Looking for a fun and flexible way to make money in your spare time? Looks like you need a side hustle. Side gigs are the perfect way to earn extra money, especially because they don’t require a full-time commitment.
In an era where everything is available both offline and online, all you have to do is tap into your unique skills to make some extra cash. Whether you’re interested in working at home or on-the-go, there’s a ton of side hustle ideas that can help people make money online.
We’ve outlined the top 30 ideas for your next great side hustle. Find the one that fits your skill set, and start growing in the gig economy today!
Table of Contents
- Earn Through Skype
- Be a Survey Taker
- Create Tutorials on YouTube
- Build Websites
- Write Resumes
- Consider a Part-Time Job
- Open a Food Truck
- Make an Audio Book
- Build a Sales Funnel
- Be a Personal Shopper
- Be a Personal Chef
- Join Upwork
- Create an App
- Sell on CafePress
- Be a Teacher’s Assistant
- Do Mobile Pet Grooming
- Be a Field Agent
- Flip Books
- Provide Music Lessons
- Consider Email Marketing
- Rent out Your Garage
- Start a GoFundMe Page
- Start a Pool Cleaning Business
- Make Alterations
- Do Interior Design
- Invest on LendingClub
- Do Private Labeling
- Repair Electronics
- Detail Cars
- Be a Coach
1. Earn Through Skype
Skype has been around for a while, and it’s not just a great way to connect with friends and family across the world. You can use Skype as a source of income, through online tutoring, consulting, mentoring, and more! They even have integrations for content creators and broadcasters.
2. Be a Survey Taker
Your opinions matter and they can make a huge difference in the world around you. Consider becoming a member of Survey Junkie, where your voice can be represented and shared with big brands. What makes this one of the best side hustles is the fact that you can impact the products you use every day — in virtually every industry — and get rewarded for your contributions.
On top of the traditional survey-taking experience, you can join online focus groups and share your thoughts on a brand or product. Plus, you can opt into SJ Pulse where you’ll earn passive income just by sharing your digital activities with Survey Junkie.
At Survey Junkie, you have control over what you share, how much you share, and how you share it. We respect your privacy and always keep your information secure. Learn more about how it works and the impact you can create.
3. Create Tutorials on YouTube
Do you have a unique talent you’d like to showcase to others? Create a YouTube channel and share tutorials with the hobbies you enjoy doing most! Whether you’re making DIY crafts or sharing life hacks, YouTube is a great platform to generate awareness and build your brand. As your subscribers grow, so will your opportunity to monetize with every video through ads and sponsorships! If your brand gains a large following, you can even consider turning this into a full-time job if you really want to.
4. Build Websites
If you’re more of a left-brained person, then you should consider tapping into your technical side a bit more. Tons of businesses are looking to build a website or update their current one, but they may not have the talent or capacity to do it in-house. Look online for listings and offer your web design services. Depending on the size and complexity of the project, you can set a higher price for consideration.
5. Write Resumes
Job hunting can be a daunting task, and chances are, you’ve gone through several rounds of edits on your own resume. If you’re comfortable with resume building and consider yourself a pro, you can make extra money writing and editing resumes for other students or aspiring professionals. Post your services at libraries or on job boards online to spread the word.
6. Consider a Part-Time Job
If you’re busy with school or other obligations, a part-time job might be the right fit for you. There’s a ton of part-time openings available, especially in the food and retail industries. Set alerts for part-time jobs on your favorite job boards to stay in-the-know when new listings are posted.
7. Open a Food Truck
Do you have a killer recipe you think others would love? Have you ever wanted to open your own restaurant? A food truck is the next best thing, because you don’t have to pay rent for a physical space. A one-time truck cost plus permits and ingredients is all it takes. Of course, this would require time and effort to build, but the extra income can be quite satisfying. Consider getting a friend to partner with you so you can split the costs and watch the profits roll in.
8. Make an Audio Book
Platforms like ACX make it easy for you to create audio books, which you can later sell on Audible or iTunes. Whether you’re a subject-matter expert or came up with an exciting story, you can make a profit sharing your knowledge and insight with others.
9. Build a Sales Funnel
This one requires a lot more marketing and technical knowledge, but if that’s something you have, then you’re in luck! Companies need to build sales funnels, to increase sales and better understand their customers. Oftentimes, they might not have one properly built out, or even anything at all! That’s where you come in. With ClickFunnels, you can build sales funnels for companies on the hunt for them — and you can charge quite a bit for it too.
10. Be a Personal Shopper
If you enjoy shopping, then why not make some money shopping for others? These opportunities are usually more readily available in wealthy communities, where people have extra disposable income. Search for personal shopper opportunities on sites like ThumbTack to get started.
11. Be a Personal Chef
This side hustle is one that’s both fun and comes with a decent reward. If cooking is second nature to you, then you can make a ton of money as a personal chef. Market yourself on social media using professional photos of dishes you’ve created. If you have a specialty, be sure to point that out as well. List your services online to expand your reach.
12. Join Upwork
Upwork is where you can earn extra money with a variety of freelancing jobs. Examples include proofreading, editing, graphic design, and freelance writing. In fact, it’s the perfect spot for freelancers to get matched with small businesses, startups, or large corporations who need help. Depending on the job, you might get paid a fixed amount or an hourly rate. Another option is to search for freelancing jobs on Fiverr.
13. Create an App
Do you know how to code? Do you have a business idea? Consider making a smartphone app for Android or iOS devices. While this may take time to build and perfect, if you have a great idea, it can really pay off in the long-term. Once you feel ready, you can partner with local business owners and build apps to support their offerings.
14. Sell on CafePress
Are you an artist? Do you enjoy graphic design? You can make money selling your designs on CafePress. This site makes it super easy to replicate your design on different products and make a commission when they sell. Spread awareness on your social profiles and you can generate some nice money on the side. If you want to expand beyond CafePress, consider creating a store on Etsy or other ecommerce sites as well!
15. Be a Teacher’s Assistant
College professors are always looking for help grading, proctoring, and even tutoring. As a college student, you can make money as a teacher’s assistant. This role usually involves administrative tasks, but is typically flexible when it comes to scheduling (unlike your typical day job). Look up positions on your college site or ask your favorite professor to see what’s available.
16. Do Mobile Pet Grooming
If you have a dog, then you’ve probably visited the groomers before. Lots of pet owners make it a regular part of their routine and are willing to pay top dollar for good service. Starting a mobile pet grooming business might not be a bad idea, especially if you enjoy working with animals and have some experience. You will need to get the right permits, equipment, and a vehicle, of course, but once you score some regular clients, you can roll in some serious cash.
17. Be a Field Agent
Field Agent is an app where you can get paid to do small tasks in your area. What kind of assignments can you encounter? You may be asked to take a picture inside a store and upload it through the app, for example. Tasks are relatively simple and pay a few dollars for each. Check it out!
18. Flip Books
Some books are worth a lot more money than you might think. How can you find out? The Bookscouter app is where you can scan barcodes to see how much old books are worth. Scan the books you have at home or the ones you see at garage sales — you might be able to make a decent side hustle off them!
19. Provide Music Lessons
If you know how to play an instrument, then consider becoming a music teacher on the side. Offering private lessons in your home or virtually, you can make a steady income with weekly appointments. Spread the word through social media or even at local farmers markets and with flyers in your community.
20. Consider Email Marketing
This one is for those who have a love for sales and marketing, and want to get practical experience they can use in their careers. Email marketing isn’t always easy and requires some knowledge into relationship building, but it’s something that most businesses need. If you learn the tricks of the trade, you can offer your email marketing expertise to businesses and get your foot in the door.
21. Rent out Your Garage
Do you have an empty garage or an extra storage space that’s going unused? List it on Neighbor and get paid to fill it up. The Neighbor is where people in your local community can search for secure storage and pay a monthly fee for using it. A mini self-storage operation like this could help you bring in some serious cash.
22. Start a GoFundMe Page
GoFundMe is where you can set up a personal page to raise funds for yourself. People from all over the world can choose to donate, so it’s important to write a compelling story, explaining why you’re raising funds. Spread the word through social media and send your page to family and friends too!
23. Start a Pool Cleaning Business
You can make a pretty nice side hustle with a pool cleaning business in your area. Research prices for pool equipment, like chlorine and nets, to better understand your costs. Set a reasonable price for weekly services and tell your neighbors. If you’re willing to travel, you can expand your services to surrounding neighborhoods and book customers back-to-back to maximize your earnings.
24. Make Alterations
If you know how to use a sewing machine, then you can make extra money by altering clothes. Look into the rates currently being offered at stores near you and see if you can beat their price.
25. Do Interior Design
Got an eye for design? Start an interior design business where you can make money decorating homes in your community. Consider reaching out to real estate companies and offering staging services for open houses.
26. Invest on LendingClub
LendingClub is a peer-to-peer lending service you can invest with. With tons of different businesses in a variety of industries available on their platform, you can pick and choose what you invest in. It also includes risk levels for each, so you can understand the level of variation — and potential reward — you may face.
27. Do Private Labeling
If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, you can start your own side hustle with private labeling. This requires identifying products that are hot and selling fast, and bringing your own to compete with them. You will have to do some negotiating with suppliers overseas and coordinate all the logistics, so getting a partner to help might be wise.
28. Repair Electronics
Essentially every household owns at least one smartphone, computer, or TV and oftentimes these products need repair. If you have knowledge in electronics, you can earn by repairing them! Focus on a single category, like laptops, or a specific brand to differentiate yourself from the rest.
29. Detail Cars
Washing cars can be fun, and detailing them can be even better, because people are willing to pay a lot more for thorough cleaning. Purchase the cleaning supplies you’ll need and make flyers to distribute in your neighborhood. Try reaching out to local auto repair shops and see if you can advertise your services there.
30. Be a Coach
Do you know how to play a sport? Make extra side money by being a coach for children in your community. While this may take some time out of your weeknights or weekends, you can set your own availability, so it fits best within your schedule.
What’s Next?
Not sure where to start? Start going down the list and choose three side hustles that align best with your interests. Narrow down your decision even more by choosing the setting you prefer and start raising awareness for your services through social media. What are you waiting for? The sooner you start, the sooner you can earn!
