Everyone could use some extra money. Whether it’s for saving, paying off debt, or having a safety net, a little extra cash can make a big difference. Your main job covers the basics, but a side hustle from home can be a real money-maker and provide the freedom you desire. Here are some great side hustles that will help you increase your income.
What Is a Side Hustle and How Do You Make Money Through One?
A side hustle is a form of income separate from your regular job, providing the opportunity to increase your earnings and pursue personal interests, meet financial needs, and alleviate financial concerns.
Many 9 to 5 jobs do not provide enough income to cover expenses, particularly for those who are beginning their careers.
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After calculating the expenses for rent, food, bills, and transportation, it may become apparent that there is minimal remaining income.
Your financial growth is limited. You will receive a small bonus and a 1% salary increase on a $30,000 income. Can this adequately meet your aspirations? It is unclear.
You may consider starting a side hustle to earn additional income, which can provide financial security in case of unexpected job loss.
Explore the top side jobs that can boost your income while allowing you to work from home.
How to Make Money On The Side: 10 Great Side Hustles to Pursue
#1. Start Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing has a long-term payoff, but it comes with a learning curve. It’s important to find both the right product and the right brand to partner with. When you become an affiliate marketer for ecommerce stores, your commission will be lower compared to dropshipping. However, tech companies are willing to pay generous prices to affiliates who bring in new customers.
The amount of money you can make from a side hustle depends on the product and affiliate network you use. For instance, as an affiliate marketer for a tech company like Shopify, you could earn an additional $58 for each referred merchant. With just 10 referrals, you could make over $500.
When participating in affiliate marketing, it is helpful to contact the affiliate program or content creator to obtain resources that can aid in promoting their product. These resources may include lead magnets or free tools that can encourage individuals to make a purchase. Furthermore, generating content can assist in transitioning a potential customer from being unaware of the product to becoming more intrigued, thereby enhancing the chances of success in this kind of supplementary business.
#2. Start a Dropshipping Business
Dropshipping is a great side hustle job idea. You can sell a product directly to the customer without buying inventory. This is great because you don’t need a big budget for startup costs, reducing your risk. The manufacturer carries the inventory and ships it to the customer for you. Your main focus should be marketing and customer service. If you have a strong marketing background, this is a side hustle that suits your strengths. It’s a rare side job that allows you to fulfill your entrepreneurial desires. You become the owner of your own business.
Dropshipping allows you to start a business based on your passions. For example, if you enjoy stocking your kitchen, you can sell kitchen equipment online. If you come across a unique solar-powered smartphone-cooling accessory, you can start your own one product store. If you’re into makeup, you can sell beauty products and create an audience through your makeup tutorials. Dropshipping offers opportunities in almost any niche, and if you’re a creative person, you can explore unusual business ideas. As the owner of your own business, you have the final say, making dropshipping a great starting point for a lucrative sideline.
The amount of money a dropshipper can make varies depending on the level of effort put into the business and marketing. It is possible to earn a few thousand dollars or more.
Interested in starting your own dropshipping business? DSers-AliExpress Dropshipping is here to help. With the DSers app, you can easily select from a wide range of products to sell on your store. It even automates various aspects of your business, allowing you to quickly and efficiently manage orders. Adding products and processing orders has never been easier. If you’re new to dropshipping, our dropshipping 101 course is a great resource for building your first online store.
#3. Start a Wholesale Business
Starting an online store using the wholesale business model allows you to purchase products in bulk at a lower price and then sell them at a higher retail price to your customers, providing a more hands-on approach to running an online business.
Because you are actively involved in the production and supply chain of your products, you maintain a meticulous level of quality control. In contrast to dropshipping, you personally handle the packaging and shipping process, eliminating the drawback of extended shipping times. This allows you to expedite the delivery of products to satisfied customers.
Similar to dropshipping, you can sell products in any niche you desire, such as home decor or pet supplies. Simply utilize a wholesale marketplace to locate and purchase the desired products.
When running a business using wholesale, it is important to have some initial funds available. However, many wholesale marketplaces offer net terms, which can provide a helpful cushion. With net terms, you have the ability to purchase products and begin selling them well in advance of needing to make payment.
#4. Begin Freelancing
If your income is unpredictable, you may need more money some months and less in others. In this case, freelance gigs could be a good option. You can create gigs on platforms like Fiverr or take on occasional projects on Upwork. One week you might create T-shirt mockups, and the next you might help someone with their social media. The projects can be very different, but if you enjoy variety, this side hustle could be a great fit for you.
You can make varying amounts of money with this side hustle job. The amount you earn depends on the side gigs you choose and the platform you use. For instance, if you want to make an extra $1,000 a month, freelance writing is a side hustle that can help you achieve that. To succeed as a freelancer, it’s important to charge clients based on the value you provide. Many freelancers charge too little, leading to burnout and little reward.
#5. Launch a Print on Demand Store
If you have an interest in creating custom graphics and artwork during your free time, running a print on demand store could be a beneficial side business for you.
POD allows you to sell custom artwork on products like t-shirts, bags, phone cases, and more. You can create and sell products under your own brand. You can automate the logistics by dropshipping your print on demand products. This involves designing products, adding them to your store, promoting them, and taking orders from customers. The print on demand company fulfills the orders by printing your designs onto the products and shipping them directly to the customer.
The amount of money you can earn from selling POD products depends on how much people like your designs and how much effort you put into marketing. With some effort, it’s possible to make a few thousand dollars each month. If you’re interested, you can learn how to start an online t-shirt business by reading this guide.
#6. Start Blogging
Blogging is a great way to earn money from home or anywhere else. It helps you establish a personal brand and own your own asset. You can write about topics you are passionate about and reach an audience with similar interests. Popular niches for part-time blogging include yoga, business, beauty, and cars. You can make money through affiliate links in your posts or by linking to your online store for dropshipping products.
Some individuals who continue with a side hustle like this have been able to earn enough money to quit their job and pursue it full-time, although initially, there may be no earnings.
If you’re into blogging, consider creating an online store to monetize and add a blog to it. This lets you start making money from your asset even before you have a big audience. Combining content and commerce is a powerful strategy. As your blog grows, you can use retargeting ads to make money from your blog traffic and increase sales. If you consistently produce high-quality content, you might have a few posts that bring in a lot of traffic and are easier to monetize compared to direct sales.
#7. Sell Information Products
If you want to make money with side jobs, consider selling information products. This requires research, time, and marketing skills. Do you know a lot about popular topics? Is there a topic with a lack of information? Create content and monetize these opportunities. Sell books on Amazon or offer courses to start earning.
The amount of money you can make selling information products varies depending on factors such as the niche and your marketing execution. However, it is possible to earn a few thousand dollars each month from this side hustle. To achieve this, you need to create multiple pieces of content like ebooks and courses that generate recurring income for you.
To sell information products, focus on niches with significant problems that need solving. In the fitness niche, for example, you can create a workout course or a diet plan with a recipes ebook. By addressing people’s burning problems, you can provide value and guide them towards a solution. The best part is that you can make money while helping people.
#8. Earn Passive Income as an Instagram Influencer
However, you can still establish a personal brand based on your own talents. For instance, if you have a keen fashion sense or excel at baking, you can cultivate a following on Instagram and become an influencer. Alternatively, if you prefer to avoid the limelight, you can focus on your dog or photography and still attract a following. There are various ways to monetize your Instagram account, such as sponsored posts, Instagram takeovers, or selling products on your website.
The average influencer charges between $200 to $400 per post, though rates can vary depending on audience size.
To increase your followers on Instagram, it is important to maintain consistency in the content you post, the frequency of your posts, and the timing of your posts. By establishing a predictable pattern, people will know what to expect from your page and you can attract new followers. It is important to note that monetization may not happen immediately, so focus on growing your followers by posting multiple times a day, every day.
#9. Become a Virtual Assistant
Top-side hustles have a common characteristic: high demand. A virtual assistant is someone who works remotely instead of in an office. They can assist with tasks like administration, social media, and bookkeeping. Business owners have increasingly sought virtual assistants for various projects. As a virtual assistant, you can specialize in many different areas. In the past, I’ve hired virtual assistants for social media and customer service. Many other businesses worldwide rely on virtual assistants to grow and maintain their brands.
Virtual assistants can make varying amounts of money depending on their chosen payment structure. Some virtual assistants earn a set monthly amount, while others are paid by the hour. The amount you can earn may be limited by the number of hours you can work each week. Earnings can range from minimum wage to $35 an hour, depending on your skills and experience.
When starting as a virtual assistant, you can find clients on websites like Upwork. However, branching out on your own as an independent contractor could lead to better results. It might be harder to start, but you can earn more money this way. You can offer your services by joining Facebook groups for businesses or online retailers.
#10. Polywork Through Selling Your Photography
Photography can be a side hustle if you have a camera and basic Photoshop skills. You can sell your pictures to local publications or on platforms like Foap. You can also make money by adding your photography to products like canvases, T-shirts, and phone cases. Additionally, you can seek clients for wedding, pet, or product photography.
As a photographer, your earnings can vary. Selling pictures online can earn you a few hundred or thousand dollars each month. Wedding photography can bring in a couple thousand dollars or more per event. Consider working as a weekend photographer or running workshops as additional sources of income in this field.
To sell your photography on a stock photo site, take and upload many pictures. This will increase your chances of being discovered. Make sure to use the right tags to make your photos easy to find. Taking more pictures will also help you improve your photography skills faster. It’s a win-win situation.
#11. Get a Part-Time Job
If you prefer trading time for money, you can consider getting a part-time job. Some side job ideas to make money include being a dog walker, babysitter, restaurant server, receptionist, administrative assistant, or barista. You can also find part-time jobs online that are related to your industry. For example, if you work full-time as a marketer, you can take on a part-time social media gig. The only drawback of a part-time job is that you have to invest your time in exchange for money.
The average income for most part-time jobs tends to be around the minimum wage, but there are some higher-paying side hustles available if you do some research.
When searching for a part-time job, consider browsing job sites for evening and weekend opportunities. It is important to prioritize a flexible schedule to avoid exhaustion and burnout from working a full day and then additional hours during the week.
How to Start a Side Hustle
1. Make a list of what you’re interested in moonlighting as.
2. Decide early if you will invest money.
3. Make sure there are no conflicts of interest.
4. Schedule time for your side hustle.
