Top 25 Best Side Hustles to Make Money in 2025

A little extra money can go a long way, and side hustles are an excellent way to boost your income without changing careers.

Whether you’re looking to pay off debt or build your personal savings, side hustles can deliver consistent income with low risk.

In this guide, you’ll find the 25 best side hustles to make money now, from local community services to digital business ventures.

What Is A Side Hustle?

A side hustle is a form of work that brings in additional income outside of a full-time job or to explore a new business idea.

They range from casual gigs around your own schedule to more committed hustle ideas that draw on the individual’s expertise.

Side hustles are ideal for those who need flexibility, whether raising children or studying, allowing them to save money or pay down debt.

Unlike a full-time job, a side hustle can take up just a few hours a week, with many tasks that can be performed on a smartphone or laptop.

Passive vs. Active Side Hustles

The two primary approaches to side hustles are passive and active, each with different responsibilities and commitment levels.

Passive income side hustle ideas are most common with online businesses, with high potential for scalability over time.

These include selling digital products like eBooks, or generating revenue through advertising on social media and YouTube channels.

In addition to passive businesses that run themselves, there are side hustle ideas that allow people to earn money actively.

These hustles are often in-person services, such as dog walking, tutoring, and providing writing and design services for businesses.

Types Of Side Hustles

Side hustles can be further broken down into additional categories beyond the active and passive types.

Here’s a concise overview of the main types of side hustles used to make money around a flexible schedule:

• Online Services: Many side hustles focus on digital services, ranging from virtual assistants and coaching to managing social media for other businesses.
• In-Person Services: For more traditional side hustles, local in-person services like babysitting and lawn care have low barriers to entry for casual work.
• E-Commerce Side Hustles: Setting up an e-commerce platform can become a highly lucrative side hustle, particularly if you understand your audience’s tastes.
• Creative & Content Side Hustles: Blogging, illustration, and graphic design skills can all be used to create content that larger brands pay for.

Some side hustles also fall under the sharing economy umbrella, notably those involving property or vehicle rentals.

Related reading: How to buy a business with no money.

The 25 Best Side Hustles to Make Money

Choosing a new side hustle to launch depends mainly on the individual’s personality and professional background.

To help narrow your options, we’ve selected the 25 best side hustles, ranked from the easiest ones to launch to those that require expertise.

25. Sell Used Clothes

Every household has boxes of used clothes that family members no longer need, particularly when raising young children.

These can be easily listed on eBay or Facebook Marketplace for quick sales, promoted in mom groups at no cost.

24. Online Surveys

A simple side hustle for additional income is conducting online surveys, assisting businesses and institutions with their research.

Survey sites offer cash rewards and other gifts for completed surveys, making them ideal for mothers working from home with a baby.

23. Garden Maintenance

If you prefer working outdoors and have a passion for nature, offering garden maintenance services and lawn care is a viable side hustle.

You’ll need to invest in core gardening equipment and prepare for seasonal work when maintaining commercial or residential properties.

22. Rent A Spare Bedroom

Taking in a lodger is another popular side hustle that delivers a consistent passive income through monthly rent.

You’ll be eligible to deduct certain expenses from your taxable net income, including a portion of utility bills and associated maintenance costs.

21. Dog Walker

Another excellent small business idea for people who love the fresh air and sunshine is dog walking, which requires no special skills.

You can start by walking dogs for friends and family, then expand to include neighbors and others in your area.

Taking dogs from multiple clients on each walk will allow you to increase your income without additional time commitments.

20. Babysitter

Like dog walking, babysitting services have no barrier to entry in terms of qualifications or previous professional experience.

Babysitters often provide services for people they know, with trust playing a significant factor in choosing a babysitting service.

It’s a flexible side hustle for making money as a teenager, giving them extra money to spend on the things they love.

19. Uber/Lyft Driver

If you have a driver’s licence and spare time, working as an Uber or Lyft driver in your free time can bring in good money.

It can also be combined with other rental business ideas, such as hiring out limousines and removal vans in your area.

Similar side hustles include driving for Uber Eats and local food takeaways, or working as a delivery driver in logistics.

18. House & Pet Sitting

Single people with no home obligations can generate passive income by house- and pet-sitting while residents are on vacation.

A popular side hustle for Gen Z to build wealth, these roles are easy to combine with other online side hustles.

Provided the home has a strong internet connection, you can take on freelance work and other side gigs while attending to the client’s pets.

Find out more: Website hosting cost guide.

17. Product Flipping

For those with an eye for a great bargain, flipping products and reselling to people online at a profit can be highly lucrative.

Thrift stores, yard sales, and websites like eBay are excellent resources for undervalued products that deliver consistent profits.

Look out for vintage clothing, rare video games, and furniture with potential for refurnishing and reselling at a higher price.

16. Fitness Coaching

Health and fitness have never been more popular, making self-care businesses an excellent option for those with relevant experience.

You can host classes in your local park to save upfront costs, build clients, and earn additional money through one-on-one sessions.

As your coaching business expands, you can offer digital products, such as nutrition guidance, that complement your fitness classes.

15. Dropshipping

If you’re interested in running an online store without the hassle of storing inventory, starting a dropshipping business is the way forward.

A dropshipping business serves as the middleman, facilitating sales and deliveries through a third-party provider.

Research the differences between e-commerce and dropshipping, and identify customers interested in your product niche.

14. Website Testing

Online businesses must audit their websites frequently, and often draw on outsourced website testers to help with the process.

It involves testing for usability, reporting any bugs or errors, and articulating your feedback clearly and precisely.

13. Paid Research Studies & Focus Groups

A more in-depth alternative to filling out online surveys is signing up for paid research studies and similar focus groups.

These side hustles can earn over $2,500 monthly by covering product testing, service reviews, and other tasks.

12. Brand Ambassador

With many people eager to build a strong online presence, those with significant follower counts can earn money as brand ambassadors.

The role involves using your platform to promote products and services that align with your personal brand.

You can attract relevant brands by creating an influencer kit that breaks down your core appeal and social media metrics.

11. Self-Publish eBooks

Experienced writers and people with valuable information to share don’t need traditional publishing companies to reach an audience.

Many opt to self-publish through platforms like Amazon KDP, earning up to 70% of royalties for digital and 60% for physical book sales,

While global publishing faces challenges from AI scammers, the thirst for quality reading material makes it an excellent side hustle for wordsmiths.

10. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing bears similarities to working as a brand ambassador, leveraging an existing online presence to earn money.

If you have a personal website that gathers consistent viewers, you can use the platform to promote products and services.

It’s a popular source of passive income and an excellent solopreneur business idea that can be tailored to various industries.

9. Tutoring

If you have a background in education or specialist knowledge, tutoring services can turn this understanding into income.

You can host tutoring sessions from home using online platforms or hold in-person sessions for local students.

By combining word-of-mouth references with an online presence, you can manage and grow your tutoring business over time.

8. Mystery Shopper

Retail brands are eager for insights into how their customers spend money and interact with staff when shopping at their stores.

By hiring mystery shoppers, these outlets can gather detailed feedback on consumers’ experiences and make the necessary improvements.

In addition to in-person store visits, mystery shoppers assess customer service through phone calls and online shopping experiences.

7. Selling Online Courses

A side hustle closely related to tutoring is selling online courses, and the two approaches are easy to combine into a larger package.

Once you’ve created a selection of online courses, you can automate the business and consistently earn money online.

By fine-tuning each course to offer the highest value, you can build a strong reputation in your niche and scale your business.

6. YouTube Channel Monetization

Setting up a YouTube channel offers a broad range of monetization options, from ad revenue and sponsorships to links to online stores.

While becoming a successful YouTuber can be challenging, it offers impressive flexibility and can promote a range of other side hustles.

Check to see if you’re eligible for the YouTube Partner Program, encourage fans to become members, and seek out brand deals.

5. Selling Digital Products

With thousands of niche markets to choose from, making money selling digital products has become one of the most popular side hustles.

Everything from digital templates and stock media to smartphone games and apps has a dedicated potential market to tap into.

They can be sold through websites like Etsy and Shopify or directly to customers through a dedicated e-commerce website.

Essential resource: The 25 best fonts for websites.

4. Social Media Management

All businesses require a strong social media presence, but many outsource the management of their Facebook, X, and Instagram pages.

If you’re savvy with social media, you can offer management services to help schedule posts and engage with comments.

Before offering your services, check out the best social media portfolio examples to see how others promote their services.

3. Photography

If you have access to a professional camera and an eye for composition, you can earn money by starting a photography business.

Showcase your portfolio on a photography website to attract clients who appreciate your individual style.

There are many photography side hustles to draw from, ranging from wedding and family photography to freelancing for media outlets.

2. Blogging & Freelance Writing

Talented writers are well-positioned to diversify their income, as clients seek freelance writers across all sectors.

They can earn short-term profits from freelance writing or develop long-term passive income by building a niche blog.

Over time, blogging as a side hustle can deliver multiple revenue streams through ad placements, sponsorships, and merch sales.

1. Virtual Assistant

For those with an office background, becoming a virtual assistant is a great way to put a range of skills to good use.

Working remotely, you’ll perform various administrative tasks, assist with content creation and social media, and manage schedules.

Once your online presence is established, you can find clients looking for assistants with your experience on platforms like Upwork.

How Much Money Can You Make With a Side Hustle?

The potential income from side hustles varies widely, influenced by the type of work, scalability, and typical profit margins.

For casual side hustles, you can expect a monthly income of a couple of hundred bucks, which increases based on additional effort and commitments.

A modest side hustle that shares similarities with a small business can expect higher earnings of $2,000 to $3,000 per month.

Some side hustles blur the distinction even further, with high income ranges that compare favorably to a traditional full-time job.

Developing specialized skills and targeting high-demand markets and wealthy clients can make a big difference to your overall income.

Tips For Starting A Profitable Side Hustle

Tapping into your chosen hustle opportunities and building a full-time income doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Here are some tried-and-tested tips for launching a lucrative side hustle to get paid outside of your day job:

• Understand market demand: Before investing in equipment and setting up a website, you should be clear on whether or not your hustle has high demand. Check local businesses in your area that fit into your niche, and use this information when writing a business plan.
• Create a strong online presence: Once your niche is determined, you’ll need to create a website complete with eye-catching brand elements. This site can be used to reinforce your brand identity, share information about your services, and sell products directly.
• Use free design and analytics tools: If you lack design skills or the finances to pay a professional, you can take advantage of freelancer tools to create your assets. Software like Canva and GIMP are ideal for logos, while Google Analytics will help you to improve your site’s search engine visibility.
• Reinvest profits in advertising: Once your side hustle starts bringing in extra cash, you should reinvest this extra income to advertise your business. This can be traditional print-based ads in local newspapers or campaigns on Facebook and other social media platforms.

By keeping your website up to date with new positive client testimonials, you can build a reputation that attracts new clients and customers.

Learn more: How to make an e-commerce website.

Common Side Hustle Mistakes To Avoid

Many popular side hustles require a grasp of multiple factors to succeed, from building a business website to managing finances.

Here are some of the common side hustle mistakes to be aware of, and what steps you can take to avoid them:

• Using poor-quality visual assets: First impressions count, and poor-quality images and videos can lead potential customers to look elsewhere. Learning how to edit photos like a professional will elevate your website’s style and strengthen your reputation.
• Failing to separate personal and business finances: Using your personal bank account for business transactions can create numerous issues, from tracking profits to managing tax deductions. To avoid these problems, open a dedicated company account and use separate cards for personal and business transactions.
• Setting unrealistic goals and expectations: Poor planning and goal-setting can lead to disappointment, especially when overestimating your side hustle’s potential. It’s imperative to be realistic when outlining these goals in a business plan and seeking investment.

Conducting thorough research before embarking on a side hustle will ensure your concept launches on the right foot.

Side Hustle Ideas FAQs

If you still have questions about side hustles, we’ve compiled this FAQ to provide additional clarification.

What is the most profitable side hustle?

While there’s no single side hustle that consistently outperforms all others, some do generate higher profits than others.

The most profitable side hustle niches include releasing health and wellness products, digital products and AI tools, and freelance services.

Can I start a side hustle with no skills?

Many excellent side hustles don’t require specialized skills to launch, particularly those focused on local services.

Pet sitting, completing surveys, and renting out a spare room require no foundational skills or specific job experience.

Do I need to declare my side hustle?

Any profits from a side hustle in the United States are subject to tax and must be reported to the IRS on a filed tax return.

If you also have a primary job, this can be combined with these wages and any other taxable income to determine your overall tax liability.

Summary

As the gig economy expands, side hustles have become powerful options for generating income and financial resilience.

From basic local services with no upfront costs to selling products online, the best side hustles can evolve into full-time ventures.

With careful planning and the right tools, you can transform your side hustle and enjoy long-term growth.