the best side hustles

The best side hustles!

All in one convenient list. Scroll down to learn about the highest paying side jobs that you can start doing immediately.

Who doesn’t love learning about a new money making side hustle? The backbone of my financial security has been built on a foundation of various side hustles and revenue streams and while some may roll their eyes at that, the fact of the matter is, side hustles have allowed me to become completely financially independent.

I’m no longer reliant on a 9 – 5 job and I make money online using a network of side hustles which gives me the freedom to design my own day and do the things I want to do.

Discovering new and lucrative side hustle ideas to earn money online with, that are inexpensive to start is a bit of a hobby for me…or an obsession, depending on who you talk to.

I’ve done it all. Flipping products on eBay, renting out my driveway, freelance writing, charging electric scooters for cash (Yeah, that’s a thing), and about a billion other side hustles. The neverending search for new ways to make money online or from home is what keeps me going.

Right now I’m earning a full time income through blogging, selling online courses, and flipping items online.

If you’re someone who wants to learn how to make a full time income online or just subsidize your existing income with some extra cash every month you’re in the right place.

Here are some of the best side hustle ideas that are proven online money earners and can help you earn anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars a month to a few thousand or more.

You can use these easy money making ways and home business ideas to start your own side hustle journey and earn money online.

Working remotely can provide you with both personal and financial freedom. The ability to work anywhere or anytime might just be the most freeing experience one can have.

1. Start a Blog

Estimated Earnings: $500 – $100,00+ a month

How to start a blog that makes money 1

Bluehost is a leading Webhosting Provider that can help launch your WordPress blog fast and affordable. With one-click WordPress installation, you’ll be online in no time.

Blogs are serious money makers. They have the potential to net you six figures every month from the advertising and affiliate revenue your website generates.

Create a Bluehost account and start your blog quickly and for under 5 bucks a month

The idea behind blogging is simple. You write articles that contain useful information about specific subjects. Those articles can contain affiliate links and if a reader clicks on that link and signs up for that service or purchases a product, you’ll earn a commission.

Sometimes they click and sometimes they don’t. It all comes down to the quality of information you’re providing and how useful the product or service being promoted is.

The reason blogs are so profitable is due to the amount of money earned through affiliate marketing commissions. In some cases you can earn a few hundred dollars or more per sale, it just depends on what you’re promoting.

These commissions add up fast which is why bloggers can earn thousands of dollars each and every month just from a few sales. You don’t need to generate thousands of views every day to earn tons of money through blogging.

With well written content and strategically placed affiliate links your blog can earn a lot of money each month despite low traffic.

On TheCouchCommute I only promote services or products I love and feel that my readers would find useful. A blog should be transparent and trustworthy and money earned from it should be done in a way that is mutually beneficial for both you and the reader.

By that I mean, if one of my readers purchases a service through my affiliate links we should both benefit. I make money and they get access to a service that can improve their life or financial situation.

Keeping an honest and trustworthy blog is imperative to building a loyal reader base that will routinely visit your website.

I know, I know…all this talk about transparency and honesty…so, can your blog really make thousands of dollars every month? Well, the simple answer is yes. Countless blogs are currently doing this.

However, it will take a lot of hard work and patience before you reach that point. I wouldn’t recommend starting a blog if you’re looking for a way to make a quick buck. However, if you’re searching for a side hustle with limitless potential that can be easily scaled up, starting a blog is your best option.

A more realistic expectation would be a return of $500 – $1000 a month after six months to a year of blogging. If your blog isn’t making money after a year it might be time to reevaluate the content you’re creating to figure out why you’re not converting.

Once your blog does become established it will run on autopilot for the most part which means you make money while you sleep, not a bad deal, right?

I have started many blogs in the past and they all grew and became profitable at different rates. The quickness of your success will depend on the niche of your blog, the quality of your content, how effectively you market your blog, and the amount of effort you put into SEO and generating backlinks.

At the moment, starting a blog and selling online courses are the two most profitable side hustles and if you’re looking for side jobs that can be done from home and have the potential to earn a lot of money in the long term, I’d highly recommend these side gigs.

The best part? Blogging with WordPress is super easy and anyone with basic computer knowledge can have their blog up and running in no time using a Webhosting service that has a one-click WordPress install feature.

Bluehost is one of the best Webhosting companies out there to create a blog with using WordPress and they have an easy to use install feature that allows you to get your website online in no time with just one click. No messing around with technical settings so you can spend more time creating content and making money.

How to Start a Blog:

Blogging Resources:

Popular Blog Niches

2. Create and Sell Online Courses

Estimated Earnings: $1,000 – $100,000+ (The Six Figure Side Hustle)

E-Learning is all the rage right now and it’s one of the best side hustle ideas at the moment.

More and more classes are being taught online every day so it was only a matter of time before entrepreneurs figured out how to turn online learning into a profitable side hustle.

Creating and selling online courses is made easy when you use course creation websites like Teachable. Everything you need to build and promote your online course is included and the technical knowledge required is minimal.

You don’t need to be an expert to build an online course either. I was taking an accounting course in college and found the teaching methods to be convoluted and confusing. I was lost in that class. A few years later I had the idea to create an accounting course aimed at beginners and dumb-dumbs like me. It took me a couple of weeks to do the research and build the learning modules but I was able to generate quite a bit of profit from just that one course.

The courses you build can be about virtually anything. Create fun and entertaining courses like a paper airplane building online course, gardening courses, magic trick course, accounting, business, budgeting, or whatever else you can come up with.

Online Course Resources:

3. Start a Dropshipping Side Business

Estimated Earnings: High (Dropshipping Businesses Can Earn Seven Figures a Month or More in some cases)

Dropshipping is a great way to work from home and make money online without the burden of a high startup cost. It’s a low risk, high reward type of side business that has the potential to make A LOT of money.

It’s for this reason I have included it at the number 3 spot in the best side hustles list.

How Does Dropshipping Work?

how to start a dropshipping business side hustle

Dropshipping is the process of selling products online without having to buy inventory upfront. When you receive an order you simply have the supplier ship the product directly to the customer.

There is absolutely zero inventory startup cost and the only expenses are your monthly Webhosting fees.

How to Make an Online Store for Dropshipping

Shopify is a popular platform for those who want to build an online store, however, their base plan is $30 a month which makes them a little pricey for beginners. If you are looking for a more affordable option that is just as effective for creating online dropshipping stores I’d recommend WordPress + WooCommerce.

You can create an online store using WordPress and WooCommerce through Bluehost and it will cost you less than 5 bucks a month. Create a Bluehost account and start a Dropshipping business today.

Once you launch your dropshipping store you’ll want to invest a bit of money into advertising. I recommend Facebook ads. They allow you to target potential customers with precision and with Facebook Pixel, you’ll be able to get the most out of your advertising campaigns.

How do I find Products to Dropship?

Without a doubt, AliExpress is the best option for sourcing products to drop ship.

Products can be found easily and their rating system ensures you only deal with trustworthy suppliers.

Don’t just copy what everyone else is selling. When searching for products to drop ship you want to strike a balance between high demand with low competition.

Dropshipping Pro Tip: For those just starting out I suggest starting with a single product store. Pick one product and build a store around it. Apply your own unique touch and focus on the branding of that product. It will be easier to market and is a great starting point for beginners.

Drop Shipping Resources:

  • Use Wix to build professional quality online stores using their drag and drop editor. It’s the perfect solution for those who don’t have web design knowledge.
  • Bluehost + WooCommerce is the cheapest way to build online stores. It’s easy to use and effective. Install WordPress with one click and have your store online in no time.
  • SaleHoo is a drop shipping directory that only includes legitimate and vetted suppliers. Use their detailed analytics to find the best selling products with the lowest competition. It does have a monthly fee but it is well worth the price.

4. Get Paid to Walk Dogs

get paid to walk dogs side hustle

Estimated Earnings: $17 – $50 per hour (Depends on Your Location)

What’s not to love about this lucrative side hustle. Get out every day for some exercise and make some new furry friends. It’s the perfect side hustle for those who don’t have a lot of time to spare but want to make some quick money on the side.

Where can I Find Dog Walking Jobs?

Rover is an app that pairs dog walkers with dog owners. It’s incredibly easy to use and you’ll be automatically paired with available dog walking jobs once you’re approved.

It takes the headache out of building your dog walking side hustle up from nothing and allows you to network immediately with thousands of pet owners in need of your services.

Think of it as the Uber for dog walkers and pet sitters. It quickly connects you with potential clients so that you can discuss and make arrangements to see if you’d be a good fit for them.

There is potential to make even more money with this side hustle by offering overnight pet sitting services. Clients will pay you handsomely to care for their pets while they are out of town.

Create a Rover account and apply here.

5. Free Money

Freebies are not really a side hustle but it’s easy money and for that reason it belongs on the best side hustles list.

Sign up for these websites below to get a free money bonus. It’s free cash and it will only cost you the time invested to sign up.

6. Deliver Groceries for Instacart

Get paid to shop for and deliver groceries.

Instacart is an app that people can use to order groceries for delivery. You can get in on this action by signing up to become a delivery driver and make some money on the side.

Apply to Instacart here and earn some easy cash. I recently used Instacart and our tip to the delivery driver was well over $30. Assuming others tip the standard amount, I would say this is a much better paying side gig than Uber.

Instacart drivers earn $10 – $17 per hour on average and you create your own hours. Work when you want for as long as you want.

7. Flip Found Furniture for a Profit

Estimated Earnings: $20 – $500+ Per Item

Take a drive around your area on garbage night and I guarantee you’ll see some furniture sitting out on the curb. Becoming a master of the flip and reselling discarded furniture for a profit is well worth the time and effort.

Most of the time the furniture will only need a little TLC and a fresh coat of paint. Once you’ve restored the furniture to its original glory you can list it on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace and make a nice profit.

I always keep an eye out for office chairs. They sell well in my area on Facebook marketplace and depending on the condition and brand it’s usually an easy $20 – $40.

8. Sell Old Smartphones

In need of a quick cash infusion? If you have some old smartphones lying around, I mean old…like ones that aren’t worth listing on eBay, then why not recycle them for a few extra bucks?

It’s a no-hassle way to make some easy money and as a bonus, you clear out that junk drawer filled with unwanted old electronics.

9. Design Logos

Estimated Earnings: $50 – $100 per Logo

how to flip logos for profit side hustle

Not a graphic designer? No problem! you can still make money from designing logos by using logo maker platforms. These platforms cost you a little money up front, but you’ll quickly make back that money by selling your logo designs online.

The design elements are easy to use and anyone with a good eye for color, contrast and design can easily make a profit flipping logos on Fiverr or Upwork. Sign up for Fiverr using this link and get 20% off your first purchase.

10. Get Paid to Proofread and Correct Grammar

Estimated Earnings: $50+ per Hour

If you have an eagle eye for grammar you may want to consider starting a profitable business proofreading online.

This is a business that can be done entirely from home and all you need to do is learn the ins and outs and how to obtain clients.

It’s a high paying side hustle that can be scaled up into a full-fledged home business. Proofreaders can expect to earn $50 or more per hour.

For those who are serious about starting their own business proofreading, I highly recommend taking the Proofread Anywhere online course. It will teach you everything you need to know about proofreading and even help teach you how to obtain new clients so you can start making money from home.

11. Get Paid to Charge Electric Scooters

Estimated Earnings: $3 – $12 per Scooter Charged

Yup, you read that right, you can actually make some decent money charging electric scooters for companies like Lime and Bird.

These companies rent out their scooters using an app similar to Uber. However, these scooters eventually run out of juice, and instead of using employees to go around charging them, they pay side hustlers like you and me to do it for them.

Get paid daily and work around your own schedule. This is a great side gig for all you night owls out there. The best time for this kind of work is in the evening.

Here is a more in-depth look at how to make money charging electric scooters.

12. Flip Things on ebay

Pretty straight forward. Selling things on eBay has been a tried and true side hustle for years. It may very well have been the first online side hustle.

Sneakers, collectibles, video games (specifically retro video games), and brand name clothing all sell very well on eBay.

I’ve made over $11,000 flipping items on eBay in the past year. Getting started is easy. All you need is a PayPal and eBay account. It’s a side hustle that can be done entirely during your spare time.

Make a few trips to Goodwill or thrift stores in your area and see if you can find any items to flip. Remember to bring your phone with you so you can look up the items to see if they sell well before purchasing.

Figuring out what the best side hustles for you to start can be tricky but if you have a passion for flea markets and thrift stores this is a great option.

Pro Tip: Always check sold listings to see how an item is selling and how much demand there is.

13. Paid Surveys

Estimated Earnings: $1.00 – $5.00 per hour

Paid surveys won’t light your financial world on fire and they certainly won’t lead you towards financial independence. They will, however, pay reliably and put some extra dough in your wallet.

There are tons of paid survey websites out there. A few that have been around for a while and pay reliably are:

Swagbucks – PayPal Cash, Gift Cards, Online Shopping Cashback: Create an account

MyPoints – PayPal Cash, Prizes, Gift Cards, Online Shopping Cashback: Create an account

PaidViewPoint – A newer paid survey website. Survey opportunities pop up periodically and the rewards for completing them increase as you earn points and complete surveys.

14. Paid Research Studies

Estimated Earnings: $10 – $100+ per study

Consumer research can be a great way to make a few bucks. Companies often use third-party services to conduct focus groups for them and gather consumer data.

The good part? You can participate in these research studies to earn some extra cash.

Respondent is a consumer research company that pays focus group participants for giving their opinion on a wide variety of topics and services.

Respondent claims an average compensation of $140 an hour. While this is a legitimate claim, it can be difficult to qualify for studies. Some of the studies are entirely conducted online while others are conducted in person.

15. Online Freelancing

Estimated Earnings: $20 – $50+ an hour

Fiverr is packed to the brim with online money-making opportunities. You can offer your freelance services as a writer, graphic designer, video editor, artist, digital marketer, and just about anything else you can think of.

It’s a great way to build up a work from home freelance business and begin cultivating a long term client list.

Use this link to get 20% off your first purchase on Fiverr.

Freelancing Resources

ZipRecruiter is a nifty website you can use to find remote jobs. Looking to work from home for a company instead of freelancing? Create an account and apply for work at home jobs immediately.

16. Sneaker Reselling Side Hustle

Estimated Earnings: $5 – $1000+ per sneaker sold

You can make a substantial amount of money on the side by reselling sneakers on StockX, which is a unique marketplace for selling sneakers, streetwear, and collectibles.

It differs from eBay in that you can accept prepaid bids on items and get paid immediately. This takes all the risk out of reselling sneakers online since you know you’ll be making a profit before you leave the store. Making money online is rarely a risk-free endeavor, so I highly suggest taking advantage of this side gig before it becomes saturated.

Let me break down how this works. You go into a retail store (Marshalls, Nike Outlets, Adidas Outlets, etc) and find sneakers that are selling for more online than in-store.

Once you find a shoe that you can make a profit on you simply accept the bid on StockX and the money is in your account before you walk out of the store. Simple! You’ve turned a profit before making a purchase which is why the risk free nature of this side hustle makes it so attractive.

Once you’ve purchased the shoes you print out the shipping label StockX sends to your e-mail and send it to their warehouse via UPS. StockX then verifies the quality and legitimacy of the product and mails it directly to the buyer.

Recently, Nike launched an SB Dunk sneaker collaboration with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. That sneaker sold at retail for $100 but was reselling on StockX for $2700 at the time of writing this article. That’s a tidy little profit of over $2,000 for not a lot of work.

how to resell sneakers on StockX

Disclaimer: StockX requires the shoe box and the sneaker itself be in mint condition. If the sneaker is not brand new and the box is not in mint condition they will reject it and send it back to you. Flea markets and second-hand stores won’t work for this side hustle.

17. Odd Jobs

Working odd gigs found on Craigslist is an ancient side hustle but it’s still an effective way to make extra money.

You can find random jobs by searching the gigs section on Craigslist. These jobs can include handyman work, working at a fair, working at an event, helping someone move, delivery driver, and much more.

18. Print on Demand Side Hustle (Redbubble)

Society6 and Redbubble are leading print on demand (POD) marketplaces.

How do you make money with Redbubble?

Independent artists and designers upload their work and when a customer makes a purchase, Redbubble will print that design onto the product and ship it to the customer for you.

You receive a commission for the sale and don’t have to deal with the headache of shipping products or keeping inventory on hand.

Do You Have to be an Artist to Make Money On Redbubble?

Absolutely not. My artistic ability peaked when I was ten years old but I’ve still managed to earn passive income on Redbubble. I’ve earned close to $250 in the past year.

I took a few days to learn the ins and outs of Photoshop and created a few designs. Alternatively, you can use royalty-free images from Pixabay and upload them to Redbubble.

Once you upload your work, you’re done. You don’t have to deal with customer logistics and Redbubble takes care of everything for you.

This is truly passive income and I would estimate the total time spent on my Redbubble store would clock in at under three hours. Gotta love easy money.

how to make money on Redbubble

Transforming your Redbubble store into a $1000 a month money earning machine is an attainable goal. With a little hard work and effort you’ll be able to conquer the print on demand market.

19. Yoga Instructor

Estimated Earnings: $20 – $30 an hour

I’m feeling relaxed already, how about you?

If you love Yoga you can take that opportunity to turn your passion into a high paying side job. Yoga instructors earn $20 an hour on the low end, not bad! As your reputation and class size grows so will your hourly earnings.

I can’t imagine a more tranquil way to earn income on the side. Namaste.

20. Remote Scopist

Easily the coolest job title on this list. Working remotely as a scopist is a fantastic way to start your own online business from home.

Scoping is the process of transcribing the short hand of court reporters into a readable document. Scoping jobs online are currently one of the most slept on money making opportunities. Not many know about this interesting career or that it can pay upwards of $5000 a month.

If you’re interested in getting hired as a scopist and enjoying a work from home court career I’d suggest checking out Internet Scoping School. They are highly regarded as the best online scoping school out there and will help send you on your way to working as a remote scopist.

21. Teach English Online

Estimated Earnings: $20 – $30 an hour

VipKid is an online platform that connects ESL teachers with students. This is a fantastic option for those searching for a work from home part time job.

Teaching English online is a great side hustle that allows for a flexible schedule and pays a liveable hourly wage.

Many ESL teachers work for VipKid on a full time basis and thus it is their main source of income. You can make over $20 an hour and when you include the perk of creating your own schedule it’s clear why working as an ESL teacher is such a popular online job.

It should be noted that you do need a bachelors degree to teach for VipKid.

22. Medical Billing and Coding

This isn’t so much a side hustle as it is a full time work from home job. However, since many medical billing and coding jobs have flexible hours I’m going to include it on the list.

Medical coding is a specialized field that requires proper training from a recognized school. Brick and mortar colleges come with a high price tag, so if you’re looking to earn $50,000 or more per year working from home I’d recommend checking out Career Step and studying to work remotely as a medical coder.

Career Step is an online school that allows you to learn at your own pace. Graduate in as soon as four months and begin earning a full time wage from home that far exceeds the national average salary.

23. Sell Digital Downloadable Content

Creating birthday invitation templates, sewing templates, event schedule templates, or digital guides can be a great way to earn a few dollars on the side.

Etsy is a great marketplace where you can sling your downloadable goods and make some quick money. This side job doesn’t require much maintenance and I’d put it in the set it and forget it passive income category.

24. Write eBooks

Self publishing an eBook on Amazon is a great addition to any side hustle portfolio.

Not only can this online side hustle make you money but it will help you improve your writing skills which can open the door to a freelance writing career.

25. Get Paid to Shop

I remember when mystery shopping was all the rage. Now, it seems to be all but dead. The pay isn’t great but the work is easy and it doesn’t take that long to complete.

If getting paid to mystery shop isn’t your jam then why not hook up a Swagbucks or Rakuten account to your browser and get cash back with every online shopping purchase?

Cashback from online purchases isn’t exactly a side hustle but if you buy a lot of things online it can really add up.

26. Freelance Web Design

Back in the day, freelance web designers were raking in the cash. Unfortunately, the business of designing websites has slowed down considerably with the advent of intuitive website builders like Wix and Squarespace.

However, there is still a need for web designers and Fiverr is a great place to advertise your services.

27. Freelance Photography

Time to dust off that DSLR that’s been sitting in the back of your closet and get to work.

Photography enthusiasts can make some quick side cash by advertising on Craigslist or local classified ads. Weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, events, and local newspapers all have a need for freelance photographers.

Once you line up a gig and strut your photographic excellence, word of mouth will begin to spread, and before you know it you’ll have gigs lined up every weekend.

This is very much a “who you know” kind of industry so establishing great relationships with your clients will help bring in a lot of extra business.

28. Test Websites and Give Feedback

UserTesting is a website that will pay you through PayPal to give a quick review and rundown of an app.

Earn up to $60 per app tested. Expect to receive payment roughly seven days after you’ve completed the assignment.

29. Sell Stock Travel Videos

Are you a bit of a digital nomad? Traveling the world and finding work when you run out of cash?

If you visit exotic places and different countries often you can make a few extra bucks by shooting videos of the local beauty and selling them to travel companies, hotels, or companies involved in the tourism trade.

A side hustle that pays you to travel the world! Not a bad deal!

30. Rent out your Property for Events

Do you own a large property? If you have more space than you need you can rent out that extra real estate for weddings and events.

Simply list your property for rent on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace and include a detailed picture in the advertisement. Be specific about the dos and donts so there isn’t any confusion and you don’t end up hosting the next gathering of the Juggalos by accident.

It’s a great way to earn passive income from unused real estate and it’s a lot less intrusive than renting out a spare room on Airbnb.

31. Sell Crafts on Etsy

Etsy is a marketplace similar to eBay with one key difference. The items listed for sale on Etsy are all handcrafted.

If you fancy yourself a craftaholic I suggest listing your hand made items and making some money from your hobby.

You can sell costumes, artwork, fabric designs, hand made jewelry, and anything else your creative mind can conjure up.

It should be noted that you can also sell the raw materials needed to make crafts like beads, miniatures, and tools on Etsy.

Have a look here for a more in depth look at what crafts sell best on Etsy.

32. Rent out Your Car

Do you have a sweet ride?

If you own a higher end vehicle you can rent it out to others using Turro. It’s a simple concept but keep in mind that accidents happen, so if you’re super protective over your baby I wouldn’t suggest this side hustle.

33. The Bibliophile Side Hustle

Woah! That’s a mouth full and just an unnecessarily fancy way of saying “get paid to review books”

If you love to read you can get accepted by the U.S Review of books as a paid reviewer. It doesn’t get much sweeter for a book worm.

Have a look at this helpful article on how you can earn money reviewing books.

34. Start a Podcast

Podcasts are huge right now. Sure, the market might be a bit saturated but if you’re a highly entertaining person with a face for radio :P, you can make some serious cash from podcasting.

YouTube, iTunes, and more recently Spotify are platforms that would make a great home for quality podcasts. Money is earned through advertising revenue and sponsorships.

35. Get Paid to Answer Video Game Questions

how to make money by answering video game questions

Yep, if you love video games you can make some cash by helping out fellow gamers.

DIrectly is a company that facilitates chat customer support for companies like WordPress and Rockstar Games.

Head to their website and apply to become a Rockstar Games expert. You’ll be responsible for helping users with troubleshooting, connecting hardware, and account inquiries.

36. Get Paid to House Sit

Want to kick back, use other people’s Netflix account, and snoop through their drawers? Just kidding, if that sounds like you I wouldn’t recommend becoming a house sitter.

However, if you are a trustworthy individual, and of course you are, why wouldn’t you be? You can get paid to watch over a homeowner’s property while they are away.

The pay will vary but it’s a great gig for those who don’t mind spending long periods away from home.

Use services like MindMyHouse to connect with homeowners looking for house sitters.

37. Get Paid to Deliver Amazon Packages

Estimated Earnings: $20 – $25 per hour

Amazon is a big company, maybe you’ve heard of them?

If you have a vehicle you can make some money delivering packages for this online retailer behemoth.

All deliveries are facilitated through the Amazon Flex app. This is the perfect side gig for those looking for part time hours or the ability to create their own hours.

38. Advertising Consultant for Small Businesses

Reaching out to small businesses in your community to see if they have a need for an advertising consultant can be a great way to earn money.

It’s a simple concept. Familiarize yourself with Facebook advertisements and learn the ins and outs of how they work. Then, reach out to small businesses and sell yourself as an advertising expert.

Agree on an hourly rate and finalize a budget. Keep in mind, this is a results-driven side hustle and if your advertisement campaigns are not successful expect to be let go.

39. Become a Professional Organizer

Some people are allergic to cleaning up clutter. This is good news for you!

You can advertise your services as a professional organizer on Facebook or local online classified ads.

A family member of mine did this for a short period and would often make over $100 for just an afternoon’s worth of work. The work involved was minimal and for the most part, involved cleaning out closets and organizing living spaces.

40. Get Paid to Smell Things

Sniff! Sniff! Yeah, not much to say about this one. You know we’re deep into the list when I’m telling you to go out and get paid for smelling things.

Companies will pay you to smell test their products. Air fresheners, laundry products, etc. It’s not the most common side hustle but it’s certainly a unique one.

50. Flip NFTs

This one is a bit of a gamble but with some luck you’ll be able to find substantial returns on your investment by flipping NFTs. Reddit just recently released collectible avatar NFTs and some that initially sold for $10 are selling for upwards of $1,000 on OpenSea (the worlds largest NFT marketplace)

Final Thoughts

The side hustles at the top of this list are tried and true money earners. They are the reason I was able to find financial independence before 35 and why I’m able to spend time with family instead of dreading my morning commute the next day.

The best piece of advice I can give to anyone looking for a new side hustle is to not give up. It took me over a year to make money from the first blog I started but after 10 years and many blogs later I’m glad I stuck with it.

I’ll be adding to this list or doing a completely new version of the best side hustles for 2021.

Let me know what you think in the comments, I’d like to possibly add some user-submitted side hustles to this list. I always love hearing about unique and creative ways to earn some extra side cash.

Still unsure about which side gig is best for you? Take a look below at some FAQ and perhaps that will steer you in the right direction.

Frequently Asked Side Hustle Questions

What is a Side Hustle?

A side hustle is something you do outside of your regular job to earn money. This is a watered-down definition and since not all side hustles are the same they can’t all be categorized equally.

Some side hustles are simple to start and take little to no financial investment upfront. Other side hustles require attention and time in order to cultivate success and can be categorized as entrepreneurial endeavors.

Some may not agree but I would categorize Facebook’s humble beginnings as a side hustle. Mark Zuckerberg was a full time student at Harvard and while he had big plans for the website, it was entirely conceived in his dorm room during his spare time.

The Benefits of Having a Side Hustle

  • Having a financial safety net for emergencies.
  • More personal freedom.
  • Less stress and worry over bills or monthly expenses.
  • The days of checking your account balance before making purchases can be a thing of the past if you build up a successful side hustle.
  • A feeling of accomplishment and success.
  • Being your own boss and working for yourself.

How Do I Pick the Best Side Hustle?

Choosing the perfect side hustle is the first step in your “get that money journey”. There are tons of lucrative side jobs out there all claiming to put a few extra bucks in your pocket.

It’s about finding a balance between what you’re passionate about and what has the potential to earn money. The only requirement for starting a money making side hustle is an internet connection and a smidge of work ethic.

Here are some suggestions for the best side hustles that match up well with certain likes and interests.

If you’re an animal lover, why not check out Rover? They will pay you to walk dogs and it’s even something you can include the entire family in.

If you’re passionate about a certain subject but aren’t sure how that hobby or passion of yours can earn you money, you should create a blog. Starting a blog has the potential to be an extremely profitable side job and can lead you to financial freedom if you put in the work and our blog takes off.

Do you enjoy teaching others or have a very structured personality? If that sounds like you then I’d suggest creating and selling online courses through platforms like Teachable. The amount of money to be made with successful online courses can surpass six figures every month and with 23 million plus students looking for new online courses to purchase there has never been a better time to start.

Bit of a shopaholic? Then start taking trips to thrift stores or browsing eBay to find items you can resell at a profit. Flipping items online has to be one of the most tried and true methods to make a quick buck.

What Side Hustle Niches are the Most Popular

Digital Marketing, starting a blog, freelancing, and gig jobs that can be found through apps such as Uber and Instacart are all popular side hustles that can be done on your free time and provide you with a financial boost.

Why is having a Side Hustle Important?

Feeling reassured about your financial situation is not only good for your bank account but it’s also good for your own mental health. Stressing over money and bills each month can really begin to take its toll after a while. The personal freedom that comes along with adding extra income is worth any time or money invested in a side hustle.

Finding the best side hustles that you’re passionate about is a fantastic opportunity to add extra income outside of your primary job. Choosing the right side hustle can even provide you with the opportunity to quit your 9-5 and focus full time on your side gig. (If a side hustle becomes your full time source of income, is it still a side hustle? hmmm…food for thought!)

Side Hustles with the Highest Growth Potential

These side hustles all have the potential to turn into a full time online business. They may start out as a side gig in the beginning but if you put in the work and stay with it they can easily replace your full time job.

  • Running a Blog
  • Creating and Selling Online Courses
  • Running Your Own Freelance Business

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The best side hustles and side job ideas

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