Thinking about $28,000 a year and wondering what that actually looks like per hour — and whether you can make it work as a stay-at-home mom — is smart and practical. This post breaks the math down, shows realistic scenarios (full-time, part-time, and hybrid), and then gives 13 practical, low-cost business ideas you can start from home to close any gap. Each idea includes simple setup steps and estimated startup costs so you can pick what fits your schedule and skills.

How much is $28,000 a year per hour?
– Full-time (40 hours/week, 52 weeks): 28,000 / 2,080 = about $13.46 per hour.
– Part-time (20 hours/week, 52 weeks): 28,000 / 1,040 = about $26.92 per hour.
– If you work only school hours or a few evenings, you can raise your effective hourly by cutting hours or adding low-hour, high-value work.

Is $28,000 enough to live on?
That depends on your household, location, childcare needs, and expenses. In many U.S. areas, $28k is tight for a family, but with careful budgeting, sharing household income, or adding flexible income streams you can make it work or at least reduce pressure. Below are 13 realistic business ideas (each one geared to busy moms) you can add alongside caregiving to boost your household income.

Idea 1 — Start a Blog (Passive income + affiliate + ad revenue)

Description: A blog lets you build long-term, passive income through ads, affiliate links, digital products, and sponsorships. It’s especially good for moms who can create content on parenting, recipes, budgeting, homeschooling, or crafts.
Practical setup steps:
– Choose a niche you enjoy and that solves a problem for readers.
– Follow this guide to starting your blog to get the basics right.
– Get reliable website hosting and a simple WordPress theme.
– Publish 1–3 helpful posts per week and create Pinterest-friendly images to drive traffic via Pinterest.
– Monetize with ads, affiliate links, and simple info products.
Estimated startup costs: $20–$120 (domain $10–$15 + first month(s) of website hosting + optional theme or course)

Idea 2 — Virtual Assistant (Flexible admin work)

Description: Provide remote administrative help—email support, calendar management, customer service, or light bookkeeping—on a schedule that fits childcare.
Practical setup steps:
– List your skills and services (email, calendar, simple bookkeeping).
– Create profiles on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
– Use a social media scheduling tool if you offer social posting.
– Price hourly or with monthly packages.
Estimated startup costs: $0–$100 (computer/internet already assumed; optional training or a scheduling tool)

Idea 3 — Freelance Writing (Articles, blog posts, sales copy)

Description: Write blog posts, newsletters, or product descriptions for businesses. You can write in short bursts when kids nap or after bedtime.
Practical setup steps:
– Build a simple portfolio (samples or a few guest posts).
– Pitch clients or bid on jobs on Upwork and Fiverr.
– Specialize (parenting, finance, health) to charge more.
Estimated startup costs: $0–$50 (website optional, small portfolio costs)

Idea 4 — Sell Printables or Digital Downloads (Etsy, Gumroad)

Description: Low-overhead digital products—planners, chore charts, meal planners, homeschool printables—sell repeatedly with no inventory.
Practical setup steps:
– Decide on a printable niche (family planners, budget trackers).
– Design in Canva or similar.
– Open an Etsy shop or sell via your site and promote on Pinterest.
– Optimize listings with good keywords and attractive mockups.
Estimated startup costs: $0–$50 (Canva free or subscription for pro features; small listing fees on Etsy)

Idea 5 — Online Tutoring or Teaching

Description: Tutor school subjects, English as a second language, or teach music; schedule sessions around your kids.
Practical setup steps:
– Decide age/subject and create a lesson outline.
– Join tutor platforms or advertise locally/social media.
– Use Zoom or Google Meet for sessions.
Estimated startup costs: $0–$150 (materials, optional certification or platform fees)

Idea 6 — Local Child or Pet Care (Flexible hours)

Description: Offer back-up childcare, babysitting, or pet sitting/walking for neighbors during nap times, date nights, or weekends.
Practical setup steps:
– Get CPR/first aid certification (optional but helps).
– List services in local Facebook groups and community boards.
– Set clear hours and policies (hours, cancellations).
Estimated startup costs: $10–$60 (CPR class, printed flyers)

Idea 7 — Reselling (Thrift flips or online consignment)

Description: Buy good-condition secondhand items and resell them on eBay, Poshmark, or Mercari for a profit.
Practical setup steps:
– Sourcing: thrift stores, garage sales, clearance racks.
– Clean, photograph, and list items with honest descriptions.
– Ship efficiently and track profits.
Estimated startup costs: $50–$200 (initial inventory and shipping supplies)

Idea 8 — Social Media Manager for Small Businesses

Description: Manage local business accounts (content planning, posting, engagement). Great if you enjoy scroll-time turned into paid work.
Practical setup steps:
– Package services: content calendar, posting, engagement.
– Use a social media scheduling tool to batch tasks.
– Find clients via local business groups, Upwork, or referrals.
Estimated startup costs: $0–$50 (scheduling tool subscription, optional training)

Idea 9 — Affiliate Marketing with a Simple Sales Funnel

Description: Promote products you trust and earn commissions. Use mini funnels or email sequences to convert visitors and scale.
Practical setup steps:
– Pick affiliate programs that fit your audience or niche.
– Build a small lead capture and sales funnel to grow an email list.
– Drive traffic via a blog, Pinterest, or social posts.
Estimated startup costs: $20–$150 (simple website hosting or funnel tool subscription)

Idea 10 — Microtasks & Paid Surveys

Description: Fill short tasks, microjobs, or take paid surveys in tiny pockets of time. Not high-paying, but helpful for predictable side cash.
Practical setup steps:
– Sign up for reputable microtask platforms and survey panels.
– Dedicate small daily time blocks (e.g., kids’ nap) to accumulate earnings.
Estimated startup costs: $0

Idea 11 — Create and Sell Mini Online Courses or Workshops

Description: Turn a skill (cake decorating, simple budgeting, homeschooling hacks) into a short course or workshop you sell repeatedly.
Practical setup steps:
– Outline a short course with clear outcomes.
– Record lessons with a phone and basic mic, host on a platform or through a sales funnel.
– Promote via a blog, Pinterest, or email list.
Estimated startup costs: $50–$400 (mic, basic video gear, hosting tools)

Idea 12 — Transcription or Captioning

Description: Convert audio to text for podcasts, videos, and interviews. Work in focused short sessions and deliver files remotely.
Practical setup steps:
– Practice with sample files and learn formatting.
– Apply to transcription platforms or advertise on Upwork and Fiverr.
– Invest in a good headset and foot pedal only if you scale.
Estimated startup costs: $20–$150 (headset, optional software)

Idea 13 — Pet Sitting / Dog Walking (Neighborhood clients)

Description: Flexible, local work that fits school pickups and nap breaks. Often rates are hourly or per visit.
Practical setup steps:
– Offer services to neighbors, local Facebook groups, and Nextdoor.
– Choose availability windows that won’t conflict with family time.
– Ask for references and simple contracts for regular clients.
Estimated startup costs: $0–$50 (flyers or basic supplies)

Walking the gap: small consistent steps
If $28,000 is your target or current income, you don’t have to overhaul everything overnight. Pick one or two ideas that fit your schedule (for example, blogging + microtasks, or tutoring + babysitting), set small milestones, and reinvest early earnings into tools that save you time (a scheduling tool, website hosting for a blog, or a basic funnel tool). Even a few hours a week can move your effective hourly rate from $13.46 to something that better supports your family goals.

You’re not alone in this — many moms mix a few of the ideas above to create steady, flexible income that works with kids and household needs. Start small, track your time and income, and scale the activities that fit your life and pay best. Good luck — you’ve got options, and a clear hourly number makes planning easier.