When I started searching for the best side hustles to make extra money, I was completely overwhelmed. There were so many options, but no one had put together a truly comprehensive list that showed ALL the possibilities.
I spent weeks researching every legitimate way to earn extra income in 2025. I went through TikToks, Pinterest boards, and Instagram posts on this topic, and researched every single comment about a side hustle that pays well.
Some of the best side hustles can earn you an extra $100-$500 per month with just a few hours of work, and others have the potential to replace your full-time income completely (yes, really!).
I created this guide because I wish I had something like this when I was starting out. Whether you are looking to pay off debt, save for a vacation, create an emergency fund, or just buy yourself the more expensive coffee every day without overthinking and affecting your budget, there’s a side hustle here that’s perfect for you.
If you’re specifically looking for online jobs that don’t require any upfront investment, check out my guide to 51 tested online jobs without investment – perfect for complete beginners!
In this post, I’m sharing 185 of the best side hustles you can start today. I’ve organized them by category, included the platforms and tools you will need for each one, and I added income potentials to help you decide which ones are worth your time.
What you’ll find in this guide:
- Creative side hustles (like creating an Etsy shop and selling handmade crafts and candles)
- Online side hustles (blogging, freelancing, virtual assisting)
- Simple side hustles for teens and college students
- Unique and weird side hustles (yes, professional cuddling is real?)
- High-paying side hustles (some can earn $1,000+ per month)
- And side hustles you haven’t even thought about!
The best side hustles are the ones that fit YOUR schedule, YOUR skills, and YOUR goals. That’s why I’ve included such a wide variety – because what works for me might not work for you, and that’s okay!
Before we dive into the full list, let me share some quick tips on choosing the right side hustle for you.
How to Choose the Best Side Hustles for YOU
(From a girl who spent months testing and shortened the list from 250 to 185 actual side hustles)
Not all side hustles are truly side hustles and equal, and the best side hustles are different for everyone.
Here’s what I’ve learned about choosing the right one:
Consider Your Available Time
Some side hustles require just 5-10 hours per month (like taking online surveys or scanning receipts), while others might need 20+ hours per week to be profitable (like freelance writing or running an Etsy shop).
Be honest with yourself about how much time you can realistically commit. It’s better to choose a side hustle that fits your schedule than to burnout trying to do too much (also will make you give up before seeing results).
Think About Your Skills and Interests
The best side hustles are often the ones you actually enjoy and don’t consider a task or work! If you love writing, freelance writing or blogging might be perfect. If you’re crafty, selling handmade items could be your thing. If you’re organized, virtual assisting could be your thing.
Circling back to earlier, when you enjoy what you’re doing, it doesn’t feel like work – and you are more likely to stick with it long enough to see real results.
Consider Startup Costs
Some side hustles are completely free to start (like starting a blog, print-on-demand, selling digital products, or taking online surveys), while others require upfront investment (like starting a candle making business or buying inventory for reselling).
If you’re on a tight budget, focus on the free or low-cost options first, because you know that you can also reinvest your earnings into higher-investment side hustles later.
Income Potential Matters
Let’s be real – some side hustles pay way more than others. Online surveys might earn you $50-$200 per month, while freelance writing or blogging could earn you $1,000-$5,000+ per month.
Think about your income goals and choose accordingly.
Passive vs. Active Income
Active income requires your time – you work, you get paid. Passive income (like how you can earn with blogging, affiliate marketing, or selling digital products) takes more time to set up initially, but can continue earning money even when you’re not actively working.
I love passive income because it gives you freedom in the long run!
Okay, now let’s get into the good stuff – all 185 best side hustles you can start making money with today!
Creative Side Hustles Ideas
These are hands down some of my favorite side hustles because you get to make money doing something you actually enjoy! I love that these let you turn your creativity into cash.
The best part? A lot of these start as hobbies – maybe you’re already making candles for friends or crocheting baby blankets as gifts. Why not get paid for it? I’ve seen so many people turn their craft side hustle into a full-time business, and honestly, it’s one of the most fun ways to make extra money.
You can work from your kitchen table, listen to music or podcasts while you create, and there’s something so satisfying about making money from something you made with your own hands.
Is This The Right Side Hustle For Me?
Best for creative people who love making things, enjoy working with their hands, and want a flexible side hustle they can do from home.
1. Sell Handmade Trendy Crafts
Turn your creativity into cash. You are one Pinterest search away from passive income by selling crafts.
Inspiration + Platforms to sell:
- Your own crafts website
- Etsy
- Made Market
- Amazon Handmade
- Lucas Gift
- Bonanza
- iCraft
- Local craft fairs and markets
2. Candle Making Business
Candles remain at every table, and 2 billion households can’t be wrong, yes, extremely popular! (especially those soy candles). This is one of those side hustles that can grow from your kitchen to a full candle business.
Sell on Etsy or create your own website
CandleScience for supplies and *candle education*
At The Flaming Candle, find wholesale supplies
3. Soap Making
Natural and handmade soaps are having a moment in 2025. It’s not a secret that people love Artisan bath products free from harsh chemicals. Organic and cute? Take my money.
- Etsy
- Bramble Berry for soap-making supplies
- Start your own soap business website
4. Crochet Items
If you can crochet, you can sell! Baby blankets, amigurami toys, and trendy clothes are very popular online
5. Design Custom Jewelry
- Check Fire Mountain Gems for supplies for supplies
- Rio Grande is a professional jewelry supplier
- Sell on Etsy or on your own website
6. Woodworking
Custom woodworking is expensive. Think custom boards, shelves, signs, and furniture.
7. Pottery Business
Handmade pottery is timeless, and if you create your own website, you can also offer this as an experience or earn with affiliate links whenever someone signs up for a pottery class or buys clay and supplies.
Sell your mugs:
- Etsy
- Create your own website
8. Embroidery + Sewing
For this business to truly bloom, you can partner with dry cleaners and bridal shops or just keep it online.
9. 3D Printing Services
Own a 3D printer? Offer custom prints for prototypes, replacement parts, or decorative finds.
- Shapeways
- Craftcloud
- Protolabs Network
- Thingiverse for free 3D models
10. Custom Engraving
This goes hand in hand with every person’s favorite sound on Earth, their name.
Personalize and engrave gifts, awards, jewelry, or promotional items
Partner with trophy shops, awards companies, and local tool stores
- Epilog Laser as part of the equipment
11. Paintings
Digital and traditional art both sell.
12. Create Custom Monopoly Boards
This is genius! Design personalized Monopoly games for families and friend groups (use street names from their neighborhood), corporate training, or special events.
- The Game Crafter – Custom board game printing
- PrintPlayGames – Board game printing services
13. Make Money Writing Letters
$5 Envelope topic exploded on TikTok, based on current market research, handwritten letter services can earn much more than $5 per envelope. Professional calligraphers charge $2.50 – $6 per envelope for weddings.
Where to find clients?
- WeddingWire – Connect with engaged couples
- The Knot – Wedding vendor directory
- Thumbtack – Local service marketplace
- Etsy – Create calligraphy service listings
How to start earning from writing letters:
- The Postman’s Knock – Calligraphy tutorials + business advice
- Meant To Be Calligraphy – How to price and structure your services
- Crooked Calligraphy – Get inspired
- Laura Hooper Design House – For professional calligraphy education
- Skillshare Calligraphy Courses
- Written Word Calligraphy – Online courses and supplies
- Paper & Ink Arts – Professional calligraphy supplies
- John Neal Bookseller – Calligraphy pens and paper
- Blick Art Materials – Art supplies and papers
- Amazon -Basic supplies for beginners
- Postmates – On-demand delivery platform
- Roadie – Peer-to-peer delivery
- GoShare – On-demand delivery and moving
14. Fortune Cookie Message Writer
Yes, this is real! Write custom fortunes for restaurants, weddings, corporate events, motivational messages for gyms and offices, or promotional campaigns.
Fortune cookie manufacturers:
15. Custom Pet Memorial Products
Help grieving pet owners honor their beloved companions with memorial portraits, custom urns, or paw print jewelry.
- Rainbow Bridge Pet Memorial for Inspiration
- Eterneva – Turns pet ashes into diamonds
- Etsy Pet Memorial Section – See what sells and pricing
- Shutterfly Pet Products – Study their product offerings
16. Memorial QR Code Design Services
Create QR codes for headstones that link to digital memorial pages with photos, videos, and life stories.
Platforms with memorial QR code services
17. Custom Keyboard Keycaps Design
The mechanical keyboard community is growing and willing to pay for custom keyboard caps.
If you want to learn more about this community, check r/MechanicalKeyboards and get inspired.
- Drop is already known in the community. Study their artisan keycaps for inspiration
*Get $10 reward when you create an account to explore Drop - Novelkeys – a major keycap retailer for market research
- GeekHack forum for networking
- Etsy Mechanical Keyboard – where to start with the business setup and current sellers
18. Aquarium Background Wallpapers Artist
Paint custom backgrounds for fish tanks – Inspired by r/Aquariums.
- Everything you need to know as a beginner Aquarium Co-Op
- Bulk Reef Supply
19. Sell Doormat Designs with Cute Messages
Doormats with witty messages are popular and a great source of income.
Think about personalized messages, seasonal designs, or custom business entrance mats.
- Check out the Etsy Doormat section for competition, pricing research, and ideas
20. Jigsaw Puzzle from Personal Photos
I am always business-oriented, and my brain is full of ideas 24/7. The ways you can position yourself with the online opportunities of 2025 are endless when it comes to personal photos in any form.
- The best place to start is with something that works. Shutterfly Custom Puzzles – Study their process
- Ravensburger is known for its premium custom puzzles
21. Tiny House Model Builder
Build scale models of people’s dream tiny houses, like a dollhouse version of actual homes.
- Study tiny house designs with Tiny House Nation
- Find your potential clients here r/TinyHouses
22. Create Custom Shower Curtains
Turn family photos into waterproof shower curtains, design motivational quote shower curtains, and create a themed bathroom.
- Muzefab does custom fabric printing
- Spoonflower
- Printify is popular in the Reddit community on this topic
23. Personalized Golf Balls
Golfers love personalized equipment! Laser engrave golfers’ names, logos, messages, custom stamps, or unique designs on practice balls.
- Get Inspired! Titleist Custom Golf Balls
- Golf Galaxy
24. Miniature Food Photography for Restaurants
A cute side hustle: Create tiny food replicas and dollhouse-scale food scenes for restaurant social media.
- Tiny Kitchen – Learn miniature food creation techniques
- If you can’t imagine this, take a look a these miniature photography tutorials, Miniature Space
25. Put Your Art on iPhone Cases + T-Shirt Print Designs
Turn your art into passive income by uploading designs to print-on-demand sites like
Other products:
26. Start a Mobile Charcuterie Business
Who doesn’t love a cute charcuterie board moment? Boards for events sell for $50-$200+ each.
- Buy ingredients in bulk at Costco Business Center, and don’t forget about food safety certification courses
27. Balloon Art
If you appreciate the art behind balloons and putting smiles on faces, this fun side hustle idea is for you.
28. Face Painting
Kids festival party idea meets side hustles.
Highest Paying Online Side Hustles
Okay, let’s talk about the best side hustles that can actually change your life. These are the ones with serious income potential – we’re talking $1,000+ per month, sometimes even replacing your full-time income!
I’m not gonna lie – these take more work than filling out surveys or scanning receipts. But if you’re willing to put in the effort and learn some new skills, these online side hustles can be absolutely life-changing.
The amazing thing about these is that you can work from literally anywhere with Wifi. Coffee shop, your couch, the beach – wherever! And once you get them going, many of these can become somewhat passive (meaning you make money even when you’re not actively working).
The Potential From Online Side Hustles
Best for motivated and ambitious people ready to learn new skills, comfortable with technology, and willing to invest time upfront for bigger rewards later.
29. Make Money Blogging
Blogging changed my life. Learning about blogging is learning how to earn a full-time income from home.
Write and add affiliate links throughout your content to monetize (one of the ways to make money blogging).
Platforms:
- WordPress.org (what I use!)
- Start with affordable hosting and a theme, and invest in education to grow
Check out my exact resources on how I created and monetized this website here.
How do bloggers make money?
- Display Ads – You apply to agencies once you get 10k views on your website, and you earn just by people being on your website, without the need for them to buy or do something on your blog.
- Affiliate Marketing – Just as I have added links in this blog post, if you buy something or create an account on some of my links, I earn a commission.
- Sponsored Content – Brands will sponsor you once you have a community.
- Digital Products – Think about your niche and what type of digital products would be valuable.
30. Affiliate Marketing
Hands-down one of the best passive income strategies. Hype products you love, and earn commission.
- Amazon Associates
- ShareASale is now owned by Awin
- CJ Affiliate
- Impact
- Rakuten Advertising
- ClickBank
- Awin
- FlexOffers
- Found out about Digistore24 because ClickUp didn’t have my country as an option, and they are global
- JVZoo
- WarriorPlus
- PartnerStack
- Aliexpress
Learn about affiliate marketing:
31. Course Creation
Package your knowledge into online courses and earn passive income!
32. Start a YouTube Channel
I know you have a favorite YouTuber, and you probably know they earn life-changing money.
- YouTube Partner Program
- TubeBuddy – YouTube optimization tools
- VidIQ – Analytics and SEO for YouTube
- Canva Thumbnail creation
- YouTube Shorts Fund
33. Podcasting
Podcasting is the 2025 gold mine.
- Spotify Creators
- Patreon
- Spotify Ad Studio
- Podcast One
- Anchor.fm or Shnoco
- Get a 20$ Buzzsprout credit when you sign up
- Libsyn
34. Social Media Management
Those who can’t do, teach, or, in this case, really do, but behind the scenes.
Essential Tools
- Hootsuite to schedule posts across platforms
- Buffer is for social media scheduling and analytics
- Later visual content calendar
- Sprout Social
- Bonjoro
- Social Media 55
- Viral Nation
- Instagram Creator Studio
- Creator.co for Brand partnerships
Learn more here:
35. Become a Virtual Assistant
Highly in-demand and well-paid remote job.
Essentially, you help businesses with admin tasks, emails, scheduling, and everything business related.
- Belay
- Time Etc US/UK focused
- Fancy Hands for task-based quick jobs
- WoodBows for experienced VAs
- MyTasker
Freelance Platforms
- On Upwork, search for ‘Virtual Assistant’
- Freelancer.com Bid on VA projects
- PeoplePerHour (It’s UK based)
- Guru
- VASS
- Boldly
- VAClassroom is now known as Freelance University (FreeU)
Tools every VA needs
- LastPass for password management
- Toggl Track for time tracking
- Slack for client communication
- Canva for basic design work
36. Freelance Writing
Get paid to write content, a perfect job if you like writing and location freedom.
This is kind of how it started for me, I wanted to enjoy a cup of coffee around the world with my laptop and to earn enough that my family has a coffee cup next to mine too.
- Upwork
- Fiverr is gig-based + you set your own prices. When you join Fiverr, you get 10% off if you purchase
- Freelancer Project bidding system Premium Networks (Higher Rates)
- Contently works with major brands, Selective
- WriterAccess’s biggest focus is on quality
- ClearVoice
- Textbroker pays per word
- iWriter simple article writing
Job boards
- ProBlogger Job Board quality writing jobs
- Freelance Writing Jobs curated opportunities
- MediaBistro media and journalism
Where to learn?
- The Write Life: Writing career advice
- Smart Blogger Training for content marketing
- CopyBlogger: More content marketing education
37. Graphic Design
Design logos, social media creatives, marketing materials, the sky is the limit, really.
38. Web Development
Learn how to build websites and turn a side hustle into a life-changing income.
- WordPress.org
- Webflow
- Portfolio hosting at GitHub
- Stack Overflow Jobs
39. Become a UGC Creator
UGC is HUGE! Why? Because you get all the benefits of being an influencer without growing a following.
- You don’t need a following
Because you don’t post the content, you only create the content for brands, but you don’t post it on your socials, the brand will - You don’t need a fancy camera
All you need to get started is a phone with a good camera andthe fun of creating content - You get free products and make $$
There are tons of brands actively looking for UGC creators! So the best chances for you to get started in 2025
Platforms that will pay you for content
- Trend.io
- Aspire
- Collabstr (If you join as a brand, you get $10 towards your first order)
- Joinbrands: UGC Platform
- Popular Pays
- TRIBE | Influencer Marketing Platform for Brands and Agencies
- #paid | Creator Marketplace
- Cohley
40. TikTok Shop Affiliate Marketing
Promote products on TikTok and earn commissions!
- TikTok Shop Seller Center
- TikTok Creator Portal
- I mentioned Later for Social Media Management, and it also has TikTok scheduling tools
41. Selling Digital Products Online
Selling digital products is the ultimate passive income! Create once, sell forever.
For example, my niche is digital marketing, and the digital products I am creating are Notion templates for business and client management, productivity planners, social media marketing templates, and contracts.
Check out my shop page with digital products to get started.
Platforms to sell
- Gumroad
- Etsy
- Creative Market
- Create a website just like mine, following my exact steps
No Code App Builders - Bubble.io visual programming platform
- Glide Turn spreadsheets into apps
- FlutterFlow Visual app development
- MIT App Investor Free educational tool
Or create your own app without knowing code
- Bubble.io is a visual programming platform
- Glide turns spreadsheets into apps
- FlutterFlow for visual app development
- Educate yourself at MIT App Investor
42. Start an Etsy Shop
Your cute “little” online shop on a well-trusted platform with loyal customers.
Tools that will help you with Etsy
- eRank for SEO and keyword research
- Marmalead to analyze the marketplace
- Sale Samurai, a tool for Etsy keyword research
- Canva to create listing images and products
- The Etsy Seller Handbook is the official Etsy guide
- Visit Creative Hive Co for Etsy business training
43. Print on Demand
Design products and sell them without holding inventory
- Get $5 discount on Printful for your friends on their first order
- Printify
- Redbubble
- Society6
- Teespring
- Zazzle
- Teepublic
44. Dropshipping
Run an e-commerce store without inventory.
- Shopify
- Oberlo
- Aliexpress.com
- Get faster shipping with Spocket for US and EU suppliers
45. Become an Amazon FBA Seller
Fulfill by Amazon 🖤 I just really appreciate Amazon and the opportunity they give.
For this side hustle, they handle storage and shipping!
46. Amazon Selling
Sell products on Amazon, and basically be on the other side of the business, using the same resources linked to Amazon FBA.
Side Hustle Ideas for Teens & College Students
If you’re a student or teen reading this – I’m so proud of you for wanting to make your own money! These are the best side hustles when you’re young because they’re flexible, don’t require a ton of experience, and you can literally start making money this week.
When I was in college, I did so many of these! Taking surveys between classes, selling my old textbooks, babysitting on weekends. Every little bit helped me avoid taking on more debt and actually have money for fun stuff too.
The best part? Most of these don’t require a car, fancy equipment, or a huge time commitment. You can do them around your class schedule, during study breaks, or on weekends. Plus, you’re building skills and work experience that you can add to your portfolio and that can help you later!
Details About Side Hustles for Teens
Best for students, teens and anyone new to side hustles who wants easy, flexible ways to make extra spending money.
47. Online Surveys
It’s not going to make you rich, but easy money during commercials, commute back home, and downtime.
- Prime Opinion
- SwagBucks surveys + many more ways to earn
- Survey Junkie
- InboxDollars
- Pinecone Research
- Attapol App is mobile-friendly
- Google Opinion Rewards for quick surveys for Google Play credits
- Zap Surveys is a mobile-first platform, and you can expect between $50-200 a month, depending on how much time you invest
48. Get Paid to Watch Ads
The earnings are minimal, from $5 to 25 a month, but completely passive.
49. Cash-Back and Reward Apps
By earning money back on purchases already made, one reader paid for their entire Christmas with these apps.
- Ibotta for groceries and retail cash back
- Rakuten is for online shopping cash back, and you get $50 when you sign up
- Upside to get your cash back from the gas station
- Checkout 51 gets you grocery rebates
- You can scan any receipt on Receipt Hog for points
Mobile Gaming Rewards
- Get paid to play mobile games on Mistplay
- Swagbucks Games lot of gaming rewards
- InboxDollars to play games for cash
Social Commerce
- On Benable you earn by sharing products
50. Testing Apps and Websites
Get paid for your feedback.
51. Online Tutoring
Earn by sharing your knowledge and helping students succeed!
- Wyzant
- Tutor.com
- Preply
- Varsity Tutors
- Revolution Prep focuses on test prep like the SAT or ACT
- Mathnasium
- iTalki
- Chegg Tutors
- Sylvan Learning
- Cambly
- Verbling
How to get started tutoring
52. Private Tutoring
Earns a little bit more than online tutoring.
53. Selling Used Clothes
Clean out your closet and make money.
54. Babysitting
A classic teen side hustle that pays well.
55. Dog Walking
The perfect side hustle for animal lovers
- Invite a friend to book a pet sitter on Rover, and you’ll both get $20 in Rover credit
- Wag
- Fetch! Pet Care is a good franchise opportunity
56. Breeding and Selling Small Animals
Inspired by TikTok creators who mention breeding and selling fish, birds, or reptiles as a side hustle.
Side Hustles for Men + Anyone Who Loves Hands-On Work!
These are the best side hustles for people who’d rather be outside or working with their hands than sitting at a computer all day. No judgement – not everyone wants to stare at a screen!
What I love about these side hustles is that they’re straightforward. You show up, you do the work, you get paid. No complicated tech stuff, no building an audience, no waiting months to see results. Plus, a lot of these pay really well because there’s actual demand for people who are willing to do physical work.
My husband has done several of these over the years, and the flexibility is amazing. You can take on as many or as few clients as you want, work weekends, and often get tips on top of your regular pay!
Physical Work Side Hustles
Best for people who enjoy physical work, prefer being outdoors or active, and want straightforward side hustles with immediate pay.
57. Lawn Care and Landscaping
58. Handyman Services
Get paid to fix things.
59. Bike Repair
- Velofix is a mobile bike repair franchise
- You get $250 off when you join The Pro’s Closet, an online bike marketplace
60. Gardening
61. Snow Removal
Seasonal but profitable!
62. Pool Cleaning
63. Car Washing
- Check out Zoro Tools for equipment and supplies
- DetailXPerts as a franchise opportunity
64. Moving and Junk Removal
65. Parking Lot Line striping
Repaint faded parking lot lines, paint custom logos or designs for businesses.
- Sherwin-Williams Industrial to find paint supplies
- Graco has line striping professional equipment
QR Code Side Hustles
Okay, I know this sounds super random, but hear me out! QR codes are EVERYWHERE now (thanks, pandemic), and businesses need help creating and managing them. This is one of those side hustles that’s so specific, there’s not a ton of competition yet!
I learned about these QR code opportunities recently and was honestly shocked at how much businesses pay for something that seems so simple. Restaurants need digital menus, real estate agents want virtual tour links, wedding planners want contact-free RSVPs – the opportunities are endless.
The coolest part? Once you learn how to do it (which takes like an hour, seriously), you can charge $50-$200+ per project. It’s quick work that pays well, and you can do it completely remotely!
Earning From QR Codes
Best for tech-savvy people who like unique opportunities, anyone interested in helping local businesses, and those who want quick projects with good pay
66. QR Code Menu Creator for Restaurants
Design custom QR codes that link to digital menus.
- Get inspired by QR Menu Creator (already existing service)
- TouchBistro – restaurant POS with QR integration
67. Real Estate QR Codes
Link to virtual tours and property details.
- Zillow Premier Agent is a real estate professional network
- National Association of Realtors for industry connections
68. Event QR Codes
I can think of wedding programs that link to photo sharing, and so much more!
- Connect with engaged couples here: WeddingWire
- The Knot for the wedding vendor directory
69. Business Card QR Codes
Help professionals to network with instant contact sharing.
70. Product Authentication QR Codes
Make money by helping businesses prevent counterfeiting + tap into contactless, digital-first experiences.
How would the technical setup look?
- Help a business to integrate QR codes into its marketing materials
- Train the staff on QR code management systems
- Create analytics dashboards to actually track QR code usage
- Design weatherproof QR codes for outdoor use
- Use Google Analytics for QR code tracking setup
- Canva has QR code design templates
- Adobe Creative Cloud for professional design tools
Things to Rent Out for Money
This is literally one of my favorite categories of best side hustles because you’re making money from stuff you ALREADY own! Why let your spare room, parking space, or car just sit there when it could be earning you hundreds of dollars a month?
I’ve rented out a spare bedroom before, and while having a roommate wasn’t always perfect, that extra $500-$800 per month helped me pay off my student loans SO much faster. It felt like free money because I wasn’t doing any extra work – just sharing space I already had.
The beauty of these side hustles is they’re mostly passive. Once you set them up, the money just rolls in with minimal effort on your part. Perfect if you’re already busy with a full-time job!
Is Renting For Money Worth It?
Best for people with extra space, equipment, or vehicles they;re not using 24/7, and anyone who wants passive income with minimal effort
71. Renting Your Spare Room
- Airbnb
- VRBO
- Booking.com
- SpareRoom for long-term roommates
72. Renting Your Car
- Turo is a peer-to-peer car rental marketplace
- Share a car by the hour with Getaround and get $20 towards your first Getaround trip once you sign up.
- HyreCar – Rent to rideshare drivers
73. Storage Space Rental
- Neighbor
- StoreAtMyHouse
- Spacer
- Join the SpareFoot storage marketplace
74. Baby Gear Rental
- Rent at BabyQuip + get $20 off your first order
- Baby’s Away for inspo
75. Equipment Rental
76. Pool Rental
77. RV and Camper Rental
- Outdoorsy is a leading RV rental marketplace
- RVShare for peer-to-peer RV rentals
- Find franchise opportunities at Cruise America
78. Parking Space Rental
79. Renting Your Driveway for Parking
Unique & Weird Side Hustles (Yes, these are real)
I had SO much fun researching this section! These are the best side hustles for people who want to do something totally different. I’m talking professional cuddling, renting out your bathroom for photoshoots, being a bridesmaid for hire – wild stuff that actually pays!
Here’s what I love about these: they make great conversation starters, and there’s usually less competition because they’re so niche. Plus, some of them pay surprisingly well! I was shocked to learn professional line-standers can make $25+ per hour just to wait in line for someone else.
Are these for everyone? Definitely not. But if you’re open-minded and love telling interesting stories at parties, these could be your perfect side hustle!
Details About Unique Side Hustles
Best for open-minded people who don’t mind unconventional work, those who love unique experiences, and anyone wanting interesting side hustle stories to share! (Hi Reddit)
80. Rent Your Bathroom for Photo Shoots
Your bathroom is a part of someone’s vision, make money by being in the background of a photoshoot.
- LocationsHub
- Get $50 discount for booking your first space on Peerspace (or earn $50 credit by sharing this referral link)
81. Photo Booth Business
- Photo Booth Supply Co
- dslrBooth if you need a photo booth software
82. Professional Cuddling
When I heard about professional cuddling, I had some question marks in my head, but it turns out it’s real.
83. Peer-to-Peer Lending
Lend money online.
- Prosper is a peer-to-peer lending platform
- Kiva is a microfinance platform for global entrepreneurs
- Funding Circle for small business lending
84. Worm Composting
Make money by raising worms and selling worm castings as fertilizer.
85. Make money donating Plasma
You can donate plasma twice weekly for $50-100 per donation.
86. Clinical Trial Participation
You can get paid to participate in medical research.
87. Earn as a Mystery Shopper
- Market Force
- BestMark
- IntelliShop
- Sinclair Customer Metrics to evaluate service quality
- Secret Shopper offers various retail evaluations
88. Professional Line Standing
I know you have heard about babysitters, how about linesitters?
89. Professional Fake Chewer for Commercials
We read a lot about celebrity doubles. How about being a mouth double for food commercials?
- Apply at Central Casting for background and specialty casting
- Backstage
- SAG-AFTRA
90. Iceberg Moving
Work with maritime companies to redirect icebergs in Arctic regions.
- A lot of job opportunities at the Canadian Coast Guard for Arctic operations
91. Renting Your Face/Forehead for Advertising
92. Professional Mourner
Attend funerals and provide mourning services, according to the internet, this is traditional in some cultures.
93. Professional Bridesmaid/Groomsman
Make money as a hired bridesmaid or groomsman for weddings. Inspired by Bridesmaid for Hire.
94. Renting Your Backyard for Glamping
Earn by setting up glamping experiences in your backyard.
Food Delivery Side Hustles
These are some of the most popular side hustles right now because they’re so flexible and you can literally start TODAY! No interview, no resume, just sign up and start delivering.
I have friends who do this while listening to podcasts or audiobooks, and they say it’s like getting paid to drive around and learn new things. Plus, the tips can be really good, especially during dinner rush or bad weather!
What I love most is the instant gratification – you work for a few hours and see money hit your account within days. No waiting weeks for a paycheck. Perfect for when you need cash fast or just want something super flexible around your main job.
Making Money With Delivery
Best for people with reliable transportation, those who like driving and don’t mind being active, and anyone who wants flexible hours with immediate pay.
95. Rideshare Driving
- Uber is the largest rideshare platform globally
- Lyft has a strong presence in US cities
- Gridwise
- Upside is a cashback app
- Via for shared rides in select cities
- Everlance
96. Food Delivery
- DoorDash
- Uber Eats is integrated with Uber’s platform
- Grubhub is a well-established platform in many markets
- Postmates (now part of Uber Eats)
97. Grocery & Package Delivery
98. Photography Services
These are the best side hustles that combine good pay with skills you might already have! I put these in their own category because they’re not quite as high-earning as the online hustles, but they’re way more profitable than surveys or simple tasks.
What I appreciate about these is that they let you turn real skills into real money. If you’re good at photography, fitness, or organizing, why not get paid for it? These side hustles are perfect if you want something in the middle – not just pocket change, but not a full second job either.
The income potential is solid, and a lot of these can grow over time as you get more clients and raise your rates + you’re building a legitimate business skill!
Profitable Side Hustles Insights
Best for people with specific skills or passions they want to monetize, those looking for consistent side income, and anyone ready to build a small client base
98. Photography Services
As many photography niches there are, as many ways to make money with photography are.
Where to find clients?
- Ivory Mix
- Thumbtack
- WeddingWire
- The Knot
- GigSalad
- Peerspace
- Find client galleries at ShootProof
- Pixieset for photo delivery, and you get $20 off your first bill on Pixieset.
For stock photography, check some of these options
Let’s get you equipped
- Adorama – Camera gear and education
- LensRentals – Rent expensive equipment
- B&H
You can learn from the latest photography news and tutorials at PetaPixel.
99. Drone Photography
The only thing you need is a drone + FAA Part 107 certification.
- Get the best drone equipment from DJI
100. Video Editing
101. Videography Services
- Vimeo
- WeddingWire
- FilmFreeway accepts film festival submissions
102. Personal Training
- Trainerize
- NASM + ACE Fitness for certification
- MyFitnessPal
103. Yoga Instructor
- YogaWorks
- Alo Moves
- Get certified with Yoga Alliance
- DoYogaWithMe
104. Nutrition Coaching
- Precision Nutrition
- Noom
- MyFitnessPal
- NASM to become a certified nutritionist
105. Sports Coaching
106. DJ Services
- GigSalad
- The Bash
- Get business software at DJ Intelligence
Investment & Financial Side Hustles
Okay, so these aren’t traditional side hustles where you trade time for money, but they’re absolutely some of the best side hustles for building wealth over time! I’m talking about making your money work for YOU instead of always working for money.
Full transparency, these involve risk, and you should only invest money you can afford to lose. But I had to include them because dividend investing and REITs have been HUGE for building my passive income over the years.
The beautiful thing? Once you set these up, they require almost no time from you. Your money is working 24/7, even while you sleep. It’s not get-rich-quick, but it’s definitely get-richer-steadily!
Is Investing The Right Side Hustle For Me?
Best for people with some money to invest, those interested in building long-term wealth, and anyone who wants truly passive income once it’s set up.
107. Stock Trading and Investing
Important friendly warning: Only invest money you can afford to lose completely. This is a risky investment.
Apps for beginners:
Where to learn?
- Investopedia
- Khan Academy Investing has free courses
108. Dividend Investing
You can invest in dividend-paying stocks for regular income.
- The Finance Super App – M1 for automated investing
- Robinhood for commission-free trades
109. REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts)
It’s the dropshipping version of real estate (almost), you invest without owning property directly.
110. Real Estate Investment
Buy rental properties and secure ongoing income.
- Join the BiggerPockets real estate investing community
- Fundrise is a real estate crowdfunding platform
- RealtyMogul for commercial real estate investing
111. Start an Airbnb business
112. High-Yield Savings
Make extra money by putting your cash in savings accounts that pay good interest and by signing up for banks that give you bonus money for opening an account.
Business & Entrepreneurship Side Hustles
These are the best side hustles if you’ve got an entrepreneurial spirit! We’re talking about actually building a small business, not just doing gigs here and there. Yes, they take more work, but the income potential is literally unlimited.
I love these because you’re building something that could potentially become your full-time income. I’ve seen people start vending machine businesses that now generate more than $5,000 per month in passive income, or subscription boxes that replaced their 9 to 5 salary!
The key is choosing something you’re genuinely interested in and willing to learn about. Starting a business is hard work, but when it’s YOUR business and YOUR vision, it’s also incredibly rewarding.
Becoming Entrepreneur As a Side Hustle
Best for entrepreneurial people who want to build something bigger, those willing to take calculated risks, and anyone dreaming of eventually working for themselves full-time.
113. Vending Machine Business
Besides the traditional snack and beverage machines, you can also have healthy food options (we need more of these), personal care items at airports and gyms, or an electronics and phone accessories vending machine.
Where to begin?
- Vending Village
- Check Vending Connection for industry news and resources
114. Start an Online Store
115. Subscription Box Business
Create a business plan and deliver monthly boxes of products to subscribers.
116. Buy Programs with Resell Rights
Buy courses or digital products you love and recommend with resell rights and resell them.
PLR (Private Label Rights) Marketplaces:
- Learn about opportunities at the Warrior Forum digital marketing community
- PLR.me
- IDPLR
- Learn, edit, and resell with Master Resell Rights
- Start working smarte,r not harde,r with 27,499 licensed done-for-you products at PLR Database
- Content Sparks
Affiliate programs with reseller options
Software Reseller Programs + Rebranding/White labeling
- White Label Fox to rebrand existing software
- AppSumo Plus for software affiliate deals
117. Membership Club ($10 club)
Make money regularly by creating membership-based content. (low-cost membership+valuable content)
- MemberPress has done for you membership sites, ready for business
- Get a free 30-day trial on Kajabi
- Circle
- Mighty Networks
- Skool
Fun Side Hustle Ideas
Who says making money can’t be fun?! These are the best side hustles for people who want their side income to feel less like work and more like…well, fun!
I included these because sometimes you just want to make extra money doing something you’d honestly do for free anyway. Event planning, holiday decorating, being a wedding officiant – these are the side hustles where you get paid to make people happy and celebrate with them!
If your day job is stressful or boring, these side hustles can be the perfect outlet. You’re still making good money, but you’re also enjoying yourself and bringing joy to others. Win-win!
Should You Start a Fun Side Hustle?
Best for social people who love events and celebrations, creative planners, and anyone who wants their side hustle to feel more like play than work.
118. Event Planning
119. Holiday Decorating
- TaskRabbit
- Thumbtack
- Christmas Decor for franchise opportunity
120. Wedding Officiant
- Universal Life Church
- Find couples at WeddingWire
121. Twitch Streaming
- Twitch
- On Streamlabs, you can find streaming tools here
- OBS Project is a free streaming software
122. Playing Video Games
123. Gaming Coach
Making Money Off Content & Writing
If you love writing or creating content, these side hustles are absolutely perfect for you! I’m biased because writing has made me SO much money over the years, but there’s genuinely huge demand for good writers right now.
The coolest part? You don’t need a journalism degree or fancy credentials. If you can write clearly and meet deadlines, there are companies and websites that will pay you for your words. I started freelance writing with literally zero experience, just a willingness to learn!
Plus, writing skills are valuable forever. Once you build your portfolio and reputation, you can charge more, pick better clients, and even turn it into a full-time career if you want. It’s one of those side hustles that just keeps getting better!
Making Money As Content Creator
Best for people who enjoy writing or creating content, those who want location-independent work, and anyone looking to build a valuable skill while making money.
124. Ghostwriting
- Get $100 on your first Reedsy collaboration
- Contently
- WriterAccess
- Upwork
125. Marketing Copywriting
126. Resume Writing
127. Technical Writing
128. Curriculum Writing
129. Self-Publishing
Write and publish your own books.
- Kindle Direct Publishing
- IngramSpark
- Draft2Digital
- Book Brush for book marketing graphics
130. Creating Audiobooks
131. Voice-Over Work & Voice Acting
132. Substack Newsletter
Make money with a paid newsletter audience
133. LinkedIn Newsletter
Learn how to build a professional newsletter on LinkedIn and turn it into a side hustle
Professional + Smart Side Hustles
These side hustles are perfect if you have professional expertise or educational background you can leverage! Think teaching, tutoring, consulting, coaching – the kind of work that uses your brain and pays you well for it.
What I love about these is that they’re respected, well-paying, and often rewarding beyond just the money. You’re helping people learn and grow, which feels amazing! Plus, they look great on a resume if you ever need that.
The barrier to entry can be a bit higher (you need actual knowledge or credentials), but if you’re got the qualifications, these side hustles pay significantly more than entry-level gigs. Your expertise is valuable – get paid what you’re worth!
Details About Smart Hustles
Best for educated professionals, subject matter experts, people with teaching/coaching skills, and those who want intellectually stimulating side work.
134. Test Preparation
135. Teach English Online
136. Music Lessons
137. College Consulting
- Independent Educational Consultants Association
- National Association for College Admission Counseling
138. Career Coaching
139. College Course Teaching
140. Data Entry
141. Transcription
142. Translation Services
143. Coding & Programming
144. Mobile App Development
145. AI Training
146. Online Bookkeeping and Accounting
147. Tax Preparation
Pet Sitting Side Hustles
Okay, this might be the BEST category if you’re an animal lover! These side hustles let you hand out with adorable pets AND get paid for it. Honestly, where do I sign up?
I have so many friends who dog walk or pet sit, and they all say the same thing – “I can’t believe people pay me to do this!” It;s flexible, fun, you get exercise, and the pets give you all the love and entertainment. Plus, pet owners are usually really appreciative and tip well!
Whether you want to walk dogs in the morning before your day job, pet sit on weekends, or even start a grooming business, there’s something here for every animal lover. And trust me, the demand is HUGE!
Are Pet Sitting Side Hustles For Me?
Best for animal lovers, active people who don’t mind walking, and anyone who wants a fun, flexible side hustle that doesn’t feel like work
148. Pet Sitting
- And if you have a pet, you get $20 in Rover credit when you sign up
- Wag
- Fetch! Pet Care
- PetSitter.com
149. Pet Grooming
- National Dog Groomers Association for training and certification
Simple Side Hustle Ideas
Sometimes you don’t want complicated – you just want simple, straightforward ways to make extra money! These simple side hustles are perfect when you need something easy that doesn’t require learning new skills or technology.
What I appreciate about these is they’re things people always need help with. House cleaning, laundry, ironing – nobody’s inventing an app to replace these anytime soon! It’s honest work that pays well and has consistent demand.
Plus, you can often fo these while listening to music or podcasts, and you get a workout in at the same time. Some people find cleaning and organizing really therapeutic too!
Expectations From Simple Side Hustles
Best for people who like straightforward work, those who don’t mind physical tasks, and anyone who wants to start earning immediately with no learning curve.
150. House Cleaning
151. Ironing/Laundry Service
152. Pool Cleaning
Flipping + Reselling Side Hustles
This is one of my favorite categories of best side hustles because it’s like a treasure hunt that pays you! You find undervalued items, flip them, and pocket the profit. It’s exciting, profitable, and honestly kind of addicting once you get into it!
I used to resell clothing and made an extra $500-$1,000 per month just hitting up thrift stores on weekends. The thrill of finding a $5 item you can sell for $50 never gets old! Plus, you’re giving items as a second life instead of them ending up in landfills.
You can start super small – like selling stuff from your own closet – and grow it as big as you want. Some people turn this into six-figure businesses! It’s one of those side hustles where your hustle directly determines your income.
Is Flipping & Reselling The Right Side Hustle?
Best for people who love hunting for deals, those with an eye for value, and anyone who enjoys the thrill of buying low and selling high
153. Thrift Store Flipping
154. Garage Sale Flipping
155. Furniture Flipping
- Facebook Marketplace – Local deals
- Craigslist
156. Reselling Furniture
- Facebook Marketplace
- Craigslist
- OfferUp
- Chairish
157. Vintage Fashion
- Etsy
- Depop
- Vestiaire Collective
- Get $150 when you sign up with TheRealReal
158. Poshmark Selling
Use The Poshmark Blog for the official tips + YouTube tutorials to set yourself up for sucess
- Platform: Poshmark
159. Book Reselling
- Amazon
- AbeBooks
- Use BookScouter to compare buyback prices
- Chegg
160. eBay Selling
161. Trading Electronics
162. Selling Gift Cards
163. Selling Unused Items
- Facebook Marketplace
- eBay
- Mercari
- OfferUp
Social Media, Content Creator Jobs + Influence
If you’re on social media anyway (and let’s be real, we all are), these side hustles let you turn your scrolling into money! Whether you want to be an influencer, content creator, or just make money from Pinterest, there are SO many opportunities here.
The best part? You can start right now with just your phone. No fancy camera needed, no huge following required. Brands are paying everyday people with even small, engaged audiences to promote their products!
I’ll be honest – building a social media presence takes time and consistency. But if you enjoy creating content and engaging with people online, why not het paid for it? It’s genuinely one of the most flexible side hustles out there.
Potential Of Content Creator Side Hustles
Best for social media lovers, creative content creatorsm people who enjoy engaging with online communities, and anyone willing to show up consistently
164. Become an Influencer
165. Content Creation
166. Make Money on Pinterest | Get Paid to Pin
- Pinterest Creator Hub
- Later for Pinterest scheduling
- Tailwind is my favorite tool for Pinterest marketing
167. Twitter/X Monetization
Monetize content through X’s creator program.
168. Snapchat Spotlight
Make money by creating content for Snapchat’s Spotlight program.
- Join Snapchat Creators + Sign up for Snapchat Business
169. Email Marketing
Specialized Side Hustles
These side hustles require specific skills or knowledge, but that’s exactly why they pay so well! If you have specialized expertise – whether it’s legal knowledge, grant writing skills, or EFT tapping certification – people will pay premium rates for your help.
What I love about specialized work is that there’s less competition. Not everyone can do these things, which means you can charge more and pick your clients. It’s the whole “work smarter, not harder” philosophy!
These might require some upfront training or certification, but once you have the credentials, you’ve got a valuable skill for life that can generate serious income.
Customer Service Side Hustles
Best for people with specialized training or willing to get certified, those who want to charge premium rates, and anyone looking for less competition in their side hustle
170. Customer Service (Remote)
- LiveWorld
- Working Solutions
- Arise
- Respondent.io
- Earn $10 when you sign up on User Interviews
171. Grant Writing
172. Legal Document Preparation
173. EFT Tapping Practitioner
174. Local Tours
Get Paid from Research + Testing
These are literally some of the easiest side hustles on this list! Companies need feedback on their products, websites, and services, and they’ll pay you just for your honest opinion.
I’ve done several of these over the years – from product testing where I got free makeup, to user testing where I earned $50 for 20 minutes of feedback. It’s the definition of easy money! You’re getting paid to help make products better, which is actually pretty cool.
The pay varies, but some research studies (especially medical ones) can pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Even the smaller opportunities add up to nice extra spending money with minimal effort!
The Potential In Reseearch Side Hustles
Best for people who enjoy trying new things, those who want super flexible easy work, and anyone looking for the simplest possible way to earn extra cash
175. Product Testing
176. Online Focus Groups
177. Music Review
Get paid for listening to new music and providing your honest feedback to artists and record labe
Digital Content Side Hustles
These side hustles are all about creating digital products and content – things like websites, Notion templates, video tutorials, and more. What makes these so amazing? You create them ONCE and can sell them over and over again!
I’m a huge fan of digital products because they’re pure passive income potential. No shipping, no inventory, no physical storage needed. You do the work upfront, set it up to sell, and wake up to sales notifications. It’s beautiful!
The startup time can be significant, but once you have products created, they can generate income for years. Plus, your earning potential isn’t limited by your hours since you’re not trading time for money.
Digital Marketing Side Hustles
Best for creative people who like working independently, those interested in passive income, and anyone willing to invest time upfront for ongoing earnings.
178. Creating a Website
179. Notion Templates
180. Create Video Tutorials
Miscellaneous Side Hustle Ideas
These are the best side hustles that didn’t quite fit anywhere else, but they’re still legitimate ways to make money! From crowdfunding your creative projects to earning through Patreon, there are always new and evolving opportunities popping up.
I love including this section because the side hustle world is constantly changing. New platforms launch, new opportunities emerge, and what world for making money evolves. Stay open-minded and curious!
Some of these might seem unconventional, but that doesn’t mean they don’t work. Some of my most surprising income streams have come from trying “weird” opportunities that ended up being perfect for me!
Odd Side Hustles
Best for open-minded people, those willing to try unconventional approaches, and anyone who wants to explore emerging money-making opportunities.
181. Crowdfunding
182. Patreon
183. Scentsy and MLM Programs
I have to be completely transparent, I wasn’t sure if I should include this in the list, because MLMs like Scentsy exist, but you have to understand the risks and low success rates before joining.
In my opinio,n most people in MLMs lose money rather than make it, and I don’t recommend it, but it does exist as a side hustle. Is it really worth the time? I would skip this one.
184. Turn Your Basement into an Exercise Studio
185. Benable (Social Commerce)
I kept my best find for last, on Benable, you earn by sharing products on their social commerce platform, and I will try it out and write a separate blog post on my experience.
FAQ: Your Questions About the Best Side Hustles Answered
I get asked about the best side hustles all the time! Here are the most common questions I receive:
What are the best side hustles for beginners?
The best side hustles for beginners are ones that require little to no experience and have low startup costs.
My top recommendations are:
Online surveys – Literally anyone can do this
Virtual assistant work – If you’re organized and good with email
Freelance writing – If you can write clearly (you don’t need to be a professional)
Pet sitting or dog walking – Perfect if you love animals
Selling items you already own – Turn your clutter into cash
These side hustles are great because you can start making money within days, not months!
Which side hustles pay the most money?
The best side hustles for high income potential are:
1. Blogging – can earn from $5,000 to more than $50,000 PER MONTH (but takes 6-12 months to build)
2. Course creation – can earn $2,000 – $20,000+ per month with the right topic
3. Freelance writing – experienced writers earn $3,000 – $10,000+ per month
4. Social media management – $2,000 – $8,000+ per month for multiple clients
5. E-commerce/Amazon FBA – sky’s the limit, but requires significant investment
Keep in mind that the highest-paying side hustles usually require more time, skills, or upfront investment.
What are the best side hustles for working moms?
As someone who values flexibility, I know the best side hustles for busy moms need to fit around family life:
– Blogging – work during naptime or after bedtime
– Virtual assistant – choose your own hours
– Online tutoring – schedule sessions when it works for you
– Selling digital products – create once, sell repeatedly
– Freelance writing – work when you have time
The key is choosing side hustles that don’t require you to be “on” at specific times.
Can I really make $1,000+ per month with a side hustle?
Yes! Many of the best side hustles on this list can absolutely earn $1,000+ per month.
However, it’s important to set realistic expectations:
Lower effort side hustles (like surveys) earn between $50 – $200 per month
Medium effort side hustles (like freelancing) earn between $500 – $2,000 per month
High effort side hustles (blogging or creating courses) earn between $1,000 – $10K+
The more valuable the service or product you’re offering, the more money you can make!
How do I find time for a side hustle?
This is the #1 challenge! Here’s what worked for me:
1. I wake up 1 hour earlier – morning clarity is GOLDEN
2. I use my lunch break – even 30 minutes adds up
3. I cut back on social media – I only use it for inspiration, you’d be surprised how much time you’ll find
4. I work on weekends – I dedicate 4-6 hours now, and even more as a beginner
5. I use “dead time” during my commute, waiting rooms to finish my list of small tasks (I recommend you make a 5-year planner and break it down to months and weeks, and have a list of smaller tasks ready)
Remember: You don’t need 20 hours per week to start. Even 5 hours per week can generate extra income with the right side hustle!
Do I need to pay taxes on side hustle income?
Yes! This is important. In the US, any income over $400 from self-employment needs to be reported to the IRS and I recommend:
– Track all income and expenses on a spreadsheet or app like QuickBooks
– Set aside 25-30% for taxes and put this in a separate savings account
– Consider quarterly estimated taxes if you are earning significant income
– Hire a tax professional – worth every penny once you are making good money
Don’t let this scare you away from the best side hustles, just be prepared and stay organized, in any case, it’s just a sign that you are growing and earning. This is a good problem to have in life.
What side hustles can I start with no money?
Plenty! The best side hustles with zero startup costs include:
-Virtual assistant work
-Freelance writing
-Online tutoring
-Pet sitting (use your own home)
-Social media management
-Babysititing
-Online surveys and GPT sites
-Selling items you already own
You literally can start making money today with these options!
How long does it take to make money with a side hustle?
It depends on what the best side hustle is for you:
-Immediate (same day/week) with online surveys, pet sitting, babysitting, and delivery driving
-Quick (2-4 weeks) as a virtual assistant, freelance writing, selling on eBay/Poshmark
-Medium (1-3 months) with an Etsy shop, social media management, and online tutoring
-Long-term (6-12+ months) as a blogger, course creator, or building your own YouTube channel
The fastest-paying side hustles usually have lower income potential, while the slower building ones can eventually earn much more
My Top 11 Favorites from the 185 Best Side Hustles (And Why)
After researching all 185 best side hustles, here are my personal top 10 favorites based on income potential and my education about them, most of these I am already doing as I am writing this blog post:
1. Blogging
Blogging literally changed my life, and I’m not the dramatic one in my friend group! When I started, I was working it as a side hustle while working my full-time job. I’d wake up early, work during lunch breaks, and I was working on a cruise ship. After my 12-hour shifts, I would take my laptop and spend the nights on board building my blogs. Was it exhausting? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely, I wake up every day, and the thought of having something of my own that eventually will give me financial freedom keeps me going.
The thing about blogging is that it has unlimited income potential. You’re not trading hours for dollars – you’re building an asset that can generate income 24/7. I can write a blog post today that makes me money for years to come. That’s wild! Plus. you get to write about topics you’re passionate about, which makes it feel less like work.
I am not going to sugarcoat it though – blogging takes time to build. It took me more than 2 years to figure it out, but once it clicks, it can completely change your financial situation. The flexibility is amazing too. I can work from anywhere with WiFi. make my own schedule, and take time off when I need it.
If you’re patient, willing to learn, and love creating content, blogging should be at the top of your list. Some mommy bloggers earn more than $70,000+ per month. PER MONTH!
2. Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is like blogging’s cool younger sibling – you get paid way faster! While blogging might take months to see income, you can land your first freelance writing client and get paid within a few weeks.
What I love most is the variety. One day you’re writing about travel, the next day it’s personal finance, then maybe tech or health. I really love the content from Bella Dane on Substack (and all her socials), and she constantly shares how learning new things changes your self, and I have always been a girl who dreamed about studying business and marketing abroad, so having this career and writing content helped me learn about new topics, and how things work around me, things i would never thought about before. How cool is that?
3. Virtual Assistant
This is a side hustle that’s crazy in demand right now! I am a part of maybe 10 Facebook groups (just write VA’s or Virtual Assistants Remote to find a group and join), and there are small businesses, entrepreneurs, and busy professionals desperately looking for VAs for admin tasks, and they’re willing to pay well for it.
The best part? You don’t need fancy credentials or years of experience. If you’re organized, can manage emails, schedule appointments, and handle basic tasks, you can start immediately!
And the best best part? You love socia media? Become a social media VA. Good at bookkeeping? That’s your niche! Enjoy customer service? Huge demand there too.
All of this + you can work in your pajamas. There is a reason this is one of my faves.
4. Course Creation
This is the ultimate “create once, sell forever” side hustle! I created my first online course a while ago (To be honest it still isn’t as perfect as I want it to be, but will be published in 2026) but i know courses are generating income for years with minimal ongoing effort (minimal=smart marketing about it). That’s the power of passive income!
Here’s what people don’t realize: you don’t need to be an expert to create a course, you just need to know more about something than your target audience does. Can you teach someone how to use Excel? That’s a course! Know how to train dogs? Course! Good at meal prepping? Sounds like a course to me.
The income potential BLEW my mind. After the initial time investment of creating the course (which takes work, I won’t lie), you can sell it over and over again. You’re literally making money while you sleep and everytime you want to improve it, the community will love it even more!
It takes effort upfront. But if you have knowledge or skills, this is one of the best ways to monetize your expertise.
5. Print on Demand
Print on demand is the “business with benefits, no strings attached” if you know what I mean – you get all the benefits of selling products without any of the headaches lol. No buying inventory upfront, no storing boxes in your garage, no packaging, shipping and no dealing with customer service issues. The print on demand company handles everything!
All you do is create designs (or hire someone to create them) then upload them to platforms like Redbubble or Printify and boom – you’re in business. What happens next? When someone buys your design on a t-shirt, mug, or phone case, the company prints it, ships it, and you get a commission. Simple and sweet!
I love this side hustle because it’s truly passive income. You do the work once (you can see my pattern in my favorite side hustles) and then it can generate sales for months, plus, you can create as many designs as you want, and with that your income potential grows too!
Even if you’re not a designer yourself, you can hire freelancers on Fiverr to create designs for you and still make this profitable! (I love the benefits of Ai, but nothing compares to the human creative mind)
6. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing feels like the most natural way to make money because you are literally just recommending products you already use and love! I do this all the time anyway – telling friends about my favorite skincare products, kitchen gadgets and productivity apps. (I just shared Substack and my favorite creator earlier) With affiliate marketing I get paid for those recommendations, not all, but most of them have affiliate programs.
The beauty of this is you can combine it with almost any other side hustle. Blogger? Add affiliate links in the blog posts. Youtuber? Instagram Influencer? Share affiliate links in your bio! This is content creation’s soulmate in business.
The income potential is impressive, and i will not dwell too much on this, because the chances are, you already have heard about this, what i want to say though, real recognizes real, being genuine and building trust with your community, will make you more money than recommending everything and anything. Think about it, you recommend something you don’t believe in to a friend, they will get it once and never take your advice in the future again. Honesty goes a long way, the point of creation is not money, it’s having a genuine platform where you show up authentically as yourself every day.
Believe in something, and someone will believe in you too (not it, you).
7. Selling Digital Products
If you visit my shop, you will have an idea what this side hustle is all about. I love digital products because I created them once for myself and all I want this blog to be about is to:
1. To teach people with $0 how to get here with me just from my content and resources
2. If they want to save time, and not money to be able to get my exact tools and strategies and to monetize their own websites, just like me
To sum these two together, my blog to be everything i wish i had when i started, because it brings me so much happiness, learning and doing this, and i am just lucky to do it in front of a worldwide “audience”.
Digital products are my favorite type of passive income, because they are just pure profit (minus the small $14 Canva Pro trial i paid for). No manufacturing costs, no shipping, no storage – just download and deliver automatically!
It’s just such a genuine joy, to be able to make money from something you create yourself, plus apart from your website, you can sell them on different platforms – Etsy and maybe Gumroad.
8. Social Media Management
If you are already spending hours scrolling on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook, why not get paid for it? That’s essentially what social media management is – except you’re doing it for businesses who desperately need help being present online, the right way!
Social media never sleeps, new social media accounts are created daily and the demand is rising more and more, every day.
9. Amazon FBA
Fulfillment by Amazon is amazing because Amazon does all the heavy lifting. You find products to sell, send them to Amazon’s warehouse and they handle storage, shipping, customer service and returns. You just focus on finding profitable products and growing your cute business.
What excites me the most is the scalability. You can start small, maybe sell just a few products and grow it into a 6 figure business. I have seen this happen within a year.
The earning potential is truly unlimited if you’re willing to put in the work.
And yes, there’s upfront investment required (you need to buy inventory), and yes, there’s a learning curve, but don’t all real things in life require some type of a sacrifice? You don’t need to rush, start learning as a side hustle and once you feel ready, go for it!
I am entrepreneurial, love the idea of e-commerce, and if you are like me and have some money to invest upfront, and want to learn and adapt, this can be life-changing.
10. Benable (Social Commerce)
Is my latest discovery and i had to tell you more about it!
Okay, I saved the best (and newest!) discovery for last! I mean how did i not know about this app earlier? It’s this amazing platform where you literally earn money just by sharing products you already love. It’s like if Instagram shopping and affiliate marketing had a baby!
What makes it different than other platforms is that, you don’t need a huge following, you don’t need to be an “influencer” and you don’t need to create tons of content. You just share products you genuinely use and love, and when people buy with your links, you earn commission. It’s that simple!
Unlike other affiliate marketing where I needed to apply to programs, neet certain requirements and get approved, Benable is super easy to start sharing and earning right away + the aesthetic (very Pinterest vibes), i love spending time there!
I’m actually testing this out myself right now and will be writing a full detailed blog post about my experience with it. So far, I’m impressed and I will share my income reports in 6 months.
These are my absolute favorites from all 185 side hustles! And i want to give you my genuine advice, don’t think your way to income, just start, one small action today, even if that means you bookmarked 5 youtube tutorials for the side hustle of your choice, or messaged me about anything, a step forward is a step in the right direction
Mistakes I Did And You Want To Avoid with Side Hustles
In this blog post i’ve shared all things with rose-colored glasses, but it wasn’t always like this, I did ALL these mistakes, so here is what to avoid when choosing the best side hustle:
Mistake #1: Greed or Trying Too Many Things at Once
I see this ALL the time, and i would like to explain it as, we all have a friend that makes some questionable decisions whether in relationships, or life in general, and when it comes to giving advice we are the best, but when it comes to doing it ourselves, well, we don’t listen to our own advice.
I got excited and bought 5 domains, I wanted to do it all, genuinely, not for the money, but I wanted to go super niche, and i wanted to separate my personal blog with my career blog, and then maybe 5-10 additional ideas in my notes.
Doing too much, too early, simultaneously will get you overwhelmed, make you do none of them well, and quit everything.
So, i got back at square 1. Master ONE side hustle first, start earning, and then you will grow all the others much faster, because you know more.
Mistake #2: Expecting Money As Soon As You Start
The truth is, it takes 4 years of hard work, to “get lucky” and earn 1M in a month.
And yes, there is a list of quick side hustles, but even as a freelance writer, maybe you will need 2-4 weeks to find your first cliend, and if you blog like me, it usually takes 6 months+ to earn money that make a difference in your lifestyle.
My advice here is you focus on enjoying the process and think about who are you helping with your content, the income comes as a natural response from genuine help.
Mistake #3: Not knowing your numbers
You NEED to track your finances to know if your side hustle is actually profitable! Track every dollar earned and spent
QuickBooks helps, but also you can keep it simple like me at the beginning with Excel.
Mistake #4: Choosing Based on Money Alone
Yes, of course income matters, but if you hate what you’re doing you likely won’t stick with it long enough to see results.
Find the middle ground, or better yet, monetize your interests.
Mistake #5: Not Setting Boundaries
Side hustles can take over your life if you allow them, they can quickly turn into 12 hour shifts and no time for family, friends and quality meals and sleep.
There is a reason why 9-5 exists and there is a specific schedule to follow, do the same for your side hustle, set specific working hours and stick to them.
A simple planner will work. This is the one I use <3
Mistake #6: Giving Up Too Soon
Mistake #6: Giving Up Too Soon
I know you have seen the image with 2 people mining for diamonds and one giving up, when the next swing is abundance of diamonds waiting to be found. Most people do the same, they quit before they would have succeeded – they try something for 2-3 weeks, they don’t see results and they go back to working for someone else’s “side hustle”.
DO NOT GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS, the only way to fail is to give up.
Start a planner, mark 90 days, commit to doing something for your side hustle for 90 days minimum, then evaluate and adapt.
My Final Words for You Before Your Side Hustle Journey Begins
I’ve covered 185 best side hustles in this guide – and honestly, there are probably even more out there, even though i spent almost 3 weeks writing this blog post. The truth is, there is always gonna be the “next best side hustle idea” because the world of making extra money is always growing.
What i want you to remember is that the best side hustles aren’t necessarily the ones that make most money, but the ones that – fit your lifestyle, align with your skills and interests, help you reach YOUR financial goals and bring you satisfaction (or at least don’t make you miserable if you need extra money short-term).
How i would think about side hustles if i were in your place right now:
Create a table in excel with 3 columns – Where i am, Where do i want to be and How will i get there? Then think about your bank account and fill in the first and the third box, then in the next roll make it personal, be realistic, if you are renting with roommates looking at an empty fridge fill that in, and for the third column, erase your limiting beliefs (if you have them), then do the same with your career, think about your job experiences so far and your dream job, then go through this list or make your own additional research and make a your own little personal list of side hustle that will align your career with your dream life and bank account.
When i started my side hustle journey, i was drowning in student expenses and living paycheck to paycheck. The student cycle of work for a job that pays for my lifestyle, but couldn’t switch to marketing which was my passion because I never earned from this, back in the day.
I tried and tried, some failed completely and others earned me a few hundred dollars, but most importantly this journey led me to find my alignment, marketing, content creation and the lifestyle i want for myself and for my family.
Your journey will be unique to you – so maybe you even want to start sharing it since day 1 – like i am. Have in mind though, what works for me might not work for you, and that’s perfectly okay! The most important thing to do today is to START.
I challenge you to pick ONE side hustle from this list of 185 best side hustles and take action on it THIS WEEK, not next month, not from Monday and not “when you have more time.” This week.
Mark it in your planner (not on Excel, physical planner, for some reason this commitment really stays and makes you keep your word). Sign up for one platform. Send one pitch to a potential client. List one item for sale. Create one piece of content. Just do ONE thing to move forward.
Because the truth is, a year from now, you’ll wish you had started today.
You’ve got this! And remember – I’m cheering you on every step of the way, and my inbox is always open.
On this subject let me share one of the first quotes i saw on a shirt, it was a hoodie actually, a random stranger was standing at the reception opposite of the store i was working at, and it said:
The best time to start was years ago, the next best time to start is now.
What’s your favorite side hustle?
I would LOVE to hear from you! Have you tried any of these side hustles? Which ones are most interested in starting? Do you have a side hustles that’s not on this list? Have you done something similar with a planner?
Let me know in the comments, i read every single one and love learning more from your experiences too.
Happy side hustling!
