Making money during your free time is a great way to pay off debt, build up your savings account, and earn more disposable income. There are many types of side hustles. You can do some of these remotely from home. Other side hustles will require you to travel around your city. It’s important to identify a side hustle that works for your lifestyle, interests, and schedule.
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How to find the best side hustle jobs for you
Get very clear on what you want to get out of your side hustle. Do you want to test out a business idea? Do you want to work in an industry where you don’t have much experience yet and want a learning opportunity? Getting intentional about why you’re doing the side hustle will help you identify the best fit for you. Read on to find side hustle ideas that may pique your interest.
Our top 31 side hustles ideas
1. Start an ecommerce store.
Selling online can be a serious money-maker, whether you're selling handmade items or dropshipping. Shopify can help you get your ecommerce side hustle up and running with minimal hassle.
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Basic: $29/month (25% discount; billed annually)
Welcome offer
Free trial; $1 for your first month
Features
- Shopify will help you start, sell, market and manage your business
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2. Deliver groceries
Instacart, Shipt, and Burpy are all examples of grocery delivery services. Delivery companies usually allow you to choose whether you take an order. Most also have the option for customer tips, which could increase your earnings.
3. Answer online surveys
According to ZipRecruiter, “As of March 19, 2024, the average hourly pay for an Online Survey Taker in the United States is $31.06 an hour.” There are many survey sites that pay you. Do some research to find the best one for you and start taking surveys. Swagbucks for example, reports that most legit sites pay $0.25 to $5 for surveys. It notes, “On Swagbucks, you can find surveys paying up to $20 or more, depending on how detailed the survey is or the needs of the market research firm,” and that some in-home surveys can pay $100 or more. Swagbucks survey work earns you its SB currency, redeemable for cashouts via Paypal or e-Giftcards. Be wary of scam sites that ask for personal information such as your bank account or Social Security number. Check out the site on TrustPilot or with the Better Business Bureau before you sign up.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Average payout | $0.40 – $2 | $1 – $3 | $0.50 – $5.00 |
| Payment method | Paypal or gift cards | Paypal, eGift cards, or bank transfer | Paypal Cash, Amazon gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, and more |
| Minimum to cash out | $3 for gift cards; $25 for PayPal | $5 (500 points) | $30 |
| Promotion | $10 | N/A | $5 |
| View Offer | View Offer | View Offer |
4. Deliver food
Make money during your free time by delivering food. Doordash, Uber Eats, Mealeo, and GrubHub are all great examples of food delivery services for which you could work.
RELATED: Best Money Making Apps
5. Start a blog
If you’re prepared to invest time until it starts making money, start a blog. Don’t be fooled by the quick-cash fantasy, though. Making money online from a blog takes time and effort, and you will need to think of ways to monetize your blog. However, if this sounds exciting, then follow that nudge. Consider using Squarespace (use TIME10 promo code and get 10% off) to create your blog, as it offers a user-friendly interface and built-in tools for optimization and analytics.
6. Make coffee
Have you always dreamed of being a barista? Start applying for jobs at your local coffee shops. If you don’t have professional experience as a barista, don’t be disheartened and keep applying until you get a job offer.
7. Tutor online
Remote learning is a thing now. So, offer your tutoring services to your contacts and on your social media. You can also sign up as a tutor on tutoring platforms that will connect with folks looking for tutors.
8. Style hair
Are you naturally talented with hair? Offer your services for weddings, proms, and other events. Do some research to see if you are ready to attend cosmetology or a professional training program to become a hairdresser.
9. Become a makeup artist
Makeup artistry is not only in demand for special events, like weddings and children’s parties. Makeup artists are also hired for theater, television, film, fashion, magazines, and recreational photoshoots.
10. Rent out your car
List your car on car sharing marketplaces and rent it (make sure to understand how to price your rental). If you have a car that you don’t use, or if you won’t use your car over a period of days, you can monetize that under-used capital! But be sure that you don’t rent it when you need it to get to your day job (unless your day job pays less than renting out the car!). Finally, don't forget to ensure your car before renting it to protect yourself and your vehicle in case of any unforeseen incidents.
RELATED: Best Car Insurance Companies
11. Rent out a room or storage space
Do you have an extra room or even storage space in your garage? You can rent these! If you’re going to rent a room, you can rent it on a platform that caters to weekend travelers or those on vacation. If you want to rent long term, you can rent a room to a traveling nurse or someone who will be in the area for several months.
If you're considering renting out your home, don't forget to check with your home insurance provider what coverage you have for renting you home. Additionally, it's wise to explore home warranty options, like Choice Home Warranty, to save on repair costs and provide added peace of mind to both you and your tenants.
12. Rent your house to vacationers
Especially if you live in an area that attracts tourists, renting out your home to vacationers can be profitable. Have you always dreamed of going on an RV trip? Well, rent out your home during a popular month and take the family on the RV while you get that extra cash in the bank! (Tip: Don't forget to get renters insurance)
13. Rent your RV
Has your RV been sitting idle for months? This might be the perfect time to rent your RV, especially as we get closer to the summer months and people want to travel. You can rent your RV privately or you can list your RV on a renting website. You can also rent your RV on AirBnb and host overnight guests in your backyard.
14. Buy and resell stuff
If you have an eye for items that are hot commodities, then buying and reselling things could be for you. Be careful to not buy things that will not resell, otherwise you will be stuck with a bunch of stuff. But if you love garage sale hunting, you may be able to turn your hobby into a side hustle.
15. Handyman work around your neighborhood
You will be surprised by how many people might need your handyman services. Get the word out that you’re able to work and build up your clientele!
16. Babysitting
Does the idea of spending time caring for babies and children sound give you warm fuzzies? If so, babysitting might be for you. Before your first babysitting job, research what makes a good babysitter and start learning.
17. Dog sitting
If you love dogs, spending time with furry friends and making money is a fantastic idea. There are multiple ways to find clients. You can advertise your services in local dog owner social media groups. You can also sign up for a dog sitting platform, such as Rover or Wag. And if you get a dog sitter certification, your profile will stand out.
18. Dog walking
Get some extra steps in with local paw-friends! While dog owners are at work or away on vacation, you can take one or many dogs out for a walk and get paid for it. However, it's important to ensure that the owners have adequately insured their pets in case of unexpected accidents during your care, so you can earn your extra cash with peace of mind.
19. Work odd jobs on Taskrabbit
Home repairs, heavy lifting, and spring cleaning fall under odd jobs on Taskrabbit. Start your profile and get tasking!
20. Start a YouTube channel
Gathering a following does not happen overnight. However, if you’re willing to invest time into building your following, then you could start making money online with a YouTube channel. You can create your Youtube channel and monetize it by advertising or charging a channel membership.
21. Provide photography services
What kind of pictures do you enjoy taking? There are a myriad types of photographers, including pet, real estate, concert, wedding, and event photographers.
22. Wash cars
Get the word out that you are washing cars. Buy your own or use your clients’ supplies and get washing.
23. Power wash houses
You can use your own pressure washer or invest in one. If investing in one is outside of your budget right now, you can rent a power washer from stores, including The Home Depot. Power washing will remove mildew from sidings and will restore your clients’ home appeal.
24. Mow lawns or do yard work
A few hours mowing lawns can make you some cash. According to ZipRecruiter, as of Feb 10, 2023, the average hourly pay to mow lawns is $15. However, do some research to find how much a lawn mower in your area makes. In some areas, lawn mowers make more than the national average.
25. Deliver packages with Amazon Flex
Grab your car and deliver packages for Amazon.
26. Sell baked good followed
Search the term “cottage food laws” for your state to find your state’s food selling laws. For example, according to the government of Connecticut’s state website, “As a low-risk product, Cottage Food can be prepared in a home environment without some of the controls used for a traditional ready-to-eat food such as those foods sold in a restaurant or grocery store.” If your state allows it, turn your baking passion into a side hustle and sell tartlets, cookies, scones and more. Offer them on online websites, and you could even sell to local restaurants.
27. Referee sports
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Part-time, seasonal work is common for umpires, referees, and other sports officials.” According to the BLS, employment of referees is projected to grow 32 percent from 2021 to 2031. As a referee, your schedule will change depending on game days and you will often work irregular hours that include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
28. Offer freelance services on Fiverr
Fiverr is a global online marketplace that connects freelancers to businesses. Freelancers offer services, including graphic design, digital marketing, writing & translation, video and animation. There similar platforms are Upwork and Toptal.
29. Lifeguard
Whether it’s a pool, a pond, a lake, or the ocean, lifeguards are very much in demand. Get your lifeguard training and certification before the summer starts so you are ready for lifeguard season. Lifeguarding is a year-round job at indoor pools in gyms, YMCAs, and training complexes.
30. Sell food from a food truck
Research what it takes to run a food truck and what you will need. Here are some things to keep in mind when planning to open a food truck: the food, the type of truck, refrigeration, and the license required by law. In New York State, for example, you will need a Mobile Food Vending License to operate. Once you’re ready, start selling.
31. Clean houses
Whether it’s with your own equipment or your client’s equipment and cleaning supplies, offer your services as a house cleaner. Charge per hour or charge per day. Remember, for larger houses, you will want to increase your fees.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where can I find customers for my side hustle?
Long gone are the days when posting flyers in coffee shops was the savviest way to promote a side hustle, though don’t underestimate that old-fashioned tactic. What’s more useful, though, is joining an online service marketplace that will connect you with people looking for your unique services.
Bark.com, for instance, helps side hustlers find customers (and vice-versa). You could call this a matchmaking service that has over 1,500 unique categories, including house cleaning, life coaching, web design, web development, social media marketing, bookkeeping services, contracting, gardening, and office cleaning.
Other websites include Angi (for home projects), Fiverr (for creative and professional services), and TaskRabbit (for an array of errands). Using Bark.com and these types of websites will allow you to find customers who are looking for your exact offer and skillset.
How much money can you make with side jobs?
The amount of money you can make with a side hustle can vary widely, but the sky's the limit. If you are paid hourly, then you will make however much time you dedicate to your side hustle. For example, if you get paid $20 an hour and you are able to dedicate five hours every Saturday and Sunday, approximately 40 hours per month, you will be able to make about $800 extra. If your side hustle is paid by the project, and you can tackle one project for $2,000 a month, then you will make $2,000 per month. Remember that your pricing can always increase as you get more experienced.
What skills do I need to start a side hustle?
The skill that you’ll need for a side hustle will depend on what kind of job you want. Start by asking yourself what you are naturally good at. Then ask yourself how you could apply that talent to a side hustle. You are gifted and talented. Each one of us has a different talent, though, so identify yours and then find the side hustle in which you will thrive.
Do I need to report my side hustle earnings on my taxes?
Yes, your side hustle income is taxable. Are you an independent contractor or an employee? Check the IRS website to determine which category you fall into and what type of tax forms you will need to fill out. Because taxes on your side hustle can get complicated quickly, you may need a tool like Found financial platform that is designed to help freelancers and independent contractors manage their taxes. Found automatically sets aside a percentage of your income for taxes, so that you can stay on top of your tax obligations and avoid any last-minute scrambling at tax season.
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