Recent surveys revealed that 54% of people in the U.S. have taken on at least one extra gig in the past year. Of those, 48% started theirs just to make ends meet. Cost-of-living pressures are leading many of us to find new ways of making money as traditional nine-to-five jobs become less sustainable. Plus, the rise of remote work keeps opening up countless opportunities for freelancers to earn extra income and grow their skills.
If you’ve landed here, you’re probably wondering what the best side hustles are, if you can do them remotely, and what skills you need to succeed. Luckily, many side hustle gigs don’t require a huge upfront investment or a degree. They just require a little know-how, technical skill, and the ability to market yourself. So let’s run through 30 side hustles you can do from anywhere, remotely–and make a steady income while you’re at it.
Different Types of Remote Side Hustles
With most side hustles, work falls under one of three umbrellas: gig-based, freelance, and part-time contracts. Let's take a look at all three.
Gig-based
Gig-based work offers the flexibility to earn extra income on a per-project basis.
So, who can find gig-based work? Pretty much anyone! For example, you can offer content creation, copywriting, proofreading, and editing services if you have strong writing skills. Designers can find gig work for products, packaging, websites, and more. Fancy yourself a whiz with code? Web development, app development, and software testing are popular gig-based opportunities, too.
Freelance work
Unlike gig-based work, freelancing often involves longer-term projects and more direct client relationships. Popular freelance areas include content marketing, technical writing, graphic design, web design, UI/UX design, marketing, SEO, and social media.
This work model is a win-win situation for you and your clients. They get a flexible and cost-effective solution, and you enjoy freedom, variety, and the potential for higher income.
Flexible part-time contracts
A gentle launchpad into the side hustle economy, flexible part-time contracts offer stable and predictable ways to earn extra income.
Many companies now offer part-time or contract positions to meet their fluctuating workforce needs. These contracts often provide several benefits–not least stability, which is a big concern for people transitioning into side hustles. Beyond that, contract work can offer you skill development, career advancement, and a better work-life balance. Plus, part-time positions provide opportunities for advancement within your company or industry.
30 of Best Remote Side Hustles
Let’s get to the good part. Here are 30 side hustles you can do from anywhere to start turning a profit.
Creative and artistic side hustles
The following side hustles nurture your artistic side, as you make money with your own creations.
1. Freelance writing
Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, you can find remote writing work. You’ll need a portfolio–this could include samples of your writing, testimonials from past clients, and any relevant certifications or credentials. Don’t stress if you lack paid experience; get creative! Create some dummy briefs for yourself and write a few articles on subjects you’re interested in.
Identifying your area of expertise and building a niche can help you attract higher-paying clients and establish yourself as a specialist.
2. Graphic design
If you’re a graphic designer wanting to start a side hustle, you’re in luck. Design is a versatile and in-demand skill.
It isn’t just logos and brochures, clients are willing to pay freelancers to design web graphics, packaging, social media content, PDFs, internal documents, billboards, signage, and more. Social media and online design communities are great places to meet other designers and share opportunities. As with writing, a strong portfolio that showcases your design skills, experience, and style is crucial for attracting the right clients and projects.
3. Web design
You can make money remotely if you have web design knowledge or experience.
It doesn’t need to be a full-scale website, either. Clients often hire freelance web designers for more straightforward tasks like designing layouts, selecting color schemes, and creating web graphics. Build a strong portfolio highlighting your web design skills and successful projects, and try to use keywords like "UX design" or "animation" within your website and digital marketing. Make your website fun, interactive, and representative of your design style.
4. Art and illustration
Art and illustration are rewarding side hustles for creatives and offer the potential to work for a wide range of clients and projects.
Artists can make a sweet side income working remotely, from designing book covers and merchandise to illustrating posters and custom commissions. However, you need a strong online presence to find work. Creating and posting examples of your work on visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest is important.
5. Photography
Photographers don’t have to be on location to make an income–it’s a side hustle that can make you money remotely, too. Consider selling stock images on platforms where you earn royalties each time your photos are downloaded. You can also set up an online store to sell prints featuring your work. If teaching interests you, creating online photography courses or tutorials can also be a lucrative way to share your expertise. Lastly, photo editing services allow you to remotely assist other photographers or businesses with enhancing their images.
6. Music production
Music production can be a flexible and profitable side hustle for those passionate about sound.
Freelance music production could involve creating and producing tracks, mixing and mastering recordings, and potentially working on sound effects for various media. To get started, consider joining freelancing platforms where you can offer your music production services or find projects. Then, try building an audible portfolio through YouTube, Soundcloud, or Spotify.
7. Video editing
Have a skill for transforming raw footage into polished, engaging content? Freelance video editing is a skill in high demand, especially with the rise of the creator economy and online video content.
A couple of tips: master your editing software and learn effective storytelling techniques. If you have past work you’re proud of, build a portfolio online to showcase your skills. Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok are popular; simultaneously, you can create a portfolio and an engaged audience. Keep up with video trends and editing advancements to offer high-quality services to your clients.
8. Writing and publishing ebooks
Writing and publishing ebooks allows you to share your ideas with the world (and get paid for it).
Whether it’s fictional or factual, focus on honing your writing skills and exploring different genres or niches. Building an author platform and marketing your work effectively can help you reach a broader audience. Consider online marketplaces that offer you the best remuneration for your work.
9. Voice acting
Voice acting simply requires you to lend your voice to various projects like animations, commercials, and audiobooks.
Developing a range of vocal styles and investing in a quality recording setup are essential. To get started, create a professional demo reel to showcase your abilities. Networking within the industry and continuously refining your vocal techniques can help you secure diverse roles and grow your career.
10. Ghostwriting
Shy writers, rejoice! With ghostwriting, you simply write content for others to publish under their names.
According to Medium, traditional publishing houses have admitted that ghostwriters wrote 70% of their published books. But it goes beyond books–for example, LinkedIn ghostwriters can make big money online, too. Many professionals struggle with developing their voice, which is where you come in. While ghostwriting still requires strong writing skills, it can offer you anonymity and the opportunity to develop the confidence to step into other writing roles.
11. Start a podcast
The global podcasting market will hit $34 billion in 2024. Podcasts can be recorded, produced, and uploaded fully remotely (with the right equipment, programs, and a steady internet connection).
So, define your niche and target audience and invest in quality recording equipment and software. Develop a content strategy that includes episode planning, guest interviews, and engaging topics to keep your audience hooked. You can earn money through your podcast with ads, sponsors, subscriptions, sales funnels, and listener donations.
Ecommerce side hustles
Want to make money selling products online? Check out the following ecommerce side hustles.
12. Ecommerce store
An ecommerce store can help you reach a vast market of potential buyers. Plus, it’s a side hustle that can earn you serious cash.
Ecommerce boasts a $6.3 trillion market with a 9.4% forecast growth rate. To capitalize on this, find unique products that set your store apart. Optimize your product listings with high-quality images and descriptions to enhance your marketplace visibility. Effective digital marketing strategies, including SEO, social media promotion, and email marketing, can help you reach and grow your target customer base. If your store is entirely online, then you don't have to worry about managing a physical business and staying in one place.
13. Become a reseller
Vintage clothing, sneakers, furniture, electronics, and collectibles are hot markets for reselling. The key to success is finding high-demand products.
To start, research popular items and trends in your chosen niche. Successful reselling requires creating a strong online presence with your target clients, so get active on social media. Beyond that, you’ll need a keen eye for deals, effective marketing strategies, and excellent customer service. Keep track of your profits and adapt your strategy based on market shifts and consumer preferences to grow your reselling business.
14. Online course creation
Creating and selling online courses lets you share your expertise and generate a passive income remotely.
Courses were the top revenue stream of six-figure creators, according to a 2024 Kajabi report. Platforms like Whop can help you host and market your courses. Ensure your content is high-quality and interactive–you may need to learn some basic writing, design, and editing skills. Then, promote your courses through social media, email marketing, and collaborations to drive enrollments and expand your reach.
15. Dropshipping
Dropshipping allows you to start an ecommerce business without even buying or managing an inventory, so you can do this from anywhere in the world. To stand out in a competitive market these days, try to focus on finding niche markets and trending products. You can do this by analyzing trends on Google Analytics and TikTok and trending items on Amazon and Alibaba. Use keywords to optimize your online store and product listings.
Serviced-based side hustles
The following side hustles are services that you can offer remotely.
16. Virtual assistance
Virtual assistance work is perfect for those seeking a remote side hustle.
It requires basic administrative skills and effective time management but no specific knowledge or qualifications, making it a perfect remote side hustle for almost anyone. Usually, you’ll complete tasks like managing schedules and handling communication for a single professional or business. While some virtual assistants work with one client, others take on many clients at once to diversify their income.
17. Online tutoring
Do you consider yourself well-clued on a specific subject (or a few)? Online tutoring allows you to teach various subjects and age groups remotely.
Subjects in high demand include math, ESL, and test preparation skills. You can even develop digital teaching materials and include them as extras to boost your income and enhance your students' learning experience. (Consider selling these on Whop to have private communities for your students to access you and one another.)
18. Social media management
Finding a business that doesn’t operate on social media is hard.
Offering social media management is a popular side hustle that allows you to work fully remotely. Plus, you don’t need any specialized education; anybody can learn. Online communities and courses are your friends here. You can be a jack-of-all-trades or specialize in areas such as content creation, community management, or analytics. Get active on social media with a professional profile to show your skills and find new clients.
19. App development
Even without extensive experience in coding, you can learn to develop apps with general programming knowledge and the help of AI tools.
Whether you want to build games, self-development apps, or educational apps, the options are pretty endless. You can even create plugins for online apps like ChatGPT. Whatever you choose, try to focus on solving specific problems or meeting user needs with innovative features.
20. Website development
Unlike web design, which focuses on visual and user experience elements, website development involves building the website’s structure, functionality, and backend systems.
This requires writing code in languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and server-side languages like PHP or Python. Specializing in areas such as ecommerce solutions, WordPress, or custom web applications can help you stand out. And you guessed it, a portfolio with diverse examples of functional websites is important to build credibility and clientele.
21. Consulting
For those with proven expertise, consider remote consulting.
Remote consulting can target various industries and areas of expertise, such as business strategy, marketing, or technology. Professional networks like LinkedIn can position you as a thought leader and help showcase your experience and success. Then, when you are ready to consult, use a platform like Whop where you can create private chats, host video sessions, send files, and take payments.
22. Translation
Translation ensures accurate and error-free communication across languages and can be a perfect remote side hustle for bilingual writers.
Translators can specialize in specific languages or industries, such as legal or technical translation. Remember, clients are looking for error-free, high-quality results, so this job requires both attention to detail and familiarity with industry terminology.
23. Online community management
Good with people and social media? You could be paid to manage online communities.
Community management roles often include managing communities on platforms like Discord, Whop, Telegram, and Reddit, where active engagement and interaction are crucial. Clients pay you to create, nurture, and grow digital communities around brands, products, or interests.
Other remote side hustles
Here are some more remote side-hustles that do not fit into the above categories but are still excellent ways to make money online.
24. Trade and teach stocks
Trading and teaching stocks can be a lucrative side hustle–if you have a solid grasp of market trends and trading strategies.
It's important to be aware that stock trading involves significant risks, including potential financial loss. Approach trading with a strategy that aligns with your risk tolerance and investment goals.
Teaching others can also be profitable for those who excel in trading. You can create courses, write guides, or offer one-on-one coaching to help others navigate the complexities of the stock market.
25. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is a performance-based side hustle that can earn you money while you sleep. You partner with brands and earn a commission for each sale or lead generated through your referral links. As a result, this side hustle is particularly appealing because of its potential to generate passive income. Building a blog, YouTube channel, or social media presence is crucial for promoting affiliate products and effectively reaching a broader audience.
26. Transcription
Transcription simply involves converting audio or video recordings into written text. While AI programs can do this, clients often seek to pay freelance transcribers for better results, as jargon can get misinterpreted by AI. You can specialize in areas you are already familiar with, such as medical or legal transcription. Similar to translation, transcription requires excellent listening skills and attention to detail.
27. Proofreading
Another easy, remote, and scalable option for writers: proofreading!
If you’re confident in reviewing and correcting written content for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors, you can profit from the side as a proofreader. Build a professional presence online and leverage social media like X and LinkedIn to find clients and share your past work. Attention to detail and familiarity with different writing styles are necessary to be a successful proofreader, but you don’t need any major qualifications.
28. Online market research
Online market research could be your remote side hustle if you're a data head.
Gathering and analyzing data about market trends, consumer behavior, and competitors are the key skills you’ll need. Clients want researchers with strong analytical skills and a keen eye for detail. Knowing how to use research tools effectively is key to providing clients with valuable insights.
29. Become a streamer
Streaming lets you share your gaming, creative processes, or other interests with a live audience. Streamers can build communities, interact with viewers in real-time, and monetize their content through subscriptions, donations, and sponsorships. Choose a niche or focus area that aligns with your passions, whether it's gaming, art, music, or educational content. Build and leverage your social media to generate an audience.
30. Content creator
Last (but certainly not least), consider being a social media creator.
It’s a creator economy, and you no longer need a massive audience to make an income from content creation. Even a small following on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube can get you partnering with brands for sponsored content. Try to be authentic–it should be fun, not a chore!
Post relatable, engaging content, and utilize platform analytics to understand your audience and grow your following. You can earn income directly from certain platforms for your views and engagement or collaborate with brands to monetize your influence and expand your reach.
Remote Side Hustles are More than Just a Way to Make Money – they’re a Way to Level-up Your Career
Income isn’t the only benefit of starting a remote side hustle. You can significantly boost your career by developing new skills, enhancing your resume, and gaining experience. Even freelancing in writing or design can improve your project management and technical skills.
Side hustles often involve a range of diverse clients, which only enhances your adaptability and expands your professional network in the future. Remember, portfolio building is important! Properly showcasing achievements makes you a more attractive candidate for higher-paying jobs.
How to Find the Right Side Hustle for You
Knowing where to begin might be overwhelming with so many remote side hustle options available. But with some consideration and planning, it should start to become clear which are best suited to you, your availability, and your goals.
Establish your goals
To get started, identify what you truly want to achieve with your side hustle—whether it's extra income, skill development, or exploring a new field. Clear goals will guide you in choosing a gig that aligns with your objectives.
Map out your time and resources
While the idea of hustling hard for an extra income is appealing, it’s important to be realistic. Evaluate how much time and resources you can actually invest outside of your day job or other working commitments. Knowing this will help you pick a side hustle that fits your schedule and budget. Some may need more time, and others might require a financial investment.
Create your personal brand
Regardless of which direction you choose to go, your personal brand matters. Develop a strong online presence by building a professional website or creating social media profiles highlighting your skills and achievements. This will help you attract clients and stand out in your field. Be consistent, stay authentic, and engage with others to boost your visibility online.
Join a professional network
Connect with industry-specific groups and online communities related to your side hustle. Networking can provide support, open new opportunities, and enhance career growth. Plus, it’s the perfect way to learn from others who have already built a successful side hustle career.
Start a Remote Side Hustle with Whop
Ready to build a remote side hustle?
Whether it’s ebooks, tutorials, courses, digital downloads, trading tips, or anything in between, you can launch your own online business with Whop and keep 97% of your earnings. There are no sign-up fees or monthly platform fees - Whop doesn't make money unless you make money. Whop was built by creators, for creators, and is designed to help you every step of the way.
Whop provides a seamless platform to sell your digital products and services, handling all billing, fulfillment, and customer management, so you can focus on selling. Start earning remotely today with Whop.
