22 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money Today – Forbes Advisor

A side hustle can be the fastest way to boost your income without leaving your current job. Whether you’re looking for flexible work you can do from home, want to test out a new business idea or just need an extra $1,000 a month, the right hustle can help you reach those goals.

The best part is that today’s options cover nearly every skill set. From creative work and tech-driven opportunities to simple services anyone can start, side hustles can fit into evenings, weekends or even quick breaks throughout your day. This guide covers 22 practical side hustle ideas you can start right now, along with tips on where to find opportunities and what makes each one worth considering.

Assistant

Authors, coaches and small business owners are constantly on the hunt for reliable virtual assistants (VAs) or executive assistants. Tasks can include inbox management, scheduling, drafting newsletters, formatting social posts or handling customer questions. You can get started by listing your services on sites like Upwork or by reaching out directly to entrepreneurs in your niche.

Freelance Writing

Websites, blogs and marketing agencies pay well for great content. In fact, that’s how I got my start at Forbes Advisor—I’d freelanced for them for years before they asked me to come on as a Senior Staff Writer. Short assignments like product descriptions or listicles can help you build a portfolio, and then you can move into higher-paying work. Platforms like Upwork make it easier to find jobs when you’re starting out.

Businesses need consistent posting, follower engagement and content planning, but often lack the time. If you know how to build TikTok or Instagram traction, you can charge monthly retainers for managing accounts. Many people land clients by creating a few great profiles of their own first.

Online Tutoring

Students of all ages look for help in math, languages, science and test prep. Sites like Wyzant or Varsity Tutors let you list subjects and set your own hourly rate. If you have teaching experience, you can also pitch schools or community centers directly.

Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

Apps like Rover and Wag connect you with pet owners who need help during the day or while traveling. It’s easy to start small with neighbors or friends, then expand through referrals. People pay more for overnight stays, so adding that service can grow your earnings.

Rideshare Driving

Driving with Uber or Lyft lets you earn on your own schedule. Weekend nights and big events usually bring in the highest payouts. Some drivers pair this with delivery apps to maximize time on the road.

Delivery Driving

From groceries to takeout, people outsource errands every day. DoorDash, Instacart, Walmart Spark and Amazon Flex are popular apps that keep orders coming. You just need a car, bike or scooter, depending on your city.

Rent Out Space

Whether it’s an extra room, a basement or even storage in your garage, you can rent unused space. In my tiny town of just 1,900 people, we’ve got two different storage units and even an RV storage—the possibilities are endless. Airbnb is the most well-known for travel stays, while Neighbor helps you earn by offering storage spots. Good photos and honest descriptions make a difference here.

Write a Book

Self-publishing has opened doors for thousands of writers, especially in romance where readers devour series and love discovering new authors. If you can tell a great story and learn how to market it, a book can become a lasting income stream through e-books, paperbacks or audiobooks. I fell into the industry on a whim and, twelve books later, it’s completely changed my life.

Dropshipping Business

With dropshipping, you set up an online shop and a supplier handles shipping to your customers. Shopify and WooCommerce make it simple to start, though the challenge is offering products people actually want. Many successful sellers use TikTok or Instagram to drive traffic.

Print-On-Demand Shop

You can upload designs for shirts, mugs and tote bags to platforms like Redbubble or Printful. Once the design is live, you earn whenever someone buys it. This is a type of dropshipping side hustle that appeals to creatives who want to monetize digital art without keeping inventory.

House Cleaning or Laundry Service

Plenty of people pay well for help keeping their homes tidy and their laundry done. Start with friends or family, then build referrals by offering consistent, thorough service. Basic supplies are inexpensive, and you can charge by the hour or by project.

Babysitting or Childcare

Trusted sitters never struggle to find work. Care.com and local Facebook groups are helpful places to connect with parents. In fact, my area has several sitter-specific babysitting groups for each of our rural towns. Certifications in CPR or early childhood education can raise your rates, though you should really get these anyway if you have children in your care. If you can’t offer childcare, you could offer ride-sharing for kids who attend your children’s school, especially if you’re dropping your own kids off anyway. Many teenagers offer this service, too.

Sell Handmade Goods

If you can knit, make jewelry or create art, Etsy and craft fairs are steady outlets. Customers value originality, so focus on something you enjoy producing at scale. Adding custom options can also raise profits. I don’t know about your area, but in rural Iowa, we have a ton of those cute little roadside stands where people buy eggs, honey, sourdough bread and cookies on an honor system. It may not work in larger cities, but some people still have success in college neighborhoods.

Companies hire shoppers to test service quality and report back. Most assignments reimburse a purchase and pay a small fee, which can add up if you stack multiple gigs each month. Sites like BestMark and Market Force are legit places to sign up.

Start a Blog

Blogging can become a steady income source through ads, affiliate links and sponsored content once you build traffic. Pick a topic you can write about consistently, such as travel, food, finance or even a personal hobby, and publish content that answers questions people are already searching. I’ve been blogging for more than a decade, and it’s taken me all over the world while giving me the chance to partner with brands many people would never dream of working with.

Photography Gigs

Stock photo sites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock accept images and pay per download. Event photography, like weddings, senior portraits and sports, can grow into higher-ticket work. Starting with friends or local businesses helps you gain a portfolio.

Proofreading or Editing

Writers, students and businesses need help polishing text. Excellent grammar skills can turn into steady freelance work, with pay by word count or project. And if you speak more than one language? That’s a skill you can put to use helping with translations. Sites like Upwork or other freelance boards can help you get your first clients.

Fitness Coaching

If you’re certified, you can run sessions in-person or online. Group classes bring in more per hour since multiple clients pay at once. Some trainers also create subscription-based workout plans or nutrition guides.

Survey or Microtask Apps

Apps like Swagbucks and Amazon Mechanical Turk don’t pay much, but they can cover coffee money if you’re already on your phone. The work is simple—surveys, data entry, product feedback—and it adds up if you use the apps during downtime instead of doomscrolling. Back in the day, I’d been in a Facebook group where people paid for their Disney vacations using gift cards they’d received from doing Swagbucks.

Resell Clothes or Collectibles

Platforms like Poshmark, eBay and Depop make it simple to flip clothes, sneakers and vintage finds. Thrift stores and clearance racks are popular sourcing spots. Sellers who specialize in a niche often earn more by becoming known for it.

Transcription and Captioning

Companies pay for converting audio and video into text. Services like Rev and TranscribeMe let beginners start quickly, and specialized transcription (like medical or legal) pays more as you gain experience. Good typing speed is the main requirement, though excellent hearing is up there, too. I used to transcribe movies and often had to rewind the same line multiple times to catch a few muffled words when the dialogue didn’t match the script.

Bottom Line

Side hustles can bring in extra money, test your entrepreneurial skills or grow into a full-time business. The best one for you depends on how much time you have, what skills you want to use and how quickly you want to start earning.

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