She works hard for the money, she works hard for it, honey, so you better treat her right!
Rumor has it that this song was inspired by a woman working a side hustle to supplement her full-time income. This was back in the 80s, before a second-job had a catchy title. Working another job to make some extra cash isn’t new, but it is becoming more and more common.
If you’re contemplating starting a side hustle, check out these 10 business ideas to boost your income.
Why Find a Side Hustle?
Close to 70% of the people who have side hustles do it to make ends meet. Whether that’s paying everyday expenses or getting out of debt, it’s more than just using a hobby to make money. Other side hustlers are trying to pay off student loans, save for a vacation, or put their kids through college.
Whatever the reason, a side hustle can be a smart way to get yourself on sound financial footing. Here are some ideas to diversify your income.
10 Business Ideas to Work on the Side
Depending on what type of side hustle you choose, your upfront investment could be nothing or you might spend a bit to get started. Keep those costs in mind as you are considering these ideas.
1. Drive for Uber or Lyft
Driving for a rideshare company is extremely flexible. You decide when you want to work and for how long. It also doesn’t require any upfront investments, other than a car (which you likely already have) and gas.
Uber and Lyft drivers average between $8 and $12 an hour, so while you’re not raking in the big bucks, you can make a dent in your debt or pad that vacation account with one of these services.
2. Tutoring
You can tutor in person or offer your services electronically, through Skype, Google Hangout, or Facetime. People are always looking for tutors, so if you have specialized knowledge in an area, offer up your services.
3. Freelance Writing
If you enjoy writing and can write about a variety of different topics, consider freelance writing. Websites are always looking for content writers who are versatile, have an understanding of SEO, and can produce quick, short pieces to post on their blogs.
4. Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
Do you love pets and have time on your hands? Consider offering dog walking services in your neighborhood to people who work all day or the elderly who can’t walk their dogs themselves. You can also offer pet sitting, either in their home or yours.
You market yourself on your own and find your own clients, or use sites like Rover.com to find clients and receive payment.
5. Blogging
You can make some decent money with a blog once you have built up a large following. This takes some time, though, so the payoff for blogging might take quite a bit of time. Once you do have a large audience though, you can make a substantial amount of money through affiliate links, sponsored posts, and advertising on your blog.
There are some experienced bloggers who are making thousands of dollars a month on their blogs. That’s some serious cash (maybe even enough for you to quit your full-time job!)
6. Personal Shopper
Love shopping and have free time on your hands? Becoming a personal shopper for a company like Shipt or Instacart allows you to make money shopping for and delivering groceries to people. You get a base rate and make tips.
This former teacher makes $100,000 a year as a shopper for Shipt! Like rideshare services, you make your hours and work when you want, so there is a ton of flexibility with this side hustle.
7. Selling Things on Online
There are lots of options for selling things online. Sell your unused or unneeded household items and furniture on your local Craigslist page. If you have collectibles, you might consider listing them on eBay.
You can also sell on Amazon. If you buy a large quantity of an item for a low price, you can be a third-party seller and sell stuff on Amazon as well. Some people earn $1000 a month doing this.
8. Write an E-Book
If you excel at writing, an e-book is a great way to make passive income. Once you write it and publish it online, you earn money every time it is downloaded or printed through a print-on-demand service.
It costs nothing to produce the book and sell it online. The only investment is your time. You only earn money when it sells, though, so you’ll want to put your best effort into it.
9. Become a Virtual Assistant
If you are extremely organized and detail oriented, becoming a virtual assistant might be a lucrative side hustle for you. Virtual assistants are remote workers who do everything and anything a business or individual might need.
Clerical work, errands, social media management, you name it. You can find freelance virtual assistant jobs on Fiverr and Upwork.
10. Car Washing and Detailing
This is an easy mobile business to start and do on the side. If you work during the day, you can wash and detail people’s cars at their own home.
You’ll just need to bring the cleaning supplies, towels, and vacuum. Use the hose and water at the customer’s home, and you’re in business. If you get big time, you can even buy or lease your own truck to cart all of your equipment around. Get more info here.
The Bottom Line
Whether you want to pay off debt, save for your kids’ college education, or save up for your next vacation, a side hustle is a legitimate way to do it. Find something that’s flexible, you like to do, and can fit into your day along with your 9-5 job and enjoy that extra income.
Use these business ideas to get started on your side hustle today. For even more info on making and saving more money, check out some of our other blog posts.
