You may achieve your financial objectives, save more money, and pay off debt by starting a side business. Most of the time, you can make money off of a passion, skill, or aptitude on your own terms. This implies that you can launch and grow a business from home in your spare time without spending a lot of time away from home.
However, coming up with ideas might be challenging for newcomers, and certain queries might surface along the way. Are you able to work two jobs? Is working a full-time job and a side gig on the side acceptable?
It’s advisable to be aware of the possible consequences of operating a side business while working a full-time job before devoting time and resources to its establishment. There is no legal prohibition, according to workplace legal expert and employment attorney Peter Rahbar. Some businesses, nevertheless, have regulations that forbid side gigs.
As Rahbar puts it, “Make sure that your company’s own policies do not prohibit a side hustle.” “It probably won’t be a problem if your side project doesn’t conflict, compete, or get in the way of your primary job.”
Contracts could potentially ban part-time employment. According to Rahbar, “Employers can, and frequently do, implement policies or contract terms that would either limit or prohibit other employment.” “This is frequently mandated for the entire organization, but it is also fairly typical for senior executives.
Positively, some employers have more accommodating policies. According to him, “some employers only allow notice and the employer’s approval,” which gives workers flexibility to take on side projects or other activities that don’t conflict with their main duties.
Side Hustle Ideas for Extra Income
These are some of the side hustle we think you should try; some are great for bringing in extra cash on a regular basis, while others are great if you want to work from home.
1. Pet sitting or dog walking
Pet sitting is a fun and rewarding way to make additional money if you enjoy being around animals. When their owners must leave their animals alone for long periods of time, pet sitters usually take care of the animals. Making sure the animals are alive, fed, and content while their “parents” are away would be your primary duty. This may entail staying at the pet owner’s house at night occasionally, or it may entail going several times a day to provide for the needs of the animal.
Another enjoyable option is dog walking if you’re a dog lover. Walking dogs and taking care of them when their owners aren’t around would be your responsibility. With platforms and apps like Rover, Wag!, and PetBacker, you can locate clients.
2. Become an assistant
Working professionals frequently require assistance with daily tasks, so they hire personal or virtual assistants to help. A personal assistant can help with in-person tasks like grocery shopping and closet organization, while a virtual assistant can handle tasks like scheduling, data entry, emails, and other tasks. A personal assistant must be nimble and have great organizational skills.
A virtual assistant, on the other hand, should be tech-savvy and comfortable working with multiple software programs, spreadsheets, and email servers. Reputable platforms like Chatterboss, Fiverr, and Upwork are excellent places to start looking for clients.
3. Monetize a YouTube channel
With 2.7 billion users, YouTube boasts a vast viewership. Each day, users watch a billion hours of videos together. Joining the YouTube Partner Program will allow you to capitalize on those views and earn money from the advertising that play in your videos.
Remember that getting enough visitors to generate a sizable income from advertisements takes time. Consequently, a lot of YouTubers search for different methods to make money off of their material.
Beyond the Partner Program, there are a number of additional methods to monetize your channel. For instance, you may collaborate with companies to provide product endorsements in your videos. They’ll offer you a percentage of the sales or pay you a fee. One more choice is to encourage visitors to make purchases from your web store.
Start by making engaging videos and Shorts that appeal to your target audience. As you gain subscribers, explore monetization strategies such as joining the Partner Program, selling merch, and promoting affiliate partners.
4. Start a blog or newsletter
Although blogging has long been a well-liked side gig, making money from it can be difficult. Because of this, an increasing number of bloggers are using subscription services like Substack, which allow independent authors to publish their work and receive payment from readers directly.
This makes it possible for bloggers to grow their following gradually and sustain a steady flow of cash each month without depending on obtrusive advertisements, sponsorships, or contract writing jobs.
After you’ve established a readership, think about offering your followers merchandise and items. This is a fantastic method of increasing awareness of your personal brand.
5. Record a podcast
Similar to social media and blogging, podcasting has established itself as a mainstay in the larger online content industry. In actuality, during the previous six years, podcast audiences have continuously increased.
Additionally, podcasting is reasonably priced. For less than $100, you can get a good USB microphone designed for podcasting, and Audacity and other recording apps are user-friendly and free.
Look for a theme or topic that appeals to your target audience before launching a podcast. Prepare your launch campaign and record a couple of episodes ahead of time. As your podcast develops, consider adding sponsorships or advertisements to make it a side business.
6. Participate in online surveys
There are countless companies and market researchers that want to know what people think of their products and services. Filling out surveys won’t pay your bills, but it can pad your pocket with extra money for the weekend.
Websites like Branded Surveys, Swagbucks, and Survey Junkie have a ton of surveys you can get paid to take.
7. Get paid to test apps
Nothing will halt business faster than a website riddled with issues or an app that doesn’t work. So developers get testers to go in and push all the links and play with all the buttons to make sure things work before they go live. Guess what? You can get paid for that. Some competitive gigs even offer $100 for a 60-minute test, so there is money to be made.
Read Also: Building an Online Business for Residual Income
Matchmaking sites like UserTesting, uTest, Userlytics, UserCrowd, and Enroll can connect you with website- and app-testing gigs.
8. Secure social media sponsorships
If you have a niche hobby, start producing content on TikTok or Instagram that appeals to your community. Once you’ve established a loyal following, you can monetize your account through sponsorships, where brands pay you to promote their products.
Try these tips to go viral on TikTok.
9. Become an affiliate marketer
Affiliate marketing is when you advertise products or services on your platform and get paid a commission for any sales generated from your referrals (usually through a unique link or code).
If you have a podcast, are an influencer, or have a store of your own, consider trying affiliate marketing. It’s a great way to gain some passive income that you can reinvest into your content or business.
To get started, go to an affiliate marketplace like Leadpages, ConvertKit, ClickBank, or ShareASale and find the right products for you. And if you’re a content creator, course educator, or influencer working in the world of ecommerce, the Shopify Affiliate Program might be your next lucrative side hustle.
Browse this list of affiliate programs for marketers and content creators.
10. Sell digital products
Digital products are items that exist only online. Examples include downloadable or streamable files such as MP3s, PDFs, videos, and technical templates. Use your existing skills to start a side hustle creating digital products. That might mean educational ebooks for your industry, custom music or visuals, or different kinds of digital templates.
If you’re a graphic designer, think about how websites are always on the lookout for unique fonts and eye-catching page layouts to set them apart.
Once you’ve created your product, start an online store to sell to customers. Promote your products on social media with enticing incentives such as a free sample or discount code.
11. Start a dropshipping business
If you want to open a store but don’t like the idea of buying and storing inventory, consider starting a dropshipping business. Dropshipping is an online business model where a third party produces and ships products on your behalf. All you have to do is set up your store, price your products, and make sales.
Because products are only bought and shipped after they’re ordered, dropshipping is a relatively low-risk side hustle. With fulfillment handled by your supplier, you can focus on marketing to your customers.
Choose a dropshipping partner from this list of dropshipping suppliers.
12. Offer digital marketing services
The surge of online businesses has created a constant demand for digital marketing services. Founders often look for freelancers who can manage content creation, run social media accounts, optimize websites, and more.
Tap into this market by advertising your services on freelancer platforms. Consider creating a demo website to showcase your skills, or a portfolio containing your previous work.
13. Develop mobile apps
Developing mobile apps can be a profitable venture if you’re proficient in coding. Whether it’s a functional app or a fun game, the right app can generate significant income. And, as you’ll be working as a solo developer, you can channel focused hours during the evenings and weekends into your project.
Challenge yourself and test your skills by creating a simple app with a single functionality and posting it on an app store.
14. Resell used or vintage goods
Another way to make a few extra bucks is by selling your used goods. You can sell items you’re no longer using on a local buy-and-sell group or on Facebook Marketplace. Level up by finding great thrift items and reselling them on a vintage marketplace. This is a fun side hustle idea if you have a great eye for décor or fashion.
If you have a knack for selling vintage clothing online, why not open an online store?
15. Advise eco-friendly businesses
Support businesses and individuals as they strive to become more environmentally friendly with a green business consulting firm, which helps balance profits with pollution reduction.
Build up your green credentials by volunteering your skills to local businesses and charities.
How to Start a Side Hustle While Working Full-time
Although side hustles are a great way to supplement your income, they need initial work to gain traction, just like any other new business. When juggling a full-time job, it can be easy for extra work to get pushed to the bottom of your to-do list and finally forgotten if you don’t find a concept that works for your lifestyle.
Side projects that interfere with your employment or take over your social life are unlikely to succeed. To increase your chances of sticking with your side gig, pay attention to these ideas.
Respect your schedule
Explore side hustles that naturally fit into your available time slots. For instance, if you find that you have chunks of free time in the evenings, a side hustle that can be done entirely online, like freelance writing or graphic design, might be ideal.
Look for under-utilized times in your day—maybe you can work on your side hustle during a lunch break or while commuting via public transit.
Map out a realistic plan
Once you’ve chosen a side hustle, outline what you need to get started. This might include setting up a workspace, purchasing equipment, or networking for clients.
Set specific, achievable goals
Having measurable goals for your side hustle will help you stay on track and motivated. Instead of vague ambitions, set specific targets like gaining a specific number of clients or creating a certain amount of content within a quarter.
Automate and delegate
Whether it’s an AI assistant, an SEO tool, or freelance support, look for automated solutions to make managing your side hustle easier. The goal is to reduce the time you spend on administrative or repetitive tasks, leaving more time for the actual work.
Aim to level up (or not)
Sometimes, it helps to decide early on whether you want to keep your side hustle as just that, or if you eventually want to turn it into a full-time business. This decision will influence how much time and effort you invest and guide your strategic planning.
Bottom line
As long as your company doesn’t have strict policies against side hustles or part-time jobs, you’re free to start a business or take a side gig to earn extra income. Freelancers and creators should be extra cautious when choosing clients and partnerships to avoid conflict of interest if their main employers.
Most of the side hustle ideas on this list have the potential to be profitable and can even become your primary source of income. Be patient and disciplined, and you’ll get there!
