With a rising cost of living combined with overall inflation and wages that often aren’t keeping up, more people than ever are looking for a side hustle that can supplement their full-time jobs.
If you’re still looking for a gig that suits you best, we’ve got a full list of money-making activities you can choose from. Each has the potential to make you an extra $1000 per month or even scale to a full-time income with one or a few of them combined.
Whether you want to start with no money and limited skills or if you are already a specialist looking to invest or cash in on your skills outside of your work, you’ll likely find something that aligns with you and your goals in this guide. We’ll also give you tips on making more money than the average side hustler and also point you in the direction of the easiest and most scalable way to make money online today: digital products.
The 24 Best Weekend Side Hustles That Fit Around Your Schedule
Here are 24 of the best side hustles that you can do on weekends with the potential to earn you $1000 per month or more, divided into their respective categories.
Service based
If you want to get started quickly without investing much, performing a service-based side hustle such as the following is one of the best ways to get started.
1. Giving tours
If you live in a decent-sized city, there’s a chance that more tourists are passing through than you’re aware of. This is mostly thanks to the rise of Airbnb, which has allowed individuals to rent their living space for extra cash. You can still use the platform to offer tours even if you don’t have anywhere to host someone. There are always Airbnb users looking for locals who can provide a unique view of a city.
Even if you don’t live in a major city like New York or LA, there’s still demand for passersby looking for local knowledge for something that might already align with your regular weekend routine, whether it be the best coffee shops, thrifting, low-key hiking spots, or sightseeing.
2. Babysitting
For those who are good with children and love spending time with them, babysitting can be a rewarding and flexible weekend gig. Parents are often looking for reliable individuals to keep their kids supervised and entertained for weekend date nights, and some pay competitive hourly rates, making this type of work worth it.
Starting with friends and family is always the best bet for babysitting, and for a wider reach, you can sign up with platforms such as Sittercity and Care.com to connect with local parents looking for babysitters.
3. Pet sitting
Animal lovers can rejoice that it’s possible to spend time with other people’s pets and earn money for doing so as a pet sitter. Whether it’s dog walking, training, overnight stays, or basic routine maintenance and playtime, pet parents often need someone to take on some or all of these roles when they need independent time.
Platforms such as Rover and Wag make it easy to connect with pet owners in your local area. They allow you to create a compelling profile, and set your own rates and schedule that can fit around your busy lifestyle and full-time job.
4. Tutoring
If you’ve always been someone to help others at school in a certain subject, you might as well take advantage of this to make money as a tutor.
With the possibility to set high hourly rates, tutoring has the potential to be quite lucrative. This is particularly true if you cater towards areas such as SAT or ACT prep, which driven parents are willing to invest top dollar for.
Chegg and TutorMe are examples of platforms you can use to reach potential students. Check out the competitive landscape to see what rates you can set based on your expertise.
Gig work
In the past decade or so, there’s been a substantial rise in temporary work, mostly thanks to startups like Uber and Doordash that have productized everyday services. If you want to cash in on weekends as an active participant in this gig economy, here are some of your top options.
5. Food delivery
Instead of complaining about how much money takeout costs from delivery apps, you could join the other side and cash in by becoming one of the individuals making money as a gig worker.
Signing up for these apps, which include DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, and others, can be done with basically no requirements. Once you’re approved, you can take part in highly flexible work, allowing you to decide how many orders you accept.
6. Personal shopping
If you enjoy browsing store shelves and stocking carts with a shopping list, you might as well get paid to do so as a personal shopper. While it’s possible to secure private work with individual clients, you can sign up on a platform like Instacart that allows you to connect with those willing to pay others to do their shopping.
The flexibility and tips make personal shopping a good option to consider as a weekend side hustle.
7. Rideshare driver
Signing up with a rideshare app like Uber is quick and opens you up to set your own schedule.
While owning a vehicle can be expensive, it also has the potential to generate steady income if you’re willing to take passengers as a rideshare driver.
Thanks to companies like Lyft and Uber, you can get started as a rideshare driver as soon as you go through the signup process and are approved, which shouldn’t take more than just a few days. Additionally, weekends are prime time for those looking for rides, so it’s the perfect gig on your days off from your regular job.
8. Background film work
Films and TV shows are always in need of ordinary people to stand in as background actors or extras. If you live in a major city, there are likely open sign-ups for this type of work, and you generally get approved immediately.
Whenever there is a need for your demographic, you’ll get a call and instructions for where to go and how to prepare. This is not only a cool way to make some side cash, it’s a fun experience and is often easy work with free food.
9. DJ
If you love music and vibing with a crowd, being a DJ might be the perfect weekend hustle for you. Although being a DJ requires investing in some basic equipment, you can make the costs back in a single night, especially if you sign up for lucrative gigs at venues like weddings or corporate parties.
Even if you know nothing about working decks and mixing, you can check out YouTube for tutorials, get your hands on a controller, and build your skills on the side in a matter of a few weeks. From there, you’ll just need to network and promote yourself to land gigs.
10. Photography/videography
Another gig that requires an initial investment in equipment and has the potential for high hourly rates is photography/videography. Even if you don’t have previous experience, you can hone skills to target a specific niche such as portrait photography for senior photos or professional headshots.
Build a portfolio by offering free or discounted sessions to begin with, then utilize social media to showcase your work and attract paying clients. As you gain experience and build your reputation, you can increase rates and start making money that rivals or eclipses your 9 to 5.
Online freelancing
Leveraging skills online is one of the most flexible ways to make money on the weekends since you can cash in from the comfort of your own home. In most cases, you can even use your phone to carry out the following weekend side hustles.
11. Short-form video editing
Some people are becoming viral sensations literally overnight with short-form content posted on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Because of this, there’s been a rise in demand for those willing to help create this type of content.
Building your expertise is quite easy; free software like CapCut is straightforward to use, and you can simply follow tutorials on making content with the potential to go viral. You can find leads by cold DMing, networking in social media groups and forums, or setting up a profile on a freelancing platform such as Fiverr or Upwork.
12. Social media management
Not every business owner has the time, focus, or even know-how to maintain an active and growing social media presence. Even those who have hired someone to handle this task might not be satisfied and open to hiring someone new.
All you need for social media management is to create and execute a content plan and strategy. Pitch clients directly via email or DM and use a high-converting method, such as offering a precise plan of what you can do for their account and business.
13. Copywriting
For those who enjoy being a wordsmith, copywriting is not only rewarding but a potentially lucrative gig that can easily be done just on weekends. If you want the highest rates, focus on persuasive copywriting for businesses. Alternatively, if you have an in-demand skill or degree that gives you a certain level of authority, showcase it to get hired as a dedicated author in your field.
14. Conversion rate optimization
Business owners will pay a lot to someone who can increase their bottom line, and most established businesses that already have a business and service set up are focused on improving key metrics such as conversion rate. Once you learn what is working for other brands, you can market yourself as a solution to those looking for help in this area as a conversion rate optimization (CRO) specialist.
Working in CRO can mean technical fixes such as page speed or eliminating steps in the checkout process, or it can manifest as different copywriting and branding issues–this line of work allows you to be highly creative, making it particularly appealing for those who enjoy dynamic problem-solving.
15. Graphic design
Companies that are just launching or looking for a rebrand are open to hiring graphic designers, and if you have an eye for design, that person can be you.
You can hone your skills and build a portfolio using free tools like Canva. As you improve, you can move on to other software, such as Adobe Creative Suite, or AI options, like Midjourney, to justify higher hourly rates.
16. Web development
Anyone who is technically inclined can whip up a lucrative side hustle as a web developer. Whether it’s building a website from scratch, redesigning an existing site, or fixing bugs, there’s a steady demand for skilled developers.
Given you have the skills, you can find clients on freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. Alternatively, reach out to local businesses you think could use a design refresh, emphasizing why now is a good time and how it could benefit their business. An easier alternative to constantly chasing new clients would be to join an established agency as a part-time contracted worker.
17. UGC (user-generated content) creator
With the increasing importance of authentic marketing and a consumer base becoming more jaded by well-known influencers shilling a brand or product, now is one of the best times to get started as a UGC creator.
The only prerequisite is comfort in front of a camera–sometimes you don’t even need any social media presence, as you can work under an existing brand. Product reviews, tutorials, and lifestyle content all fall in the category of in-demand UGC. Copy and create videos to build a portfolio, giving brands a preview of what you’re content is like.
Reselling
One of the easiest entries into entrepreneurship in physical ecommerce is with reselling. Since there are so many things to resell, it might prove overwhelming to begin with, but focusing specifically on a category such as the following can help you build a healthy weekend side hustle as a reseller.
18. Sneakers
Sneakers have one of the largest established aftermarkets in the reselling industry, with countless individuals making up the multi-billion dollar aftermarket. Getting started as a sneaker reseller begins with knowing which types of shoes to target in general. From there, you can level up by following current release dates, which you can do on your own or by joining a private group. These groups give several other perks, like inside tips and high-speed monitors that track drops in real-time.
19. Amazon FBA
If you want to take part in Amazon’s massive reach and loyal customer base, one of the best ways is to become a seller in their Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program.
The great thing about this side hustle is that once you’ve identified a niche, sourced a product, and started your business, you can sit back and collect income that is basically passive, as Amazon handles all aspects of fulfillment.
20. Low-key collectibles and freebies
While this category is fairly broad, finding low-key collectibles and freebies can be incredibly lucrative, as the environment is less competitive than more established niches.
However, success in this field requires a specific radar that can be honed through hard-earned research. If you want to shortcut your path to success, you can join a private reselling group that shares these opportunities with its members. Many of these groups also offer other perks, like short-lived but potentially lucrative Amazon glitch deals.
Digital products
If you want a weekend side hustle with the best chance at scaling to surpass your current full-time income, it’s impossible to beat digital products. Here are some of the best digital products that you can sell part-time.
21. Ebooks
One of the quickest digital products to launch is an ebook. If you have some degree of knowledge or professional experience in a field, you can package it into a digital product to earn income in this field without selling your time for money.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, you can use the help of AI or get inspiration from current ebooks or templates to create and launch your ebook. As with all of these other digital products, once you put in the work to create and launch an ebook, you can easily generate passive income.
22. Video courses
Sharing your knowledge in the form of video courses might take more work than creating an ebook, but doing so will justify much higher prices. This means you’ll have plenty of room in profit margin to test marketing methods like paid advertising and sponsorships, both of which can be scaled to be incredibly lucrative.
You can start crafting your video course as a side hustle outside of your full-time job, and once it’s done, if you want to host and launch it for free, you can do so on Whop in mere minutes.
23. SaaS
Software as a Service, or SaaS, is a large and fast-growing industry. It's made up of both large companies and first-time indie developers who sometimes launch six- or even seven-figure businesses that started as side hustles.
While this requires technical skills, today you can start from scratch faster than ever with the help of AI and tutorials that can teach you how to launch a product that someone is willing to pay for, sometimes on a recurring subscription basis.
24. PLR
The hardest part of selling a digital product is taking time to create them. But what if you could get a pre-made digital product to claim and resell as your own? This is possible with private label rights (PLR) digital products.
Examples include ebooks, journals, templates, and even video courses. These are pre-made to use as is, or you can customize them with your own perspective and branding to build a brand around the product.
Tips for Making the Most Money With Your Weekend Side Hustle
If you’re driven to make as much money as possible with your weekend side hustle, with the potential goal of going full-time to replace your current income, here are some tips that will help you get there.
Set clear goals
The very first step if you aim to make a lot of money in your side hustle is to set the goal of doing it. If you don’t think it’s achievable, you likely won’t aim for it. At the same time, keep your goals realistic in terms of both desired outcomes and time dedicated, as setting the bar too high and falling short can prove discouraging.
Start small and scale
Before you dive headfirst into a side hustle, you should start with easily manageable tasks and low-stakes projects, allowing a sufficient buffer in case the inevitable unexpected comes up so you can be sure to present an excellent deliverable or service. Practicing patience in this way will not only lay a solid foundation for future growth but will create and preserve a stellar reputation that will set you apart from the competition.
Try many different things quickly
The beauty of these side hustles that we listed is that you can dabble and experiment without major risk. Even if you invest money in equipment such as a camera or DJ controller, you can easily sell it and get your money back, as these items are quite liquid.
No matter what service or product you’re selling as a side hustle, you’ll learn valuable skills that are often transferable, so don’t be afraid to try out various gigs to see what clicks–you might uncover a hidden talent or skill that you otherwise wouldn’t have had you not tried.
Manage your time efficiently
You never want your side hustle to compromise your full-time job, so you have to be a good manager of your time and energy if you want to have your greatest chance for success in your side hustle. Starting with simple projects and allowing extra time for completion will allow you to forecast how much time it will actually take to achieve your goals compared to what you initially expected.
Managing your time efficiently will also force you to focus on principles such as the 80/20 or Pareto principle, which is good practice even if you do end up working for yourself full-time.
Build an online presence with social media
We’re living in the economy of the individual creator, and the vast majority of them started as ordinary individuals, some of whom were in positions very much like yourself–working a full-time job and building a business on the side.
The easiest way to get started is to just pick a platform and start putting out content. Focus on providing value in a high-demand area that you’re passionate about while paying attention to and copying what’s working for others. Success won’t come immediately, but having an online presence will open up doors for money-making opportunities to come to you as you grow your brand and audience.
Invest in your skills
Every entrepreneur knows that learning never stops and that even though you can discover tons of information for free on your own, it’s well worth it to invest in learning a new skill or growing your expertise in a current one.
Whether it’s enrolling in an online course or joining a private group or mastermind with top performers, realize that paying to join often produces more returns than any inventory or product could.
What’s the Easiest Way to Make Money Online?
When it comes to making money online, it’s hard to beat digital products. Not only do they require low startup costs, but once you create them, they’re highly scalable. They also have the potential to generate passive income even as you sleep, making them the ultimate side hustle.
Digital products come in many forms, from ebooks and courses to software and memberships, and with the option to use pre-made PLR digital products and even white-label SaaS to resell, you can get started without even having to make a product from scratch.
You can make digital products regardless of your background.
Start Your Side Hustle With Whop
Are you ready to turn your weekends into a time to make money rather than spend it? If you want to build a side hustle that has the potential to scale to a money-making machine, Whop has you covered.
We've established that selling digital products is possibly the easiest and most lucrative side hustle. But where do you start? Whop gives you a platform to market, track, and sell your digital products all from one place.
Whop is one of the easiest platforms out there to launch a digital product of any kind. From courses to SaaS to private memberships, you can create your whop–or your very own corner of the internet–completely free in a matter of minutes.
So sign up to Whop to join the savvy group of entrepreneurs cashing in big with the digital product goldrush.
