November 19, 2024
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Kari is a writer for SideHustles.com. She previously managed a website in the privacy and digital compliance industry and...
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ConsultingPicking up a side hustle can be a great way to bring in extra money, beef up your resume with new skills, and sometimes even have a good time. No matter who you are, there’s a side hustle for you.
Whether you’re looking for something active that will take you out of the house, an easy job you can do online, or even a passive-income hustle that will net you extra funds without requiring much work at all, we’ve put together a list of the absolute best side hustle ideas you can try today.
Average rates: $20–$50 per hour
Work environment: Remote
Startup time: Fast
Freelance writing is one of the most common side hustles. Businesses everywhere (and of every kind) need people to write articles, copy, or even social media posts. The best part is that anyone can become a freelance writer, even with no special training or previous experience. You just need to have a way with words.
You might not be able to bring in the big bucks when you’re just starting out, but as you gain more experience and fill out your portfolio, you can steadily increase your rates.
Make sure to leverage any experience you have in a particular industry (e.g., medical, legal, tech) to earn higher rates off the bat—you can get paid more for writing that requires specialized knowledge.
Average rates: $15–$20 per hour
Work environment: Remote
Startup time: Fast
This is a great choice for side hustlers who are keen to make money from home. Data entry is a relatively straightforward gig. Essentially, it consists of transferring information from one format to another, which is usually a simple matter of uploading and organizing raw data into a spreadsheet or database.
This work can be done on your own time, from the comfort of your home, and in solitude, which makes it an ideal side hustle for introverts.
Average rates: $15–$25 per hour
Work environment: Remote
Startup time: Fast
If you enjoy having a varied workday and like the satisfaction of ticking items off a to-do list, becoming a virtual assistant is the perfect way for you to pad your bank account on the side.
As a virtual assistant, you’ll help a business or individual out with its everyday operations. That may include project management, managing a calendar, organizing events, and much more. Jobs vary hugely in this space, giving you the freedom to take on work that appeals to your know-how or your interests.
Average rates: $15–$25 per hour
Work environment: Remote
Startup time: Fast
Transcription consists of listening to an audio or video file and writing down what you hear. Because you’ll be working alone, transcription can be done on your own time and from whatever location works best for you.
You don’t need any special qualifications or licenses to get into this side hustle—you just need to be quick with a keyboard. That said, you should leverage any industry experience you have to find the best jobs for you. For example, legal transcription often pays more than general transcription, and you can earn more if you’re familiar with the law and the legal industry’s jargon.
Average rates: $25–$35 per hour or $.02–$0.03 per word
Work environment: Remote
Startup time: Fast
Proofreading is when you read a piece of content and look for mistakes or inconsistencies in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and style.
Unlike writers and editors, proofreaders don’t make major changes to content. They just make minor tweaks here and there to polish it. This means that even if you don’t consider yourself a wordsmith, proofreading could still be a good freelancing avenue for you.
Average rates: Varies, $100+ per hour
Work environment: Flexible (remote or in-person)
Startup time: Slow
Use your skills, knowledge, and experience to help others by working as a freelance consultant. There are consulting roles in all industries, so you can find work no matter where your expertise lies.
As a consultant, you’ll discuss problems and plans with clients and give them advice or draft roadmaps, solutions, or action plans.
Consulting can be very rewarding—professionally and financially—and it makes a great addition to your resume.
Average rates: $15–$30 per hour
Work environment: Flexible (remote or in-person)
Startup time: Fast
Teaching and tutoring are very versatile side hustles. You can teach classes remotely (e.g., over Zoom) or in person.
You can teach a wide variety of subjects, including math, music, art, and English as a second language (ESL)—whatever you happen to be good at and interested in.
Average rates: $5–$50 per hour
Work environment: Remote
Startup time: Usually fast
In today’s gig economy, there’s a market for almost every type of service. If you have a special skillset—whether it’s graphic design, SEO, web development, blueprinting, or something else—you’ll be able to find clients online and work for them on a freelance basis.
The key is to find jobs that match your schedule and the time and effort you’re able to commit. Luckily, using middleman platforms that allow you to specify your services and rates gives you a lot of control over your side hustle, making online service-providing an ideal way to pad your income.
Average rates: Varies
Work environment: Remote
Startup time: Fast
Website owners and developers are constantly releasing new or updated products, and they’re willing to pay users like you for their feedback. All this job entails is using a site or app, then providing feedback on the experience.
To increase your chances of qualifying for jobs and raise your earning potential, look for testing opportunities aimed at your specific demographic. For instance, if you’re a 30-year-old man, you can look for jobs that specify that they’re looking for male testers in the 18–35 age range.
Average rates: Varies
Work environment: Usually remote
Startup time: Medium
On a similar note, you can also get paid to test physical products, such as food and beverages, cosmetics, and cleaning supplies. There are lots of businesses that will pay you to test their own items, as well as third-party companies that will send you products on behalf of their clients. Either way, they’ll pay you for your feedback.
Be aware that, while it’s possible to make real money with this side hustle, sometimes your main (or only) payment will be the products you receive. Make sure to check the terms of the agreement before you commit to anything to make sure you’re happy with your compensation.
Average rates: 93.5% of the sale price (on Etsy)
Work environment: Flexible (remote or in-person)
Startup time: Medium
For many people, a side hustle isn’t just a way to make extra money. It’s also a way to hone a skill and enjoy a hobby that it might not be practical to turn into a full-time career.
If you’re a creative who wants to convert your hobby into a profit-making enterprise, consider selling handmade crafts.
There’s a market for all manner of handmade goods, including bath products, jewelry, artwork, woodwork, needlepoints, and more. You can sell your goods at farmer’s markets or craft fairs or post them online.
Average rates: $3–$15 per printable
Work environment: Remote
Startup time: Fast
Another great way to exercise your creative prowess and bring in spare change is to create and sell printables online.
Printables are downloadable, customizable forms that serve a certain purpose (e.g., meal plans, reading journals, schedules, etc.). The printables market has really taken off in recent years, so get in now before the space gets too crowded.
To make your printables, you’ll need to use design software like Canva, Adobe Photoshop, or Templett.
Average rates: Varies, often around $100 per month
Work environment: Flexible (remote or in-person)
Startup time: Fast
Another booming side hustle at the moment, flipping is a fun and easy way to make some extra money (although not as much as some of the other hustles on this list).
The idea is simple—you just resell used clothing. While you can sell your own worn clothing and make some money, you can create a more consistent revenue stream by finding and reselling other people’s used garments.
Shops around at flea markets, garage sales, bargain bins, and on virtual stores like eBay to find steals. Then, clean them, mend them if needed, and post them for sale online.
Average rates: Varies depending on the popularity of your content
Work environment: Remote
Startup time: Fast (but slow to monetize)
Blogging is one of the quintessential side hustles. It’s trickier than it once was, but it remains a potential way to boost your monthly income.
The blogging space is very crowded (and therefore competitive), meaning you’ll need to write from a unique viewpoint or on a niche topic to stand out. It goes without saying that you also need to be an engaging writer with an interesting voice.
If you’re able to find an audience, you can make money from blogging in various ways, including through affiliate deals and ads.
Average rates: Varies depending on the popularity of your content
Work environment: Remote
Startup time: Fast (but slow to monetize)
Similar to blogging, YouTube content creation is a very competitive side hustle, since so many people want to get into it. However, if you’re able to nail down a niche and you have something unique to share with the world, you can make a good chunk of change and have fun doing it.
To get into this side hustle, you’ll need a certain amount of equipment, including a decent-quality microphone and (usually) a camera, as well as video editing software.
Average rates: Varies
Work environment: Usually in-person
Startup time: Medium
Show off your artist’s eye by taking up a photography side hustle. Whether you’re interested in portraits, landscapes, event photography, or even taking stock photos, you can turn your hobby into a high-paying gig.
You need the right equipment and photo editing software to get off the ground, so this one isn’t for just any side hustler. It’s best to try it out if you have a preexisting interest in photography and already have some of the tools and skills you’ll need.
Average rates: $10–$20 per hour
Work environment: In-person
Startup time: Fast
If your day job keeps you inside all day, a side hustle in the sunshine might be exactly what you’re looking for. Enjoy the outdoors, get some exercise, and spend time with furry friends by becoming a dog walker.
Dog walkers are usually hired for half-hour to one-hour walks. You have the freedom to set your own hours and work exactly as much as you want, so this is a very flexible side gig.
Average rates: $10–$30 per hour
Work environment: In-person
Startup time: Fast
For people who love children, few side hustles beat the tried-and-true babysitting gig. The US is currently facing a childcare shortage that leaves a lot of room for people who want to pick up extra income and help out families in need.
You can find work locally through friends, family, neighbors, and your community, or you can use one of several online babysitting services to find openings in your area.
Average rates: $15–$30 per hour
Work environment: In-person
Startup time: Fast
For the green thumbs and handy people out there, put your backyard skills to good use by doing freelance lawn maintenance. This can include gardening, raking, pool cleaning, gutter cleaning, mowing, and more.
This hustle is easy to set up, whether you choose to work through a service or independently. You can use an app to book gigs, or just put the word out locally about your services and handle booking and payments on your own.
Average rates: $10–$50 per hour
Work environment: In-person
Startup time: Fast
This hustle takes a bit of elbow grease, but it’s definitely worth it for the right person. Become a house cleaner to make decent money for a few hours of work each week and enjoy some meditative alone time.
Like dog walking, this is a good option for the desk jockeys out there who want to fit more movement into their weeks while supplementing their incomes.
Average rates: $10–$20 per hour
Work environment: In-person
Startup time: Medium
Get your tan on (and maybe even save a life) by taking up a lifeguarding side hustle. This one is a perfect side hustle for college students or new adults who want to rake in cash in the summertime to help take them through the year.
You’ll need basic lifeguard training, but the skills you’ll learn (like CPR) are hugely valuable and can help you land other side hustles in the future (e.g., CPR instructing, babysitting, etc.).
Average rates: $10–$20 per hour
Work environment: In-person
Startup time: Medium
If you love kids and nature, this is the perfect side hustle for you. Camp counseling is often seasonal (limited to the summer), so you can grind out three months of extra work to help round out your funds for the rest of the year.
Camp counseling positions vary greatly, so look for one that fits your schedule. If you don’t have the time to commit to a sleepaway camp, look into day camps or weekend camps like educational, sports, church, arts, or music camps.
Average rates: $15–$25 per hour
Work environment: In-person
Startup time: Fast
Show off those muscles and help people start the next chapters of their lives by taking up a side gig as a mover. A moving side hustle doesn’t require anything other than your strength and willingness to get a little sweaty.
Helping people move is an especially good side hustle if you’re in an area with lots of students, who often move at least yearly. Get ready to be busy during the summer months.
Average rates: Varies
Work environment: In-person
Startup time: Fast
Serve your local community and reel in some extra dollars by doing odd jobs for your neighbors. Use a task service that aligns with what you’re good at or like to do, and find small jobs you can perform and errands you can run in your area when you have free time.
Average rates: $20–$30 per hour
Work environment: In-person
Startup time: Fast
Tons of people make money driving for Uber or Lyft in their spare time, making it one of the most popular side hustles out there. If you like being behind the wheel, taking trips around town, and meeting new people, ridesharing is definitely worth considering.
Keep in mind that this hustle’s popularity has made it more competitive, and you’ll need a decent vehicle (or the money to rent one, which will eat into your profits). When you get into this side hustle, make sure to budget appropriately for your expenses, such as gas, vehicle maintenance, and taxes.
Average rates: $15–$20 per hour
Work environment: In-person
Startup time: Fast
If you like driving but don’t love interacting with people, making deliveries could be the perfect solution. Delivery drivers are tasked with picking up and dropping off orders of food, groceries, or personal items.
Most deliveries are left at the door, so you won’t be making small talk throughout your day like you may need to for other side hustles (such as rideshare driving).
Average rates: $10–$20 per hour
Work environment: In-person
Startup time: Fast
Another great side hustle for introverts, pet sitting is an easy way to make money while doing relatively little work. As a sitter, you’ll usually stop by someone’s home a couple times per day to feed their pets.
You might also be expected to play with them or exercise them (e.g., by taking dogs for walks). If so, adjust your rates accordingly.
Average rates: $10–$20 per hour
Work environment: In-person
Startup time: Fast
House sitting is, if anything, even easier than pet sitting. Usually, all you have to do is visit someone’s home while they’re out of town and perform small chores, such as collecting their mail and watering their plants. That’s really all there is to it.
Note that sometimes, house sitting gigs aren’t actually paid. Instead of receiving an hourly rate, your “payment” might simply be being allowed to spend the night at the property in question. This can be a good way to save money when you’re traveling, since it lets you avoid staying in hotels. Still, be sure you understand how you’ll be compensated before you take each gig.
Average rates: Often $20–$25 per day
Work environment: Mostly remote
Startup time: Fast
Don’t let your car rust if you aren’t using it. Instead, turn your time away from the wheel into easy money by renting out your vehicle.
You can rent it out for a couple hours here and there or for entire days, depending on your needs. The people you can rent it to include travelers, commuters, and even commercial drivers.
If you’re comfortable with someone adjusting your mirrors and taking your car for a spin, this is a very easy and low-effort way to pad your wallet.
Average rates: Varies depending on what you’re renting
Work environment: Flexible (remote or in-person)
Startup time: Fast
Renting out your extra space is another great passive side hustle. You can earn money for renting your:
The best side hustle is one that works for you. If you love grinding to make as much money as quickly as possible, that’s your best side hustle. If you prefer more leisurely work that brings in consistent dough, that’s your best side hustle. If you prefer to be outdoors, indoors, working with people, all alone in your basement tapping on a computer or crafting something with your hands, that’s your best side hustle.
Start a side hustle you love. The worst is one that you don’t enjoy and can’t follow through with.
If you want that type of side hustle news, go to TikTok. But good luck, because nearly 1 in 7 videos you watch will be at best wrong, or at worst, a scam. For instance, plenty of people will try to sell you courses about how to start a new side hustle, like “social media management.” Once you buy the course, you’ll realize that they’re actually just teaching you how to sell their course to other people. This is called a pyramid scheme. Think about it. The need to sell courses generally defies logic—if their work is so profitable, why do they need to sell courses?
Yes, there are new, interesting, and potentially lucrative side hustles in this new AI-world, but there’s no such thing as extremely easy money with a “best” side hustle. The keyword is hustle—don’t forget that!
Alright, you forced our hands. Below, we’ve categorized side hustles that may be best for you depending on your life situation, your skills, your profession, or how you prefer to work.
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16. Social media management
Average rates: $20–$50 per hour
Work environment: Remote
Startup time: Medium
Use your social media prowess to become a freelance social media manager. In this role, you’ll be in charge of keeping up with the latest trends, planning campaigns for your clients, creating content, and scheduling posts.
Tons of businesses hire freelance social media managers, including ones who are only expected to work a few hours each day or week.
Where to get started