Here at the Pastor’s Wallet, we’ve discussed ways of earning extra money before. However, those were more like side gigs or one-off opportunities. For a pastor who wants something more substantial and longer-term, the answer is to build a side business.

 

A side business requires a little more time and effort to build but has great upside potential. Once up and running, a side business can generate steady income that may even surpass your pastoral salary.

 

In order to work well alongside your ministry, the business needs to be able to be done part-time with flexible hours. You want to be able to keep your pastoral call your priority and work everything else around it. Here are some business opportunities that are flexible enough to integrate with your ministry while still earning an income:

 

Ghostwriter

This is what I do, and I love it. The hours are flexible and you can take on as little or as much work as you want. As a ghostwriter, you have two options. You can work for another company and only write, or build your own business and find your own clients, etc. Building a business instead of just writing for someone else’s business is a lot more work, but you can earn four times as much when you do it all yourself.

 

SEO Freelancer

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is basically helping websites rank higher with search engines. This is a big deal for businesses because any given search generates thousands of results but people only look at the first couple of pages. Everything you need to know to become an SEO expert can be found online for free. SEO work can be done any time of the day or night and it can all be done virtually. If you want to learn more about becoming an SEO freelancer, read this article.

 

Public Speaking Coach/Teacher

Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, runs rampant. About 75% of people suffer from speech anxiety. As a pastor, you probably have more public speaking experience than just about anyone around.

 

You can leverage that experience and help others by offering private speech coaching sessions or group classes. Whether it’s for giving presentations at work or a toast at a friend’s wedding, there is great demand for help with public speaking.

 

Online Course Facilitator

I’m a huge fan of online education for the way it benefits students, but it also presents fun and flexible job opportunities as well. Most online courses aren’t run by professors, but rather by course facilitators. They use recordings of the professor teaching, but student interaction and homework grading are done by the course facilitator.

 

The Bible college I attended now offers online courses, and last year I worked as a facilitator for one of them. I enjoyed interacting with and getting to know future Christian leaders, and I was able to fit the work around my schedule. Check with your alma mater or other schools with online programs if you think this would be a good fit for you.

 

Respite Care Provider

All care givers, whether for the elderly, disabled, or foster children, need a break from time to time. Many of them are part of programs that will pay for respite care. As a pastor, this is the perfect opportunity to minister to both the care givers and the care-needers, and get paid while you do it.

 

Translation/Interpretation

If you are fluent in another language, this is a huge opportunity for you. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted 18% growth for interpreters and translators from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster growth than other occupations.

 

Interpreting must be done live, though sometimes virtual, so it isn’t quite as flexible as translating. However, you can pick and choose which jobs you take to work around your current schedule. Interpreters who specialize, such as medical or legal interpreters, can charge higher rates and find jobs more easily. If you prefer writing to speaking, then translating may be a better fit, or even just proofreading for a translator.

 

Proofreading/Editing

I come from a long line of grammar snobs, and it seems I can’t read anything without finding mistakes. If this resonates with you, you should start a proofreading or editing business. We know there’s a need for it. Just find the most frustrating website or print article you’ve seen in awhile, circle a bunch of their mistakes in red and offer to correct the rest for a fee. Businesses need help with this because they want to look professional and competent (and not turn away picky customers like us).

 

Virtual Assistant

Technology has drastically changed the way everyone does business. Workers are no longer confined to an office, a schedule, or in-person meetings. Many small businesses who need administrative help but don’t have enough work for a full-time position have turned to virtual assistants (VAs). As a VA, you do all the normal administrative tasks of an assistant. The difference is that you do it part-time, on a flexible schedule, and from the comfort of your own home. There are a number of agencies that match VAs with clients if you don’t want to go out and find your own.

 

Fitness

Whether you work as an in-person fitness coach, virtual trainer, or do fitness videos on Youtube, our American obsession with health can provide you with a steady income. If fitness is your thing, you can use the people skills you’ve honed pastoring to help others reach their health goals. And the best part is that you can make money doing it. And who knows, you may have the opportunity to lead others to eternal health while you’re at it.

 

Uber/Lyft Driver

If fitness (or evening getting up out of your chair) isn’t your thing, then maybe you can leverage your vehicle for some extra money. In the past couple of years, there has been an explosion of app-based ridesharing, and you can cash in on it by becoming a driver. If you have a nicer car, love meeting new people and want a way to get out into your community more, this is the perfect opportunity for you. What better way to come into contact with people who would never dare darken the doors of a church?

 

Website/Graphic Design

You may have noticed that many of my suggestions here are technology-based. Well, that’s the world we live in now. It has created a huge demand for tech-savvy people who can design and build websites or graphics to be used online. If you made a cool website for your church or design great graphics, why not make some money by doing it for others as well?

 

Landscaping

If you’re not tech-savvy, don’t worry, there are still options available to you. If you’ve got a lawnmower and don’t mind being outdoors, you can start a landscaping or lawn care business. There are a lot of people, especially busy professionals, who don’t have the time, interest, or ability to do yard work but still want a beautiful yard. Just hop in your car, drive to the nicest part of town, and knock on the doors that have the worst looking yards.

 

House Cleaning

Another lucrative option for those that don’t want to sit behind a computer is house cleaning. There are millions of us that don’t want to clean our houses and a lot who can afford to have someone else do it. Most house cleaners charge by the job, so you can earn up to $50 an hour if you work fast.

 

Alterations/Sewing

With cheap clothes and quick fashion, sewing is a lost art. However, there are still people who buy high-quality clothes or have awkwardly shaped bodies that still have their clothes altered or fixed. If you have excellent sewing skills, you can build a nice little business helping people make their clothes fit.

 

Vacation Rentals

If you have a spare room in your house, you can make some money renting it out through a website like airbnb.com. Be aware, though, this is more hands-on than having a rental house. Vacation rentals put you into the hospitality industry, where you need to be available to help your renters and change the sheets and linens between guests.

 

Even if you don’t have anything to rent out, you can still get involved. Partner with someone who does have something to rent but doesn’t have the time to help guests or change sheets. With the explosive growth in online vacation rentals, you should be able to find someone willing to hire you to manage their rental, especially if you live near a popular vacation destination.

 

 

There you go, 15 different business ideas that you can work around your ministry. Having a side business is a great opportunity for pastors to earn money and become more involved in their communities. However, there are some potential conflicts of interest and dangers to your ministry that you should read about here.

 

What do you think? If you have a side business or are planning on starting one, tell us about it in the comments!