- Adella Pasos
- Jul 26, 2025
- 7 min read
Top Tools Every CNA Needs to Start a Profitable Side Hustle Online
Are you a CNA who wants to earn extra income without picking up another exhausting shift?
Whether you’re trying to pay off debt, save for the future, or eventually leave bedside care, starting a profitable side hustle online can give you more freedom—without quitting your CNA job.
And here’s the good news: You don’t need to be tech-savvy. You don’t need to build a big brand. You just need a few essential tools and a clear plan.
In this guide, we’re breaking down the exact tools successful CNAs are using to turn their skills into real income online—from blogs and digital products to service-based businesses.
You’ll learn what each tool does, why it matters, and how to set it up step-by-step.
Let’s get started.
Why CNAs Make Great Online Business Owners
As a Certified Nursing Assistant, you already know how to:
Solve problems
Communicate clearly
Follow steps and protocols
Take care of people
Stay organized under pressure
These same traits make you uniquely prepared to build a service or product that helps others—and run a simple, profitable business.
And right now, there’s a growing demand for:
Online caregiver education
CNA exam prep tools
Home care resources
Mental health and burnout support
Printables, trackers, and training checklists
You just need the right tools to turn your ideas into income.
The Top 6 Tools Every CNA Needs to Start a Profitable Side Hustle Online
Let’s break down the must-have tools that help you:
Set up your business online
Promote your ideas
Sell to the right people
Earn recurring income
You don’t need expensive software or a big team. Just a small stack of smart, affordable tools that work together.
1. Bluehost – Your Website Builder and Domain Host
Purpose: To create your professional website, blog, or landing page.
Bluehost is one of the most popular and beginner-friendly tools for building a website. It’s perfect for CNAs who want to:
Start a blog
Sell digital products or services
Share caregiving advice
Book discovery calls or coaching sessions
Build a brand they can grow later
With Bluehost, you get:
A free domain name (your website address)
Reliable, secure hosting
1-click WordPress install
Access to clean, customizable templates
Customer support if you need help
What You Can Use Bluehost For:
Caregiver blog with helpful articles
Online store for CNA printables
Booking page for consultations
Portfolio of your side hustle services
Affiliate marketing hub
How to Get Started:
Go to Bluehost
Choose the Basic Plan
Register your free domain
Install WordPress in one click
Pick a theme and launch your site
If you can follow basic instructions, you can launch your first website today.
2. Constant Contact – Your Email Marketing and Customer List Tool
Purpose: To grow and manage your email list and send out newsletters, promotions, and product updates.
If you plan to sell anything online, you need a way to keep in touch with potential customers. That’s where Constant Contact comes in.
This tool helps you:
Collect emails from your website
Send welcome emails and updates
Promote your latest offers or blog posts
Build trust with your audience
Launch new products directly to your list
Most people don’t buy on the first visit. But when they join your email list, you can build a relationship and offer them value over time—until they’re ready to buy.
What You Can Use Constant Contact For:
Freebie download delivery (like a CNA checklist or printable)
Weekly caregiver tips newsletter
Promotions for your side hustle services
Email series to educate CNA students
Course or product launch announcements
How to Get Started:
Sign up at Constant Contact
Create a form to collect emails
Connect it to your website
Write a welcome email that includes your freebie or intro message
Schedule a few helpful emails for new subscribers
Email marketing is one of the highest-earning tools for small business owners—and you can start with just a few emails a month.
3. Canva – Design Tool for Printables, Graphics, and Courses
Purpose: To create professional-looking visuals for your blog, store, or digital products.
Canva makes it incredibly easy for non-designers to create:
Checklists, trackers, and journals
Digital downloads and workbooks
Pinterest pins and social media posts
Course slides and thumbnails
Website graphics and logos
You can use free templates and drag-and-drop editing to get things done fast.
What You Can Use Canva For:
Printable CNA daily logs or care sheets
Social media graphics to promote your blog or offers
Course content for caregivers or CNA students
Resume templates for fellow CNAs
Branding your business with a consistent look
How to Get Started:
Go to canva and create a free account
Choose a template or search “printable,” “checklist,” or “social media post”
Customize it with your text and brand colors
Download as a PDF or image
Upload to your website or email platform
This is how many CNAs are creating and selling helpful tools on their websites or Etsy.
4. Google Docs & Google Slides – Create & Deliver Products
Purpose: To create and organize your content, documents, and digital files.
Google tools are free, easy to use, and perfect for side hustlers. With Google Docs and Slides, you can:
Write eBooks, guides, and scripts
Build slide decks for courses
Collaborate with others
Share view-only product links
Offer downloadable files
You can deliver your products by uploading to your website or linking through an email after purchase.
What You Can Use Google Tools For:
Caregiver resource guides
Client intake forms
Product descriptions and landing pages
Online course content
Freelancer contracts and service outlines
If you can use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint, you can use Google Docs and Slides.
5. PayPal or Square – Accept Online Payments Easily
Purpose: To get paid for your digital products or services online.
Once someone wants to buy from you, they need a simple, secure way to pay. You don’t need a complicated checkout system. Just use PayPal or Square to create a payment link or button.
Both tools are:
Free to sign up
Easy to connect to your website
Trusted by customers
Perfect for one-product stores or service bookings
What You Can Use PayPal or Square For:
Selling printables or checklists
Booking a 30-minute caregiver support call
Accepting payment for resume reviews
Selling a CNA prep course
Offering digital templates or journals
How to Get Started:
Sign up at PayPal.com or Squareup.com
Create a payment link
Add the link to your website or email
Test the checkout process
Start sharing the link with your audience
You can add a product image, price, and description so customers know exactly what they’re getting.
6. Pinterest – Promote Your Side Hustle Content
Purpose: To bring in free, high-quality traffic to your website and offers.
Pinterest isn’t just for recipes or home decor—it’s one of the best platforms for CNAs who are promoting caregiving tips, digital products, or blogs.
People use Pinterest like a search engine, looking for solutions to real problems—like CNA prep help or elder care ideas.
What You Can Use Pinterest For:
Drive traffic to your caregiver blog
Promote your free download or checklist
Share tips and guides for CNA students
Lead people to your course or store
Build brand awareness for your caregiving niche
How to Get Started:
Set up a free Pinterest Business account
Create boards like “Caregiver Tips” or “CNA Exam Help”
Use Canva to create pins for your blog posts or products
Link each pin to your website or product
Pin 5–10 times per week to stay active
Over time, your pins can show up in search and bring consistent traffic to your offers.
The Basic Side Hustle Tech Stack (All You Really Need)
If you’re looking for a quick checklist, here’s what your CNA side hustle toolkit could look like:
Bluehost – For your website and digital storefront
Constant Contact – To collect emails and stay in touch with your audience
Canva – To design your printables and graphics
Google Docs – To create your downloadable products
Square or PayPal – To accept payments
Pinterest – To promote your content for free
That’s it. Six tools. All affordable. All beginner-friendly. And most importantly—all proven to work for CNAs starting simple side businesses online.
Realistic Side Hustle Ideas for CNAs Using These Tools
Not sure what to build? Here are a few ideas you can launch in 30 days or less:
A CNA Exam Study Kit (sell for $17)
A Printable Weekly Care Plan Journal (sell for $7)
A Resume + Cover Letter Bundle for CNAs (sell for $27)
A Caregiver Blog with Affiliate Links (earn passive income)
A Short Course on Time Management for In-Home Care
One-on-One Coaching for New Caregivers (charge $50/hr)
These ideas work because they solve real, urgent problems in a niche you already understand.
Final Thoughts: CNAs Are the Next Wave of Online Entrepreneurs
You’ve spent years supporting others. You’ve learned more than any textbook could teach. Now it’s time to turn that experience into something scalable—without burning yourself out.
With just a few tools—Bluehost for your site, Constant Contact for your email list, Canva and Google Docs for content, and Square or PayPal to get paid—you can build a real business that fits your life.
You don’t need a big audience. You need a plan, a product, and a few people ready to buy.
Ready to get started?
Build your website with Bluehost: Start here
Grow your list with Constant Contact: Set it up now
The sooner you start, the sooner your side hustle can start working for you.
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Adella Pasos has over 35,000 subscribers on YouTube. This Entrepreneur and Marketing Expert has shared her passion for growing brands from the ground up. She’s worked with Startups, Small Businesses, Fortune 500 Corporations and Entertainment Talent to help them recognize the value of marketing, and give her clients the ability to access their niche market via online, social media, mobile, merchandising, and events.
She hosts the What’s Your Game Plan TV show features: Free Expert Advice, and Growth strategies for Business Owners Across the Globe. Access thousands of FREE Tips, Trends & Tools to Move Your Business Forward!
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📢 Business Resources You Can Use
✔ Get your website name — Bluehost
✔ Branding Services — Fiverr Pro
✔ Create a New LLC — MyCorp
✔ SEO & Market Research Tools — SEMRush
✔ Logo & Brand Design Services — 99designs
✔ Best Email Marketing Tool for Beginners — Constant Contact
✔ Accept Credit or Debit Cards — Square
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