On many occasions, your full-time job might not really be taking care of the bills, this will prompt you to think outside the box for a side hustle that will help to increase your income. But what is a side hustle?
A side hustle is any project you start on the side, usually in your free time, and which can turn into something profitable that can eventually let you quit your regular job.
Even though a lot of side hustles present many benefits, depending on your unique needs and your skills, earning a respectable amount of cash, and doing it quickly, might be well within your reach.
The ease of a side hustle is thanks to the conveniences afforded to us by the internet, making money is no longer a constant and never-ending struggle.
With the world at our fingertips so to say, as long as you know how to tap into the vast amount of opportunities found in the digital ether of cyberspace, you can earn some extra income, even if you’re in a tight bind.
- 10 Ideas for a Lucrative Side Hustle
- What is a Good Side Hustle?
- What is The Easiest Side Hustle?
- Why is Side Hustle Bad?
- Is a Side Hustle Worth it?
- What is an Example of a Side Hustle?
- How Much Should a Side Hustle Make?
- How Much Does a Side Hustle Make?
- What is The Best Side Hustle App?
- Can Coding be a Side Hustle?
- How do I Become a Real Estate Side Hustle?
- What Should my Side Hustle be?
- Can You Have a Side Hustle in The Military?
- What Can I do as a Side Hustle?
- How do You Start a Side Hustle With no Money?
- Which Side Hustle Pays The Most?
- What is The Fastest Way to Make Money on Side Hustle?
10 Ideas for a Lucrative Side Hustle
It is important to note that some of the side hustle ideas list below can be started with little investment, while others might require a sizable capital. In all, they can all be operated alongside your full time job.
Read Also: Secrets to Home Business success
So, select a method that fits within your skill set and ensure that you deliver a serious amount of value.
1. Drive for Uber or Lyft
If you have a driving skill already, this particular idea should interest you. One of the most widely available ways for making money is to drive for Uber or Lyft. The sharing economy has quite literally exploded, and both Uber and Lyft are at the forefront.
And to make your job easier, you can turn on and off your availability through these networks with the simple click of a button, effectively allowing you to make money no matter what time of day or night it is.
2. Rent your spare room on Airbnb
AirBnB offers a great resource for people that are willing to rent out a spare room or even their entire home. If you’re in a bind for some fast cash, AirBnB offers you an avenue for creating an income.
You’ll get paid 24 hours after a guest checks in, which is to avoid any problems or potential scams that might arrive. Some people even earn their primary income just by renting out rooms or homes on AirBnB.
3. Recycle used smartphones on Gazelle
Gazelle presents a great platform for you to trade in your used smartphones for cash. It is a very easy to make some cash if you have an old iPhone or Samsung smartphone or another device sitting around.
Although you might not make huge profit from this idea, you will be able to get a little bit of cash that might just help you out depending on your financial situation.
4. Sell items on Ebay or Craigslist
A wonderful idea of a side hustle is to sell items on Ebay or Craigslist. The platforms made it very easy to monetize your item because any used items like furniture, household appliances, collectibles or anything else that you’re just not using or is collecting dust, can be sold online to make some money.
Another feature of this idea is that you can even do it professionally for others and collect a small commission for each sale. Take quality photos and write a good description and you’ll be in great shape.
5. Become an affiliate marketer
Engaging in Affiliate Marketing is another means through which you can make some extra cash for yourself while running a full time job. However, it might not be as lucrative as you hope it will be.
If you have the skills it takes to succeed in this arena, you could quite literally make a small fortune. But be careful not to nurture the thought of making money without putting in much effort. If you can put in the work, you are good to go.
6. Become a personal shopper
This might not sound familiar to you, but their are some individuals online who needs the help of others to shop for them. This is likely because of there busy schedule. You could effectively become a personal shopper. If you live in an urban metropolis with concentrated wealth, then personal shopping services are in high demand in your area.
Search the internet and other online resources such as ThumbTack to find people looking for personal shoppers, render your service to them and get paid.
7. Create YouTube tutorials
If you are looking for a side hustle that will fetch you fast money, Youtube monetization is not for you. But if you intend to grow your funds with time, Youtube provide huge potential for you to earn extra income for yourself.
All you have to do is create YouTube tutorials that can help you earn a respectable amount of income as long as what you deliver is engaging and keeps people interested for long enough.
You can also use free tutorials to upsell viewers on products and services you might be offering.
8. Clean houses
Everyday activities can prevent some individuals from carving out time to do some simple housekeeping jobs in the house. If have some skills in this regards, you can make some extra cash for yourself especially on weekend.
Also, there are loads of private families and home owners that are renting out their homes on a short-term basis that need housekeeping or house cleaning services.
Just list your services on a site like HouseKeeper.com and many others to promote yourself.
9. Create an online course
Do you have a skill that is on demand? Can you teach it to an audience? If your answer to these two questions is YES, then creating an online course should be your next step in making some extra income.
You can create an online course with a platform like Udemy or Teachable and leverage some of your skills to create a healthy income. Depending upon how much time you invest in your course, you could make a substantial side revenue stream by creating courses that deliver tremendous amounts of value.
10. Manage social media for small businesses
Social media skills are highly on demand and you can key into this wonderful opportunity. Small businesses need a social media manager and simply don’t have the time nor the expertise to be constantly posting on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter.
You need to put in the necessary efforts by contacting local businesses and offering up your services for a contracted monthly fee. This is an easy way to make money no matter where you live.
What is a Good Side Hustle?
Any extra income is great to have, but sacrificing your precious free time should come with a proper boost to your bank account. The following seven jobs all have the potential to bring in $1,000 a month or more in side-hustle earnings. And chances are you have already cultivated the skills or hobbies needed.
1. Tutor or consultant
If you have a useful skill, you can probably monetize it. Whether you’re an ace at algebra, play a mean tambourine, or can boost a company’s bottom line, someone out there can likely benefit from your experience.
How much you can make tutoring or consulting will depend on any number of factors, including the rarity of your skill or experience. If you’re tutoring young students, you can expect rates around $15 to $25 an hour. At more advanced levels, tutors can easily charge $30 to $50 an hour. And a top-level consultant can bring in $100 an hour or more, depending on the industry.
2. Virtual assistant
Most of us lead busy lives, but some folks are better at it than others. If organization is your skill, consider becoming a virtual assistant for someone who needs a hand staying on track.
Virtual assistants do anything from keep schedules and send errand reminders, to scheduling business meetings and overseas travel. The amount you make will generally vary based on the hours you work and the complexity of the tasks you perform, but $15 to $25 an hour is common.
3. Freelance writer
Anyone who has a way with words can work as a freelance writer. It helps if you have both a good grasp of grammar and a strong knowledge about a specific topic. Experts in niche markets will make the biggest bucks.
Even if you aren’t the best writer, you could put research skills to work compiling listicles for popular websites. And folks with a knack for pithy social media posts can offer their skills to companies looking to boost their reach.
Writers get paid in a few ways, including by the word, by the project, or by the hour. Rates at the bottom of the ladder aren’t great, but those with a bit of experience can easily make $15 to $25 an hour for basic posts, and $75 an hour or more for expert-level work.
4. Delivery driver
Options for delivery driving were growing even before the pandemic drove us all indoors, but they’re massive now. You can get a delivery gig transporting anything from pizza to prescriptions, by bike, scooter, or car — and often while setting your own hours. What you earn will depend on when and where you work, who you work for, and what you deliver. (Luck may also play a role, as far as tips are concerned.)
5. Online shopkeeper
People will buy almost anything. And that goes twice for online shopping. If you have it, chances are good you can sell it online. This can be anything from your gently used clothes — to your hand-crafted polyhedral dice. You can build your own website and store or work through a third-party marketplace like Etsy or eBay. What you earn will depend on both what you have to sell and how well you market it.
What is The Easiest Side Hustle?
If you’re looking for ways you can earn a few extra bucks with a side hustle, you’d likely encounter hundreds of strategies for make some money. However, depending on your unique needs and your skills, earning a respectable amount of cash, and doing it quickly and easily, might be well within your reach.
No matter where you’re from or what you do for a living, thanks to the conveniences afforded to us by the internet, making money is no longer a constant and never-ending struggle.
1. Sell items on Ebay or Craigslist.
One of the surest ways you can make cash if you’re in a bind is to sell items on Ebay or Craigslist. Any used items like furniture, household appliances, collectibles or anything else that you’re just not using or is collecting dust, can be sold online to make some money.
If you’re serious about this, you can even do it professionally for others and collect a small commission for each sale. Take quality photos and write a good description and you’ll be in great shape.
2. Recycle used smartphones on Gazelle.
People have sold a few used smartphones on Gazelle and it’s a no-hassle way of making some cash if you have an old iPhone or Samsung smartphone or another device sitting around. While you won’t get top-dollar for it, you will be able to get a little bit of cash that might just help you out depending on your financial situation.
3. Drive for Uber or Lyft.
One of the most widely available ways for making money is to drive for Uber or Lyft. The sharing economy has quite literally exploded, and both Uber and Lyft are at the forefront. The best part? You can turn on and off your availability through these networks with the simple click of a button, effectively allowing you to make money no matter what time of day or night it is.
4. Deliver for PostMates.
Another option for earning a side income is to deliver for PostMates. Similar to working for Uber and Lyft, you can work whenever you want. While the pay might not be enormous, you do have the ability to earn tips. If you’re in a highly-trafficked area such as Los Angeles or New York City, this is a great way to earn some cash and you don’t even need a car.
5. Rent your spare room on Airbnb.
AirBnB offers a great resource for people that are willing to rent out a spare room or even their entire home. If you’re in a bind for some fast cash, AirBnB offers you an avenue for creating an income. You’ll get paid 24 hours after a guest checks in, which is to avoid any problems or potential scams that might arrive. Some people earn their primary income just by renting out rooms or homes on AirBnB.
6. Manage social media for small businesses.
Many small businesses need a social media manager and simply don’t have the time nor the expertise to be constantly posting on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter. Take it upon yourself to contact local businesses and offer up your services for a contracted monthly fee. This is an easy way to make money no matter where you live.
7. Answer questions on JustAnswer.
Websites like JustAnswer pay you to answer professional questions. If you have a high-level skill such, as experience in law, medicine or information technology, you could get paid to help others navigate certain topics or areas of contention that they might be faced with in life.
8. Sell services on Fiverr.
Fiverr helped give birth to the Gig Economy. Although services start out at $5, some Fiverr sellers are earning six-figure-plus revenues annually. You can sell just about anything on this platform, but to succeed and become a Super Seller, you need to deliver massive amounts of value, even at those lower price-points.
9. Do micro-jobs on Mechanical Turk.
Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform is one way you can earn money, though it won’t make you rich by any measure. However, if you’re looking to take on micro-jobs that can be done in a few minutes each, by stringing them together, you could earn some cash that might help you out if you’re in a bind.
10. Tutor over Skype.
You can tutor people over Skype, no matter where you might live. This is great, especially if you’re a digital nomad and you’re looking to earn more money than the local job market can potentially provide. Tutor people from the U.S. or U.K. if you’re traveling through Asia or another low-cost-of-living country around the world.
Why is Side Hustle Bad?
A recent study revealed that over a third of 16-34 year olds are operating at least one project alongside their full-time job and these side-hustles can be big business. Efforts that hard-working Brits undertake outside of their usual hours contribute £72 billion to the UK economy and millennial attitudes towards work are cited as a key driver of the trend.
When side-hustles take up many additional working hours a week, this may have implications in terms of additional stress, which may influence occupational health.
If you’re on the fence about setting up a new business of your own, consider these five reasons now may not be the time.
1. You haven’t gone over your budget in detail
If your primary reason to start a side hustle is that you feel like you never have enough in your bank account, rework your budget before diving in. Many folks go months (or years) without studying their monthly budget for expenses they can trim.
And that might include expensive cable packages, cellphone plans with all the bells and whistles, subscription boxes delivered to your home, frequent nights out with friends, large utility bills, and stuff kids can easily live without. It’s different for everyone, but most of us can find a short list of expenses that would not impact the quality of our lives if cut.
And remember, cuts to your budget don’t have to be permanent. Tell yourself you’re going to make cuts long enough to pay down the bills that make your budget lopsided, or until you’re earning more money at work.
There’s something to be said for investing the energy you would pour into a side hustle into taking control of your budget and personal finances.
2. You don’t have money to invest
The Hustle conducted a survey to learn more about Americans’ side hustles and how their experiences have been. While it’s possible to start a side hustle without spending any money, the survey showed that the average first-year cost of starting a side hustle is $16,662.
Given that the average side hustle brings in around $12,609 per year (working 11 hours per week), it could take you more than a year to earn back your investment. Whether the spending is for supplies or advertising your new business, costs add up.
If the potential side hustle involves a multilevel marketing (MLM) business, it’s essential to understand that they can require upfront investments. Can you make money? Maybe, but 52% of respondents in an AARP Foundation study said the MLM they joined misrepresented their chances of making money. About 99% of people who join an MLM lose money. You may want to avoid MLMs and carefully consider the cost of other side hustles.
3. You’re already stressed
Approximately 84% of respondents in a recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) reported feeling at least one negative emotion associated with prolonged stress in the prior two weeks. The most common symptoms of stress reported were anxiety, sadness, and anger. Anxiety was due to many issues, including the state of the country, COVID-19, and financial stress.
It’s true that life is rarely stress free. Since our ancestors chased down wildebeests to feed their families, stress has been part of our everyday lives. But if you’re already up to your eyeballs in anxiety and worry, it may not be the right time to take on another obligation.
4. You don’t have family support
Let’s say you’re wild about the idea of buying used auto parts, cleaning them up, and selling them for a profit. As excited as you may be, if your family is not on board with your dream, now is probably the wrong time to give it a go.
5. You could spend the time building your future another way
For better or worse, COVID-19 gave all of us time to rethink — and possibly, reimagine — our lives. Maybe you had blood drawn in your doctor’s office and thought it would be interesting to be a phlebotomist. Perhaps you’ve always wished you were a car mechanic and realized they were still working in the middle of the pandemic. Now may be the time to go back to school rather than start a side hustle.
If you’re looking for something new and different, it is possible to pursue your dreams, even if it means not taking on a side hustle right now.
Is a Side Hustle Worth it?
A recent survey from Bankrate found that nearly half of Americans under 35 reports having a side hustle, and nearly 1 in 3 of those side hustlers need the extra income to be able to pay their bills.
While side hustles are a great way to try and get ahead, not all side hustles are created equally, and not all side hustles will be right for you.
There are many great reasons to have a side hustle beyond the obvious of making more money. Here are some of the potential positives to having a side hustle:
- Increased income
- Exploring passions or interests
- Expanded social circle
- Learn new skills
- Increased exercise, change of pace, or other related benefits
- May open new doors such as starting a business
- May go from a side hustle to a full-time job
What is an Example of a Side Hustle?
1. Get a part-time job.
Okay, so maybe you need some cash and you already have a full-time job and you’re just not comfortable making money online or trying to hustle with some web-based project. You could get a part-time job. You can kiss your social life goodbye, but it’s certainly a more guaranteed additional stream of income.
2. Start a blog.
Okay, so you won’t make money that fast with a blog. But, if you start a blog and deliver enormous amounts of value, you could set yourself up with a platform for ending a tremendous amount of passive income. This is something you can easily build on the side with just a few hours of work per week, but you need to stay consistent and post great content regularly.
3. Create an online course.
Create an online course with a platform like Udemy or Teachable and leverage some of your skills to create a healthy income. Depending upon how much time you invest in your course, you could make a substantial side revenue stream by creating courses that deliver tremendous amounts of value.
4. Build a sales funnel with ClickFunnels.
As an online marketer and a software engineer, you might be obsessed with sales funnels. However, many people struggle with creating the proper funnel that converts. It takes a high degree of technical and marketing knowledge.
However, ClickFunnels, a SaaS business with over 40,000 customers, which was started by Russell Brunson, takes all the guesswork out of that. Build a sales funnel and automate your selling with a platform like this.
5. Write an ebook.
By using platforms like KDP and CreateSpace, both by Amazon, you can create an easily create and sell an ebook that costs nothing to produce, and a paperback that earns you money only when it sells, removing much of the prior friction it took to get published.
How Much Should a Side Hustle Make?
You’ve probably heard stories about some wildly successful businesses that started out as nothing more than a side hustle. On the other end of that spectrum, you might know some people who are slaving away at their side gig without much to show for it.
With such a wide range of possible outcomes, you might be wondering how much you can actually make from a side hustle. Well, wonder no more.
The Ascent recently conducted a survey of 493 respondents who all had their own side hustles. It found that the average man earned about $8,948 per year from his side hustle, while the average woman earned about $6,085 from hers. That comes out to about $746 per month for men and $507 for women.
How Much Does a Side Hustle Make?
The June 2018 Bankrate survey found that 37 percent of Americans have a side job, meaning nearly 4 in 10 Americans are side hustlers. That is a massive number of people! If that number applies to all working adults, that means there are more than 50 million people with a side hustle in the United States bringing in a total $400 million per year!
While 49 percent of side hustles bring in up to $200 per month, 15 percent of side hustlers bring in more than $1,000 per month. Imagine an extra $12,000 or more per year in income. What could that do for you? Could it help you get out of debt? Perhaps it could get you on track for early retirement? Maybe you would choose to split your side hustle income into savings and an extra annual trip? There are no rules for how you use your own money as long as you follow your budget.
The average monthly income from a side hustle was $686 for all surveyed, or about $8,200 per year. That can be life changing money!
What is The Best Side Hustle App?
There is a wealth of apps and services that let you get started quickly and without many of the startup costs associated with a traditional business. Here are seven such services that will let you start a profitable side hustle.
1. Best for Ride Sharing: Uber
2. Best for Shopping: Instacart
3. Best for Food Delivery: Postmates
4. Best for Odd Jobs: TaskRabbit
5. Best for Cleaning & Repairs: Handy
6. Best for Dog Lovers: DogVacay
8. Best for Selling: OfferUp
An app is a good way to quickly and affordably start a side hustle that may turn into a business, remain a side hustle, or just be a hobby for fun. You can download these apps to your smartphone and decide which side hustle is right for you.
These apps were created with different types of gigs in mind and can put you in touch with clients looking for handyman, cleaning, or petsitting services or a ride across town.
Side hustles are a popular way to make extra money, so there are plenty of apps out there. We chose the best ones based on their costs, ease of the sign-up and registration process, the features they offer, and the potential for making money.
Can Coding be a Side Hustle?
Below, we have provided five ways programmers can make money, no matter the skill level with coding.
1. Create a Course on a Learning Platform
Every year thousands of people learn to code. If you possess a level of understanding in any area of coding — Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript — you can teach someone else who is just learning.
Even if you’re new to coding, you can still write a course based on your beginner experience of learning to code.
Udemy is a learning platform where you can publish your guide, course, or tutorial for others. Platforms such as Coursera and Skillshare are also options. And if the course catches on, then you can make a reasonable amount of income.
2. Do Freelance Work
Another side hustle option is to work on a freelance platform such as Fiverr, Freelancer, Gun.io, and Upwork.
Sign up, create your seller profile, post your service/gig, prices, and a brief description of the service you offer. Then people interested in your work request your services.
There are specific programming and tech categories on these sites where you can post services ranging from site audits/reviews and coding lessons to website development and chatbot creation.
But there is no need to limit yourself to just programming. Other categories include graphic design, writing, video, and digital marketing.
3. Enter Competitive Programming Contests
If you like competition, then competitive programming may be the side hustle for you.
Companies such as Topcoder, HackerRank, Google Code Jam, and the ICEP Programming Contest all offer coding contests.
Topcoder, for example, offers single-round matches (SRM) every week where registration for the match occurs less than 5 hours before the match.
There are two divisions to guarantee the problem set meets the competitors’ skill level. Within these divisions are rooms with a maximum of 20 coders from the same division.
Competitions are timed, with speed and accuracy being the two determinates of point distributions and overall success.
4. Make a Blog
Creating a blog is a great way to monetize your skills, knowledge, and talents on a specific subject.
You could make a blog on anything — programming, gardening, art, video games, anime. Use WordPress, Squarespace, Blogger, or GoDaddy if you are looking to get up and running quickly.
There is no shame in using the tools available, especially if they make things fast and easy. Or if you are looking to do everything from the ground up (i.e. the front and backend) then look into building a web app using Django.
This open-source web framework is designed for “rapid development and clean, pragmatic design” that allows for rapid app creation. Building your site’s brand and consistently writing SEO articles will take a few months of hard work.
5. Write on an Existing Blog
If you’re just looking to start writing and share some of your programming knowledge with others, then writing on an existing blog is a great option.
DigitalOcean, SitePoint, and Linode all have paid writing opportunities if you are an expert in their field. There are also free blogging platforms such as Tumblr and Medium if you are looking for a place to write more freely and advertise.
Medium, for example, does allow affiliate links in your writing as long as there is an added affiliate disclosure.
How do I Become a Real Estate Side Hustle?
Even if your real estate business is thriving, having a side hustle could help diversify your income for when the housing market inevitably slows down.
And if your business isn’t thriving yet, a real estate-related side hustle could be the income-generator you need to keep yourself afloat while you establish your real estate business and build your client base.
Here are our top 5 side hustles for real estate agents.
1. Notary (RON)
Providing notary services has always been a good side hustle because it takes so little time or money to get started, and it requires so little ongoing effort.
And remote online notary (RON) services have exploded since the 2020 pandemic. More states now allow RON than ever before. Through sites like Notarize.com, you can provide notary services from the comfort of home around your existing schedule.
2. Property Management
Property management is a classic side hustle for real estate agents. The money is more immediate than with real estate sales, which is ideal for new agents who are establishing their business and their client base.
As a property manager, you help property owners find reliable tenants. In many cases, you would also provide ongoing management of the property: collecting rents, addressing maintenance requests, and drafting lease renewals.
3. eBooks
As a real estate expert, you have knowledge most people don’t. You know all about real estate financing, investing, and marketing. Package your knowledge into eBooks that appeal to your ideal client.
Your client will grow to trust you through the book, and may even contact you to help with their transaction (or get a referral if they’re out of area).
4. Credit Repair
Credit repair is a great side hustle because it allows you to serve your buyers who wouldn’t otherwise qualify for a home loan. You earn a fee for helping get their credit up, and they will come to you when they’re ready to buy!
5. Home Organization
Home organization doesn’t come easily to everyone. If you’re a natural organizer, you can make extra money on the side by organizing your clients’ homes.
What Should my Side Hustle be?
1. Clean houses.
Housekeeping is always an option. There are loads of private families and homeowners that are renting out their homes on a short-term basis that need housekeeping or house cleaning services. You can list your services on a site like HouseKeeper.com and many others to promote yourself.
2. Participate in marketing focus groups.
Marketing companies are always holding focus groups to study the consumer’s response to products, services and advertisements across a variety of mediums. Many people are participating in these studies often in college, and so can you. You don’t need any special training to do it.
3. Have a garage sale.
You could always hold a garage sale to make some money by getting rid of excess clutter in your house. This is great if you have children that have outgrown toys or you simply have a large number of items that you’re looking to part ways with. Post up some signs around town or advertise on Craigslist.
4. Create YouTube tutorials.
Although this isn’t the quickest way you can make money with a side income, creating YouTube tutorials can help you earn a respectable amount of income as long as what you deliver is engaging and keeps people interested for long enough. You could also use free tutorials to upsell viewers on products and services you might be offering.
5. Design logos on 99Designs.
If you’re graphically inclined and you’re get a programs like Photoshop and Illustrator, you could potentially compete for design work on 99Designs. However, you won’t get paid unless your design is chosen as the winning design, meaning you need to be a very good designer to make an income that’s worthwhile here.
Can You Have a Side Hustle in The Military?
A military side hustle is a way to make additional money beyond your basic pay. Or for a military spouse, a side hustle is a job you can perform around your schedule and location. It’s a second income stream that’s flexible enough to allow you to make money outside your typical duty day. Unlike a part-time job, you can work the hours you want with a side gig when you want.
1. Bagging Groceries
A side hustle close to my heart is bagging groceries. Besides babysitting, bagging groceries at the commissary was one of my first jobs. You can work weekends or evenings bagging up food for commissary customers. Baggers are not government employees, so you can work when you want. To start as a bagger, you must contact the “head bagger” at your local commissary.
2. Baby Sitting
The military community always needs help with babysitting. Because most everyone is away from family and friends and many events, people need child care to attend like military balls, Hail and Farwells, and doctor’s appointments.
You will start by registering with services like Care.com or SitterCity.com to help find babysitting jobs. Both companies offer military discounts, so it’s a go-to resource for the community’s babysitting needs.
3. Running Errands Military Side Hustles
If you have extra time, you can help others that need help running errands or completing tasks. Services like Task Rabbit allow you to see listed tasks. You can review and decide which tasks you want to complete for extra money.
4. Make Money Printables
You can make a ton of money creating and selling your printables for Etsy or Spouse-ly. Do you have a fun scavenger hunt for toddlers or a checklist for PCSing? Whatever your idea is, you can develop and sell that printable for extra money. Printables are a fantastic way to make money around your schedule. There are courses to learn how to create and sell printables.
5. Deliver Stuff
There is always a demand for delivery drivers, which comes in handy when you want more money each month. You can earn anywhere between $10-$25 per hour delivering food. There are plenty of services you can sign up to start making money delivering. Here are some:
- DoorDash
- Instacart
- GrubHub
- Uber Eats
What Can I do as a Side Hustle?
If your goal is to bring in extra cash while you grow your full-time career, go to school or make it to Hollywood, then a traditional gig on the side is probably what you’re looking for. Ideal hustles are flexible enough that you can do them when you are available and have time.
But not every side hustle is scalable. Some simply serve the purpose of giving you more money in exchange for a little more of your time. The following side hustles are ideal if you just want the extra cash, but you aren’t worried about starting a future entrepreneurial empire.
Make food or grocery deliveries
If you have a car and are looking for something that’s pretty much guaranteed to be available during COVID (so long as you live in a municipality large enough to sustain it), then consider becoming a food delivery driver.
While not the most glamorous side hustle idea, you can make legitimate cash driving for a company like Uber Eats or Instacart. The convenience of delivery is an in-demand service, especially in 2021 (who doesn’t want their groceries to just show up?). In a large city, chances are this can be a solid stream of income.
The downside to making deliveries is that you do need a car available (or a bike in some cases). But unlike taxiing people around, you don’t have to keep it spotless for passengers. You’ll also need stellar time management skills because the faster you deliver, the more money you can make.
Complete online surveys
It’s highly unlikely that anyone is going to become a millionaire from filling out online surveys. But you can absolutely make a little extra cash in your downtime if you dedicate it to sharing your opinion with companies looking for it.
Online surveys don’t provide a lot of extra income, nor are they consistent or scalable. But they’re a popular way to make money online because they can be done while you’re waiting in line, sitting on the train, or watching the latest bingeable show on Netflix.
Most surveys only take a few minutes of your time, and those that take longer usually pay a tad bit more. This side-gig is easy to get into. You simply head to a site like Swagbucks or Toluna, fill out a profile and wait for them to send you surveys that are looking for someone like you.
Drive for Uber or Lyft
Driving for Uber or Lyft isn’t the perfect side hustle for everyone. But if you enjoy driving around and have regular access to a vehicle to pick up and drop off passengers, it can be a great way to bring in extra money.
What makes rideshare driving such an appealing gig is that you only have to work when you want to. Drivers create their own schedules and make money at times that work best for them. There are people who chose to make operating a rideshare car their full-time income.
Unfortunately, this option isn’t available unless you live in a large city that allows services like this to run. In Canada, cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary allow for rideshare drivers, but not all of those with smaller populations allow for more modern transportation options.
You also have to have access to a vehicle that meets the requirements of the rideshare service that you want to drive for. While this varies depending on the company and city, they often require a newer vehicle with at least five seats that are damage-free. However, there are a number of tax deductions you can take when you’re running a sole proprietorship like this.
Sell or flip used products
Chances are, there are a ton of things in your house right now that you aren’t using. They’re tucked away in a box or on a shelf, gathering dust instead of making you money.
Savvy side hustlers use platforms like eBay, Craigslist, Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, and even Amazon to offload used merchandise for a pretty profit. This isn’t restricted to items you already own either—you can scope out products that you can buy cheap and flip online for a higher profit. Or even use Amazon’s Filled By Amazon program to resell inventory.
The beauty of selling secondhand goods is that you can work in any niche you’re interested in, from books and clothing to kitchenware and vintage furniture. While this is mostly a part-time, off-hours gig, there could be potential to scale if you get savvy with it.
The downside to a side hustle in secondhand sales is that there is a lot of heavy lifting involved. You need to source, store, and market your products. You’re also restricted to the rules that the platform you choose to use has which could include the type or quality of the item.
Tutor online
If you’re knowledgeable about a particular subject (or several subjects), offering to tutor can be a great option to bring in money. Tutoring can pay via session or hourly, and you can easily bring in a few hundred dollars a month.
You can take on private tutoring clients on a local or international level through an online platform like Skype. Or you can connect with a company like VIPKID or Brainfuse that pays an hourly or contract rate but help you obtain clients.
Teaching English is a popular tutoring gig for those who want to work and travel. The online experience could potentially lead to in-person jobs in other countries if that’s something that sounds appealing to you. However, there are often specific requirements to teach English.
Tutoring is not a great option if you’re looking for future scalability simply because tutoring usually happens in a one-on-one or small group setting. Unfortunately, we have a finite amount of time available, and we simply can’t create more to take on additional people.
Provide pet services
If you love pets, providing pet services is definitely on the table when it comes to side hustles. The potential is definitely there, from running a little pet daycare to overnight stays and grooming and walking services.
Services like walking or overnight stays are bound to be a little less flexible when it comes to your schedule because most owners will ask for a set time (or a window of time) where they want the task performed. However, something like grooming services can be booked on your schedule.
This is definitely a side hustle where you’ll want to look into the specific insurance required to watch and groom pets. But it could be a fun part-time way to make money for those that could use a little cuddle time with pets.
Host with Airbnb
Using Airbnb to host a space for a little extra cash can be a good source of passive income for those who want to keep their time free but want to make extra money. Of course, you need a space to host—a room, house or apartment space where people can stay. But if you have one, you’re golden.
You could absolutely cut Airbnb out of the deal and list your space privately, but there are some serious benefits of using sites with a big reputation. Marketing, for one, is a tad bit easier. Guests searching for somewhere to stay have a much greater chance of coming across your platform.
Plus, there is also the added benefit of damage insurance which the company provides, the convenience of using their platform to collect deposits and payments, and customer support access.
Take gigs on Upwork
Upwork is a popular place for people looking to make some extra money online. Whether you can write blog posts, enter data, edit audio, create social media posts or proofread, chances are there is someone on the platform looking for you.
What makes Upwork a great side hustle for people with full-time careers is that there is plenty of work to be done for almost any skill or experience. You bid for projects you’re interested in and breeze past ones that don’t interest you. And, best of all, you can complete projects on your own schedule.
The big downside to Upwork is that they take a pretty significant cut of your pay. While the exact percentage they take depends on how much work you get from a client (the more you do, the less they take), Upwork freelancers just starting out can expect to see 20 per cent go to the platform. They also charge a fee to transfer the money they collect on your behalf to you.
You also need “credits” to bid for jobs on Upwork. While you get credits on a monthly basis, you can pay for more. Freelancers also receive additional credits for getting “interviews” or replies to proposals they send.
Similar sites to Upwork include Freelancer, SolidGigs, and Toptal. You can sign up for an account (in some cases, you need to be accepted) and start looking for contract work you can finish on your own terms.
Start a blog
If you’re interested in the long-term online side hustle game, blogging can be a good choice. While making a profit off of a blog on the first day is highly unlikely unless you already have an audience, starting a blog has a high potential to bring in a steady stream of cash if you’re strategic about it.
Profitable bloggers use a variety of means to create income. From affiliate marketing and advertising to paid partnerships and products, there is ample opportunity to make this a lucrative side hustle. The key is to build a solid brand that your audience connects with and trusts.
Blogging is easy to balance with a full-time workload because you can create content in advance and schedule it to go-live at your desired time. It has the potential to earn you a few hundred or thousand dollars a month, depending on the work you put into it.
The best news of all is that blogging is incredibly easy to get to. The internet is full of easy-to-access guides that can help you set up your first blog. It’s also relatively inexpensive to get off the ground. Unfortunately, the big downside is that you’ll have to put some work in before you see a profit.
Affiliate marketing
While affiliate marketing can be done as part of an income stream for a blog, you don’t necessarily need to have one to make money. When it comes to affiliate marketing, the only thing you really need is an engaged audience who trusts your opinion.
The idea behind affiliate marketing is that you team up with companies you love and share trackable affiliate links to their products provided by them (or through an affiliate platform) with your audience. When someone makes a purchase with your affiliate link, you get a small commission.
You don’t need any experience to become an affiliate marketer—for example, the Amazon Associates program is open to anyone who wants to give it a go. You simply need somewhere to share links for Amazon items you love.
Affiliate marketing can be done on a part-time basis while you’re working a full-time job. Or it can be scaled into your full-time work, depending on how much time and effort you put into it. However, in most cases, it takes a while to see significant results.
Start freelance writing
Freelance writers are those that write on a contract basis for a variety of platforms, from companies and blogs to news outlets, depending on the niche area they specialize in.
Freelance writing is unique in that while many do it as a full-time job, there are just as many that do it to supplement their income. Some writers even choose to focus on pieces specific to their full-time job to help compliment their resume (and pad their wallet).
Freelance writing is a good opportunity for those that enjoy writing, are good at it and are deadline-oriented. The startup costs are quite low, and you have a chance to make your own hours and work when you have free time. In most cases, you simply have a deadline to deliver content, and until then, you’re free to work when you want.
How do You Start a Side Hustle With no Money?
Here’s a list of side hustles that don’t require any startup capital at all!
1. Become a proofreader
If you have a good grasp on spelling and grammar, proofreading could be right up your alley! And of course, spelling and grammar skills won’t cost you anything (unless you totally zoned out during K-12).
With that being said, if someone’s going to trust you to proofread their work, it makes sense that they’ll need proof of your skills. Caitlin Pyle runs one of the most successful online proofreading training programs there is, and you can get a bunch of info you need to get started from her free webinar.
To build your portfolio, you could start by soliciting people your know or college students to proofread their work. Then once you build up your samples, you’ll be ready for bigger clients!
2. Teach what you know
Sharing knowledge and information is what life is all about. If you have the expertise to share, you can profit from that!
Teaching, tutoring, coaching, mentoring, and consulting are all ways to share your expertise, but there are slight differences.
For example, the difference between teaching and coaching is:
TEACHING is helping one person or a group of people learn specific concepts and points.
COACHING is helping someone work towards improving a set of skills, usually for a defined goal. The best thing about sharing your expertise with others is that you can do it in person or from the comfort of your own home.
3. Sell stock photos
Good with a camera?
Put that camera to work. Take photos, lightly edit them if needed, and sell those bad boys! People are always in search of high-quality, unique stock photos.
4. Test apps and websites
How does $10 for 10-20 minutes of your time sound? Pretty good, right?
Until several years ago, I had no idea you could actually get paid to give user feedback to website and app developers.
It kinda seems too good to be true considering this is basically what you do on a daily basis anyway! But alas, it IS true.
Testing websites and apps don’t require any upfront costs or special equipment. If you have a phone, tablet, or computer, you’re pretty much good to go!
Which Side Hustle Pays The Most?
Here is a list of 8 top-paying side hustle ideas that are categorized based on their hourly wage and earning potential:
1. Online Tutoring
The biggest advantage of online tutoring is the convenience involved. For instance, you set the timing and frequency of the tutoring sessions. You can also have as many or as little sessions as you want. This makes it a great and easy side project to transition into.
Students of all nationalities and age groups can be potential customers. And you can organize tutoring sessions for a variety of topics, such as:
- Traditional subjects like math or science
- Playing musical instruments
- Religious education
- Foreign languages to English-speaking students and English to ESL students
Online tutors working on their own are typically paid around $100 per hour once they establish themselves.
If you don’t have students of your own, you can always sign up with an online platform to book candidates such as Chelsea International Education, Wyzant or Varsity Tutors and get paid $20-$80+/hour, depending on how you price your services.
2. Personal Training
Are you a fitness enthusiast? Do you know your way around weight resistance training? Do you have a wealth of knowledge about nutrition and exercise?
You can use your knowledge, experience, and skills to provide personalized training to people, either in person or through online lessons. You can also use your phone to broadcast lessons for a group of clients if you prefer online lessons.
Many people are happy to pay for a personal trainer. On average, personal trainers earn around $70 per hour.
If you already have a home gym, then you likely won’t even need to make any additional investments.
Getting a nutritionist certificate can also help you provide better dietary and fitness advice for your clients.
3. Managing Social Media and Digital Operations for SMEs
Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are heavily reliant on outsourcing for most of their digital operations. These companies often need help with different parts of their business. For instance, they might outsource their social media management, seek a content writer to build their website, or need a data analyst to crunch critical information.
Simply managing social media platforms for SMEs can pay upwards of $58 per hour.
4. Freelance Graphic Designing
If you have a background in graphic design, then you can easily transition into freelancing. There are a variety of companies and individuals who need artists to translate their vision into reality.
You can use your graphic design skills to make company logos, project posters, company cards, and story illustrations. And you can do this all within the comfort of your home.
The average hourly wage for freelance graphic designers is $29 per hour. If you already own a graphic tablet or graphic editing software, you have all you need to begin.
5. Party Planning
If you enjoy planning events, are highly organized, enjoy working with people, and are great at following tight deadlines, you should consider becoming an event planner.
Becoming a part-time events planner can help you make a lot of money, especially if these events are planned for weekends. A social planner can make anywhere from $12 to $75 per hour, plus vendor commissions.
You can start by volunteering to plan and organize a birthday party, a house-warming party, or a bridal shower party. This is an easy way to build your reputation and portfolio.
The best thing about this side project is that it requires no initial investment. All you need is a can-do attitude and a detail-oriented mindset.
6. Driving for Uber
One of the top-paying side hustles you can start today is driving for Uber. The requirements to become an Uber driver are extremely simple. If you have a smartphone with high-speed internet, a driver’s license, and a car in good working shape, you can become an Uber driver.
The average rate for Uber drivers in the US is $19.43 per hour.
Below are some tips to keep in mind to become a great Uber driver:
- First, get familiar with the Uber app and understand how to operate it well.
- Second, have a positive attitude. Greet your riders with a smile. If the rider seems friendly, talk to them about their day. But if the rider doesn’t show interest in speaking with you, it’s better to stay quiet.
- Third, accessorize your Uber with an aux cord, a charging cable, and any other accessory that can make the ride comfortable and enjoyable for the rider.
Good customer service is the basis of achieving a 5-star rating; the higher your rating, the more you’ll get chosen for rides.
7. Freelancing on Upwork
Freelance websites such as Upwork and Freelancer have been instrumental in revolutionizing the way professional tasks are completed worldwide.
Skills such as web development, programming, and graphic designing are always in high demand. Small companies in particular look for freelancers to complete projects at an affordable price.
Working as a freelancer can help you take advantage of this need and make money. Average freelancer hourly pay in the United States is approximately $17.96, but you get to set your own wage on Upwork.
But you don’t need technical skills to become a freelancer; you can also capitalize on your creative skills.
For instance, you can leverage your fluency in English or writing. There are a vast number of clients who need help with their blogs, story, or assignments. Moreover, many clients need help editing or proofreading their work. There are even people looking for creative individuals to translate their vision into art pieces.
Check out freelance online and you will see that there are so many ways you can leverage your skills and talent. You can literally start today.
8. Photography
Have people praised you for taking good photos? If so, photography maybe is a side hustle that you can start today.
Having a good understanding of what makes a good picture and basic editing skills are critical to making this a lucrative side project.
If you don’t have one, you will need to invest in a proper kit in addition to buying a subscription for a photo editing software.
Consider covering a friend’s birthday party or wedding reception. Play around with your photo editing software to learn its ins and outs. Build a portfolio that you can upload online for potential customers.
You can also do landscape and wildlife photography and sell them on stock websites such as Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, or Etsy. Additionally, you can also build a reputation for being a great pet photographer.
To generate leads, you can collaborate with bloggers and Instagram influencers. When they use your photographs, you will get a shout-out, which can generate more leads for you.
What is The Fastest Way to Make Money on Side Hustle?
Time is money, of course. But you also want to find a side hustle you actually enjoy doing, no matter the time commitment. Otherwise, you may burn out fast. These seven side hustles aren’t only fun; they can also pay extremely well.
Freelance writer
If you have a way with words, one of your best bets for rewarding (and well-paying) side hustles is freelance writing. The average hourly pay is $22.83 an hour; however, you can earn much more than that once you get established. Start-up costs are low, and you can write from anywhere! Just make sure you’ve got a solid setup with a laptop and internet. Setting up a writer’s website is a good idea too.
The great thing about freelance writing is you don’t need an expensive degree to get started. There are many ways to find jobs as a beginner freelancer, and with dedication, you can start a new successful side hustle or even kick-start a new career.
Virtual assistant
Virtual work is on the rise, which is why virtual assisting is an excellent side hustle to start. You can make anywhere from $15-$60 an hour when you become a virtual assistant, and it doesn’t require a ton of training. In fact, you can utilize the skills you already have and learn more as you grow your business.
For example, if you have experience in customer service, data entry, or design skills, you can begin by offering those types of services to find clients.
Bookkeeper
If you have any bookkeeping experience, starting your own business doing this is a perfect way to make fast cash. Bookkeeping is one of the most profitable side gigs out there; some bookkeepers earn up to $80 an hour.
Like virtual assisting, this side hustle has low-start up costs, which means less money out and more money in your pocket. And yes, you can become a bookkeeper even without experience. Of course, the more you learn, the more services you can offer in turn, and the more money you’ll make. Check out more on how to become a bookkeeper at bookkeepers.com.
Photographer
If you have a knack for taking pictures, a photography side hustle could be perfect for you. There are various ways you can sell your pictures for cash to stock sites and elsewhere—and there’s always wedding photography to bring in big bucks (we’re talking $3,000-$5,000 per wedding).
Of course, there are start-up costs: You will need to invest in high-quality camera equipment, but by purchasing these items used, you can save quite a bit of money. Not only can you make money photographing weddings, but you could also branch out and offer engagement photos, baby sessions, parties, and more.
Pet Sitter
One of the best side hustles for animal lovers is being a pet sitter. Can you beat getting paid to hang with cute pups? Depending on your services and location, you can make $10-$25 an hour pet sitting. Thanks to websites such as Rover.com, you can quickly find clients and start making money.
Read Also: How to create a Business Plan
Some of the higher-paid pet sitters out there offer overnight care—either in their own home, or they’ll stay in the client’s home while they are away. Pet sitting can be a high-paying and enjoyable side hustle with very few barriers to entry.
eBay Flipper
“Flipping” is when you find items at yard sales, thrift shops, and flea markets and sell them for a profit. You may be shocked at how much money you can make, depending on what you sell. For example, I found a pair of hand-painted figures for $3.99 at Goodwill and sold them on eBay for $25. You can sell anything from costume jewelry to old video game systems—and make quick cash.
Sell Printables
If you’re design-minded, one of the easiest and most profitable side hustles you can start is selling printables. These are digital files you can print and use; for example, you can create a meal-planning schedule or a fitness tracker on a site such as Canva and sell it as a printable. The person will buy your digital file, download it, and print it to use. Some people make thousands of dollars a month just selling printables.
Bottom Line
There’s more benefit to taking up a side hustle than just making more money.
A good side hustle adds value to your resume as well.
You can learn transferable skills during a side hustle. For example, you can learn customer service management, deadline management, and leadership. Moreover, you can learn new technical skills that can help you transition into a new career.
This is why adding a side hustle into your resume can be incredibly beneficial. It becomes an additional source of proof of skills a recruiter is looking for.
