70 side hustle ideas, from delivery apps and local jobs to freelance skills and AI, each with what it pays from a real source, how to start and the tools to use.
These side hustle ideas are all paid work you can do beside your main job, on your own hours, to earn extra money.
I started with one. In 2013 I had a part-time job at a bank and a blog I worked on at night. My first online sale was a $65 affiliate commission. A year later my first virtual summit brought in over $20,000, and I quit the bank on November 28, 2014, the same day I made over $5,000 in all-access pass sales.
Most side hustles pay a lot less than that, and that's fine. The median side hustler in the US makes $200 a month (Bankrate, 2025). What matters is picking one that fits the hours you really have, and knowing what it pays before you start.
So every idea below shows what it pays, with the source, how fast you get paid and who can do it.
In this guide, you'll learn:
- What a side hustle is, and what most people really make from one
- How my side hustle became my full-time work
- 70 side hustle ideas in six groups, each with what it pays from a real source, how fast it pays, how to start, the tools and the mistakes to avoid
- The side hustles that pay the most per hour
- How side hustle income is taxed in the US
Pick the group that matches what you have today: free hours, a car, a skill, something to sell, an audience or an interest in AI.
TL;DRKey takeaways
What is a side hustle?
A side hustle is work you do outside your main job for extra income. You choose when you work, and you can stop when you want. That's what makes it different from a second job with a fixed schedule.
Most side hustles fall into one of five kinds:
- Gig apps: you take jobs through an app, like delivering groceries or testing websites, and get paid per task.
- Local services: you work for people near you, like pet sitting, cleaning or tutoring.
- Freelance skills: you sell a skill online, like writing, design or bookkeeping, to clients anywhere.
- Things you sell: you sell products, from resold finds to printables and handmade goods.
- An audience or a business: you build something that earns while it grows, like a channel, a newsletter or a course.
Here's what side hustlers in the US really make, by Bankrate's numbers:
The gap between the median and the average says it all: most people earn a little, and a few earn a lot. The ones who earn a lot usually sell a skill at a good price or build something they own.
How my side hustle became my full-time work
I didn't plan to quit. My blog was a side project, and I learned online marketing by interviewing people who were better at it than me.
Then I hosted my first virtual summit, The Branding Summit, in 2014. It made over $20,000, and on launch day alone I made over $5,000 in all-access pass sales. That was the day I quit my bank job.
Since then, summits, courses, affiliate promotions and consulting have paid my way while I've lived in Cancun, Barcelona, London and now Panama City. My full numbers are in my guide to 108 ways to make money online.
The lesson I took from it: a side hustle grows when you put the money and the hours back into it, and you quit when it already pays.
Find your side hustle in two minutes
Answer six questions about your skills, time and budget, and get your top three side hustles with a plan for your first week.
Answer 6 quick questions about your skills, your time and how you like to work. Get the 3 side hustles that fit you best, each with a plan for your first week.
Question 1 of 6
Side hustles you can start this week
These need little or no money and no special skills. Most run through an app that sends you work, so you can start earning as soon as you're approved. They pay by the task, so your hours set your income.
1. Shop and deliver groceries with Instacart
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).
You get an order in the app, shop for it at the store, and drive it to the customer. You pick the orders you want, so you can work a couple of hours after your job or a full Saturday.
It fits you if you have a car, a smartphone and a few free hours at times when people order groceries.
Tools: you work through Instacart itself. Track your mileage and costs in a simple spreadsheet from day one, since they cut what you owe in taxes.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Counting your pay without your costs. Gas, wear on your car and taxes come out of what you earn.
- Taking every order. Big orders far from home can pay less per hour than short ones nearby.
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
2. Deliver packages with Amazon Flex
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).
You sign up for delivery blocks, usually a few hours long, pick up packages from an Amazon station and deliver them with your own car. The block and its pay are set before you start, so you know what a shift is worth.
It fits you if you have a car with space for packages and want set hours rather than order-by-order work.
Tools: everything runs in the Amazon Flex app. Use your phone's maps, and keep a mileage log for taxes.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Picking blocks too far from home. The drive to the station is unpaid.
- Forgetting the costs of your car. Work out what you keep per hour after gas and wear.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed · Age: 21+ on Amazon Flex
3. Deliver food with DoorDash or Uber Eats
What it pays: a fee per order plus tips. Employed driver/sales workers, the BLS group that includes food delivery drivers, earn a median of $18.64 an hour in the US (BLS, May 2025).
You pick up meals from restaurants and drop them at people's doors, by car, bike or scooter in some cities. Lunch and dinner are the busy times, which fit well around a day job.
It fits you if you know your area and want to earn in the evenings or on weekends, with no schedule to keep.
Tools: the apps themselves. Some drivers run both apps to wait less between orders.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Accepting every order. Short trips with a tip usually pay more per hour than long ones without.
- Driving at slow hours. You earn when people order, so learn your area's rush times.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
4. Drive people with Uber or Lyft
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).
You drive passengers in your own car when you turn the app on. You choose when to drive, so it fits around a weekday job.
It fits you if you have a newer car, a clean driving record and like talking to people, or at least don't mind it.
Tools: the driver apps, and a phone mount and charger. Uber lists its requirements by city on its own site.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Skipping the insurance question. Ask your insurer how your policy covers driving for an app.
- Counting fares as profit. Your car's costs and taxes come out of every trip.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed · Age: your state's minimum to drive for Uber, with 1 year of driving experience, or 3 years if you're under 25
5. Test websites and apps
What it pays: a fee per test. UserTesting sends each payment to PayPal 14 days after you upload the test (UserTesting).
Companies pay to watch real people use their website or app while they think out loud. Each test takes a short block of time, so it fits into a lunch break.
It fits you if you have a computer with a microphone, a quiet room and can say what you think while you click.
Tools: the tests come through UserTesting, and Respondent runs paid research interviews too. A good headset makes your recordings easier to follow.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Guessing on screener questions. Honest answers get you more tests over time.
- Going quiet during a test. Your comments are the product 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
6. Help train AI
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).
AI companies pay people to write, rate and fix the answers their models give. You log in, pick tasks and work when you want, which is why it's one of the easiest side hustles to fit around a job.
It fits you if you write clearly and know a subject well, like coding, math, law, medicine or a second language.
Tools: the work runs on platforms like DataAnnotation and Outlier. Read each one's pay and rules on its own site first.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Paying to join. Real AI training platforms don't charge you.
- Counting on it as steady income. Projects open and close, so keep it as extra money.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps
7. Transcribe and caption
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).
You turn recordings into text and captions. AI writes the first draft now, so the job is fixing names, numbers and anything it misheard.
It fits you if you type fast, have a good ear and like quiet, detailed work you can do in short sessions.
Tools: Descript makes a draft transcript you can correct quickly, and Rev and TranscribeMe are where many people start. Clean up messy text with the transcript cleaner.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Trusting the AI draft. Check every name and number before you submit.
- Working without headphones. You'll miss words that 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
8. Resell things online
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).
You buy things below what they're worth, at thrift stores, garage sales and clearance racks, and sell them online for more. Start by selling what you already own and don't use.
It fits you if you like hunting for deals and can photograph and ship a few items a week.
Watch: Chris Koerner on how to start reselling with no money.
Tools: sell on eBay for almost anything, Poshmark for clothes and Whatnot for live selling. Write listings with ChatGPT, and clean product photos with the product photo background remover.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Buying what you like instead of what sells. Check sold listings before you buy.
- Letting stock pile up. Lower the price on anything that hasn't sold in a month.
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
9. Do data entry
What it pays: an hourly rate. On Upwork, data entry specialists typically charge $10 to $20 an hour, and the median is $13 (Upwork). Employed data entry keyers in the US earn a median of $19.88 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
You type, copy and clean up information for businesses: product lists, contacts, invoices and spreadsheets. It's simple work you can do in the evenings.
It fits you if you're accurate, fast at typing and comfortable in spreadsheets.
Tools: find work on Upwork and Fiverr, and use ChatGPT or Claude to clean and sort data faster.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Answering "data entry" job ads that ask you to pay for training. That's a common scam.
- Charging too little for too long. Raise your rate as you get faster.
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
10. Clip videos for creators
What it pays: a fee per clip, or pay per view on clipping programs. Clips are short-form video editing, and searches for short-form video editing grew 27% and Reels editing 57% on Fiverr in the six months to April 2026 (Fiverr). On Upwork, video editors typically charge $6 to $25 an hour (Upwork).
You cut the best moments of long videos, like podcasts and streams, into short clips for TikTok, Reels and Shorts. Creators pay because clips bring them new viewers.
It fits you if you watch a lot of one kind of content and can spot the moment people will share.
Tools: OpusClip finds the moments, and Submagic or CapCut add captions and cuts. Add captions for free with the video caption generator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Clipping without permission. Work with the creator or their official program.
- Burying the hook. The first second decides whether anyone watches.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: per clip or per view, by the creator
Side hustles in your neighborhood
Local work pays by the hour or by the job, and people near you need it every week. These don't scale like an online business, but you can start them this weekend, and many grow into a small business with regular clients.
11. Pet sit and walk dogs
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).
You walk dogs, drop in to feed cats, or stay with pets while their owners travel. Walks fit before or after work, and overnight stays pay the most.
It fits you if you love animals and are home or nearby at the times owners need help.
Tools: most sitters find clients on Rover, and keep repeat clients by text. Make a simple flyer for your area in Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Skipping a meet-and-greet. Meet every pet before the first booking.
- Taking more pets than you can handle. One bad walk can cost you every review you have.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
12. Babysit
What it pays: an hourly rate. Employed childcare workers in the US earn a median of $16.82 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Parents need sitters for date nights, weekends and after school. Regular families give you steady evening work around a day job.
It fits you if you're good with kids, reliable, and free at the times parents go out.
Tools: Care.com connects you with families, and a shared calendar keeps regular bookings straight.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Not agreeing on the rules first. Ask about bedtimes, screens, food and who to call.
- Undercharging for more kids. Agree on a rate for each extra child up front.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
13. Clean homes
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).
You clean homes and short-term rentals, usually on a set day each week or between guests. Short-term rental hosts need a clean between guests, often at short notice.
It fits you if you're thorough, physically fit and like work you can see the results of.
Watch: Codie Sanchez meets two 19-year-olds who started a window cleaning business with $0.
Tools: find clients through Taskrabbit and local groups, and keep your checklist and bookings in Notion.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Pricing by the hour forever. A set price per home rewards you for getting faster.
- Skipping a written list of what's included. It prevents most disagreements.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
14. Do yard work and pressure washing
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).
You mow lawns, trim hedges, rake leaves and pressure wash driveways and decks. Weekends are when homeowners want it done, so it fits around a weekday job.
It fits you if you like working outside and can get basic equipment to people's homes.
Watch: Codie Sanchez on why pressure washing makes a strong small business.
Tools: find jobs on Taskrabbit and in neighborhood groups, and show your work with before and after photos. Make a flyer in Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Buying expensive gear before you have clients. Rent it or borrow it at first.
- Quoting without seeing the job. Ask for photos or visit before you price it.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
15. Help people move
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).
You load and unload trucks, carry furniture and pack boxes. Many moves happen on weekends, which fits well around a job.
It fits you if you're strong, careful with other people's things and have weekend mornings free.
Tools: Taskrabbit sends you local jobs. Bring straps, gloves and a dolly to work faster and safer.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Lifting what you can't. One injury costs you more than the job pays.
- Skipping a quick call before the move. Ask about stairs, elevators and heavy pieces.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
16. Do odd jobs and handyman work
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).
You assemble furniture, hang TVs and shelves, and fix small things around people's homes. Small jobs add up, and people book a handyman they trust again and again.
It fits you if you're handy with tools and can turn up on weekends or evenings.
Tools: Taskrabbit is where people book this work, and a good drill and level cover most jobs.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Taking jobs that need a license. Leave electrical and plumbing work to licensed pros where your state requires it.
- Guessing at the time. Price by the job once you know how long each one takes.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: some helps
17. Detail cars
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).
You clean cars inside and out, at the owner's home or office. A mobile service needs no shop, so you can start with a few hundred dollars of supplies.
It fits you if you like making things look new and can work outside on weekends.
Watch: Chris Koerner on starting a mobile detailing business with $500.
Tools: take bookings by text or a simple booking page, and show before and after photos on social media. Make your price list in Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Offering too many packages. Two clear options sell better than eight.
- Forgetting water and power. Ask clients what you can use before you arrive.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed
18. Tutor students
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).
You help students with a subject, for school, exams or a language, online or at their home. After-school and evening hours fit well around a day job.
It fits you if you know a subject well and can explain it simply to someone who's stuck.
Tools: Preply finds students for you, and Gemini and NotebookLM turn your notes into quizzes and study guides.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Teaching everything. A clear subject and level gets you booked faster.
- Doing the homework for them. Parents pay for better grades, not finished worksheets.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: yes · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps
19. Teach music or art lessons
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).
You teach an instrument, singing, drawing or painting, at your home, the student's home or online. Weekly students give you steady income on evenings and weekends.
It fits you if you play or make art well and enjoy watching beginners get better.
Tools: teach online with a good microphone, and book lessons with a shared calendar. Canva makes simple practice sheets.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Charging by the lesson only. Monthly packages keep students coming.
- Teaching every level. Pick beginners or advanced students and get known for it.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: optional · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps
20. Train people one to one
What it pays: a fee per session or a monthly package. Employed fitness trainers and instructors in the US earn a median of $22.67 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
You train clients in a gym, a park or their home, or coach them online with a program and check-ins. Many clients train early or after work, which fits around a job.
It fits you if you know training well, ideally with a certification, and like helping people stick with it.
Tools: plan programs in Notion or a spreadsheet, and record form videos on your phone. Take payments with Stripe.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling single sessions. Monthly packages keep clients long enough to see results.
- Training anyone without a health check. Ask about injuries and conditions first.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: optional · From anywhere: no · Experience: real expertise
21. Photograph events, families and products
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).
You shoot portraits, families, events and products for small businesses. Most shoots happen on weekends, and editing fits into your evenings.
It fits you if you have a good camera, an eye for light and the patience to direct people.
Watch: Adam Erhart on how to market a photography business and get more clients.
Tools: edit in Adobe Lightroom, and upscale with Topaz Labs. Remove backgrounds for product shots with the product photo background remover.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Giving away every photo you take. Deliver your best edited set, not hundreds of raw files.
- Shooting without a contract. Agree on what's included and when they'll get the photos.
Start: some money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: some helps
22. Plan events
What it pays: a planning fee or a share of the budget. Employed meeting and event planners in the US earn a median of $61,160 a year (BLS, May 2025).
You plan birthdays, small weddings, company events and online events for busy people. Much of the work is calls and planning you can do in the evenings, with the event itself on a weekend.
It fits you if you're organized, calm under pressure and good at keeping many people on schedule.
Tools: keep plans and checklists in Notion, send calendar invites with AddEvent, and run online events on StreamYard. Brainstorm formats with the virtual event idea generator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Planning without a deposit. Take part of the fee up front.
- Promising what vendors control. Confirm every booking in writing.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: some helps · Paid: per event
23. Rent out a room on Airbnb
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).
You host guests in a spare room, a guest house or your home while you travel. Once your listing and cleaning are set up, it earns with only a few hours of work a week.
It fits you if you have space you don't use, live where travelers come, and your lease and local rules allow short-term rentals.
Watch: Codie Sanchez on what a tiny home can earn on Airbnb.
Tools: host on Airbnb, write your listing and guest messages with ChatGPT, and find a local cleaner for turnovers.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Skipping the rules. Many cities require a permit or limit short-term rentals.
- Hiding flaws in your photos. Honest listings get better 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
24. Lead tours and local experiences
What it pays: a fee per person or per group. Employed tour and travel guides in the US earn a median of $17.83 an hour (BLS, May 2025). If you list on Airbnb as an experience, Airbnb typically keeps a 20% service fee (Airbnb).
You show visitors your city: a food walk, a photo tour, a hike or a class in something you're good at. Weekends are when travelers book, so it fits around a job.
It fits you if you know your city well, love meeting people and can tell a good story while you walk.
Tools: list on Airbnb, and plan your stops and stories in Notion. Take great photos of each tour for your listing.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Making it too long. Two or three hours sells better than a full day.
- Ignoring local permits. Some cities license tour guides.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: some helps
Side hustles that sell a skill you have
If you can write, design, edit, organize or sell, someone online will pay you for it by the hour or by the project. These pay the most per hour of any side hustle, and you can do them from anywhere, in the evenings and on weekends.
Most people start on Upwork or Fiverr. Upwork pays hourly work 10 days after each weekly billing period (Upwork), and Fiverr says your earnings are ready to withdraw once an order is complete (Fiverr). See what you keep after fees with the Upwork fee calculator and the Fiverr fee calculator.
25. Write for businesses
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).
You write the words businesses use to sell: emails, sales pages, ads and product descriptions. One clear page can be a weekend project, which makes it a good side hustle to start with.
It fits you if you write clearly and like working out why people buy.
Watch: Alex Cattoni on how to become a freelance copywriter and land your first client.
Tools: draft with Claude or ChatGPT, polish with Grammarly, and test headlines with the headline analyzer.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Sending the AI's first draft. Clients can tell, and it won't sell.
- Writing before you know the buyer. Ask the client who buys and why.
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
26. Design for clients
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).
You design logos, social posts, packaging and brand kits for small businesses. Small projects fit into evenings, and good clients come back every month.
It fits you if you have an eye for design and can take feedback without taking it personally.
Watch: The Futur meets Sean Campbell, a self-taught graphic designer at 17.
Tools: design in Canva and Figma, finish in Adobe Photoshop, and make vector graphics with Recraft.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Offering unlimited revisions. Agree on two rounds up front.
- Showing work in every style. A focused portfolio wins the clients you want.
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
27. Edit videos
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).
Many creators and businesses would rather not edit their own videos. You cut long videos, add captions and turn one video into several short clips, often with AI doing the slow parts.
It fits you if you like editing and can keep to a weekly delivery schedule.
Watch: Kevin Stratvert's best CapCut editing tips.
Tools: I edit in Descript. CapCut, Submagic, OpusClip and VEED handle captions and clips.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Missing deadlines. Creators post on a schedule, and late edits lose clients.
- Editing without a brief. Ask for examples of videos the client loves.
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
28. Work as a virtual assistant
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).
You take tasks off a busy person's plate: inbox, calendar, research, bookings and simple admin. A few hours a week for one client is a common start.
It fits you if you're organized, reliable and quick to reply.
Watch: Gillian Perkins on how to become a virtual assistant in 30 days.
Tools: find clients on Upwork, where I find mine, and OnlineJobs.ph. Keep processes in Notion and draft emails with ChatGPT.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Saying yes to everything. A clear list of tasks keeps your hours under control.
- Staying general. Specialists, like medical or ecommerce assistants, earn more.
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
29. Manage social media for businesses
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).
You plan, post and reply on a business's social accounts each week. Scheduling tools let you batch a week of posts in one evening.
It fits you if you already know what works on Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn.
Watch: Neil Patel on how to become a social media manager.
Tools: schedule with Metricool or Buffer, write for X and LinkedIn in Typefully, and design in Canva. Show results with the engagement rate calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Promising followers. Promise posts and reporting, and let results speak.
- Taking clients in five industries. One niche makes every post faster.
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
30. Keep the books for small businesses
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).
You record income and expenses, match bank statements and keep the numbers ready for tax time. Most of it happens once a month, so a few clients fit beside a job.
It fits you if you're careful with numbers and like things to add up.
Watch: Gillian Perkins covers bookkeeping basics for small businesses.
Tools: many small clients bank with Mercury, get paid through Stripe and pay abroad with Wise. Sort transactions faster with ChatGPT.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Giving tax advice you're not qualified for. Leave filings to an accountant.
- Waiting until year-end. Monthly books catch mistakes while they're small.
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
31. Translate
What it pays: a fee per word or per project. On Upwork, translators typically charge $15 to $25 an hour, and the median is $20 (Upwork). Employed interpreters and translators in the US earn a median of $60,170 a year (BLS, May 2025).
You translate documents, websites and videos between languages you know well. AI makes the first draft fast, and you make it right.
It fits you if you're fluent in two languages and know one subject well, like law, medicine or marketing.
Tools: draft with Gemini, ChatGPT or Claude, then check every line. Find clients on Upwork and Fiverr.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Delivering the machine draft. Clients pay for your judgment.
- Translating every subject. Specialists earn more and work faster.
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
32. Proofread and edit
What it pays: a fee per word or per project. On Upwork, proofreaders typically charge $18 to $35 an hour, and the median is $25 (Upwork). Employed editors in the US earn a median of $77,920 a year (BLS, May 2025).
You fix errors and tighten writing for authors, bloggers and businesses. Jobs are short and steady, which suits evenings.
It fits you if you notice every typo and enjoy making writing clearer.
Tools: Grammarly catches the obvious, and your judgment does the rest. Check reading ease with the Flesch-Kincaid calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Rewriting the author's voice. Fix the errors and keep how they sound.
- Taking rush jobs at normal rates. Charge more for next-day work.
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
33. Build websites
What it pays: a fee per site and a monthly fee to keep it up. On Upwork, web designers typically charge $15 to $30 an hour, and the median is $21 (Upwork).
Small businesses need a simple, fast website, and AI tools now build most of it from a prompt. You design it, set it up and keep it running for a monthly fee.
It fits you if you have good taste, can talk to business owners, and like solving small technical problems.
Watch: Kevin Stratvert builds a website with AI.
Tools: I build with Claude Code and Codex. Framer and Lovable build sites from a prompt. Grade the result with the landing page grader.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Building before the content is ready. Ask for text and photos first.
- Leaving out monthly upkeep. Hosting and updates turn one project into steady income.
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
34. Do voiceovers
What it pays: a fee per project or per finished minute. On Upwork, voice actors typically charge $40 to $85 an hour, and the median is $55 (Upwork). On Upwork, audiobook narrators typically charge $25 to $55 an hour, and the median is $40 (Upwork).
You record narration for ads, explainer videos, audiobooks and e-learning. A short script takes an evening, and good voices get hired again.
It fits you if you have a clear voice and a quiet place to record.
Tools: clean your audio with Adobe Podcast or the background noise remover, and edit in Descript. Find jobs on Fiverr and Upwork.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Recording in an echoey room. Blankets and a closet beat an expensive mic.
- Letting a client use your voice to train AI without a deal. Read every contract.
Start: a little money · 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
35. Edit podcasts
What it pays: a fee per episode or a monthly package. On Upwork, podcast producers typically charge $20 to $31 an hour, and the median is $25 (Upwork). Employed broadcast, sound and video technicians in the US earn a median of $60,150 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Many podcasters would rather not edit. You clean the audio, cut the mistakes, write show notes and make short clips for social media.
It fits you if you have a good ear and can deliver every week without reminders.
Tools: Riverside records it and Descript edits it, and I use both. Remove filler words with the filler word remover.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Over-editing. Keep the host's personality in.
- Skipping clips. Short clips are what most podcasters want next.
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
36. Design YouTube thumbnails
What it pays: a fee per thumbnail or a monthly package. Searches for YouTube thumbnails grew 52% on Fiverr in the six months to April 2026 (Fiverr). On Upwork, graphic designers typically charge $15 to $35 an hour, and the median is $25 (Upwork).
A thumbnail is a big part of whether people click, so creators pay for good ones. Each takes an hour or two, which makes it an easy side hustle to fit in.
It fits you if you watch a lot of YouTube and can tell why one thumbnail works and another doesn't.
Watch: Peter McKinnon pays a designer $200 for one thumbnail and shows why it's worth it.
Tools: I make thumbnails with ChatGPT's GPT Image 2, Higgsfield and Magnific, and fal.ai runs the newest image models. Test the title next to it with the YouTube title checker.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Using too many words. Three words or fewer read at a glance.
- Ignoring the title. The thumbnail and title should tell one story together.
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
37. Design presentations
What it pays: a fee per deck. On Upwork, presentation designers typically charge $35 to $60 an hour, and the median is $45 (Upwork).
Founders, consultants and sales teams need decks that look sharp. A deck is a short project you can finish over a weekend.
It fits you if you can make complicated ideas simple to look at.
Watch: Pat Flynn on how to make a great slide presentation.
Tools: Gamma turns an outline into slides, then finish in Canva or Google Slides. The presentation generator makes a first draft in seconds.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Cramming text onto slides. One idea per slide.
- Designing before the story is clear. Ask for the outline first.
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
38. Write resumes and LinkedIn profiles
What it pays: a fee per resume or per package. On Upwork, resume writers typically charge $25 to $65 an hour, and the median is $42 (Upwork).
Job seekers pay to stand out. You rewrite resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles, usually as a package you can finish in an evening or two.
It fits you if you write well and know what hiring managers look for.
Watch: Jeff Su shares 5 rules for a great resume.
Tools: draft with Claude, polish with Grammarly, and design in Canva. The LinkedIn headline generator gives a quick first draft.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Using the same template for everyone. Tailor each resume to the jobs the client wants.
- Promising interviews. Promise a stronger resume.
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
39. Offer SEO
What it pays: a monthly retainer or a fee per audit. On Upwork, SEO experts typically charge $15 to $35 an hour, and the median is $21 (Upwork).
You help businesses show up in Google: fixing pages, finding keywords and writing content that ranks. Audits are short projects, and monthly work keeps it steady.
It fits you if you've ranked a site of your own and like digging into data.
Example: Adam Enfroy made $115,788 from SEO consulting for 12 B2B clients in 2020, beside his blog.
Watch: Brian Dean teaches SEO for beginners.
Tools: research with Ahrefs or Semrush, and check pages with the SEO checker and the title and meta checker.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Promising first place on Google. Nobody controls that.
- Reporting rankings only. Show the traffic and leads that came with them.
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
40. Do customer support
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).
Online businesses need people to answer emails and chats, including evenings and weekends, which fits beside a day job.
It fits you if you're patient, write clearly and stay calm with upset customers.
Tools: most teams use help desks with AI built in, like Tidio. Find roles in the remote jobs finder.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Copying and pasting replies. Customers notice, and so do managers.
- Promising refunds you can't give. Know the rules before your first shift.
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
41. Find leads for businesses
What it pays: a fee per list, per meeting booked or a retainer. On Upwork, lead generation specialists typically charge $13 to $45 an hour, and the median is $20 (Upwork).
Businesses pay for lists of good prospects and for meetings with them. You research the right companies, find the right person and write a short first email.
It fits you if you like research and writing short messages that get replies.
Watch: Patrick Dang shares the cold email templates he uses to win clients.
Tools: gather lists with Apify, find emails with Hunter and RocketReach, and check them with the bulk email verifier.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Sending to unchecked lists. Bounced emails hurt your client's sender reputation.
- Writing long first emails. Short, specific messages get replies.
Start: a little money · 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
42. Manage online stores for brands
What it pays: a monthly retainer, sometimes plus a share of sales. Ecommerce management was the fastest-growing skill in Upwork's admin and support category in 2025, up 130% in freelancer earnings (Upwork). On Upwork, ecommerce experts typically charge $25 to $48 an hour, and the median is $30 (Upwork).
You keep a brand's store running: listings, photos, prices, orders and the emails that bring buyers back. Much of it can be done in the evenings.
It fits you if you're organized and curious about what makes people buy.
Watch: Steve Chou shows how he used ChatGPT to improve his Shopify store.
Tools: most stores run on Shopify or Etsy. Write listings faster with Claude or ChatGPT, make product images in Canva, and connect tools with Zapier.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Changing prices without the owner's okay. Agree on what you can change on your own.
- Reporting tasks instead of sales. Show what your work did to revenue each month.
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
43. Make UGC videos for brands
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).
UGC means user-generated content: short videos of you using a product, which brands run as ads. You don't need followers, because the brand posts the video, not you.
It fits you if you're comfortable on camera and can film a natural 30-second video with your phone.
Tools: edit in CapCut and add captions with Captions. Write hooks and scripts with ChatGPT, or with the video script generator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Filming ads that sound like ads. Brands pay for videos that feel like a real recommendation.
- Pitching every brand. Pick one niche so your samples match what you pitch.
Start: free · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: yes · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: when the brand pays your invoice
Side hustles you can sell online
Products keep selling while you're at work. You make or find something once, list it, and every sale after that takes little of your time. Most start free on a marketplace like Etsy or Amazon, where buyers are already searching.
44. Sell on Etsy
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).
Etsy buyers come looking for handmade, vintage and digital goods. You can start with printables you make in Canva, which ship themselves.
It fits you if you like making things and can take clear product photos.
Tools: Etsy itself, Canva for printables and mockups, and ChatGPT for titles and tags. Work out what you keep per sale with the Etsy fee calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Pricing below your costs. Count Etsy's fees and your materials in every price.
- Listing a few items and waiting. Shops with more listings get found more often.
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
45. Print on demand
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).
You design shirts, mugs and posters, and a print company makes and ships each one when someone orders. You never touch stock, so it fits around any job.
It fits you if you can come up with designs and phrases for a group of people with a shared interest.
Watch: Mark Tilbury tries print on demand for 7 days and shows what he made.
Tools: draft designs with Ideogram, Midjourney or ChatGPT's image model, and finish them in Canva. Sell on Etsy or Shopify, with a print supplier like Printful. Check your margin with the print on demand profit calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Using brands and characters you don't own. That's trademark trouble.
- Ordering no samples. Check the print quality before your customers do.
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
46. Sell digital products
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).
Templates, planners, guides and presets sell again and again with no shipping. You make the product once, on a weekend, and keep selling it.
It fits you if you know a topic well enough to save people time with a template or a guide.
Example: Maria Wendt has made $21 million all time from her digital products and courses (her video). Thomas Frank made $15,000 a month from one Notion template a few months after launch.
Watch: Maria Wendt on how she sells digital products online.
Tools: Thomas Frank sells through Lemon Squeezy and Gumroad, and Dan Koe through Stan. Find what to make with the digital product idea generator, and see Gumroad's cut with the Gumroad fee calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Building a big product first. Start small and let sales tell you what to make next.
- Selling with no way to reach buyers. An email list or audience sells more than a store page alone.
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
47. Publish low-content books
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).
Journals, planners, logbooks and coloring books have little or no text, so you can make one in a weekend. Amazon prints and ships each copy when someone buys it.
It fits you if you like design and can find a niche that wants a specific kind of journal.
Watch: Sean Dollwet makes a journal to sell on Amazon KDP with Canva and AI.
Tools: design in Canva and publish on Amazon KDP. Work out what you'll earn per copy in the KDP royalty calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Copying best-selling covers. Make yours stand out in the same niche.
- Publishing one book and stopping. A small catalog sells far more than one title.
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
48. Sell stock photos and videos
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).
Every photo or clip you upload can sell many times to businesses and creators. It's a good use of photos you take anyway.
It fits you if you already shoot photos or video and can think like a buyer looking for a picture.
Tools: edit in Adobe Lightroom, upscale with Topaz Labs, and upload to Adobe Stock and Shutterstock. Write titles and tags with ChatGPT.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Uploading photos with people and no release. Get model releases or leave them out.
- Shooting only beauty shots. Everyday scenes and work settings sell well.
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
49. Sell handmade goods
What it pays: the price of each piece. Employed craft and fine artists in the US earn a median of $55,290 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Candles, jewelry, ceramics and soap sell online and at local markets. You make in batches on weekends and ship during the week.
It fits you if you already make things people compliment, and you can make them consistently.
Watch: Steve Chou on 7 places to sell handmade goods besides Etsy.
Tools: sell on Etsy, write listings with ChatGPT, and clean photos with the product photo background remover.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Not counting your time in the price. Your hours are part of the cost.
- Making too many kinds of things. A clear style builds repeat buyers.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: none needed · Paid: weekly on Etsy by default · Age: 18+ on Etsy, or 13 to 17 through a parent's account
50. Sell your art prints
What it pays: the margin on each print. Employed craft and fine artists in the US earn a median of $55,290 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Print-on-demand companies print and ship your art as posters and canvases, so you only make the art. It's a way to earn from work you'd make anyway.
It fits you if you draw, paint or design, and have a style people would hang on their walls.
Tools: upscale for print with Topaz Labs, sell on Etsy, and make room mockups in Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Low-resolution files. Prints show every flaw, so upscale before you upload.
- Posting the art without the story. Buyers connect with the artist behind it.
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
51. 3D print and sell products
What it pays: the margin on each piece. If you design models for others instead, 3D modelers on Upwork typically charge $17 to $30 an hour, and the median is $25 (Upwork).
A home 3D printer makes organizers, replacement parts, toys and decor that sell online. Prints run on their own while you're at work.
It fits you if you like design and tinkering, and can spend a few hundred dollars on a printer.
Tools: design in Spline, sell on Etsy, and sell your design files on Printables.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling other people's designs. Check the license before you sell a print.
- Skipping quality checks. One bad print means a refund and a bad review.
Start: some money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: no · Experience: some helps · Paid: weekly on Etsy by default · Age: 18+ on Etsy, or 13 to 17 through a parent's account
Side hustles that can grow into a business
These pay slowly at first, because you're building an audience or a product. They're also the side hustles most likely to replace your job. Mine did. Give each one a year of steady work before you judge it.
52. Start a YouTube channel
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).
A video people search for can earn for years. You can film on weekends and post once a week, which fits around a job.
It fits you if you can stick to a weekly schedule and like teaching or entertaining on video.
Example: Ali Abdaal made $653,299 from YouTube ads and $598,744 from YouTube sponsorships in 2022. Pat Flynn has made $27,732 from one podcasting tutorial with a million views.
Watch: Sean Cannell sets up a YouTube channel step by step.
Tools: I find ideas with vidIQ and edit in Descript. Find videos that beat their channel's usual views with the YouTube outlier finder, and see what views pay in the YouTube money calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Quitting after 10 videos. Most channels need a year of weekly videos.
- Counting on ads alone. Add sponsors and your own offers early.
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
53. Run a faceless channel
What it pays: ad revenue share, sponsors and affiliate links, on the same YouTube terms as any channel (YouTube). Businesses pay for this work too: searches for YouTube automation faceless channels grew 239% on Fiverr in the six months to April 2026 (Fiverr).
You make videos without showing your face: voiceovers over footage, animation or screen recordings. It's the YouTube side hustle for people who'd rather stay off camera at work.
It fits you if you can research and write scripts, and don't mind learning to edit.
Example: Adavia Davis runs faceless AI channels that make roughly $40,000 to $60,000 a month, which Fortune checked against his AdSense records.
Watch: Gillian Perkins shares 8 ideas for videos without showing your face.
Tools: write scripts with ChatGPT, voice them with ElevenLabs, make visuals with Higgsfield, and edit in CapCut. Draft scripts faster with the video script generator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Posting mass-produced AI videos. YouTube doesn't pay for repetitive or mass-produced content (YouTube).
- Using music and clips you don't have rights to. One claim can block a video's earnings.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: monthly, between the 21st and 26th · Age: 18+, or a parent or guardian through AdSense
54. Post short videos
What it pays: creator programs where you qualify, brand deals and affiliate links. TikTok's Creator Rewards Program pays for videos of at least 1 minute once you have 10,000 followers and 100,000 views in 30 days (TikTok), and YouTube pays 45% of your share of Shorts ads (YouTube).
TikTok, Reels and Shorts reward one good idea a day. A short takes minutes to film, so it's easy to fit into a busy week.
It fits you if you can post often and enjoy trends in your niche.
Example: Jeff Rose made $42,035 from Facebook and Instagram payouts for his posts and reels in June 2026.
Tools: edit in CapCut, add captions with Submagic, and cut shorts from long videos with OpusClip. See what views pay in the TikTok money calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Chasing every trend. Pick trends that fit your topic.
- Building only on rented platforms. Send viewers to an email list you own.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: optional · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: monthly on the 15th on TikTok, once you pass $50 · Age: 18+ for TikTok's rewards
55. Start a blog
What it pays: display ads, affiliate links, sponsored posts and your own products.
A blog post that ranks in Google brings readers for years. You can write one or two posts a week in the evenings.
It fits you if you like writing and can wait a year for search traffic to build.
Example: Adam Enfroy made $812,718 from his blog business in 2020. My own blog is where my online business started, in 2013.
Watch: Adam Enfroy's masterclass on starting a blog.
Tools: Ryan Robinson writes with RightBlogger, which he co-founded, and researches with Ahrefs. My guides are how to start a blog and how to make money blogging.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Writing about everything. A focused blog ranks and sells faster.
- Waiting for traffic before building a list. Add an email signup from day one.
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
56. Start a newsletter
What it pays: sponsors, paid subscriptions, affiliate links and your own products. On Substack, writers keep 90% of paid subscriptions, minus card fees (Substack).
An email newsletter is an audience you own. One issue a week fits into a weekend morning, and sponsors and paid subscribers come as it grows.
It fits you if you can write something useful every week for one kind of reader.
Example: Justin Welsh made $795,000 from sponsors in his weekly newsletter since 2019 (his breakdown).
Watch: my interview with Ryan Levesque on quiz funnels that add 1,200 email subscribers a day.
Tools: Justin Welsh, Pat Flynn and Dickie Bush use Kit, Dan Koe uses beehiiv, and Tim Denning uses Substack. See what a list can earn with the Substack money calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Skipping weeks. A steady schedule is what readers and sponsors pay for.
- Selling sponsors too early. Grow trust first, then sell the attention.
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
57. Start a podcast
What it pays: sponsors, listener support, premium episodes and your own offers. Spotify's Partner Program pays 50% of the ad revenue from its ads in your episodes, once your show reaches 2,000 hours listened and 1,000 listeners in 30 days (Spotify).
A podcast builds trust like nothing else, and guests open doors. One episode a week can be recorded on a weekend.
It fits you if you like conversations and can keep a weekly schedule.
Example: John Lee Dumas made $126,550 from podcast sponsorships in January 2024.
Watch: Pat Flynn's complete tutorial on starting a podcast.
Tools: I record in Riverside and edit in Descript. Price your ads with the podcast sponsorship calculator, and read my guide on how to make money podcasting.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Launching with one episode. Three give new listeners a reason to subscribe.
- Skipping video. Post every episode on YouTube too.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: optional · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: when sponsors pay
58. Grow an Instagram account
What it pays: brand deals, subscriptions, gifts and your own offers. Businesses are paying for Instagram work: searches for Instagram services grew 147% on Fiverr in the six months to April 2026 (Fiverr).
Brands pay creators with engaged followers in their niche. Posts and Reels can be batched on a weekend.
It fits you if you have a clear niche and can post consistently.
Example: Ali Abdaal made $37,061 from Instagram and TikTok brand deals in 2022.
Watch: Vanessa Lau on growing Instagram followers without ads.
Tools: I use ManyChat to answer DMs automatically. Canva and CapCut make posts and Reels. Make carousels with the Instagram carousel generator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Buying followers. Brands check engagement, and fake followers kill it.
- Posting without a link to anything you own. Every profile needs a next step.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: optional · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: when brands pay
59. Earn from affiliate links
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.
You recommend products you use and earn a commission when people buy through your link. It works best with a blog, a channel or a newsletter, and it's how I made my first money online.
It fits you if you already review or recommend tools and products.
Example: Pat Flynn has made over $1 million in commissions from just five products, by 2022.
Watch: my interview with affiliate marketer Charles Ngo.
Tools: find programs with the affiliate program finder, and work out what a promotion pays with the affiliate commission calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Promoting what you haven't tried. One bad recommendation costs your audience's trust.
- Hiding the commission. The FTC asks you to make any paid relationship with a brand obvious (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
60. Coach one to one
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).
You help people get a result you've gotten yourself, on video calls. Two or three clients fit around a job, and coaching pays well per hour.
It fits you if you've solved a problem others are still stuck on.
Example: Vanessa Lau made $30,000 from one-to-one coaching in 2019.
Watch: Iman Gadzhi on building an online coaching business.
Tools: take payments with ThriveCart, record calls with Granola, and shape your offer with the grand slam offer generator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Coaching everyone on everything. A clear result for one kind of person sells.
- Undercharging for too long. Results justify higher prices.
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
61. Consult
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).
Companies pay for expertise they don't have in-house. A few hours a week of advice can pay more than a full day at a job.
It fits you if you have years of experience in an industry and know what its problems cost.
Example: Justin Welsh made $1.17 million from consulting since 2019 (his breakdown).
Watch: my interview with Nick Reese on positioning yourself as an expert so you can charge premium prices.
Tools: invoice through Stripe, research clients with Claude and Gemini, and price with the value equation calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Working for your current employer's clients. Check your contract first.
- Selling hours. Sell a result with a clear price.
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
62. Create an online course
What it pays: course sales, bundles and payment plans.
A course turns what you know into a product you sell again and again. My course Virtual Summit Mastery made $60,000 on its first launch, from an email list of 1,500 people, and well over $1 million before I sold it.
It fits you if you've helped people get a result and can teach the steps.
Example: Justin Welsh made $1.6 million from The Creator MBA in its first six days in January 2024 (his breakdown).
Watch: Pat Flynn on creating a profitable online course, step by step.
Tools: I sold mine through ThriveCart, which also hosts courses in ThriveCart Learn. Pat Flynn and Gillian Perkins use Teachable. Run your numbers in the online course revenue calculator, and read my guide on how to create an online course.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Recording before anyone buys. Pre-sell first.
- Making it too long. Students pay for the result, not the hours of video.
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
63. Host a virtual summit
What it pays: all-access passes, sponsors, and commissions on the speakers' offers.
A virtual summit is an online event where experts give talks for free for a few days, and you sell lifetime access. It's how I quit my job: my first summit made over $20,000 in 2014.
It fits you if you like organizing and can invite 15 to 30 experts in one topic.
Watch: my step-by-step blueprint for hosting a virtual summit.
Tools: I record every interview in Riverside and edit in Descript, and I sold my passes through ThriveCart for years. Follow my guide on how to host a virtual summit.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Inviting speakers without an audience. Speakers who share the event bring the signups.
- Running it without an offer. The all-access pass is where the money comes from.
Start: a little money · Time: more than 15 hours a week · On camera: optional · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: every business day through Stripe · Age: 13+ on Stripe, with an adult on the account under 18
AI side hustles
AI is the fastest-growing kind of side hustle. Freelancer earnings from AI video work grew 329% on Upwork in 2025 (Upwork), and searches for Claude Code specialists grew 938% on Fiverr in six months (Fiverr). These use AI tools to do work businesses already pay for, faster.
64. Make AI video ads for brands
What it pays: a fee per ad or a monthly package. AI video generation and editing was the fastest-growing skill on Upwork in 2025, up 329% in freelancer earnings (Upwork), and searches for AI UGC video ads grew 265% on Fiverr in the six months to April 2026 (Fiverr). On Upwork, motion graphics designers typically charge $18 to $35 an hour, and the median is $25 (Upwork).
You make short ads with AI video tools instead of a camera crew. Each ad is a small project you can finish in an evening.
It fits you if you know what makes people stop scrolling.
Tools: Higgsfield, which I use for my thumbnails, makes AI video too, and Kling and Google Flow turn a prompt into a scene. Add a presenter with HeyGen and cut it in CapCut. Write hooks with the viral hook generator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Sending ads with AI mistakes in them. Check every label, hand and word on screen.
- Skipping the AI label when a platform asks for one.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: per ad, or monthly
65. Make AI images for brands
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).
You make product photos and ad images with AI from one photo of the product. A set for one store is a few evenings of work.
It fits you if you have an eye for what looks good.
Watch: Kevin Stratvert on making images with Google's Nano Banana.
Tools: I make images with ChatGPT's GPT Image 2, Higgsfield, Magnific and fal.ai. Write prompts with the AI image prompt generator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Changing the product. Labels, logos and colors must match the real thing.
- Ignoring the license. Check each tool's terms for commercial use.
Start: a little money · Time: under 5 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: none needed · Paid: per set, or monthly
66. Build AI automations for businesses
What it pays: a setup fee and a monthly fee. AI integration grew 178% on Upwork in 2025, by freelancer earnings (Upwork), and searches for n8n AI automation grew 125% on Fiverr in the six months to April 2026 (Fiverr). On Upwork, AI developers typically charge $30 to $150 an hour, and the median is $90 (Upwork).
You connect a business's apps so the boring work runs itself: leads into the CRM, invoices into the books, replies drafted by AI. Setups are projects you can do on weekends, and the monthly upkeep is light.
It fits you if you like making things work together and can explain them simply.
Tools: I build with Claude Code and Codex, and connect apps with Zapier, Make or n8n.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Automating a messy process. Fix the process first.
- Building without monitoring. Set alerts for when a step fails.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: per project, then monthly
67. Build AI chatbots
What it pays: a setup fee and a monthly fee. On Upwork, chatbot developers typically charge $30 to $61 an hour, and the median is $45 (Upwork). AI chatbot development grew 71% on Upwork in 2025 (Upwork).
A chatbot answers customers on a website or in DMs, day and night. You build it once and charge to keep it updated.
It fits you if you can write clear answers and like testing until something works.
Tools: I use ManyChat for Instagram DMs. Chatbot Builder AI and Pickaxe build chatbots without code.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Letting it make things up. Give it the real answers and a way to reach a person.
- Selling it without a demo. Show it answering the client's own questions.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: per project, then monthly
68. Build AI voice agents for businesses
What it pays: a setup fee and a monthly fee per agent. Searches for AI voice agents grew 49% on Fiverr in the six months to April 2026 (Fiverr). Upwork doesn't price voice agents yet, and chatbot developers, the closest skill it prices, typically charge $30 to $61 an hour, with a median of $45 (Upwork).
A voice agent answers a business's phone like a person: it books appointments and takes messages. Local businesses that miss calls are the easiest clients.
It fits you if you like setting things up and can write a natural phone script.
Example: I've built two voice agents myself: one on ElevenLabs in my cloned voice, and an open-source one trained on 142 minutes of my own recordings. My guide on how to build an AI voice agent walks through both.
Tools: ElevenLabs and Synthflow build voice agents without code, and n8n or Make connect them to calendars.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Letting the agent guess. Give it real prices, hours and answers.
- Skipping the rules on recorded calls. Check the consent laws where your client works.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: a setup fee, then monthly
69. Build apps and tools for clients with Claude Code
What it pays: a fee per project and a monthly fee to keep it running. Searches for Claude Code specialists grew 938% on Fiverr in six months, and searches for vibe coding grew 61% (Fiverr). On Upwork, AI developers typically charge $30 to $150 an hour, and the median is $90 (Upwork).
Claude Code and Codex write and test code from plain-English instructions. You use them to build the internal tools and small apps businesses never had a developer for.
It fits you if you can turn a business problem into clear steps. You don't need to be a coder to start.
Example: the 700+ free tools on this site are my own builds, made with Claude Code and Codex.
Watch: Kevin Stratvert's Claude Code tutorial for beginners.
Tools: I build with Claude Code and Codex. Cursor and Replit are other ways in. Write clearer instructions with the Claude Code prompt generator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Shipping code you haven't tested. Click through every screen first.
- Selling the method instead of the result. Clients pay for the hours it saves them.
Start: a little money · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: per project, then monthly
70. Write for businesses with AI
What it pays: fees per piece or a monthly retainer. On Upwork, content writers typically charge $15 to $40 an hour, and the median is $25 (Upwork).
Businesses need blog posts, emails and social posts every week. AI drafts fast, and you make the writing sound like them.
It fits you if you can edit AI drafts into something a real person would write.
Tools: draft with Claude or ChatGPT, polish with Grammarly, and catch robotic phrasing with the AI slop checker.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Sending unedited AI text. Readers spot it, and so do clients.
- Charging per word. Charge per piece, since AI made words cheap.
Start: free · Time: 5 to 15 hours a week · On camera: no · From anywhere: yes · Experience: some helps · Paid: weekly on Upwork, 10 days after each work week · Age: 18+ on Upwork
The side hustles that pay the most per hour
Here's what the side hustles in this guide pay per hour, highest first. For online skills, it's the median rate freelancers charge on Upwork. For local work, it's the median wage employees earn in the same job, from the BLS, which is a fair guide to what you can charge:
The best-paying online side hustles per hour ($)
Upwork · Median rates freelancers charge, from each skill's rate page, October 2026
- Median per hour
- $100
- Source
Upwork, business coaches
- Median per hour
- $90
- Source
- Upwork, AI developers
- Median per hour
- $55
- Median per hour
- $55
- Source
- Upwork, voice actors
- Median per hour
- $45
- Median per hour
- $45
- Median per hour
- $42
- Source
- Upwork, resume writers
- Median per hour
- $30
- Source
- Upwork, copywriters
- Median per hour
- $30
- Median per hour
- $25
- Median per hour
- $25
- Source
- Upwork, proofreaders
- Median per hour
- $25
- Median per hour
- $25
- Source
- Upwork, content writers
- Median per hour
- $23.84
- Median per hour
- $22.67
- Source
BLS, fitness trainers
- Median per hour
- $22.50
- Median per hour
- $21.47
- Source
- BLS, photographers
- Median per hour
- $21
- Source
- Upwork, SEO experts
- Median per hour
- $21
- Source
- Upwork, web designers
- Median per hour
- $20.84
- Source
- BLS, tutors
- Median per hour
- $20.24
- Source
- BLS, taxi drivers
- Median per hour
- $20
- Median per hour
- $20
- Source
- Upwork, translators
- Median per hour
- $20
- Median per hour
- $19.35
- Median per hour
- $18.82
- Source
- BLS, landscaping workers
- Median per hour
- $18.64
- Median per hour
- $18 to $25 for most drivers
- Source
Amazon Flex
- Median per hour
- $17.83
- Median per hour
- $17.23
- Source
- BLS, vehicle cleaners
- Median per hour
- $17.07
- Median per hour
- $17.00
- Source
- BLS, animal caretakers
- Median per hour
- $16.82
- Source
- BLS, childcare workers
- Median per hour
- $15
- Source
- Upwork, bookkeepers
- Median per hour
- $15
- Median per hour
- $14
- Median per hour
- $13
- Median per hour
- $13
Skills pay the most per hour, and local work is the quickest to start. The best plan for many people is both: local work for cash now, and a skill on the side that pays more later.
Side hustle taxes in the US
Side hustle income is taxable, whether it comes through an app, a marketplace or cash (IRS). Here are the three rules most side hustlers need to know:
- Self-employment tax: if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more in a year, you owe self-employment tax of 15.3%, for Social Security and Medicare, on top of income tax (IRS).
- Estimated taxes: no employer withholds tax from side income, so you may need to pay estimated taxes during the year (IRS).
- Form 1099-K: payment apps and marketplaces must send you one when your payments for goods or services top $20,000 in more than 200 transactions, and they may send one for less. Either way, you report the income (IRS).
Keep a simple record of what you earn and spend from your first sale, and talk to an accountant once the money grows. I'm not a tax advisor, and the rules where you live may differ.
How to turn a side hustle into a full-time income
I kept my bank job until my side hustle paid more than it did. Here's the path I'd follow again:
That's how my summits went from a side project to my income, and how I've worked from anywhere since 2014.
FAQs about side hustles
Answers to the questions people ask most about side hustles.
The best side hustle fits the hours you have and uses something you already have, like a skill, a car or a spare room.
If you need money soon, local work and gig apps pay the fastest.
If you want it to grow, sell a skill or build something you own, like a newsletter or a course.
Skills pay the most per hour: on Upwork, the median rate is $100 an hour for business coaches and $90 for AI developers.
Local work pays less per hour but starts faster, from about $17 to $24 an hour by BLS medians.
The table in this guide ranks the side hustles by what they pay per hour.
The median side hustler in the US makes $200 a month, and the average is $885, according to Bankrate.
Most people earn a little, and a few earn a lot.
The ones who earn the most sell a skill at a good price or build something they own.
Testing websites, helping train AI, transcription, pet sitting, tutoring and most freelance skills cost nothing to start.
Delivery apps need only the car you already have.
Every idea in this guide shows what it costs to start.
Yes, most side hustles in this guide fit evenings and weekends, and many let you pick your own hours.
Check your employment contract for rules on outside work and conflicts of interest.
Start with a few hours a week, and add more only when it pays.
Yes, in the US side hustle income is taxable, whether it comes through an app, a marketplace or cash.
If your net self-employment earnings reach $400 in a year, you also owe self-employment tax of 15.3%.
Keep records from your first sale, and check with an accountant as your income grows.
Freelance skills like writing, design, bookkeeping and video editing all work from home.
So do testing websites, helping train AI and selling digital products.
Renting a room on Airbnb earns from home too.
Yes, but many platforms set age rules.
Upwork requires you to be 18, while Fiverr and Etsy let 13 to 17 year olds sell through a parent's account.
Local jobs like babysitting, pet sitting, yard work and tutoring don't need a platform account, so they're easier to start young.
Gig apps and local jobs can pay in your first week, since you're paid per task.
Freelancing pays as soon as you land your first client.
An audience or a product usually takes months before it pays well.
The big ones are real companies that pay, like Instacart, Amazon Flex, UserTesting and Upwork.
Avoid any app or job that asks you to pay first to unlock work or bigger payouts.
Real side hustles never ask you to pay to get paid.
Final thoughts on side hustles
There are 70 side hustle ideas in this guide, and the best one is the one that fits the hours you really have.
If you need money this month, take a local job or a gig app. If you want a side hustle that grows, sell a skill or build something you own, and give it a year.
Keep reading:
- 108 ways to make money online
- 50 best online side hustles
- How to make money with AI
- How to host a virtual summit
- How to start a blog
Your next step: take the side hustle quiz and start the first idea it gives you this week.
Navid Moazzez
AI business strategist & AI OS builder
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. Learn more.
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