Everyone can benefit from making more money.
Whether you’re paying off student loans, building your emergency savings fund, or saving for a down payment on a house, increasing your income can help you reach your goal faster.
More people are becoming savvy to this fact every year. In a recent DollarSprout survey, 57% of respondents stated that they have a side hustle.
About 73% of respondents reported earning $200 or less with their side hustle per month. However, almost one in six people earn at least $500 each month in addition to their primary source of income.
Imagine what an extra $500 per month could do for you. You could reach your goals months or even years sooner.
But with so many side hustle options out there, how do you know where to begin?
This list includes some of the best side hustles out there today. Each one is broken down into the level of difficulty, income potential, a description of how the side hustle works, what you need, and how to get started.
Be sure to choose a side hustle that fits your goals and lifestyle. For example, if your goal is to make an extra $500 each month, then you shouldn’t choose something like taking surveys online. But if you just want to earn a free gift card here and there with little time and effort, then taking surveys may be a good option.
The Top 5 Most Profitable Side Hustles
These side hustles have low overhead costs and the most Money-making potential.
1. Blogging
What it is
A blog is an online journal or website that includes your thoughts or expertise on a particular subject such as food, fashion, or travel. To make money from a blog, you update it regularly with interesting and useful content so people will visit your blog, allowing you to build your traffic and grow your readership. Once you’ve built a steady stream of traffic, you can monetize it via affiliate marketing, advertising, or selling products such as eBooks and online courses.
What You Need
- Domain name
- Blogging platform like WordPress
- Web hosting account
- Computer
- Internet connection
- Passion or knowledge on a specific subject
How to Get Started
You can start a blog in as little as a few minutes. Do some research and decide how you want to make money with your blog before you begin publishing content. Another option is to take a course or online training from someone who has experience starting and growing a successful blog, like Alex and Lauren from Create and Go.
Alex, a former personal trainer, and Lauren, previously an accountant, started their blog in hopes of leaving their 9-to-5 lives behind. They quit their jobs, moved into Alex’s parents’ basement, and started a health and fitness blog called Avocadu. After only six months, they had earned about $17,000 blogging. Since then, Alex and Lauren have grown their blog significantly and now make over $100,000 per month through their blog.
Now they teach others how to make money with a blog through their online courses. Their Blog Monetization Bundle includes their two best-selling courses on how to build a blog and monetize your blog.
Difficulty Level: High
Side Hustle Income Potential: $300-$10,000+ per month depending on how the amount of traffic you have and how you monetize it.
See It in Action
In 2016, Kelan and Brittany Kline started a personal finance blog called The Savvy Couple. Their site focuses on how to save, make, and manage money. Within three years, they took it from $0 to over $20,000 per month.
Their blog allowed them to pay off their remaining $25,000 in student loan debt in five months, quit their full-time jobs, and grow their net worth to over $100,000 by age 28.
2. Facebook Ads for Businesses
What It Is
Facebook has a highly targeted advertising platform. Businesses can use it to get their ads in front of an audience that meets certain age, interest, or behavior criteria. By learning how to utilize the Facebook ad system and creating persuasive promotions, you can set up and manage profitable campaigns to help business owners capture leads and grow their business.
What You Need
- Computer
- Internet connection
- Facebook account
- Working knowledge of Facebook Ads Manager
How to Get Started
If you already have a Facebook account, you can go to Facebook Ads Manager and get to know the platform through free five-minute lessons. Another option is to get certified in Facebook advertising via the Facebook Blueprint Certification.
If you’d like advice from those who have been successful in this niche, check out the Facebook Side Hustle Course. It was created by Bobby Hoyt, a former band director, and Mike Yanda, a previous lawyer, who both quit their jobs to run Facebook ads for local businesses.
The Facebook Side Hustle Course contains nine modules to teach you how to create click-worthy ads, set up campaigns, troubleshoot common issues, and land your first clients.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Side Hustle Income Potential: $1,000-$2,000 per month if you manage ad campaigns for one to two clients. The more clients you have, the more income you can earn.
See It in Action
Stacy Caprio, the founder of Accelerated Growth Marketing, started a side hustle running Facebook ads for businesses.
She gained experience through her multiple 9-to-5 jobs that centered around paid ads including Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Pinterest Ads. Stacy started her own Facebook ad business and now charges $500 per month per client.
3. Freelance Writing
What It Is
In a freelance writing side hustle, print or online publications pay you to produce quality content for their websites. This content may be in the form of blog posts, landing pages, white papers, or case studies.
As a freelance writer, you may be paid per word or per article. This is a lower-cost alternative to the company than hiring full-time staff writers. Businesses may also hire you on a freelance basis to provide copywriting services for their ads, brochures, email campaigns, and other marketing collateral.
What You Need
- Computer
- Internet connection
- A portfolio of published writing samples
- Strong writing skills
- An ability to research and conduct interviews when necessary
How to Get Started
If you’re brand new to freelance writing, reach out to publications you’d like to write for and ask if they’re looking for writers. You may have to write for free or for low rates at first so that you can build your portfolio and get some published articles under your belt. Once you have a portfolio, however, you can slowly increase your rates and start earning more money.
There are tons of free and paid resources on how to make money as a freelance writer. Successful writer Holly Johnson offers a free workshop called How to Build a Six-Figure Writing Career. (If you click the link, scroll down for the workshop).
Holly is a mom of two who left her full-time job in the funeral industry earning less than $40,000 per year to become a freelance writer. She now works from home, earns over $20,000 per month, and travels four months out of the year.
Difficulty Level: High
Side Hustle Income Potential: $500-$10,000+ per month
See It in Action
Ben Luthi enrolled in Holly Johnson’s Earn More Writing Course in April 2017 after leaving his full-time writing job that prevented him from freelancing on the side for a more flexible position.
In July 2018, after gaining several clients and working 70-hour weeks, Ben quit his job and started freelance writing full time. He now earns about $25,000 per month and enjoys the freedom of having control over his time and income.
4. Virtual Assistant
What It Is
As a virtual assistant, you get to choose the services you offer. For example, you can provide customer service and administrative support by scheduling appointments, managing databases, or planning travel arrangements.
You can also offer more creative services like planning events or managing Social Media. Your efforts save business owners time so they can focus on other tasks.
What You Need
- Computer
- Internet connection
- Phone
- Organizational skills
How to Get Started
First, create a menu of services. You can offer clerical services such as answering phones and entering data into spreadsheets, creative services like managing social media or creating brochures, or both. Then decide on a niche and reach out to potential clients like lawyers, real estate agents, or small business owners who may benefit from a virtual assistant.
If you’re looking to jumpstart your virtual assistant business, consider taking a paid course like $10K VA, created by Kayla Sloan. Kayla was unhappy with her job, drowning in student loan debt, and used virtual assisting to improve her financial life. Today, she earns about $10,000 per month from her virtual assistant business and teaches others how to do the same.
Through her course, you can learn how to find and pitch virtual assisting jobs, price your services, manage client relationships, and make the most out of your workdays.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Side Hustle Income Potential: $500-$10,000 per month depending on how many clients you have.
See It in Action
Ashley Wall is a mom of two young children who was looking for a flexible way to earn money from home. She began her virtual assisting journey in 2013 when her friend asked her to manage the social media accounts for his business.
In March 2018, she discovered Kayla Sloan’s $10K VA Course and now makes $1,000 per month from virtual assisting.
5. Proofreading
What It Is
Proofreading involves carefully examining text to look for and correct grammar, spelling, and style mistakes.
Bloggers, authors, and even court reporters hire proofreaders to ensure their articles and other written documents are ready for publication or distribution. You can proofread for all types of clients or choose a niche like education, law, or finance.
What You Need
- Computer
- Internet connection
- Style guide from clients
How to Get Started
If you have experience in a certain industry like law or education, you may want to get in touch with law firms or universities and promote your proofreading services. Specializing can help get your feet in the door and land your first clients. You can always diversify as you gain more experience.
Caitlin Pyle has been a professional proofreader since 2007. She created the Proofread Anywhere Course to help others start their proofreading side hustles from scratch. The course includes over 40 interactive modules that can teach you the basics of proofreading as well as worksheets to test your skill level.
As a free resource, Caitlin also offers a workshop on how to start your proofreading business in as little as 30 days.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Side Hustle Income Potential: $500-$1,000 per month depending on how many clients you have
See It in Action
After Lisa Henson of Capital Editing Services lost her job, she found a new one that paid less and searched for ways to supplement her income.
In 2016, she connected with an author who hired her to proofread her book. The author raved about her work, and Lisa decided to turn proofreading into her side hustle. While she is working on earning a consistent proofreading income, she recently completed a project that allowed her to earn $750 in one month.
Side Hustles You Can Do From Home
If you like the idea of earning extra money in your pajamas on your couch, rest assured that there are a number of side hustles you can do from the comfort of your own home.
6. Social Media Management
What It Is
Businesses of all sizes use social media to promote their products and services, position themselves as industry leaders, and create brand awareness.
With a social media management side hustle, you can earn great money by managing the accounts of various businesses. You’ll create engaging content, post it, and interact with fans or followers on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms.
What You Need
- Computer
- Internet connection
- Social media accounts
- Working knowledge of Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms
- Access to stock photography and/or an image creator like Canva
- Social media scheduling tool such as HootSuite
How to Get Started
To get started with a social media management side hustle, make a list of potential businesses you want to promote your services to. It’s a good idea to focus on a niche or two like legal or medical so that you can position yourself as an expert in that space.
Once you land a few clients, you can expand to other niches. Play around with each social media platform that you plan to use to make sure that you know its posting requirements.
If you’d like to brush up on your social media management skills or learn the ins and outs of it, consider the Udemy Social Media Management Bootcamp. You’ll learn how to create and curate results-driven social media content, produce monthly reports to show your clients how your work is making a difference, and recognize which social media platforms are best for each client.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Side Hustle Income Potential: $2,000-$10,000 per month depending on how many clients you have
See It in Action
Jennifer Johnson was never the type of person who wanted to work one job, so she decided to start a social media side hustle.
Her favorite client is a pet sitting company that pays her to spend hours editing dog pics, writing captions, and scheduling posts. She has three clients on retainer, which together bring in $2,000 to $2,500 per month.
7. Writing eBooks
What It Is
eBooks are books that can be delivered or downloaded electronically or online. Anyone can write an eBook about virtually any topic and sell it to earn money.
You can create a website with a shopping cart or PayPal link and manage the entire process yourself. Alternatively, you can work with a third-party site like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and pay them a commission every time you make a sale.
What You Need
- Computer
- Internet connection
- A website or account with a third-party service you’ll use to sell your eBook
- Social media platforms to promote your eBook
How to Get Started
Write down a list of topics you’re particularly passionate or knowledgeable about. Then, come up with a title for each topic and select the one you want to write first. Once you’ve finalized a topic and title, create an outline that you can use as a guide while you’re writing your initial draft.
Another option is to invest in a paid course. After writing short romance stories and publishing them on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Michelle Jackson created a course to help others do the same. The Make Money with eBooks course teaches students how to come up with a great idea for an eBook, find a good editor, the benefits of Amazon, and how to market an eBook once the writing is done.
Difficulty Level: High
Side Hustle Income Potential: $500-$2,000 per month depending on how many sales you generate
See It in Action
Heidi Picou is a student of Michelle Jackson’s Make Money with eBooks course. She took the course after her kids started school and she finally had the time to devote to her dream of writing and proIviding her family with another source of income.
While Heidi hasn’t published her eBook, “Vows Kept” yet, she plans to launch it this upcoming holiday season. She loves the idea of earning money by entertaining or educating through her stories.
8. Renting Your Home on Airbnb
What It Is
Airbnb is an online marketplace that connects property owners with travelers in their area. If you like the idea of renting out a room in your home or your entire home to make some extra cash, becoming an Airbnb host may be a great option.
It’s particularly convenient if you have a room or area of your home like a basement with a private entry that you rarely use. It may also make sense if you travel frequently for personal or professional reasons and would like to earn money while you’re away from home.
What You Need
- Profile on Airbnb
- Airbnb app on your phone
- Space to rent
How to Get Started
Before creating a listing on Airbnb, take a look at the space you’d like to rent out and decide if any improvements need to be made. For example, if the bedroom you hope to list on Airbnb has outdated decor and chipping paint, you may want to repaint it and furnish it with a few modern touches.
Then, sign up with Airbnb and create a listing that shows your rental space in a positive light. If you’re unsure of how to price it, browse similar listings in your area for inspiration. Also, be sure to check out our guide on how to make money as an Airbnb host for additional tips.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Side Hustle Income Potential: $500-$3,000 per month depending on your space and location (visit their income estimator to see how much you could earn in your area)
See It in Action
Emir Dukic is the founder and CEO of Rabbu, an Airbnb management company. In 2015, Emir and his wife listed a guest house above their garage on Airbnb in an effort to earn some extra cash.
They earned around $2,000 per month from that initial listing and used it to cover their monthly mortgage payment. Once they realized how lucrative Airbnb was in the Charlotte market, they expanded their business and now manage properties for other Airbnb hosts.
9. Selling/Flipping Stuff
What It Is
A flipping side hustle involves finding great deals on clothing, accessories, electronics, furniture, and other goods so you can sell them to someone else and make a profit.
You may find these goods at outlet and discount stores, garage sales, consignment shops, and clearance sales, then sell them through platforms like eBay and Craigslist. If you’re not interested in flipping, you can simply sell the items you already have lying around your home.
What You Need
- New or used goods
- Camera
- Smartphone to download apps to sell your stuff
- Cardboard boxes and other packing materials
- Access to a post office or other shipping facility
How to Get Started
If you’re new to this side hustle, it’s a good idea to start with items lying around your house that you no longer want or need. This way you can learn the various resale platforms and how the process works without having to make any large investments.
Before you list an item on a platform, do your research. Just because a dress is trendy or has a designer label doesn’t guarantee a good resale value.
Look at what types of items have sold and who your competition is to determine the ideal price. Once you’ve nailed down the price, take clear photographs of your item from various angles and write a detailed description of it. Then post your listing and wait for interested sellers.
You’ll also want to choose the right platform to list your items with. Some specialize in certain types of goods such as clothes, electronics, or antiques.
eBay/Craigslist
eBay and Craigslist have been around for decades and are great options if you prefer using well-known platforms with a broad user base. While eBay can give you the opportunity to sell to people who live just about anywhere, Craigslist is ideal if you prefer to sell items locally.
Decluttr
Decluttr makes it easy to sell your CDs, DVDs, games, books, and other used media items. They accept Lego toys and technology as well. Enter the information about your item and they’ll give you an instant price for what they’ll pay. If you agree to the price, you can send in your item using a prepaid shipping label.
Gazelle
Gazelle is designed for selling new or used cell phones and electronics. If you have an old iPhone, Android, or other electronic devices you’d like to sell, Gazelle can pay you for it via check, PayPal, or Amazon gift card. All you have to do is print out their prepaid shipping label and send it in.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Side Hustle Income Potential: $200-$3,000 per month depending on what types of items you sell and how often you sell them
See It in Action
About 12 years ago, Estrella Gallegos started selling items online after her husband lost his job. More recently, she started a side hustle selling used clothing and accessories on Mercari, Poshmark, and Amazon Marketplace.
While her income varies every month, she made close to $30,000 in 2019 alone.
10. Tutoring
What It Is
Tutors help students better understand a subject. You may tutor a high school or college student in chemistry or calculus or a second-grader in English. As long as you consider yourself patient and an expert in a specific subject, you can earn additional income by tutoring.
You may offer tutoring services to young children, teenagers, college students, or even adults. Depending on the age and location or your students, you can meet at their homes, coffee shops, local libraries, or virtually.
What You Need
- Expert knowledge and/or experience about a certain subject
- A quiet environment
- Worksheets, textbooks, and other learning resources
How to Get Started
Figure out what subject you’d like to specialize in for your tutoring side hustle. If you’re a kindergarten teacher and an expert in math, you may want to become a math tutor for elementary-aged students. On the other hand, if you’re a law student who scored exceptionally well on the LSAT, you could provide LSAT tutoring services to college students.
After you determine a subject and target client, you’ll want to start marketing your services on social media, at local libraries, or to teachers and administrators at schools and colleges.
VIPKID
VIPKID is an education company based in China. The company hires American and Canadian tutors to help their students learn and practice speaking English.
In order to work for VIPKID, you must have a bachelor’s degree and some experience teaching or working with children. A formal teaching degree isn’t required. VIPKID teachers set their own hours, though most availability is in the mornings for North American time zones (since their student base is mainly in China).
You’ll receive lesson plans and materials to help you teach, and you’ll administer your lessons via a platform that looks like a video chat or Skype call.
Wyzant
Wyzant allows you to tutor without a teaching degree. Through this platform, you can tutor students online or in person. There are a variety of subjects to choose from including math, science, and guitar.
If you use Wyzant for your tutoring side hustle, you’ll get paid quickly and securely via direct deposit. Wyzant tutors report earning upwards of $25 per hour.
Chegg
Chegg is similar to Wyzant in that it matches tutors to students who need help. As a Chegg tutor, you can provide scheduled tutoring lessons or help on demand. Rates begin at $20 or more per hour.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Side Hustle Income Potential: $1,000-$4,000 per month depending on how many students you tutor, the subject you specialize in, and your credentials
See It in Action
Kristine Thorndyke, founder of Test Prep Nerds, started her tutoring side hustle as a way to use her relevant teaching experience to make additional income and help students who are struggling in the classroom.
She has been tutoring for over four years on the side of her full-time teaching job and typically earns $1,000 per month.
11. Data Entry
What It Is
If you choose to start a data entry side hustle, you’ll use computer and data processing programs to enter information into a database. You may also be required to transcribe data from phone conversations or recordings.
Clients in a variety of industries have the need for data entry professionals. If you’re detail-oriented, have strong keyboarding skills, and don’t mind lots of typing, data entry may be a good fit.
What You Need
- A computer
- Internet connection
- Microsoft Office
- Google Docs and Sheets
How to Get Started
If you’d like to make money with data entry, look for data entry jobs on reputable websites like FlexJobs or Microworkers.
Prefer to land a data entry job for an actual company rather than freelancing? Visit the websites of legitimate companies such as Kendall Creek Communications or DionData Solutions to see if they’re hiring. Apply to several positions. Don’t give up as it may take some time, especially if you’re new to this type of job.
Difficulty Level: Low
Side Hustle Income Potential: $200-$1,000 per month depending on the amount of time you devote to it and how many jobs you complete
12. Sell on Fiverr
What It Is
Fiverr is known as the largest freelance marketplace in the world. You can use Fiverr to sell a variety of services including article writing, editing, logo design, website support, voiceovers, and homework help.
As long as you find a service people are willing to pay for, you can make money on Fiverr.
What You Need
- Fiverr account
- A service to sell
- Social media accounts to promote your services
How to Get Started
Visit Fiverr’s website and create a profile by signing up with your Facebook account or email address. Once you’ve joined, you can create a “gig,” which is the service you’d like to sell.
You’ll get notified any time someone places an order. You can connect with your potential client to discuss the details of the project via the Fiverr platform. After you complete a project, you’ll get paid. Fiverr takes a 20% cut of your total earnings.
If you’re unsure of what service to sell on Fiverr, think about your strengths and talents. Browse the website to get an idea of how others are making money on it. The possibilities are endless when it comes to what you can sell on Fiverr, so be creative.
Fiverr also has a library of online courses on topics such as how to improve your freelancing skills, how to use Photoshop, and how to become a pro at Google Analytics.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Side Hustle Income Potential: $100-$1,000 depending on the services you offer, how many clients hire you, and how competitive your niche is
See It in Action
In 2016, George Mouratidis signed up for Fiverr to build his writing portfolio and gain as much experience as possible.
He grew his Fiverr side hustle and eventually became a Fiverr pro seller, which has helped him stand out from others who sell similar services. George loves Fiverr and makes an average of $200 per month with his Fiverr gigs.
13. Start a Podcast
What It Is
A podcast is a series of spoken audio episodes that usually focus on a specific theme or topic like true crime, fitness, or entrepreneurship. If you’re passionate about something and like to talk about it, a podcast side hustle can be a good option.
Once you’ve created at least 10 episodes and started to build an audience, you can monetize your podcast through sponsorships, product or service sales, affiliate marketing, and crowdfunding.
What You Need
- Quality microphone
- Headphones
- Podcast recording platform such as Zoom or Zencastr
- Recording and editing software
- Podcast hosting account
How to Get Started
Before you start recording your first podcast episode, you’ll need to decide what your podcast will be about. Choose a topic or theme you’re particularly passionate or knowledgeable about that you can create plenty of valuable and engaging content around.
Then, create a plan for your first few episodes. What will be the focus? What points do you want to make? Will you have guests or a co-host? Once you have a solid plan in place, set up and thoroughly test your equipment before recording your first episode. You want to make sure all the bugs or technical difficulties are worked out before you release your episodes.
You can also enroll in Power-Up Podcasting from Pat Flynn, creator of Smart Passive Income. His course will guide you through the process of launching a successful podcast by focusing on various topics such as what equipment and software you need, how to load your show onto Apple podcasts, and what you can do to promote it.
Difficulty Level: High
Side Hustle Income Potential: $200-$10,000+ depending on how many viewers you have and the types of monetization strategies you use
See It in Action
Travis Vengroff and his wife were in search of a creative hobby they could enjoy together. Since his wife loves writing and he’s passionate about production, they started to start a fiction podcast called The White Vault.
Their podcasting income varies from month to month, and they’re currently investing a significant portion of their earnings back into their productions in order to grow their platform.
14. Teach Others
What It Is
Is there something you excel at or have lots of experience doing? Whether it’s money management, cooking, woodworking, or budget travel, you may be able to earn some extra cash teaching others about it.
You can start by teaching family and friends for free to find out if you enjoy it. This is also a good way to find out if people will pay for your expertise. If you discover that you enjoy teaching or coaching and that there is potential to make money, you can begin offering your services in exchange for a fee.
What You Need
- Extensive knowledge or experience on a specific topic
- Social media
- Website
How to Get Started
The first step is to figure out what you’d like to teach. Start by thinking about your hobbies that could generate an income.
Do you have a hobby that others may want to learn about? If you play the guitar, for example, you can teach beginners how to play. If you’re an outstanding home cook, you can show others how to cook basic meals. Pretty much any area you excel in can translate into a teaching side hustle.
After you’ve nailed down what you want to teach, create a website and some social media accounts to start advertising yourself and your services. Once you’ve found a few clients, and if you do a good job, your clients are likely to refer you to their friends and family. Word-of-mouth advertising is one of the most effective ways to grow this type of side hustle.
You can also use online platforms like Teachable, Udemy, and Skillshare to create courses in your area of expertise.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Side Hustle Income Potential: $2,000-$10,000 per month depending on what you’re teaching and how many clients you have
See It in Action
Lauren Ranalli is a children’s book author as well as marketing and social media coach for aspiring indie authors. Since she self-published her first children’s book in 2018 and earned $10,000 within the first three months of its publication, she’s received hundreds of questions from aspiring indie authors on building an audience and earning money.
This prompted her to start a side hustle providing one-on-one coaching to authors around the U.S. Her income varies, but she regularly earns several thousands of dollars per month.
Passive Side Hustles That Require Money
Does the idea of putting in upfront work so that later on you can earn money without any more significant effort excite you? If so, a passive side hustle may be a good option, even if it requires an investment.
15. Invest in Crowdfunded Real Estate
What It Is
Crowdfunding is a way for business owners to raise money by reaching out to a large pool of investors who each contribute a small amount. If you don’t have a large amount of cash to work with but would like to invest in real estate, crowdfunded real estate could be your best option.
You can invest a small amount of money, sometimes as little as a few hundred dollars. As your real estate investments increase in value or turn a profit, you’ll earn money.
What You Need
- Money to invest
- Real estate to invest in
- A platform like Fundrise
How to Get Started
If you’re new to crowdfunded real estate, an online investment platform like Fundrise can help you get your foot in the door. It allows investors with smaller amounts of money to pool together their resources and buy shares of private real estate investment trusts (REITs).
For as little as $500, you can use Fundrise to buy into private residential and commercial properties. Once you’ve invested your money with Fundrise, its real estate professionals handle the details. You don’t need to do a thing but wait for your investments to appreciate or turn a profit so you can make money.
Check out our Fundrise review for more information.
Difficulty Level: Medium
Side Hustle Income Potential: $100-$2,000 depending on how much you invest and how your investments appreciate
