Calan Breckon • Published July 20, 2023
So, times are tough out there and I know you’re doing all you can to get by. You may even have 1, 2 or even 3 jobs just to make ends meat. Well, if you’re looking for some new options, I’ve got you covered with 21 amazing side hustle ideas to help you make extra money and achieve financial freedom.
From online side hustles to creative endeavors and even local service-based opportunities, there’s something for everyone.
The best part? You get to be your own boss, work at your own pace, and explore new passions. I’ve been my own boss since launching my online business back in 2020 and I’ve never looked back. Having the freedom to work when I want, where I want, and with who I want has been life-changing.
Let’s jump in.
Short Summary
- Explore 21 ways to make money with side hustles, from taking paid surveys and freelance writing, to virtual assistant services and selling digital art.
- Turn your creative passions into profitable gigs by finding your niche & marketing effectively.
- Make passive income through affiliate marketing or investing in dividend stocks – plus explore gig economy options like ridesharing & food delivery!
Top Online Side Hustles
In today’s digital age, the internet offers a plethora of opportunities to make money online. Online side hustles not only allow you to work from the comfort of your home, but also provide the flexibility to work around your day job or other commitments.
With a variety of options available, you’re bound to find the perfect side hustle job that aligns with your skills and interests.
One popular online side hustle is taking paid online surveys. Share your opinion on different topics and get rewarded with cash or gift cards.
Freelance writing is another lucrative option for those with a flair for words. Offer your writing services to various clients and watch your side hustle income grow.
Virtual assistant services are also in high demand these days, handling tasks like email management, social media, and content creation.
The earning potential of online side hustles varies greatly, with some people making up to $5,000 a month through freelance work or at least $1,000 a month from blogging.
From taking online surveys to managing Facebook ads, the possibilities are endless.
Take Paid Online Surveys
If you’re looking for a flexible and easy way to get paid and make some extra money in your spare time, consider taking paid online surveys.
Many survey sites, such as Survey Junkie, Branded Surveys, and Swagbucks, reward you for giving your opinion on various topics, playing games, watching videos, and even reading emails.
Depending on the survey site and the time you invest, you could make anywhere from $1 to $5+ an hour, contributing to your side hustle income.
Plus, you get to choose your own hours and work at your own pace. With cash or gift cards to popular stores as rewards, taking online surveys can be a profitable side hustle that’s perfect for those looking to make a few extra bucks in their free time.
Freelance Writing
Do you have a passion for writing and the ability to captivate your audience with words? Freelance writing might be the perfect side hustle for you!
With a growing demand for quality content, freelance writing offers a lucrative opportunity to make a substantial income on a project basis.
Depending on your experience and niche, you could potentially earn between $20 and $50 an hour as a freelance writer. I’ve actually paid up to $200 for a single blog article that was SEO optimized, so if you learn a bit about SEO you can make much more.
Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr provide numerous opportunities to find clients and showcase your writing skills. Additionally, starting your own blog and monetizing it through sponsored content, ads, or affiliate marketing can also generate a significant income.
You could also use your skills to help edit someone’s writing, like if they have an email news letter you could both write for them or help edit the content. You could also use an AI tool like Chat-GPT to write a bunch of articles and then edit them with your own personal flair to maximize your time and output.
To succeed in freelance writing, it’s essential to hone your writing skills, build a strong portfolio, and network with other writers and potential clients.
With dedication and persistence, you can turn your passion for writing into a thriving side hustle, giving you the financial freedom you’ve always dreamed of.
Virtual Assistant Services
As more businesses and entrepreneurs turn to remote work, the demand for virtual assistant services has skyrocketed.
Virtual assistants offer a variety of services, such as email management, content creation, social media management, and more, allowing business owners to focus on their core tasks.
The earning potential for virtual assistants varies, with rates typically ranging from $15 to $30 per hour, depending on your experience and the services you offer.
Platforms like Virtual Gurus, Belay, Time Etc, and 24/7 Virtual Assistant can help you find clients and start your virtual assistant side hustle.
With the flexibility to work on your own schedule and the potential to earn a substantial income, offering virtual assistant services can be both a fun and profitable side hustle.
Creative Side Hustles
If you have a knack for creativity and artistic expression, why not turn your passion into a profitable side hustle? Creative side hustles not only offer an avenue for personal fulfillment, but also have the potential to generate a significant income.
From selling digital art on Etsy to offering graphic design services and even starting a photography business, there are countless opportunities to monetize your creative talents.
Digital products like printables, templates, and graphics are in high demand, making Etsy a popular platform for creative entrepreneurs.
Similarly, offering graphic design services can be a lucrative venture, with the potential to earn between $25 and $50 per hour, depending on your experience and client base. And if photography is your passion, starting a photography business can be both rewarding and profitable, with potential earnings ranging from $50 to $200 per hour.
The key to succeeding in creative side hustles is to find your niche, develop your skills, and market your services effectively.
With some hard work and determination, you can turn your creative passions into a successful hustle idea, allowing you to make a living doing what you love.
Sell Digital Art on Etsy
For artists and designers looking to monetize their creations, selling digital art on Etsy offers a fantastic opportunity to generate passive income.
From printable wall art and digital templates to graphics, fonts, and patterns, the possibilities are endless.
Depending on the popularity of your products and your marketing efforts, you could potentially earn anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per month selling digital art on Etsy.
To increase your chances of success, optimize your product listings, use relevant keywords, and ensure your product images are visually appealing. Additionally, promoting your products on social media can help drive traffic to your Etsy store and boost your sales.
Graphic Design Services
With businesses and individuals constantly in need of eye-catching visuals, offering graphic design services can be a highly profitable side hustle.
From designing logos and illustrations to creating social media graphics and marketing materials, there’s a wide range of services you can offer as a graphic designer. You could even use something like Canva to help you create all your designs and they even have a new AI tool so you know it would be 100% unique to you.
The potential earnings for freelance graphic designers typically range from $25 to $50 per hour, depending on your experience and client base.
To succeed in this side hustle, it’s important to develop a strong portfolio, network with potential clients, and stay up-to-date with the latest design trends and tools.
By showcasing your unique design skills and offering top-notch services, you can turn your passion for graphic design into a lucrative side hustle.
Photography Business
If you have an eye for capturing stunning images, starting a photography business can be a rewarding and lucrative side hustle.
From event and wedding photography to commercial and portrait photography, there’s a wide range of services you can offer as a professional photographer in your own business.
Depending on the type of photography and your client base, you could potentially earn between $50 and $200 per hour as a photographer.
To succeed in this particular side hustle show, it’s important to invest in quality equipment, develop a strong portfolio, and network with potential clients.
Additionally, consider selling your photos to stock photography websites like Adobe, Shutterstock, and BigStockPhoto for an additional source of income.
Local Service-Based Side Hustles
If you prefer working with people and providing services in your local area, there are plenty of side hustle jobs and opportunities available.
From dog walking and pet sitting to tutoring and handyman services, local service-based side hustles can help you make extra cash while serving your community.
One of the great advantages of local service-based side hustles is the flexibility they offer.
You can work on your very own time schedule and cater to the needs of your clients, making it a perfect side hustle idea for those looking to make extra money without sacrificing their full-time job or personal commitments. Plus, with the potential to earn between $15 and $50 an hour, depending on the service provided, local side hustles can be a lucrative way to boost your income.
So, if you’re looking to make a difference in your community while earning some extra cash, consider exploring local service-based side hustles. With a little hard work and dedication, you can turn your skills and passions into a successful side hustle.
Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
For animal lovers, dog walking and pet sitting can be fun and profitable.
Not only do you get to spend time with adorable pets, but you can also earn between $15 and $30 an hour, depending on your location and the services you offer. Platforms like Rover and Wag! can help you find clients and start your dog walking and pet sitting side hustle.
With the flexibility to work on your own schedule and the potential to earn a significant income, dog walking and pet sitting can be the perfect side job for those looking to make a few extra bucks while indulging their love for animals.
Tutoring or Teaching Lessons
If you have a passion for teaching and sharing your knowledge, tutoring or teaching lessons can be a lucrative side hustle.
Whether you’re teaching academic subjects, music, art, or sports, there’s a wide range of opportunities to share your skills and help others learn and grow.
Tutoring or teaching lessons can potentially earn you between $20 and $50 per hour, depending on your subject and experience. Platforms like Wyzant, Skooli, and TakeLessons.com can help you find clients and market your services.
With the flexibility to work on your own schedule and the potential to earn a significant income, tutoring or teaching lessons can be an ideal side hustle for those looking to make a difference in others’ lives while earning some extra cash.
You could even create an online course teaching about your skill or niche. That way you could sell your course over and over again but you only had to do all of that hard work once. If you’re serious about this idea than you should be sure to check out Amy Porterfield’s Digital Course Academy for creating an online course. She will teach you everything you need to know when it comes to online course creation.
Handyman Services
Do you have a knack for fixing things and helping others with their home improvement projects?
Offering handyman services can be a profitable side hustle, with potential earnings ranging from $25 to $50 per hour, depending on the type of work and your client base. Platforms like Thumbtack, TaskRabbit, and Angi can help you market your handyman services and find clients in your local area.
With the potential to earn a substantial income and the flexibility to work on your own schedule, handyman services can be both a fun and lucrative side hustle for those with the right skills and expertise.
Passive Income Side Hustles
Who wouldn’t want to earn money while they sleep? Passive income side hustles offer the opportunity to generate income with minimal ongoing effort.
From affiliate marketing and renting out your property to investing in dividend stocks, passive income side hustles can provide a steady stream of extra cash without requiring constant attention.
Affiliate marketing, for example, can generate earnings between $500 and $5,000 per month, depending on your niche and marketing efforts. I actually have a number of affiliate links on this website that help me generate income each month and the more I blog, the more traffic the website gets, the more money I can make through those links.
Similarly, renting out your property can potentially earn you between $500 and $5,000 per month, depending on location and property type. And investing in dividend stocks can provide a steady flow of passive income, depending on the amount invested and the performance of the stocks.
By diversifying your income sources and exploring passive income, you can create a financial safety net and work towards achieving financial freedom. With some initial effort and smart investment, you can reap the benefits of passive income and secure your financial future.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a fantastic way to generate passive income by promoting products or services from other companies. Every time someone purchases a product through your unique referral link, you earn a commission.
With potential earnings ranging from $500 to $5,000 per month, affiliate marketing can be a lucrative side hustle, depending on the niche you choose and your marketing efforts.
To succeed in affiliate marketing, it’s essential to choose a niche you’re passionate about, create valuable content that appeals to your target audience, and promote your affiliate products through various channels like your blog, social media, and email marketing.
By building trust with your audience and offering genuine recommendations, you can turn affiliate marketing into a profitable passive income source.
Rent Out Your Property
Renting out your property, whether it’s a spare room, an entire house, or even storage space, can be a great way to generate extra income.
Depending on the location and type of property, you could potentially earn between $500 and $5,000 per month by renting out your property.
To maximize your rental income, consider listing your property on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, or even Facebook Marketplace. Make sure to set a competitive price, offer quality amenities, and respond quickly to inquiries to increase the chances of securing bookings.
I rent my place on Airbnb when I go on holiday or to conferences and it really helps to supplement my income. I can usually at least pay that month’s rent without worry by doing this.
Additionally, researching local laws and regulations is essential to ensure you’re compliant and can rent out your property hassle-free.
Invest in Dividend Stocks
Investing in dividend stocks is a popular passive income strategy that allows you to earn a steady stream of income based on the performance of the stocks and the amount you’ve invested.
Dividend stocks are stocks that pay a portion of their profits to shareholders in the form of dividends, making them an attractive option for generating passive income.
To succeed in investing in dividend stocks, it’s important to research potential investments, diversify your portfolio, and monitor the dividend yield and payout ratio to ensure the dividends are sustainable.
With a well-planned investment strategy, investing in dividend stocks can provide financial security and help you achieve your long-term financial goals. Make sure to talk with a professional if you want to take this route.
Gig Economy Side Hustles
The gig economy has opened up a world of opportunities for those looking to make extra money on their own terms. Gig economy side hustles, such as ridesharing, food and grocery delivery, and task-based services, offer the flexibility to work on your own schedule and cater to the needs of various clients.
Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft provide a flexible way to earn extra cash by providing transportation services to customers in your local area. Food and grocery delivery services, such as DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber Eats, offer another opportunity to make money on the side by delivering food and groceries to customers. And task-based services like TaskRabbit allow you to offer a wide range of services, from assembling furniture to running errands, depending on your skills and interests.
With the potential to earn good money, between $10 and $50 an hour depending on the gig and your location, gig economy side hustles can be a great way to supplement your income and achieve your financial goals.
Ridesharing
Ridesharing has become a popular side hustle in recent years, allowing drivers to make extra money by providing transportation services to customers using smartphone apps like Uber and Lyft.
With the flexibility to work on your own schedule and the potential to earn between $15 and $25 an hour, depending on your location and demand, ridesharing can be a great way to make some extra cash.
To succeed in ridesharing, it’s important to maintain a clean and well-maintained vehicle, provide excellent customer service, and stay up-to-date with the latest ridesharing apps and trends. By offering a reliable and pleasant experience for your passengers, you can turn ridesharing into a profitable side hustle.
My brother drives for Uber and loves it. He works when he wants and it has mostly taken over from his “day job” and he’s considering making a full switch over.
Food and Grocery Delivery
Food and grocery delivery has seen a surge in popularity, offering a flexible side hustle for those looking to make extra money on their own schedule.
With services like DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber Eats, you can deliver food from local restaurants and groceries from stores to customers in your local area, potentially earning between $10 and $20 per hour, depending on your location and demand.
To succeed in food and grocery delivery, it’s important to be efficient, punctual, and provide excellent customer service. By building a positive reputation and consistently delivering high-quality service, you can make the most of this side hustle and enjoy the flexibility it offers.
Task-Based Services
Task-based services like TaskRabbit offer a flexible side hustle for individuals looking to provide a wide range of services to clients in their local area.
From assembling furniture and mounting TVs to running errands and cleaning homes, there’s no shortage of tasks you can offer based on your skills and interests.
With the potential to earn between $15 and $30 an hour, depending on the type of task and your client base, task-based services can be a great way to make some extra cash while helping others in your community.
Platforms like TaskRabbit make it easy to find clients and manage your side hustle, allowing you to focus on providing excellent service and growing your income.
Niche Side Hustles
If you’re looking for a side hustle that aligns with your unique skills and passions, consider exploring niche side hustles.
These side hustles focus on a particular skill or knowledge area, such as teaching online courses, social media management, or voice acting. By tapping into your specific expertise and interests, you can create a side hustle that not only generates extra income but also brings personal satisfaction and fulfillment.
Teaching online courses, for example, can potentially earn you between $14 and $22 per hour, depending on the subject and platform you choose.
Social media management, on the other hand, can generate earnings ranging from $15 to $30 per hour, depending on your experience and client base. And if you have a talent for voice acting, you could potentially make between $50 and $200 an hour, depending on your experience and the clients you work with.
By exploring niche side hustles and leveraging your unique skills, you can create a fulfilling and profitable, side hustlers gig that helps you achieve your financial goals while doing what you love.
Teach an Online Course
With the increasing demand for online education, teaching an online course can be a lucrative side hustle for those with expertise in a specific subject. From academic topics to creative arts and personal development, the possibilities are endless when it comes to sharing your knowledge and skills with others.
Depending on the subject matter and your marketing efforts, you can potentially earn between $500 and $5,000 per month teaching online courses, and that’s being modest. Like I said before, I learned how to create online courses from Amy Porterfield and she has a multi-million dollar business. I also interviewed her on how you can use AI to help create an online course.
Platforms like ThriveCart, Podia, Thinkific, Teachable, and Searchie can help you create, host, and market your online courses, while also providing the tools and support you need to succeed.
By offering valuable content and engaging with your students, you can turn your passion for teaching into a thriving side hustle.
If you’d like to learn more and do a more indepth comparison of all the platforms you can check out my article on the best 15 course creation platforms.
Social Media Management
With the ever-growing importance of social media in today’s world, social media management has become a highly sought-after skill.
As a social media manager, you’ll be responsible for creating, scheduling, and monitoring content across various social media platforms, as well as engaging with followers and analyzing performance.
The potential earnings for social media managers range from $15 to $30 an hour, depending on your experience and the clients you work with.
To succeed in this side hustle, it’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest social media trends, develop a strong portfolio, and network with potential clients.
By offering top-notch, social media marketing and management services, you can turn your passion for social media into a profitable side hustle.
Become a Voice Actor
If you have a talent for bringing characters to life with your voice, voice acting can be a rewarding side hustle.
Voice actors are needed for a variety of projects, including movies, video games, commercials, and podcasts, making it a diverse and exciting field to explore.
Depending on your experience and the clients you work with, voice acting can potentially earn you between $50 and $200 per hour.
Platforms like Voices.com, Voice123, and Bunny Studio can help you find voice acting jobs and showcase your talents.
With dedication and practice, you can turn your passion for voice acting into a successful side hustle that brings both personal satisfaction and financial rewards.
Summary
In conclusion, exploring side hustles is an excellent way to boost your income, achieve financial freedom, and pursue your passions.
With options ranging from online and creative side hustles to local service-based, gig economy, and niche side hustles, there’s a wide array of opportunities to suit your skills, interests, and goals.
So, don’t wait any longer – take the leap, explore these side hustle ideas, and start building the life you’ve always dreamed of.
And if you’re looking for more help on how to start an online business, you can check out my online course where I walk you through all the steps it takes to set everything up and get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a legit side hustle?
Freelance writing, driving for Lyft or Uber, and web design are all legitimate side hustles that allow you to make extra cash on your own schedule. These opportunities offer flexible hours, competitive pay, and insurance protection, providing a great way to supplement your income.
How can I make an extra $2000 a month?
Make extra money each month by taking on freelance projects, tutoring online, becoming a virtual assistant, blogging and affiliate marketing, driving for delivery or ride-sharing services, dog walking/sitting, or photography.
These are all great ways to make extra money each month without having to commit to a full-time job. You can choose the hours and projects that work best for you, and you can work from the comfort of your own home.
Freelance projects are a great way to make money.
What are some examples of online side hustles?
Online side hustles are a great way to make extra money, and some popular options include paid surveys, freelance writing, virtual assistant services, and selling digital art on Etsy.
These activities can be done in your spare time and can provide a nice boost to your income. You can also use them to supplement your full-time job or to help you save up for a big purchase.
No matter what your goals are, there are always options.
How much can I potentially earn from teaching online courses?
You could potentially earn between $500 and $5,000+ per month teaching online courses, depending on the subject and your marketing efforts.
Marketing your courses is key to earning more money. You need to create a compelling message that will draw people to your courses. You can use social media, email campaigns, and other methods to reach potential students.
What are the potential earnings for a social media manager?
As a social media manager, you could earn between $15 and $30 an hour, depending on your experience and client base.
