Before you pick
Start-up costs are our own rough estimates, assuming you already have a phone or computer. We don’t publish earnings figures because they vary too much to promise. Platform fees mentioned come from the platforms’ own pages.
The best side hustle uses something you already have (a skill, a car, spare time on weekends) and has a clear first customer. Use the quiz to shortlist, then try one idea for a month before investing more.
Freelance writing & editing
Write or edit blog posts, newsletters, product descriptions or website copy for businesses.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: weeks to months
- Skills: Writing
Honest note: Building a small portfolio of samples matters more than qualifications. Expect to pitch a lot at first.
Fiverr · Upwork · CVCraft (free CV & portfolio-ready resume)
Graphic design
Logos, social media graphics, flyers and presentations for small businesses.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: weeks to months
- Skills: Design
Honest note: Free tools exist, but professional software subscriptions add a monthly cost. A portfolio is essential.
Fiverr · Upwork · CVCraft (free CV & portfolio-ready resume)
Virtual assistant
Email, scheduling, data entry, customer messages and admin for busy business owners.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: Low · First income: often quick
- Skills: Organizing
Honest note: Reliability and clear communication win repeat clients. Agree tasks and hours in writing.
Online tutoring
Teach school subjects, test prep or a skill over video calls.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 3 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: often quick
- Skills: Teaching
Honest note: Some platforms and parents ask for qualifications or background checks. Lessons happen at set times, often evenings.
Language teaching & translation
Teach conversation classes or translate documents if you speak two languages fluently.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 3 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: weeks to months
- Skills: Languages, Teaching
Honest note: Certified or legal translation often needs formal credentials; conversation teaching usually doesn’t.
Bookkeeping for small businesses
Record income and expenses, send invoices and reconcile bank accounts for local businesses.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: weeks to months
- Skills: Numbers, Organizing
Honest note: Rules on who can offer bookkeeping or tax services vary by country (for example, UK bookkeepers may need anti-money-laundering supervision). Check before you start.
Social media management
Plan and post content for local shops, cafés and tradespeople who have no time for it.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: weeks to months
- Skills: Writing, Design, Marketing
Honest note: Start with one or two local businesses you know. Results take months, so agree what success looks like.
Website building (no-code)
Build simple websites for local businesses using tools like Shopify, Squarespace or WordPress.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: weeks to months
- Skills: Tech, Design
Honest note: Clients will ask you for updates later. Offering a small monthly care plan can turn one-off jobs into repeat work.
Sell digital products (printables, templates)
Planners, wall art, spreadsheets, templates or guides you make once and sell many times.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 3 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: often slow
- Skills: Design, Writing
Honest note: Low cost to start, but competition is heavy and sales usually build slowly. On Etsy each listing costs $0.20 and there is a 6.5% transaction fee plus payment processing.
Etsy · Etsy Fee Calculator · Digital Product Ideas (99 Etsy niches) (our Etsy shop) · Etsy Seller Profit & Expense Tracker (our Etsy shop)
Handmade crafts
Sell jewelry, candles, knitwear, pottery or other handmade goods online and at craft fairs.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $100–500
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: High · First income: often slow
- Skills: Crafts & cooking
Honest note: Materials, packaging and your time add up. Price for profit, not just to cover materials. Some products (candles, cosmetics, toys) have safety rules.
Etsy · Etsy Fee Calculator · Etsy Seller Profit & Expense Tracker (our Etsy shop)
Print on demand
Put your designs on T-shirts, mugs and posters; items are printed and shipped only after they sell.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 3 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: often slow
- Skills: Design
Honest note: No stock to buy, but per-item costs are higher than bulk, so margins are thinner. Order samples to check quality.
Dropshipping store
Sell products online that a supplier ships directly to your customers.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $100–500
- Time: from about 10 hours a week
- Effort: High · First income: often slow
- Skills: Marketing, Selling
Honest note: You don’t hold stock, but you pay for your store, apps and usually ads before you see profit. Many first products don’t sell; budget for testing.
Shopify · SupplierCompare · SupplierFinder · Dropshipping Starter Kit (our Etsy shop)
Reselling (thrift flipping)
Buy underpriced items at thrift stores, yard sales or clearance and resell them online.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $100–500
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: often quick
- Skills: Selling
Honest note: Needs an eye for value and space to store stock. Selling your own unwanted items is a no-cost way to test it.
Pet sitting & dog walking
Walk dogs, visit pets or house-sit while owners are away.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 3 hours a week
- Effort: Low · First income: often quick
- Skills: Animals
Honest note: Trust is everything: reviews, references and insurance help. Some areas require a license for certain pet services.
House cleaning
Regular or one-off cleaning for homes, rentals or small offices.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $100–500
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: often quick
- Skills: Hands-on work
Honest note: Supplies and travel are your main costs. Liability insurance is worth considering.
Food delivery or rideshare driving
Deliver food or groceries, or drive passengers, using an app.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): $500+
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: Low · First income: often quick
- Skills: Driving
Honest note: Flexible hours, but fuel, wear and tear and insurance come out of what you earn. In Canada and Australia, rideshare drivers must register for GST/HST from their first ride.
Handyman & odd jobs
Assemble furniture, mount TVs, fix small things and help people move.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $100–500
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: often quick
- Skills: Hands-on work, Tech
Honest note: Larger or electrical/plumbing jobs often need a license. Stick to small jobs unless you are qualified.
Lawn care & yard work
Mowing, weeding, leaf clearing and seasonal tidy-ups for neighbors.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $100–500
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: often quick
- Skills: Hands-on work
Honest note: Seasonal in many places. Start with borrowed or basic tools before buying equipment.
Photography
Photograph events, families, products for small businesses or sell stock photos.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): $500+
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: High · First income: weeks to months
- Skills: Photo & video
Honest note: Camera gear is the big cost if you don’t already own it. Product photography for local businesses can be a good entry point.
Music lessons
Teach an instrument or singing, in person or online.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 3 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: weeks to months
- Skills: Music, Teaching
Honest note: You likely already have the instrument. Regular weekly students make income more predictable.
Babysitting
Evening and weekend babysitting for local families.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 3 hours a week
- Effort: Low · First income: often quick
- Skills: Working with people
Honest note: First aid training and references help. Regular, paid childcare in your own home is regulated in many places.
Website & app testing
Record yourself using websites and apps and share feedback.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 1 hours a week
- Effort: Low · First income: often quick
- Skills: none needed
Honest note: Fits into spare minutes, but tests are irregular and pay small amounts. Never pay to join a “testing” or “survey” site.
Content creation (YouTube, blog, podcast)
Build an audience around a topic you know well and earn from ads, sponsors or your own products.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $0–100
- Time: from about 10 hours a week
- Effort: High · First income: often slow
- Skills: Photo & video, Writing
Honest note: Usually takes many months of consistent work before any income, and many channels never earn much. Do it because you enjoy it.
Home baking & food
Sell cakes, cookies or preserves to neighbors, at markets or to local cafés.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $100–500
- Time: from about 5 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: weeks to months
- Skills: Crafts & cooking
Honest note: Food made at home is regulated: check your local “cottage food” or food business registration rules before you sell.
Fitness coaching
Personal training, running coaching or group classes, in person or online.
- Start-up cost (rough estimate): about $100–500
- Time: from about 3 hours a week
- Effort: Medium · First income: weeks to months
- Skills: Working with people, Teaching
Honest note: Many gyms and insurers expect a recognized certification, which costs money and time to get.
Not sure which one fits?
Answer 5 questions and get ideas ranked for your time, budget and skills.
Take the side hustle quizFrequently asked questions
What is the easiest side hustle to start?
Services using skills you already have, such as pet sitting, babysitting, cleaning, tutoring or virtual assistant work, usually need the least money and set-up.
Which side hustles make the most money?
It depends far more on your skills, location and hours than on the idea. Skilled services (design, bookkeeping, web building, tutoring) let you charge more per hour as you gain experience and reviews.
Are “get paid to” survey and testing sites worth it?
They can fill spare minutes, but pay is usually small and irregular. Never pay a fee to join one.
Last reviewed: October 2026. General information only — check providers' official sites for current features and pricing.