Are you always looking for new ways to make a little extra cash? Even with a full-time or part-time job, it’s a good idea to have multiple streams of income.
Maybe you’ve been wanting to start a side hustle or make more money, but you don’t know what to choose or where to start.
No worries, you’ll love these clever ideas to help you make more money. Plus, most of these ideas require little to no experience, and they’re fun, too!
Or, if you’re thinking, “I just want to make more money with the job or skills I already have,” that’s a great option too. We’ll also talk about how to make more money in your current job and how to use your day job skills to earn some extra cash on the side.
Lastly, we’ll wrap up with a few questions you can ask yourself to help you choose the option that’s best for you and get started right away.
18 Side Hustle Ideas to Make More Money
1. Become a Papa Pal
What is a Papa Pal? Glad you asked! Papa Pal is a website where you can sign up to provide companionship, meal prep assistance, or help with errands and household tasks for an older adult.
To get started, you’ll need a US-issued driver’s license and proof of insurance. After that, you’ll answer some questions, complete training, pass a background check, and then you can begin. With Papa Pals, you’ll earn $13-$18 an hour, plus bonuses.
2. Become a Notary Public
While not as exciting as some other ideas, becoming a notary public is a simple way to earn some extra money. A notary public is basically a person who oversees document signings. They make sure that the person signing is who they say they are and that they are signing of their own will.
To start, make sure that you meet your state requirements. After that, you apply, take any required courses, pass the exam, and get a bond. The process might be slightly different for each state, so make sure you follow the process for the state where you reside.
3. Become an Accountability Coach
An accountability coach is someone who helps people set appropriate goals and then checks in with them regularly to make sure they’re sticking to their plan. While this sounds simple, many of us struggle to follow through on our goals, and having outside accountability can be the difference-maker, especially if you are investing money in a coach.
If coaching sounds interesting to you, you can learn how to become an empath coach, sleep coach, personal coach, health and fitness coach, work-life balance coach, or Montessori coach.
4. Do Video or Audio Editing
If you love podcasts or YouTube but prefer to be behind the scenes, try editing! Almost a decade ago, I co-ran a podcast while working for a non-profit. After learning all the logistics, including editing, I was even offered a job editing another podcaster’s podcast!
You might even decide to start a podcast or YouTube channel of your own.
5. Grow and Sell Plants or Seeds
If you have a green thumb, you can grow and sell plants or seeds. Depending on how much space you have available, you could sell herbs like mint or basil, or grow vegetables and sell them at local farmers’ markets or from a weekend stand.
For more ideas, check out plants that are simple to grow and sell like crazy. Another option is to breed feeder roaches and sell them to pet stores.
6. Host Trivia
If you’re a social person who enjoys trivia, being a trivia host could be an ideal side gig. You could be a QuizMaster through a company like King Trivia, which pays around $25 per hour and offers paid training, according to Indeed.
Other companies to check out are Trivia Nation, Best Trivia Ever, or QuizMaster Trivia. You could also Google local trivia opportunities or go around to local bars, restaurants, or pubs and ask about organizing a trivia night.
7. Lose Weight and Stay Healthy
Get paid to lose weight and stay in shape! One option is to work with a direct sales company like Beachbody, where you can coach others and earn commission on retail sales. You could also teach fitness classes independently or through a company like Fit 4 Mom, start a fitness YouTube channel or blog, or even become a fitness influencer.
Or, if you love to walk, check out these 7 ways to get paid to walk or ways to get paid to lose weight and be healthy.
8. Manage Other People’s Social Media Accounts
Would you love to get paid to spend hours a day or week on TikTok or Instagram? Managing social media accounts can be a great way to earn some extra cash. Think about which social media platforms you enjoy and where you have the most experience, whether that’s TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, X, Pinterest, or others.
To get started, you just need to know the basics, be willing to learn, and pay close attention to analytics to understand what works and what doesn’t. You can also look into other related social media jobs.
9. Participate in a Clinical Trial
With clinical trials, you can make more money while also helping to advance science. College towns will often have flyers on billboards with potential opportunities, or you can get on the mailing list for your local university to learn about studies. Some studies are done remotely, while others will require you to live locally.
To get started and find trials or studies, check out ResearchMatch, ClinicalTrials.gov, and CenterWatch.
10. Participate in a Mock Jury
Want to put your knowledge of true crime podcasts to good use? Participating in a mock jury can be a fun side hustle you can do either in person or as an online juror. As a juror, you will help attorneys simulate a case to help them prepare.
Some companies that offer juror jobs are eJury, Nelson Recruiting, and JuryTest. Some jobs will pay by the hour (anywhere from $5 to $20 per hour), while others pay per case.
11. Rent Out Your Extra Space
Do you have any extra bedrooms, a bonus room, or unused spaces? Renting out these rooms can be a great opportunity to make more money. If you live near a stadium or downtown area, you could even let people park in your driveway for a fee. For other things to rent, check out this massive list of peer-to-peer rental platforms.
12. Rent Your Yard to Dogs
If you love pets and want to spend time with animals but don’t want the commitment of pet ownership, consider a website like Sniffspot, where you can rent out your yard to dogs and earn up to $3,000 per month.
Another option for animal lovers is to set up a profile on Rover and start offering dog walking, sitting, or boarding services.
13. Sell a Course, E-book, or Workshop
Do you have any random skills or specialized expertise? You can easily package these into an e-book or course. For instance, if you’re an excellent gardener, you could teach others how to grow specific vegetables or plants, especially those who don’t have a green thumb but want to learn.
Can’t think of an idea? Just talk to people, especially those from a different generation, and see if there’s anything you can help them learn. To start, learn how to create a course in 7 easy steps or create an e-book.
14. Sell a Yummy Treat
Do you spend your free time trying out new recipes and baked goods? If you enjoy cooking or baking and have a knack for it, you could sell your baked creations. Whip up a few of your best recipes and try selling them at your farmers’ market.
Ask around to see if there are any specialty snacks that are hard to find in your town or city, and become the go-to person for that item. Another idea is to start a charcuterie board business or try these food business ideas.
15. Sell Crochet Animals
If you’re crafty and enjoy making things, selling crocheted animals can be a surprisingly profitable side hustle. One young girl has been selling her crocheted animals at a local farmers’ market with her friends!
Here are more ideas of things to make and sell from home. Etsy is another good option if you would like to sell online.
16. Start a Substack on a Niche Subject
Do you have strong writing skills and specialized expertise? Consider starting a Substack newsletter to teach what you know or document your own experience. With a newsletter, there are dozens of ways to make money, including ad sales, sponsored content, affiliate marketing, or selling products or services.
17. Take Surveys or Participate in Focus Groups
Online surveys and focus groups are a fun and simple way to make some money. Typically, you just need internet access and either a smartphone or a computer. A few sites to check out include Mindswarms, Branded Surveys, MyPoints, Swagbucks, and InboxDollars.
A few other focus groups and survey sites worth trying are Prolific, Gauge Research, Respondent, and User Interviews.
18. Teach Online
With teaching online, the options are endless. You could teach ESL to children or adults looking to improve their English skills, or tutor students in math, science, history, and more. If you can speak multiple languages or know how to play an instrument, those are skills you can teach too.
As an online teacher or private tutor, you could work through online platforms or find students independently using a web-conferencing platform like Zoom or Google Meet. For tutoring, check out reviews for Cambly and Studypool. For teaching ESL, look into EF Education or VIPKid.
How to Make More Money in Your Current Job
Another way to make more money is to focus on your current workplace. Apply for both internal and external jobs, and use these opportunities to negotiate a higher salary. If this sounds terrifying, try using these salary negotiation tips and raise negotiation tips.
You can also take advantage of any overtime or bonus opportunities if they’re available. For in-person workers, ask for a hybrid or remote work arrangement, and use that extra commuting time to do consulting or try one of the other ideas we’ve discussed. Want more ideas? Check out these ways to increase your income without working more.
How to Make More Money Using Your Day Job Skills
Think about all of the skills and knowledge you have from your current role or previous jobs. Could you take those skills and do consulting on the side or teach a class? Consider both hard skills, such as using Excel, and soft skills, such as mentoring.
While you might think that your skills aren’t unique or special, remember that not everyone can do what you do or know what you know.
How to Get Started Right Away
If you’re ready to get started but don’t know what to do next, ask yourself the following questions:
- Which of these ideas to make more money sounds the most interesting?
- Do I need any skills or materials to start?
- How much time will I devote to this per week or month?
- What challenges might I face?
- How can I overcome those challenges?
Final Thoughts on Making More Money
If these ideas are a little outside your comfort zone, don’t forget that you could always do food delivery with a company like Instacart or DoorDash, try rideshare driving with HopSkipDrive, or Caregiving with Care.com.
Clearly, there’s no shortage of fun and clever ways to make more money. As you think about these side hustles, go through the “how to get started” questions above and take the first step this week. If you think you might need to enhance your skills, check out this list of free courses.
If you grew up thinking that making money is hard and boring, hopefully these ideas have given you some hope that it’s possible to have fun and make money at the same time.
What do you think? Which of these clever ideas or gigs to make more money would you like to try in your spare time? Or have you already tried any of these? Leave a comment below and let us know!
