Want just a little bit (or a lot) more money in your pocket every month? Then you’ll want to start hustling — start side hustling, that is!
In this day and age, it seems that everyone has a side hustle — from podcasting to dog-walking and beyond. Why? Because a side hustle is a great way to boost your monthly income.
Want to get in on the side hustle game but need a little bit of inspiration? Then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re unpacking the best side hustle ideas and providing you with tips on how to find the right side hustle for you.
Why have a side hustle?
In this day and age, pretty much everybody could benefit from extra income every month. Amid record-high inflation and skyrocketing costs of living, the reality is that, in most cases, having a full-time job doesn’t provide the kind of income one needs to pay the bills, increase their savings, and have a little left over for, well, fun. So, how does one boost their monthly income? That’s where the side hustle comes in.
Simply put, a side hustle is a way to earn supplemental income in addition to your full-time salary. Side hustles come in many shapes and forms, ranging from rideshare driving and pet-sitting, to selling digital products and starting a newsletter.
According to a 2023 study, over 50% of Americans have side hustles (and 44% believe they’ll always need one.) A good side hustle will build you a solid, recurring revenue stream that goes a long way towards increasing your overall income. Once you’ve earned this supplemental, side-hustle income, you can put it towards whatever you choose. No matter how you want to spend (or save) it, your side gig earnings are an invaluable way to boost your quality of life — and your income.
13 Best side hustle ideas
Now that you’re game to jump on the side hustle wagon, you’re probably wondering what kinds of side hustles are out there. Or, more importantly, which side hustles are currently the most profitable.
There are tons of ways to earn supplemental income, and the one that you choose depends entirely on your expertise and your passion. If you’re in need of some inspiration or are just shopping around for your next side hustle, here are some of the best side hustle ideas.
- Sell digital products
- Monetize a YouTube channel
- Monetize your TikTok account
- Sell mini-consultations
- Hold an online challenge
- Write an ebook
- Create a guide
- Start a newsletter
- Resell used or vintage goods
- Become a rideshare driver
- Start a pet-sitting or dog-walking service
- Deliver packages
- Rent your home or a spare room
1. Sell digital products
The number one slot on our “best side hustle ideas” list goes to selling digital products.
If you’re unfamiliar with the digital product game, a digital product is anything you can sell online as a downloadable file. These include everything from templates and printable art, to online courses and membership subscriptions.
Digital products have gained a ton of popularity in the last few years, and the market for them has exploded right along with the boom of the creator economy. Why? Because digital products are an excellent source of passive income.
Once you’ve created your digital product, you can sell as many copies (i.e. downloads) of it as you’d like without having to pay for a brick-and-mortar shop, replenish an inventory, and put in any of the other grunt work associated with selling physical products. In other words, you get to sit back and watch that sweet side hustle income roll in.
Want to start earning extra cash by selling digital products? The Leap’s AI-powered digital product builder and link-in-bio storefront makes it easy. Try The Leap for free today.
Create and sell digital products in minutes using The Leap!
Need help planning your first digital product? Take this free mini-course to learn how to create and sell your first digital product in three simple steps.
2. Monetize a YouTube channel
Want to earn more online? Why not monetize a YouTube channel?
Despite the emergence of other popular social media platforms in recent years, YouTube is still one of the best places to build an audience. And with the release of its short-form feed, YouTube Shorts, the platform has become a content powerhouse for all sorts of video creators.
So, how can you start monetizing YouTube Shorts? It turns out you don’t need a massive following — you just need to create consistently.
By harnessing the power of YouTube Shorts, you can start earning money through a number of different avenues, including advertising revenue, paid sponsorships, and more.
Want to learn more about how you can monetize your YouTube channel? Get our free guide on Monetizing YouTube Shorts.
3. Monetize your TikTok account
Many of us know, love, and use (read: spend way too much time on) TikTok. So, why not monetize all that TikTok screen time?
Today, TikTok drives the zeitgeist and the market. The popular platform has over 1.6B monthly active users who spend more than 28 hours per month on the app. As the creator economy has exploded in growth, TikTok has become a viable source of income.
Jumping ahead of Instagram, TikTok is now the most popular influencer marketing channel, used by 56% of brands that do influencer marketing. With billions of dollars on the table, some creators have even managed to turn their TikTok side hustle into a full-fledged business empire.
And you can too! Creating consistently engaging TikTok content can open up a number of monetizations streams on the platform, including brand partnerships, fan funding, and more.
Want to learn more ways you can monetize your TikTok account? Grab our free guide on How to Make Money on TikTok.
4. Sell mini-consultations
Have expertise to offer? Then you might want to start selling mini-consultations.
These bites-sized consults enable you to share advice, office feedback or simply answer any questions your audience might have. Rather than jumping on a live coaching session or one-on-one call, a mini-consultation allows your followers to ask you specific questions that you can respond to via video or text. (Your choice! However, we recommend the former for a more engaging response.)
Mini-consultations are a great side hustle because they’re so compact. They allow you to earn more money without putting in the time and effort, or dealing with the scheduling logistics of live calls.
Want to start selling mini-consultations? The Leap’s Ask Me Anything feature lets you start today, easily. Try The Leap for free now.
5. Hold an online challenge
Want to earn money helping your audience learn something new? Then you’ll want to get in on online challenges.
An online challenge is a digital product that helps your audience achieve a goal within a specific time frame. Challenges can be held live, but don’t always need to be. Either way, an online challenge usually runs between 5 to 30 days long.
Because they’re so involved (especially if they’re live), challenges require more commitment and preparation than many other educational products. However, paid challenges also tend to be more lucrative because people love to sign up for live events.
Depending on your challenge’s purpose and your level of involvement, you can price an online challenge between $10 to $100.
Want to start selling your first paid challenge today? You can with The Leap’s AI-powered digital product builder. Sign up for free today.
6. Write an ebook
Got knowledge to share with others? Why not monetize it with an ebook?
An ebook — short for “electronic book” — is a digital version of a book designed to be read on devices like smartphones, tablets, and e-readers. Oh, and it’s also one of the best side hustle ideas.
Ebooks are popular among creators (and especially creator educators) across all content niches. Why? Because the format suits basically any topic. From cooking to social media strategy, you can write an ebook about any topic imaginable. If you’re an expert in any field, chances are there’s an audience hungry for your expertise, which means there’s potential to earn a ton of cash writing and selling ebooks.
One of the best things about ebooks is that they’re a cost-effect and low-overhead digital product. All you really need is an idea and a Word Processor (like Google Docs) to bring it to life.
7. Create a guide
Similar to ebooks, guides enable you to share your knowledge and expertise with your audience in a cost-effective and easy-to-digest format.
While ebooks tend to be longer and more expansive, guides are shorter-and-sweeter digital products that pinpoint a specific pain point. A guide’s purpose is to help your audience form an opinion, make a decision or take action about a particular problem. Because they’re easier to create and consume, guides can be more lucrative than ebooks.
Want to start selling your first guide today? The Leap’s AI-powered digital product builder makes it easy. Try The Leap for free now.
8. Start a newsletter
Heard of Substack? The subscriptions-based newsletter service and its ilk have exploded in popularity in recent years as writers — who have generally relied on media companies to pay their wages — have begun to monetize their own ideas.
As the popularity of these platforms has grown, many creators and laypeople have begun earning an income writing newsletters, as well.
In order to earn an income from your newsletter, there are a few things you’ll need — and need to consider. First, you’ll need an audience (i.e. a subscriber base) and if you don’t have one, you’ll need to build one. Beyond that, the key to a successful newsletter relies on finding your unique voice, choosing compelling topics, posting consistently, and learning how to market yourself to your readership.
If you can commit yourself to keeping up your newsletter, your followers’ monthly subscription fees can add up to a nice recurring income.
9. Resell used or vintage goods
Love vintage? Why not make a side hustle out of it?
In recent years, digital reselling platforms like Depop and Etsy have popped off as ways for savvy, stylish Gen Zers and millennials to earn extra cash online.
Thanks to influencers on TikTok and Instagram, younger generations have come to associate reselling with fashion and clothing. While this is a flourishing niche to target, it’s not the only one. Platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace can be used to sell virtually all types of used or vintage goods, from furniture and home goods to books and beyond.
So, how do you start reselling? First, you’ll want to hit the thrift stores in your area in search of high quality or rare used goods to flip and upsell on your platform of choice. Another option is to offer an online resale service for people in your community. In other words, you offer to list and sell their used items for a cut of the profits.
10. Become a rideshare driver
Know how to drive? Then you can totally earn an income as a rideshare driver.
In the last decade or so, platforms like Uber and Lyft have essentially replaced the taxi business, becoming an incredibly lucrative side hustle for any and everybody who can drive (no stick shift needed!)
Depending on where you live, there will be a number of rideshare platforms available. We suggest shopping around and researching which one is the right fit for you. Take an especially close glance at how much commission you’ll be earning, and whether you need any additional certifications or credentials to start using them.
11. Start a pet-sitting or dog-walking service
Love dogs? Why not turn it into your side hustle?
Dog-walking and pet-sitting have been long-standing side hustles. But now, with the rise of apps like Rover, it’s become easier and more accessible than ever to earn money from walking and sitting dogs.
If you want to start dog walking, you’ll need to ensure you have the right equipment. That means leashes, harnesses, dog treats, a water bowl, a dog whistle, a first aid kit, and, oh, dog poop bags, of course.
If you want to get your services out there, you’ll want to sign up for dog-walking marketplace apps like Rover or Wag!
12. Deliver packages
One of the best side hustle ideas? Delivering packages.
With the rise of contactless, convenience apps and online shopping, it’s no surprise that delivery services have experienced a boom in recent years.
There are tons of apps geared towards running delivery and courier services as a side hustle, including Uber, Veho, and more. All you need is a car, a bike, or your own two feet!
13. Rent your home or a spare room
Have real estate you’re not using? Why not rent it out for extra income?
Apps like Airbnb and PadMapper have made it easier than ever to cash in on your home, condo, or apartment. Have a spare bedroom or suite? Consider listing it as a daily or weekly rental on Airbnb or a long-term sublet on Craigslist or PadMapper. Going on vacation? You might want to consider renting out your home or apartment for the entirety of your stay.
How to start your side hustle
Side hustles are a great way to earn extra cash but, like any new endeavor, they require a certain amount of foresight and planning.
If you want your side hustle to be lucrative, you’ll need to set yourself up for success beforehand. Here are the steps you’ll want to take to successfully start your side hustle.
1. Look into your options
As with anything, the first step to starting a side hustle is research. Remember, a side hustle is a commitment. So, before dedicating yourself to your new venture, you’ll want to weigh all the options available and see which side hustle is right for you.
Begin by identifying where your passion and expertise lie, and then look into side hustles that leverage one or both of them. Do you love knitting? Then you might want to look into selling digital knitting patterns on a platform like Etsy or Ravelry. Have a driver’s license? Why not join a rideshare service like Uber?
No matter your skill set or area of expertise, there’s a viable side hustle out there for you.
2. Create a plan
Before you can launch your side hustle, you’ll need to map out all the details.
First, check to see whether you’ll need to acquire any licenses or purchase any equipment for your side hustle. For example, if you want to drive for Uber, you’ll need a driver’s license. If you want to start dog-walking, you’ll need to purchase leashes, whistles, and dog poop bags.
Second, you’ll want to shop around and sign up for the relevant apps associated with your side hustle. For example, if you want to start delivering packages, you’ll want to look into all the platforms available. Look into the pros and cons of each app, including the commission you’re paid, minimum hours, and more.
Finally, you’ll want to plot out how your side hustle will fit into your current schedule. You’ll want to make sure your side hustle will fit around your current work schedule, but that it won’t bite into your personal life too much. This step is important! If you don’t ensure you have enough time to balance your side hustle with your other priorities, your side gig — and your side income — can easily fall to the wayside. Setting a schedule and sticking to it ensures that you’ll start earning — and continue earning — that sweet side hustle income.
3. Identify your goals
Thirdly, you’ll want to set a goal for yourself. That’s because the best side hustle ideas are the ones that will help you achieve them.
Ask yourself what, exactly, you’re looking to achieve with your side hustle income. Setting a broad goal like “saving money” isn’t specific enough to provide much incentive. You’ll want to settle on something more specific with a discrete end-point: something like “earn enough pay off my student debt” or “save enough money to buy a car.”
4. Promote your products and services
If you want your side hustle to really succeed (i.e. earn you tons of cash), you’ll need to let the world know it exists. This means marketing.
Luckily, in today’s digital economy, there are tons of ways to promote your side hustle beyond posted fliers and the yellow pages. If you haven’t already, you’ll want to start a social media account for your business and begin promoting your products and services with content. If you’re selling specific goods and services — like, for example, house rentals or vintage clothes — you’ll want to promote your products on their dedicated online marketplaces (in these examples, Airbnb and Depop).
Finding the right side hustle for you
Now, hopefully you have a clearer idea of which side hustle is right for you — and how to start earning that extra income.
Just like any job or business venture, a side hustle requires dedication and consistency in order to really bring home the bacon. The first step to earning? Deciding which income-earning venue you’d like to pursue.
If you want to start selling digital products (like online challenges or guides) or services (like mini-consultations), then you’ll want to check out The Leap.
This all-in-one creator store makes it easy to create and sell your digital products and services. Just how easy? Our AI-powered digital product builder enables you to create your first digital product in just minutes. That means, you can launch your side hustle — and start earning — today.
Interested? Try The Leap for free now.
Create and sell digital products in minutes using The Leap!
Side hustle ideas FAQ
What is a side hustle?
“Side hustle” is a colloquial term which refers to any method you might earn extra, supplemental income outside of your regular full-time salary. According to a 2023 survey, over 50% of Americans currently have a side hustle.
How much can I earn from a side hustle?
How much you can earn from your side hustle varies depending on a number of factors, including your niche, your skill set and expertise, and how much time you can dedicate to it. According to a recent report, however, the average monthly income from a side hustle is $483.
What are the most profitable side hustles?
The profitability of your side hustle depends on a number of personal factors, including your skill set and expertise, and how much time and resources you’re willing to dedicate to it.
With that being said, there are some side hustles that have the potential to be more profitable than others. Some potentially lucrative side hustles include selling digital products, monetizing a social media account (like YouTube or TikTok), starting a newsletter, selling used or vintage goods, becoming a rideshare driver, delivering packages, offering dog-walking services, and renting your home or spare room.
Follow The Leap on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for more monetization tips for creators. We also make a newsletter.
