The fastest way to make $50k - 20 most profitable side hustles revealed

Making your first $50K online is a huge goal for most entrepreneurs. Here are 20 different ways to start earning, no matter where you live or what your skills are.

Want to know which side hustles actually make money online?

We’re talking $50K+ per year, scalable, and doable even if you’re starting from zero.

From digital products and freelancing to AI-powered gigs and online coaching, these are the side hustles that can actually pay off – and fast.

No scams, no vague tips: just a straight-up list of proven ways people are turning their skills, time, and creativity into real cash.

Keep reading, and you’ll find the side hustle that fits your lifestyle and wallet.

How fast can you make $50K?

Realistically, expect 6–12 months to find your fit and another 6–12 months to scale your hustle to full $50K potential.

The real question isn’t if you can hit $50K, BTW: it’s how fast.

For most people starting from scratch, hitting $50K a year takes time, strategy, and experimentation.

Already have skills, experience, or some startup cash? You can fast-track the timeline.

Writers, coders, or digital creators with $1K–$2K to invest can potentially hit $50K in under a year.

The key is picking side hustles that actually pay, so you don’t waste months spinning your wheels.

That’s why we’ve put together a list of the 20 most profitable side hustles that can get you there faster, online or offline.

Top 10 most lucrative side hustles to make your first few bucks 

These 10 side hustles are great places to start.

Each one is designed to deliver real cash quickly, often with little upfront cost, and can scale into a full $50K+ annual income.

1. Start a creative personal project

A creative personal project is a great way to make your first money online.

This can be anything from running a blog and creating graphics to digital art, or selling stock photos and videos.

Any passion or hobby you have can be turned into a side hustle, and creative ones are definitely one of the most lucrative.

You’ll be able to make a few bucks without spending anything (a blog will cost you no more than $100/year, and you’ll be able to make some profits through ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing).

But that same blog can be your gateway to freelance writing. You can use it as your portfolio to secure deals with companies that need help with their blogs.

The same goes for any other creative project. For instance, you can sell your digital art but also get commissions from companies or influencers later on. Or, you can upload your stock photos and videos and turn them into a photography or videography freelance business.

2. Take part in the gig economy

The gig economy, in general, is a great way to make money fast without needing any special skills. But, it does have a caveat in that it’s not as scalable, as you’ll earn a fixed amount hourly rate, and there are only so many hours in a day.

If you have a car and want to drive people around, check out Uber or Lyft and become a rideshare driver.

If you live in a small, bike-friendly area, delivery apps will happily pay you to deliver food or groceries to customers.

You’ll usually make slightly above minimum wage, and you’ll also be able to work as much and whenever you want.

This can be a great step to get into the mentality and routine of running a business, which will inevitably be the fastest way to get to 50k.

3. Try pet sitting

Another lucrative side hustle that you can do without any skills is pet sitting.

Many people look for pet sitters to keep their pets company while they’re away on a trip.

So, your job will be simple: make sure their pets are safe and keep them company.

I’ve raved about pet sitting plenty of times, as you can do it pretty much passively. There are apps, like Rover, where you can get started, but you can also take a more traditional route through word of mouth. 

The key here is to fit in as many pet-sitting gigs in a day as possible. You can, for example, go to 4 different houses in 8 hours to take dogs on a walk, make sure they have food and water and play with them for a bit.

If you charge around $20-$25/hour, that can be a solid $160-$200 for a day’s work. It won’t be that consistent, but it’ll surely be a great starting point.

4. Sell meal plans

All you need to do is find people who will pay you to make them a meal plan and deliver their meals to them.

This can be great, even when you’re in college. You can make the meals and sell them to fellow students at a high enough price so you can make money, and they get a discount compared to getting takeout.

If you can make a big batch of 20 meals in 4-5 hours and can profit $3-$4 per meal, that’s basically $15-$20/hour.

And, you can then scale this if you find “richer” students and sell them higher-quality meals at a premium (so that you profit closer to $10 per meal).

5. Participate in focus groups

You can find and participate in focus groups, which usually pay you $15-$50+ for an hour of your time.

There are platforms online, like Respondent, User Interviews, and Prolific, that will pay you good money for your opinion.

Or, you could check out some others, like UserTesting, where you’ll have to test websites, share your thoughts, and, of course, make good money from them.

The premise here is very simple; you just share your opinion on the given topic and make some money for your time.

Since this won’t require anything besides your time, it’s a nice one to do on the side, and it’ll make you some money to reinvest in other side hustles.

6. Affiliate marketing

With affiliate marketing, you’re getting paid for the people you refer to a product or service.

When someone buys through your links, you’ll earn a commission. Obviously, if you’re already running a blog or creating posts on social media, this can be a great way to further monetize these.

But you can also start from scratch: create new accounts with the sole purpose of building an audience.

Find a lucrative affiliate niche, like making money online or self-development, and start posting on TikTok or other platforms (there will be a lot more on this later on).

Once you have built up a following, you can get affiliated with companies in your niche. Best of all, Whop can help you out here, as you can quickly get affiliate links to every whop on here and earn a great commission for every sale.

7. Tutoring

I still consider tutoring one of the most lucrative online money-making methods.

While you won’t need any unique skills, you’ll have to be super knowledgeable in a certain subject.

I was still in my mid-teens without any real degree or anything, so I was making around $10-$15/hour.

There are plenty of platforms out there where you can tutor any kind of subject, from Math to Physics and Chem. With many of these, you can set your own rates.

Expect to earn anywhere from $20-$50+/hour, which is definitely an awesome starting point to get to 50k.

8. Dropservicing

Dropservicing is pretty much the same as dropshipping, but for services instead of products.

You basically secure high-paying clients and build a team of freelancers across different disciplines, whom you then outsource the work. 

For example, you can charge a client $500 for a blog post, pay a writer $250 to write the actual post and pocket the difference.

Yes, you’ll need some sales skills here, and you’ll have to at least be knowledgeable in the services you’ll offer through your team of freelancers.

9. Sell PLR digital products

Private Label Rights (PLR) digital products are pre-made pieces of content (think courses, articles, graphics, etc.) that you’ll create, bundle, and sell to potential buyers.

Many entrepreneurs are using these to make money themselves, as they’ll only need to make some slight edits to repackage as their own work.

The more niche you make these, the better.

You can create a bundle of PLRs for life coaches who are looking to kickstart the marketing strategy and sell it for a high price ($400-$500+).

In just 5 sales, you’ve made enough to reinvest in another business idea or side hustle.

10. Make mobile or web games

Making mobile or web games might sound vague, but hear me out.

You don’t have to put in too much effort here to make something entirely new – just follow the current trends, and try to create something slightly different.

For example, when Wordle was trending a while back, some were making similar games for football and NBA players. They simply hopped on a trend and made some really good money from it.

The key is to create several different games and apps and see what works best. You can then monetize them through ads or in-game purchases (such as extra lives or turns). 

10 ways to make 50k and beyond

If your goal is serious income, these side hustles are where you want to focus.

Unlike small “first-buck” gigs, these business ideas are scalable, high-paying, and designed to get you to $50K (and beyond) faster.

Some require an upfront investment of time, money, or both, and all come with manageable risks.

But with dedication (and tools like Whop), you can build a business that hits major income milestones.

1. Become a content creator

Content creation is one of the most scalable ways to make $50K – and way beyond.

With YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or other platforms, you can create faceless videos, tutorials, vlogs, or niche-specific content.

The key is consistency and building a loyal audience.

Revenue streams include affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, ad revenue, and selling digital products.

Even smaller channels can make $50K annually if you combine multiple monetization methods.

Tip: Focus on a niche you’re genuinely interested in. If you fail with one type of content, the skills you gain can transfer to a new channel.

2. Sell an online course

Digital courses are a direct way to monetize expertise.

This isn’t about hype-driven “guru” courses: it’s about actionable, valuable lessons that solve a real problem.

Identify your skills (writing, design, video editing, fitness, or niche knowledge), and package them into a course with lessons, exercises, and practical tips.

Platforms like Whop allow you to sell courses without building a full website. Creators often hit $50K+ within months – especially if your course addresses high-demand skills.

3. Create a paid community

Paid communities combine engagement and recurring revenue.

Instead of one-off courses, you provide ongoing advice, discussions, and insights in a niche: trading, reselling, business growth, or random hobbies. Anything goes.

Pricing varies, but monthly memberships of $10-$50 per member can add up quickly.

Plus, personalized support allows for premium pricing, and active communities often attract sponsorships or affiliate opportunities, pushing your earnings past $50K faster.

4. Start a paid newsletter

A paid newsletter is perfect for sharing exclusive insights with a small, dedicated audience.

Focus on niches where information is valuable—finance, trading, crypto, business, or even lifestyle tips.

Even a few hundred subscribers paying $10-$20/month can quickly generate significant revenue.

Also, newsletters work as a funnel: free content draws an audience, and premium content converts subscribers into paying customers.

5. Reselling

Reselling involves buying in-demand products and selling them at a profit.

Popular markets include sneakers, collectibles, electronics, and sports cards.

Start small ($50-$1,000, depending on what you can afford to begin with) and reinvest profits to grow inventory.

Many resellers reach $50K annually by staying ahead of trends, leveraging drops, and monitoring secondary marketplaces.

Tools like Whop communities can help you track release dates and best-sellers.

6. Become an online coach

Coaching bridges courses and communities. You provide tailored guidance without running a large group.

Offer 1-on-1 sessions or group coaching in your area of expertise: business, fitness, writing, trading, or personal development.

Rates start at $100/hour and can go much higher depending on skill and results.

With even 10 clients paying $500/month, you’re on track for $50K.

Scheduling, payment, and video calls can all be managed through Whop, by the way. Slay.

7. Rent out your car

Turn your idle vehicle into cash. Platforms like Turo allow you to rent your car short-term, providing passive income.

You can either rent casually to supplement income or scale by financing multiple vehicles.

Example: Renting one car full-time can earn $1,500-$2,000/month; a small fleet can scale quickly toward $50K.

Factor in cleaning, maintenance, and insurance to stay profitable.

8. Start a car detailing business

Car detailing remains an underserved, premium service niche. High-quality detailing services can charge $80-$120 per job!

Invest in any necessary equipment (usually $1K+) and start offering services locally.

A typical car detail will cost around $100, give or take $20, for around 2-3 hours of work.

Scaling involves hiring staff, expanding service areas, and marketing to premium clients – but even solo operators with steady demand can hit $50K within a year.

9. House cleaning business

House cleaning is another lucrative business idea if done right.

Charge $50/hour+ for a thorough home cleaning, and higher rates for end-of-lease cleans and corporate spaces.

Starting small, you can build a client base in your local area, then scale by hiring a team or targeting higher-paying clients.

With consistency, a small operation can make $2K-$5K/month, reaching $50K in 12 to 18 months.

Upsells, seasonal cleaning, and specialized services increase earnings potential.

10. Low-risk investments

Investing in established blue-chip stocks or major cryptocurrencies can grow your wealth over time.

A $10K portfolio allocated across Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, Bitcoin, and Ethereum could grow to $50K in roughly two years, depending on market performance.

While slower than active hustles, this approach is passive and relatively low-maintenance.

Monthly contributions accelerate growth, making it a safer way to reach $50K without active work.

For reference, you’d have to invest $500 every month in the S&P 500 for 12 years to make $50k from compound interest.

Can you make $50k a month?

Yes, you can make $50K in a month – but it’s not always easy.

Hitting this milestone requires serious effort, consistent strategy, and, honestly, a bit of luck.

For online hustles, you’ll need to go viral or consistently drive high traffic to a product, course, or community.

Every piece of content, marketing funnel, or promotion has to be optimized to convert your audience into paying customers.

For offline or brick-and-mortar businesses, scaling fast means investing in equipment, staff, and marketing while managing operations efficiently. 

You’re essentially trying to compress years of growth into a single month.

But with Whop? Growing to $50k months (or more) is a lot faster. You can:

• Launch digital products, communities, and coaching services immediately.
• Collect payments in multiple ways, including crypto, recurring subscriptions, and installment plans.
• Reach a global audience without building complex infrastructure.
• Use built-in tools like checkout links, store pages, and membership management to scale quickly.

If you execute well, $50K/month becomes a pretty attainable goal.

Make your first $50k with Whop

Reaching $50K a month might sound overly ambitious when you’re getting started, but the truth? It’s totally doable.

The key is having a platform that lets you manage, sell, and grow efficiently – without getting stuck in the logistics. 

Whop lets you do all of that in one place. 

Courses and communities to coaching, SaaS, downloads, apps, and services, you can sell them all here.

Run your business, process payments, manage members, and even set up affiliate links to boost revenue – all in one place.

Kickstart your journey to $50K today. Create your whop and scale your side hustle with ease.