How to make extra money: 13 side hustles to consider

You may be looking to pick up a few side hustles in your free time. And earning supplemental cash outside of your full-time gig can help you pay off debt, fund a vacation or achieve financial freedom.

Many of the ideas below can be done from home or offer a flexible schedule. Read on to learn about ways to use your skills and interests to earn extra money and even passive income.

Key takeaways

• From selling your skills to renting out your home or vehicle, there are many ways to earn extra money.
• Consider your experience, interests and passions when looking for side hustle opportunities.
• The amount of money you earn might depend on the type of side hustle you pursue, the experience you have and the time you spend working.

Freelancing is when an individual offers services to a company or client on a contractual basis. Freelancers are typically self-employed and don’t receive employee benefits from the company they’re contracted with. Two popular freelance platforms are Upwork and Fiverr.

Depending on your qualifications, you could become a freelance writer, editor, graphic designer, marketer or other skill-specific role. The pay and duration of the contract may vary depending on the gig. If you’re employed full-time by a company and considering freelancing, you might want to check with your employer to ensure there’s no conflict of interest.

If you have artistic capabilities, you might try selling your artwork. Whether you’re a jewelry maker, illustrator or embroiderer, you can list your items online or sell them in person. Consider setting up a stand at a craft fair or listing your goods on a marketplace like Etsy.

When selling your work online, you may have to pay a listing fee or commission to the platform. Keep this in mind when setting your prices.

If you have expertise in a particular subject, you could share your knowledge by tutoring everyone from young students to adults. You may choose to offer your tutoring services in person or find online tutoring gigs through websites like Tutor.com.

Depending on the tutoring job, there might be requirements for your level of education or training. Some tutoring websites also have an application process and require a minimum number of hours of availability per week. More experience and certifications can give tutors a competitive advantage.

If you’re fluent in another language, you could use this skill to bring in supplemental income. Websites like Gengo can give you access to customers looking for translation services.

Before you start working, you'll likely need to take a qualification test. The amount of pay will vary by the type of job you’re translating. Freelance translators can typically set their own hours and choose the projects they’re best suited for.

Fast typists can transcribe audio files for extra income. Transcriptionists often work for businesses like legal firms and medical companies and for individuals like podcast creators. Websites like Scribie and Rev offer transcription opportunities.

Take note of any style guides you may need to follow. A grammar quiz may be required before you can pick up jobs on a transcription platform. A transcriptionist is typically paid by the hour or by the number of audio files they transcribe.

If you have a knack for child care, babysitting can be a well-paying side gig. You could start by offering your services through social media community pages or word of mouth. You can also create a profile on websites like Care.com and UrbanSitter to expand your reach.

Keep in mind that your local or state government may have regulations for child care providers, so it’s best to do your research beforehand. Prior child care experience and certifications in CPR or advanced child care could ensure you’re well prepared for the job.

You can maximize your love for animals by offering caretaking services for pets. Consider marketing yourself on social media community pages or creating a profile on an app like Rover to connect with pet owners seeking care for their furry friends.

Pet caretaking can be a flexible way to make money with minimal startup costs and might include dog walking, drop-in visits and house sitting. And people who can board pets in their homes usually have the highest earning potential.

Ride-sharing is a transportation service in which individual drivers can offer rides to passengers for a fee. And platforms like Uber allow car owners to connect with passengers and earn extra income.

Ride-sharing can be a full-time or part-time gig. Certain requirements typically must be met, like having a valid license, undergoing a background check and owning a current insurance policy. The amount you’ll earn per ride depends on the type of vehicle and length of the trip. Remember to factor in the cost of gas and maintenance when projecting your earnings potential.

Another way to earn money by driving is to deliver goods to customers. Uber Eats is one example among many delivery platforms that you can sign up with to become a courier.

The pay varies by vendor, but you’ll typically get paid for each delivery. And many delivery service platforms allow their drivers to earn tips. Some services also let individuals with bikes or scooters become couriers—so even if you don’t have a car, you can still find delivery gigs. In most cases, a background check is required to deliver on these platforms.

If you have experience in a service-based industry like plumbing, painting or cleaning, you can sign up for jobs or tasks on apps like Handy and TaskRabbit. You could also advertise on social media community pages and post flyers around your neighborhood.

You’ll likely be paid by the job and type of project. Note that you might need prior paid experience and an approved identification card.

Depending on your living space, you may be able to subsidize some expenses by temporarily renting out a portion of your home. You can become a host on a website like Airbnb and rent out a room in your house, a structure on your property or your entire space while you’re away.

The amount of money you can expect to earn varies by the size of the space you’re renting out, the amount of time you host for and your geographic location. It’s important that you check local and state guidelines—and with your HOA, if you have one—before listing your space to ensure you’re compliant with regulations.

If you don’t need your car on a consistent basis, you can rent it out on a car-sharing website like Turo. Car sharing allows drivers to forgo a rental car company and drive an individual’s vehicle to a destination instead.

The amount of money you can make renting out your car varies based on the number of trips and type of vehicle you offer. To participate, your car must meet minimum requirements like mileage thresholds and certain safety standards. Renting your car might lead to additional wear and tear on the vehicle, so keep this in mind when calculating potential profit. You’ll want to check with your auto insurance provider about coverage or consider purchasing a host protection plan through a company like Turo.

If you have an audience on your personal blog or social media profile, there are ways to make money by promoting products or services to your platform and earning a commission when your followers make purchases.

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is an advertising method that uses a person’s or organization’s platform—known as an affiliate—to market a company’s products or services. Companies may reach out to an affiliate to begin a working relationship. Or an affiliate can reach out to a brand. Sales are tracked from affiliate links. An affiliate marketer’s projected income often depends on the amount of reach and influence they have.

Blog advertising

If you have a blog following, you can earn money from advertisements and sponsorships. Connecting with a platform like Google AdSense can help you automate ads on your website and maximize earnings. The pay typically depends on how much traffic the blog gets.

There are many different ways to earn additional income and maintain a flexible schedule. Some of these opportunities can even be done online from the comfort of your home. When choosing a side hustle, try using your passions and skills to find a job that can bring you both extra cash and enjoyment.

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