Jobs to Earn Quick Cash for Unemployed During Job Search

Looking for some easy jobs to earn fast money or earn a part-time income while you are immersed in your job search? Finding a job is difficult in this tough market, but here are ten jobs or small start up busineses that require limited or no funds. Most of the these jobs involve minimal training and are ideal to help you earn money quickly. And, some have the potential to provide a full-time income if you apply a solid business plan and diligence. If you are between jobs, these can provide some quick income while you are looking for a full time job.

1. Substitute Teacher/Tutor

Most school systems have a large demand for teachers to fill in for full time teachers who are ill, vacationing or on personal leave. Apply in all school districts within a reasonable distance from your home. If you have a strength in a particular area, consider working as a tutor.

Success Potential and Qualifications: You enjoy instructing others and like working with children. The qualifications vary by school system. Most require an associate's degree or at least two years of college work. You must pass a background test.

Income Potential: Depends on school district, but usually ranges from $75.00 - $125.00 day.

Customers and Marketing: Contact school systems. Also, consider working as a volunteer to gain experience tutoring and working with children. Post flyers offering your tutoring services at community and technical colleges and 4-year universities.

2. Landscaping and/or Yard Pro

Now's the season for falling leaves, soon to be followed by the season of that cold, wet stuff. Many full time workers, are reluctant to spend their time off raking leaves or shoveling snow. Here's where you can step in. All you need is a good rake, leaf or debris bags and some shoulder action.

If you live in an area that receives a lot of snow, look for a second-hand snow blower. Remember to dress in layers so can stay warm and remove clothing if necessary. Also, considered purchasing a leaf blower to help with larger yards.

Success Potential and Qualifications: You enjoy outdoor activities -- gardening, leaves and you are physically fit. You should have insurance since you may be working on ladders.

Income Potential: Varies depending on yard footage, number of gutters, etc. Check with competitors and try to underprice slightly or add additional value to service offered.

Customers and Marketing: Anyone too busy for yard work. The elderly and single homeowner's are good candidates for these services. Drive around to spot some houses with leaves or snow. Stuff mailboxes and do some cold calling; this has great fast money potential.

3. Go to the Dogs . . . or cats. Pet sitter, walker or sanitation engineer

Many a dog spends their leisure time destroying furniture, locked up or pining their time away, while the master and/or mistress is toiling away earning money for dog treats. Here's where you can lend your services by providing a 1/2 to one hour walk, one to three times a day. Or you can offer to stop in and feed, water and or walk the dog and/or cat when the owner is away for business or vacation.

Other dogs have the run of the fenced yard, but their owners don't want to deal with the by-product. Owners will pay for scheduled yard maintenance. All you need is a good scooper, refuse bags and a little time.

This is an ideal part-time job which can be expanded to a full time dog day care or pet boarding facility.

Success Potential and Qualifications: You have to love pets for this job. You also should have some knowledge of animal behavior and modification techniques. Also, make sure the pets are current on all their shots and vaccinations. You should have a good working relationship with a good vet and/or animal hospital in case of emergencies.

Income Potential: Dog walkers typically charge from $8 - $15.00 for a walk. A Dog sanitation (aka poop scooper) business charges from $25 to $50 a week per yard/dog. Pet sitters charge $20-$30 daily.

Customers and Marketing. Contact pet stores, breeders and any business catering to pets. Get some specialty T-shirts printed, with a simple catchy phrase and your phone number, to wear while you are walking the dog, running errands, etc.

4. Exercise Instructor

Many athletic clubs and facilities offer specialty classes in step aerobics, Zumba, weight training, yoga, Pilate's, etc. If you have experience with any of these, are a quick study, many gyms will train you to instruct one of these courses. This is a great way to stay in shape while earning some dough. Simply go through the Yellow Pages or stop in to inquire.

Success Potential and Qualifications: If gym was your favorite subject, you enjoy sports and have an elementary knowledge of human physiology and you enjoy instructing others, this may be a good fit. PE majors and Personal trainers are ideal candidates for this job.

Income Potential: $18 - 25/hour

5. Personal Assistant

You can broker your services to run errands, stand in line at the license bureau, type up meeting notes, etc. Or you can offer remote business services such as data entry, transcription or secretarial functions.

Sendearnings.com offers to pay virtual assistants for completing offers, reading emails, coupon redemption and completing games. Sign up is free.

taskrabbit.com Pays workers, called runners, to perform everyday tasks for others. People needing a task completed sign up on the website. The buyer remits payment via credit card on the website and the runner is paid. As of November 2010, the service is only available in San Francisco and the Boston area. However, the company plans to expand to additional cities soon.  Guru.com is another resource for jobs.

Assistu.com and the International Virtual Assistants Association has additional training and certification information.

Success Potential and Qualifications: You enjoy solving problems, are good at multi-tasking and have reliable transportation. You will need secretarial skills for some jobs.

Earnings Potential: $5.00 per task/ $10.00 to $25.00 hour.

6. Ticket Broker

Is any hot artist like Justin Bieber or Beyonce coming to town? Can you get your hands on some Patriots or other special event tickets. Get some tickets and sell them. Be the first to stand in line for tickets to get prime seating. Consider buying the best seats; particularly, if you are confident the venue will sell out.Then, sell the tickets at a premium to those desperate for a ticket or seeking better seats. You can advertise the tickets online, print up flyers or sell them in near the venue if allowed.

Success Potential and Qualifications: You will need some initial access to funds for this gig. And note, some cities frown on supersizing ticket prices. Make sure ticket scalping is not illegal before you embark on this route. If you plan to sell tickets personally, you will need to be somewhat aggressive.

Income Potential: You decide on the legal mark up. From 15% and up of initial ticket price.

7. Researcher/Information Broker

Knowledge is power! Individuals and companies are willing to pay you to do the leg work for their project. If you have a particular expertise -- say in law or medical sciences -- your know- how will be in hot demand.

Justanswer.com will pay you to answer online questions from their customers. You sign up tor the service in your area(s) of expertise. Customer submits questions and how much they are willing to pay for an answer (usually $15-$45.00). You accept the question and provide an answer (usually one-two paragraphis is sufficient). The customer pays Justanswer via charge card and justanswer pays you.

Success Potential and Qualifications: You enjoy acquiring information and can expediently research most topics. You are reliable and provide accurate, topical information.

8. Event Planner

Babysitting

Provide an upscale babysitting service. Offer to plan a fun, romantic, adventure, etc. date for your clients. Along with watching the kids, plan a date for your clients including dinner, activities and drop off and pick up services.

Tour Guide

Team with your local Welcome Wagon or city tourist agency to provide new residents with information and tours of selected neighborhoods and points of interest.

Success potential and Qualifications: You should have good planning skills, are creative and have good customer service skills.

Income Potential: Charge by event or by the hour -- $15-25/hour.

9. One Man's Junk . . . Used or Craft Item Sales

This a easy business plan. You just need items to sell and a venue to advertise. How about adding a twist to the traditional garage sale. If your home gets a lot of traffic, offer to organize, advertise and run garage sales for others. Or, you can organize the sell at their home or another high-traffic location. You take a nice chunk of the profit. There are tons of free and inexpensive items available, you just need to add your time and efforts. You can advertise and/or sell on Craig's List, your news classified section, or Ebay. You may want to invest in sturdy erasable yard signs you can post to lead bargain hunters to the sale.

Esty.com allows you to create a virtual store to showcase your items. Etsy only allows homemade items, arts related supplies and vintage items (over 20 years old). You sign up for free and then pay 20 cents per item for a four-month listing. There is a 3.5% transaction fee when the item sells.

Success and Qualifications Potential: You may want to consider getting a retail sales license if you will be conducting multiple sales. Also, have a simple contract available if you plan on organizing sales for others.

10. Just Temping . . . Temporary or Contract Work

You can find temporary agencies in your local Yellow Pages. If you are hired, you are considered an employee of the Agency. After you go through an initial screening process, you will be eligible for assignments and could start work within the week.

Usually, you will work with one employment advisor at the agency. She/he will contact you with info on available jobs, duration, company and pay. You have the option of not accepting the assignment offered; however, if you turn too many assignments down, you may limit the amount of future offers. Many temporary firms pay weekly and some offer vacation pay and other benefits.

Success Potential and Qualifications: You need to be flexible and reliable to work as a temporary worker. Additional qualifications will vary depending on the assignment. For example, a contract administrative assistant will need good computer, customer service and composition skills. The agency will be attempting to partner you with a job requiring your skill set.

Income Potential: Varies depending on the assignment -- $10.00 for warehouse jobs to $30.00 and up for high skill contract positions.

In addition to the cash opportunities listed previously, there are numerous online ways to make money, particularly for proficient writers, such as freelancehomewriters.com. Some can provide quick cash relatively quickly, while others, such as hubpages.com, are designed to build a sustained income.

Always protect yourself when venturing into any new business with proper auto and health insurance. Also, check for any business licensing requirements. Here's to working that job and making extra money to tide you over until you find that full time job. And, maybe you can expand one of these fast money ideas into a business and eliminate your job search entirely!