How to Make Money Online in Cameroon

If you’re wondering how to make money online in Cameroon, the good news is that it’s never been easier or more accessible than it is today.

It doesn’t matter if you’re: a student juggling classes at UB, UD, or UY1, a stay-at-home mom looking to support your household, or a full-time professional seeking extra income.

The internet has opened up a world of opportunities to make money online in Cameroon, right from the comfort of your home or anywhere with a stable internet connection.

Thanks to smartphones, mobile money (MTN MoMo, Orange Money), and social media, you can now sell your skills, creativity, and knowledge to people in Cameroon, across Africa, and even globally.

How to Make Money Online in Cameroon: 20 Fastest Ways

If you’re looking for how to make money online in Cameroon, you can start with content writing, translation, tutoring, or social media services. If you’re more technical, data entry, virtual assistance, or customer support are also in demand.

Here are the 20 fastest ways to make money online in Cameroon, plus how to get started, estimated costs, and earning potential.

1. Freelancing

Freelancing lets you offer services you’re good at, such as writing, design, programming, social media, or voiceovers, to clients all over the world for a fee.

Popular platforms include Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, PeoplePerHour, and you can also find clients directly through LinkedIn, X (Twitter), or Instagram.

How To Start

1. Identify the skill you’re good at (writing, design, video editing, etc.)

2. Create accounts on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr

3. Set up your profile with a compelling description and portfolio

4. Start applying for gigs and build your reputation with quality work

Estimated Startup Cost: 3,000–30,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 120,000–600,000+ CFA (depending on niche, skill level, and clients)

Expert Hack: Don’t rely only on freelance platforms. Share your work on LinkedIn, X, and WhatsApp Status. Many African freelancers get higher-paying clients through relationships, not just platforms.

Bonus Tip: Many successful freelancers charge in dollars for international clients and CFA for local ones. A cross-border-friendly app like Accrue can help you receive money from abroad without losing too much to fees and bad rates.

2. Customer Support

Companies around the world hire remote customer support agents to handle inquiries via chat, email, or calls. This is a great option if you’re patient, empathetic, and can communicate clearly.

How To Start

1.     Sign up on job boards like Remote.co, We Work Remotely, Indeed, or LinkedIn Jobs

2. Apply for roles with “remote”, “work from home”, or “virtual” filters

3. Set up a quiet workspace, reliable internet, and basic tools (headset, laptop)

Estimated Startup Cost: 5,000–30,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 120,000–600,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Always think like the customer. Clear communication, empathy, and problem-solving are more important than having a “perfect accent”.

3. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing means promoting products or services and earning a commission when someone buys through your unique link. If you have a blog, YouTube channel, TikTok page, or even a Facebook/WhatsApp audience, this is one of the fastest ways to make money online.

How To Start

1. Choose a niche (tech, beauty, finance, education, health, gadgets, etc.)

2. Join affiliate programs like Amazon Associates, ClickBank, Impact, or African platforms that support digital products

3. Create content (reviews, tutorials, comparison posts) and insert your affiliate links

4. Drive traffic through SEO, social media, and email lists

Estimated Startup Cost: 0–60,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 60,000–3,000,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Don’t spam links. Build trust. Recommend products you’ve used or truly believe in. In Cameroon, people rely heavily on word of mouth and trusted recommendations.

4. E-Commerce & Online Selling

From Douala to Buea, Yaoundé to Bamenda, people are buying and selling online every day. You can sell: fashion items (thrift/okirika, Ankara, streetwear), digital products (ebooks, templates, courses), beauty products, hair, skincare, handmade crafts, art, and accessories.

You can sell through Jumia, Jiji, Facebook Marketplace, WhatsApp, Instagram, or your own website.

How To Start

1. Decide on a product category (ebooks, clothing, thrift, crafts, etc.)

2. Set up an online store or use Jumia, Jiji, Selar, Shopify, or a simple Instagram shop

3. Promote your products via WhatsApp TV, Facebook groups, and TikTok

4. Fulfill orders and build strong customer relationships

Estimated Startup Cost: 30,000–300,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 120,000–6,000,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Start with 1–3 products, learn what sells, and then scale. Use customer feedback and sales data to decide what to double down on.

5. Content Creation (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)

Content creation is booming across Africa, and Cameroon is no exception. With just a good smartphone and internet, you can create: comedy skits, lifestyle vlogs, tech or gadget reviews, educational explainers (in English/French), and food and travel content within Cameroon.

You can earn via brand deals, ad revenue (YouTube), affiliate links, and selling your own products.

How To Start

1. Pick a niche (tech, comedy, lifestyle, business tips, languages)

2. Choose your platform (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook)

3. Post consistently and engage your audience

4. Monetize through ads, brand partnerships, and affiliate offers

Estimated Startup Cost: 30,000–180,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 60,000–12,000,000+ CFA (after growth)

Expert Hack: Don’t chase virality; chase consistency. One viral video makes you known; consistent content makes you paid.

6. Content Writing & Copywriting

If you can write clearly, you can make money online in Cameroon as a content writer or copywriter. Businesses need blog posts, newsletters, social media content, sales pages, and email sequences.

How To Start

1. Learn basic SEO and copywriting techniques (plenty of free resources on YouTube)

2. Create sample articles or write for free at first to build a portfolio

3. Pitch to startups, agencies, NGOs, and influencers via email, LinkedIn, and X

4. Deliver high-quality work and turn one-off clients into long-term clients

Estimated Startup Cost: 0–30,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 120,000–1,800,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Learn how to write with marketing and sales in mind. Businesses pay more for writing that brings them customers, not just “nice grammar”.

7. Online Tutoring

Fluent in French and English? Good at math, physics, coding, or music? You can tutor students online from Cameroon to the rest of the world.

How To Start

1. Decide what subject you want to teach (math, English, French, coding, exam prep, etc.)

2. Create profiles on platforms like Preply, italki, or TutorMe, or market your services locally online

3. Set your hourly rate and availability

4. Use Zoom or Google Meet for teaching

Estimated Startup Cost: 0–30,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 180,000–1,500,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Use real-life examples and practical applications. When students understand, they recommend you to friends and book more sessions.

8. Translation Services

Cameroon is bilingual by nature (French & English) and also rich in local languages. If you’re fluent in more than one language, translation is a solid way to make money online in Cameroon.

Global and local companies need translation for: websites and apps, marketing campaigns, legal and academic documents, and subtitles and transcripts

How To Start

1. Choose your language pairs (e.g., English–French, French–English)

2. Sign up on freelance platforms or translation-specific sites

3. Take language tests and build a portfolio

4. Specialize in one area (legal, medical, academic, business)

Estimated Startup Cost: 0–30,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 180,000–3,000,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Specialized translators (e.g., legal, medical) earn more than general translators

9. Blogging

Blogging is a long-term play but can become a powerful asset. You can blog about: life in Cameroon (travel, culture, food), tech and gadgets, personal finance and making money online in Cameroon, education, careers, and immigration

Once you get traffic, you can earn from Google AdSense, affiliates, sponsored posts, and digital products.

How To Start

1. Pick a niche you care about

2. Buy a domain and hosting (WordPress is highly recommended)

3. Publish well-researched, helpful articles consistently

4. Monetize with ads, affiliate links, and partnerships

Estimated Startup Cost: 18,000–60,000 CFA (domain and hosting yearly)
Potential Monthly Earnings: 60,000–6,000,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Treat every blog post like an asset. One evergreen article optimized for SEO can make money for years.

10. Data Entry Jobs

Data entry is one of the simplest ways to start making money online in Cameroon, especially if you’re just getting started and don’t have specialized skills yet.

How To Start

1. Search for data entry roles on Indeed, RemoteOK, Clickworker, and specialized micro-task platforms

2. Make sure you have a computer, stable internet, and decent typing speed

3. Only apply to verified companies or those with good reviews

Estimated Startup Cost: 0–30,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 60,000–600,000 CFA

Expert Hack: Work on your speed with accuracy. The faster and more accurate you are, the more projects and referrals you’ll get.

11. Virtual Assistance (VA)

Virtual Assistants help entrepreneurs and companies with tasks like: email management, scheduling and calendar management, research, customer support, and social media assistance

How To Start

1. List the services you can offer (admin, social media, research, CRM, etc.)

2. Optimize your LinkedIn profile to clearly state “Virtual Assistant.”

3. Pitch to business owners, content creators, and startups

4. Use tools like Google Workspace, Notion, Trello, and Calendly for productivity

Estimated Startup Cost: 0–60,000 FCFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 180,000–2,100,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Don’t just wait for instructions. Anticipating your client’s needs makes you invaluable and justifies higher rates.

12. Social Media Marketing

As more Cameroonian businesses move online, they need people who understand how to grow their brands on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and X through content and ads.

How To Start

1. Learn the basics from free YouTube videos and Meta’s free courses

2. Practice by growing your own or a friend’s page

3. Create simple case studies showing before/after results

4. Pitch to local businesses (restaurants, boutiques, salons, etc.)

Estimated Startup Cost: 0–60,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 180,000–3,000,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Start with local businesses that are being ignored. Help one business grow, and referrals will follow.

13. Selling Photos Online

If you love photography, with a professional camera or just a good phone, you can sell your pictures as stock photos.

How To Start

1. Take high-quality, well-lit photos (travel, culture, business, lifestyle, African faces)

2. Upload them to sites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, iStock

3. Earn royalties each time someone downloads your photo

Estimated Startup Cost: 0–120,000 CFA (phone/camera, simple editing apps)
Potential Monthly Earnings: 30,000–1,200,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Images showing African culture and everyday life in Cameroon are in high demand but undersupplied. That’s your advantage.

14. Dropshipping

Dropshipping lets you run an online store without stocking inventory. When someone buys from your store, your supplier ships directly to the customer.

How To Start

1. Pick a niche (fashion, gadgets, fitness gear, accessories)

2. Create an online store using Shopify, WooCommerce, or a simple landing page

3. Partner with suppliers (AliExpress, local wholesalers)

4. Run ads or use influencers to drive traffic

Estimated Startup Cost: 60,000–300,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 180,000–6,000,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Don’t compete on low prices. Compete on branding, trust, and customer experience.

15. Online Surveys & Microtasks

While this won’t make you rich, surveys and microtasks can give you extra pocket money as a student or a professional.

How To Start

1.     Join platforms like ySense, Swagbucks, Clickworker, or Appen

2. Complete surveys, small tasks, or data labeling jobs

3. Cash out via PayPal, gift cards, or supported payout methods

Estimated Startup Cost: ~5,000 CFA (internet)
Potential Monthly Earnings: 6,000–180,000 CFA

Expert Hack: Use multiple platforms instead of relying on just one.

16. Start a YouTube Channel

YouTube is one of the most powerful tools for making money online in Cameroon if you’re patient and consistent.

You can create: tutorials (tech, languages, software), vlogs around Cameroon, educational content, and comedy or commentary

How To Start

1. Create and set up your YouTube channel

2. Pick a topic you can talk about often

3. Upload consistently and learn basic video SEO

4. Once you meet YouTube requirements, turn on monetization and explore brand sponsorships

Estimated Startup Cost: 30,000–180,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 0–Millions of CFA (after growth)

Expert Hack: Repurpose your videos for Facebook, Instagram Reels, and TikTok to grow faster.

17. Print-on-Demand

With print-on-demand, you design graphics or slogans and print them on T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, phone cases, etc. The printing company only produces items when you get an order.

How To Start

1. Create simple designs or hire a designer

2. Upload designs on platforms like Printful, Teespring, Redbubble, or work with a local printer + an online store

3. Promote your products via social media and communities

4. Make a profit on each product sold

Estimated Startup Cost: 0–60,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 180,000–600,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Focus on niche communities (e.g., football fans, campus banter, Cameroon slang). Niche designs sell better than generic ones.

18. Selling Digital Products

Digital products are one of the best scalable ways to make money online in Cameroon. Examples include: ebooks, Notion templates, Canva templates, online courses or workshops, checklists, and planners.

Once created, you can sell them over and over again.

How To Start

1. Pick a topic you’re knowledgeable about (business, academics, skills, productivity)

2. Create your product (ebook, course, template)

3. Upload it to platforms like Gumroad, Payhip, or your own site

4. Promote via social media, WhatsApp broadcasts, and email lists

Estimated Startup Cost: 12,000–120,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 20,000–3,000,000+ CFA

Expert Hack: Don’t wait for perfection. Launch, take feedback, improve, and keep selling.

19. Social Media Management

This is a more specialized version of social media work. As a social media manager, you handle: content planning, captions and posting, replying to comments and DMs, and basic analytics and reporting.

How To Start

1. Decide what services you’ll offer (content calendar, posting, engagement, reports)

2. Create 2–3 sample case studies (audit a local brand’s page and show improvements)

3. Package your services into tiers (Starter, Growth, Premium)

4. Reach out to local SMEs, personal brands, and influencers

Estimated Startup Cost: 0–90,000 CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 180,000–2,100,000+ CFA (with multiple clients)

Expert Hack: Reliability wins. Deliver content on time, reply to comments quickly, and send clean monthly reports.

20. Develop and Sell Unique Products

If you’re entrepreneurial, you can design and sell a unique physical or digital product like a clothing brand, accessories brand, tech gadget, or digital tool, and local lifestyle or culture-inspired products.

How To Start

1. Identify a specific problem you can solve with a product

2. Create a prototype (using local artisans, 3D printing, or simple mockups)

3. Find a reliable manufacturer or partner

4. Sell online via e-commerce platforms, Instagram, or your own store

Estimated Startup Cost: 300,000–3,000,000+ CFA
Potential Monthly Earnings: 600,000–30,000,000+ CFA (if you nail product–market fit)

Expert Hack: Study customers deeply. The better you understand their desires and frustrations, the easier it is to create products they’ll happily pay for.

Conclusion

When it comes to how to make money online in Cameroon, the secret is to find what fits your skills, interests, and time and energy, and then commit to learning, improving, and staying consistent.

The internet has transformed from just a place to chat and catch up on trends into a powerful platform for Cameroonians to earn, save, and invest money online, but it doesn’t stop there.

To build lasting wealth, you also need tools that help you receive payments from abroad, save in strong currencies, and move money across borders easily. That’s where a cross-border-friendly app like Accrue comes in, helping you:

·   Receive money from clients abroad via a USD account

·   Send funds across African countries in minutes

·   Save and move your money securely and conveniently

Start with one idea from this list, take action this week, and keep iterating.

READ MORE: How to Earn Money Online in Cameroon