Art by Jonan Everett
Listen, we all know that money makes the world go ’round, whether we want it to or not. Who doesn’t want to earn an extra $50 this week? Or maybe even an extra $500 a month? Side hustles are the perfect way to capitalize on your free time. We have compiled the ultimate list of great side hustle ideas to suit everyone.
Are you a budding writer? A shopaholic? A busybody? You can make money from your best — and worst — traits. With this list, you’re sure to find something to suit your needs and abilities.
About-the-Town Side Hustle Ideas
You’re out for a walk around your city, so why not make some extra cash by doing odd jobs for these apps?
- Gigwalk: Find a gig near you, complete it, and get paid.
- EasyShift: When you’re out-and-about, find “shifts” in stores. Take photos of products, check prices, review promotions, and get paid via PayPal in 48 hours or less.
- Instacart: Doing your grocery shopping anyway? Pick up food for someone else, drop it off, and earn cash.
- Shipt: Get paid to shop. Deliver goods to others and make that cash money. You can set a schedule of your own that works around your life and earn up to $22 an hour.
- Field Agent: Who doesn’t like going undercover? Time for mystery shopping! Gather information about certain stores and get paid cash or earn tickets to be entered into a monthly drawing for a huge cash prize.
- Mobee: Mystery shopping again! You accept “missions,” earn points, and win prizes rather than cash — but that’s just as much fun.
- Job Spotter: See a “Wanted” sign nearby? Photograph it, send the photo in, and get some awesome gift cards.
- Shopkick: Earn “kicks” while you’re shopping and put them toward a gift card. Works with online shopping or in-store. You can be lazy and still make bank.
- LetGo: One man’s trash is another man’s vintage clothes! Sell your unwanted items quickly and easily.
- Decluttr: This app does exactly what its name says. Make some extra cash by getting rid of your old stuff.
- BookScouter: Finally finished college and never want to have anything to do with it again? Sell your old books. That bachelor’s degree can come in handy somewhere.
- Handy: If you have ever had paid experience cleaning, handiwork, or doing lawn care, you can earn over $20 an hour with a flexible schedule of only a few jobs a day.
- GoShare: Help people move! Even if you don’t have a truck of your own, earn $40 an hour helping assist drivers in loading and unloading cargo.
Local Delivery Gigs
- Amazon Flex: You can earn $18 to $25 an hour! Set your own schedule for deliveries so that you still have time to pursue your goals and dreams.
- Postmates: If you’re passionate about other people’s needs, such as having alcohol delivered ASAP, then this is the job for you. Feed the nation’s instant gratification complex by delivering anything and everything their hearts desire.
- DoorDash: For this side hustle, all you need is a bicycle and a smartphone. To get started, download the DoorDash app, accept an order, and get ready to make your first delivery!
Freelance Side Hustle Ideas for Any Skill
- TaskRabbit: Who knew you were a secret AC guru? Or that you had the perfect phone voice? Do odd jobs for others in your area for extra bucks in your pocket.
- Gigbucks: Get that money by making the gig economy work for you.
- Truelancer: Sell yourself on Truelancer — everything from copywriting to translation to web design.
- Fiverr: With Fiverr, you become the seller, and your skill becomes the product. You can charge different rates, depending on the level of expertise you want to apply to a job.
- Upwork: Short-term, recurring, or full-time staff opportunities. You could get a real job out of this!
- Clickworker: As a clickworker, you set your own schedule and participate in work that includes copy editing, proofreading, research, photo capturing, and more!
- 99designs: Become a freelance designer and choose the industry and styles you want to work with!
- Course Hero: If you have a specific field of expertise, tutoring could be a great way to earn some money on the side, and Course Hero lets you set your own schedule with no minimum hour requirement.
For Writers in Particular
- Problogger: Get paid to write from home. Earn $15 or more an hour with the option and room to grow.
- Content.co: You are the talent, and people come looking for you. Create a portfolio and watch the offers pour in from all over the world.
- Influence Central: Become an influencer and get paid to write sponsored posts about products.
Paid Online Surveys
Who doesn’t like to make money while sitting on the couch doing nothing? These survey sites will pay you to answer questions from the comfort of your own home. Some are redeemable in cash or vouchers such as Amazon Gift Cards. What’s not to love?
- Opinion Outpost
- Harris Poll Online
- 20/20 Panel
- Survey Junkie
- Swagbucks
- InboxDollars
- Qmee
- Branded Surveys
- Pinecone Research
- Respondent
Transcription Services
Think you’re a good listener and writer? Get paid to type up conversations!
Got a Car?
Cars cost a lot of money, so why not let them make you money right back? Check out these car-tastic side hustle ideas.
Sell Your Parking Space
Be a Driver!
Rent Out Your Unused Car
- Carma: Don’t use your car much? Rent it out.
- Getaround: Car renting.
- Turo: Car renting.
- HyreCar: Car renting.
Bonus: Pimp out your car with Curb. If you own a taxi, earn money by advertising on it as you drive.
Trendy Side Hustle Ideas: Clothing Rental
I know you’ve got a $400 dress in your closet that you swore you’d wear more than once. But the opportunity just never arose, did it?
Why not let someone else feel like a diva in your best gear while making some money by renting it out?
Don’t worry — you’re covered by these sites’ insurance, so no damage will come to your white Valentino bag.
Bonus: With Fat Llama, you can “borrow” almost anything, or rent out your own stuff to make big bucks. We've also got a special offer for you: Sign up today, and get $25 credit!
Baby- or Dog-Sitting
Do you just love kids and animals? Play with that Corgi and get paid for it by hiring yourself out as a sitter. Warning: May come with overprotective doggie moms. Proceed with caution.
Bonus: Offer your backyard to dog owners with Sniffspot. This site lets you have fun with dogs, while making money on the side!
Trivia and Gaming
If you fancy yourself a trivia expert, these side hustle ideas are perfect for you. Use your knowledge to make some money with real-life game shows from the comfort of your living room.
Weight Loss
I don’t know whether there’s anything that would motivate me to lose weight more than money. Hit your target weight-loss goal and earn real money for real results with these money-making apps.
- DietBet: Bet on yourself, reach your goal, and it will only be more money that you’re gaining!
- HealthyWage: Another way to bet on your health and get serious cash rewards based on your personal goals.
- Achievement: Make money for healthy habits by using health apps, tracking steps, and more.
- Sweatcoin: Just for exercising your right to walk outside, you earn points that are redeemable for money off of partnered brands.
- Walgreens Healthy Rewards: Get money off your Walgreens purchases simply by choosing healthy options. It’s a win-win!
Review
Do you ever look at a website and notice problems with the layout? Do you listen to a song and complain about the pace? Do you have a social media account that you use to review products?
- Valued Voice: Earn money as a social media influencer!
- Slice the Pie: Review music and get paid to do it!
- User Testing: Review and test websites for up to $60 a test.
How to Choose the Perfect Side Hustle for You
1. Identify Your Skills And Passion
What are you good at and what makes you happy? The most successful side hustles are those that use your skills to help others. For example, if you’re talented at graphic design and enjoy creating, you can help others create flyers and posters.
The key is to identify your skills and passions and figure out how you can use them to serve others. This way, you're bound to come up with some great side hustle ideas to fit your talents.
2. Know Your Time Limit
Side hustling is done on the side, so it shouldn’t interfere with your regular job. Look at your schedule and assess how much time you can devote, even while you sleep, to your side hustle. Do you have three or 15 hours to spare per week? Consider which side hustle ideas might be the best fit for your time.
3. Figure Out How Much to Charge and Know Your Worth
You may be wondering, “How much can I make with side hustling?” Well, it depends on your experience, expertise, and industry standards, as well as what you think you’re worth. If you’re unsure of how much to charge, you can always ask your clients, “What’s your budget?”
The Bottom Line:
No matter how much skill or experience you have, there are always great side hustle ideas that will help you make money. Just be sure to know your skills, your time limit, and your worth to get the most out of what you choose to do.
Additional reporting by Lukas Shayo.
