People ask this question on social media every day, so we decided to dig in and talk with one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the side hustle business, Nick Loper from Side Hustle Nation.
Nick started out in SEO and marketing and started an online shoe comparison site before expanding into more side hustles and then his podcast. He shared insights into the best side hustle ideas. We have a list of side hustles to consider if you want to:
- Start your own business on the side
- Make some extra income before a special occasion
- Fill your spare time
By the end of this article, you’ll have dozens of side hustle ideas in all different industries and know how to start making money with the side hustle that’s right for you.
We’ll answer questions about side hustles including all of the following (Click a heading below to jump to that section):
- What Are Side Hustles?
- Best Side Hustle Ideas 2024
- What Are the Best Side Hustles for 2024?
- How to Make Money? Side Hustles!
- Things to Consider Before Starting a Side Hustle
- Come Up With Side Hustle Ideas
- What Side Hustles Make the Most Money Fast?
- What Side Hustles Make the Most Money?
- What Are the Most Profitable Side Hustles?
- What Are Easy Side Hustles?
- What Are Some Side Hustles in Real Estate?
- What Are Some Side Hustles to Make Extra Money?
- What Are Some Good Side Hustles to Make Money Online?
- What Are Easy Side Hustles From Home?
- What Are the Highest Paying Side Hustles?
- Make Extra Money With Your Side Hustle Idea
Get ready to find a side hustle idea to get paid and control your own schedule.
What Are Side Hustles?
Side hustles are ways to make extra money during time away from your full-time job. A survey from Insuranks found that 93% of Americans had a side hustle in 2022. The most common side hustle jobs were:
- Taking online surveys
- Selling items online
- Freelancing
- Selling used clothes
- Working a part-time job
That doesn’t mean these are the best side jobs, but they are what most people end up doing.
Nick told us:
Look for a small niche with high margin profit. They have to get you where you want to be. If they don’t, they are no good.
Check out our interview with him below.
Get ready to find your ideal side hustle.
DISCLAIMER
Throughout this article, we refer to several data sources. The way they interact can make the math look a little funny, so let us break it down a bit.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is normally the best source for data on salaries, and we refer to those numbers in some of the sections below.
All revenue data was pulled from IBIS World. Typically, revenue will be three to five times payroll. In some scenarios, we use freelance data available from Upwork.com that shows the earnings of the best freelancers in each industry.
Self-employed people will normally make somewhere between freelancer wages and average annual revenue. The tech sector is a bit like the wild, wild West, and a freelance developer may have three or four full-time jobs.
Best Side Hustle Ideas 2024
#1. Sell Items Online
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Cost: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
• Best for: Thrifters, collectors, hobbyists and craftsmen
Start selling online if you are interested in the second most popular side hustle. The hustle income can either be a profit or a loss. If you’re selling items, the profit is the cost minus the sales price. Used items will normally be at a loss if you paid full retail. That means you can deduct it from your taxes (this is not legal advice).
If you start reselling, it can help make a great living. Find out about the best things to resell online.
#2. Dropshipping Business
• Average Annual Revenue: $36K-$50K
• Average Profit Margins: 5%
• Startup Cost: $150-$500
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 25%
• Best for: Those with marketing and eCommerce skills
The dropshipping business model partners with a supplier who ships the products directly to customers. That means you don’t spend money on inventory until someone buys the products.
This is one of the best side hustle ideas because you can sell online without inventory. Consider items like electronics, clothes, home goods, and accessories.
According to Dripshipper, a dropshipping business can make $1,000 to $3,000 per month with just 10 to 15 hours each week. You can make even more if you go full time. Just ask Ryan Hogue how he’s made millions with dropshipping.
#3. Sell Your Used Clothing
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Costs: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
• Best for: Shoppers and collectors, fashionable entrepreneurs, women with strong sales skills
Both adults and kids tend to outgrow clothing. As long as it’s in good condition, you can find someone to buy it from you. You can start your own online store on eBay or Etsy and make some extra money from the clothes you don’t need.
Check the interview we’ve done with Vlad, who makes over $60K a month with his Etsy shop:
Want to learn more about creating an online store?
Check out one of these blogs:
- Start an Etsy Shop
- Sell on eBay
NOTE: Are you looking to start a small business? Find out the six business ideas competitors don’t want you to know about because they never fail (well, rarely) plus the 23 most profitable yet overlooked businesses anyone can start today here.
#4. Freelancing
• Average Annual Revenue: $35K-$150K
• Average Profit Margins: 10.5 to 80%
• Startup Costs: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
• Best for: Outgoing and social entrepreneurs, those with strong scheduling, time management, and problem-solving skills
This side hustle includes a broad range of skills in high demand. Side hustlers love becoming freelancers because they will normally make more hourly than they do at their full-time jobs. You’ll spend your own time:
- Finding clients
- Performing popular online jobs like:
- Freelance Writer
- Graphic Designer
- Online Tutor
- Data Analyst
- Developer
- Affiliate Marketer
- Virtual Assistant
- Getting paid for each project
Nick told us:
Anything online is normally a great side hustle.
Guess what the best part of freelancing is? Forty-four percent make more total income from their side hustle than from their main job. Get started on Upwork.
#5. Purchase and Place a Vending Machine Route
• Average Annual Revenue: $182K+
• Average Profit Margins: 4.3%
• Startup Cost: $2K-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.5%
• Best for: Those who like to tinker with machines and understand mechanics and those who enjoy driving
Vending machine owners can make $2,000+ per month for each vending machine. You can buy a couple of machines or a whole route.
Find out how Adam Hill started his vending machine business and makes $600K per year working just two days a week. We’ve partnered with him to create a course to help you get started in the vending industry. You can watch the free training here.
Our interview gives a sneak peek of the information we’ll be sharing.
If the top five ways to make extra money didn’t give you an idea for a side hustle, find out how to make extra money with the following ideas.
What Are the Best Side Hustles for 2024?
Freelance work landed at #4 on our Top 5 list (above), and we take a deeper dive here. Many people in the U.S. do freelance work. If you’re missing out on the growth in this industry, you might regret it because Upwork and Zippia show:
- $1.35 trillion of the U.S. economy goes to freelancers (Upwork).
- 57% of freelancers are happy with their earnings compared to 42% of employees (Upwork).
- $28 an hour is the average billable rate (Zippia).
- 30% of Fortune 500 Businesses hire freelancers (Zippia).
- 70% of small businesses hire freelancers (Zippia).
- The total addressable freelance market could be as high as $5 trillion.
The statistics in the following sections are pulled from an Upwork search of jobs and using the search “Upwork best [Job]” where [Job] is in the subheading.
As you consider the following, keep this pro tip from Nick in mind:
Any side hustle where you have to sell your time isn’t going to be the most profitable. If you do these you want to tie your services to an up-and-coming SaaS project so you can master it and develop a reputation for being the best source of information about it.
Here are some high-demand freelancing gigs that could be a great side hustle for you:
#6. Freelance Writing
• Average Annual Revenue: $46K
• Average Profit Margins: 14.6%
• Startup Costs: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1 month to 3 Years
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.5%
• Best for: Writers, editors, and language experts, people with SEO, marketing, and advertising knowledge, creative entrepreneurs
If you have a way with words, Upwork has over 25,000 writing jobs, and freelancers charge up to $150 per hour for their services. I count myself among the freelancers who have turned a side gig into a career. Maybe you’ll be one of them, too!
#7. Graphic Designer
• Average Annual Revenue: $123K+
• Average Profit Margins: 13.5%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2%
• Best for: Visual artists, designers, creative and artistic entrepreneurs
Upwork also has over 25,000 graphic design openings, and freelance designers charge up to $125 an hour. If you have design skills, you should definitely check out this opportunity.
#8. Virtual Assistant
• Average Annual Revenue: $35K-$50K
• Average Profit Margins: 10.5%
• Startup Costs: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
• Best for: People with strong organization and communication skills, those who want to work from home and set their own hours
There are nearly 14,000 people looking for assistants to help them with various administrative tasks. VAs on Upwork charge between $10 and $65 per hour. This field is heavily dominated by overseas workers in lower-cost-of-living countries, but there is a demand for highly skilled U.S.-based VAs, too.
Pro Tip: If you’re a U.S.-based freelancer, you may find more favorable hourly rate jobs by toggling on the “U.S. only” option at the top of your Upwork job search.
#9. Audio Transcriptionist
• Average Annual Revenue: $20K to $180K
• Average Profit Margins: 20.50%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 4.4%
• Best for: Fast typers who are excellent listeners with strong time management skills
There are nearly 1,800 transcription jobs, but these jobs are being eliminated by AI. That said, you might find transcription work if you speak multiple languages and can proofread translations. Transcriptionists make up to $80 per hour.
#10. Digital Marketing
• Average Annual Revenue: $817K
• Average Profit Margins: 6.9%
• Startup Costs: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
• Best for: Advertising and marketing experts, people with skills in AI and software development
There are over 50,000 marketing openings on Upwork, and the top digital marketers make up to $350 hourly. If you have any marketing skills and aren’t already on Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr, you need to create a profile. It’s a great way to make some extra cash.
#11. Developer
• Average Annual Revenue: $400K-$1M+
• Average Profit Margins: 14.5%
• Startup Costs: $100-$50K, depending on size and scope
• Time To Revenue: 3 months to 2 years
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 3.1%
• Best for: Coders and developers adept in programming languages, independent and self-motivated entrepreneurs with strong communication and project management skills
Nearly 45,000 development postings are available. Unlike many freelance positions, developers’ freelance earnings will be similar to what they’re making at their full-time jobs—still up to $125 per hour. If you are a tech consultant, you can make up to $300 hourly.
How to Make Money? Side Hustles!
There are many ways to make money, but you probably don’t want to take on another full-time job (or even a part-time gig that conflicts with your busy schedule). That’s where side hustles come in!
You can spend as much or as little time and money as you want to meet your financial goals. One of the best ways to see which side hustle makes the most sense for you is to look at what people advertise online.
This can provide great hints about current opportunities. For instance, social media displays online business ventures and other endeavors for creative types worldwide.
You might also notice specific products and services showing up consistently in online ads. When you do, start researching the way these companies approach their business and what makes their offerings desirable.
They Are Known as…Side Hustle Legends
Side hustle legends have mastered the art of the side hustle. Most of these side hustlers have a variety of ways they make money, including:
- Online courses
- Speaking engagements
- Ad revenue
- Sponsorships
- Affiliate marketing
- Online stores
Next, let’s consider these side hustle contingencies before looking at more of the best side hustles in 2024.
Things to Consider Before Starting a Side Hustle
With almost any skill you have, there’s a way to make extra cash. You’ll need to consider how the side hustle will fit into your life if you have a full-time job. You’ll want to ask yourself:
- How much spare time do I have?
- How much extra money do I want to make?
- How fast do I need the extra cash?
- What skills do I have?
- What assets do I have?
- How much in startup costs will I accept to create passive income?
- Do I want a fun side hustle or just to make some cash?
- Do I want to work from home or travel?
- Do I want the side hustle to become my own business down the road?
Nick explained you need to have realistic expectations:
I call it the side hustle snowball. It took me three years of nights and weekends to get to the point [where] my side hustle replaced [my] job. You have to start with small goals. Take all your expenses and sort them by cost. Then celebrate when you eclipse another expense. Eventually you’ll get to where your side hustle covers your costs and then you get closer to leaving your job.
Not all side hustles are created equal, and the key is to choose one that fits into your spare time so you can make a few extra bucks.
Come Up With Side Hustle Ideas
Next, you’ll want to come up with side hustle ideas. We’ve got you covered. Go through the following ideas to find a side hustle that works for you. Once you choose one, just click a link to get started. Before you know it, you’ll be making extra money in your spare time!
What Side Hustles Make the Most Money Fast?
If you want to make a lot of money fast, you’ve got a few options. Let’s look at some of the quickest ways to make some money.
#12. Sell Your Unwanted Stuff
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Costs: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
• Best for: Shoppers and collectors, fashionable entrepreneurs, women with strong sales skills
If you have things you don’t want or need:
- Take pictures of the items.
- Post them on Facebook Marketplace.
- Respond to offers.
- Accept offers as they come.
- Get extra cash.
Items like old iPhones, clothes, and furniture can do really well when you list them on Marketplace.
#13. Clean Homes
• Average Annual Revenue: $61K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.8%
• Startup Cost: $300-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.4%
• Best for: Self-motivated, independent, and detail-oriented entrepreneurs
People will gladly pay for help cleaning their homes. You won’t make as much as a professional housekeeper, but you can easily make $10 to $25 per hour cleaning homes, depending on your location. You never know what could happen from there…
Christobal Mondragon started Queen Bee Cleaning Service and is making over $1.5 million per year. Within three months he quit his job. He even worked with us to help you recreate his success.
#14. Wash People’s Clothes
• Average Annual Revenue: $311K+
• Average Profit Margins: 22.1%
• Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.1%
• Best for: Customer service pros with high attention to detail
Go to people’s houses and wash and fold their clothes, or let them drop clothes off with you as they go to work and pick them up after they get off. TaskRabbit says you can expect to make the following rates depending on your area:
- $30 to $40 per hour
- $20 to $50 per laundry bag
- $0.90 to $3.00 per pound
Not too shabby if you’re just trying to make some extra money in your spare time. Find out how much people in your area charge on TaskRabbit.
#15. Wash Cars
• Average Annual Revenue: $73K+
• Average Profit Margins: 16.1%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.0%
• Best for: Car enthusiasts, detail-oriented entrepreneurs, and those who enjoy working with their hands
Another good side hustle to make extra money fast is to wash and detail cars. Washing cars can make $10 to $125 per car if they come to you. If you run a mobile detailer, you can charge up to $500 per car. Check out our interview with a mobile detailer who started with just $500:
What Side Hustles Make the Most Money?
According to IBIS World, eCommerce makes the most money out of legit side hustles. Selling online is a $934 billion industry and it’s still growing.
Tech makes the most profit as an industry, but if you want the highest profit percentage, you’ll want to go with real estate or consulting.
What Are the Most Profitable Side Hustles?
Many of the most profitable side hustles are in the tech field, but you can also consider any of the following side hustle ideas to make money online. Check out some of the most profitable side hustles below. They might not be the fastest methods to make money, but they definitely have the potential to turn a side gig into a day job.
Keep reading for the most lucrative side hustles.
#16. Find Bug Bounties
• Average Annual Revenue: $1.4K
• Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
• Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.2%
• Best for: Programmers, ethical hackers, and IT professionals with strong analytical and customer service skills
Have a knack for software development? Companies pay up to $1 million to people who find and correct issues in their software. Geekflare has a list of major company bug bounties. If you want to make a great living by fixing code, this is one of the most profitable side hustles you can find.
#17. Become an Online Coach
• Average Annual Revenue: $63K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.5%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.5%
• Best for: Therapists, productivity experts, people who love helping others
An online coach helps people meet their goals by teaching them and encouraging them. This might be through one-on-one online tutoring or creating an online course. Either way, the goal is to provide online training. It’s a huge industry, too! Forbes estimates it will be a $350 billion industry by 2025. You can also meet in person if you want.
Find out how Jacques Hopkins turned a piano into a $ 40,000-per-month business:
#18. Launch a Crypto or NFT Project
• Average Annual Revenue: $1K to $1B
• Average Profit Margins: 30.36%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 11.30%
• Best for: Data and programming professionals, people with expertise in finance, law, and other professional services
Another very lucrative side hustle can be creating NFT or crypto projects. For those who don’t know what NFTs are, they are primarily used as a way to start selling art online. You may also see them used for video gaming, proof of title, and loyalty programs.
The crypto space is complex, but the amount of money people spend on OpenSea (the largest NFT platform) is insane. To give you an idea, the top 200 projects have each made around $10,000 in the last 24 hours (as of this writing).
#19. Become a Social Media Influencer
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$160K
• Average Profit Margins: 8%
• Startup Cost: $100-$2K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 10.5%
• Best for: Bloggers, YouTubers, those with a large social media presence
Every social media platform has influencers who make millions per year from their channels. YouTube tends to be the most profitable social media platform.
Learn about creating a YouTube channel and become a social media influencer on your favorite subject. Alternatively, watch our interview with Reyes the Entrepreneur below:
#20. Start a Social Media Management Company
• Average Annual Revenue: $817K
• Average Profit Margins: 6.9%
• Startup Costs: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
• Best for: Social media experts, people with strong digital marketing skills
Get paid to find clients and help them manage their social media. You can do this on your own schedule and the side hustle income can be several thousand per month for each client.
What Are Easy Side Hustles?
Consider the gig economy if you want to make money and set your own hours. These side hustles normally involve an approval process that can take a while, but once you are approved, you can get paid daily.
#21. Rideshare
• Average Annual Revenue: $131K
• Average Profit Margins: 3.6%
• Startup Cost: $100-$9.5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 6.7%
• Best for: Drivers, those who like to socialize
Rideshare drivers drive for companies like Uber and Lyft and get paid for driving people to where they need to go. Uber estimates that drivers make $233 to $1,188 each week before expenses. You’ll get paid based on trip fees and tips, so it helps to be a people person if you start this side hustle idea.
It can be a fun way to make more money and meet new people, but for most drivers, it is a cash-flow business only and can be difficult to turn into a full-time job. If you have a criminal background, they may not allow you to work.
#22. Food Delivery
• Average Annual Revenue: $31K
• Average Profit Margins: 3.6%
• Startup Cost: $100-$9.5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 6.7%
• Best for: Organized and system-focused entrepreneurs with strong sales, marketing, and customer service skills
Another side hustle idea that can help you make extra income on your days off is food delivery. You can apply for food delivery apps like:
Nick told us:
Delivery apps are a great introduction to side hustles, but they aren’t worth it over the long run. They destroy your car and have limited growth.
Learn more about apps that let you deliver food on Millennial Money Man or, better yet, find out how to create your own delivery app below:
#23. Grocery Delivery
• Average Annual Revenue: $31K
• Average Profit Margins: 3.6%
• Startup Cost: $100-$9.5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 6.7%
• Best for: Organized and system-focused entrepreneurs with strong sales, marketing, and customer service skills
Similar to food delivery services, grocery delivery is another side gig that allows you to make great money if you are good at grocery shopping. Two of the biggest players in this gig economy are:
NineHertz lists another 20 grocery delivery companies that you might not have considered.
#24. Courier
• Average Annual Revenue: $368K+
• Average Profit Margins: 9.91%
• Startup Cost: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 6.2%
• Best for: Expert navigators on the road, people who like to be outdoors and socialize with others
Working as a courier, or package handler, is another way to make extra money. These side jobs will be busiest during normal business hours, but Amazon Flex has couriers who deliver up until 10 p.m. and on weekends. Drivers make $18 to $25 on average, meaning you can make good money and keep your full-time job.
#25. Pet Sitting
• Average Annual Revenue: $34K+
• Average Profit Margins: 16%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.7%
• Best for: Pet owners, animal lovers, those who like working outdoors
If you love animals, this one’s for you because people pay for pet sitting. You can book pet sitting jobs through Rover. Rover allows you to:
- Stay at someone’s house and pet sit
- Check on the animals
- Run a pet daycare service
#26. Dog Walking
• Average Annual Revenue: $34K+
• Average Profit Margins: 16%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.7%
• Best for: Pet owners, animal lovers, those who like working outdoors
Go to pet owners’ homes and walk their dogs. You’ll get paid less than you would for full service, but even dog walking jobs can make you some extra money.
Anyone who wants to work on Rover as a sitter or dog walking service goes through a background check. Walk dogs, get fresh air and exercise. What a great way to earn extra cash!
#27. Mow Lawns
• Average Annual Revenue: $272K+
• Average Profit Margins: 8.7%
• Startup Costs: $2K-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.1%
• Best for: Designers, gardeners, people who like physical work and working outside
Lawn mowing can be a great way to make some extra income. Mike Andes started Augusta Lawn Care Services while he was in school, paid his way through college, and turned his profitable side hustle into one of the fastest-growing franchises in the United States! Find out how:
#28. Notary Public
• Average Annual Revenue: $552K+
• Average Profit Margins: 9.4%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.5%
• Best for: People interested in legislative and legal topics, those who have excellent reading and writing skills
A notary public is a person who can sign that they legally witnessed a contract. The fees range from $2 to $15 per signature, plus a travel fee if you are a mobile notary. It’s fairly simple to become a notary. Just go to the link in the first step below to learn how to become a notary authorized to perform loan signings.
- Get commissioned as a Notary Public in your state (required).
- Take a loan signing training course.
- Pass an SPW-compliant exam and background screening.
- Buy Signing Agent supplies.
- Purchase a minimum of $25,000 E&O insurance policy.
- Start working as a Notary Signing Agent.
- Promote your business.
Pro Tip: Taking the extra steps required to notarize loan signings can be highly beneficial because a mortgage can require 15+ signatures.
#29. Competitive Gaming
If you love gaming, you can make some extra income with competitive gaming. According to Statista, over $168 million in prizes were paid out by the top 10 esports gaming tournaments in 2022.
We didn’t provide average revenue or other statistics for this side hustle because it is highly variable and there are minimal spots available on professional gaming teams.
#30. Tour Guide
• Average Annual Revenue: $995K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.6%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 3.5%
• Best for: Those with a love for local history and attractions, those who like to socialize and meet new people, and those who like to educate
Visitors love to have someone who knows the area show them around. Whether you’re in a rural area or a huge city, there might be a way to make money if you know the area and love showing people the sites. Tour guides make between $25 and $200 per hour, depending on the type of tours they offer.
#31. Babysit
• Average Annual Revenue: $143K+
• Average Profit Margins: 0.9%
• Startup Cost: $0-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 51.7%
• Best for: Those who enjoy childcare and like children
Babysit for a few hours on nights and weekends, as a day job, or as a career nanny. The options are endless. Sitters and nannies get paid $15 to $25+ for watching kids through Care.com.
Pro Tip: When you work independently, you can normally charge an extra $5 an hour per additional child.
What Are Some Side Hustles in Real Estate?
Real estate is one of the top wealth-generating machines in the country. Earn passive income—plus, most real estate appreciates in value. We have five of the best side hustle ideas to help you make money in real estate.
#32. Monetize Your Property on Airbnb
• Average Annual Revenue: $201K
• Average Profit Margins: 8.1%
• Startup Cost: $1K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.2%
• Best for: Homeowners, frequent travelers, people with hospitality experience
You can rent out a spare room on Airbnb. People pay an average of $120 per night for a room on Airbnb in the U.S. If you can book your spare room for three weeks a month, that’s an extra $2,520 per month. That’s pretty good if you’re looking for extra spending cash.
#33. Lease Out Garages or Yard Space for Storage
• Average Annual Revenue: $162K+
• Average Profit Margins: 20.93%
• Startup Cost: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.1%
• Best for: People who have extra space at home and those with strong communication and marketing skills
You can rent out extra space for storage, too! Check out sites like StoreAtMyHouse or Neighbor.com. StoreAtMyHouse is looking for someone to buy it, so if you’d like to take this side hustle to another level, reach out to them to negotiate terms.
#34. Wholesale Real Estate
• Average Annual Revenue: $298K+
• Average Profit Margins: 44.6%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.3%
• Best for: Strong communicators and negotiators, smart investors, construction and home repair pros
Another good money side hustle is wholesaling real estate. The idea behind wholesaling real estate is to find homes not on the market, negotiate a contract to sell them for a certain price, and then make a profit when someone else buys them. It can make you decent cash. Want to find out how? Check out our interview with Todd Baldwin below:
#35. Build Passive Income With Real Estate
• Average Annual Revenue: $298K+
• Average Profit Margins: 44.6%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.3%
• Best for: Strong communicators and negotiators, smart investors, construction and home repair pros
Buy single or multi-family homes and rent them out. You can hire a property management company to manage the rentals or you can manage them yourself if you prefer a more active role. Mike Andes told us:
You can increase your net worth from day one if you negotiate a good deal. Plus you can use leverage (to grow faster).
What Are Some Side Hustles to Make Extra Money?
In this section, we’ll introduce side hustles for earning money by selling goods or services.
#36. Sell Custom-Made Food
• Average Annual Revenue: $278K+
• Average Profit Margins: 16.33%
• Startup Cost: $500-$250K
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.8%
• Best for: creative foodies who are good at planning and marketing
If you love cooking, consider a side hustle from home like selling baked goods. I have a friend who makes custom pies and cakes for people in her spare time.
#37. Become a Wedding Officiant
• Average Annual Revenue: $55,192
• Average Profit Margins: 11.79%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.2%
• Best for: Those who are outgoing and enjoy socializing with other people
If you love weddings, this one’s for you! You can become a wedding officiant with a fairly simple course. You’ll earn between $200 to $1,000 per wedding, depending on your area and the services you offer. Check out this blog on how to become an officiant.
#38. Referee Kids Sports
• Average Annual Revenue: $10K to $40K
• Average Profit Margins: 80%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: Undisclosed
• Best for: Those who enjoy working with kids, people who are knowledgeable about sports and games
Kids sports need referees in almost every city. Have fun, exercise, and get paid up to $40 per hour, depending on where you live.
#39. Rent Out Your Car
• Average Annual Revenue: $5.1M
• Average Profit Margins: 6.8%
• Startup Cost: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2%
• Best for: mechanics, car experts and collectors
You can rent out your car for an average of $876.33 on Turo. Jeeps, Teslas, and Subarus do particularly well on the site. This side hustle even includes commercial vehicle insurance through Travelers. As you make money, you can reinvest it to buy more cars and turn the side hustle into a full-scale car rental company. Learn more about starting car rental companies.
What Are Some Good Side Hustles to Make Money Online?
Online side hustles are the fastest kind because people can do them from home and have little to no startup costs. Consider some of these side hustles that work.
#40. Start a YouTube Channel
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$160K
• Average Profit Margins: 8%
• Startup Cost: $100-$2K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 10.5%
• Best for: Bloggers, those with a large social media presence
YouTube is one of the best social media sites to make extra money. The average user spends 30 minutes a day on YouTube. When you start a channel and reach YouTube Partner status, you can earn extra money from numerous streams including:
- Affiliate marketing
- Sponsorships
- Paid ads
- Online shop
In fact, some of the top channels are making up to $30 per 1,000 views. Find out how!
#41. Sell a Product Online
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Cost: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
• Best for: Thrifters, collectors, hobbyists and craftsmen
Whether you sell a physical product or a digital product, you can make some extra money online. You could start a volume photography business or sell digital products like keyword lists. You could even start a dropshipping or print-on-demand business to make it so you don’t have to do most of the work.
#42. Affiliate Marketer
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$160K
• Average Profit Margins: 8%
• Startup Costs: $500-$2K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 10.5%
• Best for: Bloggers, influencers, digital marketing and social media experts
Affiliate marketing is one of the best side hustles to make money. It makes up about 15% of marketing revenue, and you can do it all on your own. It can be done in almost any medium, including freelance writing, video, or online shops. Find out how Matt Diggity turned an affiliate marketing business into a nearly $5 million income:
#43. Curate a Popular Playlist
• Average Annual Revenue: $1K to $20K
• Average Profit Margins: 11.79%
• Startup Cost: $100-$500
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 4.8%
• Best for: People who love music
If you curate a music playlist, you can make money on sites like SubmitHub and Playlist Push. Find out how one side hustler makes over $1,000 a month reviewing music and creating playlists.
#44. Focus Groups
• Average Annual Revenue: $500 to $5K
• Average Profit Margins: The only actual cost is time and maybe mileage.
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 3.4%
• Best for: People who like to socialize with others and make friends, those who enjoy discussing different topics
If you have the chance to do a focus group, consider it—they’re fun! They normally consist of five to 20 people who are discussing a specific subject. They can be online or in-person and can make you $20 to $100 per hour. I’ve gotten to do ones for casinos (testing new slots), IHOP (testing new food), and beer companies (we had to have a designated driver for this one).
You can apply for focus groups on FocusGroups.org.
#45. Paid Online Surveys
• Average Annual Revenue: $100 to $5K
• Average Profit Margins: 90%
• Startup Cost: Under $100
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 4.9%
• Best for: Those with strong organization and communication skills
Online surveys can be anywhere from a couple of minutes per survey to several hours long if you participate in an online focus group. Some of the top sites for online surveys include:
- Inbox Dollars: This site pays money directly for each survey, so you’ll know whether it’s actually good money, while the others pay in points.
- Swag Bucks: In addition to surveys, you can also use coupons, sell gift cards, and perform other tasks to earn money on this site.
- Life Points: Answer surveys and get your share of quick cash. Last year they paid out $22 million.
- Survey Junkie: This site wants more than your opinion—you also earn cash (rewarded as points) for sharing your browsing history.
Survey Junkie claims you can make about $40 per month by taking three daily surveys. Others aren’t as disclosive. While they might be popular, they might not make you as much money as some other ways to earn extra income.
#46. Selling Online Courses
• Average Annual Revenue: $30K-$50K
• Average Profit Margins: 13.10%
• Startup Costs: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.5%
• Best for: Teachers, writers, people with in-demand or niche skill sets
This business idea has the potential to be a most lucrative side hustle. Once you have all the content created and the systems in place, you can earn money 24-7 with low costs. Anyone who isn’t using this side hustle idea to make some extra cash should consider adding it to their money-making strategy.
#47. Career Coach or Life Coach
• Average Annual Revenue:$234K
• Average Profit Margins:5.8%
• Startup Cost:$500-$5K
• Time To Revenue:1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate:1.1%
• Best for:People that enjoy managing, mentoring, and coaching other people, and those that are detail-oriented and independent entrepreneurs with good interpersonal skills
Career coaches and life coaches help others improve their life or careers. This may include helping hold them accountable or mapping out their career path. In this role you may also often offer services like interview preparation, cover letter and resume writing, negotiation advice.
HR professionals and recruiters are commonly good coaches. This may also be a great side hustle for former managers and executives who know what businesses need.
What Are Easy Side Hustles From Home?
If you’re looking for easy side hustles from home, consider some of the following options:
- Taking online surveys
- Selling items online
- Selling used clothes
- Becoming a virtual assistant
- Providing audio transcription
- Pet sitting
- Babysitting
- Witnessing signatures
- Competitive gaming
- Creating a playlist
- Participating in online focus groups
What Are the Highest Paying Side Hustles?
We compared 46 side hustles and the highest-paying side hustles are:
- Influencers: Up to $2.4 million per sponsored post
- Digital Product Creation: Up to $8,000 per hour when you sell your own digital products
- Car Washing: Up to $500 per car
- Marketing: $20 to $350 hourly
- Developer: Up to $300 hourly
- Vending Machine Route Operator: Up to $300 hourly before costs)
- Online Coach: Up to $250 hourly
- Tour Guides: Up to $200 hourly
- YouTube Channel Owner: Up to $200 hourly (based on our interviews)
- Writer: Up to $150 hourly
- Designer: Up to $125 hourly
- Online Focus Groups: Up to $100 hourly
- Transcriptionist: Up to $80 hourly
- Virtual Assistant: Up to $60 hourly
- Wash Clothing: Up to $40 hourly
- Rideshare Driving: Up to $40 hourly
- Referee: Up to $40 hourly
- Food Delivery: Up to $35 hourly
- Cleaning Homes: Up to $25 hourly
We have plenty more side hustles that make good money, but these are the best ones. Read the full blog for more information.
Make Extra Money With Your Side Hustle Idea
Once you’ve chosen a side hustle, you just have to find your first client to start making money. Most side-hustle apps and platforms will let you connect directly to your bank account or PayPal so you can get paid fast.
Which side hustle has made you the most money?
