What Is Your Best Option to Make Money in 2026? 50 Tested Ways

The quest for additional income has never been more accessible. In 2026, the combination of accelerated digitalization, established remote work, and expanding creative economy creates a scenario where millions of Brazilians can generate extra income with little or no initial investment. The challenge now is not if it’s possible to make money — but to identify which strategy best fits your time, skills, and available resources.

The Quick Map: 50 Ideas Organized by Feasibility

Make Money Immediately (Results in Days/Weeks)

Those needing quick returns find viable and practical alternatives:

Online Surveys and Feedback — Platforms pay for product reviews and questionnaire responses. The return is modest (R$ 50-150/month), but you can start today. Ideal for validating online income concepts without commitment.

Sales on Known Platforms — Mercado Livre, marketplaces, and resale systems are already structured. You list today and receive payments in days. No need to build trust from scratch.

Equipment and Utensil Rentals — Machines, inflatable toys, party supplies have occasional demand. Can generate R$ 200-500 per rental.

Quick Repair Services — Small electrical repairs, adjustments, and simple installations are constantly in demand in neighborhoods.

Make Money in the Medium Term (1 to 3 Months)

Here, building a foundation is required, but the potential grows significantly:

Freelancing (Writing, Editing, Translation, Programming) — Established platforms connect you with clients. It takes time to build a portfolio, but once established, it offers predictable and scalable income. Experienced professionals earn R$ 3,000-10,000+/month.

Social Media Management — Small businesses desperately need this. The entry involves studying free content and doing 2-3 free clients for portfolio. Afterwards, packages of R$ 1,000-3,000/month are common.

Affiliate Marketing — Promote other people’s products and earn commissions. Works well on blogs, YouTube, and social media. Requires consistent traffic to perform well.

Virtual Assistant — Scheduling, emails, task organization. Demand is growing, especially among freelancers and small businesses. Range: R$ 1,500-3,000/month.

Graphic Designer — Art for social media, e-books, ads. Those proficient with tools like Canva Pro or Adobe can secure regular projects. R$ 500-2,000 per project.

Video Editing — Video content is growing exponentially. YouTubers, content creators, and agencies need editors. R$ 300-1,500 per video.

Make Money in the Long Term (3+ Months, Scalable)

Higher initial investment, but unlimited potential:

Create and Sell Digital Products — E-books, online courses, mentoring. You don’t need to be an expert in everything — solving a clear and didactic problem already works. Once created, it sells indefinitely. Income can reach R$ 5,000-50,000+/month depending on the audience.

YouTube Channel — Monetization comes from ads, partnerships, and own products. Requires consistency (2-3 videos/week), but the potential is high. Established creators earn from R$ 1,000 to hundreds of thousands per month.

Specialized Online Store — Niche is crucial. Generic stores fail. But focused businesses (e.g., vegan products, sustainable fashion) convert well. Requires inventory management, but scalability is real.

Consulting and Coaching — Area saturated with talent, but specific niches (e.g., personal branding for women entrepreneurs, financial management for freelancers) still have space. 1-hour sessions cost R$ 200-1,000+.

Website and Platform Development — Businesses need a digital presence. Those proficient in WordPress, no-code, or programming find ongoing demand. Projects range from R$ 2,000-20,000+.

Passive Income via Investments — Fixed income, stocks, real estate funds, ETFs. Not a “quick gain,” but the foundation for real wealth. With discipline, it’s possible to build a portfolio that generates hundreds or thousands monthly.

The Intersection Between Skills and Makeup Ideas

Beauty is an exploding category. If you’re interested in makeup, opportunities go beyond applying products:

Makeup Tutorials — Online and in-person courses. Profitable niches: bridal makeup, acne-prone skin, mature skin. Combining technical knowledge with didactics creates constant demand.

Educational Videos and Content — Create makeup tutorial ideas on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube and monetize via ads, affiliates, or own products.

Image Consulting — Combine makeup ideas with personal style. Color analysis, eyebrow design, personal branding consulting. Online sessions cost R$ 300-1,000+.

Customized Products and Kits — Sell curated makeup kits, themed palettes, or special combos on social media.

Event Makeup Services — Brides, debutantes, corporate events. Higher added value when combined with concept and creativity. Can generate R$ 500-2,000 per event.

Partnerships with Beauty Brands — Influencers and content creators earn through sponsored posts and affiliations. Even micro-influencers can secure partnerships.

The Three Pillars for Success in 2026

1. Choose Between Urgency and Potential — If you need income now, start with immediate-return ideas. If you have 3-6 months, invest in scalable skills. Don’t mix priorities.

2. Build on What You Already Know — The most viable ideas leverage existing knowledge, experience, or network. Don’t start from scratch in everything.

3. Reinvest Initial Gains — Extra income is just the beginning. The strategic step is to learn to invest consciously: stocks, real estate funds, ETFs, fixed income. Diversification turns income into wealth.

Why Invest After Earning

Making money is tactical. Investing is strategic. After increasing your income through the 50 ideas above, the next decisive step is to make that money work for you long-term. Modern platforms allow starting with little (minimum R$ 25-100), accessing global markets, and investing according to your risk profile.

The difference between earning R$ 3,000/month and having R$ 3,000/month working passively is transformative. One requires your time. The other does not.

Conclusion

2026 is a year of choices. You can start today — really. Online surveys, sales to your contact list, one-off services. But to build real and sustainable income, combine short-term ideas with long-term strategy. Earn, learn, invest, repeat. That’s the map that works.