Side hustles, also known as side gigs, are paid projects you do outside your main job.
They can be a great way to pay off debt or earn more money on the side.
They can also be a means to tap into unused skills and explore your passions.
Destiny Frith of Nashville, Tenn., works with Shipt eight to 10 hours a week to help pay off her credit card debt. William DeShazer for The Penny Hoarder
Looking for a ready-made side hustle?
Either way, youve come to the right place.
We curated the best side hustle ideas weve come across.
How Much Money Can You Make With Side Jobs?
The short answer: It depends.
Each side hustle recommendation is paired with our best tips and other resources to help you get started.
To help you in that journey, we gathered some of our favorite ways to make easy money below.
All of them are tried and true.
And we have the resources to help you get started on your side-hustling journey.
If youre already zipping around town with other delivery services, why not amp up your earnings withUber Eats?
People from all walks of lifeevery background and industry imaginableare choosing to deliver with Uber Eats.
Your car, your schedule.
With Uber Eats, youll never have to wait for payday again.
Just tap a button, and you get paid.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: $15 an hour or more including tips.
Youll still need a valid drivers license, insurance and the ability to pass background checks.
Earnings are largely determined by tips and how many deliveries you complete each hour.
You just have to answer honestly, and InboxDollars will continue to pay you every month.
Unlike other survey answering sites, InboxDollars pays you in cash no points or gift cards.
Its also offering a $2 bonus when yousign up right now.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate:Up to $225 a month.
Need Some Quick Cash?
If youre looking to boost your income this month, weve got just the thing for you.
Taking three quick surveys a day could earn up to $140 each month.
It takes just a minute to create a free account and start getting paid to speak your mind.
Youll get paid within 48 hours of your payout being processed just for sharing your opinions.
Plus, theyve got an excellent rating on Trustpilot.
It takes just a minute toset up your account and start getting paid to take surveys.
Plus, right now, youll get a free 100-point welcome bonus just for becoming part of the community.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate:Up to $140 per month
5.
Gamer
Love playing mobile games in your spare time?
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate:Up to $83/win.
Marketplaces likeFiverrandUpworkare a good way to test the freelancing waters.
The websites help you find gigs and connect with clients.
Makeup tutorials and personal training are popular gigs you could do in person or online, as well.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: About $20 an hour.
More for specialized work.
Not to mention, the pandemic created a surge in demand for these services.
ShiptandInstacartare the two largest players.
In some locations,DoorDashoffers limited grocery delivery services, too.
As a grocery-delivery driver, you may have a higher earnings potential when it comes to tips.
But the work is more laborious compared to other driving-based side hustles.
Amazon Flex is the main package-delivery gig provider.
you gotta be 21 years old, hold a valid license and have proper auto insurance to qualify.
Vehicle requirements vary based on the punch in of delivery.
For Prime Now orders, any reliable car will do.
A larger vehicle may be required for Amazon.com orders.
Freelance Writer
Freelancing is sometimes synonymous with freelance writing.
Sure, the general freelance marketplaces likeFiverrandUpworkand content mills are decent places to start.
Once youve built up a few clips, its good to specialize in a niche topic that interests you.
Usually, the more focused your topic and deeper your expertise, the higher your rate.
Overall, rates are dependent on the industry (journalism, fiction, marketing, etc.)
and the prestige of the publication or website.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: 30 cents to $2 per word.
Graphic Designer
Becoming a successful graphic designer wont happen overnight.
The opportunities to design are plentiful.
Other freelancers need logos, small businesses need brochure templates, websites need pleasing graphics, restaurants need menus.
The list goes on, and theres a lot of growth potential.
Starting out, you may find yourself earning around $20 an hour for small-scale projects.
Its common for skilled designers to make well over $100 an hour.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: $20 to $150 per hour or more based on skill level.
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants often handle administrative work like organizing workflows, scheduling meetings and filing documents.
But as this remote side hustle becomes more popular, higher-level tasks are often part of the gig.
Almost a virtual jack-of-all-trades.
If you could provide these secondary skills, then you could also bump up your hourly rates.
You look for these gigs onFiverrandUpworkand VA-specific job boards.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: About $20 an hour.
Social Media and Search Engine Rater
Youre surfing the web anyhow.
You should make money doing it.
Sometimes on your phone.
Sometimes on your machine.
These popular micro-jobs are typically available at Lionbridge, Sutherland Global and Sykes.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: $10 to $19 an hour.
Its not just for teenagers (though it certainly can be).
Both websites offer free and paid accounts to help you find gigs nearby.
Such experience is a great way to get a leg up on competition and put parents minds at ease.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: About $15 to $21 an hour.
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Millions of Americans ignorethese easy tipsthat could have you padding your wallet in no time.
Airbnb Host
Have a spare room?
Might as well attempt to make extra money on the side by listing it onAirbnb.
What makes a space desirable is cleanliness and proximity to nightlife or tourist destinations.
Quirky, creative Airbnb spaces can also help you earn more money.
You get full control over how much you charge per night and what nights the space is available.
Many successfulAirbnb hostsuse side hustle earnings to offset the cost of their mortgage or other bills, sometimes entirely.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: $50 to $250+ per night.
Airbnb Experiences Host
Airbnbis well known for its on-demand renting services.
Experiences offer a great side hustle option for charismatic and interesting locals.
Or if you want to get really creative, you could curate date-night experiences for visiting couples.
it’s possible for you to charge whatever you want, and Airbnb takes a 20% fee.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: Varies by duration and group size.
Notary Public
A Notary Public is actually a formal government designation.
The Commission (or term) usually lasts about four years, and its a side hustle worth considering.
Youll need to be 18 years old and complete the appropriate tool with your state.
Only about a dozen states require some form of training or exam.
Many officiants find the side work highly rewarding.
This is a true side hustle.
The requirements to become an officiant vary by state and sometimes even by county.
In most cases, you will need to be ordained.
But you’ve got the option to score those credentials quickly online through theUniversal Life Church Monastery.
Just ensure theyre recognized by your local government first.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: $250 to $500 per ceremony.
Online Tutor
Tutoring was a side hustle before we called second jobs side hustles.
Then, you’ve got the option to reach out to students or vice versa.
A few websites will do the matching for you based on a preset schedule.
But not every online tutoring company works like that.
Some more formal companies may conduct interviews and administer screening tests, similar to on-site tutoring jobs.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: $10 to $25 an hour with potential to scale.
Online English Teacher
Teaching English online is becoming a mainstay in the world of virtual side hustles.
Most companies will require you to have a bachelors degree and a TEFL/TESOL certification.
Be wary of Groupons for teaching certificates: Not all online TEFL or TESOL programs are the same.
You wont always need those credentials, anyway; it ultimately depends on the company.
As a result of the distance, peak hours tend to be in the early morning or late evenings.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: $16 to $24 an hour.
Crafts Seller
Not all side hustles are service-related.
Consider selling your art, crafts and other homemade goods online.
Or, create a niche blog and become an affiliate marketer.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: Based on item sales.
Potential to scale into a business.
Pet Sitter
Pet sitting is the perfect side hustle if youre an animal lover.
The work is flexible, ubiquitous and you get to play with some adorable pets.
What more could you want?
They work like many other gig apps.
Its a solid way to set up a steady stream of income.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: $12 to $16 an hour.
At-Home Clothes Cleaner
Doing laundry is at the top of most peoples hate-to-do list.
Thats where you come in to save the day with your clothes-cleaning prowess.
In apartment complexes especially, people might not have washers or dryers.
Driving to a coin laundry is not only laborious but time consuming.
Care.com,Laundry CareandTaskRabbitare solid websites to get your side hustle rolling.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate:About $20 an hour.
Flipper of Goods
Flipping goods on the side has probably crossed your mind at some point in time.
Maybe you found a scuff-less pair of Doc Martens at Goodwill, and for only $15?
You could make a huge profit reselling them.
Turns out, many people make a living off doing just this.
Thrift stores and garage sales can be treasure troves for those with a good eye for profit.
You might also find great deals at local retail stores, too.
Flipping new items is often referred to as retail arbitrage.
Different name, same premise.
If you restore, enhance or upscale the item in some way, even better.
Just be sure to match the product to the best website.
Those Doc Martens might not do well on eBay but might make a killing on Poshmark.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: Based on item sales.
Potential to scale in a business.
In addition to academic subjects, professional and homesteading skills are welcome.
Put your unique skill set to use for your business!
You charge a fee to enroll.
The longer the course, the higher the pay.
Depending on how students sign up, your earnings will fluctuate.
(Did they enroll directly through your registration link?
Or did they use the websites search function?)
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: Based on length of course and enrollment.
Like video games themselves, real-money gaming competitions are becoming more popular.
Prize pools for these sites can vary from $1 to $500.
T-Shirt Designer
You have ideas for catchy slogans or eye-catching graphics.
Why not put them on a T-shirt?
Each shirt is made to order, and the designer receives a percentage of the sale.
No graphic design skills needed for this side hustle.
They certainly couldnt hurt, though.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: Passive income based on item sales.
Potential to scale into a business.
Youll just need lightning-fast typing skills with high accuracy.
RevandLionbridgefrequently recruit transcribers to work on-demand during a flexible schedule.
Basic transcription gigs are usually related to insurance claims or court cases.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: $15 to $25 per audio hour.
you’re free to use that to your advantage.
It can be quite obvious which businesses have left their social accounts to languish.
TPHs Earning Potential Estimate: About $20 an hour.
Potential to scale into a business.
Here are a few elements we think your next side hustle should include.
Schedule Flexibility
Dont let your side hustle interfere with your day job.
In fact, some companies havepolicies in placethat prevent you from taking on an extra gig.
Try not to overdo it, too.
Otherwise, it might be hard to justify the extra cash and you could risk burning yourself out.
If the project is ambitious, ease your way into it.
Dont dig yourself into a money hole before you even get started.
Fulfills a High-Demand Need
This is a big one.
Its easier to get started with a side gig you dont need to hard-sell anyone on.
(Plus, being a dog walker = plenty of puppy cuddles.)
Think of a service people need and most importantly, will pay for that you could provide.
Your great idea could bring in quick cash.
A Means to a Professional or Personal Goal
The best side hustles dont only help you make more money.
They also help you achieve your goals.
However, side hustles can also lead to endless work and burnout if you dont set boundaries.
What Skills Do Side Hustlers Need to Have?
Finding or creating a great side hustle is important, but thats only half the equation.
Every side hustler needs a certain set of qualities to succeed.
Self-Motivation
Youll need to be a self-starter in order for your side hustle to succeed.
The money doesnt always start flowing immediately.
Willingness to Learn
Youre never too old or too experienced to learn something new.
Self-Forgiveness
Youll be better off knowing from the beginning that youre going to make mistakes.
This may be your first attempt at side hustling while balancing a day job and a personal life.
There will be long nights and a lot of trial and (probably more) error.
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Ever wondered how millionaires get to be… millionaires?
So we looked into it.
What we found aresimple, millionaire-approved tipsthat anyone can use to manage their money.
Are You Ready to Start Your Side Hustle?
It could be the catalyst to starting your own business on your own terms.
Of course, your second gig doesnt have to become a secondjob, either.
If you want, you could control your own time and how much money you make.
Start selling, work on that extra income and then retool if necessary.
She owns a content-writing business and her work has appeared in U.S. News, Clark.com and Well Kept Wallet.
