Starting our blogging side hustle completely changed our lives. We were able to pay off over $40,000 worth of student loan debt, quit our jobs, and turn our side hustle into a full-time business that supports our family.
There are so many side hustle ideas floating around it’s hard to know where to start. So we narrowed down the best side hustles that meet all three of our criteria.
Best side hustle ideas criteria:
- High Earning Potential
- Flexible
- Scalable
Alright, let’s dig into these awesome side hustles to make you extra money!
Table of Contents
50+ Best Side Hustle Ideas for 2021
1. Start a Money-Making Blog
This is one of my favorite things to talk about because it has literally changed our entire life.
We were able to start our blog, grow it to $10,000 per month, and both quit our jobs in less than three years.
It is such an incredible dream come true to work for myself from the comfort of our home! We get to set our own hours, earn our own income, and not have to answer to “the man” ever again.
When we started our blog, it was just another hobby that could make us money. We quickly learned that making money from blogging was a real thing!
If you’re interested in starting your own blog head over to start our FREE Start Your Blog Boot Camp.
2. Become a Proofreader
If so, then you should become a proofreader.
Caitlin Pyle made over $40,000 as a proofreader working the hours that she wanted and now, she teaches you how to do the same, whether you want to proofread general stuff or legal transcripts (her specialty).
If you’re the person who notices a typo on this post, then you’re a perfect candidate!
Sign up for the FREE webinar on starting your proofreading side hustle!
3. Run Facebook Advertising for Local Businesses
Did you know there is a HUGE demand for small business owners needing help running Facebook ads? This is a big industry that seems to not be slowing down.
This is a side hustle you can easily do in your spare time with just a couple of hours per week and start making $1,000 to $2,000 per month.
The best part is the Facebook Side Hustle course will teach you literally everything you need to know.
Thousands of students have taken this course and have found incredible success! Many of them finding so much success they end up quitting their jobs to do this side hustle full-time.
Head here to learn more about this epic Facebook side hustle.
4. Teaching English Online
Have you ever dreamed of the day you can roll out of bed, head into your home office, and make money working from home?
Well, look no further! This is probably my favorite side hustle of all time.
VIPKID is a company that hires U.S. teachers to teach their students in China. Most students range in age from 3-12 years old with a variety of English speaking ability.
The pay varies from $14-$22 per hour depending on experience, education, performance, and monthly incentives.
You don’t need to have in-class teaching experience but are required to have a bachelor’s degree.
You can check out our full review of VIPKID or jump right in to start applying now.
5. Become a Freelance Writer
They have contributors!
And, guess what? You could become one of them by becoming a freelance writer.
You don’t even have to start with major brands. Start with small businesses looking to add on one contributor.
The secret to getting gigs is knowing what topics you should write about. Just like blogging, you need a niche!
The best part is that you don’t need any prior writing experience to get started.
Learn how to start your own freelance writing side hustle now.
6. Launch a Shopify Store
Are you a creative individual?
Online businesses are booming with people who have a unique creative flair and can satisfy a client’s wants and desires. Whether it be Etsy, eBay, or Shopify, you can build a company and make money doing it.
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to be successful. You can take a course like Million Dollar Shop and learn the step-by-step process of launching a successful Shopify shop.
We just launched our very own Shopify store using this amazing course. After the first month of opening our shop it has brought in $1,500-$2,500 per month passively.
We have even had months where we have made over $30,000 from our shop alone!
7. Start a Flipping Side Hustle
Take some time to go through your closets, basement, garage and collect anything that you no longer need or want.
Then simply list it on Facebook Marketplace or eBay. Boom you just started a flipping side hustle!
Our friends Robbie and Mellissa are actually professional flippers and do this full-time!
Seriously Making money on Facebook with items lying around your house couldn’t be easier.
Click here to start your FREE training on how to start making money flipping.
8. Walk Dogs or Pet Sit
You know, man’s best friend? Dogs!
Turns out they need to be walked and watched when the owners are busy or out of town.
Perfect for those dog lovers out there. Head here to read How This 28 Year Old Made Over $20,000 With Her Rover Side Hustle.
You can sign up for Rover today and get started!
9. Become an Influencer
Even though celebrities get a lot of exposure partnering with big-name brands, that doesn’t mean you can’t do it, too!
Some influencers have literally built their businesses off of a social platform like Instagram or even on YouTube.
Want some proof? Look at how much these YouTubers are making.
The concept is the same. Brands pay you to showcase their products. That’s it!
If you’re interested, start by reaching out to smaller brands first before approaching the wealthier ones. Sponsorships can be an entry-level introduction in learning how to earn money online, but some online personas snag sponsorships to the tune of a full-time income.
10. Create an Online Course
This is something we’ve tackled and I’ll be honest – it’s an incredible way to generate income!
An online course is a fantastic way to educate others on a particular topic. It helps if you have a blog to sell it on, but you can start selling an online course strictly through partnering with other people that have loyal followings.
A great place to get started in creating your own course is right on Teachable.
11. Become a Virtual Assistant
When we say “assistant,” don’t get this stuffy concept of working in a cubicle performing mundane tasks.
You can do this from home and it will probably take under an hour per day per client.
There is a huge demand for virtual assistants pretty much everywhere.
This is a job that you should be able to secure work for pretty quickly, especially if you are looking in the right places.
Being a virtual assistant will look different for each client, but it will include supporting business owners and taking on tasks they don’t have time for.
Examples of services that you can offer as a virtual assistant include: answering emails, social media management, scheduling appointments, graphics design, writing newsletters, creating content, etc.
Want to become a virtual assistant? Click here to learn how to get started today.
12. Make Money Freelancing
You can find work in a lot of niche areas that you will be able to use your skills and expertise to earn money freelancing.
It could be as simple as writing articles or if you are into social media, you could get paid to manage social media accounts. Another popular freelancing job is becoming a web designer.
Whatever someone might have difficulty with or not enough time to complete is where you would come in.
People pay you to have work done for them. Some people have deep pockets when it comes to freelance work because they just do not have enough time and want to pay some else to do the work.
13. Taking paid surveys
When I was in college, I started taking surveys online to earn any extra cash that I could. Even though I didn’t end up making a lot of money taking them I found it to be fun.
As my family’s main shopper, many of the surveys I took were geared toward to the purchases that I made at the grocery store. I also have a history of watching a lot of TV. Many who know me, know this secret of mine.
However, it came in handy because I took a lot of surveys on the shows as well. The best part about taking surveys was getting free products to try out before they entered stores and I offered my feedback.
Check out our complete review of 20+ survey sites that can make you extra income today.
- Swagbucks ($5 Sign Up Bonus)
- Survey Junkie ($5 Sign Up Bonus)
- Pinecone Research
- Inbox Dollars
- American Consumer Opinion
- Opinion Outpost
- MyPoints
This is a fairly passive side hustle that you can start in your spare time.
14. Delivery Driver
Did you know that there are companies who will pay you to shop for others?
Companies like Instacart, Postmates, and Doordash will hire you to go into stores and shop for others.
It’s that simple, it’s legitimate, and they pay you for your time.
If you’re already in the grocery store, why not?
15. Driving for Rideshare Companies
While the kids are at school, there’s no reason to not drive for a company like Lyft or Uber.
You get to choose your hours and it’s completely flexible. If you can drive a car, this is a good side hustle to make extra money.
Who knows, you might even meet a famous person in the back seat!
16. Give Music Lessons
If you have any musical talents, share them!
You can work with a music store to provide lessons or do it personally with students in the comfort of your own home.
You can advertise your music lessons on social media or advertise in the local paper to get started.
17. Write Resumes
If you have a LinkedIn account and have good grammar, you’ve probably come across some people looking for jobs that don’t have great resumes.
This doesn’t even require any certification to get started.
With some simple grammar and formatting, you can make fast money.
18. Be an Extra in Movies
If you live in a big production city like Los Angeles or New York, they cast extras for movies nearly every day.
For a few hours of your time, you can get compensated well.
Keep an eye out for any notices on social media.
Or, just get paid to watch movies online!
19. Sell Your Hair
If you have long locks and want to cut your hair, consider selling it.
You can sell it on a site like HairSellOn and make a few extra bucks.
20. Clean Houses
While the kids are at school, there’s no excuse to not utilize that time.
If you can clean one house in an hour, that’s around 6 houses you can clean in that time. At $75 per house, that’s $450 a day.
Start marketing this to your friends and see who wants a cleaner house. This is a great weekend job idea, as well.
21. Become a House-Sitter
When people go on vacation, sometimes, they want someone to stay in the house to prevent robberies.
You can be that person (and still do another side hustle in the house at the same time).
Sites like Care and HouseSitter can help you get started.
22. Teach Driving Lessons to Students
If you enjoy driving and don’t have any violations on record, you might make a great instructor.
See if any of the local companies are hiring. This is a side hustle that you can do while the kids are at extracurricular activities or on the weekends.
23. Be a Direct Sales Representative
I had two side hustles through college and started her career as a teacher.
One of the side hustles was an Avon Independent Sales Representative. I was an Avon Rep. for nine years and through this hustle, I was not only able to get beauty products for free but supply myself with coffee money every week.
The coffee money motivated me to write 5 easy ways to save money on a monthly basis.
Here are other side hustles that you can start today for a small investment that could truly pay off. Just be cautious and know that being successful in network marketing takes a lot of hustle and many people that start actually lose money.
- Avon
- Mary Kay
- Thirty-One
- Tupperware
- Pampered Chef
- Younique
- LuLaroe
- PartyLite
- Premier Jewelry
- Paparazzi Jewelry
- Jamberry
- Stella and Dot
- Scentsy
- Team Beachbody
- Wildtree
- Tastefully Simple
- Stampin’ Up!
- Perfectly Posh
24. Become a Local Tour Guide
If you live in a tourist city or a vacation hotspot and know all the history about your town, you can guide others around.
You can talk to the local tourism board and see if they need help.
You can do this during the day while the sun is still shining.
25. Have a Garage Sale
All those items you have cluttering up your house might work well in your neighbor’s house.
Host a garage sale with some of your neighbors once a month and invite the rest of the neighborhood.
Your trash might be someone else’s treasure.
26. Babysitting
In your college town, there might be professors with toddlers or young parents in the neighborhood.
Either way, if they need a babysitter, you can do that while getting some of your schoolwork done.
Rates for being a babysitter tend to be between $10 and $15.
27. Selling Used Textbooks
Once you’re done with your textbooks for the semester, there’s no need to keep them (unless you really want to).
You can sell them to other students or even sell them online.
Sure, you won’t get as much for them as you paid, but this can be a side business for students if you have a network of students looking for discounted textbooks.
28. Selling Class Notes
Did you know that you can make money simply by selling your class notes?
Suddenly, studying from them isn’t their only purpose.
You can sign up for FREE on Studocu to get started and make a few extra bucks on those notes you no longer need.
29. Become a Personal Trainer
If you’re a gym buff, you can definitely charge students to get their physique in check.
Just like tutoring, a few clients can help get your business off the ground and you making money.
This is one of those weekend job ideas that can help you pay for rent and other expenses.
30. Participate in Market Research
If you fit within a certain demographic, you can absolutely get paid for a few hours of research time.
Companies and researchers will assemble a focus group and you can get compensated for it.
If it’s a long-term trial for something, you might get a recurring payment.
31. Become a Personal Chef
If you’re good at cooking or baking, being a personal chef is lucrative!
This is a great weekend side job that will pay its dividends. Start off by catering some school events and then move on to private clients.
If you find wealthy clients that like you, word-of-mouth referrals will be through the roof and you will have an easy business.
32. Picking up Trash
If you don’t mind putting on a pair of gloves and picking up trash, you can make some good money.
Parking lots and municipal areas need people to remove the trash from their grounds. It’s one of the simplest businesses out there, but it’s incredibly easy to do.
33. Donating Plasma
I see Facebook advertisements all the time for companies willing to pay you for donating your plasma.
In just an hour or two, the process is complete and they compensate you with gift cards. It’s totally legitimate and you can do it up to 2x a week.
34. Become a Sperm or Egg Donor
This isn’t exactly a business, but if you have the features, you could be high in demand.
For couples that need help with conception, you can make money knowing that you helped someone out.
35. Dating
Believe it or not, single ladies can make money by being paid for going out on a date.
On WhatsYourPrice, the process couldn’t be simpler.
Sure, you might not find your forever mate, but with over 2,000,000 members, you can get paid in the meantime.
36. DJing Events
The art of being a disc jockey isn’t dead just yet.
If you have a computer with a decent sound system, you can work parties as a DJ. Start by volunteering at your school or for your friends’ parties to get the name out.
37. Modeling
You don’t need to be booked by an international agency or even have the best features to be a model.
Some photographers need everyday people to be featured in the images that they sell to stock photography websites. After you sign a model release form, you’ll get paid.
Who knows, you might even see yourself on a Pinterest pin.
38. Become a Pinterest VA
Do you love browsing on Pinterest and pinning until your thumbs are numb? Have you ever thought about getting paid to be on Pinterest?
Yes, it’s true you can earn money online by becoming a Pinterest Virtual Assistant.
Our friends Gina and Kristen teach an incredible course that walks you through everything you need to know about how to earn money online by becoming a Pinterest VA.
The Course includes 5 comprehensive video modules:
- Understanding the Pinterest Virtual Assistant Role
- Establishing Your Pinterest Virtual Assistant Practice
- Finding Pinterest Virtual Assistant Clients
- Working with Pinterest Virtual Assistant Clients
- Expanding Your Pinterest Virtual Assistant Practice
They have had many students start making so much money online that they were able to quit their jobs and work full-time from home. You can learn more about their course here.
39. Sell Photos to Stock Photography Sites
If you take great photos, you can make money off of selling them to stock photography websites, such as Adobe, Shutterstock, BigStockPhoto, and more.
If your photos have people’s faces in them, make sure they sign a model release form so that they consent to being included in the photo.
You surrender the copyright in the process, but if you weren’t planning on selling them, to begin with, then you don’t have to worry about anything.
Plus, it can be pretty cool to see an image you took on one of your favorite sites or on an Instagrammer’s feed.
We’ve got a full list of stock photography websites you can check out to start selling your photos.
40. Make Money Online Through Affiliate Marketing
Making money online is simple once you learn about affiliate marketing. This is actually how our blog makes most of its money.
We partner with companies we absolutely love and think our readers would find value from. We mention the company like we did above (Ebates/Ibotta) and we get paid a small commission every time someone signs up. It’s a great way to help other people save money and give us a chance to make some money on our blog.
When we first started our blog, we had no idea what affiliate marketing was. After we took the course Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, we started to earn hundreds of dollars a month online.
41. Become an Influencer
Even though celebrities get a lot of exposure partnering with big name brands, that doesn’t mean you can’t do it, too!
Some influencers have literally built their businesses off of a social platform like Instagram or even on YouTube.
The concept is the same. Brands pay you to showcase their products. That’s it!
If you’re interested, start by reaching out to smaller brands first before approaching the wealthier ones. Sponsorships can be an entry-level introduction in learning how to earn money online, but some online personas snag sponsorships to the tune of a full-time income.
It helps if you already have a platform, such as a blog, so don’t forget about #3.
42. Start a Consulting Business
Did you know that consultants can be extremely lucrative?
It’s quite a simple process, really. Someone with a problem comes to you to solve it. And, the best part is that they pay prettily for a solution that actually works.
Before you get this convoluted idea that every consultant is a top-notch expert in their field, understand that a consultant only has to be more knowledgeable than the client in a specific area.
A great benefit of working as a consultant is that you can usually snag a retainer, which means you will be paid for being a resource in case the client as any questions.
To really make money as a consultant, you need to niche down and have a clear understanding of who you can help. It will involve some sales calls, but once you get a few clients, word of mouth spreads quickly and you will have quite the business.
Sam Ovens has an elite program to get you started as a wildly profitable consultant. He’ll teach you how to earn money online while providing immense value to your clients.
43. Become a Social Media Manager
As a social media manager, you’re in charge of everything that goes on in your client’s profile. This is more than just managing ads like above. But, if you can do both, your clients will thank you!
Here are a few things you can offer your clients:
- Creating social media images
- Crafting posts and curating content
- Responding to comments
- Scheduling out content
Ultimately, it’s up to you and your client. Having a stable income every month from a client is great when you’re just starting out.
44. Sell Your Services on Fiverr or Upwork
Many business owners are looking for specialized contractors and you could be the one they choose.
If you set up a profile that’s well-keyworded, you might get some inquiries rather quickly.
This works for writers, software developers, graphic designers, etc. Anyone with an online service can set up a profile and get started!
45. Narrate Audiobooks
As more and more people publish books online, there’s a need for people with great voices to narrate them.
If you can soundproof a room in your house, you might just find yourself on a best-selling audiobook.
46. Become a Voice Actor
Voice acting is a little-known job, but it can be a lucrative side gig, online hustle, part-time or full-time job.
Advances in technology have meant that microphones, recording software, and headphones can all be purchased at a reasonable price to create a home studio and kickstart your voice acting career.
As a voice actor, you could be voicing TV or radio commercials for the world’s biggest brands, teaching people through e-learning modules, entertaining audiences as a character in an animation or video game, and so much more.
47. Sell Thrift Store Finds
Thrift stores and flea markets are full of items that definitely have some life left in them.
It’s so easy to find valuable items for a fraction of the cost and these outlets, and if you’re good at negotiating you can often get them for even less!
Consider the idea of taking those unique finds and reselling them on eBay and Amazon, for a profit! You can learn all about the process, from finding the best deals, determining product value, and reselling and shipping information with this super informative course from Flea Market Flipper.
This is an especially great side hustle for those who enjoy wandering a flea market on a Saturday morning, and the thrill of a good buy!
48. Sports Betting
In some states, betting on sports is illegal.
It’s extremely difficult to make money betting on sports, just because you never know who will win.
But, if you are great at statistics, you might be able to translate that to other side hustle ideas.
49. Vehicle Advertising
According to Wrapify, you can earn upwards of $500 a month by putting an advertising “wrap” on your car.
Not bad when you think about it. Do the work upfront and simply drive your car like you normally would and get paid.
50. Teach Yoga
Love doing yoga in the morning? Why not turn it into a side hustle and start teaching a couple classes a week at your local Y.
Better yet create your own little yoga business and grow it from the ground up.
51. Flip Houses
Obviously, this side hustle takes a little more capital and experience than most but flipping houses can be very lucrative.
In fact, this is on our dream list to flip a house and get into real estate. Buy a book and start learning!
52. Resell a Storage Unit
We have all seen the show storage wars. Why not get your own piece of the pie.
If you have a knack for selling things online why not increase your inventory as a discount by going to a storage unit auction?
53. Make Money Watching Videos
Seriously this side hustle might be my favorite!
Have you heard of Swagbucks? They will literally pay you for watching new movie trailers.
The best part is you can set it up and minimize your screen in the background to stay productive =).
Sign up for Swagbucks now and claim your FREE $5 sign up bonus.
What is a Side Hustle?
A side hustle is a term everyone should know and be pursuing if they are looking for creative ways to make money. As a couple, we have always had a side hustle on top of our full-time jobs.
Side hustles are a way to fulfill a passion, work on a hobby or bring in extra cash by helping others.
We even used our side hustle to pay off our student loan debt!
True wealth and freedom come from having multiple sources of income and side hustles are perfect for this!
How Do I Start a Side Hustle?
It’s very simple!
- Decide that you want to make extra money
- Choose the best side hustle for you
- Take action and get started
Of course, there are moving parts as you start, but the process could not be easier.
I made sure to include side hustles that are flexible, pay great, and have room to scale. These side hustles are perfect for stay-at-home-moms, dads, college students, and just about anyone that want’s to increase their income.
Start Making Side Hustle Money Today
Whether you want a start a passive income side hustle or one that will make you work for your money, this list should get you started on your quest for extra money.
Remember, the extra money can be life-changing and help you pay off your debt. Don’t diminish your accomplishments, just because they aren’t as grand as others’. Every step is a step in the right direction.
If you’re a single mom, a college student, or anyone who wants to make easy money, side hustles are the way to go!
Did these side hustle ideas give you your next business idea? If so, let us know in the comments and how side hustles are changing your life.
My side hustle as an Independent Isagenix Associate has now turned into my full time gig! So grateful!
Brian CONGRATS! There is not better feeling that starting to make money on your own terms. What exactly is an “an Independent Isagenix Associate” we would love to know more about it?
Its a multi level marketing health food gimmick (pyramid scheme)
I’d like to suggest an addition for the Survey section. Swagbucks. I’ve used it for almost two years now without any problems. You can go to swagbucks.com or check out my post on it here: go.tpoh.me/swagt
Thanks for the great side hustle ideas! I think I’ll try some e-Commerce after I get the hang of this blogging thing 😉
Thanks, that’s a great idea! Brittany loves doing surveys so she will be sure to check Swagbucks out. Let me know if you need any help in getting started with E-Commerce, I have lots of experience. =)
I love using upwork! They have so much variety and the flexibility is great. Thanks for sharing these great links.
Yes upwork is a very powerful tool. This summer when Brittany is off from teaching we plan on hitting upwork hard to earn some extra cash. Glad the list was useful.
Great read Brittany, always looking for extra ways to make cash. I just wanted to share something I’ve been doing recently. I run an office and have noticed that unused toner was piling up in storage. Looked into returning but that was no good. Tried out the site https://www.tonerconnect.net/ and was impressed. They had quick service and that payout was nice.
Interesting, tell me more?
usertesting.com isn’t on here? You think out loud while answering some questions that they provide as you browse their website. Your thoughts are recorded and you receive $10 7 days later deposited into your PayPal account. I keep it open in a tab on my computer. It makes an audible ding when one is available. If the environment is quiet and I can stop what I am doing for a few moments to do that, I can make $10.
I started teaching online from home and was able to bring in an extra 1,000 a month easily. You need a 4 year degree and there is a bit of time spent at the beginning training/getting hired (10 days or so). Once you are hired you can monetize 25 minute blocks of time and the pay really adds up fast.