Who doesn’t want to make more money?
- You put in eight to 12 hours of work daily; sometimes even more, yet the pile of bills doesn’t seem to get any smaller.
- A medical emergency occurs, or it’s time to pay your child’s tuition, and you’re scrambling for cash.
- You’ve dutifully managed inventory and cut the cord on several streaming services, but the household budget always seems to stretch every month.
Despite your best efforts to follow good money management practices, the savings account isn’t growing.
You think your monthly income isn’t enough, and you’re worried you won’t have sufficient funds for retirement.
You’re not alone.
The 2024 Dayforce Living Wage Index, a study which involved 600,000 Americans, revealed that 44% of employees aren’t earning enough to cover their families’ basic needs.
If you’re having problems paying your bills on time, funding emergencies, keeping a balanced budget, and growing your savings, join the 39%.
“The 39%?”
Yes, the 39% of Americans who have a side hustle.
10 Side Hustle Ideas To Boost Your Income
A side hustle is often thought of as a “side job” or a “side project” that generates income.
If you have a regular 9-to-5 job, you can set aside a few hours after work or on weekends to manage your side hustle.
“Great! I have the time. But what’s a good side hustle?”
Don’t worry. We got you covered.
Here are 10 side hustle ideas for you to consider.
1. E-commerce
E-commerce is a business that conducts transactions through a website.
One of the greatest advantages of an e-commerce business is that it doesn’t close shop.
You have a side hustle that runs 24/7, 365 days a year!
Whether you’re in the office or asleep at home, your e-commerce business continues to operate. Your website will remain open on Sundays and during holidays.
Although the earnings of an e-commerce business will vary depending on the product sold, a study by APPWRK revealed that new online stores average $63,000 within the first three months of operation.
What are examples of an e-commerce business?
- Sell Products: Pet products, toys, toiletries, second-hand items, fashion apparel, collectibles, handmade jewelry, food, supplements, plants, cosmetics, and home decor are among the most popular products sold online.
- Dropshipper: Sell products for a retailer without holding inventory. If a customer places an order with you, the shipment is handled by the retailer.
- Affiliate Marketing: Represent a brand and get paid a commission for every product sold.
- Blogging: Build your professional brand by blogging about your expertise. Share your blogs on social media. If your writing is impressive, you could get offers from potential clients.
- Personal website: Upload your portfolio. Share your story on the About Us page. Incorporate contact forms. Capture leads.A personal website is an excellent way to enhance your online presence and attract opportunities from potential employers or clients.
E-commerce is the perfect hedge against uncertainty.
The businesses that thrived during the pandemic had websites. They continued to operate profitably after the pandemic because consumer behavior had changed.
More consumers preferred to shop online.
Since your e-commerce business operates around the clock, you can’t afford technical glitches when visitors are exploring it.
Thus, don’t go DIY. Entrust your e-commerce business to a professional web development agency.
2. Virtual Assistant
In 2024, demand for virtual assistants grew by 35%. The growing demand indicates a continuing trend of outsourcing tasks to remote employees.
What tasks are commonly outsourced to virtual assistants?
- Administrative Assistant: Filtering email, answering phone calls, managing the weekly calendar, paying bills, updating records, preparing reports, and scheduling meetings are standard duties and responsibilities for administrative VAs.
- Personal Assistant: The tasks assigned to a personal assistant VA are similar to those of an administrative assistant VA.
The difference lies in the fact that some tasks are personal, such as making restaurant reservations, calling family members, managing travel arrangements, and organizing events. - Social Media: Manage multiple social media accounts for your client. Upload posts, update statuses, and create engaging content. Interact with followers and moderate comments.
- Data Entry: Companies involved in retail, real estate, and technology need VAs to enter and manage massive amounts of data.
- Customer Service: Email support, inbound calls, and chat services are popular customer service channels used by CS virtual assistants.
As a Virtual Assistant, you’re not required to work eight hours per client, and that’s ideal for a side hustle. Some virtual assistants only allocate two hours of productive time per client, and still make good money.
The average hourly rate of a VA in the United States is $18.93.
If you work ten hours a week, that’s $189.30 weekly or an additional $757.20 in your savings account monthly.
3. Freelancer
Like virtual assistants, freelancers are also remote workers.
The difference is that freelancers are hired to manage tasks requiring highly specialized skills and experience.
Thus, you could potentially earn more money as a freelancer.
Here are six of the highest-paying freelance jobs according to Upwork:
- Machine Learning Engineer: $50 to $200 per hour
- Media Buyer: $50 to $100 per hour
- Public Relations Manager: $50 to $100 per hour
- Cybersecurity Developer: $40 to $90 per hour
- Business Consultant: $28 to $98 per hour
- AI Engineer: $35 to $60 per hour
An ML Engineer, AI Engineer, and Cybersecurity Developer require certification and training in specific software programs.
Media buyers, PR managers, and business consultants must have amassed considerable years of experience to be recognized as credible advisors.
These types of jobs might demand more time as a side hustle, but if you’re successful, they could open doors for a new career or business opportunity.
Other popular freelance jobs include content writing, graphic design, bookkeeping, transcription, lead generation specialist, and data analysis.
4. Online Tutor
If you’re working a 9-to-5 job from Monday to Friday, you can become an online tutor on Saturday.
According to Glassdoor, the average hourly rate of an online tutor is $40. If you tutor three students for two hours each on Saturday, you could earn $240 weekly or add $960 to your savings every month.
Which subjects do students need the most help with?
- Math
- Science
- English
- History
- Foreign Languages – Spanish
As an online tutor, you’re not limited to the local community. You can offer your services to foreign students.
To become an online tutor, you must have a degree or certification in the subject you plan to specialize in.
For example, if you want to become an online tutor for English, you must have a graduate degree in English and a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate.
💡Pro Tip: Sell your tutorial services online with an e-commerce website. We can design a website that allows students to upload their assignments, quizzes, exams, and other school work for you to review.
Other features we could add are a virtual classroom, a student/member log-in page, a social media page, AI-powered content curation, an enrollment page, and a payment processing system.
5. Photography
Do you have an eye for visual storytelling? A side hustle as a photographer will showcase your talent to the world!
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), on average, a photographer gets paid $20.44 per hour.
Where can you apply your photographic skills?
- Stock Photos: Shutterstock lists landscape, office spaces, candid family/friends, food, travel, and architecture as the most popular downloaded stock photos.
- Events Photography: Weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, business conventions, conferences, and product launches are events that need good photographers.
- Advertising/Digital Marketing: High-quality images are always in demand for websites, marketing materials, and content.
- Fashion: Take your camera to various locations, both domestically and internationally, to capture stunning images that enhance the brand identity for numerous fashion houses.
- Portrait Photography: You have a large market for portrait photography – families, businesses, actors, schools, and politicians.
With numerous events needing a skilled photographer, your calendar could be fully booked with projects throughout the year.
Collaborate with an Events Coordinator to get regular gigs as a photographer.
💡Pro Tip: Set up a personal website where you can showcase your photographs to potential clients in the Portfolio Page.
6. Digital Marketing
Companies need digital marketing to enhance their online presence. However, digital marketing is a specialized service. Instead of setting up an in-house digital marketing team, companies prefer to outsource it to qualified third parties.
A digital marketer gets paid an average hourly rate of $24. The rate can go higher depending on your experience and qualifications.
What skills do clients seek in a digital marketer?
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Website Design/Development
- Local SEO
- AI Optimization
- Pay Per Click/Paid Ads
- Content Writing
- Content Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Video Marketing
- Keyword Research
- Analytics
“I’ve done digital marketing, but I don’t have all of those skills.”
That’s alright!
Companies often hire digital marketers to perform a role similar to that of a project manager. You’ll oversee the performance of a DM team composed of people with the requisite skills.
Likewise, you can work as a freelance digital marketer or establish a small agency with friends who possess the necessary skill sets.
7. Consultant
If you are an expert in a specific field with strong problem-solving, critical-thinking, and analytical skills, and a genuine desire to help businesses navigate difficult situations, a consultancy side hustle could develop into a full-time career.
What are popular niches for a consultancy practice?
- Trading in the Equities Market: Stocks, Exchange-traded Funds (ETFs), and mutual funds are examples of equity investments.
If you plan to become an investment consultant, get certified by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) or as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). - Real Estate: Get licensed as a realtor and build your leads list through constant networking. You can schedule your property visits and client meetings on the weekends.
As a realtor, sometimes one sale is all you need to cover you financially for a year! - Health and Fitness: You can become a fitness trainer at a commercial gym on the weekends or coach clients online in your free time.
Clients prefer to hire certified personal trainers. Among the top certified programs are the American Council on Exercise (ACE), International Sports Science Association (ISSA), and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
As an expert, businesses will pay top dollar for your knowledge and experience. According to Consulting Mavericks, consultants are paid $100 to $300 per hour, depending on the industry.
Therefore, it’s not enough to claim you’re an expert. You must back up your claim with proof such as certifications, licenses, figures, and testimonials from clients.
💡Pro Tip: Invest in a real estate website that allows sellers to list their properties. Additionally, you can showcase your expertise through a blog page.
Having a website will help build your brand and demonstrate to potential buyers and sellers that you are dedicated to your real estate career.
8. YouTube Channel/Content Creator
YouTube has over 2.5 billion active monthly users and 122 million active daily users.
With its wide audience reach, YouTube has attracted more than 65 million content creators to its digital space.
You’ll have to find more time to create YouTube content. On average, YT content creators earn $5 to $15 per 1,000 views.
Here are the top-earning YouTube niches according to Uppbeat:
- Entertainment and Pop Culture: $6 to $12
- Beauty and Fashion: $5 to $15
- Technology Reviews: $10 to $20
- Business-to-Business (B2B): $15 to $30
- Finance and Investing: $12 to $25
If you enjoy creating video content, then becoming a YouTube content creator could be a financially rewarding side hustle for you.
💡Pro Tip: You can also have a side hustle managing the YouTube channel of other brands. As a part-time YouTube Channel Manager, you could be paid $50 per hour.
Not bad!
9. Graphic Designer/Digital Art
Advertising agencies, web designers, and small businesses that need marketing materials are always on the lookout for good graphic designers.
Graphic designers are paid an average of $29.47 per hour. It’s a wonderful side hustle for creative people who need an outlet to express their ideas.
Offer your services to friends who are managing small businesses or find work as a freelance graphic designer.
You can also parlay your graphic design skills into selling customized merchandise. For example, create awesome designs for t-shirts, mugs, and caps.
Hand-printed graphic t-shirts can command a premium price because the designs are unique and only limited stocks are available.
10. Traditional Side Gigs
The first nine side hustles are best managed online with the support of a website that can sign up clients, sell products or services, collect leads, and promote the business.
What about traditional side gigs?
Traditional side gigs are jobs where work is conducted at the client’s established location.
It involves old-school legwork where you have to roll up your sleeves and get dirty… or wet.
Yes, there’s still a market for traditional side hustles.
Here are a few traditional side hustles that made it to the list of SideHustles.com’s trending gigs for 2025:
- Mobile Car Wash: With a 276% growth rate, this is the fastest-growing side hustle in America in 2025.
- Pet Sitter/Walker: Its 50% growth rate in America is proof that pets have become part of the family.
- Delivery Driver: 87% growth rate validates a significant shift in consumer preference toward delivery services.
- Personal Shopper: A 100% growth rate presents opportunities for those with style and a keen understanding of consumer needs.
Other traditional side hustles you can consider are landscaping/gardening, Airbnb hosting, and home cleaning services.
These types of side hustles are best done on a Saturday or if you have an extra off-day from your 9-to-5 job.
For mobile car wash, home cleaning, and landscaping, we recommend setting up a company and hiring people because the work is extensive.
5 Reasons Why A Side Hustle Is Worth Your Time
Is it worth sacrificing free time or the weekends for a side hustle?
Yes!
39% of Americans, or roughly 80 million, can’t be wrong.
Here are five reasons why you need a side hustle:
1. Hedge Against Uncertainty
The burst of the dotcom bubble in 2000.
The 2008 crash of the equities market.
The 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The 2020 pandemic.
The 2023 Ukraine-Russia war.
These are events that severely impacted global economics, causing massive unemployment, high inflation rates, and home foreclosures.
You have no control over these events.
A side hustle can provide financial support if you lose your job.
2. Boost Your Income With Little Risk
If you have financial problems, the two solutions that come to mind are taking out a loan and asking your boss for more work.
- Borrowing money from a bank or lending institution is risky because you could lose more than the original amount borrowed if you fail to repay the loan.
- Working extra hours at the office can lead to increased stress and negatively impact your overall health.
Some of the side hustle ideas we discuss in this article won’t cost you a cent and can create a wonderful stream of income.
3. Enhance Professional Viability
A side hustle can add substance to your resume and online profile. HR managers and potential clients will view your side gigs as proof of your resiliency, toughness, and dedication.
Expanding your work experience will also build your network of contacts. Ask previous clients to provide testimonials or referrals.
4. Pilot Test a Potential Business
Are you excited about starting a new business? Don’t resign from your day job. Pilot test your business idea as a side hustle.
The pilot testing, also known as an incubation period, aims to operate the business under real conditions to assess its viability and identify any flaws.
For example, you love Ube and think cupcakes with Ube frosting would sell like hotcakes.
Pilot test the Ube-frosted cupcakes idea by baking and selling them from your home on weekends.
5. Sharpen Your Skills
You’re an accountant, but lately, you’ve been thinking about a career change as a graphic designer for an ad company.
Sharpen your graphic design skills by offering your services as a freelancer. Start with one client.
If the client is satisfied with your work, you are well compensated, and you can manage your hours, consider exploring the possibility of taking on a second client.
Conclusion
Should your passion be your side hustle?
Why not?
When you are passionate about something, you will put in your best effort because you genuinely enjoy it. Customers will see and feel your passion in your work.
If your passion wasn’t included in our list of best side hustle ideas, pursue it… just remember to keep your regular job.
At least for now.
Contact us for your website needs. Book a free consultation at your convenience.
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