Nearly 50% of millennial workers are freelance. Side gigs and freelancing are here to stay, and if you’re enterprising, you’ll want to leverage them to make some extra cash. But with so many side hustles to choose from, how can you know which is right for you?
Here are 11 great side hustle ideas to get you on the road to financial independence today.
What Is a Side Gig?
A side hustle is a small, usually flexible job that you can easily pursue on top of your everyday work.
In today’s expensive world, we’re all looking for ways to earn some extra cash, whether that be researching how to apply for a cash loan or looking for ways to monetize our hobbies. Side hustles do just that, offering us financial freedom and a sense of accomplishment to boot.
1. Drive for Lyft or Uber
The ridesharing economy is booming, and both Lyft and Uber are at the forefront of this particular trend. If you have a car and a good sense of direction, driving for Lyft or Uber is a great side hustle.
The great thing about ride-sharing services is your ability to tailor your availability. You simply log into the app when you want to work and leave it closed when you don’t. This flexibility is great for the side hustler looking for work outside regular hours.
2. Manage Social Media for Small Businesses
In today’s digital world, every business needs an online presence. Many businesses know this but don’t know how to go about staying ahead of the algorithms that drive social media. That’s where you come in.
For a contracted monthly fee, you can side hustle as a social media manager. Whether you’re simply ensuring a consistent posting schedule or curating bespoke content, social media management is a great way to bring in some extra cash and pad out your resume to boot.
3. Sell Services on Fiverr
The gig economy is booming and a lot of that is down to sites like Fiverr. Though services start out at $5, some Fiverr professionals are earning six-figure-plus revenues annually.
You can sell almost anything on this platform but to become a Super Seller you must deliver consistent value even at lower price points.
4. Start a Blog
Blogging isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme but with some consistent effort, it can become a great source of passive income.
The trick is to deliver valuable content on a consistent schedule. Posting a couple of times a week gets readers accustomed to your content and helps you drive traffic to your site. Combined with some savvy SEO, your blogging efforts can make for a lucrative side hustle.
5. Create an Online Course
Platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, and Teachable have revolutionized the way we learn and teach. Now, just about anyone can share their specialized knowledge on everything from coding to knitting, and earn a healthy income while doing it.
Such courses aren’t just a great source of extra income, they can also work as passive income streams, earning you money months or even years into the future.
6. Write an eBook
Writing an eBook isn’t likely to net you great sums of cash upfront, but the right book can operate as a great source of passive income.
By using platforms like KDP and CreateSpace, you can easily turn your writing into a product to sell. There are no up-front costs, just the time spent typing up your next publication.
7. Walk Dogs
As people get busier, they’re naturally turning to ways to better look after their pets while they’re at work. That’s where you come in. Offering dog walking or sitting services is a great way to earn some extra cash.
Apps like Wag! have streamlined the dog walking industry much like Uber did to the transport landscape. Simply sign up to your app of choice and find dog-walking gigs practically in your back yard.
8. Participate in Marketing Focus Groups
Focus groups are a marketer’s best friend, which is a great thing for you. They’re essentially a way for marketing companies to study the consumer’s response to services, products, and advertisements across multiple mediums.
You can get involved in a few ways. Firstly, look for advertisements in your local area. You can also look online to see if there are any companies advertising that way. Lastly, there are a few apps designed specifically to streamline the feedback process.
This is by no means a way to get rich, but it’s a great way to earn some extra cash on the side.
9. Sell Artwork on Society6 and Redbubble
Platforms like Society6 and Redbubble are what’s called print-on-demand stores. You simply upload artwork to their platform and they do the hard yards of printing and shipping you work on a variety of different products. You can sell everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs through these stores.
If you’re artistically inclined, this can be a great way to earn some alternative income. You will, however, need to do the hard yards marketing your works so people can better find them.
10. Sell Handmade Products on Etsy
Etsy is an e-commerce store designed to sell handmade or custom products. If you’re inclined towards arts and crafts, it can be a great way to put your hobbies to good use.
Getting started on Etsy is as easy as uploading a product. From there, you just have to put some extra effort into marketing and tada! You have a lucrative side hustle.
11. Teach a Language
If you know a second language well, you can teach that language to others. Alternatively, if you’re operating as a digital nomad, you could opt to teach English as a second language in whatever country you’ve settled in.
Teaching is a great way to earn some extra income and meet new people to boot. Just make sure you’re well-versed enough in the language you’re teaching.
Side Gigs Made Easy
Side gigs are a great way to earn alternative income. And in today’s busy world, every little bit helps. Whether you choose to sell through print-on-demand or set up a dog walking business, any one of these gigs will make for a great second income stream.
Want to become more financially savvy? Keep browsing our blog for more articles on how to gain your financial freedom.
