75 Best Side Hustle Ideas of 2025 (Low Cost and Online)

Right now, there probably hasn’t been a better time to become an entrepreneur. If you’re like me and every day you wake up wondering if you’ll still have a job at the end of the day, then perhaps it’s time to kick it up a notch.

So I have put together the best side hustle ideas you can start today. And the best part is, you don’t need to quit your job…yet.

You can perform these side hustle ideas while you’re still working full time and maintain your primary source of income, giving you peace of mind to earn extra while you get your business off the ground.

When I started out, I needed a way to earn money that was low-cost and online (for flexibility), but still keep my day job. The options I have come up with allow you to spend more time at home (or traveling) with no commute!

So whether you want this to replace your 9-5 job or just to earn extra money, this list is for you.

Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links that may provide a small commission to me at no cost to you (it will buy me a cup of coffee though 😉). However, these are the best tools to use with these side hustle ideas. You can read more about the affiliate disclosure in my affiliate policy.

What are the Best Side Hustle Ideas to Make Extra Money in 2024?

Here is the list of the best ways to start a side hustle to start this year and earn extra income.

1. Best Online Side Hustle Idea: Start a Profitable Blog.

I may be a little biased, but I’m convinced blogging is still the best option for people to make a side hustle income.

There are really only three ways to start making money online with a blog:

• Sell your own products.
• Sell someone else’s products.
• Sell your services.

The best thing about a blog is that you can make money using all three income streams simultaneously!

What’s more, is the high profit margin that blogging provides. I’ve had plenty of e-commerce businesses in the past where I’ve made $80,000 per year, but the margin was only around 30%.

It’s not about turnover. What matters is what’s leftover. What do you get to keep at the end of the day?

Blogging is the only business model I know that you can reach more than a 50% margin. Practically unheard of in the business world!

So how do you get started?

First, you need to choose your niche. Don’t keep following the same old idea that you can blog about your passion and call it a day.

You need to think like a business owner. Can you monetize your niche? If you can’t, you might need to find something else that you have expertise in and that makes good business sense to do so.

I started this blog because I knew how to develop websites. I have built plenty of websites in the past, both for myself and for clients too. Because of that, I also have used a lot of SaaS (software as a service) products to help automate my business, so it practically runs on autopilot.

These include:

• Getting your domain name and hosting set up. You can get started with Bluehost today.
• Choosing your blog’s theme.
• Installing the necessary plugins to make your blog perform at its best.
• How to create your first blog post.

To help you get started, I recommend using Bluehost, which gives you a free domain for your first year and for a limited-time cost of $2.95/month.

Ok, so this may not be the fastest way to make money online, but it’s great at chipping away as a fun side hustle, but you need to be consistent and produce great content.

Because blogging is cheap to get into the game, expect lots of competition. That said, if you can play the long game, then the rewards are definitely worth it!

2. Start an E-Commerce Business.

Covid has accelerated the growth of e-commerce by a staggering 39% in Q1 for 2021. That’s almost $800 billion in sales. This is creating a great business opportunity for side hustlers looking to sell products online.

There are three ways you can sell online – Amazon FBA, Dropshipping, or selling your own products on your own website.

The cheapest and simplest option to get started with, is dropshipping. This is because you are selling someone else’s products on your website. You are essentially the middleman between the supplier and the customer.

The biggest difficulty with dropshipping is getting traffic to your website which will require you to invest in some form of advertising to get people through your (virtual) door.

A much quicker way to get sales is to set up shop on the world’s biggest shopping center, Amazon.

The catch here is that you will need to do more of the work upfront with your supplier in manufacturing the product and then send it to Amazon. Amazon will then take care of the picking, packing, and shipping for you.

This is known as Amazon FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon). As part of this process, you won’t need to build a website, and you won’t need to worry about hosting. Everything will be built on the Amazon platform that users know, like, and trust.

Of course, there are plenty of options out there, including having your own warehouse to keep your inventory in so you can sell across multiple websites and increase your sales even further!

Forecasts predict that the number of Prime members could reach over 150 million in the United States alone by 2022.

That’s a lot of people going to Amazon with their credit cards in hand and ready to buy.

To get started with dropshipping or selling on your own website, I recommend you go with Shopify.

Shopify make it easy for you to integrate your products directly from the suppliers through AliDropship. They can also accept multiple forms of payment, giving your customers plenty of options to pay with.

You can try Shopify risk-free for 14 days, and then it’s only $29/month to build your business.

3. Online Courses and Coaching.

Education is becoming quite popular during the worldwide lockdowns. This is a great time for people to learn a new skill or increase the skills they already have.

If you’re an expert in your field, you can leverage that skill and create your own online course. You can then upload that course to Udemy. It is an online platform where any student looking to do a course can sign up and learn about practically anything they want to. Because it’s your course, you get to set the tuition fee.

The other alternative is Teachable. This is a great idea if you already have an audience to sell to without the worry that you’re losing money on transaction fees.

To get the maximum amount of income possible, make sure you have a deep knowledge of the subject and be sure to give a substantial amount of value to your students.

4. Graphic Design.

Even if you don’t have a formal qualification, businesses are always on the lookout for a freelance graphic designer. The best part is that you get to choose the hours and rates that you work.

The good thing is that quality branding or image is key in creating sales for these companies. So there are plenty of opportunities for you to make extra cash. You can create everything from motivational quotes to logos, posters, banners, and even landing pages.

If you’re new to the field, then finding clients may be hard at first. But once you have several designs under your portfolio, then you can afford to work with higher-valued customers and increase your profit further.

Finally, what’s a graphic designer without any software to design on? Most professionals use the Adobe Suite of products. However, the main ones are Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

Alternatively, you can also use an even easier tool like Visme to build on your skills before moving on to Adobe.

5. Web Design.

If you feel that maybe you need more than just designing things, then take a look at web design. It’s the perfect mix of design and analytical skills needed, which is very valuable to businesses.

This makes it one of the perfect side hustle ideas.

Being a web designer means you need to develop the skills needed to craft a beautiful-looking website or app. But, you also need to make it value-driven to the user by creating a great experience for them.

6. Web Development.

Given how many websites there are out there and how many are used for business (less than 64%), this is a great reason to get into web development as a side job.

There’s a big demand for developers!

It means that you can get started working on developing websites for friends and family. Build up a portfolio that you can be doing on the side of your job.

The fact that there may be plenty of website builders out there these days, such as Wix and Squarespace, doesn’t mean anyone can be a web developer.

Web developers need to build custom websites specific to certain clients. You may need to be competitive on price to start, but once you gain the traction and trust of your customers, you can slowly start to charge what you are worth.

You’ll need to learn a new language, though. These include HTML, Javascript, CSS, Ruby, and Python.

7. Start a Podcast.

I love podcasts, and apparently, I’m not the only one either. More than 485 million people listened to podcasts worldwide in 2020 (Statista).

This means there is an opportunity for you to make good money. Most people earn their money through sponsorship deals (similar to affiliate marketing), but occasionally you might get a lucky break.

Take Joe Rogan as an example. He was headhunted by Spotify to move his podcast over to them, and for that, they would pay him $100 million to do it. Not bad at all.

So how do you get to work on your new business?

First, you’ll need some equipment. But before you go ham and buy a full studio setup, let me tell you that it’s not required.

Once you’ve recorded your episodes, you’ll need to upload them to a hosting platform. From here, you can get listed on every podcast directory like iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, etc.

Buzzsprout is an excellent choice because of its many features to help you publish, promote and get statistics relating to your podcast.

8. Instagram Marketer.

Are you great with Instagram? There’s a business in that for you. Only second to Facebook, Instagram is a highly visual platform that has become more than just posting selfies or what you had for dinner.

If you have quite the following on your account (I don’t like the term influencer), businesses will pay you to promote one of their products. The great thing is that you don’t necessarily need to be approached by the one type of business for you to see big profits.

This creates quite a unique way of adding extra income streams. The higher your following count, the more you’ll be able to charge per post.

But companies won’t pay if you have 100,000 followers and only ten people like your post with only one comment.

You need to have an engagement for this to work.

9. Social Media Manager.

Businesses are starting to realize that having a good social media presence is critical to creating great brand awareness with their target audience. So it’s only natural that there would be jobs out there for people to help them.

It does sound pretty cool that you would be getting paid to be on social media all day, but there’s a lot you would need to do. You need to be on top of the game.

Social media apps are changing constantly, new ones are appearing, and it’s up to you to know which ones would best suit your client for their target audience.

For example, don’t go posting what you ate for dinner on LinkedIn. You need to understand each platform.

Other tasks include:

• Creating content and posts.
• Monitoring all of the business’s social media channels.
• Respond to DMs, comments, and mentions.
• Use analytics and interpret data to see what’s working and what’s not.
• Come up with key strategies and present them to other team members in the business.

You can find these types of jobs on websites such as FlexJobs, Fiverr, and Upwork.

10. Affiliate Marketing.

Probably one of the most passive side hustle ideas in this list. This is why there is such a buzz around the internet and in digital marketing, especially regarding affiliate marketing.

It’s because affiliate marketing is a relatively simple concept. You have a blog or another platform that you can promote products on, you recommend a product to your audience, and they click your special link and buy the product.

In return for your efforts, you get a commission!

A specific blog research study found that there is a huge price range in which bloggers can make money. However, of those making between $7,500 and $25,000 per month, 38% of that came from affiliate marketing.

To get started, first, I recommend signing up for affiliate networks such as ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, Awin, Rakuten, and Clickbank.

To find more information, check out my post on the highest-paying affiliate programs this year.

11. Virtual Assistant.

If you’re good at problem-solving and have an eye for detail, look at being a virtual assistant. This is a great high-demand role for virtually every business.

If you don’t quite have the skills needed to do the business you want to get into, then being a VA is a great opportunity for you to learn from other people already established in the field. It is also ideal for those who want to be digital nomads and travel the world while still getting paid.

Typically it’s not the greatest paid job, but while it still allows you to work from home and boost your entrepreneurial skills, it’s a good option for many.

To find Virtual Assistant jobs, use a website like FlexJobs.

12. T-Shirt Printing Business.

Going into this multi-million dollar-a-year industry is going to require a lot of hard work to keep up with demand. It’ll take a lot of creative designs if you want to be competitive. This could take up a lot of your free time very quickly if you’re not careful.

So make sure this is something you really want to do before committing. Even though there might be plenty of competition, the high demand means there’s always room for new players.

Whether you want to just keep it as a side hustle from your own home or work from a factory, the nature of this business allows you to scale it as high as you want.

To keep up to date and learn about the dynamics of printing technology, take a look at LinkedIn Learning.

To get started with your own print-on-demand products today, check out Printful.

13. Sell Your Own E-Books.

Bundling up your skills, knowledge, and expertise and turning it into an e-book can work well if you know your target audience. There are plenty of people who still read ebooks, with a 12.6% increase in 2020.

When you’re just starting, it’s fair to say that there won’t be a lot of people who know you. So this could take a bit of time to get off the ground. Instead, you could always write for other people first and learn the best ways to publish your own e-book while getting paid.

However, it’s not uncommon to see authors make five figures per year off of their e-books.

14. Drive For Uber and/or Lyft.

If you’ve got a car and some free time, you can start your ridesharing business today! Through the click of a button, you can turn on and off your availability and work when you want to for however long you want to.

You’ll need to check the requirements on the website to make sure your car is eligible to participate before you sign up.

Both Uber and Lyft have a “destination mode,” so you can accept pick-ups and drop-offs on your regular morning commute without going off track.

But before you get too excited, you should do what every good business owner does and run through your numbers. Calculate things like the cost of gas, wear and tear on your car, and insurance to know if this business is still worth it for you.

15. Wedding Photographer.

Having a wedding photographer is definitely one of the most expensive items of the day. After all, I only wanted the best, and that is what I got, so it’s no wonder why wedding photographers can charge premium rates.

He was hired to capture one of the best moments of my life, but his time was also spent after the wedding (a lot of time) editing photos and videos (probably my fault because my wife looked so gorgeous!). So this is also factored into the pricing for photographers.

Most photographers have to rely on word-of-mouth marketing and having a substantial portfolio to attract future clients. So make sure your website captures the best moments to put on display.

16. Travel Consultant.

As the world opens up, travel will be in such high demand. If you have extensive travel experience, then setting yourself up as a travel consultant could be a lucrative side hustle for you.

You don’t need to just limit yourself to booking flights for people either. If you’ve got certain skills, such as using airline points for luxury travel, the best hotel deals, and even transferring credit points for travel (car hire, hotels, and airlines), then this is something you can niche down into.

But don’t stop there. Use social media accounts and create groups for people to be added who want to stay on top of the latest travel deals and start to build a following with regular clients. Eventually, you can turn it into a full-time travel consultancy and even team up with travel agencies to get exclusive deals for your clients.

17. Interior Designer.

This is one of those awesome side hustle ideas for people who have an eye for great design. Much like the fashion industry, many decisions need to be made when it comes to remodeling a room. Things like, what color should the benchtop be to match the flooring?

You need to stay on top of the latest fashion trends and help people stage their homes as well to get a premium price when selling. Usually, the people who can afford to hire interior designers tend to be in the higher income bracket.

Once you start to get a decent portfolio under your belt, then you could expand to corporate interior design and look at designing hotel lobbies, conference rooms, reception areas, and more.

18. WordPress Website Consultant.

WordPress is one of the most widely used CMS platforms in the world. If you have any experience setting up websites using WordPress, you can definitely take advantage of this skill to build your business.

There are a lot of people who aren’t very technical or businesses who need to outsource to freelancers to build them a fully functioning website.

Once you’ve finished setting up their website, consider adding your services to build traffic to that new website. Alternatively, you can offer a maintenance plan (which is great for recurring income) to keep their site up-to-date and secure.

Eventually, the services you offer here could turn into a full-blown digital agency.

19. Paid Advertising Specialist.

Pay-per-click (PPC) Advertising usually takes on a mixture of skills. You’ll need to be highly creative and analytical to figure out how to capture the attention of the target audience and then read the data to figure out if the ROI was worth it.

Campaign tasks will include creating ad copy, running A/B tests, optimizing conversions, and testing keywords. Paid ad specialists take a targeted audience and then use a call to action for them to do a specified task.

Learning to be an advertising specialist as a side hustle can be used to jump-start your career in digital marketing.

20. Sell on Etsy.

Do you make homemade products? Then selling on Etsy should be on your radar. It is the world’s largest marketplace for hand-crafted goods. You may need to have plenty of space in your home, though, if you’re using this as a side business to keep up with demand, and you can only go as far as your time allows.

Recently, Etsy has expanded its product offerings, and you can now sell digital items – posters that can be printed, print on demand, and even drop shipping.

Once you have enough demand for your products, you could shift your customer base over to your own website and keep more of the profits rather than paying fees to Etsy.

21. Freelance Proofreader/Editor.

Starting this as a side hustle may be a great option for those who have great attention to detail and a good grasp of the English language. Having your own proofreading or editing business means you can set your hourly rates and work from anywhere in the world.

There are plenty of job boards to find work. But don’t think that software like Grammarly is going to be taking your new business from you. While it is true that they are a very handy tool, it is still unable to get the context or tone right 100% of the time.

You can use an editing service such as Contena to get started. If you need a course to learn how to get the most out of proofreading (and even show potential clients that you know what you are doing), then Udemy has plenty to get you going.

22. Develop an App.

How many apps do you currently have on your smartphone? It seems like if you need a service, then “there’s probably an app for that”. Don’t get discouraged, however, by the competition or the fact that the market may be too saturated.

There is always room to improve the user experience from the apps already out there. To do this, you don’t even need extensive coding skills anymore. There are awesome courses from Creative Live to help you build an app without any coding involved.

Before you get too far in, though, make sure you validate your idea with excellent market research. You don’t want to go through all the trouble of building an app and then not have anyone interested in it, let alone buy it.

As a worst-case, at least you come away with a new skill that you take into your next app idea.

23. Data Analysis.

Numbers make a business run, and businesses are willing to pay if you can analyze their data so they can make a better-judged decision on their next move. So you need to be good with numbers to make this a profitable side hustle.

Experience with analytics software, data visualization software, and even data management programs will give you the edge when you apply for freelance jobs. A typical data analyst can earn, on average, around $66,000 per year.

24. Freelance Content Writing.

Many bloggers use content writers to help them grow their businesses. So if you like writing and have experience within a certain field, this can be a lucrative business for you.

You don’t necessarily need to be limited to just writing blog articles either. Content writing can include scripts for videos and podcast episodes.

While it is not exactly a high-paying job, there is no shortage of work. However, to be successful, you need to stick to a topic about which you are knowledgeable enough to write. I’ve seen too many blog articles from writers who have been clearly “subject jumping,” and it showed through the content.

To see what is currently being offered out there, check out Fiverr or the Problogger job board.

25. Build a Niche Website.

Probably one of my favorite side hustle ideas. You can blog about anything you have an interest in and combine it with building a website. Win-win! For example, if you’re into traveling, then you can write about all of your experiences while you’re on the road.

Of course, to be successful, you need to make your content useful to your readers and provide value to them. There are many ways you can monetize your website, so make sure you do your research on your chosen niche to see if it will be worth it for you.

To get started, I recommend you go with Bluehost for only $3.95 per month.

26. AirBnB Host.

Having a spare room or even an entire apartment could be used to bring you extra rent and cover those mortgage repayments every month. For many of us, this is a great side hustle idea that you can do with very little input or experience.

But remember, you will still need to be on call for your guests before and during their stay.

To really stand out from the crowd, if you want to ask for a premium price on your stays, then try thinking outside the box. Perhaps providing a pickup service from the airport.

It will also allow you to really get to know the people who will be staying at your place, and you may even make some new friends from it.

But if that’s not your thing, perhaps you could organize a bottle of wine, champagne, or even a gift basket on arrival for your guests. This is your opportunity to get creative and let people have no other option than to give you 5 stars.

Pro Tip: As an additional business idea to create more of an income on the side, you can co-host with someone. Offer to take payments, request to clean the property after every stay, and coordinate guest check-in. You could then request a percentage of the rent from that owner for no extra risk.

27. Baking.

Everyone has some sort of secret family recipe that they have got access to. This is a simple and easy side hustle that you can get started with today. In fact, my wife (a woman of many talents) had a cake business for a couple of years. People would pay an absolute premium because of the high demand that was placed on her cakes.

She found the X-factor. A “secret” ingredient that not only made the cakes look amazing but tasted even better. This was marketed to buyers, and people were lining up to get a piece.

To scale her business, every Saturday, we set up shop at a craft fair. What we liked about this was that it was mostly cash with some card payments in there too. But this meant we got paid on the day and didn’t have to invoice and wait for payment.

28. Personal Training Coach.

Getting people in shape would have to be one of the most reliable business ideas around. There are two really big parts of this business that you can offer services for. Exercise and nutrition. By adding fitness and meal plans for your clients, you can add some extra money to your side hustle.

With so many gyms and indoor areas being closed off and increased social distancing measures in place, you can pivot your business to the outdoors and create a “Bootcamp” type experience for your clients.

This can easily be scaled up into a full-time career if you want it to. To be even more of an authority in your niche, you can start a fitness blog. Think about adding some extra fitness or diet tips to help people between sessions and create a fan base.

Some countries may require you to be a certified coach or personal trainer, so be sure to check that out before you take on any clients. It could also help to gain more credibility if people looking for a qualified trainer.

29. Create a YouTube Channel.

Who would have thought years ago that you could make money by turning on a camera and pressing the record button? Seems like there are people actually making millions on YouTube and live streaming. Enter the vlogging era.

The trick here is to entertain. The longer you can keep people viewing your videos, the more money you’ll make. Of course, the more interesting your videos can be, the more subscribers and views you’ll get over a period of time.

This is important because it isn’t a fast way to get money. There are a few guidelines to be aware of before you start getting paid by YouTube. For instance, you’ll need a minimum amount of subscribers (this is why you hear most vloggers tell you to “hit/smash/push that subscribe button”) and meet a certain number of hours of viewing before you’ll see any cash flow.

To increase your chances of being taken as a serious vlogger, it might pay to invest in some decent camera and microphone equipment.

30. Buy and Sell Domain Names.

When done right, buying and selling domain names can be a lucrative side hustle. As an absolutely extreme example, the most expensive domain to ever be sold was the domain business.com, with a purchase price of $345 million.

The idea here is that you purchase a domain name that you think will increase in value enough for someone to want to buy it, at which point you flip it for a profit.

Many experts have debated the long-term sustainability of this business idea. So you may not want to jump into this business full-time without having some sort of success from it first.

To keep costs down, I recommend pairing your domain name with a cheap web hosting plan and then putting it up for auction.

31. Business Plan Writer.

If a founder is looking to raise capital to invest in the business, then the investors or bank lenders need to know about the business plan and strategies before they give their money out. A study has shown that by having a proper business plan, a company can be 2 times more likely to get the funds raised.

So a business plan writer forms a detailed plan based on research and the clear goals the business intends to take and puts it all together in a clear and short brief.

Getting started requires minimal equipment, and you’ve probably already got these items which help to keep costs down. You’ll need a computer, internet access, and a website to gain clients.

Because there is a lot of work and detail that goes into writing a business plan, on the lower end of the scale, some are charging around $500 for a completed plan. Not a bad amount to start with, and then once you scale your business and need to write complicated plans, that could rise to $20,000 or more per plan.

Most company owners will want to see some sort of previous work before they decide to hire you. So if you can have plans drawn up from any friends or family who own small businesses and use those as the basis of your portfolio, then that should give you the best chance of getting the contract.

32. Resume Writer.

Most people find a template online and think that is enough to land (pardon the pun) their dream job. If you have any experience with recruiting or HR, then this would be a very good side hustle to start.

The desire and demand are there for people to pay a professional to create a really good resume that stands out from the others in the pile. This means that when the time comes for the interview, your clients are more memorable because of their well-presented resume which increases their chances of getting that job.

You can start with word of mouth or even use sites like LinkedIn and other professional services to gain clients.

33. Bookkeeper.

Staying on top of finances is something many people and businesses hate. If you’re already an accountant or bookkeeper, this is an excellent way to work from home or add additional income on the side.

There’s a lot of outsourcing these days, particularly from small companies and startups, which makes it a great in-demand business choice for you to start.

Because this is a qualified position, meaning you need to be certified to get this off the ground, entrepreneurs can charge higher than average rates.

34. Tutor.

If you aced your school tests or the SATs, HSC, and ACT, then this could be a worthwhile side hustle idea. Many parents are willing to part with between $75-$100 per hour to get their child into the college or university of their choice.

The best part about this business is you don’t need to meet face to face anymore and remain socially distant. You can tutor over Zoom no matter where you are in the world as long as you have an internet connection and just a few hours per week.

There are plenty of different subjects that can be taught, and Wyzant has plenty of jobs going for tutors.

35. Computer Repair.

You need to be fairly skilled at dealing with technical computer repairs. With there now being more computers than people in a household, it’s fair to say you’ll probably never run out of work. There are a few different markets you could tap into to produce a side income.

Firstly, you could just put up a service website and try to get clients through word of mouth for a one-off repair. Alternatively, you can build up recurring clients, where you could be their “computer guy” and be on call for any problems that they may have, and you get paid a retainer.

This can be done at scale as well. Start with just yourself and do small business or customers from the general public. Then as your business grows, you can employ more people and then target medium to large enterprises.

36. Baby Proofing House Business.

It can take a long time to plug up every powerpoint in the house and put those special clips on the fridge, kitchen drawers, oven, and stovetop.

Most parents are usually fairly sleep-deprived, so you would be filling that need by applying the safety features. They could either buy them from you, or you can re-use them for other homes when they’re finished.

This could be a good way of getting to know people within your community and creating a side income at the same time.

37. Babysitter.

This is not just for college students and teens. If you love babies and don’t mind working odd hours, this can be a rewarding side business with recurring income. You will be fulfilling the need that parents will want time away from the kids, and if you’re able to do it once or twice a month with a couple of regular families (clients), you could be making a good little business for yourself.

You could always recruit more people and make it into an actual babysitting service.

38. Mortgage Broker.

There are so many options out there in trying to get the best home loan deal that it can be overwhelming for some people.

This side hustle may need to take a little more work than others, but you can easily target friends and family at first and get them a great deal on their home loans. This will then start a positive word-of-mouth and testimonial portfolio for you.

A great way to market this to people is to let them know that they don’t actually pay you directly for your services, so it’s virtually risk-free for your clients. You actually get paid on commission from the banks according to the length and size of the loan.

Once you set up a steady client base, this can be a great little passive income earner.

However, you will need some sort of formal qualification as it is heavily regulated by the finance and banking industry.

39. Tour Guide.

How well do you know your city? As travel is starting to find its feet again and more people are wanting to explore new cities, this could pay out quite well, especially if you’re in a tourist hotspot.

To be a great tour guide, you not only need to know the best places to eat but also be into the history and culture of your city. If you can find hidden gems that not many travel agencies know about and you can provide extra value to your guests, they may be more inclined to give you a tip to add to your income.

40. Part-Time Remote Work.

While not revolutionary, finding some part-time work in a skill or qualification you already have could be a way to boost your income. Sites like FlexJobs, and Upwork have a wide range of online positions. Jobs start from a basic freelancer and go to an entry-level executive at a major firm.

If you’re great at design and you can create awesome logos, then take a look at the website 99Designs. This could be a great way to make extra money if you have free time and are really good at meeting people’s expectations through a written brief.

If you can’t find anything in your current skill set, though, it might be time to upgrade or learn something completely new. There are plenty of online resources that also offer free courses for you to try before you buy and then go on to get the full qualification.

41. Freelance on Fiverr.

Fiverr is the OG of the gig economy. Although freelancing services here start from $5 (hence the term Fiverr), this is a great way for new freelancers to enter the market and gain a portfolio for themselves.

There are plenty of simple tasks in the topics of graphic design, video and animation, music, and audio. The flexibility here means you can set your own hours when you’re willing to work and bid for jobs that interest you the most.

To succeed on Fiverr, you need to be delivering massive amounts of value even at these lower price points. But remember, you’ll be up against other freelancers doing the exact same thing.

42. Ghostwriter.

“Negative Ghostwriter, the pattern is full”.

No, not that kind of Ghostwriter.

This side gig is where you don’t mind writing for other people only to have them put their name to it, claiming it as their own work. Ghostwriting can be found in articles, books, and even song lyrics.

It may seem like an unfair arrangement, but ghostwriters can make a lot of money doing it. More so than just regular freelancing. It’s like this to compensate the writer for not actually having their name on it.

There have been plenty of ghostwriters who have started out as a side hustle, only to have it turn into a full-time career. Platforms like FlexJobs and Fiverr are great ways to get started on building your portfolio.

43. Knife Sharpening.

This is quite a niche idea. However, there are people out there who are obsessed with their kitchen and utility knives and will pay good money to have them kept in a ‘like new’ condition.

As knives get used more, the blade starts to lose its sharpness, and it can actually be quite dangerous to use a blunt knife. So, by using a tool like a whetstone, you can get a dull and chipped knife back into a razor-sharp condition.

Pair this service with a blog to offer additional maintenance and care tips to customers and build a client base. This can be a great source of recurring income and charge a premium price for this “expert” skill.

44. Wrist Watch Flipping.

Like with anything that is worth of value, ‘flipping’ can be an inexpensive way to keep turning profits over and make an easy side income, especially if you have an interest in it. This is similar to buying and selling on the share market but with actual products.

If you decide to do this as a side hustle, start off with an entry-level brand. Keep an eye on the value of the watch, and when it gets high enough so you can make a profit from it, then sell.

Eventually, you can make your way up to working with much more premium brands such as Breitling (unless you have the cash to invest in it straight away), where there is a higher perceived value, and the profits per sale can be a lot higher.

45. Mobile Car Wash and Detailing.

This is an easy way to make extra money. Most people care about their cars but don’t have the time to wash it themselves. Going through a robotic car wash could also scratch the paint, so those people who place a high value on their prized possessions will be willing to pay more for a hand wash.

To make this into a more profitable business, you can drive to the richer parts of your city where you can make the most money. They would also be in more of a position (with more disposable income) to actually pay someone to wash and clean their car for them.

Create a plan for your customers by returning to their home or office every couple of weeks for recurring revenue. You can also upsell your customers with recommended car care products for added value.

46. Neighborhood Dog Walking.

This simple idea could pay off, and you’d be getting some good exercise in at the same time. With people getting busier these days, it’s hard for them to find the time to walk their dog, or at the end of a long day, could feel like a chore.

If you have the extra time, why not walk three or four dogs at the same time to increase your hourly rate?

47. Share Your Car.

Similar to a hire car company, if your car is just sitting in the garage for most of the day or even while you’re at the office, there’s no reason why you can’t rent it out to people who need a car for a few hours.

You can go for a daily rate or even an hourly rate to make some extra cash on something that would otherwise be costing you money.

Now before you lose it at me for even suggesting such an idea, let me tell you that there is a $1 million insurance policy taken out on all cars. As an added safety benefit, all drivers are prescreened before they’re allowed anywhere near your car.

48. Invest Your Money.

Ok, sure, this might take a little money to get started, but it is also one of the most passive ways to make an income. Depending on where you live, interest rates might be at an all-time low.

For example, at the time of writing, Australia’s official cash rate is 0.1%, and I would pay tax on that! That means my money is actually not growing with inflation (if at all) and actually going backward.

I would be better off taking my money out of the bank and hiding it under my bed.

So instead of doing that (with the fear of getting robbed), why not put your money to work while you sleep? As a general rule, when investing in the stock market, don’t invest in anything you don’t understand. A safe bet when starting out is investing in managed funds and ETFs.

But if stocks aren’t your thing, though, then try taking courses on cryptocurrency or blockchain as alternatives.

49. Event DJing.

If you’ve got an ear for pumping out sick beats like DJ Pauly D, then getting a gig as a DJ could be for you. Sure, there’s a bit of equipment to invest in. However, this would very quickly be paid off from the amount you would be able to get from just a couple of events.

It may look easy to do, but it’s actually quite an art. I would recommend taking a couple of courses first to learn the basics of sound mixing and music production before going off on your first paid gig.

50. Handyman Service.

Handy with the tools and fixing things? Then give this a try. There are plenty of odd jobs that people need help with around the house. Set up a profile with TaskRabbit and take on the jobs you feel would be most suitable to your skillset.

51. Cabinet Maker.

Another great side hustle involves woodworking. This is more suited to people who like to do one project at a time in their spare time. Crafting cabinets and drawers and even designing kitchen benches. Pair it up with a website where you can show off your recently crafted designs along with your customer’s raving testimonials for continuous work.

52. Ironing/Mobile Laundry Service.

Oh man, do I hate ironing! I have no doubt I’m not alone on this either, and would definitely pay to make this all go away. There are a few local ironing services around who easily could make $500 – $1000 per month. Not a bad way to get paid to watch your favorite TV show while doing the ironing.

As long as people are wearing clothes (I’m guessing it’ll continue for some time yet), then there will always be washing to be done. Jump on this trend by setting up a local mobile laundry service.

You can always take a course in commercial laundry and cleaning to make sure you’re using the correct detergents that are safe to use on clothes.

53. Carpet Cleaning.

Every home has either carpet, tiles, or a hard surface that needs to be cleaned, and while there will always be dirt, stains, and allergens, there’s a need for a professional cleaner.

As a carpet cleaning start-up, you will need a bit of equipment to launch successfully, such as a good quality vacuum cleaner, brushes, and cleaning products, depending on your target market.

Something that you start off on the side of your day job could eventually scale into your very own franchise down the road.

54. Removalist Service.

As a small business with low overheads, just you and a truck, it’s an easy business to launch. It is obviously a very physical and demanding job, so you will need to be fit with no underlying health issues such as bad back or knee pain.

You will need to have a good idea of how many removals you can do in a day to be effective and provide great customer service.

55. Modeling.

If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Fashion designers and photographers are always on the lookout for new models to market their products. You can get started by contacting an agency or doing some freelance work yourself.

This may seem like an easy gig, but I would definitely recommend you find a mentor. Preferably someone who is well-established and knows the industry’s best practices to get you on the right track. You need to be committed to the role, and it is quite demanding, but the rewards can easily make this a solid-paying side hustle.

56. Handmade Jewelry.

Making your own jewelry and selling it online is the new craze. The great thing about selling your jewelry online is that it is your own unique style, meaning there are no real big brands to compete against.

57. HR Consultant.

Depending on how long you’ve already been in the game and your qualifications, going at it alone and working for yourself means you finally get to set the rules. Typical hourly wages range from $100 – $200 per hour.

In some cases, you can always ask for a retainer to put your mind at ease so that you’ll get a steady income for the entire contract period.

To protect yourself, it’s a good idea to form an LLC in the US or be a sole trader in Australia before you start taking on clients.

58. Pet Grooming.

Pet owners love spoiling their pets. Everything from spa and massage treatments to taking long walks on the beach with a frozen treat. This trendy business idea is set to thrive with no signs of slowing down.

Because owners expect their pets to look their absolute best, I’d recommend signing up for a dog grooming course first. You can find clients using local Facebook groups and websites before word of mouth takes over and you start seeing regular work.

You can always collaborate with other pet business owners and form a joint venture where you both provide extra value to your clients and can make even more profit.

59. Translation/Interpreter Service.

If you’ve got the skill to fluidly speak, read, and write in another language, there’s plenty of work ready for you to pick up, and it can be done remotely. FlexJobs has hundreds of job listings for freelance, remote translators.

60. Vending Machine Business.

I really like this idea. You think of how passive this income would be and how often you see vending machines around. I sat back and watched a vending machine while I was waiting for a flight (riveting stuff, I know), and the number of people who kept on buying food and drink just amazed me.

It’s minimal work for maximum profit with about a $2000 buy-in. Just come by every couple of days and re-stock the machine. Location will be key here in determining how much profit you can make. On average, a single machine can do about $500 a month in sales.

61. Window Cleaning.

Probably one of the simplest side hustles to start, and the demand is extremely high. Storefront businesses need their shop to look its best and are willing to pay you to wash and clean their windows for them. So this is a great place to start.

It takes minimal investment to start up (dishwashing liquid works really well), with most of us already owning a bucket, ladder, and squeegee.

An advantage of starting your own window cleaning business is you can set your customers on a schedule where you’ll come by and clean their windows for them every 3-4 weeks. Build up a couple of clients, and you’re off to the races.

62. Gutter Cleaning.

While it’s true that many homeowners can do this themselves, there are plenty who feel uneasy about the thought of climbing up on a ladder or the roof without the necessary safety equipment to get the job done.

Again there’s not much in terms of start-up cost. However, you might want to think about insurance and if any work permits are required for you to work from heights in your state or country.

Depending on how badly the gutters get clogged, you can always recommend a recurring schedule for guaranteed income.

63. Working on Mechanical Turk.

Mechanical Turk is an Amazon platform that works in a similar way to TaskRabbit and GigWalk. It’s provided to help companies complete small tasks that can usually be done in just a few minutes each.

The jobs are usually very simple in nature, like data validation, research, content moderation, and more.

This won’t make you rich at all, but it’s a good option if you’re really stuck on ideas and don’t have a whole lot of time to devote to a full-scale side hustle right now.

64. Lawn Care and Landscaping Service.

This low start-up cost idea only requires basic equipment, but you’ll need good sales skills. Horticulturists who have experience in maintaining lawns can really excel in this business with their current knowledge.

This business goes beyond just mowing lawns and trimming edges, but of course, that in itself can also be a great side hustle.

However, be aware that this job may be seasonal, and it will be difficult to do anything in poor weather, so you may want to pair it up with another service to make it worthwhile all year round.

65. Craft Your Own Beer.

Love drinking beer? Then making your own may not be such a bad idea. You can even do it from the comfort of your own home. You’ll need to have plenty of patience with this to get your craft right that others would actually be willing to pay for!

66. Rent Out Your Garage/Driveway.

If you have any unused space in your garage or driveway, then you could be profiting an extra $10,000 per year right into your pocket. Using a platform such as Neighbor, you can list your space here, fill it, and get paid. Easy!

67. Tax Preparation.

If you already have the qualifications and love what you do already, this can be a no-money-down investment into your next side hustle. Helping people and small businesses with their tax prep, while not all that exciting, is very necessary though to have the IRS off their backs.

A tax preparation course on Udemy will give you the confidence to prepare taxes yourself once you’re done. Depending on the form you’re preparing to submit can influence how much you can charge. On average, freelance tax accountants are charging around $200 per return.

Find other ways you can make money once tax season is over to keep making money year-round.

68. Answer Questions on Just Answer.

Just Answer is a place for people to go and ask questions to experts in their field. It’s good if you have high-level skills in law, medicine, engineering, finance, and more. You’ll need to show you are properly qualified and certified to apply, but according to their website, you could make anywhere from $2000 – $7000 per month.

You can choose the hours you want to work, and it’s all done remotely. There are no fees to get started, and you’re already using skills you’ve got to make a difference in people’s lives and bring value.

69. Personal Chef.

With people these days being way too busy to cook, it is a major pain point for many families, and it’s only going to get worse. You’ll need to love cooking (and actually be good at it!), but the trade-off is that people will be willing to pay you big bucks for your time and effort.

Websites, like Hire a Chef, can get you in touch with people already needing your help for family dinners or just casual entertaining.

Eventually, this could lead to your own catering business or restaurant, where you can really put your dishes on display and reach more people.

70. Financial Planner/Advisor.

Taking care of someone’s finances and building a financial plan for the future can be a hard career for some. No one cares more about your money than you do. So if you recommend people to go into a certain share or something similar and there’s a dip in the market, I can guarantee you’ll be getting a phone call.

A key to this business is to educate people. Create real value and provide even better customer service. You’ll, of course, need to be certified to do this, but the rewards can seriously outweigh the negative points here if you’re determined.

71. Use TaskRabbit.

Use TaskRabbit to complete odd jobs for people. There is such a huge range of tasks that no two days ever need to be the same again. You can lift furniture one day and then perform virtual work doing online research the next day.

Think that doing other people’s chores is beneath you? Think again. Elite Taskers can earn $6,000 – $7,000 per month if they work smart enough for it.

You’ll need to register and get checked out before you can apply for jobs. It might be a simple side hustle, but it’s effective.

72. Fill Online Surveys.

These money-making apps won’t make you rich, so keep your expectations low for this one. But it’s a great way to kill time (and get paid) while waiting for the doctor, on the commute to work, and even waiting in line.

Companies like Survey Junkie, InboxDollars, and MyPoints do payout through PayPal, check, or even Amazon gift cards if that’s what you would prefer. I would recommend combining this idea with one of the other side hustles in this list and leaving your survey filling for when you’ve got an extra minute or need a small boost in income.

73. Stock Photographer.

More and more businesses and news sites are turning to stock photography rather than hiring their own photographers. As a stock photographer, if you’re equipped with a proper DSLR camera and are pretty good with Photoshop, then you can upload your images to sites such as Pixabay, Shutterstock, and iStockPhoto, and get paid every time someone buys the license.

If you want to really take it up a notch, build your own website and reveal your own portfolio of images for higher-paid work.

74. Become a Gigwalker.

This idea is similar to TaskRabbit, where you can find jobs or “gigs” in your local area. According to Gigwalk, jobs can take anywhere from five minutes to a couple of hours, and prices range from $3 – $100.

Gigs can range from something as small as standing in a line for someone to verifying certain consumer products are on supermarket shelves. You’ll need to be a little savvy with your phone, though, as some jobs will require photo evidence, and you’ll need to upload it to the platform.

Payment is practically instant. Once the job is marked as completed, you’ll get paid straight into your PayPal account. Again, this is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but something you can build on in your spare time for some quick cash.

75. Home Appraisals.

You’ll need to have your real estate license (or equivalent for your state or country) already before you can take this side hustle up. You’ll also need to have great networking skills as you’ll be working with banks, mortgage brokers, and real estate agents.

A great option if you want to conduct this business on the side is it doesn’t really take up that much time once you go out to the property and check out the plans. The more experienced you are, the faster you can get it done and the more confident you will feel with charging more.

76. Reader’s Choice!

What other ideas have I missed? Let me know by adding them to the comments below, and I’ll keep updating this list.

Side Hustle FAQ

Bottom Line

All of the side hustle ideas we have just gone through are definitely possible for you to get started for a low cost.

When you compare these business ideas to traditional brick-and-mortar stores, you can easily see why the potential exists for an online business such as blogging. I mean, where else can you start a business for less than $3 a month?

Ideally, you want something that you can create a recession-proof business around. Businesses like consulting or an e-commerce store are also perfect because it is not affected by COVID-19 or any other crisis/pandemic/insert tragedy here.

Let me know what side hustle you are working on.