Searching for ways to make some extra cash? Side hustles are a great option whether you want to pay off debt, save more money, or earn some spare spending change. With so many potential side gigs out there, how do you know which are the best and most likely to put money in your pocket? Check out this list of 27 awesome side hustle ideas that can actually make you money.
1. Pet Sitting/Dog Walking
If you love animals and live in an area where pet care is in demand, pet sitting or dog walking can be rewarding side jobs. As a dog walker, you can make $15 to $20 per 30-minute walk, while pet sitting usually runs about $25 to $45 per day. Create a profile on sites like Rover or Care to get started. With some experience and glowing reviews, you can quickly build up your client base through word of mouth referrals.
2. Rent Out Unused Space
Got extra space you aren’t using, like a spare room or parking space? Why not earn some cash by renting it out on Airbnb, VRBO, or a similar vacation rental site. Depending on location, amenities, and local tourism interest, homeowners typically earn $100+ per night renting an extra bedroom. If you live in or near a major metro area, you may also be able to rent out parking spaces, often at rates of $100 to $200 per month.
3. Sell Handmade Crafts Online
Tap into your creative side with a handmade crafts Etsy shop. Top selling items on Etsy include homemade soaps, candles, jewelry, knitted scarves, and unique home décor items. Building an audience takes time and consistent new product listings, but successful Etsy sellers can earn thousands per month over time. Best of all, your inventory costs are fairly low since you’re sourcing raw materials.
4. Proofreading/Editing
Leverage strong writing skills as a proofreader or editor. This flexible remote work side hustle pays anywhere from $20 to $50 per hour. Companies frequently hire freelancers to proofread ebooks, blog posts, and other website content. Building a client base starts with creating an online portfolio showcasing your experience and reviews. List your services on sites like Upwork and FlexJobs to land your first gigs.
5. Transcribe Audio Files
If you’re a quick and accurate typist, transcribing audio files is a fruitful freelance opportunity. Transcription services abound for legal interviews/hearings, college lectures, and business conferences. General transcription may pay around $10 to $20 per audio hour, while more technical medical or legal transcripts can run $40 or more hourly. Check sites like Rev and GoTranscript to find work.
6. Tutoring Online
Share your academic expertise with students around the world through online tutoring platforms. Subjects like math, sciences, languages, music, and test prep tend to see high demand. Many online tutors charge $20 to $50 per hour or more. Signing up for sites like Varsity Tutors, Chegg Tutors, and Wyzant Tutors lets you set your own hours and rates. Build up your reviews to increase requests over time.
7. Sell Your Photos Online
Got a DSLR camera and a good eye for photography? LICENSE your photos on stock image websites. Whenever one of your images sells, you’ll earn royalty fees. At Shutterstock, photographers earn $0.25 to $0.80 per image download. Contributing quality, unique images that fill specific needs helps increase long-term passive income. As your portfolio grows, your earning potential expands as well through regular royalty payouts.
8. Rent Your Car Out
Apps like Turo and GetAround let car owners safely rent out their vehicles when not in use. As long as you qualify and have an eligible car that’s in good shape, it’s fairly simple money. Owners typically earn $500 to $800 per month renting out newer models. Luxury and specialty vehicles can bring in even more. Be sure to check what insurance coverage is provided to avoid surprises.
9. Article/Blog Writing
From small business blogs to major online media outlets, blogs and websites rely on strong content to engage readers. As an independent contractor, you can earn $100 to $500 or more writing blog posts and articles relevant to a site’s niche. While building a client roster takes consistency and solid writing samples, article writing offers immense income scalability over time.
10. Voiceover Work
Leverage a smooth radio-ready voice through freelance voice over gigs. This fun side hustle pays $35 to $125 per audio hour. Voice over artists record ads, audiobook snippets, web explainer videos, and more. Check freelance sites like Fiverr and Upwork to offer your services. Building home recording capacity keeps more income in your pocket but isn’t necessarily essential to get started.
11. Graphic Design
Skilled graphic designers earn excellent income helping small businesses and entrepreneurs polish their branding. From logos to marketing materials to social media graphics, demand is high. Freelance graphic design is scalable too – charge per project or by the hour, with rates ranging from $15 to $100+ depending on experience. Build a robust online portfolio to showcase work samples for potential clients.
12. Resume Writing
With corporate downsizing pushing more professionals back into the job market, resume writing services remain in high demand. As a freelance resume writer, you can easily charge $100 to $400 per document. Join professional associations like the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC) to access training, continuing education, and job listings to start this side business.
13. Garage/Yard Sale Flipping
Frequent weekend garage and yard sales to find valuable collectibles, vintage wares, and cheap furniture to resell for profit. This takes patience and an eye for spotting hidden gems among used items, but can pay off big. eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and apps like OfferUp are the best outlets for reselling items, often for many multiples of what you originally paid.
14. Peer-to-Peer Payment Apps
Referring friends to peer payment apps nets you bonus cash. For PayPal, earn $5 for each friend who signs up and links a bank account. Cash App provides $5 each for your first 100 referrals who send $5 or more. Venmo offers $10 for each approved referral. While amounts start small, they can add up substantially over time as your networks expand, with very minimal effort on your part.
15. Mystery Shopping
If you love to shop and also evaluate your experience with brands, mystery shopping is a neat gig. Companies in retail, restaurant, hospitality, entertainment, and other industries hire freelance mystery shoppers. Assignments involve browsing local stores, purchase interactions, food service experience evaluation, and writing detailed reports. Compensation averages $8 to $20 per assignment plus reimbursement for purchases.
16. Rent/Sell Unused Formalwear
Got lightly worn formal attire hanging in your closet unworn since events pre-pandemic? Rent out your dresses, accessories, suits, or tuxedos to earn spare cash. On peer app Wardrobe, owners earn 65% commission on rental fees, extra for dry cleaning, and fines for late returns. Consider consigning unused items locally or use sites like Still White and Nearly Newlywed to sell rather than let costly gowns keep gathering dust.
17. Virtual Assistant Services
Offer administrative or technical assistance remotely as a virtual assistant. This flexible role suits those comfortable using online tools for client communications, data entry, email management, research, bookkeeping, and task organization. Virtual assistants typically earn $15 to $50 hourly depending on scope. List your services with specialized firms like Belay or Boldly – building 5-star reviews helps attract direct inquiries.
18. Website Testing/User Research
Earn quick cash providing feedback to help tech companies and developers refine digital tools, apps, platforms, and websites before launch. Testing compensation runs $5 to $10 for around 10 to 20 minutes per test. User Interviews, Validately, and Userlytics connect testers with various short remote testing opportunities. Signing up is fast – simply create your screener profile and confirm email for assignments.
19. Meal Prep/Healthy Eating Plans
Offer personalized healthy meal plans or ready-to-heat meals to time-strapped, health-focused clients. As an independent personal chef/nutrition coach, create customized menus, grocery lists, recipes based on taste preferences and dietary needs. Charge clients for ingredients costs plus cook time. Deliver fresh or frozen prepared servings. Target promotions via local gyms, health food stores, supplement shops, and holistic centers.
20. Wedding Service Gigs
The global wedding industry is worth over $300 billion. Tap into this major event category through side gigs like wedding DJ services, customized couple hashtags, photo booth rentals, makeup artistry, homemade cake baking, floral arrangements, or wedding rentals. Target promotions to local event venues, planners, and bridal expos to gain visibility. Offer discounts to venues who refer you repeat wedding clients.
21. Local Tour Guide
Got an inside scoop on cool things to in your city? Why not leverage specialized local knowledge into side income as a tour guide? Do an online search for your metro area plus “walking tours” or “food tours” to uncover untapped opportunities for niche local guiding gigs. Reach out to existing tour companies about freelance work. Or create your own specialty tour experience through sites like Airbnb Experiences and Vayable.
22. Rideshare Driving
Driving for Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing platforms provides flexible income, often surging highest when locals most need rides – think weekend nights, sporting events, concerts, festivals, and airports. While fares and schedules vary based on your metro region, drivers typically pocket around $15 to $25+ per hour after gas and other expenses. Apps make getting started fast and simple in most areas.
23. Consulting / Freelance Services
Whatever professional skills and expertise you have can translate into lucrative side income as an independent consultant or freelancer. Sites like Upwork, Fiverr and FlexJobs provide access to remote consulting gigs in niches from marketing to HR, project management, writing/editing, design, finance and more. Freelance consultants often earn $50 to $150 per hour or more over time by specializing in high demand, high value services.
24. Online Language Translation
Offer your linguistic skills by providing online language translation services. In a globally connected world, businesses and individuals often seek proficient translators to bridge language gaps, facilitating effective communication across borders.
25. Social Media Management
Harness the power of social media by offering management services to businesses and influencers. With the increasing importance of a strong online presence, your expertise in content creation, scheduling, and engagement can help clients optimize their social media platforms for success.
26. Fitness Coaching/Online Workouts
Tap into the growing demand for health and wellness services by offering online fitness coaching or workout programs. As people prioritize their well-being, personalized virtual fitness sessions can cater to a broad audience, helping them achieve their health goals from the comfort of their homes.
27. Rent Out Equipment (e.g., Cameras, Tools)
Monetize your unused equipment by renting it out to individuals or businesses in need. From cameras to specialized tools, your underutilized assets can become a source of income, providing value to others while maximizing the utility of your possessions.
Conclusion
When it comes to earning extra money, opportunities abound through intriguing side hustles that tap into your existing skills and interests. From renting out unused spaces in your home to leveraging professional or creative talents remotely, the options highlighted in this article illustrate the diversity of money-making potential. Figuring out which ideas align best with your lifestyle, experience, and location unlocks a pathway to pursue side income specific to your needs and goals.
FAQs
What are the easiest side hustles to start?
Some of the easiest side hustles requiring minimal upfront effort include pet sitting/dog walking, participating in the peer-to-peer payment app referrals, mystery shopping assignments, taking online surveys/website tests, and rideshare driving since apps handle much of the setup/admin工作.
Which side hustles bring in the most money?
Tutoring, freelance writing, graphic design, virtual assistance, consulting, and handmade Etsy shops boast strong income potential over $1,000+ monthly, but take patience and effort to build steady client rosters. Once established however, they offer immense scalability.
Do I need special skills for lucrative side hustles?
While some technical skills like web development, coding or specialized creative talents in photography/design prove advantageous, many profitable side hustles leverage skills you likely already have driving, writing, tutoring expertise, sales abilities etc. Beginner-friendly options abound in the sharing economy too like Airbnb hosting.
How much time do side hustles take?
Beauty of side hustles is tailoring opportunities around your existing schedule, interests and capacity. Some like mystery shopping or market research gigs involve very limited time investment for quick cash, while others like building an Etsy shop or freelance writing require consistency to grow over time. Find the right balance for your lifestyle.
Where can I find more unique side hustle ideas?
Subreddits like r/sidehustle and r/sideincome feature endless creative conversations about unique money-making ventures in niche spaces worth exploring if you want to brainstorm more options. Surf small business sites and blogs as well related to your background and passions for further concepts.
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