Side jobs are a terrific option to increase your income whether you want to save more money, pay more toward your student debts, or simply give your budget some breathing room (thanks, inflation).
You might use this list as motivation for the kind of side business you might start in order to advance more quickly toward your current financial objective. Some are fast ways to get extra money, while others take more effort and preparation. But the secret to succeeding with any side business is to concentrate on your unique skills and make use of them.
So, select one (or more) of these side business concepts, and get to work!
27 Ideas for Side Jobs
1. Chauffeur for Uber or Lyft.
Check out Lyft or Uber if you enjoy driving, people, and working whenever you want. Both provide flexible scheduling, higher income during busy times, and insurance coverage for when you’re working.
2. Food delivery.
Consider delivering through Grubhub, DoorDash, or Uber Eats for a driving side employment with less face-to-face interaction. Everyone needs to eat, and many would prefer to pay to have their meal delivered. Share the love of food with others while earning extra money.
3. Bring in groceries.
Take a look at Instacart or Shipt if you enjoy both driving and shopping. Through these on-demand services, you’ll get compensated for grocery shopping and delivery to customers. Furthermore, Shipt asserts that working for them might earn you up to $22 per hour. 1 Please, yes!
4. Become a photographer.
Everyone who owns a smartphone tends to believe themselves to be a skilled photographer. However, if you have genuine photographic talent, utilise it to your advantage to earn money!
People require images all year long, but you should consider seasonal marketing: senior portraits in the summer or early fall, family shots for Christmas cards, Easter photos in the spring, etc.
Now, don’t anticipate to start out making the same as the professionals while you’re investigating online to figure out how to set your pricing. Offer reduced (but not too low) fees to begin with in order to develop your abilities and clientele. If you need some pictures for your website, you might simply ask some pals to pose for you.
5. Online tutoring.
You didn’t receive a top-of-the-class diploma, did you? No issue! To instruct others, you don’t need to be an expert. Look into online tuition with Tutor.com, TutorMe, or Studypool if you have a solid grasp of a particular subject and strong communication skills. Additionally, the salary isn’t too bad. According to TutorMe, you can make at least $16 per hour. 2
Take cautious as you browse the listings. Some individuals simply join in the hopes that someone will do their homework or write their essays for them. But for others to succeed, they need sincere assistance. Offering that assistance right away will benefit both your life and your bank account greatly.
6. Work as a transcriber.
This may be the job for you if you have good typing, listening, and attention to detail skills. A professional typer who listens to recorded or live audio data and types up written copies of them is known as a transcriptionist. They are crucial in the legal and medical fields, but they are also necessary in other parts of business.
Depending on your skill level and speed, you can earn anywhere from $20 to $45 per hour, but you must be taught and certified.
3 After receiving your certification, you can find employment on Rev.
7. Participate in focus groups or surveys.
Do you wish to get compensated for your opinion? A good method to earn some extra money. You can take surveys on websites like MyPoints.com or Survey Junkie, or you can participate in focus groups (try Focus Group).
Just keep in mind that these websites pick persons based on very particular criteria. So, not every surveys that you view will be appropriate for you. It’s not a quick choice, and you might need to complete a lot of surveys before you can cash out, but it is a simple method to earn a little additional money.
8. Teach English.
Don’t be put off by the word “teach” here. Go on reading. When you hire a business like VIPKid, they take care of the lesson planning and grading for you.
To teach a class online, all you need is the willingness to aid learning in others. Once more, it’s a fantastic method to earn compensated for doing good!
9. Rent your home or spare room on Airbnb.
Consider renting out your extra bedroom or garage apartment on Airbnb. Consider the scenario when you decide to allow two visitors use your guest room and bathroom. You may make more than $1,600 per month if you live in the Nashville region. 4 That’s a really good passive income source!
But what about the dangers of letting guests into your home? Hey, it is a valid concern. But Airbnb provides up to $1 million in coverage for host damage to your house. 5 Additionally, they provide host liability insurance in case a visitor is injured while on your premises.
Despite not screening every visitor, Airbnb does allow owners and guests to leave ratings for one another. As a result, you’ll be more comfortable bringing others inside your home.
10. Recycled goods can be sold.
This alternative is another one for those who enjoy shopping and are aware of the market value of items, although it does require some cash up front. The basic concept is to purchase low and sell high.
Look for bargains at your neighbourhood flea markets, garage sales, and thrift shops. Find out what’s popular and how much everything is selling for online by doing some research. A priceless antique object can be hiding in plain sight. Is there anything you could repair and sell for more money?
Reselling on websites like Facebook Marketplace, Amazon, eBay, Poshmark, Thredup and GameStop, to mention a few, is the simplest option. However, don’t incur debt because of this. You only fall behind by 10 steps if you borrow money. Additionally, you don’t want to end up with a basement full of items that you still owe money on but are unable to sell. Pay for everything in cash and take it one item at a time. Since money is king!
11. Get paid for your creative talents
If you are creative, there is a need for you. Websites like Fiverr, Upwork, or 99designs match clients in need of such creative minds with freelancers who specialise in writing, editing, graphic design, and voice-over work.
Create a profile (similar to an online resume) so potential employers can look up your experience, rates, and specialties, and you’re ready to go. Then you can earn that additional cash while lounging at home!
12. Become a personal chef.
We’re not talking about cooking several courses a day while residing in a stranger’s kitchen. What if you could make more money this week just by tripling or double the recipes you’re already cooking for your family? This might be a great side business for you if you enjoy the idea of preparing additional meals, packing them, and delivering them.
Don’t take on more clients than your kitchen and spare time can handle, and let people know at work, church, and your children’s school that you do this. But doing what you already do (meal planning and preparation) on a much larger scale can be a terrific way to earn money.
13. Babysit.
Perhaps you volunteered to watch children when you were younger. But even as an adult, you can still earn some money from babysitting. Parents frequently require babysitter for hectic days or date evenings. Simply let folks know that you’re available to watch their children by spreading the word (for pay, of course).
Do you worried that this will entail spending too much time away from your own children if you have any? Some families would be more than happy for you to bring your children along (just make sure you ask first). In this manner, you will be paid for the playdate—victory!
14. Become a user tester.
A firm needs to know the reason why when they notice something isn’t working. They occasionally use customers or unrelated individuals as user experience testers. You fill that role, of course! You can get paid to test out websites, apps, and goods for companies like UserTesting, Analysia, and TryMyUI in exchange for your input. The majority of them advertise that you will receive $10 for each test you pass! 6 Not at all awful.
15. Walk dogs or pet-sit.
Put your hand up if you like animals. Wow. There are a lot of you. What if you were able to capitalise on your passion of animals? You can either find a few clients whose dogs you can walk during the week or pet sit when the dog owners are away.
You can utilise a website like Rover or Wag, put up signs in your neighbourhood, post at work, or use social media to promote your own pet-sitting service. They permit you to determine your own hours and rates, but they do deduct a portion of your salary. 7 If that seems excessive, consider starting your own business with friends and family and asking them to spread the news on your behalf.
16. Clean houses.
Although cleaning houses is labor-intensive, if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, this job may be ideal for you. We all need to clean our homes, and many people would prefer to hire someone to do it. Seize the opportunity now!
Low startup expenses. Although some choosy homeowners may even supply the materials they want you to use, you will need some tools and supplies. While you work out and listen to podcasts, audiobooks, or music, you can earn a solid living. Win-win!
17. Make sales on Etsy.
How crafty are you? (Not like a fox; rather like a businessperson.) Then perhaps you ought to consider selling your handmade goods on Etsy. Etsy is a terrific location to sell jewellery, scarves, paintings, hand-lettered inspirational posters, and other things you’re good at crafting.
It is simple to create a profile and list a product. Etsy charges $0.20 for each listing and keeps a cut of the proceeds. 8 However, it’s worthwhile because customers trust Etsy when making purchases. Additionally, Etsy allows you to purchase mailing labels, so you may deliver everything from your own mailbox (aka no last-minute runs to the post office). So. Simple.
18. Give music lessons.
You really shouldn’t dust up your alto sax and try to teach kids how to be the next Kenny G if you haven’t played it in 20 years. However, offering music lessons is a great side job if you’re a musician with a teaching heart. You decide the hours and costs. You have three options for providing lessons: in your home, in a studio, or by charging extra to travel to the client’s house.
Starting costs can be extremely low if you have your own workspace and equipment. Really, all you’re giving is your time, talent, and knowledge. Enjoy the harmony of increasing your income and educating a new generation of music enthusiasts!
19. Perform chores for others.
Are you skilled at doing short repairs or running errands? Through websites like TaskRabbit or Handy, people will pay you to cross things off of their to-do lists. Everything from installing shelves to assembling furniture is possible. Additionally, Handy also offers jobs for licenced electricians and plumbers who are searching for extra work.
20. Work as a freelance writer or editor.
Some businesses employ writers and editors inside. Others make project-by-project hires. Get some freelance writing jobs if you have a talent for language. Someone must write emails, blog posts, and print articles.
Take on freelance editing or proofreading if you enjoy revising words more than you enjoy writing them. Conduct an online search and inform your contacts that you are available for freelancing employment. For this, you can also use Upwork and Fiverr.
21. Wash and detail automobiles.
Press the brakes. You mean washing other people’s automobiles can earn you money? Indeed, you can. You’ll need to spend money on some goods, much like home cleaning (car wax, a shop vacuum, leather cleaner, etc.). You are primarily investing time and energy, two of your strongest personal resources, but they will go a long way.
22. Cut grass or other yardwork.
People don’t want their lawns to resemble a scene from The Jungle Book because they are busy. That indicates that they will gladly pay you to perform yardwork for them, such as mowing, raking, trimming hedges, and blowing leaves (rich people are afraid of leaves). You can find seasonal employment through a nearby landscaping business, look into TaskEasy, or go it alone. While you increase your financial account, assist others in obtaining that lush lawn.
23. Shovel driveways.
If you provide this service in a place that receives a lot of snow, you can make money all winter long. Although shovelling sidewalks and driveways is a chilly task, someone must perform it. You might as well be that person and benefit from the sweet pleasure of additional cash.
24. Utilize Amazon Flex to deliver packages.
The excitement of an Amazon delivery, ah. What if you could make money while giving others the same joy? Become an Amazon Flex package deliverer and create your own schedule to work as much or as little as you choose. According to reports, most drivers earn between $18 and $25 per hour! 9
25. Sell baked products
People enjoy sweet treats like cakes, cookies, pies, and other baked goods. Therefore, if you enjoy baking, this is a fantastic side business for you. Create a cake for a friend or family member first. Create a stunning cake, share it online, and start a conversation. Use social media and the fantastic word-of-mouth marketing power. Because you’ll attract loyal repeat clients who can’t quit praising you when you satisfy people’s eyes and stomachs.
Just remember to check your local regulations before you start selling food or baking from home to earn additional cash.
26. Apply cosmetics for important occasions.
Do you have a talent for applying makeup? Love assisting women in feeling their best? For big occasions like weddings, picture shoots, proms, and performances, think about applying cosmetics! You can work for as many clients as you want as a freelance makeup artist because most states don’t require a licence. You’ll need to spend money on quality tools and a range of makeup options. However, it might be a great way to earn money while doing what you enjoy!
27. Work as an event coordinator.
Do you like to party? Detail-oriented are you? Then you might be qualified to work as an event planner. You could assist in organising or planning a wedding, a birthday party, or a professional event. Working with a client’s idea and budget to make it a reality in exchange for a tiny commission (and perhaps some free cake!)
Start off on a smaller scale, perhaps at your nephew’s birthday celebration or a coworker’s marriage shower. However, it is up to you how many events you attend each month. Who knows, though? You can even choose to make organising events your full-time career!
How to Choose the Right Side Jobs for You
There are a lot of alternatives for side businesses, I see. With so many options, you could be feeling a little disoriented. However, the following three factors can assist you in choosing the ideal side hustle:
Time
What amount of time do you intend to invest on this? Don’t forget to be realistic about how much time will be required before, during, and after the job as you consider what it will take to make your side hustle succeed. When all the time is taken into account, what do you truly make per hour?
Talent
What’s this? You need not despise your side business. It can be something you already enjoy doing and are actually rather excellent at. If you have the option, take this path! Then, it won’t feel nearly as much like work and more like getting paid to do what you love.
Target
We’re not discussing the shop here (though working there part-time could be a good side hustle). Consider your primary target or goal while evaluating your possibilities for a side business.
Do you want something straightforward to assist with debt repayment or breathing room in your spending plan? Do you wish to lend a hand to others as you go? Do you want to make money with the abilities you have? Do you intend to develop your side gig into a legitimate small business?
Whatever your motivation, be sure it aligns with your goals, lifestyle, and way of life (both now and in the long run). Knowing your why can help you maintain your side business through the ups and downs.
How to Begin a Side Business
You now have some ideas for side businesses. But where do you begin? What exactly do you do, for example? glad you inquired.
- Limit your alternatives to three or less, then begin your study! Find out the benefits and drawbacks by speaking with the companies in question and others who have completed similar tasks in the past (if necessary).
- Make a list of the prerequisites for getting started. Do you require supplies purchases? Become certified? Register online? hone your abilities? find customers? Focus on what you need to accomplish to start producing money rather than becoming distracted by flashy business cards or social media tactics.
- Include any necessary upfront expenses in your budget. This is quite significant. Keep in mind that earning extra cash won’t result in you taking on debt. That is comparable to digging a hole when your intention is to fill one in. Find a another side business if you realise you can’t afford the startup charges of this one! There are plenty that are completely free to join.
- One step at a time, tick off that checklist! Once everything is in place, it’s time to get started and start earning that additional cash. Just get started; don’t overthink things.
