Looking for ways to make extra cash? A side hustle might be just what you need. These days, there are more ways than ever to earn additional income outside your regular job. So let’s review my best side hustle ideas!
And some of these could become your full-time income!
Whether you’re good with social media management or love working with animals as a dog walker, there’s something for everyone. The best side hustle ideas fit your skills and schedule. Some might even grow into a full-time business!
You don’t need huge startup costs to begin. Many side gigs start with little or no initial investment. From creating online courses to running an online store, the options are endless.
Some side hustlers make a few hundred dollars monthly. Others turn their hustle into a lucrative side business with a strong client base. College students, business owners, and everyone in between can find opportunities that work for them.
Ready to explore your options? We’ve gathered 53 clever ideas to help you get started. These aren’t just random side jobs – they’re tested ways to build extra income streams.
53 Clever Side Hustle Ideas to Make Extra Money
1. Sell stuff!
It sounds simple. If you’re anything like me you’ve got tons of stuff in your house you aren’t using. You can sell on Craigslist, Ebay or Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, or even your local neighborhood Facebook group(s) if you have them.
I typically find Craigslist is best for larger things that would have high shipping costs or for things that are hyper-local (like my wife’s college textbook from last semester that was branded with her college name).
While eBay remains a viable platform, focus on specialized or unique items rather than common goods. For best results, sell on multiple platforms:
- Facebook Marketplace for local, larger items
- Mercari for smaller items and fashion
- Poshmark for brand-name clothing and accessories
- eBay for collectibles and rare items
- Amazon for new, in-demand products
2. Amazon FBA Program
Very simply this is a program where you find stuff on the clearance shelves of Walmart, Target, etc that you buy and turn around and sell on Amazon for big bucks!
It’s easy and free to join and there’s a free app you can use to scan the items you are considering buying and it will tell you what the current going price is on Amazon so you can quickly and easily calculate how much money you’ll make.
The best part is you ship everything to Amazon and they take care of selling, packing, and shipping the items to the customers who buy them!
Learn more at AmazonFBA
3. Provide Digital Services on Fiverr
Offer in-demand digital services like:
- AI prompt engineering
- Social media management
- Video editing
- Podcast editing
- Virtual assistance
- Data analysis
Starting rates typically range from $20-100 per gig, with experienced providers earning $500+ per project.
4. Promote items from ClickBank
Sell countless items to friends, and family, through Facebook ads or your own website! If you don’t know ClickBank, it’s the top site for what’s called Affiliate Marketing.
Essentially, it’s free to join and if a product or service you promote has a sale, you get a commission. No sales? It costs you nothing, but some people make thousands of dollars doing this.
Want to dive in deeper? Get started today with this free eBook!
5. Going on vacation? Rent out your home while you’re gone!
Renting your place while it’s empty anyway just makes sense.
But if you live someplace like I do (the Austin, TX area), when big festivals roll into town like ACL or SXSW and all the hotels are booked up, go stay with friends or family and rent your house out for big bucks!
AirBnB makes it quick and easy to list your house and earn extra money on the side!
6. Know how to draw, paint or use Photoshop?
Design stuff for people around the world and get paid for it! 99 Designs and DesignCrowd are the premier crowd-sourcing websites for both graphic designers and people looking for graphic designs.
Simply get registered with them, look for people looking for designs, submit a design, and get paid once it’s selected!
7. Become a Virtual Assistant to anyone around the globe!
Virtual Assistants, or VA’s as they are commonly called, are increasingly popular among entrepreneurs and small businesses who need help but can’t afford employees or don’t want the hassle of managing people.
Work from home, set your own hours, and do work you love, and who knows? You might even end up ground level at the next Facebook! Upwork is a great way to get started and to earn extra money on the side!
8. Take a dog for a walk!
Yes, you can get paid to walk people’s dogs.
Rover is a nationwide network connecting dog walkers and dog owners. Simply sign up, tell Rover what days and times you are available, and start earning cash today!
I used Rover on vacation recently when I wanted to go somewhere and couldn’t bring my dog Lulu with us. It was easy to set up, and worked great!
CLICK HERE to get started with Rover!
9. Get paid when you’ve overpaid on shopping!
Sound too good to be true?
But yes, if you sign up with Paribus through Capital One (at no cost!), they will review purchases from major retailers like WalMart, Target, Kohl’s, Amazon, and many others and if they see a price drop, they pay you the difference.
Earning money was NEVER this easy!
10. Get paid to do online work for others!
Upwork is a site you’ve probably heard of. If you have a talent for writing music, transcribing, designing, programming, marketing, or many others, you can look for others around the world wanting to hire someone to do that for them. Do the work and get paid!
Think you don’t have any skills? I’ll bet you can read and type! If so, check out how to earn thousands doing simple data entry work by going to HomeJobsDirectory.
11. Know a little math, English, or science? Become a tutor
You can post an ad on Craigslist or your local HOA Facebook page or use a service like Wyzant which connects thousands of tutors with parents looking for tutors, including ONLINE tutoring.
Simply create a free profile and start getting students today. earn extra money on the side while helping kids at the same time!
You can post an ad on Craigslist or your local HOA Facebook page or use a service like Wyzant which connects thousands of tutors with parents looking for tutors, including ONLINE tutoring, and Preply which allows you to become an English teacher at ease.
Of course, there are more options than simply math, English, and science when it comes to being a tutor, even if these are the main three subject areas.
As long as you have the necessary qualifications and there is demand for it, you can become a tutor in almost anything.
12. Like to take pictures? Sell them to Shutterstock!
Shutterstock is the premier stock photo company (ie: the only one Facebook is directly affiliated with for their ads) and you can sign up, upload your photos, and get paid every time someone downloads one. And hey!
Maybe the next Facebook ad you see will have your image in it!
13. Get Paid to help others manage their social media!
As crazy as it sounds, you can get paid to help entrepreneurs and small businesses post on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
Simply log in to this account, scan for available work & see what the job pays and apply for that job. Quickly and easily start raking in cash. As an example, one retailer is willing to pay $95/week for daily Facebook posts to their business fan page.
Talk about an easy way to earn extra money on the side!
Learn more at PaidSocialMediaJobs!
14. Teach English (or your native language) online!
Italki.com is a virtual online classroom where teachers and students come together and get connected. You don’t have to be a professional teacher, just take the second language skills you already have and help others learn the basics.
Is there anything better than getting paid while helping others at a potential range of up to $20/hr.?
15. Have a car you don’t use all the time? Rent it out or drive others for cash!
You’ve all heard of Uber and Lyft which allow you to sign up to essentially be taxi drivers. You set your own hours & schedule and drive when and where you want to earning fares and tips as you go.
However, Turo.com is a company that allows you to safely and securely rent out your car locally for short or long periods of time.
If you’re paying car payments, inspections, registration, and insurance make that thing work for you and earn extra money on the side!
16. Have some DIY skills or a trade? Sell your services with Zaarly!
Zaarly is a site similar to Angie’s List where local business and service providers offer their services to customers looking for that service.
Zaarly does not allow these people to advertise, so unlike Yelp or the BBB, these service providers are earning their reputations purely based on legitimate customer feedback. They’ve been featured on CNN and in the Wall Street Journal.
Sign up today and start getting jobs, paying Zaarly just 10% for sending the customer to you.
17. Get paid to perform small tasks for your neighbors!
TaskRabbit is a site that connects people who need errands run or small tasks performed with people who want to do them. Simple right? Their app will notify you of tasks needing to be done in your area and you simply accept and get paid!
Recommended by Inc and Fortune and it appears they just got bought by Ikea!
18. Get paid to shop!
Swagbucks is a free app that allows you to earn extra money on the side to scan items while you’re doing your shopping. No purchase is necessary, just scan the barcode of the items and keep moving!
They pay between $3 and $8 per shopping trip, so you’re not traveling to Costa Rica on that, but hey! You’ve gotta go shopping anyway, right?
May as well earn extra money on the side!
19. Get paid to share your thoughts!
Believe it or not, large companies pay big bucks for “market research” and one of the key ways they do that is to gather small groups of typical shoppers and have them participate in what are called focus groups.
Essentially you’ll participate in a meeting with a representative from the company who will ask questions and solicit thoughts, feedback, and opinions. Check out www.focusgroup.com to earn extra money on the side today!
20. Get paid for your daily commute!
If you’re going from point A to point B every day, why not drop stuff off along the way and get paid for it? Roadie.com is a service that connects you, the commuter, with people in your area who need stuff picked up near where your starting point is and taking it to somewhere near your destination.
Up to $50 per local trip depending on distance and if you’re willing to drive further (or do already), you can make hundreds driving a route you were already doing anyway!
21. Create and Sell Digital Products
Instead of physical media, create and sell:
- Digital planners
- Printable wall art
- Instagram templates
- Resume templates
- Lightroom presets
- Digital stickers
Sell through Etsy, Creative Market, or your own website. One-time creation can generate passive income for years.
22. Play the virtual lottery
Lucktastic is an app for your phone that lets you play a virtual scratch-off. Win cash, prizes, gift cards, and more!
24. Get special offers and discounts for the shopping you already do
Ibotta is an app that allows you to get discounts and special offers from the retailers you already buy from. Just select the offers that appeal to you. Make your purchase, snap a pic of your receipt, and wa-la! Cash comes your way!
Examples of offers at this time (may change):
- $3.50 off Heinz Mayonaise
- 50% off Amazon Prime Student Membership
- $3.50 off Meow Mix Cat Food
25. Get paid to take and test video games!
Love video games? Have we got a job for you! Make up to $3,500/month playing video games from the comfort of your own bedroom.
Check out the current jobs available and salaries on Indeed!
26. Love to write? Get paid to write blog posts, e-books, and more!
Work from home or a laptop on the beach. You choose the jobs and you choose the hours. This program has been featured on MSNBC, Entrepreneur, and more.
Check out WritingJobsOnline to learn more.
27. Invest with pocket change and watch your money soar!
Acorns is an investment site like no other.
When you make a purchase anywhere, be it Starbucks or the gas station, you set our app to round up the purchase. The spare change is automatically invested in your account. The app does all the heavy lifting, so no detailed financial savvy is needed, and best of all; no willpower is needed!
With literally no effort at all, you could easily rack up hundreds of thousands without even trying. See why this company has been talked about by Forbes and ABC!
28. Save big on recurring monthly bills
The app Trim automatically looks at your recurring monthly bills and then cross-checks that with savings programs almost all vendors have. When they match up, you save. They’ll even handle the hassle of canceling memberships you no longer want or renegotiate bills for you like insurance and cable bills.
Come see why they have been recommended by the likes of the New York Times and Fortune Magazine.
29. Get cash rewards for the purchases you already make!
Drop is a game-changing app! It’s totally free and when you link your debit and/or credit cards to it, you earn points for the purchases you were going to make anyway. “Rack up points for going grocery shopping, taking an Uber to work, grabbing a snack, and more. ”
Then those points can be redeemed at places like Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, and hundreds more. See why the Wall Street Journal and USA Today are singing their praises!
30. Drive for Instacart (or Uber or Lyft)
Set your own hours, take the jobs you want, be picky about how far you’re willing to go. You’re in the driver’s seat (literally and figuratively).
You’ve all heard of Instacart and may have even used it as a customer. But as an Instacart Shopper, you sign up to essentially be a grocery shopper and driver using your own vehicle. You set your own hours & schedule and drive when and where you want to earn fares and tips as you go.
Easily earn extra money on the side of upwards of $400/month, very part-time, to your income for just a small investment of your time.
CLICK HERE to get started with Instacart.
31. Add a part-time job with Flexjobs.com
FlexJobs is an online resource for locating part-time jobs in your area. Match your skills and qualifications with the vetted and legitimate employers looking for people just like you.
Avoid the scams and too-good-to-be-true ads you see in places like Craigslist and start earning with a side hustle tomorrow!
32. Have a website? Become an Affiliate for Amazon!
If you have a blog or website (or YouTube channel) and aren’t signed up for Amazon’s Affiliate Program you’re definitely leaving money on the table.
What’s an affiliate program?
Essentially you recommend items on Amazon to visitors to your website. If they buy that item, you get a commission on not only that item but anything else they buy within 24 hours!
Most commissions are only 4% so you aren’t hanging with the Rockefellers yet, but you’re well on your way!
As an example, check out my Amazon Influencer page on Amazon which shows the top items I love and recommend.
33. Create stunning AI photos and sell them online
PhotographyJobs is an online system that shows you step-by-step how to take pictures you probably already have or can easily shoot and earn extra money on the side!
Of course you can also take your own photos, but with AI programs like Ideogram being so cheap (or free) and so amazing, you may stick solely to AI images. Don’t believe me? All the images in this article were made with Ideogram.
Every website on the planet uses stock photos, including mine. So why can’t your photos be some of the ones that get used?
Make up to $250/day uploading pics from home. They pay $1.00 per picture downloaded and have millions of potential buyers waiting for your next picture.
34. Have a skill others need? Create and sell an online course on Udemy!
Udemy allows anyone to create an online course on virtually any topic and then sell it to their millions of visitors looking for courses.
Not sure how to create an online course? I bet Udemy has a course for that!
35. Register website address and sell them to prospective buyers
What if you’d been the person who thought to register Apple.com back when the internet first took off? Well if you’d registered the name before Steve Jobs did he’d be paying you a LOT of money to buy it from you.
People register URLs all the time with no intention of putting a website on it. They are banking that if they pick the right name someone will later come along and want to buy it.
Register your next domain name at GoDaddy for up to 30% off! Some are as low as 99 cents!
36. Sell those old phones, laptops, and other tech collecting dust!
Swappa is a site that allows you to sell all your old tech; Apple, Android, laptops, video games, and more.
Almost all of us have that old iPhone or laptop that we don’t use anymore, so you may as well sell it and earn extra money on the side today!
37. Website Development Services
Modern website development for local businesses should include:
- Mobile-responsive design
- SEO optimization
- Social media integration
- Basic e-commerce functionality
- Content management system
Starting prices should be $1,500-3,000 for a basic site, with ongoing maintenance packages at $50-200 monthly.
If you sign up for NameCheap’s web hosting for only a few dollars a month you can host multiple websites.
Build a simple WordPress site for them on your NameCheap account (free to do with your plan) and use one of the amazing free website themes from Athemes and make a basic site for anyone.
38. Sell your hair!
No; I’m not kidding. BuyandSellHair.com has verified buyers waiting to buy your extra hair!
Believe it or not, but some hair sells for hundreds of dollars! Get a nice shortcut for summer and earn extra money on the side tomorrow!
39. Sell your recycling
I know most of us still put the recycling out curbside, but many towns have recycling centers where you can sell your recyclables.
Simply get a few of these 32-gallon trash cans on Amazon and put in your garage so you can keep the recyclables separate. When they’re full, take them to your nearby recycling center and earn extra money on the side!
Don’t own a truck to haul those bigger trash cans? Consider these little 10 Gallon Cans which should fit nicely in any car.
40. AI Content Creation Assistant
Help small businesses and content creators leverage AI tools:
- Set up and manage ChatGPT accounts
- Create custom AI prompts
- Edit and humanize AI-generated content
- Train clients on effective AI tool usage
- Package services starting at $50/hour
- Offer monthly retainer packages
The demand is huge as businesses try to navigate AI tools, but many lack the time or expertise to use them effectively. Focus on specific niches like real estate, restaurants, or coaching businesses.
41. Short-Form Video Production
Create and manage short-form video content:
- TikTok videos
- YouTube Shorts
- Instagram Reels
- Pinterest Video Pins
- Charge $200-500 per batch of 10 videos
- Offer monthly packages for consistent content
This is particularly valuable for local businesses that know they need a social media presence but lack time or skills. Use tools like CapCut and Canva for efficient production. Focus on specific niches like fitness centers, restaurants, or retail shops for better rates and easier content creation.
42. Pick up your neighbor’s curbside discards and sell for cash!
If your neighborhood is anything like mine, the neighbors are always leaving old furniture, baby stuff, and a whole lot more out by the curb for free.
LetGo by OfferUp is a free desktop and mobile app you use to post the items you find for sale. Snap, post, chat, sell. It’s that simple.
43. Get paid for looking at the ads you already see anyway
Let’s face it, we can’t look at any device these days without seeing ads; mobile, Netflix, websites; you name it. So if you’re seeing the ads anyway, you may as well get paid for it!
S’mores is an app that rewards you in cash rewards for viewing ads and trending news on your phone. Talk about one of the simplest ways to earn extra money on the side!
Android only for the moment.
44. Find a class action lawsuit near you!
Millions of businesses get sued every year and chances are one of them you’ve used. Check out the ever-updated list of class action lawsuits on the Penny Hoarder website.
See one that looks familiar? With a little detective work and proof of purchase, you could be well on your way to partaking in the next million-dollar settlement!
45. Claim your forgotten cash!
Almost everyone over the age of 30 likely has some bank account they opened as a kid or a languishing old 401k at your first employer. Or maybe your parents bought a life insurance policy on you as a baby?
Search now (search for an immediate family too; maybe they’ll give you a cut?) and see what might be out there for you! Check out the MissingMoney website and start your search today!
46. Give Congress a piece of your mind and get paid to do it!
Finally, get the political respect you deserve and earn extra money on the side! Well, maybe not the political respect, but NextWave Advocacy Group will pay you to write letters to prominent politicals of all major parties.
Pick and choose the campaigns that suit your needs and views. Some projects take just minutes while others may take weeks. The more you do the more you earn!
47. Cryptocurrency Investment
While cryptocurrency can be part of an investment strategy, it’s highly volatile and risky. If interested:
- Only invest what you can afford to lose
- Diversify across multiple cryptocurrencies
- Use reputable exchanges like Coinbase or Binance
- Stay informed about market trends and regulations
- Consider learning about blockchain technology and Web3 opportunities
48. Participate in a medical study
The US National Library of Medicine has a database of privately and publically funded medical studies looking for volunteers just like you. Just do a quick search and browse the hundreds of thousands of available trials available.
Then narrow down the options with the choices that best fit your needs. A quick check of my specifics yielded over 30,000 results. Keep narrowing down, apply and get paid!
Even if you have no medical issues, many are always looking for healthy adults!
49. House Sit
Almost all of us get a little nervous when we go away on vacation. Now you can put someone else’s mind at ease and earn extra money on the side while you do it!
Thumbtack is a network that connects people looking for services like home sitters (and hundreds of other services) with people like yourself who are willing to do that job.
50. Stage a home for sale
Almost all of us have at least 1 friend who is a Realtor. According to the National Association of Realtors, a staged home will sell for 17% more than a non-staged home.
How do you get started? Start with a small inventory of stuff from your local Ikea or even Goodwill. Remember smaller pieces and fewer of them make the home look larger. Bright colors make the home cheerier as well.
For your first home why not start by just asking for a percentage of the negotiated sale price; that way you’re earning the Realtor’s trust. Once the house is sold, move the furniture on to the next one and make sure to get their referral!
Learn more about How to Become a Home Stager for Less than $100.
51. Rent out your pool or hot tub
Got a pool or hot tub in your backyard? Turn that maintenance cost into profit with Swimply. This app lets you rent your pool by the hour, typically earning $30-60 per hour. Many hosts make $5,000-10,000 during the summer months.
Set your own schedule, rules, and rates. Some hosts even offer extras like pool toys or grill access. Swimply handles insurance and payments, making it a hassle-free way to earn from your backyard oasis.
52. Start a Blog!
Blogging is great and it doesn’t have to just be a hobby.
While it takes a little time to get people coming to your site, you can make money from ads, sponsors, and affiliate products. Learn more about how to Start a Blog.
53. Move your savings account to a high-interest one
This one isn’t quite about how to earn extra money on the side as much as it is about maximizing the cash you already have.
The average bank’s savings account pays almost nothing in interest. Discover Bank, however, pays 1.75% interest. That’s a whopping 5 times the typical bank interest rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most profitable side hustle?
Creating and selling online courses tops the profit list. Once made, these digital products can earn $2000-5000 monthly with minimal ongoing work.
Real estate agents working part-time can earn $3000-8000 per sale. While this needs more initial investment and licensing, the payoff is bigger than most side jobs.
Social media management for business owners brings steady income. Experienced managers charge $500-1500 per client monthly and can handle 5-10 accounts.
Freelance work like web development or copywriting pays well too. Top freelancers make $100-200 per hour with a stable client base.
Remember, the most lucrative side hustle is one you can scale. Start small, build your skills, and grow your business over time. The best profits come from serving high-paying clients in high-demand fields.
How do I make an extra $1000 a month?
You can reach this goal by combining a few popular side hustles. Start with low-risk side gigs like dog walking ($20-30 per walk) or freelance work ($25-50 per hour).
Social media management is another great option. Most small business owners need help and pay $300-500 monthly per client. You only need 2-3 clients to hit your goal.
Creating digital products or online courses can also work. While these take more initial investment of time, they can bring in passive income once set up.
Remember to start small and build up. Maybe walk dogs on weekends and do freelance work two nights a week. As your client base grows, you can focus on the most lucrative side hustle and scale it up.
How can I make $5000 fast?
Earning $5000 quickly requires a mix of different side jobs. Start with high-paying freelance work like web design or content creation, which can bring in $1000-2000 per project.
Offer social media management services to multiple business owners. With 5-6 clients paying $500 monthly, you can earn $2500-3000 fast.
Personal training is another lucrative side hustle. Taking on 10 clients at $50 per session, training each twice weekly, adds up to $4000 monthly.
Sell digital products like online courses or templates. While this needs some initial investment, a successful launch can bring in $1000-3000.
Remember, combining these side gigs works best. Focus on high-paying skills that are in high demand, and don’t be afraid to work extra hours temporarily to reach your goal quickly.
How much spare time do you need to start a side hustle?
When I started side hustling in 2016, I was working 45 hours a week at my “day job” and I had probably 7-8 hours a week of commute time.
So what I did was to start to wake up at 4 am (I know; ouch!). But how badly do you want financial freedom or flexibility?
I would work until it was time to take the kids to school.
Then I would work on my lunch break (I was lucky enough to work on a computer). Then on some days, I would work when I got home. And sometimes on Saturday mornings. But I preferred to not do anything work-wise on Sundays.
All told, I was able to move the needle forward doing about 20 hours a week in my spare time, on top of my regular job.
And over 4 years that was enough to quit my day job and go full time. I set a goal for myself of wanting to earn double what my day job paid doing blogging. And I wanted to hit that consistently for 3 months in a row.
In my case, that extra income figure was $10,000/month, and I first hit that in June 2020, and then I gave 30-days notice on 9/1/20. And it’s only gone up from there (although 2022 has been a little rocky).
So for me, being a blogger and YouTuber is a great side hustle, and I earn good money doing it!
Are online platforms better for earning money than “real” jobs?
In my experience, online jobs are the way to go.
Doing online, I can set my own schedule in my free time, and it’s been, by far, the easiest way to earn extra money. When you go somewhere and work for someone, you’re always at someone else’s mercy, commitment, and time frame.
And any time you trade time for money, the money stops the moment you stop investing your time.
Now in truth, side gigs aren’t totally passive. The term “passive income” is kind of a myth. Or misleading at best. You can’t earn 5 or 6 figures a month doing nothing.
But what you can do is do most of the hard work now and then let your efforts continue to earn you money month after month without you having to continuously put in the same amount of time and effort.
Final thoughts
Starting a side hustle isn’t about finding easy money. It’s about finding the right opportunity that matches your skills and schedule. Whether you’re interested in creating online courses or working as a dog walker, there’s something for everyone.
Remember, many successful business owners started with a simple side gig. What begins as additional income might grow into a full-time business. The key is picking something you enjoy and are good at.
Don’t feel pressured to try every popular side hustle. Start with one that fits your lifestyle. Maybe that’s freelance work, social media management, or selling digital products. Focus on building a solid client base before expanding.
Consider your startup costs and time commitment. Some side jobs need very little initial investment. Others might need more resources but could become more lucrative side hustles.
The best side hustle ideas aren’t just about making money today. They’re about creating opportunities for tomorrow. Pick something you can stick with and grow over time.