Whether you’re saving up for something, trying to pay off debt, or just want a little extra cushion, it seems we’re all trying to make a little extra money right now. Thankfully, there are so many ways to hustle on the side and earn some additional income without having to completely rearrange your life. 

When thinking about how to start a side hustle, think about what people would be willing to pay you to do because they don’t want to do it. Or, think about something you’re passionate about or already good at and how you can monetize it! It’s important to remember that no matter what side hustle you do, spreading the word and letting people know about your services, business, or project is half the battle. Marketing yourself is important! 

“Remember that no matter what side hustle you do, spreading the word and letting people know about your services, business, or project is half the battle.”

We’ve rounded up 99 ideas for how to make extra money, from cleaning to styling hair to starting a Substack. Whatever you decide to do, be confident, own it, and go get that bread! You deserve it! 🍞💰

Services

“Offer to organize your friends’, family’s, and acquaintances’ homes.”

  1. Are you great at home organization? You could offer to organize your friends’, family’s, and acquaintances’ homes. Just think of how relieved they might be to not have to organize their closet or kitchen themselves.
  2. Similarly, you could clean folks’ homes on the side. It takes about 2-4 hours (sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the size and condition) to clean an average family home. You could clean a few homes per week for some extra cash.
  3. Another chore you could monetize? Laundry! Offer wash, dry, fold services for those who need assistance with it — whether it’s because they can’t get up and down stairs, they’re too busy, or just don’t want to do it. 
  4. Maybe you have an eye for design that your friends or family don’t. Could you offer to help them with the interior design of their home for a small fee? 
  5. Did you know that a lot of spas and yoga studios will hire people to help wash and fold towels and do general, simple cleaning? You could see if your local spots need help! 
  6. For the horse lovers out there, a lot of stables will hire people part-time to help clean the barns and take care of the horses. 
  7. If you have a green thumb, consider helping friends or neighbors with their gardens. Whether that’s planting, pulling weeds, or picking produce — or a bit of it all — there’s certainly people near you who could use a little help in the dirt. 
  8. You could also offer to grow extra vegetables and take care of them in your garden for others in exchange for a small fee. 
  9. Maybe you know a few people who need help mowing their lawn! 
  10. Or if you live somewhere with a lot of snow, you can make money shoveling, snowblowing, or plowing after snowstorms. 

“Another chore you could monetize? Laundry!”

  1. If you own niche machinery like a tractor, rototiller, or snowblower, you could offer to do it for neighbors who have a project where they need it! 
  2. You could also collect and sell compost to your neighbors — good for you and for the planet!
  3. Do you know how to pressure wash — or are you interested in learning? You could pressure wash houses, driveways, and patios. It’s a great way to make some money, and it’s so satisfying to see the before and after!
  4. Did you know that most newspapers are still delivered via independent contractors? It’s a great way to get a little extra income while also getting some exercise! 
  5. Another way to get exercise: Dog walking. See if folks in your neighborhood need help walking their dog, or join apps like Rover or Wag to make connections. 
  6. Similarly, you could side hustle as a pet sitter. Ask around to see if anyone near you needs someone to watch their pet or sign up on Rover or Care.com. 
  7. Or, of course, you can sign up on Care.com to help folks with childcare too! Or if you know folks in your life looking for childcare assistance, reach out and see if they’d be interested in hiring you to do it. 
  8. If you’re better with seniors than children, you can also offer to take care of an older adult. Maybe someone in your life is looking for a caretaker, or Care.com has a senior care section as well. 
  9. Are you tech-savvy? You could offer digital decluttering and photo organization services to those who aren’t as techy or don’t want to spend the time going through it all. 
  10. Becoming a notary is another great option for a job that pays well and works with your own schedule. Essentially, you become someone who is an impartial witness to the signing of important documents. Most U.S. citizens can become one! Look up the process in your state, because it can vary state to state. 

“Offer digital decluttering and photo organization services to those who aren’t as techy or don’t want to spend the time going through it all.”

  1. If you enjoy working with kids, teens, or college students, consider becoming a tutor. You could help with anything from basic math to ACT/SAT prep. Reach out to your local schools to see if they are hiring tutors or apply online at places like Tutor.com. 
  2. Or you could edit and give feedback on college applications and essays. 
  3. Do you own a large vehicle? You could use it to help people with moving — whether that’s fully moving apartments or just helping with a large Facebook marketplace purchase. 
  4. You could do color analysis for friends, family, and acquaintances! Just go to a fabric store and buy squares of fabric for each color, and learn how to determine people’s seasons. 
  5. Are you good at doing makeup? Offer to do makeup for weddings, prom, homecoming, or other special occasions. You’d be surprised by how many people would love to have someone they’re comfortable with doing their makeup instead of a professional!
  6. Same with hair! If you’re talented at doing hair, you could become the go-to for people in your life when they have a special occasion. 
  7. Similarly, if you know how to cut hair, you could do it for friends and family on the side. 
  8. If you invest in gel nail polish and a UV light, you could offer gel manicures to friends and family at a price much cheaper than your local salon while still making good money for yourself.  
  9. Some universities and research institutions look for people to participate in studies or surveys in exchange for a small amount of money. Maybe you’re a fit for a study near you!
  10. Do you know a niche technical skill? Maybe plumbing, electric work, welding, for example. You could do side jobs for cash on the weekends. 
  11. You could also sign up to be on Task Rabbit and help people with anything from hanging TVs to building IKEA furniture. New York City also offers a queer-focused version of this called Butch-4-Hire!
  12. If you love planning and organizing parties, you could offer it as a service! Some people would be more than happy to pass those responsibilities off to someone else. 
  13. You could also be a wedding planner on the side. Even if it’s just offering to call vendors and help people get organized, the happy couples will be glad for a little extra help. 

Hobby-to-hustle

“Are you interested in photography and have a nice camera? You could take family portraits, engagement photos, senior portraits, Quinciñera photos, or headshots for a side income.”

  1. There are so many ways to turn a hobby into a side hustle. Are you interested in photography and have a nice camera? You could take family portraits, engagement photos, senior portraits, Quinciñera photos, or headshots for a side income. 
  2. Selling your photography to stock photo websites like Adobe Stock and Shutterstock is another way to get money for a hobby you love.
  3. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could also photograph a few weddings a year on the side. It’s no small feat, but it pays well! 
  4. Another growing trend? Wedding content creation. Wedding content creators document weddings for the purpose of posting on Instagram Reels, TikToks, and other social media. 
  5. Maybe you love music and want to try DJing. It’s a steeper investment to get the equipment at the beginning, but once you have it, you can do weddings, dances, parties, or other events. 
  6. Or if you play an instrument, sing, or are in a band, look into gigging at local restaurants, bars, or events. 
  7. You could also record a CD and sell it at the events! Physical media like CDs make artists much more money than streaming. 
  8. Music lovers could also work part-time or as-needed at concert venues as an usher or security guard. 
  9. Similarly, theater lovers could work in the box office or as an usher at a local theater. You might even get to watch the show if you’re an usher! 
  10. If you have a flexible schedule, try modeling. Photographers, creative directors, brands, and fashion designers often post model calls on social media, and anyone can show up and try to get cast.
  11. Some smaller theater companies work with actors who also have day jobs (i.e., rehearsals after work hours and a bit more flexibility). And sometimes they pay! Look into the theaters in your area if you’re interested in acting on the side. 

“If you’re feeling ambitious, you could also photograph a few weddings a year on the side. It’s no small feat, but it pays well!” 

  1. If you love children and have experience in acting, consider being a princess or character for birthday parties. You get to dress up and be that character for birthday parties, events, and parades — and get paid to do it! 
  2. Do you love yoga? You could become a certified yoga instructor and teach classes at your local studio. 
  3. Or if you’re more into pilates, you could become a pilates teacher!
  4. There are tons of other group fitness classes that you could instruct as well, from cycle to HIIT to leading a running group. 
  5. More into 1:1 fitness? Get certified to be a personal trainer and help people achieve their fitness goals. 
  6. If you have experience with a particular sport, consider becoming a coach for a youth club team or high school team. 
  7. Or you could become a referee or umpire! 
  8. You could become a Reiki practitioner by getting attuned by a Reiki master/teacher. Once you become a practitioner, you can offer Reiki sessions with clients as a side hustle. 
  9. If you know a lot about tarot and feel comfortable interpreting the cards, you could offer tarot readings. 
  10. Do you know how to read birth charts? You could use your astrological knowledge to make some extra cash! Help people figure out their birth charts and what they mean, and get recurring clients by helping them interpret how their birth charts can affect them throughout the year. 
  11. Snail mail clubs are popping up all over! The subscription-style mail clubs often come with letters, stickers, prints, postcards, and other fun analog goodies for people to enjoy! If you like getting crafty, this is such a fun way to be creative and make some extra money. 

“More into 1:1 fitness? Get certified to be a personal trainer and help people achieve their fitness goals.”

  1. Knowing how to sew is a lucrative hobby these days. If you do know how, you could offer hemming or other tailoring services. 
  2. You could also mend clothes for others. What’s better than contributing to a long life for clothes and making easy money?
  3. Do you like thrifting? You could thrift clothing, get creative by upcycling them into something new, and sell them for more money. 
  4. Same with furniture! You could refinish, restore, or upcycle secondhand furniture to give it new life and a new home. 
  5. Artists: This is your sign to finally start selling your work. Whether it’s pottery, paintings, prints, fiber arts, or something else entirely, selling your artwork is a great source of side income. Maybe you sell online through Instagram or Etsy.
  6. Or in person at craft or makers markets. We love the sense of community that participating in markets brings!
  7. If you’re a good baker, consider selling baked goods on the side. Maybe it’s selling cookies for a Bachelorette party here, a few loaves of banana bread for a teacher appreciation week gift there. So many opportunities to bake for extra cash!

Freelancing and social media

“With both Substack and social media, you can make money from affiliate links.”

  1. Substack is a rapidly growing way to share your writing and make a little extra money. The paid subscription model allows creators to set a monthly fee for exclusive content. 
  2. If you enjoy posting on social media, consider becoming a content creator. It can take a while to build a following, but if you get posts that go viral, you can start making money from them. 
  3. With both Substack and social media, you can make money from affiliate links, too. Platforms like ShopMy make it easy to share product recommendations and get a little kickback if someone purchases using your link. 
  4. Similarly, many brands offer ambassador and affiliate programs where those with a social media following can share links and discounts with their followers in exchange for a commission. Google “[brand] ambassador program” to see if they have one! 
  5. You could also do content creation for others (businesses, brands, people) as a freelancer. This could be anything from taking and editing videos to designing graphics for their social media pages or websites. 
  6. Sometimes businesses, brands, or even people with larger followings might be interested in hiring someone to reply to comments, like posts, and engage with other accounts on their social media accounts. 
  7. Are you a writer? Consider pitching story ideas to publications. Not sure where to begin? Our editor has a guide on how to get started pitching publications. 
  8. If you write fiction, you could submit your work to literary magazines, many of which pay when your work is accepted for publication. 
  9. Or you could submit to writing contests to potentially win cash prizes!
  10. Freelance graphic design work is another great source of income. Having experience in graphic design is definitely important, but if you’re newer to it, consider reaching out to local small businesses and seeing if you can offer assistance. 
  11. If you love to design or use a Cricut, you can make money selling your .svg files in the Cricut Creator Program. Or you can sell your Cricut patterns on Etsy, too!

“Consider pitching story ideas to publications. Not sure where to begin? Our editor has a guide on how to get started pitching publications.”

  1. Designers could also create wedding suites (invitations, menus, save the dates, etc.) and sell them as editable files on Etsy. 
  2. Another common freelance gig that you could potentially do as a side gig is helping a business, brand, or person with administrative duties. This could include anything from sifting through emails, scheduling newsletters, or keeping their schedule in order. 
  3. Do you have an area of expertise that you could share with others? Consider hosting a workshop virtually or in person to share your knowledge and make a little extra change. 
  4. If you offer the workshop virtually, you could record it and offer it as a downloadable workshop for people to purchase and attend indefinitely. 
  5. Or take that expertise and offer consulting services for it. You’d be surprised by how much money you can make by just knowing a lot about one specific topic or field!

“If you offer the workshop virtually, you could record it and offer it as a downloadable workshop for people to purchase and attend indefinitely.”

  1. Being attuned to the details of grammar and punctuation is a great skill to monetize! You could make money proofreading for a business, writer, or even someone applying for a job. 
  2. Speaking of applying for jobs, writing resumes and cover letters takes a lot of mental work and can be overwhelming even if someone has a lot of experience. If you know a lot about what makes a good cover letter or resume, consider offering a service to give people feedback and edits on theirs. 
  3. Or, similarly, you could offer to give honest feedback and suggestions on people’s dating profiles for a small fee. 
  4. Maybe a small business or freelancer in your network needs help with bookkeeping. Do you know how? Are you interested in learning? It’s one of those tasks that folks love to outsource.
  5. That… and taxes. If you know how to do taxes and you have the time, consider offering to do it for others for a fee! 
  6. If you enjoy helping people work through personal or professional goals, you could get certified to be a life coach and make money working with clients. 
  7. It’s getting easier and easier to self-publish books these days with programs like Kindle Direct and Barnes & Noble Press. 

Selling, reselling, and renting

“Do you have clothes you never wear that are in good condition?”

  1. Do you have clothes you never wear that are in good condition? Consider selling them on apps like Vinted, Poshmark, or ThredUp. 
  2. Or sell them at a good old-fashioned consignment shop.
  3. Have a lot of random things you’re looking to get rid of? Sell them in a yard sale! 
  4. Some people want to resell their things but don’t have the patience or time to do it. Could you offer to take care of selling their stuff for them on Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, or another reselling app for a small cut of the profit?
  5. If you love going to estate sales and looking for unique vintage clothes, you could become a vintage clothing reseller on places like Etsy or in person at vintage markets. 
  6. If you have a large basement and know someone who needs to store their extra stuff, you could rent out a corner for them to use as storage space. 
  7. Have you heard of Pangobooks? It’s an app where you can sell (and buy!) used books. 
  8. Weddings are a great opportunity to earn some extra income! Perhaps you rent out a photobooth or another creative activation.

“If you love going to estate sales and looking for unique vintage clothes, you could become a vintage clothing reseller on places like Etsy or in person at vintage markets.”

  1. Did you know that teachers can sell lesson plans, worksheets, and slide decks for other teachers to use? Teachers Pay Teachers is a website for exactly that! Another option: Canva Creators for Teachers pays royalties to teachers when people use their designs. 
  2. If you’re someone who loves planning trips, you could also sell vacation itineraries as digital downloads — or if it’s to friends/family/acquaintances, you could even put it in a binder and make it look all fancy!
  3. Those of us with a green thumb could make money selling plant starts and propagations. 
  4. Or grow microgreens and/or wheatgrass (which cats love!) for your neighbors and friends. 
  5. If you have a cut flowers garden, you could sell bouquets to people when they need to give a gift to someone. 
  6. Do you have a sourdough starter you’re proud of? You could sell it to people who are interested in getting into sourdough. 

Brianna Schubert is a writer and editor based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade, an editorial assistant at Motley Bloom, and a freelance writer. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Since 2023, Brianna has combined her expertise and investigative skills to deliver thoughtful reviews of sustainable products and home goods, helping readers make informed, eco-conscious choices. Brianna is also the writer behind The Mood Board, a Substack newsletter for creativity and inspiration. When she’s not writing, you can find her cooking up a new recipe, reading and recommending books, cuddling with her cat, or yapping with her friends at a café. Say hi on Instagram!