Half of Brits Have a Side Hustle, with Most Running an Ecommerce Store

Marketing automation platform Omnisend conducted a survey of 1,000 Brits about their side jobs and found that 50.3% of Brits are actively engaged in a side-hustle, while 47.6% of them wish to make it their full-time job.

The most popular side gig by far is ecommerce, with 72% of British side-hustlers saying they’re selling items online. Freelancing (i.e. writing, programming) and teaching/tutoring followed suit, with 22.5% and 11.1% respectively. 

Of those with an ecommerce store, 32.4%  are already on their way to make it their full-time job. 

“Unlike freelancing or gig work, which maxes out when you run out of time, ecommerce can scale with fewer limitations, so it isn’t a surprise so many people are doing it,” says Greg Zakowicz, Senior Ecommerce Expert at Omnisend.

“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.”

Most earn less than 500£, but lucky 3% earn more than 5,000£

Money-wise, 65.8% say their side hustle earns them less than 500£ per month. Only a 10.8% of respondents indicate that it earns them upwards of 1,000£, with 2.8% earning 5,000£ and more,

“What’s often overlooked is the growing competition in the side-hustle space. As platforms make it easier to sell, crowded marketplaces for products or skills leave most people stuck earning smaller amounts,” says Omnisend’s Greg Zakowicz.

“Yet, with 14% of respondents earning more than 1,000£ per month, there’s potential for significant income. However, scaling operations to reach beyond this level often requires making their side job their primary one — a risky step that 48% are considering, but way less end up going through with.” 

Time constraints & financial burdens force many to quit early

Sustaining a side hustle over time proves difficult for many, as the majority of respondents have been engaged in their side jobs for less than a year (49%). A further 32.7% have been at it for between 2-5 years, and 18.3% have had their side hustle for more than 5 years.

Further data reveals that 36.1% of those who no longer have a side gig, had to quit doing it because of time constraints. Another 20.5% quoted health issues,, while 17.5% said burnout was the primary reason.

Tips for side hustlers wanting to grow their venture

To grow your side hustle sustainably, Greg Zakowicz, Senior Ecommerce Expert at Omnisend 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.