12 Side Hustles That Work: How to Make Money on the Side

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Written By Jon-G

Serial entrepreneur and king of the side hustle. 10+ years making money online and developing business opportunities.

Do you want to make some extra money? Are you looking for side hustles that work? If so, you’re in luck! In this blog post, we will discuss 11 side hustles that can help you make some extra cash.

We will go in depth into each of these side hustles and provide you with all the information you need to get started. So, what are you waiting for? Start reading and start making money!

Side Hustle #1 Buying and Selling Vehicles

Flipping cars like Superman might get you on the evening news, but buying and selling cars and trucks could put cash in your pocket.  If you have some extra space in your driveway or garage, you could start by becoming a middleman of sorts, and work with people who are looking to buy or sell their vehicles.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind if you want to pursue this side hustle. First, you will need to know your stuff when it comes to cars and trucks. It is important to be able to negotiate a fair price for both the buyer and the seller. Second, you will need to factor in the cost of repairs, as well as any other fees associated with buying or selling a vehicle. Finally, you will need to be patient; this side hustle could take some time to grow. As you really get going with this, you might have a few different vehicles in play at any one time. And when you REALLY get serious, you can chain the deals together to upsell to the “ultimate” cash cow. If that method sounds familiar, Gotham Garage made it famous on the Netflix show Car Masters: Rust to Riches, where they bought low for their first car and ultimately cashed out their last transaction with six figures in profit!

Side Hustle #2: Renting Out Your Stuff

Do you have any old furniture, electronics, or other items taking up space in your home? If so, you could make some extra money by renting them out! There are a few ways to go about this side hustle. First, you could list your items on sites like Airbnb, Spinlister, or Zilok. Once you have found a renter, you will need to coordinate the delivery of your items and ensure that they are returned in the same condition as when they were rented.

Another option is to list your items on sites like Craigslist or eBay. This option may take a bit more work, as you will need to find a renter and coordinate the transaction yourself. However, it can be a great way to get rid of unwanted items and make some extra cash.

Side Hustle #3: Pet Services

Pet Sitting is the go-to pet service when people think about making extra money from our furry friends, but this is a hustle with legs! It has been said that there is income in doing what other people don’t want to do. Have you considered a waste removal business? Especially as people travel over the summer, pet sitting and waste removal services can really clean up!

This can easily evolve into a year-round activity where you not only watch your neighbors’ pets but take them to grooming appointments, veterinarian visits, or pop in throughout the day to feed, water and administer prescribed medication. People’s pets are like their children; get this right and you could have a booming referral-based hustle in no time.

Side Hustle #4: Renting Your Space

Do you have space in you garage or on your property? Tap into the multi-billion dollar self storage industry by renting a part of your garage to store tools and other personal items. You can be informal by simply allowing someone to store a few boxes or a lawn mower, or you can elevate to a locked space that only they have access to. Your rental contract may control the time when they can enter your property to visit their storage area. Another very lucrative and easy space rental is to rent RV space. RV storage in the corporate market can be expensive; undercut the rates of professional self storage and RV storage and you will have a dependable source of income.

Side Hustle #5: Food

Ever since we sold lemonade on the street corner or cookies in the church bake sale as kids, we’ve been tapping food as a side hustle and didn’t even know it! You can leverage your side hustle to include a food business with very little overhead and start-up costs.

One option is to sell home-baked goods at local farmers markets, craft fairs, or flea markets. You will need to obtain the proper permits for each location, but this can be a great way to get started. Once you establish that a market exists for your products, you can expand into other food types like sauces. Listen to your customers on what they like, then raid the family recipes for unique tastes that you can brand. Food that can be packaged in jars, labeled and distributed will become a business in its own right.

Side Hustle #6: House Cleaning Services

People are too busy to clean house anymore. If that is your knack and you enjoy the satisfaction of transforming a home into a clean living space, consider it as a side hustle. This side hustle has low startup costs and can be done with very little equipment.

To get started, create flyers and post them in local businesses, bulletin boards, or online classifieds. You can also ask family and friends if they know anyone who may need your services. Once you have a few clients, you can start to build a team of cleaners to help you with the work. This side hustle can be very profitable, as many people are willing to pay top dollar for a clean home.

Cleaning services is a side hustle that is always in demand and can be very profitable. With a little effort, you can build a thriving business in this industry.

Side Hustle #7: Auto Detailing

A typical auto detail might cost $150 or more and take a few hours if you do a great job. Potentially, that’s a $400 per day side hustle!

To get started, you will need to invest in a good polisher, some quality waxes and cleaners, and other detailing supplies. You can find many of these items at your local auto parts store or online. Once you have the supplies, you can start advertising your services online or through word-of-mouth. To maximize income from this opportunity, consider offering monthly recurring subscriptions to regular customers and discounts for any customer who refers a friend who then becomes a paying customer.

Side Hustle #8: Transcribe it

If you are a fast and accurate typist, this side hustle could be for you. In today’s world, there is a growing demand for transcription services as more and more businesses require audio and video files to be transcribed into text.

There are many online transcription services that you can sign up for, or you can start your own transcription service. Once you have a few clients, you can start to build a team of transcribers to help you with the work. This side hustle can be very profitable, as many people are willing to pay top dollar for accurate transcripts.

Side Hustle #9: Be a Very Good Driver

This side hustle is perfect for those who love to drive and have a clean driving record. You can sign up with a ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft and start giving people rides. The great thing about this side hustle is that you can set your own hours and work as much or as little as you want.

To get started, you will need to sign up with Uber or Lyft and complete their driver training program. Once you are approved, you can start giving people rides. To maximize your earnings, consider driving during peak hours and offering discounts for referrals.

Side Hustle #10: Freelance Your Talent

Freelancing is a massive field with too many opportunities to cover in this article. Check out Fiverr for ideas on some of the gigs being offered and see if you can match those. Those same skills can be sold on freelance sites like Upwork and usually for more money. In the beginning with online gig marketplace, you will need to take any simple job just to get your feedback score up. A 5-star rating is your goal and essential to your continued success!

As a freelancer, you can offer your services to businesses and individuals all over the world. To get started, you will need to create a profile on a freelance site like Upwork or Fiverr. Once you have created a profile, you can start bidding on jobs. To maximize your earnings, consider offering discounts for referrals and repeat clients.

Side Hustle #11: Sell Your Clothes Online

If you’re looking for a side hustle that is both easy to get started with and has the potential to make you some decent money, selling your clothes online is a great option. There are a few different ways to do this. You can sell your clothes on consignment websites, or you can sell them through online auctions. Either way, you can get started with very little upfront investment and make some serious cash if you have designer clothing that is in good condition.

Side Hustle #12: Sell Your Photos Online

If you are a talented photographer, you can make money by selling your photos online. There are many stock photography websites that will allow you to sell your photos and earn a commission on each sale.

To get started, you will need to create an account on a stock photography website and upload your photos. Once your photos are approved, you can start selling them and earning a commission on each sale. Some photography sites are non-exclusive while others require you to only post on their website; read the fine print on any licensing agreements and make sure your work adheres to their publication guidelines and what they are looking for.

Those were 12 rapid fire ideas for side hustles that you can start today! Meanwhile, here is some additional information to make the most of your new opportunities:

What is a side hustle and why do you need one?

A side hustle is simply a way to make some extra money outside of your full-time job. There are many reasons why you might want or need to do this. Maybe you have some debt that you want to pay off, or maybe you’re looking to save up for a big purchase. Whatever the reason, a side hustle can be a great way to make some extra cash.

What is it not? A job. The idea is to trade your free time for some “you” time that also makes you money, ie. earning money on your terms.

What makes a good side hustle?

There are a few things that make a good side hustle. First, it should be something that you’re interested in or passionate about. This will make it much easier to stick with and see success. Second, it should be something that is relatively easy to get started with and doesn’t require a lot of upfront investment. And finally, it should be something that has the potential to make you some decent money.

How to choose the right side hustle for you

When brainstorming a side hustle, start with your passions and interests, hobbies, or what you spend your time doing in your free time. A great side hustle is one that you would do for no money, the money is the bonus (and the #1 perk).

How much time are you willing to commit to your side hustle?

Some side hustles require very little time, others will need hours of your week.

How much energy are you willing to commit to your side hustle?

If your day job is physically demanding and you find yourself totally exhausted by quitting time, you may not have enough energy to give the side hustle what you need to succeed. A side hustle that is just as physically demanding as your day job may not be a good fit. On the other hand, if you love working out all day, then that may be perfect!

How much money do you need to make from your side hustle?

After you settle on the number of hours you can reasonably commit each week, as well as the amount of energy you’ll have to devote to the side hustle, the next question is perhaps the most important. The potential income from your side hustle is the very reason you’re thinking about side hustles in the first place. What is your monthly budget shortfall that you need to cover? What is the income gap you need to fill?

How to get started with your side hustle

Getting started can be very simple or require a bit more planning. For example, if your side hustle requires licensing or certification, it’s not really a true side hustle. You’ll need to factor in the time and cost of getting licensed before you can start making money.

If your side hustle is something you’re passionate about, such as a blog or YouTube channel, then it’s probably something you’ve already started working on in your spare time. In this case, all you need to do is set aside some dedicated time each week to work on your side hustle and start making money.

A side hustle can be a great way to make some extra cash. But it’s important to choose the right side hustle for you. Consider your passions, interests, and skillset when choosing a side hustle. And remember, a side hustle should be something you’re interested in or passionate about. Otherwise, it’s just a job, and who wants another one of those?

Tips for success with your side hustle

Think of your side hustle as a mini-business. In that way, it is not like a job where you will get paid on a recurring basis for showing up and doing the work. With a side hustle, you may need to promote yourself on social media or with flyers in your community; there are innumerable ways to “get the word out” about your offerings.

Put in consistent effort every day. It may take some time to grow your new opportunity but you will start to see progress in a relatively short time. Don’t quit your day job until your side hustle has replaced your main income.

Conclusion

There you have it! 11 side hustles that work. Which one will you try first? side hustles are a great way to make some extra money, and with the right side hustle, you can make a lot of extra cash. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start making some money!