If you need to supplement your income or just pad your bank account a little bit with another stream of income, a side hustle is the way to go. Whatever your skillset and however much free time you have, it’s more than possible to find a side hustle that’ll help you reach your financial goals.

This guide will help you understand side hustles and their popularity, give you some examples of popular side hustles, and then show you exactly how you can start your own side hustle today.

What is a side hustle?

A side hustle is an activity that you can do alongside your regular job and responsibilities that can bring in a little bit of extra income. Many people choose to set up a side hustle to make some extra cash in their spare time - while others look to work on a side hustle with the intention of it becoming their main job.

Side hustles can become a primary source of income in some cases, for instance when you’re studying. They can also start to pay a whole lot more than your regular job, which may prompt you to think about focusing on your side hustle full time.

There are two main reasons for the popularity of side hustles today.

Firstly, necessity is the mother of invention—and today, people need more money than ever to survive. That’s not to say there weren’t people working multiple jobs in generations past (because there absolutely were), but today it’s the rule rather than the exception thanks to record discrepancies between the cost of living and wages. People need more cash to live now, so they’re going to get creative and search for more unique ways.

Secondly, the internet has been a massive enabler for different types of money making, and today it’s possible to earn from various side hustles without leaving your room as long as you’ve got an internet connection and a smartphone or computer. Even if your side hustle is a physical one, the right framework of apps or a website can turbocharge your side hustle’s earning potential.

Not sure where to start? Or maybe you just need a little inspiration for your next venture? Well, you've come to the right place. Here are 30 of the most popular side hustle ideas around.

They’re just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what’s possible, but they’ll give you a taste of what people out there are doing to earn some cash on the side.

1. Driving

uber driving

One really popular side hustle out there is to drive in your spare time. It’s not just Uber, either—you can deliver orders such as food, video games, and other online purchases from a variety of retailers, and all you’ll really need is a vehicle of your own and the license to drive it.

The main consideration when it comes to making a driving side hustle work is to make sure you’re earning enough to cover the cost of fuel and then some.

What's even better with this side hustle is that it works around you. So if you love driving, know your way around (or can happily follow a sat nav!), this is a great way to earn some extra money in your spare time.

Driving side hustles include:

Could this be your next side hustle? You might want to check out these resources first:

2. Dog walking

dog walking

Given just how expensive life can be, people are busier than ever—which means that they don’t always have time to take their favorite furry family members out for the exercise that they sorely need. If you’ve got some time to spare and really love dogs, what could be better than getting to know and spend time with them and being paid for it?

Dog walking is an increasingly popular side hustle, and it’s not going to go away—busy people aren’t freeing up anytime soon, and dogs are always going to be a human’s best friend.

But that's not the only way to make money by helping out pet owners - since many animal lovers often need pet sitting services when traveling, working away, or during their everyday schedule.

Platforms like Wag, Rover, and PetBacker can help you to find dog walking and pet sitting gigs. What's more, this time of work is pretty flexible around your working hours, and all you need to do is create a profile on multiple apps and you'll be maximizing your opportunities in no time.

Want to learn more? Take a look at these:

3. Reselling

Reselling

Houses and cars are often where it’s at, but you can work up to that—it’s easier, and perhaps even more profitable, to start with goods like sneakers. They’re often considered valuable collector’s items, and if you’ve got an eye for a deal, you should be able to make scanning auction sites and sniffing out sales second nature to you.

Once you’ve made some money and are up and running, you can start looking at inventory solutions and expanding your side hustle with clearances and wholesale offers that you can arbitrage.

But it doesn't just stop at sneakers, oh no. From reselling watches, to tickets, clothes, and designer bags - there are so many opportunities to make some extra money alongside your 9-5.

Want to explore reselling as your side hustle? Check these out:

4. Art and graphic design

Digital art dollar sign

If you’re creative, you can look at web-based art or graphic design as a source of income. There’s always scope for designers, given the vast quantity of marketing materials companies require day to day, and artists have it just as sweet given the demand for book covers, merchandise, animation, and so much more.

Commissions are also a huge source of income for artists and illustrators, and the cash from them can easily outstrip the salary you’d pull from a desk job.

But how can you get started selling these digital products? Here on Whop, we make it easy to sell literally anything digital, from t-shirt designs, to social media banners - we've got you covered. Whether you want to package your services and sell digital products as a bundle, or make a passive income with repeated downloads - such as typography, digital guides, and coloring books.

For maximum income, you can offer these services and skills on multiple platforms, such as Fiverr, Upwork, and PeoplePerHour.

Read more about making money with digital art and graphic design:

5. Writing

Writing can be pretty time-intensive, but it’s another fantastic example of a skill that can be leveraged into a variety of profitable side hustles. Simply starting a blog and building an audience is one way to go, since you’ll be able to make money from affiliates and advertisers as you establish yourself, but you can also ghostwrite, put out eBooks, or write video scripts.

But how can you find writing gigs and earn money fast? There are a few ways to get started with freelance writing, and you don't need a huge investment behind you, either. Firstly, you can package your services here on Whop, whether you're providing written articles, proofreading, or copy editing.

Secondly, look to the gig economy. There are plenty of gig platforms out there to help you find work and earn some extra money - such as Fiverr, Upwork, and Bark. You can also create your own website (although this takes a little time and skill!) to promote your writing services.

If you've got a knack for writing and a particular interest in specific products or services, affiliate marketing could be the best route to go. But it won't bring in extra cash overnight, as you'll need to build an authority for your blog or website, and get picked up by search engines. Once you've got affiliate links at the ready, though, you can start to promote them via other channels as well, such as social media.

Find out more about earning money with writing:

6. Ecommerce

online store

An online business can be a fantastic side hustle, and it’s never been easier to get started. Dropshipping is a business model that you can leverage to build out a full business without actually doing anything in terms of product development or manufacturing, but there are other options if you want to be more creative too, such as print on demand.

The ready availability of suppliers means that, as an ecommerce entrepreneur, the main thing you need to be good at is marketing.

Want to learn more about dropshipping, print-on-demand, and getting started with ecommerce?

7. Content creation

Content creation

This is one of the most fun side hustles you can get into since, a lot of the time, it means getting paid to do stuff that you enjoy. If you can create content around a hobby, such as streaming your gaming sessions, it’s more than likely you can start building an audience of like-minded folks who enjoy your take on things.

Content creation doesn’t have to be hobby-based either—you can create just about any sort of media around any topic and turn it into a revenue stream, as long as you’re staying within legal and ethical boundaries.

Whether you want to start a YouTube channel about gaming, or start a travel blog, the opportunities really are endless. With the power of social media behind you, this could be a pretty lucrative side hustle.

Want to get started with content creation? We've got a few things that might help:

8. Paid communities

community management

This one often goes hand in hand with other side hustles such as content creation, photography, or illustration, but you can make it work in other ways too. Given the right niche, people love getting together and sharing their thoughts and opinions, and you can facilitate that with a community.

Gating a community, or a part thereof, with a paywall needs to be done judiciously and with good reason, but folks will pay if they’re getting value from it or can see that they’re supporting someone they value. 

Here on Whop, we make it easy to create, moderate, and monetize a community - no matter your topic. With opportunities to sell exclusive access to digital products, 1-1 calls, and much more, the time to get started is now.

Find out more about building a community online:

9. Selling templates

templates

Ever wanted to give your resume a refresh, but get stuck looking at a blank white page? The best way to get going is to pick a template and start filling it out. Similarly, templates make a whole lot of stuff easier, and there are people out there who are good at making and then selling those templates.

If you’ve got an eye for aesthetics and know a little bit about things like UI, you could design and sell a whole bunch of different templates, such as for programs like Notion and Figma. 

Plus, you won't need to pay out for expensive tools, since apps like Canva are free to use. Where you choose to sell is up to you - from creating your own website, to setting up a Whop or Etsy store - all you need to do is get started.

Could selling templates be your next side hustle? Find out how:

10. Selling online courses

Sell courses

Online tutoring can be pretty tough, and you’ve got to tailor your process to individuals. Online courses, on the other hand, allow you to set out your resources exactly how you want to.

They also allow you to get your knowledge and experience out to learners without having to be present—it’s a great way to build up a passive revenue stream since there’s no work to be done once the course is created and uploaded.

If you’ve got a skill to share or knowledge to impart, selling online courses is a very profitable side hustle. You can even look to extend your offering if you wish, with paid online communities, bookable 1-1 classes, and exclusive paywalled content.

Could selling online courses be your money-making side hustle? These resources will help you decide:

11. App developer

app development

Now, this side hustle does require a little existing knowledge, or a willingness to learn! However, saying that, there are plenty of tools out there which can help you to develop apps and software, without any prior knowledge - such as Bolt.

And once you've created your app (or given your big idea to an app developer to create), you can sell access to it online with Whop.

Could you become an app developer? Here's what you need to know:

12. Social media management

social media management

Got an eye for creating engaging social media content? Why not set yourself up as a social media manager? Businesses of all sizes are always on the lookout for those with social media marketing skills, which makes SMM one of the best side hustle ideas around for creatives.

From creating content strategies, to engaging a community, there is much more that goes on behind the scenes of social media. Think you've got what it takes? Try your hand with gig platforms like Fiverr and Upwork to see what work is out there - or package your services here on Whop!

If you think this might be the side hustle for you, take a look at these to get started:

13. Online fitness coaching

become a fitness influencer

Love going to the gym? If you know a thing or two about nutrition, strength training, and weight loss, starting an online fitness coaching biz could be a great side hustle. If you haven't already, you might want to get clued up with a fitness qualification, just to ensure you're providing the best service possible.

If you want to share your insights and know-how, you don't necessarily have to offer full-on coaching, either. There are plenty of other ways to make money from your expertise, such as paid workout plans, training videos, and even 1-1 calls.

Learn more with these resources:

14. Online surveys

online surveys

If you want to earn some extra money without even leaving your house, filling in online surveys could be the answer. Now, this side hustle is unlikely to make you rich overnight, but it can be an easy and stress-free way to earn some extra cash around your day job.

Plus, there are plenty of platforms available to choose from, such as Branded Surveys, Survey Junkie, and Swagbucks - so you can get started on several sites and start earning right away.

For more on online surveys, check out these guides:

15. Voiceover artist

voiceover artist

Got a soothing, expressive, or well-spoken voice? Make money from your room as a voiceover artist. Whether educational content, commercials, or audiobooks, there are lots of opportunities to leverage voiceover work for some extra money.

Getting started is easier than you might think, and it doesn't require a bucket load of startup costs, just a simple home studio space, a microphone, and computer or smartphone.

Once you've created a few sample clips, you can upload them to platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Voices.com to find gigs. Plus, as you build experience, you can decide if to specialize in specific areas of voiceover work, such as characters voices, to pay higher rates.

Looking for more side hustle ideas? Don't worry, we've got plenty:

16. Transcription services

writing

If you've got great listening skills, a keen eye for detail, and a quick typing speed, why not offer transcription services? This can be a great side hustle to do around your day job, and you don't even need to leave the house.

Many businesses, content creators, legal and medical professionals need both audio and video content converted into text - so there are plenty of opportunities to earn extra money here around your full-time job.

There are several platforms you can get started on, such as Rev, TranscribeMe, and GoTranscript - or you can package your own services here on Whop and earn some extra income seamlessly. All you need to get started is a computer, headphones, and a quite place to work.

17. Rent out equipment

rent out equipment

Looking for an easy side hustle with no upfront costs? Look no further. If you've got some extra equipment lying around the house going unused, why not make money from it? Whether it's power tools, camera equipment, or a drone, renting these items out can be a great passive income stream.

Since plenty of people need these types of tools for short-term use, if you're not using them, why not make some extra money this way?

There are a few platforms you can use to get started, such as Fat Llama and ShareGrid. Start off with small items you already own, and you can always reinvest your profits into new items later on.

18. Become an Airbnb host

real estate investing

If you have a spare room, guesthouse, or even a camper van, you can easily make some extra income on platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo. Whether you're in a popular city location, or have a spare room in the countryside, many travelers prefer short-term rentals over hotels.

Even if you don't own a property of your own, you can still get involved in this side hustle by managing Airbnb listings for other hosts.

19. Mystery shopping

mystery shopping

Now, this side hustle might not make you millions, but it's an easy way to make some extra income on top of your day job. Many brands and businesses will pay mystery shoppers to check out customer service quality, evaluate their stores, or even shop online.

You'll need to report back on your experience, whether you're visiting a store, interacting with employees, or calling a customer service line. To get started with this side hustle, sign up to platforms like Market Force, BestMark, and Secret Shopper.

20. Selling handmade crafts

diy products

While we've already talked about selling digital products like ebooks, templates, and apps, there is room to sell physical products too. If you're particularly crafty, selling handmade crafts could be a solid side hustle idea to work around your main job. This could be anything from handmade jewelry, to candles, pottery, and home decor.

Platforms like Etsy and Shopify make it straightforward to set up your own online store and sell directly to customers around the world. You can then leverage social media to maximize your sales!

Could this be the side hustle for you? Check out these guides to learn more:

21. Flipping furniture

flipping furniture

If you enjoy doing DIY and have an eye for design, flipping furniture could be a great side hustle opportunity. There are plenty of ways to get your hands on furniture, both at a low cost and completely free. This could be through garage sales, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or even thrift stores.

With minimal upfront costs, you can get your hands on paint, tools, and upholstery, to restore and upcycle items and make a decent profit. So if you're looking to earn extra income, this could be the perfect side hustle for you.

Want to learn more about flipping? Check these out:

22. Selling stock photos

selling picture

Love photography? If you have a camera and an eye for a great photo, you can make some extra income by selling stock photos and videos. Whether it's big businesses, bloggers, or marketers looking for high-quality visuals, stock websites will never go unnoticed. There are several websites where you can upload your content, too, such as Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Unsplash.

This might not be a huge money-maker, but it can provide a great passive income over time. Want to sell stock imagery? Take a look at these resources:

23. House painting

task rabbit

Got a little spare time and have great painting skills? House painting can be a profitable side hustle. You will need a few tools to get started, though! If you have these already, or have the funds to get yourself going, this could be the perfect way to earn some extra income alongside your day job.

Many homeowners, landlords, and businesses don't want to pay premium contractor fees, and this is where you have a prime opportunity to win work. Sign yourself up to platforms like TaskRabbit and Nextdoor to find work - or you can even advertise your services on Facebook Marketplace.

24. Mobile car wash and detailing

mvp

Instead of working for a car wash, get your bucket and sponge at the ready and start your own mobile detailing business. If you're not too familiar with car detailing, start off by offering basic washing and vacuuming services, before expanding into premium detailing.

People love the convenience of having their car cleaned at their home or office, so it gives you lots of opportunities to find clients.

25. Freelance data entry

data entry

If you can type quickly and have great attention to detail, data entry is an easy remote side hustle you can easily fit around other work. Whether it's organizing spreadsheets or digitizing records, many types of businesses can benefit from this type of support.

To find work, you can start be reaching out to businesses manually, or sign up to platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Clickworker to find tasks.

26. Rent out parking spaces

spot hero

Much like renting out your belongings, if you've got a driveway or parking space that's going unused, why not make some money from it? If you live in a high-demand area for commuters or travelers, this could be an easy way to make money, without really doing anything.

To list your parking spot safely and effectively, take a look at platforms like SpotHero, JustPark, and CurbFlip.

27. Errand running

instacart

Whether it's collecting mail, picking up medication, or doing grocery shopping, many individuals often need help with errands. So if you've got a little free time, and don't mind doing a side hustle that's in-person, this could be the perfect way to make some extra cash.

You can make a start by reaching out to friends and family who may need help, speaking to neighbors, and signing up platforms like Instacart and TaskRabbit.

Want to learn more about Instacart? You can here:

28. Car advertising

carvertise

If you commute to work, or spend a lot of your day driving, you can earn extra income on the go by placing advertising on your car. Companies like Wrapify and Carvertise will pay you to display ads on your car as you drive.

You'll earn even more if you drive in high-traffic areas!

29. Virtual interior design

roomstyler

You don't need to have your own home-decor Instagram account or YouTube channel to monetize your knowledge and expertise in this niche. If you have a passion for home decor and aesthetics, virtual interior design could be your next side hustle idea.

There are plenty of tools available to help redesign clients' living spaces remotely, including Roomstyler, Planner 5D, and SketchUp. How you determine your fee is up to you, but you might want to browse around gig platforms to check out how others price their services.

30. Create and sell digital flashcards

quizlet

Students and teaching professionals are always looking for ways to improve learning resources, which opens up plenty of opportunities for creating digital flashcards. You don't need to be a graphic design whizz either to get started, since so many tools - such as Canva - are both free, and easy to use.

You can create and sell flashcards for various subjects on platforms like Quizlet and Etsy, or set up your own digital store right here on Whop. If you specialize in a particular subject (like language learning or medical exams), you can develop niche flashcard packs and sell them as printables or downloadable files.

What’s a good side hustle?

A good side hustle isn’t a universal thing, since what works for you may not work for someone else—if you’re afraid of dogs, you probably don’t want to become a dog walker or sitter, and art and graphic design may not be for you if stick figures on MS Paint is the extent of your skillset.

The best side hustle, therefore, depends on the skills you have and what resources you’re able to leverage. No car? Then you probably shouldn’t consider a driving gig. But if you’re a good video editor, then you might consider creating on a platform like YouTube or TikTok since editing really is half the battle.

Your occupation could play a role here too—students, for instance, tend to have a whole lot of free time compared to, say, nurses. There’s a side hustle for everyone, though, and we’ve got a huge selection of resources no matter who you are and what sort of side hustle you might fancy trying your hand at:

How to start a side hustle in 8 steps

So, how do you go about actually starting a side hustle? Let’s break it down with a quick, step-by-step guide.

1. Answer this question: Why do you need a side hustle?

Cash paper planes

The main reason to do this little exercise is to identify your goals. People who start side hustles can have vastly different goals and expectations, and that leads them to take different decisions and directions with their side hustles. Making sure that you know exactly what your goals are can help you make clearer decisions in the long term and set achievable expectations.

The type of side hustle you choose to do will also be drastically impacted by your goals. For instance, let’s say you want to make as much money as you can right now while searching for a new job. That means you’ve got a lot of time and perhaps a few resources (like a car) that you can use to earn money right away. So, driving and dog walking might be on the table since they represent instant cash, but a blog (which will need a while to get going) may not work if you think you’ll have to stop your side hustle once you find a 9-5.

Likewise, your goal might be to start a side hustle while working but grow it to the point where it brings in enough income before you quit. In that case, a blog might be just the ticket, along with a couple of other slow-burn content creation options such as podcasting.

2. Consider how much money, skill, and time you have

Now that you’ve got your goals identified and perhaps even written down somewhere, it’s time to think about what resources you have available to you. For most of us, time is the big one—whether or not you have a full-time job will drastically impact the amount of time you can devote to your side hustle, and then there are family considerations and other responsibilities.

Whether you have any capital to invest can also change things quite a bit. Some side hustles, such as reselling or flipping, need some level of investment. If you’re going into content creation, you might want a decent camera and mic setup. Others might require you to subscribe for access to software, and some ecommerce models also come with up-front costs. If you don’t have capital to invest, some of these side hustles may not work.

Skill is also a big consideration here since choosing side hustles that fit your natural skillset will always work better than just picking the fad of the moment. Be honest with yourself about what you’re good at because you’ll lose out in the long run if you bite off more than you can chew.

3. Explore side hustle niches and ideas

With your goals set and an honest assessment of your skills and resources at the ready, it’s time to filter through the different side hustles out there. Make sure to explore all avenues and see what people are doing—some side hustles very much fall into the fad category and aren’t worth investing in, but others are likely to be very good long-term options.

Every side hustle is worth a bit of research too, so you know what the industry is all about and what pitfalls you need to look out for. 

Best side hustle Discord servers

4. Decide on the right side hustle for you

Once you’ve filtered through the many side hustles out there, it’s time to get serious and pick the right side hustle for you. Your goals and the resources you have available to you, including time, will dictate what you can and can’t do, and the research you’ve done in step 3 will have given you a good feel of what side hustles you might enjoy taking on.

You might also have surmised from parts of this guide that it’s a very good idea to complement a good side hustle with others. A lot of side hustles work very well together and have lots of overlap, and while you should definitely plan for this in the medium to long term, make sure you know what you’re going to start with. Casting too broad a net at the beginning will spread you too thin, so you need to pick the right one for you and go all in.

5. Get your resources ready

All the big decisions have been made, so it’s time to take stock of your resources again. First of all, decide how much time you’re going to dedicate to your side hustle every week and try to stick to that. There’s no bigger resource you can put into your side hustle than time, so budget it as realistically as you can.

The second one is money. Work out how much money you need to get started. For a blog, it’s hosting. For a YouTube channel, a high-quality mic and some lighting. For reselling, a few hundred dollars in cash. Whatever the side hustle, it’s time to get the budgeting side of things sorted out and either put the required cash aside or start ordering the stuff you need. 

6. Set up your systems

Before you can launch your side hustle, you should check out what sort of systems you’ll need to put in place to make it work. If you’re driving, for example, you’ll need to get signed up and registered on apps like Uber and Doordash, and follow any procedures they have. You’ll also want to make sure that your license, vehicle registration, and insurance are all in good order.

The same goes for other side hustles like ecommerce or content creation. With the former, you’ll need to check out some of the top ecommerce platforms to see which ones meet your needs the best. With the latter, you’ll want to create accounts on the various platforms you’re going to use and get to know what the monetization requirements are. You can read about how to get started on YouTube, and we also have a guide that tells you all you need to know about monetizing TikTok.

Remember to leverage the internet and social media as much as you can—even if you’re doing something local, clever use of social media or having a website where people can book your services easily can turbocharge your income.

7. Launch your side hustle

Cash laptops

All that’s left to do now is launch your side hustle! In many cases, it might just be a case of getting out there and taking your first clients. But don’t forget to lean on whatever social media channels you’ve set up for yourself, especially if you’re doing an online business of some sort—you’ll want as many impressions as you can get!

8. Keep track of payments, taxes, and overheads

It can be really exciting to launch a new business venture like a side hustle, and it’s all too easy to dive head-first and get caught up in things. It’s great if you enjoy your side hustle and are happy to put the time in, but don’t forget to keep an eye on the “boring” stuff.

Remember that any sort of income you make needs to be reported. Just how you go about doing that will depend very much on where you are in the world, but the information’s easily available. Read up on how taxes work in your area, and if you’ve got any friends or acquaintances running side hustles of their own, get in their DMs and ask them to help you out.

As a basic rule of thumb, try to set aside a portion of the payments you take in from your side hustle for the tax man. That way you won’t be left empty-handed by the time your tax bill is due. And yes, that means tracking your payments—many of the platforms you might use for your side hustles can do this, and it’s something to keep in mind when choosing the right platform.

Also, remember to track your business expenses. Whatever you spend in service of your side hustle should be deductible, but you’ll need to save all of those invoices!

Start your side hustle with Whop

whop

Starting a side hustle can be quite a bit of work, but the right platform can make your new business a lot easier to manage. Payment processing, for example, is a big consideration if you’re going to be dealing in anything beyond cash, so you’re going to need a platform that handles payments for you in a safe, secure manner.

Beyond payments, you’ll also want a partner that provides you with all of the functions you need to run your side hustle—whether that’s sharing photos, doing video calls, building and uploading courses, managing your community, tracking your metrics, and much more.

Whop can do all of this for you, meaning that you can put all of your precious time into your side hustle and not have to worry about the nitty gritty. Customer service that responds to issues in minutes? Check. Free to use? Check. Lets you sell any sort of digital product and assists you with marketing? Check and check.

You might think that Whop might be best suited to ecommerce business models and online courses. While it’s true that those are perfect here, any sort of side hustle becomes so much easier if you use Whop. Even if your side hustle is a physical one, such as dog walking, you can use your whop to schedule appointments, take payments, chat, share files (such as doggy photos!) with clients, and much more.

So, if you’re going to start a side hustle, make things easier for yourself right from the get-go by creating your own whop. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s free to use, so give Whop a try today.

Create your whop