In 2025, more South Africans are turning to social media to supplement their income or even start a new career. The economic challenges of the past few years have motivated many to seek flexible ways to earn extra cash, and Facebook is one platform that has become a goldmine for aspiring entrepreneurs and digital creators.
The beauty of Facebook is its accessibility—most people already have an account, and setting up a business page or monetising content doesn’t require significant startup costs.
Whether you’re a student, a stay-at-home parent, or anyone looking for a side hustle, this can be your gateway to earning money online in South Africa.
Here are 7 easy ways South Africans are making money on Facebook in 2025
1. Selling on Facebook Marketplace
How It Works: Marketplace allows you to sell new or used items locally. This is ideal for South Africans who want to declutter their homes or start a small e-commerce venture without large upfront costs.
Tools or Skills Needed: An account, good-quality photos, basic communication skills, and some inventory to sell.
Who It’s Best For: Anyone with items to sell, such as clothing, furniture, electronics, or handmade goods.
Example: If you’re in Johannesburg, you could sell pre-loved furniture, electronics, or even homemade candles. Just take good photos, list the items, and wait for local buyers to contact you.
How Money is Made: Direct transactions between buyers and sellers. No middleman; the money you earn from each sale is kept 100% by you.
2. Monetising Facebook Reels
How It Works: Reels allows you to create and share short, engaging videos. In 2025, Facebook has made it easier for creators to earn money by displaying ads on their videos.
Tools or Skills Needed: A smartphone, creative video ideas, basic editing skills, and a Creator account.
Who It’s Best For: Creators with engaging, shareable content like travel vlogs, beauty tutorials, cooking videos, or even comedy skits.
Example: A Pretoria-based chef could share quick recipe videos and earn money as they gain followers and ad revenue.
How Money is Made: Through ad revenue generated when users view or engage with your Reels. The more views and engagement you get, the more money you can make.
3. Affiliate Marketing
How It Works: Affiliate marketing involves promoting other people’s products and earning a commission when someone purchases through your unique link. Social media is a powerful platform for sharing these links with your audience.
Tools or Skills Needed: A social media page, knowledge of relevant affiliate programs (e.g., Amazon Associates), and the ability to promote products in a non-intrusive way.
Who It’s Best For: Bloggers, influencers, or anyone with a social media following interested in promoting products.
Example: If you’re in Cape Town and love health products, you could promote supplements or fitness gear through your affiliate links, earning a commission with each sale.
How Money is Made: You receive a percentage of each sale made through your affiliate link, typically ranging from 5% to 30%, depending on the program.
4. Running Paid Promotions for Local Businesses
How It Works: Small businesses often need help promoting their products or services on Facebook. You can offer your services to run paid ads for them, targeting local customers.
Tools or Skills Needed: Facebook Ads Manager, basic knowledge of digital marketing and ad targeting.
Who It’s Best For: Digital marketers, entrepreneurs, or anyone with experience in social media advertising.
Example: You could help a local boutique in Durban run Facebook ads, targeting people in the surrounding area who are likely to buy clothing or accessories.
How Money is Made: Paid directly by clients. Typically, businesses pay per ad campaign or a monthly retainer for ongoing services.
5. Creating and Monetising Facebook Groups
How It Works: Facebook Groups can be a great way to build a community around a specific interest, whether it’s fashion, fitness, or parenting. Once you have a sizable group, you can monetise it through paid memberships or sponsored posts.
Tools or Skills Needed: A Facebook account, group management skills, and a niche audience.
Who It’s Best For: Community builders, influencers, or anyone passionate about creating value for a specific audience.
Example: You could create a Facebook Group for South African entrepreneurs and charge a small membership fee for exclusive content, or collaborate with local businesses for sponsored posts.
How Money is Made: Through membership fees, selling products or services, or sponsorships from businesses looking to reach your group’s members.
6. Drop Servicing Using Facebook Posts
How It Works: Drop servicing is a business model where you sell services to clients and outsource the work to others. You can find clients by posting offers on Facebook and then hire freelancers to fulfil the work.
Tools or Skills Needed: Facebook page, reliable freelancer networks, and customer service skills.
Who It’s Best For: Those with strong communication skills but no technical expertise, such as managing projects or handling client interactions.
Example: You could offer website design services on Facebook but hire a web designer to carry out the actual work, keeping a portion of the fee for yourself.
How Money is Made: By charging clients more than what you pay the freelancer and keeping the difference as profit.
7. Offering Digital Services (e.g., CV Design, Social Media Management)
How It Works: If you have digital skills, you can offer services like CV writing, social media management, or graphic design. Facebook is a great platform for advertising these services to individuals and businesses.
Tools or Skills Needed: Specific skills (e.g., graphic design, writing), a Facebook page, and a portfolio to showcase your work.
Who It’s Best For: Freelancers or anyone with digital skills they can market.
Example: A social media manager in Bloemfontein could offer their services to local businesses looking to build a presence online, posting their work examples on their Facebook page.
How Money is Made: Paid directly by clients for each service or through retainers for ongoing projects.
Learn more: Turn Your Social Media Skills Into a Paying Job in 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a business page to earn money on Facebook?
A: No, but having a business page is recommended. It looks more professional and allows you to access Facebook’s business tools like Ads Manager, Shops, and other monetisation options.
Q: Can I use my personal profile?
A: You can use your personal profile for some methods, like selling on Facebook Marketplace or affiliate marketing, but for anything professional (e.g., running paid promotions or offering services), a business page is preferable.
Q: How do I get paid on Facebook?
A: You can receive payments directly via PayPal, bank transfer, or other local payment options. For ads and stars, payments are processed through Facebook’s partner payment systems.
Q: Is Facebook Reels monetisation available in South Africa?
A: Yes, South African creators can now earn from Facebook Reels through ads, as long as they meet the platform’s eligibility requirements.
Learn More: How to Make Money on Facebook: Get Paid by Monetising Your Content in 2025
Start Earning Today!
Making money on Facebook in South Africa has never been easier. Whether you’re selling products, creating content, or offering digital services, Facebook provides the tools you need to start earning with minimal investment.
Choose one of these methods today, and begin your journey towards earning online. Don’t forget to share your progress with us—let’s support each other in building a better, more financially independent future!
Call to Action: Ready to start? Pick your favourite method and try it out today. Whether it’s selling on Facebook Marketplace or creating engaging Reels, the path to earning money is just a click away!
