44 ways to make extra money beside your day job in 2026
44 ways to make extra money beside a full-time job, grouped by evenings, weekends and work that keeps paying, with what each pays and the hours it takes.
by Navid Moazzez·Updated Oct 3, 2026·36 min read·Navid.me is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this site, I may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.This is a list of 44 ways to make extra money beside your day job, in the hours you already have free.
That's how I started. I had a part-time job at a bank and built a blog in the evenings. My first online sale was a $65 affiliate commission, and a year later my first virtual summit made over $20,000.
Most people don't want to quit their job. They want an extra few hundred dollars a month without burning out. So every way below shows what it pays, with the source, how many hours a week it takes and when in your week it fits.
In this guide, you'll learn:
- How much extra money people really make beside a job
- 44 ways to make extra money, grouped by when you have time: evenings, weekends, set-up-once, and your own job's skills
- What each way pays per hour, with sources
- Your job's rules on side work, and the taxes on extra income
- How to keep a side income from burning you out
Start with the group that matches your free time, and give one way a few months before you add another.
TL;DRKey takeaways
How much extra money can you make beside a job?
Most people make a little, and some make a lot:
Your hours and your hourly rate decide where you land. Here's what different targets take:
- At $20 an hour
- 10 hours
- At $40 an hour
- 5 hours
- At $20 an hour
- 25 hours
- At $40 an hour
- 12.5 hours
- At $20 an hour
- 50 hours
- At $40 an hour
- 25 hours
- At $20 an hour
- 100 hours
- At $40 an hour
- 50 hours
Here's what $500 a month takes at the median rates for the skills in this guide:
What $500 a month takes, by hourly rate ($ an hour)
Upwork · Median rates freelancers charge, October 2026. The hours are my math, rounded, before fees
That's why skills matter: they double what each free hour is worth. Work out your own numbers with the hourly to salary calculator.
Find your way in two minutes
Answer six questions about your skills, time and budget, and get your top three ways with a plan for your first week.
Ways to make extra money in the evenings
These are online, so you can do them after work from your couch or desk. Most take 5 to 10 hours a week.
1. Freelance your skill
Freelancing is selling a skill, like writing, design or editing, to clients online. Most freelance work runs on deadlines, not set hours, so it fits evenings.
It fits you if you have a skill businesses pay for and can deliver on time.
What it pays: hourly, day or project fees. Upwork pays hourly work 10 days after each weekly billing period, and fixed-price work after the client approves it, plus a five-day security hold (Upwork).
Watch: Aasil Khan's step-by-step roadmap to start freelancing.
Tools: find clients on Upwork and Fiverr, where I hire freelancers myself, and see what you keep with the Upwork fee calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Taking every project slows you down, since one kind of client gets you hired faster.
- Promising daytime replies sets an expectation you can't meet beside a job, so tell clients when you work.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: weekly on Upwork, 10 days after each work week · Age: 18+ on Upwork
2. Write for businesses
Emails, product pages and blog posts can be written in an evening and sent before bed.
It fits you if you write clearly, from teaching, marketing or any job that's taught you to.
What it pays: a fee per page or a monthly retainer. On Upwork, copywriters typically charge $19 to $45 an hour, and the median is $30 (Upwork). Employed writers and authors in the US earn a median of $76,910 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: Joanna Wiebe on becoming a top 1% copywriter.
Tools: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok for drafts and Grammarly to polish.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Sending unedited AI drafts loses clients, who can often tell.
- Taking rush jobs on work nights wears you out for your day job.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: weekly on Upwork, 10 days after each work week · Age: 18+ on Upwork
3. Design for clients
Logos, social posts and flyers are small evening projects, delivered by email.
It fits you if you have an eye for design.
What it pays: a fee per project or a monthly package. On Upwork, graphic designers typically charge $15 to $35 an hour, and the median is $25 (Upwork). Employed graphic designers in the US earn a median of $62,960 a year (BLS, May 2025). Logo design grew 44% on Upwork in 2025 (Upwork).
Watch: Edgy Katrina's realistic week as a freelance graphic designer.
Tools: Canva, Figma and Recraft.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Offering unlimited revisions lets one client fill your evenings.
- Deadlines that land on your busiest workdays set you up to miss them.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: weekly on Upwork, 10 days after each work week · Age: 18+ on Upwork
4. Edit videos
Creators send footage, and you edit it in the evening for weekly delivery.
It fits you if you can keep a weekly deadline.
What it pays: a fee per video or a monthly package. AI video generation and editing was the fastest-growing skill on Upwork in 2025, up 329% (Upwork). Most video editors on Upwork charge $6 to $25 an hour, and the most experienced earn a median of $100 an hour (Upwork). Employed film and video editors in the US earn a median of $75,420 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: Lerin Nic's full CapCut course for beginners.
Tools: Descript, CapCut and OpusClip.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Taking more clients than your evenings allow leads to missed deadlines.
- Editing without a brief leads to rework and unhappy clients.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: weekly on Upwork, 10 days after each work week · Age: 18+ on Upwork
5. Tutor in the evenings
After-school and evening hours are when students want help, which fits a day job well.
It fits you if you know a subject well, from school, nursing or your profession.
What it pays: a fee per lesson, at a rate you set. Preply keeps the first trial lesson with each new student, then 18% to 33% of each lesson, falling as your teaching hours grow (Preply). Employed tutors in the US earn a median of $20.84 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: Vivian Zhu on the trial lessons behind over $37,000 earned from 1,568 Preply lessons in three years.
Tools: Preply, and Gemini for practice sheets.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Booking every evening burns you out, so leave some nights off.
- Teaching every subject makes you harder to book.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: yes · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps
6. Work as a virtual assistant
Many business owners need help with email and admin a few hours a week, and evenings work for tasks that aren't urgent.
It fits you if you're organized and reliable.
What it pays: an hourly rate or a monthly package. On Upwork, virtual assistants typically charge $10 to $20 an hour, and the median is $13 (Upwork). Specialists earn more: medical virtual assistance grew 44% on Upwork in 2025 (Upwork). Employed administrative assistants in the US earn a median of $48,310 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: Life and Numbers on becoming a virtual assistant with no experience.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Clients who expect replies during your workday clash with your job, so set your hours up front.
- Saying yes to every task lets your hours grow out of control.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: weekly on Upwork, 10 days after each work week · Age: 18+ on Upwork
7. Keep the books for small businesses
Monthly bookkeeping takes a few evenings per client, so two or three clients fit beside a job.
It fits you if you work in accounting or love numbers.
What it pays: a monthly fee. On Upwork, bookkeepers typically charge $11 to $25 an hour, and the median is $15 (Upwork). Employed bookkeeping clerks in the US earn a median of $50,670 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: Bookkeepers on the first step when you start a bookkeeping business.
Tools: ChatGPT to sort transactions, and clients' Stripe and Mercury accounts.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Tax advice you're not qualified for can hurt clients.
- Taking too many clients at tax time can swamp your evenings.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: weekly on Upwork, 10 days after each work week · Age: 18+ on Upwork
8. Manage social media for businesses
You batch a week of posts in one evening and schedule them.
It fits you if you're good at social media.
What it pays: monthly retainers. On Upwork, social media managers typically charge $14 to $35 an hour, and the median is $20 (Upwork). Demand for Instagram services grew 147% on Fiverr in the six months to April 2026 (Fiverr), and social media strategy was among Upwork's fastest-growing marketing skills in 2025, up 36% (Upwork).
Watch: Jade Beason's full guide to starting a social media marketing agency.
Tools: Metricool or Buffer, and Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Replying to comments all day at work can get you in trouble with your employer.
- Promising follower numbers sets you up to fail, since no one controls the algorithm.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: weekly on Upwork, 10 days after each work week · Age: 18+ on Upwork
9. Help train AI
You pick tasks when you have an hour, with no shifts or clients.
It fits you if you write well or know a subject, like nursing, law or coding.
What it pays: pay per hour. DataAnnotation lists $25 to $50 an hour for generalists and $40 to $150+ an hour for coders and other experts (DataAnnotation). Demand is real: freelancer earnings from AI data annotation and labeling grew 154% on Upwork in 2025 (Upwork).
Watch: Justin Bryant checks whether DataAnnotation's AI jobs are legit.
Tools: the platforms themselves.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Paying to join is a warning sign, because real platforms don't charge you.
- Counting on steady work is risky, because projects open and close.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: within days on DataAnnotation, weekly on Outlier
10. Join paid research studies
Researchers pay to talk to people with your job. Your day job is often what qualifies you.
It fits you if you're a professional researchers want to hear from, like a nurse, an engineer or a manager.
What it pays: a fee per study. Respondent shows an average payout of $75, paid 48 hours after each session (Respondent).
Tools: Respondent.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Taking studies about your employer's products without checking your contract can break it.
- Stretching the truth to qualify can cost you access.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: yes · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: 48 hours after each session
11. Test websites and apps
Tests take a short block of time, so a few fit into an evening.
It fits you if you can talk through what you think.
What it pays: a fee per test. UserTesting sends each payment to PayPal 14 days after you upload the test (UserTesting).
Watch: PaidFromSurveys on getting paid to test websites with UserTesting.
Tools: UserTesting and a headset.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Guessing on screener questions can get you fewer tests over time.
- Going quiet during a test leaves out the comments they pay for.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: optional · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: by PayPal, 14 days after each test · Age: 18+ for PayPal in the US
12. Transcribe audio
Log in when you're free and work an hour at a time.
It fits you if you type fast.
What it pays: a fee per audio minute. Rev pays $0.40 to $1.10 per audio minute for transcripts and $0.54 to $1.10 for captions, weekly through PayPal (Rev). On Upwork, transcriptionists typically charge $12 to $22 an hour, and the median is $15 (Upwork). Employed court reporters and live captioners in the US earn a median of $72,420 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: Justin Bryant tests whether Rev's transcription jobs are worth it.
Tools: Descript and good headphones.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Trusting the AI draft lets errors with names and numbers through.
- Working when you're tired leads to errors, and errors cost you your rating.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: weekly by PayPal on Rev · Age: 18+ for PayPal in the US
13. Do customer support shifts
Some online businesses need support in the evenings and on weekends, when their full-time staff are off.
It fits you if you're patient and write clearly.
What it pays: an hourly rate. On Upwork, customer service representatives typically charge $10 to $19 an hour, and the median is $14 (Upwork). Employed customer service representatives in the US earn a median of $21.53 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: Omowunmi on companies hiring remote customer support with no experience.
Tools: help desks like Tidio, and the remote jobs finder.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Shifts that run late into work nights leave you tired for your day job.
- Copying and pasting replies makes customers feel ignored.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: weekly on Upwork, 10 days after each work week · Age: 18+ on Upwork
14. Make UGC videos for brands
You film short product videos with your phone in the evening, and the brand runs them as ads.
It fits you if you're natural on camera.
What it pays: a fee per video, paid by the brand, at a rate you set. Brands also hire this work as video ads: searches for AI UGC video ads grew 265% on Fiverr in the six months to April 2026, and searches for video editing grew 36% (Fiverr).
Watch: Samantha Dixon's step-by-step guide to becoming a UGC creator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Ads that sound like ads get skipped.
- Pitching too many brands at once spreads your samples thin.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: yes · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: when the brand pays your invoice
15. Make AI images for brands
A set of product images takes an evening or two with AI tools.
It fits you if you have an eye for good images.
What it pays: a fee per image set or a monthly package. AI image generation and editing grew 95% on Upwork in 2025, by freelancer earnings (Upwork). On Upwork, graphic designers typically charge $15 to $35 an hour, and the median is $25 (Upwork).
Watch: Kevin Stratvert on making images with Google's Nano Banana.
Tools: ChatGPT's GPT Image 2.5, Higgsfield and Magnific, which I use myself.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Changing the product in the image makes it unusable for the brand.
- Ignoring license terms can put a client at risk.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: per set, or monthly
Ways to make extra money on weekends
Weekends suit local work: people move, throw events, travel and need help at home on Saturdays. These pay by the hour or by the job, usually the same day.
16. Drive with Uber or Lyft
Friday nights and weekends are when you have time, and you can cash out after each trip with Uber's Instant Pay (Uber).
It fits you if you have a car that meets the apps' rules.
What it pays: a fare per trip plus tips. Employed taxi drivers in the US earn a median of $20.24 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: PlayStyle Nick breaks down a first week of earnings as an Uber driver.
Tools: the driver apps, and a log of your miles and costs.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Counting fares as profit overstates your pay, because your car's costs and taxes come out.
- Driving tired after a long week is dangerous.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed · Paid: after every trip with Instant Pay · Age: your state's minimum to drive for Uber, with 1 year of driving experience, or 3 years if you're under 25
17. Deliver groceries or food
Weekend grocery orders and dinner rushes fit around a weekday job, and you pick the orders you take.
It fits you if you have a car and a smartphone.
What it pays: a fee per order plus tips. Instacart pays shoppers weekly by direct deposit, offers Instant Cashout when you need the money sooner, and lets you keep 100% of customer tips (Instacart).
Watch: Kinsley Finance's tips for a first day as an Instacart shopper.
Tools: the apps, and a mileage log for taxes.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Long trips can pay less per hour than short ones nearby.
- Forgetting gas and taxes overstates what you earn.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed · Paid: weekly, or right away with Instant Cashout · Age: 18+ on Instacart
18. Deliver packages with Amazon Flex
You book delivery blocks in advance, so a Saturday morning block fits around your week.
It fits you if you have a car with room for packages.
What it pays: a set amount per delivery block, shown before you take it. Amazon says most Flex drivers earn $18 to $25 an hour, depending on where and when they drive (Amazon Flex).
Watch: Package Pursuit on still doing Amazon Flex, and why.
Tools: the Amazon Flex app.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Taking blocks far from the station costs you, because the drive there is unpaid.
- Ignoring your car's costs hides what you really make.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed · Age: 21+ on Amazon Flex
19. Help people move
Many moves happen on weekends, and a few hours of lifting pays the same day.
It fits you if you're strong and free on Saturday mornings.
What it pays: an hourly rate. Employed hand laborers and movers in the US earn a median of $19.35 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: Taskrabbit, straps and a dolly.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Lifting more than you can handle risks an injury.
- Not asking about stairs can leave you underpaid for a hard move.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
20. Do yard work
Homeowners want their yards done on weekends, which is when you're free.
It fits you if you like working outside.
What it pays: a fee per job. Employed landscaping and groundskeeping workers in the US earn a median of $18.82 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: Lawn Legacy on a full day of solo mowing that brought in $575.
Tools: your own tools and a flyer from Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Buying gear before you have clients puts you in the red.
- Quoting without seeing the yard can leave you working for less than you planned.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
21. Do odd jobs and handyman work
Furniture, shelves and small repairs pile up for people all week, and they book help on Saturdays.
It fits you if you're handy.
What it pays: a fee per job or an hourly rate. Employed general maintenance and repair workers in the US earn a median of $23.84 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: Taskrabbit and a good drill.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Work that needs a license where you live can get you fined.
- Guessing the time leads to bad quotes.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: some helps
22. Clean homes and rentals
Short-term rental hosts need a clean between guests, and weekends are turnover days.
It fits you if you're thorough.
What it pays: a fee per clean or an hourly rate. Employed housekeeping cleaners in the US earn a median of $17.07 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: UpFlip visits a cleaning business making $23,013 a week.
Tools: a checklist in Notion.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Pricing by the hour forever punishes you for getting faster.
- Working without a list of what's included leads to disagreements.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
23. Detail cars
Weekends are when car owners are home and their cars are parked.
It fits you if you like making things look new.
What it pays: a fee per car, at a price you set. Employed vehicle cleaners in the US earn a median of $17.23 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: 3.7Million builds a mobile car detailing business from scratch.
Tools: a price list from Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Too many packages confuse buyers.
- Forgetting to ask about water and power can stop the job before it starts.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
24. Walk dogs and pet sit
Owners travel on weekends and holidays, which is when you're free to sit.
It fits you if you love animals.
What it pays: a fee per walk, visit or night. Employed animal caretakers in the US earn a median of $17.00 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: Rover.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Skipping the meet-and-greet can lead to surprises on the first booking.
- Taking too many pets at once makes accidents more likely.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
25. Babysit
Date nights and weekends are when parents go out, so it fits a weekday job well.
It fits you if you're good with kids.
What it pays: an hourly rate. Employed childcare workers in the US earn a median of $16.82 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Tools: Care.com.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Not agreeing on the rules first can upset the parents later.
- Charging one rate for any number of kids undersells your work.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
26. Photograph events and families
Weddings, parties and family shoots happen on weekends, and editing fits weeknights.
It fits you if you have a good camera and an eye for light.
What it pays: a fee per shoot. Employed photographers in the US earn a median of $21.47 an hour (BLS, May 2025). On Upwork, photographers typically charge $25 to $45 an hour, and the median is $30 (Upwork).
Watch: Shoot To Get Paid on the photography side hustle they'd start.
Tools: Adobe Lightroom and Topaz Labs.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Delivering every raw file weakens your best work.
- Shooting without a contract invites disputes.
Start: some money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: some helps
27. Teach music or art lessons
Saturday lessons are popular with families, and weekly students give you steady extra income.
It fits you if you play or make art well.
What it pays: a fee per lesson. Employed self-enrichment teachers, who teach music, art and other classes, earn a median of $22.50 an hour in the US (BLS, May 2025). On Upwork, music teachers typically charge $16 to $30 an hour, and the median is $20 (Upwork).
Tools: a shared calendar and practice sheets from Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling single lessons only makes your income uneven.
- Teaching every level makes you harder to recommend.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: optional · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps
28. Resell weekend finds
Garage sales and flea markets happen on weekends. Buy there, and list during the week.
It fits you if you love hunting for deals.
What it pays: the margin on each item. On eBay, the money is usually available 1 to 2 days after the buyer pays, and daily payouts start about 2 days after that (eBay).
Watch: Chris Koerner on how to start reselling with no money.
Tools: eBay, Poshmark and Whatnot.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Buying what doesn't sell ties up your money.
- Letting stock pile up ties up your money and your space.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed · Paid: daily or weekly on eBay · Age: 18+ on eBay
Ways to make extra money that keep paying once they're set up
These take evenings and weekends to build, then earn while you're at work. They start slower and pay longer.
29. Sell digital products
A template, a preset pack or a guide you make on a weekend can sell every day you're at your job.
It fits you if you can save people time with what you know.
What it pays: one-time sales on your site or a marketplace. Gumroad keeps 10% plus $0.50 of each sale you bring in yourself, and 30% of sales from its own marketplace (Gumroad).
Watch: Yale Jeannette's full masterclass on selling digital products on Etsy.
Tools: Sell on ThriveCart, which I used for years, or on Stan Store, Eden, Whop, Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy. Find what to make with the digital product idea generator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Making a big product first delays your first sale.
- Having no way to reach buyers leaves the product unseen.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: every business day through Stripe · Age: 13+ on Stripe, with an adult on the account under 18
30. Vibe code your own app or tool
Vibe coding means building software by describing what you want in plain English, then letting an AI agent write, run and fix the code. A small app or tool you build on weekends can charge a subscription, or bring visitors to the rest of what you sell, while you're at your job.
It fits you if you know a problem in your industry that a simple tool could fix, even without a coding background.
What it pays: subscriptions or one-time sales of what you build, or the visitors and email sign-ups a free tool brings in. Across more than 115,000 subscription apps, the median new app made about $72 a month a year after launch, the top 10% made $2,500 or more, and 17.3% reached $1,000 a month within two years (RevenueCat).
Example: the 700+ free tools on this site are my own builds, vibe coded with Claude Code and Codex. Pieter Levels vibe coded fly.pieter.com, a flight game that runs in the browser, in February 2025, and he says it reached $1 million in annual recurring revenue in 17 days (levels.io).
Watch: Starter Story on how Connor Burd, 23, vibe coded an app in 14 days that makes $20,000 a month.
Tools: I build with Claude Code and Codex. Lovable, Bolt, Replit, Base44 and Vibecode build apps from a prompt, and Google AI Studio does it with Gemini. Take payments with Stripe.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Building on company time or with your employer's data can break your contract, so build on your own time and laptop.
- Building features before anyone asks for them delays your first sale.
- Pasting API keys into a page's code lets anyone who opens the page copy them, so keep keys on the server.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: every business day through Stripe · Age: 13+ on Stripe, with an adult on the account under 18
31. Sell printables on Etsy
Printables deliver themselves, so sales come in while you're at work.
It fits you if you can design simple printables.
What it pays: sales, minus Etsy's fees: $0.20 to list an item, 6.5% of each sale, and a payment processing fee that depends on your country (Etsy). New sellers get paid weekly, every Monday, and can switch to daily, every two weeks or monthly (Etsy).
Watch: Kate Hayes on starting an Etsy shop, step by step.
Tools: Etsy, Canva and the Etsy fee calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Copying other sellers can get your listings removed.
- Ignoring Etsy's fees in your price can make a sale lose money.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: every Monday by default · Age: 18+ on Etsy, or 13 to 17 through a parent's account
32. Print on demand
You design on weekends, and the print company makes and ships every order.
It fits you if you can come up with designs for a niche.
What it pays: the margin on each item sold: your price minus the print cost and the marketplace's fees. On Etsy, that's $0.20 to list an item, 6.5% of each sale and a payment processing fee that depends on your country (Etsy).
Watch: Jensen Tung on the easiest way to start print on demand from $0.
Tools: Canva, Printful and the print on demand profit calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Brands you don't own can bring trademark claims.
- Skipping samples lets customers find the print problems first.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: weekly on Etsy by default · Age: 18+ on Etsy, or 13 to 17 through a parent's account
33. Publish low-content books
Design a journal on a weekend, and Amazon sells and ships it for years.
It fits you if you like simple design.
What it pays: royalties on each copy. Amazon KDP pays 60% of a paperback's list price at $9.99 or more, minus the printing cost: a $15 book that costs $5 to print earns $4 (Amazon KDP). Royalties arrive about 60 days after the end of the month of the sale (Amazon KDP).
Watch: Rachel Harrison-Sund on five bestselling low-content books on Amazon KDP.
Tools: Canva, Amazon KDP and the KDP royalty calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Copying covers makes yours easy to scroll past.
- Publishing one book only keeps sales small.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: monthly, about 60 days after each month on KDP
34. Sell stock photos
Photos you upload once can sell again and again.
It fits you if you already take good photos.
What it pays: a share of each license sold. Shutterstock pays 15% to 40% of each license, by six earnings levels that reset every January 1 (Shutterstock), and pays monthly, by the 15th (Shutterstock).
Watch: Wollertz Photography on making $202,067 selling stock photos.
Tools: Adobe Stock and Shutterstock.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Photos of people without releases get rejected.
- Shooting only beauty shots misses what buyers search for.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: monthly, by the 15th on Shutterstock
35. Earn from affiliate links
A review or comparison you write on a weekend can earn commissions for years. My first money online came this way.
It fits you if you already recommend products.
What it pays: a commission per sale or sign-up. Amazon Associates pays up to 10% of each sale, depending on the category (Amazon), about 60 days after the end of the month (Amazon). My biggest affiliate month came from a course, not Amazon: around $40,000 as Ramit Sethi's #1 affiliate for Zero to Launch.
Example: Maria Wendt makes $11,000 a month from affiliate links, in 2026.
Watch: Greg Gottfried's beginner tutorial for Amazon affiliate marketing.
Tools: the affiliate program finder.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Promoting what you haven't tried risks your audience's trust.
- Hiding the commission breaks the FTC's disclosure rules (FTC).
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: monthly, about 60 days after each month on Amazon
36. Start a newsletter
One email a week, written on Sunday morning, can grow into sponsors and paid subscribers.
It fits you if you can write something useful weekly.
What it pays: sponsors, paid subscriptions, affiliate links and your own products. On Substack, writers keep 90% of paid subscriptions, minus card fees (Substack).
Example: Justin Welsh made $795,000 from newsletter sponsors since 2019 (his breakdown).
Watch: Chris Koerner on the easiest way to build a local newsletter.
Tools: Kit, beehiiv or Substack.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Skipping weeks costs you readers and sponsors.
- Selling sponsors too early can cost you readers.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: through Stripe for paid subscriptions · Age: 13+ on Stripe, with an adult on the account under 18
37. Start a YouTube channel
Film on weekends, publish weekly, and old videos keep earning.
It fits you if you can stick to a weekly schedule.
What it pays: YouTube's ad revenue share, sponsors, memberships and your own offers. YouTube pays you 55% of the ad revenue on your long videos and 45% of your share of Shorts ads (YouTube), once you have 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in a year, or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days (YouTube).
Watch: Think Media's step-by-step guide to creating a YouTube channel in 2026.
Tools: vidIQ, Descript and the YouTube outlier finder.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Quitting after 10 videos stops a channel before it has time to grow.
- Counting on ads alone keeps income small.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: optional · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: monthly, between the 21st and 26th · Age: 18+, or a parent or guardian through AdSense
38. Start a blog
My blog started as an evening project beside my bank job, and it's where my business began.
It fits you if you like writing.
What it pays: display ads, affiliate links, sponsored posts and your own products.
Watch: She Dreams All Day on starting a blog in 2026, and whether it's too late.
Tools: RightBlogger, and my guide on how to start a blog.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Writing about everything slows a blog's growth.
- Blogging without an email list loses readers you can't reach again.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: monthly, by each ad network and affiliate program
39. Rent out a room
A spare room earns while you're at work, with a few hours a week for messages and cleaning.
It fits you if your lease and city allow it.
What it pays: the nightly price you set, minus Airbnb's fee. Most hosts pay 15.5% under Airbnb's single service fee, which is replacing the older 3% split fee (Airbnb). Airbnb starts your payout by the end of the business day after your guest checks in, or 28 days after check-in until you've completed two stays (Airbnb).
Watch: Robuilt on the new rules for Airbnb hosts.
Tools: Airbnb and a local cleaner.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Skipping city rules can get you fined.
- Hiding flaws in photos leads to bad reviews.
Start: some money · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed · Paid: the business day after check-in
Ways to make extra money with your job's skills
Your day job already taught you something people pay for. These often pay the most per hour, as long as your contract allows them.
40. Consult in your industry
A few hours of expert advice a month can pay more than a week of side gigs.
It fits you if you have years of experience in your field.
What it pays: day rates, projects or monthly retainers. On Upwork, business consultants typically charge $28 to $98 an hour, and the median is $55 (Upwork). Employed management consultants in the US earn a median of $101,860 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Example: Justin Welsh made $1.17 million from consulting since 2019 (his breakdown).
Watch: Frederik Pahuus on building a solo consulting business that makes $500,000 a year in profit.
Tools: Stripe to invoice and the value equation calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Consulting for your employer's clients or competitors can break your contract.
- Selling hours instead of results caps what you earn.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: optional · From anywhere: yes · Experience: real expertise · Paid: every business day through Stripe · Age: 13+ on Stripe, with an adult on the account under 18
41. Coach people in your field
Career coaching, health coaching and skills coaching run on evening video calls.
It fits you if you've solved a problem others in your field face.
What it pays: coaching packages, paid up front or monthly. On Upwork, business coaches typically charge $75 to $150 an hour, and the median is $100 (Upwork). On Upwork, life coaches typically charge $50 to $250 an hour, and the median is $100 (Upwork).
Watch: Iman Gadzhi on building an online coaching business.
Tools: ThriveCart and Granola.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Coaching everyone on everything makes you hard to buy.
- Booking calls during work hours puts your day job at risk.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: optional · From anywhere: yes · Experience: real expertise · Paid: every business day through Stripe · Age: 13+ on Stripe, with an adult on the account under 18
42. Teach an online course
What you know from your job can become a course that sells while you work. My course Virtual Summit Mastery made well over $1 million before I sold it.
It fits you if you can teach the steps of something you do well.
What it pays: course sales, bundles and payment plans.
Watch: Danie Jay on creating an online course that sells.
Tools: ThriveCart, and my guide on how to create an online course.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Teaching your employer's secrets can break your contract and cost you your job.
- Recording before anyone buys risks a course nobody wants.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: optional · From anywhere: yes · Experience: real expertise · Paid: every business day through Stripe · Age: 13+ on Stripe, with an adult on the account under 18
43. Write grant applications
Nonprofits need grants written on deadlines, and the work fits evenings and weekends.
It fits you if you write well and have worked with nonprofits.
What it pays: a fee per application or an hourly rate. On Upwork, grant writers typically charge $35 to $60 an hour, and the median is $50 (Upwork). Employed fundraisers in the US earn a median of $72,550 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Watch: The Grant Writers Collective's guide to grant writing for beginners.
Tools: Claude for drafts and Grammarly to polish.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Charging a percentage of the grant goes against the Grant Professionals Association's code of ethics, so agree on a flat fee instead.
- Missing a deadline can sink an application, since funders rarely accept late ones.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: weekly on Upwork, 10 days after each work week · Age: 18+ on Upwork
44. Write technical docs
If you work in software, healthcare or engineering, your know-how is worth a lot in documentation.
It fits you if you can explain technical things clearly.
What it pays: an hourly rate or a fee per project. On Upwork, technical writers typically charge $20 to $45 an hour, and the median is $30 (Upwork). Employed technical writers in the US earn a median of $90,390 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Mistakes to avoid:
- Writing for experts when users are beginners leaves them stuck.
- Using your employer's private material can break your contract.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: weekly on Upwork, 10 days after each work week · Age: 18+ on Upwork
Your job's rules on extra work
Before you start, check what your employer allows. Read your employment contract and handbook for three things:
- Outside work: some jobs require you to ask before taking paid work on the side.
- Conflicts: most employers don't allow work for competitors or their own clients.
- What you make: some contracts claim work you create with company time, tools or knowledge.
When in doubt, ask HR or a lawyer. Keep side work on your own time and your own laptop.
Taxes on extra money
Extra income is taxable in the US, whether it comes from an app, a client or cash (IRS). If your net earnings from self-employment reach $400 in a year, you owe self-employment tax of 15.3% on top of income tax (IRS).
Your paycheck's withholding doesn't cover side income, so set money aside from every payment. Payment apps send a Form 1099-K once your payments top $20,000 in more than 200 transactions, but the income is taxable either way (IRS). I'm not a tax advisor, so check with an accountant as the money grows.
How to make extra money without burning out
A side income only helps if you can keep it up. Here's what I'd do:
FAQs about making extra money
Answers to the questions people ask most about making extra money beside a job.
Pick one way that fits your free hours: online work like freelancing in the evenings, or local work like driving and cleaning on weekends.
Skills pay the most per hour, so start with what you already know.
Give it three months before you judge it.
Use evenings for online work and weekends for local jobs, and keep a set number of hours a week.
Check your employment contract for rules on outside work first.
The ways in this guide are grouped by when they fit.
Nurses can join paid research studies, do AI training work in medicine, tutor, or work as a medical virtual assistant.
Medical virtual assistance grew 44% on Upwork in 2025.
Check your employer's rules on outside work before you start.
Teachers can tutor, sell teaching resources and printables, write for businesses, and teach lessons in the summer.
Employed tutors in the US earn a median of $20.84 an hour, according to the BLS.
School breaks are a good time to build something that keeps selling.
Freelancing, tutoring, AI training, testing websites and selling digital products all work from home in the evenings.
My guide to 50 ways to make money from home covers each one.
Most of them cost nothing to start.
At $20 an hour, $500 a month is 25 hours, or about six hours a week.
At $40 an hour, it's half that, which is why selling a skill matters.
Delivery and local jobs can get you there in a few weekends.
Driving, delivery and local jobs pay the fastest, often the same day.
Uber lets drivers cash out after every trip, and Instacart offers Instant Cashout.
My guide to 38 ways to make money fast sorts them by how fast they pay.
Freelancing, tutoring, AI training, paid research studies and selling digital products are the main online ways.
Respondent shows an average payout of $75 per study.
Online work fits evenings best.
Yes, in the US, extra income is taxable whether it comes from an app, a client or cash.
If your net self-employment earnings reach $400 in a year, you also owe self-employment tax of 15.3%.
Set money aside from every payment, since your paycheck's withholding doesn't cover it.
Final thoughts on making extra money
There are 44 ways to make extra money beside your day job in this guide. The best one fits the hours you really have and pays enough per hour to be worth them.
Start with one, give it three months, and let the money tell you whether to keep going. That's how my blog turned into the work I've done since 2014.
Keep reading:
- 35 highest paying side hustles
- 52 easiest side hustles
- 70 side hustle ideas
- 50 ways to make money from home
- 38 ways to make money fast
Your next step: take the side hustle quiz and pick the way that fits your free hours.
Navid Moazzez
AI business strategist
Navid Moazzez helps creators and founders master AI and build their own AI Operating System (AI OS) to automate their business and life.
Navid.me is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this site, I may earn an affiliate commission. Read the affiliate disclaimer.
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