Side hustles often get a bad rep for being a waste of time. However, many people have dedicated time and effort to lucrative side hustles and reached their financial goals.
A recent survey by Bankrate shows that nearly two in five (39%) U.S. adults have side hustles as a way to make extra money and make ends meet.
The digital age has opened doors to a diverse range of side hustle ideas, allowing you to use your skills and interests to bring in extra cash.
Whether you’re a tech whiz, a creative soul, or simply someone who has some spare time, there are many high-paying side hustles waiting to be discovered.
In this blog post, we’ve put together a list of 24 lucrative side hustles to help you make extra money in 2024.
What is a side hustle?
A side hustle is a great way to earn extra income. It is typically a part-time activity that allows you to follow your passion and supplement your income.
A side hustle can take many forms, including selling products or services, offering freelance work, or participating in the gig economy.
But with so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.
Luckily, we have listed the best side hustle ideas for you to explore in 2024.
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These best side hustle ideas can provide financial security, flexibility, and the opportunity to explore new interests.
Whether you’re looking to save for a big purchase or diversify your income streams, a side hustle can help you achieve your financial goals.
Here are some of the best side hustles that make money in 2024:
1. Open an online store
If you have a skill (or two), you can monetize it by opening an online store. In fact, opening an online store is one of the most lucrative side hustle ideas, given that three-fourths of the American population shops online.
By 2025, according to Statista, 80.4% of US consumers will shop online. Digital commerce is also the preferred way of making purchases for 83% of B2B companies.
There are a variety of products that you can sell through an online store.
Here are some ideas:
Handmade crafts and goods
If you’re crafty and creative, you can sell handmade items, such as jewelry, candles, baked products, woodwork, soap, knitwear, and other unique creations.
Coralie Reiter, for instance, loved making jewelry using cords, natural stones, cotton thread, and beads. She turned her passion into a thriving ecommerce business and runs a successful online store that sells unique handmade jewelry.
With the rise of sustainability, selling vintage and secondhand items, such as books, electronic items, and furniture can be one of the good side hustles to make money
You can scour thrift stores, estate sales, and flea markets to find unique and interesting pieces to sell online.
College friends Xavier Helgesen, Christopher Fuchs, and Jeff Kurtzman now run a thriving online business (Better World Books) that sells old books.
It all started when they finished college and had a lot of old textbooks that they no longer needed. They put it up for sale on the internet and have turned this side hustle idea into a profitable business.
You can cater to a specific niche market by selling niche products, such as vegan skincare, eco-friendly products, or pet supplies.
For example, Denise Woodard started her online business, Partake Foods, after her daughter was diagnosed with multiple food allergies with an aim to offer allergy-friendly foods. That’s a niche online business born out of necessity.
If you’re an artist or photographer, you can sell your artwork and prints online.
While these are some of the easy side hustles, you will need a well-crafted marketing strategy and the right tools to drive traffic to your online store and boost sales and revenue.
The good news is that you don’t need to invest in multiple tools to achieve your business goals, such as email list management and sending compelling abandoned cart emails.
Omnisend is the perfect all-in-one solution for online store owners looking to run profitable side hustles from home.
The ecommerce marketing and email marketing automation platform offers features tailored to help you elevate your online store business to the next level.
These include customizable signup forms and popups that help with building your email list, email templates, and the ability to set up automated workflows based on customer actions, such as browse abandonment emails.
This is a business model where you partner with a supplier who ships the products directly to your customers, eliminating the need for inventory.
You can sell anything from clothing and accessories to electronics and home goods, making it one of the best side hustle ideas.
Now, let’s see if it is one of the profitable side hustle ideas.
According to Shopify, drop-shippers can make anywhere from $1000 to $3000 per month if they put in 10 to 15 hours each week on growing their dropshipping business.
Dropshippers can make $100,000 per year when they take the time to establish their business and pick reputed suppliers.
Before you get started with this side hustle job, ensure you register your business and obtain the necessary licenses and permits.
Look for a reliable supplier who offers dropshipping services in your niche and the locations where you want to ship your products. Consider factors like product quality, shipping times, and pricing.
Also, implement the latest dropshipping marketing strategies, such as customized product descriptions, to help you stand out from competitors offering similar products.
For instance, Spocket is a dropshipping company that has suppliers in the US and Europe. They also offer a free trial and a free plan for dropshippers.
Launching a print-on-demand (POD) store can be one of the lucrative side hustle ideas.
As you don’t need to hold large inventories or make a huge upfront investment, it can be one of the most profitable side hustle jobs.
For example, Instagram influencer and artist, Julie Erin, earned $3575 in the first quarter of 2023 by selling her POD artwork, such as the ones shown below. She creates designs that people can choose to get printed on t-shirts and other items.
To set up a POD business, you will need first to pick the right print-on-demand apps to work with, such as Podbase, Printful, or Pixels. These platforms allow you to sell your products online, while they handle the printing and shipping processes.
The next step is to create an online store using an ecommerce platform and start promoting your site and products through email marketing, social media, and other online channels.
An easy and efficient way to market your POD store is to leverage a tool like Omnisend.
The marketing automation platform helps you create custom signup forms to capture leads.
A drag-and-drop email builder, as you can see in the image below, lets you quickly create personalized email campaigns that convert leads into paying customers.
Are you a skilled writer, graphic designer, software developer, or artist? If you are looking for the best side hustle ideas that let you monetize your skills, freelancing is an excellent option.
You can earn extra income, gain valuable experience, and have more flexibility in your work schedule when you freelance.
Here are some platforms to find freelance projects:
Upwork: Upwork is one of the largest freelancing platforms and offers a wide range of job categories. It charges a 10% service fee on your earnings.
Fiverr: Freelancers can sign up for free and get to keep 80% of their earnings. The price range as given on the website is between $5 to $10,000.
Fiverr.com
Toptal: Toptal is an ideal platform for experienced freelancers. The platform does not charge any commission on your earnings but does have a rigorous screening process.
Guru: Guru is a platform that connects clients with freelancers in a range of industries, including design, programming, writing, and administrative support.
5. Start blogging and affiliate marketing
Marketers are increasingly looking for affiliate partners to promote their products.
By becoming a blogger and expanding your follower count, you can become an affiliate marketer and start earning money.
To do this, you need to include an affiliate link of a brand in your blog or other online content. Whenever your readers click on the link to buy the brand’s product, you earn a commission.
According to Influencer Marketing Hub, 16.21% of affiliates earn between $10K and $50K while over 15% earn between $50K and $150K+.
To become an affiliate marketer, first decide on a niche for your blog. Your niche should have products or services that you can promote as an affiliate. Post valuable content regularly to grow your audience.
Once you have a strong reader base, join affiliate programs that align with your niche. For instance, if your niche is SaaS, you can find specific SaaS affiliate programs.
Some of the popular affiliate networks include Amazon Associates, ClickBank, and ShareASale.
Launching an online course is one of the best side hustle ideas that can help you earn a decent income.
You can use online course platforms, such as Udemy, Kajabi, Thinkific, LearnWorlds, Skillshare, and Masteriyo to launch and monetize your courses. Many of these offer marketing tools and advanced analytics features as well.
So, how much can you earn by selling online courses?
Here’s an online course income calculator that estimates your earnings based on the number of website visitors, course price, and conversion rate.
There is a growing demand for coaches who can help students, executives, families, and organizations achieve their personal and professional development goals.
If you are an expert in a specific subject and are skilled at coaching, starting an online coaching business is one of the best side hustle ideas for you.
According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the average hourly rate charged by coaches is $244. Depending on the experience level and services offered, coaches can earn an average of $100 to $500 per hour.
8. Become a personal assistant
If you have good administrative and organizational skills in addition to computer literacy, one of the best side hustle ideas to explore is becoming a personal assistant.
Personal assistants on Upwork, for example, charge anywhere from $12 per hour to $75 per hour based on their experience level and the services they offer.
Social media managers and virtual assistants who help social media influencers grow their online presence and monetize their content are in demand.
These professionals create social media profiles, post content, engage with their clients’ followers, and analyze performance metrics.
Virtual assistants may help influencers identify and partner with affiliate and influencer marketing programs to monetize their content.
For instance, Kayla Sloan not only earned $10,000 per month as a virtual assistant but has started online courses to help others become VAs and earn the same amount per month.
kaylasloan.com
Assistants to mega social media influencers can make as much as $1000 per week.
Of course, you can manage social media profiles for brands as well and earn just as well.
10. Become a social media influencer and get brand sponsorships
Starting a social media page and monetizing your account is one of the lucrative side hustle ideas that you can explore.
The first step to becoming an influencer is to create high-quality content consistently to gain followers.
Once you have 1000 or more followers, you can look at ways to monetize your account.
Here are some ways to make money with this side hustle idea:
Sponsored content
Brands pay social media influencers to create posts or stories featuring their products or services.
The amount of money you can make will depend on your follower count, reach, and campaign duration.
Of all the social channels, Instagram has the highest earning potential, according to a study by Later.
Interestingly, while influencers with 50K followers earn the most, micro and nano influencers also earn anywhere from $100 to $1000 per Instagram Reel.
Here are the latest rates for Instagram posts and Reels based on follower count:
TikTok is the second in the list of social channels with high earning potential. Creators can earn $700 to $1700 per TikTok video.
Creators on other platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, typically earn between $200 and $500 per post.
Affiliate marketing
You can also promote a brand’s product or service through a special affiliate link that directs your followers to the brand’s website. With affiliate marketing, you can earn a commission on any sales made through their link.
Mom and travel influencer Anna Karsten creates engaging posts like this one to feature affiliate links:
Website and app creators are always on the lookout for testers who can evaluate if a site or an app is user-friendly.
After all, no one wants to lose visitors due to poor loading speed, complex site navigation, poor design, or ambiguous content.
The best part is that you don’t need any specialized skills to test apps and websites.
You can just sign up on legitimate platforms that pay users to test apps and websites. Some popular options include UTest, UserTesting, Userlytics, TryMyUI, and TestingTime.
According to an estimate, hourly earnings as a website and app tester can range from $4 to $40, while monthly earnings can go up to $150. Some sites, such as TestingTime have higher payouts at $50 per test.
12. Give tours of your neighborhood
If you love your city and are looking for side hustle ideas, giving tours of your neighborhood is the perfect way to make money while having fun.
According to a recent study, 90% of travelers want to experience a town or city like locals do and are looking for authentic or unique experiences.
What’s more, 98% of travelers prefer to have a local travel guide.
To succeed with this side hustle, create curated tours and provide a great experience for your customers by being friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable.
Alexandra Kenin, a content writer, runs a side hustle as a tour guide in San Francisco and is the founder of Urban Hiker, a company that organizes hiking tours.
While rates vary, she typically charges $50 to $55 per person for hiking tours. Private/custom tours are priced at $250+.
Do you love dogs or have a lot of experience taking care of one as a dog owner? One of the best side hustle ideas for dog lovers is to take up dog walking.
If you are not sure where to start, consider volunteering at a local animal shelter or rescue, or working as a dog walker or pet sitter for a professional company.
Of course, you’ll need to be prepared to handle any emergencies that may arise, provide basic grooming and feeding, and give lots of love and attention to the dogs in your care.
The rates that dog walkers charge vary widely. But, to give you an idea, here are the rates charged by RuffCity, a company that provides dog walking services.
One of the ideal side hustle ideas for animal lovers is to offer pet sitting, boarding, and doggie daycare services.
Before you start this side hustle job, evaluate your home to determine if you have enough space to accommodate dogs/pets, and make any necessary modifications to ensure that it is safe and comfortable for them.
While you can set up a website and promote your services, one of the best ways to get clients is to sign up on platforms like Rover.
Doggie daycare charges range from $30 to $45+ a day, depending on the breed and the size of the dog. Many dog care and pet sitters also provide additional services that are priced individually.
For instance, Kahla offers doggy daycare, pet boarding, house sitting, and dog walking services and charges these rates:
Becoming a babysitter can be a great way to earn extra income while providing a valuable service to working parents in your community.
Before starting your babysitting business, gain some experience working with children. Also, consider obtaining certifications, such as CPR and First Aid, to demonstrate your commitment to safety and professionalism.
The typical hourly rates babysitters charge, according to UrbanSitter, vary from $11 to $26. However, the exact amount you can charge depends on your experience, education, the city you live in, the number of hours, and the number of children you look after.
16. Bake cakes, pastries, or pies
Starting a home baking business requires hard work, dedication, and attention to detail, but it is one of the most rewarding and profitable side hustle ideas.
While the amount of money you can make baking cakes and pies will depend on the number of orders and the pricing, you can expect to make about $1,000 per month if you bake custom cakes for big events.
But, it is possible to make much more than that if you are willing to work hard.
For example, in their Brooklyn home, Gautier Coiffard and his wife started a side hustle of selling croissants and made $5,000 in just a month.
In 2022, they turned their side hustle into a thriving business that brought them $128,000 a month.
If you have a vehicle and are looking to put it to good use, one of the side hustle ideas to explore is food delivery services.
There are plenty of food ordering apps, such as Uber Eats, Instacart, and Amazon Flex, that are looking for delivery drivers. Once you meet their eligibility requirements, you can start delivering food and making money from this side hustle.
Food delivery drivers can earn between $17 and $30 per hour. For instance, Uber Eats pays $24.27 per hour to drivers.
Of course, with more experience, you can earn a higher hourly wage.
18. Try rideshare driving
If you are looking for side hustle ideas that you can start just by having driving skills, rideshare driving is a good option.
Many ridesharing companies have a simple signup process that allows you to start driving quickly.
As per Salary.com, Uber drivers earn $15 to $22 per hour. However, as the pay is calculated based on the frequency of work, time of the day, and location, the actual amount earned can vary.
Ride-sharing companies like Uber also offer bonuses when drivers take up rides during busy times or when they complete a specific number of trips a day. For instance, you can earn $30 extra when you complete 20 rides in any week.
19. Provide cleaning services
Residential cleaning services are in high demand, thanks to rising health concerns and a growing number of families with dual income, according to Research and Market’s recent report.
Valued at $8.1 billion in 2023, the home cleaning services market is expected to grow further in the next few years.
House cleaners can expect to make about $14.50 to $50 per hour, while the rate you charge can depend on the size of the house, the type of cleaning supplies you use, transportation costs, and the neighborhood.
For instance, in Los Angeles, standard house cleaning charges for a 3-bedroom home range from $140 to $190. If you plan to hire 2 or 3 cleaners and charge $50 per hour, you can make up to $400 a day if the cleaners work for 8 hours a day.
If you offer deep cleaning services, you can charge between $200 and $500.
20. Offer photography services
Starting a photography business as a side hustle can be a great way to turn your passion into a profitable side hustle.
To get started with this side hustle job, invest in the right equipment and select a niche. This could be anything from portraits to event photography to product photography.
Build a portfolio of your best work and create a portfolio website to showcase your work to potential clients. Also, develop a marketing strategy to promote your photography services by combining social media, email marketing, and networking.
According to an estimate by Pixpa, amateur photographers charge between $25 and $75 an hour while semi-professionals charge between $50 and $150 per hour.
Experienced photographers charge $75 to $250 per hour and high-end photographers charge up to $500 per hour.
But, the rates also vary based on your niche. Wedding photographers, for instance, charge a higher rate as the shoots take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours.
Launching your podcast may be challenging, but it’s one of the most lucrative side hustles. It’s a creative side hustle that involves recording and uploading audio content to podcasting services, which distribute them to platforms for people to listen to, such as Spotify.
With 464.7 million podcast listeners worldwide in 2023, the podcast market is projected to continue growing over the next few years.
As per ZipRecruiter, a podcast host makes an average of $15.86 per hour in the United States.
Here’s how you can start a podcast to make extra money.
Begin with a compelling concept in a subject area you’re passionate about and knowledgeable in.
Invest in basic equipment such as a decent microphone, headphones, and recording software.
Utilize affordable audio editing software like Audacity, Descript, or Acoustica to refine your audio and add intro/outro segments.
Record and edit your podcast, then distribute it across various platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Monetize your podcast through ads, paid subscriptions, sponsored content, and affiliate links in podcast descriptions.
22. Start a YouTube channel
Running an active YouTube channel is one of the best work-from-home side hustles. With over 2 billion monthly active users, YouTube offers immense reach potential.
What makes a YouTube channel one of the best side hustle ideas is the minimum initial investment requirement. Joining YouTube is free, and you can upload an unlimited number of videos at no cost. However, you can only monetize your videos with ads once you’ve reached specific milestones.
These milestones include acquiring at least 1,000 subscribers and averaging over 4,000 watch hours over 12 months. (You can still monetize by adding affiliate links in your video description or directing people to other digital real estate though.)
The average YouTuber earns around $0.018 for each view, which amounts to $18 for every 1,000 views.
To get started, the basic skills you’ll need are video editing, storytelling, and audience engagement. Here are some tips to get started with YouTube as a side hustle:
Identify your zone of genius: This forms the core of your YouTube videos. Your niche should reflect your genuine interests, allowing you to consistently deliver informative or entertaining content.
Build a channel identity: Create a catchy channel name that reflects your niche and resonates with your target audience. Design an eye-catching profile picture and banner that complements your channel’s theme.
SEO optimization: Research keywords that are relevant to your content. Integrate these keywords strategically in your video titles, descriptions, and tags. This increases discoverability through YouTube’s search engine.
Collaboration: Partner with other YouTubers in related niches for cross-promotion. For instance, a food influencer can collaborate with a fitness coach, or a tech expert with a gamer to create unique content. This can expand your reach and introduce your channel to a wider audience.
23. Rent out space in your house
Renting out a portion of your house to people in need of temporary accommodation can be one of the best side hustles to make money.
According to an estimate by Zillow, you can apply the 1% rule for your rental space. This rule recommends charging 1% of your home’s value in rent per month. Here are some important things to think about:
Consider the room size, amenities, and utility inclusions when deciding on a rental price.
You can transform spare bedrooms, basements, or even sections of your living space into rentable units to earn extra income from your unused space.
Learn local rental laws and potential restrictions due to zoning and homeowner association (HOA) regulations. It can be worth consulting a property lawyer for compliance and important insight.
Post your rental space on online platforms and rental listing websites to attract prospective tenants. Craft compelling descriptions and visually appealing images that showcase the appeal of your property.
Utilize social media channels and community forums to expand your reach and engage with potential renters.
24. Teach a language
Teaching a language is one of the most lucrative side hustles you can explore. This can be both a rewarding and profitable venture, as you get to share your linguistic expertise while earning extra income.
As per ZipRecruiter, language teachers make an average of $26.04 per hour in the United States.
To begin with, pick a language that you’re proficient in. Fluency in both speaking and writing the language is necessary since students will want to learn both.
To start your language teaching side hustle, decide on the demographic you want to target. This decision will allow you to adjust your curriculum and teaching style.
Next, decide on the format and structure of your lessons. Will you offer one-on-one tutoring sessions, group classes, or perhaps online courses? For online lessons, you can use platforms like Skype or Zoom to host your classes. You can also use dedicated language learning websites, such as Preply and MyLingoTrip, to connect with students from around the world.
Tips for starting a side hustle
As you probably know, starting a side hustle is a great way to earn extra income and pursue your passions outside of your main job. However, juggling your main job and your side hustle can be challenging if you don’t have a plan in place.
Here are some tips to help you get started on the right foot:
Identify your skills and interests: Choose a side hustle that aligns with your interests and talents that you can monetize.
Determine the number of hours you can work: Decide how much time you can realistically commit to your side hustle each week. Be sure to balance your side hustle with your main job and other responsibilities.
Research your market: Research the competition and your target market to see if there is enough demand for your side hustle.
Set realistic goals: Determine what you hope to achieve with your side hustle and set realistic goals for yourself. Be prepared to earn very little in the initial months.
Create a business plan: Your plan should outline your business structure and include your pricing strategy, marketing plan, and financial projections.
Manage your time and resources: Use tools and apps to streamline your work or outsource certain tasks to save time.
Promote your services: Develop a marketing strategy to promote your side hustle. Use smart tools like Omnisend to automate your email and SMS marketing campaigns to get the best results.
Above all, keep learning and improving your skills to stay competitive in your market. This could include taking courses, attending conferences, or networking with others in your industry.
Questions to ask when considering side hustles
A side hustle can be an exciting prospect. However, before enthusiastically pursuing every intriguing idea, careful consideration is needed.
Here are some key questions to ask yourself before starting any of the side hustle ideas mentioned above:
Why do you want a side hustle? Is it purely for extra income, for professional development, or are you merely seeking a creative outlet?
Having clarity about your goals can help you choose the best side hustles to venture into.
Is your side hustle profitable? Is there a sustainable market? Is there a demand for what you’re offering?
Conducting thorough research will help you determine the sustainability and profitability of the side hustle ideas you choose.
How much time can you realistically dedicate to a side hustle without compromising your primary responsibilities and well-being?
Remember, even seemingly “passive” income streams require some effort and time.
What are you good at? Can you translate your skills and knowledge into a profitable side hustle?
You can adapt more quickly to your side hustle if you build upon your strengths.
What do you need to get started? While you might not have everything upfront, what’s the initial investment needed to get started? Can you get started with the resources you have?
Consider any upfront costs associated with starting any of the side hustle ideas mentioned above.
Wrap up
Side hustles can be a good way to explore your passion and make extra money.
The key to finding the perfect side hustle lies in careful consideration. By reflecting on your goals, profitability, time demand, skills, and resources, you can choose an endeavor that brings both fulfillment and financial reward.
We hope this comprehensive guide of 24 most promising side hustle ideas, tailored to different interests and aspirations, will empower you to generate additional income.
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Profitability can vary greatly depending on the chosen side hustle. Some lucrative side hustles with the potential for high earnings include freelancing, blogging, and coaching.
However, online businesses like dropshipping and affiliate marketing can also be profitable. Before you opt for any side hustle, conduct in-depth market research to understand its income potential.
What are the easiest side hustles to start?
The easiest side hustles to start are those that barely require additional skills or resources.
Some of these include:
Freelancing
Blogging and affiliate marketing
Becoming a personal assistant
Giving tours of your neighborhood
Dog walking
Pet-sitting
Babysitting
Baking cakes, pastries, or pies
Providing cleaning services
Renting out space in your house
Teaching a language
How much money can you make with side hustles?
The income you can generate with a side hustle depends on several factors, including the amount of time you invest and your level of expertise. You’ll also need marketing skills to attract customers and retain them over time.
Some high-paying options include freelancing, coaching, starting online courses, and social media influencer marketing. You can set your rate based on your experience and work on projects that interest you.
Some low-paying yet flexible options include dog walking, babysitting, and giving tours of your neighborhood.
At the end of the day, income is not the only factor to consider when starting a side hustle. Nonetheless, building a good customer base and providing worthwhile services can help you increase your revenue.
Do you need to report your side hustle earnings?
You may need to pay taxes on your income depending on where you live and the income threshold in your area.
It’s important to consult with a tax advisor for specific guidance on your situation.
Richard is a Content Marketing Manager at Omnisend. An avid writer, he's said to have been born holding a pencil. Fascinated by all things handmade, if he's not reading or writing he can often be found practicing leathercraft.
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