Side hustle ideas: there are so many of them.
Every side gig looks good and promising, but the question stands: Which one is the right fit for you?
Deciding to side hustle is one thing; choosing the right side hustle is another challenge.
A decade ago, choosing a side hustle meant looking at maybe 10 or 20 options available at that time. But now, with the boom of side hustles, you have a vast choice, which makes it much tougher to find the right one. You need to focus on choosing the right one for you because it will matter a lot.
Side hustle ideas for extra money in 2024
#1. Test websites
This is perfect as an occasional gig as the workflow is not very continuous. You don’t need to be a technical nerd to test websites. The work involves browsing websites to test their functionality and user experience.
You will need a computer with a good internet connection, headphones, and a webcam to become a website tester.
How to get started:
Sign up for Trymata or Userfeel here.
#2. Surveys
Doing surveys is another good option if you require extra income and a backup gig while you hustle with another side job. Though surveys might not pay much, they are great for break times. Apart from surveys, you can also watch videos, play games, shop online, or just browse the web to earn extra money.
How to get started:
My most recommended surveys worth your time are Survey Junkie, InboxDollars, and Branded Surveys.
Recommended reading:
- Is Survey Junkie Legit or Scam? My Honest Review after Testing This Survey Site
- InboxDollars Review 2024: Is InboxDollars Legit & Safe? Let’s Find Out
- Branded Surveys Review – Is It a Scam or a Legit Survey Panel?
#3. Ridesharing
Ridesharing is a popular choice for those who want to get out of the house and love meeting people. Having a car in good condition, with a valid driver’s license and insurance are the basic requirements to rideshare.
How to get started:
Become an independent driver with companies like Uber and Lyft.
Recommended reading:
Related:
- Why You Need to Have a Side Hustle
- 6 Questions to Ask to Pick Your Perfect Side Hustle
- Best Tips to Juggle Your Side Hustle and Full-Time Job
#4. PetSitting
Petsitting is an easy way to make money taking care of pets. This hustle is famous, especially among students, along with other flexible online jobs. You do not need any qualifications to start this side hustle but having some experience does help.
How to get started:
Sign up for Rover to start your petsitting gig.
#5. Rent your stuff
Renting your stuff is a passive income for those looking to earn easy money. You can rent anything from your car to your kids’ toys. Just sign up for companies like Turo for renting your car and Fat Llama for all the other stuff.
How to get started:
You can sign up for Fat Llama here.
#6. House sitting
Do you fancy visiting new places but worry about the accommodation costs? You can be a house sitter, enjoy your travel, and still earn money. House sitting is another great way to cut your costs if you love traveling and want a place to stay. House sitters don’t get paid all the time, they prefer to take care of the house in return for the food and free stay.
How to get started:
You can find house sitting gigs in places like MindMyHouse, Nomador, HouseSitMatch.com.
Recommended reading:
#7. Product tester
Product testing is another side gig that gives you free products plus some extra cash. Product testers are recruited by companies to test their new products and give feedback before releasing them into the market.
How to get started:
If you are keen on taking up product testing, try these legit companies that hire product testers online.
#8. Sell textbooks
You can earn good cash selling textbooks online. This is one of the easiest side gigs that you can do online and earn money. I am sure many of us have old textbooks that we don’t read anymore.
How to get started:
You can sell these books online in places like BookScouter, Decluttr, BooksRun, etc.
Recommended reading:
- BookScouter Review – Make Extra Cash Selling Old Books with This Awesome App
- Decluttr Review – The Best Way to Turn Your Junk into Money
- 13 Top Websites to Sell Textbooks Online in 2024
#9. Participate in paid research studies
User Interviews is one of the legit and high-paying market research platforms offering a wide range of studies. You can choose one-on-one, online, phone studies. Depending on the length of the studies you can earn up to $200 per study.
How to get started:
Sign up for User Interviews with all your details like age, work details, marital status, income, etc. to get studies suitable to you.
Recommended reading:
#10. Food delivery
Delivering food is one of the easiest and fast-paying side hustles out there. All you need is a valid driver’s license, a car, a scooter, or a bicycle (you can even walk and deliver food for some companies). The pay ranges from $10 to $25 per hour depending on your location and how much time you work.
How to get started:
Sign up for DoorDash or Instacart to start making money.
Recommended reading:
- DoorDash Driver Review 2024: Is DoorDash Worth It & How Much It Pays
- Instacart Shopper Review: Earn Money Shopping for Groceries
#11. Rent your backyard
Do you have a big backyard? If you answered yes, then that’s your ticket to earning extra money. Sniffspot is one of the best side hustle ideas that gives you passive income. All you have to do is rent your backyard to dog owners. Many dog owners don’t have enough space for their pets to play around. Sniffspot helps connect people with big backyards like you with dog owners.
How to get started:
Sign up for Sniffspot here.
#12. Sell your clothes
Did you know that you can sell your old clothes and get good money? With Poshmark you can sell your new and used clothes easily without much hassle. Just keep in mind to take good photos, write good descriptions, and factor in seller fees when listing your price.
How to get started:
Sign up for Poshmark here.
#13. Play games online
How cool is playing games and earning money? I am sure everyone loves playing games, and the easiest way to make money doing this is by signing up for Swagbucks. Just watch the videos on the loop and earn Swagbucks which you can redeem for gift cards or cash.
If you are more serious about playing games, then you can sign up for channels like Twitch and play games with your audience. Having a good follower base and engaging your audience is vital to becoming good at playing on Twitch.
How to get started:
If you are looking for extra income, sign up for Swagbucks ($5 bonus). Sign up for Twitch if you want to up your game-playing skills.
#14. Get paid to walk
Who would have thought walking could give you money? Well, HealthyWage does. This is one of the best side hustle ideas that gives you money and keeps you fit. HealthyWage works on the premise that you bet your weight loss goals, and if you win the bet you get the prize money.
How to get started:
Sign up for HealthyWage to earn money and reach your weight loss goal.
Recommended reading:
#15. Become a tour guide
If you know every nook and corner of your city then becoming a tour guide is a perfect side hustle for you. Alexandra Kenin started her tour guide business as a side hustle, and now it’s a thriving side gig. Learn more about becoming a tour guide in this interview.
How to get started:
Check out this post on how you can start as a tour guide in your city.
#16. Rent your spare room
Renting a spare room is one of the best side hustle ideas if you are looking for passive income. Just list your space on Airbnb with good photos, description, price, and availability. Being one of the largest platforms for renting your home/space, Airbnb gives you the security of $1M property damage and liability insurance. You can decide the pricing, and Airbnb takes only a 3% service fee.
On average, Airbnb hosts earn around $500 to $800 per month depending on the place and accommodation.
How to get started:
Sign up to become a host on Airbnb.
#17. Become an online stylist
Having a good sense of fashion and the latest trends is what you need to become an online stylist with Stitch Fix. The work is simple, you have to choose the clothes according to the clients’ preferences and budget, and send them to the clients.
Stitch fix stylists earn around $15 to $20 depending on the number of clients you have.
How to get started:
Sign up for Stitch Fix and use your styling skills to earn money.
#18. Rate search engine results
Companies like Lionbridge hire side gig workers to rate search engine results. As a rater, you will be matching the relevancy of search results to the user intent. Though the job sounds technical, you don’t need any experience to apply for this side hustle.
This is a very flexible and good-paying hustle that’s perfect for stay-at-home moms, students, retirees, etc. Once you apply online, you need to take an assessment.
Depending on the country you apply from, the pay differs.
How to get started:
Sign up with your details and résumé here.
#19. Become a mystery shopper
Mystery shopping is one of the most fun side hustles. Who doesn’t like shopping? As a mystery shopper, you will be given assignments that can include doing normal shopping at certain times and dates. Sometimes the mystery shopping gigs are rewarded with products or food. There are many legit companies like BestMark, Perception Strategies that hire mystery shoppers all the time.
How to get started:
Sign up for the companies listed above and wait for the right opportunities.
#20. Rent your car
Another easy way to earn passive income is to rent your car. If you have a car and want to earn money from it, head over to Turo. Listing your car on Turo is literally at your fingertips; just sign up and enter all the details. Turo will set your daily price according to the market price, or you can set your own rate and mileage.
All the customers are screened before getting accepted, and you have $1M liability insurance with 24/7 support. You earn around 65% to 85% of the trip price and get paid within five days via direct deposit.
How to get started:
Sign up for Turo with all your details.
#21. Babysit
Babysitting is another easy side hustle that gives you good extra income. This is a perfect job for students to start earning even before they get into their mainstream careers.
Babysitting jobs can pay up to $10 to $15 per hour depending on the location.
How to get started:
Companies like Care.com offer babysitting jobs, and you can sign up online easily.
#22. Become a personal trainer
Did you know that if you love being fit and train regularly, this can be your money-making side hustle? Yes, it can. There are two ways to start this side hustle, you can either start off spreading the word to your family and friends or you can get certified and start training clients in gyms.
On average, gym trainers earn around $20 to $30 per hour. This is one of the side hustle ideas that have the potential to turn into a profitable business. Just look at Kyla Itsines!
How to get started:
You can get certified via The National Commission for certifying agencies and start your personal trainer business.
#23. Sell your photographs
Photography is considered as one of the most profitable creative talents. This is a self-taught craft that can give you a good income if you put in the work. You can make money with photography in many ways like selling your prints, conducting workshops, creating courses, collaborating with brands, etc.
How to get started:
You can start by promoting your work on social media or start a photography blog. If you are a beginner, then try these courses on Skillshare or Udemy.
#24. Become a chat agent
Being a chat agent means you will be communicating and resolving customer issues via chat, email, or phone. With so many companies having a digital presence, chat agent jobs are increasing in the work-from-home industry and, you can apply if you have some experience in customer service.
How to get started:
Prepare a good résumé and apply to companies like Concentrix, LiveWorld, The Chat Shop, etc.
#25. Become a researcher
If you have excellent research skills, you can do part-time research jobs online and earn extra money. Many companies hire online researchers. The income can range from $5 to $100 depending on the company and project you work for.
How to get started:
Sign up for websites like JustAnswer, Wonder, and 10EQS to earn money as a researcher.
Invest In Real Estate:
Investing in real estate could be scary for many beginners but apps like Stash or Acorns make it easier for everyone to get started in real estate. You can invest as much or as little as you want to depending on your goals.
How to get started:
Sign up for Stash here to start your investment portfolio.
#26. Write résumés
Are you great at crafting résumés? This could be your money-making side hustle idea. Résumés are a vital part of getting a job and many people struggle to create a good résumé. You can start a résumé writing gig if you have the skill to create and format a good résumé that highlights the applicant’s experience, qualifications, and expertise in a way that suits the company’s requirements. Résumé writers can earn around $30 to $40 per hour, and this rate goes up depending on your experience.
How to get started:
You can look for entry-level résumé writing gigs on Fiverr or Upwork. Websites like Résumé Writing Lab and Talent Inc. hire experienced résumé writers.
#27. Design T-shirts
If you are the creative type and love designing, then try your hand at designing T-shirts. It’s a very easy side hustle to start, and you can get paid good money to design T-shirts. Keep in mind that many companies accept your designs only if you win certain challenges.
How to get started:
Use websites like Teespring, CafePress, TeePublic to start selling your designs.
High-paying side hustles
#28. Virtual assisting
As a virtual assistant, you will be helping businesses with things like social media management, writing, editing, website design, marketing, email management, graphic design, and much more. Virtual assisting is a very diverse side hustle with the potential to become a good business. Check out this interview I did with Gina Horkey (the VA diva) and learn more about this side job.
How to get started:
If you are keen on learning what services you can offer as a VA, here is a massive list of them.
Recommended reading:
- 13 Best Virtual Assistant Jobs for Beginners in 2024
- How to Work from Home as a Pinterest Virtual Assistant
#29. Home staging
Home staging is for all the creative types. With this job, you will be doing your best to make houses look stellar for selling. As a home stager, you will be styling houses that are on the market, and this hustle pays really well.
How to get started:
Learn how to start your own home staging business in this interview.
#30. Bookkeeping
Do you like working with numbers? Bookkeeping is one of the best side hustles that anyone can start. A bookkeeper records the daily financial transactions, prepares statements for accountants, reconciles bank accounts, etc. You don’t need any experience or expertise to become a bookkeeper.
How to get started:
If this sounds interesting to you, then here is a short webinar on starting your own bookkeeping business.
Recommended reading:
#31. Proofreading
Love finding errors in documents? If you answered yes, then consider taking up proofreading as a side hustle. It’s a high-paying and super flexible side gig that can turn into a successful business. You can work as much or as little as you want in this biz.
How to get started:
Find out if this is the side gig for you in this webinar.
Recommended reading:
#32. Blogging
Blogging is my passion and it’s something that has shown me how a side hustle can turn into a profitable business. There are no skills required to become a blogger but you need to know your niche and be ready to learn.
How to get started:
Here is a detailed post about how to start a blog.
Recommended reading:
#33. Freelance writer
If you got a penchant for writing, then becoming a freelance writer is your thing. You can get freelance writing gigs in places like Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer.com. Many freelance writers begin their careers in these places and build their businesses. Holly shares how to become a freelance writer and earn over $200,000 a year in this post.
How to get started:
Learn more about earning a six-figure income as a freelance writer with this course.
Recommended reading:
- 18 Places to Find Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners
- Get Paid to Write Reviews – 10 Scam-Free Ways to Extra Money
#34. Flipping
This might come as a surprise to you but flea market flipping is a high-paying side hustle. All you need is the eye for finding treasures in junk and the skill to make it new. This is a perfect side hustle for someone who is interested in visiting weekend markets or garage sales for things to remodel.
How to get started:
Check out this post for more information about flipping flea market items.
#35. Etsy seller
How fun is selling creative printables online? This side hustle gives you the creative freedom to design and sell printables on Etsy and make money on the side. You can use tools like Canva or PicMonkey to design your creations. There is no limit to the number of things you design like wall art, greeting cards, tags, quotes, etc.
How to get started:
Learn more about selling printables on Etsy in this interview.
#36. Sell baby stuff
As a mom, I know that having kid stuff that we no longer use adds to the clutter. Babyquip is a website that lets you rent your baby stuff easily without much hassle and gives you a chance to make money passively.
This baby stuff is usually rented by visitors or tourists who need things like a car seat, strollers, pram, etc. All you have to do is deliver the things to Airbnbs, rental homes, or private residences.
How to get started:
Here is how you can get started with this passive income gig.
#37. Pinterest virtual assistant
Do you consider yourself a Pinterest wiz? If you create amazing Pinterest pins and know the ins and outs of this social media platform, the Pinterest virtual assistant is your calling. Pinterest VAs have many services they can provide and can earn around $150 to $400 per client depending on the services.
How to get started:
Kristin Larsen shares more about how to become a Pinterest VA in this post.
#38. Voice acting
Voice acting is one of the easy side gigs you can start if you have a creative voice. A voice actor lends his or her voice to ads, cartoons, events, announcements, etc. These side gigs require you to modulate and train voice at different levels. You also need to have equipment like headphones, a pop filter, and a home studio to start voice acting.
How to get started:
You can find voice-over jobs on websites like BunnyStudio, Voices.com, Filmless, etc.
#39. Sell dog treats
If you are a baking pro and love making sweet treats for the furries, then consider selling dog treats as a side gig. Kristin shares how she got started with selling dog treats and made it into a profitable side business. The things you need to start this gig are an investment for the raw materials and a business license depending on the place.
How to get started:
You can sign up for course here or spread the word about your side gig on social media.
#40. Become a translator
If you are bilingual and want a side job, try online translation jobs. You don’t need a degree to become a translator but having good fluency is required.
How to get started:
You can get started with short gigs on Fiverr or Upwork to gain experience before you apply to companies like Smartling, Gengo, WorldLingo, and more.
Recommended reading:
#41. Tutor online
Tutoring online is one of the easy side gigs many students, stay-at-home moms take up because it’s very flexible. You can teach specialized subjects like maths, science, psychology, geography, etc. or go with simple English. Most of the companies need a bachelor’s degree and some casual experience in teaching or tutoring. For specialized subjects, you need to have teaching experience in the subjects you choose to teach.
How to get started:
Here is a big list of companies that hire tutors online.
#42. Amazon FBA
Just like flipping, selling things online with Amazon FBA is a breeze if you know how to find good things to sell. The biggest advantage with Amazon FBA is you don’t store the items and all the customer service is handled by Amazon. Selling items on the biggest marketplace has its perks!
#43. Create courses
Creating courses is a super profitable side gig if you have expertise in a niche/subject. You can create online courses on topics like home decor, blogging, digital marketing, photography, cooking, and many more. The list is endless.
How to get started:
You can start creating courses on platforms like Thinkific, Kajabi, Teachable making it very easy to create courses online.
Bonus places to find side hustle ideas
#44. FlexJobs
FlexJobs is one the best job boards that have many flexible jobs including full-time, part-time, freelance, and remote. It has over 50 different categories of jobs with amazing resources like résumé help, career counseling, interview tips, etc.
This is one of the legit online resources for anyone looking for a job online. You can sign up for FlexJobs with the code AFFILPROMO to get 30% off. That’s just $4 per month on the yearly subscription!
#45. Steady app
If you are in search of side hustles and want to find them quickly, there is nothing better than the Steady app. Founded in 2017 to help people find legit side hustles and flexible jobs, this app has a strong user base of 4 million members. According to its website, the Steady app has helped its members earn $5,000 or more per year. It also has additional earning opportunities like income boosters and grants for people in need.
Sign up for this free app to get started with your new side hustle today!
Tips to start searching for side hustle ideas:
#1. Understand that everything takes time
Sometimes a side hustle can be successful in no time, and sometimes it could take ages for you to find your hustle. Having the patience to build your hustle and strategically grow it can make a big difference to your end goal.
Comparing yourself with others is something that will hinder your growth, and it does not work in the long run. For example, side hustles like ridesharing and tutoring can give you instant income. But more substantial hustles like freelance writing, blogging, flipping, and e-commerce businesses take time to grow.
Having the right mindset is the most important thing when choosing a side hustle.
#2. Be ready for initial hardships
Nobody said hustling is easy. If you love what you do, it is undoubtedly fun no matter how many hours you work on it. Whether you hustle alongside a full-time job or do multiple side hustles, be prepared to face some real hurdles when you start.
Unless you are already an expert in the hustle you are choosing, everyone has some hiccups when they start something new. Challenges show us what we are, so be ready to face these struggles in your side gig journey.
#3. Set your income goal
Having a clear goal of what you want to achieve gives you a good picture of the kind of hustle you should choose. Are you looking for a hustle just to supplement your income or is it more than that?
If your goal is to earn just some extra money on the side, then try things like doing legitimate surveys or making an income from microtasks by becoming an MTurker.
But if your goal is to make more than extra cash, and you want to see some serious money from your hustle, then you need to consider extremely profitable hustles like Amazon FBA, flipping, and virtual assisting.
Always think of the income potential of the side hustle before getting into it. You cannot expect a full-time income from an extra cash side gig.
#4. Choose a viable side hustle
Some side hustles are for the long haul. They eventually grow into a thriving business, and you might make it your full-time income. You cannot take up a side hustle that is not going to last for long and expect it to become a long-term business for you.
So researching about your side hustle is a must before you jump in. I did loads of research and learning on blogging before I started my blog, and finally, it is earning a full-time income for me now. You should always take some time to test out your unique idea. In fact, this is how many start-up businesses have become successful.
#5. Decide if you can fit it into your lifestyle
This might be the first question you need to ask yourself. Any side gig you choose has to fit into your life. You cannot expect to start a side hustle that is hard to manage.
For example, if you are a stay-at-home mom, you should not jump into a side hustle that takes up most of your time. This is a key point in choosing your side hustle; it has to fit into your lifestyle otherwise it won’t be long before you quit.
#6. Learn new skills to start the hustle
Everyone needs to learn new skills or figure out what skills they already have to find out which side hustles they can do. Side hustling is not easy; it takes a lot to manage a side hustle along with a job and family. If you don’t work on the skills before you start your side hustle, you might be making the wrong choice.
Just take time to assess what is it that you enjoy doing. There is literally no end to the kind of side hustle you can do, so any skill is useful.
If you feel the need to update your skills, then look at different resources and courses out there that can help you to get started.
#7. Devote time to the hustle
Figuring out how much time you can spend on your hustle is something that will eventually decide what you will do. You cannot take up freelance writing if you cannot give at least three hours a day.
There are some very flexible side hustles that don’t take up much of your time and also gel with your main jobs. You can drive with Uber or Lyft or become an online English tutor for VIPKid because these jobs give you that flexibility.
Assess your availability very frankly before you start choosing your side hustle. Side hustling does not mean that you work 24/7.
Recommended reading:
#8. Investment or no investment
This is something that is absolutely important to think about when starting a side hustle. You have to consider whether your side hustle needs an initial investment or not.
All side hustles are not equal. For some, you might not need to put in any extra investment, but other hustles have a learning curve where you need to invest and learn to earn.
I invested in blogging from the start because I knew this hustle has a huge potential to earn money. And it has. Deciding whether to invest or not depends on the hustle and many other factors.
#9. Be ready to make a change
Starting a side hustle means less time with family, a lot of juggling, and less time for yourself. You need to prioritize things before you start any hustle, and if there is a need to focus more on the family or your full-time job, your side hustle has to fit that requirement.
A lot of changes will need to be made when you take up a second job or a side hustle, and you need to be prepared for these changes. Nevertheless, you can keep your lifestyle the same if you choose a side hustle that lets you accommodate your lifestyle.
#10. Make sure it complements your main job
Sometimes we take side hustles that are an extension of the type of work we do in our full-time jobs. This could be a great way to learn more about the subject and grow in your main career.
If your goal is to advance your full-time job, then you need to choose a side hustle that perfectly complements that. For example, you might work as a graphic designer in your full-time job. You can take up a freelance graphic designing gig and start a business on your own. It can also mean that you learn more new skills and reach a higher position in your full-time job.
It might take some time for you to assess which side hustle to choose, but once the choice is made, getting started is easy. I hope these tips will help you to decide and jump into the right hustle.
Hustle away!
People have been telling me that there’s a lot of side hustles I can fit into my lifestyle and I’m up for it. I just don’t know what really fits best for me yet. I’ll just try different side hustles and see what’s for me.
Hey Sireesha, Enjoyed this!
I took my side hustle full time a couple of years back and i haven’t look back since!
Amazon FBA is a great business model, you just have to be patient!
Hi David,
Glad you liked the post!
I love discovering new side hustles because they are so promising. I wish you all the success with your hustle.