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Nearly half of all adults have a side hustle: Ecommerce leads the way

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Ever scrolled through social media after a long workday and felt like everyone is hustling harder than you?

It’s easy to feel that way when it seems like everyone has a side gig these days. Though, while the side hustle economy is heating up, it’s not all sunshine and stacks of Benjamins.

Across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, people are finding creative ways to increase their income – whether it’s selling handmade goods, offering freelance services, or hitting the road with rideshare apps. But how much are they actually making?

Well, we dug into the numbers, and they were quite impressive.

The most popular side hustles

Across the board, selling products online is the top choice. In the UK, a massive 72% of side hustlers are making money through ecommerce, followed by 59.3% in Australia, 53.4% in Canada, and 51.9% in the US.

Whether it’s selling vintage clothing, homemade crafts, or drop-shipped items, ecommerce offers flexibility and the chance to scale – something other side gigs can’t always do.

But ecommerce isn’t the only way people are making extra cash. Freelancing is another top contender, with 23% of Canadians, 22.5% of Brits, 21.3% of Americans, and 20.2% of Australians picking up gigs like writing, design, or programming.

Meanwhile, gig economy jobs – like ridesharing and food delivery – are more popular in the US, with nearly 19.3% of side hustlers trying out these alternatives to make money.

How much are they earning?

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Despite all the hustle, most people aren’t exactly raking in cash. In fact, over half of them in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia make less than $500 a month. Though for 20% of hustlers, there’s real money to be made, with monthly earnings surpassing $1K. A lucky few are making $5K or more per month, with Australia leading that category (5.6%).

Here’s an in depth look at monthly earnings from side hustles:

  • Less than $500/month: 56% (US), 65.8% (UK), 62.6% (Canada), 57.3% (Australia)
  • $501-$1,000/month: 24% (US), 20.7% (UK), 19.5% (Canada), 22.2% (Australia)
  • More than $5,000/month: 3.6% (US), 2.8% (UK), 1.8% (Canada), 5.6% (Australia)

For those with an ecommerce store, the earnings potential is even higher, as online sales allow for more scalability. However, competition is fierce. Greg Zakowicz, Senior Ecommerce Expert at Omnisend, notes:

“The popularity of ecommerce also shows that the field is increasingly more saturated. So while it does offer much more scalability compared to other side jobs, it also comes with more risk and requires a lot of careful planning, consistent effort in marketing, and the right tools for automation and logistics.”

Why do people quit their side hustles?

While side hustles offer the sweet potential for extra income, keeping one going is not as easy as it sounds. Time constraints are a major reason why people quit, with 31% of former side hustlers in the US, 36.1% in the UK, 40.7% in Canada, and 37.3% in Australia bowing out due to lack of time. Other common reasons for quitting include:

  • Burnout/stress: 20% (US), 17.5% (UK), 16.5% (Canada), 16.7% (Australia)
  • Not earning enough: 19.1% (US), 14.5% (UK), 22.7% (Canada), 15% (Australia)
  • Personal life changes: 17.7% (US), 10.2% (UK), 15% (Canada), 12.7% (Australia)

In other words, balancing a side hustle with life’s day-to-day demands can be difficult, and many side hustlers find it hard to justify the time and effort for a smaller than expected return.

Time management and competition are the biggest hurdles

Again, juggling a side hustle with full-time work is not easy, that’s for sure, and time management is the biggest challenge for most side hustlers. More than 50% of respondents in the UK and Australia, and nearly half in the US and Canada, struggle to balance their time.

Competition is another common hurdle, particularly in the UK, where 34.1% of respondents said it’s a key challenge. With so many people turning to side hustle’s, it’s becoming harder to stand out from the crowd – especially for those selling goods online or offering freelance services.

Here’s what side hustlers are up against:

  • Time management: 49% (US), 51.4% (UK), 48.6% (Canada), 58% (Australia)
  • Competition: 30.6% (US), 34.1% (UK), 32.8% (Canada), 29.3% (Australia)
  • Marketing difficulties: 21.5% (US), 25.3% (UK), 23.3% (Canada), 21.3% (Australia)

Where do they host their stores?

For those running ecommerce side hustles, choosing the right platform is crucial. And the public has spoken.

The majority of sellers prefer Shopify, with 50.2% of ecommerce sellers in the UK, 45.5% in Australia, 45.3% in Canada, and 35.1% in the US using the platform. Other popular options include GoDaddy, WordPress, and BigCommerce.

Why do people start a side hustle?

The answer is simple: money.

The overwhelming majority of respondents across all four countries said extra income was their main reason for starting a side hustle. But that’s not the only motivator. In Australia, 28% of respondents said they started their side gig as a passion project, with similar numbers in Canada and the UK.

Here’s what’s driving the side hustle increase:

  • Extra income: 83.6% (US), 83.5% (UK), 87.1% (Canada), 88.4% (Australia)
  • Passion project: 19.8% (US), 23.7% (UK), 25.7% (Canada), 28% (Australia)
  • Skill development: 20.2% (US), 23.3% (UK), 18.6% (Canada), 15.8% (Australia)

Are they planning to make it full-time?

For many, the dream is to turn their gig into a full-time job (which is more than understandable, if you ask us). Around 58% of respondents in the US, 47.6% in the UK, 49.9% in Canada, and 44.3% in Australia are actively planning to make that leap.

However, many still prefer to keep their side gig as just that – a side hustle. In fact, 33.7% of Brits and 35.3% of Australians said they’re happy keeping their hustle part-time.

Here’s how the numbers stack up:

  • Want to go full-time: 58% (US), 47.6% (UK), 49.9% (Canada), 44.3% (Australia)
  • Prefer it as a side gig: 28.4% (US), 33.7% (UK), 38.4% (Canada), 35.3% (Australia)

Should you start a side hustle?

So, if you’re thinking about joining the millions of people already juggling a side gig, now might be the time. Side hustles offer flexibility, the potential for extra income, and (if you’re lucky) the opportunity to turn your passion into a full-time career. But, as the data shows, it’s not always easy.

To grow your side hustle without burning out, Greg recommends the following:

  1. Don’t quit your day job too soon. Quitting prematurely can lead to financial strain. Make sure your side job consistently generates a stable income before taking the leap.
  2. Time management isn’t always about efficiency. Instead of just working faster, focus on prioritizing the most profitable. Cutting non-essential tasks can save you from burnout.
  3. Reinvest earnings to grow. Reinvest a portion of your earnings into better tools, advertising, or outsourcing. Staying small might be easy, but it limits your potential.
  4. Focus on niche markets. Find a niche market where your skills or products stand out, instead of competing in oversaturated spaces.
  5. Set boundaries. To prevent your side hustle from spilling over into your day job’s time, set clear boundaries to avoid undermining both.

By focusing on time management, investing in marketing, and finding a way to stand out in your niche, you’ll have a better chance at long-term success. And remember, you’re not alone – side hustlers all over the world are navigating the same challenges, and many are finding success along the way.

Aistė Jočytė
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Aiste is a Jr. Content Marketing Manager at Omnisend. When she's not searching for the perfect synonym or refining her latest copy, you can find her curled up with her cat, binge-watching yet another TV series.