businesses to improve their online visibility ASAP.
One of the biggest challenges to providing SEO services is building credibility. Startups will struggle without a proven track record, especially against recognised names. Even if you offer free assessments, convincing businesses to invest in SEO is tough. Also, this business is very much results-driven. Clients get frustrated or disappointed if their online visibility doesn't improve quickly. Then, you’ll receive negative reviews. You need a solid strategy to overcome all those challenges.
3. Affiliate Marketing in UK
To make money with affiliate marketing:
Affiliate marketing has no fixed average earnings. This is because income varies based on commission rates and traffic volume. However, Smarter Digital Marketing says new affiliate marketers can earn £636. For experienced ones, their earnings go up to £44,000+ a month.
Kirsty McCubbin is a successful affiliate marketer from Scotland. Over 19 years, she built a thriving career with it. She hasn't shared her total earnings but she was able to quit her job and travel around the world with her family. Kirsty focused on SEO, PCC, as well as high-demand niches like fashion and holidays. This is what made her stand out and attract clients.
The UK has the largest affiliate market in Europe. You can choose from many affiliate programs, networks, and in-demand niches. And with a strong online shopping culture, there's potential to earn substantial commissions.
Affiliate marketing has two main challenges. One, you need strong writing and persuasive skills. You must convince your audience that they NEED the product you're promoting. This also means establishing authority in your niche is crucial. Second, Google updates are prioritising established websites. Your content must show expertise, relevance, and value to compete effectively. Affiliate marketing success is still achievable, but reaching the top is harder today.
4. Social Media Management in UK
To make money with social media management:
Entry-level social media managers in the UK earn around £30K per year. Meanwhile, mid-level to senior positions earn as high as £40K to £60K.
Danielle Theobald offers package pricing. One session costs £150, 5 sessions £500, and 10 sessions £800. With over 140 clients, she earns an estimated £67,000+. She promises to turn views into money on TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest. Her social media skills garnered £4M in sales for her clients in 2023 alone.
Social media managers are not going away. In the UK, the demand is high. 78% of UK businesses say social media improved brand awareness. As a result, more owners are rushing to establish a presence on these platforms and need help.
Planable surveyed 80+ social media managers on the challenges of their jobs. 32.2% said engagement and reach were the biggest issues. 21.8% struggled with evolving trends and algorithms. 12.6% found content creation the hardest. Here are the rest of the results:
You need a great strategy to overcome these challenges, satisfy clients, and earn big. It will take a lot of time and effort. But if you have the skills and determination, you can build a profitable career.
5. Dropshipping in UK
To make money with dropshipping:
Shopify reports that new dropshippers earn between £850 to £1,750 in their first month. Yaguara estimates average monthly earnings to range from £750 to £3,950, with 10%-30% profit margins. When I did dropshipping, my peak income was around £7,741 a month.
A Reddit user says they earn £50K monthly from two dropshipping stores, each making £25K. However, it took them 10 years to reach this level of success. They credit their determination and persistence despite early failures.
According to Spherical Insights, e-commerce sales in the UK are expected to grow by 17.36% from 2021 to 2027. You'll always have an audience ready to purchase your items online.
Dropshipping has a low entry barrier, which is both a good and bad thing. The advantage is that you can start earning right away. The challenge is dealing with intense competition. You need the best price, product, quality, and shipping speed to attract and keep customers. Another challenge is that you rely heavily on your supplier. You don't have control of the product. Suppliers might run out of stock without notifying you in time. Delays or mistakes in shipping are beyond your control. And you'll get the blame for all this.
6. Paid Surveys in UK
To make money with paid surveys:
Paid surveys are usually for extra side money. One Redditor shares that they earn £5 a week, which they use to cover the cost of dog food. Another one says they earn £11-£15 weekly through Prolific with little effort. Someone else earned £240 from Prolific in just 2 months. And they did it all on their mobile phone!
Prolific and Norstatpanel is where to find high-paying online survey opportunities in the UK. Prolific offers academic tasks that pay between £6 and £8 for every hour of your time. Individual surveys pay £1 to £10, depending on their length and complexity. You can then cash out directly to your PayPal once you earn at least £6. Norstatpanel gives you "Norstat Coins" after you complete a survey. Once you accumulate 150 coins (approximately £15), you get a reward - cash, gift cards, or donations.
With paid surveys, don't expect to make a full-time income. You'll need another money-making source. Also, surveys take time, usually 20 minutes to an hour. And it can get quite repetitive and tedious. Besides that, surveys have inconsistent availability. You can go days or weeks without receiving invitations.
7. Online Market Trading in UK
To make money with online market trading:
Glassdoor estimates that stock traders in the UK get an average of £53,197 per year. Meanwhile, crypto trading's annual range is from £34,000 to £133,000. Junior forex traders earn around £30,000, while experienced ones make up to £130,000. The more knowledge and effort you consistently put in, the higher your earnings.
Ed Seykota earned £11.7M in 12 years from a £4K investment. He used commodities trading and computerised systems. He focused on cutting losses, growing profits, and preserving capital. Today, Ed is known as a top trader. He founded "The Trading Tribe", where traders discuss their trading emotions and psychology.
Online market trading is a growing opportunity in the UK. Increasing numbers of retail investors are entering the market. Moreover, more people choose self-directed investing, giving them control over their finances. Thanks to digital platforms, accessing financial markets is easier than ever. This shows strong participation and potential for growth in online trading.
However, online market trading involves risks. Market volatility can lead to sudden price changes and unexpected losses. Lack of knowledge usually results in poor decisions, like overtrading or misjudging trends. Also, emotional trading may lead to impulsive actions and losses. For example, a trader panics during a sudden market dip and sells their stocks at a loss. Shortly after, the market recovers but the trader no longer benefits.
8. Cashback Sites in UK
To make money with cashback sites:
According to Quidco and TopCashback, their members earn an average of £300 and £345 per year. KidStart states that for every £11,034 spent at various retailers, members receive a 1.8% return (£200). Joel Berg on Reddit says he earns £100 - £400 per month. He organised a system to avoid missing cashback opportunities. This includes regularly checking his top 3 sites - Boom25, TopCashback, and Quidco.
When you buy something through cashback links, the retailer pays a commission to the site. The cashback site then shares part of this commission with you. Many UK retailers are partnering with these sites as it boosts customer sales and repeat business. To give you an idea, TopCashback offers a selection of over 6,000 retailers to choose from.
Earning with cashback sites requires time and patience. You must always look for and make eligible purchases. If you don’t shop often, reaching the minimum withdrawal amount can take a long time. Plus, payouts take weeks or even months to process. And the amounts are usually not that big. So don't expect to earn thousands of pounds with this method. However, it's a great way to get back some of the money you spend on essentials.
Conclusion: Why Is Local Lead Generation the Best Way to Earn Money in UK?
Local lead generation is the best way to earn money in UK as it provides high, steady, and passive income. For one rented-out site, you receive £400 to £2,700 every month. If you're renting out 5 home service websites, your monthly revenue is between £2,000 and £13,500. The best part is that the sites need very little maintenance once ranked. So you're basically earning without doing anything much.
Making money in the UK has many challenges and risks. This includes market saturation, high startup costs, consistent effort, market reliance, and building credibility and trust. Local lead generation offers a solution to all that:
As someone in local lead generation, I can vouch for it. 7 months in the business, I was already making more than my 9-5 job. It was exciting too. I remember the joy and satisfaction when my first website ranked. Then, I got my first client. Now, with over 10+ websites, I can relax more and enjoy £39K monthly.
