20 Best Side Hustle Ideas for 2024

A side hustle allows you to easily earn extra cash and work as many (or as few) hours as you need. Some side hustles are easy to start right away, while others require specialized knowledge or skills that may take some time to build.

If you feel like it’s getting harder to get ahead, it might be time to make more money. But if you don’t see that happening in your 9-to-5 job, you may have to take matters into your own hands.

The good news: A side hustle allows you to make extra cash while maintaining a flexible schedule. Some side hustles can be started quickly, while others require specialized knowledge or skills that may take some time to establish.

According to Zapier, more Americans are becoming aware that 40% (two in five) started a side hustle in the last year.

If you’re ready to make some extra money to get ahead or pay the bills, read on to learn about the best side hustle ideas for 2024 and beyond:

1. Online research

Paid surveys are one of the fastest ways to make money, and it’s easy to see why. You can take surveys at any time of the day or night and work on your phone during your free time.

The biggest drawback to online surveys is that you don’t make much money. Many online survey sites only pay you $1 to $5 for each survey you complete, and some pay even less.

While every online survey platform does things differently, here are some of the best online survey sites to consider:

• Survey junkie

• swag

• Inbox USD

It’s worth noting that some survey sites will pay you via transfer to your bank account, while others will only pay through PayPal or gift cards.

Additionally, some of these platforms offer bonuses for signing up. For example, Swagbucks will give you $10 in bonus cash whenever you open an account and spend at least $25 at a Swagbucks affiliate store.

2. Deliver food for DoorDash, UberEats or Postmates

If you have reliable transportation and want a side hustle that you can start right away, you can always deliver food for companies like Doordash, UberEats, or Postmates. These side hustles work on an app that connects you with needed food delivery in your area.

In most cases, you must register as a driver and download an app. Once you prove you meet each company’s requirements, all you have to do is drive up to pick up your order and hand it over to someone in your area.

You can make $20 or more per hour using any of these apps, depending on each gig and the amount of tips you receive. Alternatively, you can try each app to see which food delivery app works best where you live.

3. Deliver packages with Amazon Flex

With almost everyone shopping on Amazon these days, it makes sense to consider starting a side hustle with the company. Luckily, Amazon Flex allows you to sign up as a driver and deliver packages during a “time slot” that you agree to in advance.

Amazon Flex says on its website that drivers typically make $18 to $25 per hour, but actual earnings will “depend on your location, any tips you receive, the time it takes you to complete your delivery, and other factors “.

One of the biggest benefits of this side hustle is that you can work when you want and work around your other responsibilities. You can also work a little or a lot, depending on how much side cash you want to make.

4. Sell on eBay

You can make good money selling things on eBay, but even more so if you know what to look for and what to sell. For example, many people shop at high-end thrift stores, looking for items that can be sold at higher prices online. This can be anything from designer clothing to antiques; what you decide to sell should depend on your expertise.

5. Freewriting

Freelance writing requires a certain skill level, so it may not be suitable for everyone. However, someone with some writing experience or a willingness to learn can easily make $20 to $100 or more per hour. Another benefit of being a freelance writer is that you can work when and how much you want.

6. Become a virtual assistant

If you have some writing, editing, or design skills and want to earn $25 to $50 an hour or more (the average hourly wage in the U.S. is $27.47, according to Indeed.com), becoming a virtual assistant is another option choose. Assistants work in many different types of jobs, and their primary job functions can include the following:

• Bookkeeping

•           customer service

•           data input

• Email management

•           graphic design

• Proofreading

• Social media management

•           technical support

• Website management

While you can get virtual assistant jobs through professional networks, the following websites offer ways to find entry-level jobs that can help you gain some experience:

• five

• Flexible working

• Freelancer

• Number of people per hour

• Work upwards

• Zirtual

7. Start an Etsy Shop

If you know how to make handmade products that people want to buy, you can always try selling your items in an Etsy shop. If you’ve never shopped on Etsy before, a quick browse of the site might help you get some ideas. For example, crafty people use Etsy to sell everything from custom T-shirts to homemade soaps and jewelry.

8. Airbnb hosts

If you have a guest house, a basement apartment, or even a spare bedroom, you might want to consider renting it out through Airbnb. This strategy can work well if your home is in good condition and you don’t mind taking steps to make it comfortable and inviting to guests.

Of course, how much you make depends on the space you rent and the local prices in your area. If you want to know how much you can charge per night, start by researching similar listings in your area on Airbnb or even VRBO.com.

9. Pet sitting

Rover is a gig economy app that allows you to easily connect with people in your area who have dogs or cats who need care while their owners are away. Rover allows you to set rates and availability, so you can choose to care for your pet on certain days and not others.

How much money can you make looking at pets on Rover.com? Most pet sitters on the platform charge as little as $35 per night, but some may charge $50 to $75 per pet per night due to overall demand and prevailing prices where pets live.

10. Walk the dog

If you don’t fancy spending the night watching your dog or cat at home, you can also join a dog walk through Rover or a platform called Wag! Both sites allow you to create a profile and choose the type of job you want, which might include walking your dog during your lunch break a few days a week.

While you may only pay $10 to $20 for dog walking, you can make more money by walking multiple dogs at once or picking up a few dogs per day.

You can also exercise while walking your neighbor’s dog, which is a healthy side hustle idea.

11. Uber or Lyft driver

If you enjoy driving and have a new car in good condition, driving people through platforms like Uber or Lyft can help you earn $25 an hour or more. Many drivers choose to use these two apps to increase the frequency of their rides. Driving with Uber or Lyft is flexible because you can choose when and where you work.

You can even earn more through ride-sharing apps by driving during “peak” pricing periods or by receiving regular bonuses that each company offers from time to time. For example, Uber or Lyft will often give you an extra $20 or $50 if you complete a certain number of rides within a certain time period.

12. Buy groceries

If you prefer paid delivery but don’t want to deliver at a restaurant, you can use Instacart or Shipt for delivery. These grocery delivery jobs can allow you to earn up to $25 an hour, although you may be able to earn more depending on the tips you receive.

Instacart and Shipt also allow you to choose the days and times you want to work, just like other app-based side hustles. This is the perfect side hustle for your spare time.

13. Monetize your website

When you monetize your website, you are investing in digital real estate; whether you build a website from scratch or purchase an already existing one. Either way, there are a number of strategies you can use to increase your website revenue.

Some of the most popular ways to make money blogging include:

• Affiliate marketing

• Display ads

• Product reviews

• Sponsorship

• Digital products (online courses, e-books)

For the record, I know this side hustle works because I’ve done it! The website you’re reading now – GoodFinancialCents.com – has helped me make millions of dollars blogging in just over a decade.

14. Rent a car

Another side hustle idea—renting out your car—requires almost no actual work on your part. Believe it or not, you can rent your car to other people using a platform called Turo, although your vehicle needs to meet minimum safety and age requirements.

If you own a high-end vehicle like a Jeep or Tesla, your income will be above average, and you can also charge more or less daily rent depending on where you live. That said, Turo’s daily rental rates are typically $50 to $150. You can also set your availability so that you only rent a car when you don’t need it.

15. Rent extra space

If you have extra space that’s not necessarily available for rent on Airbnb or VRBO.com, you can also rent it out. Through Neighbor.com you can rent space such as:

• Garage or parking space

• Storage space for boat or RV

• Open space

•Additional loft storage

The Neighbor.com platform helps connect people who need space with people who want to make extra money. It also provides insurance to help protect you if people’s belongings are damaged or stolen.

The best thing about this hustle is that it’s passive income – you can do it while making money in other ways. If you have extra space, why not rent it and make some cash?

16. Start a cleaning service

If you enjoy cleaning houses and don’t mind working, starting a cleaning service is one of the best ways to make money in your spare time. You can start advertising your services on sites like Craisglist.org or Facebook Marketplace, and once you have some recommendations to share, it shouldn’t be difficult to get more gigs.

How much money can you make cleaning houses? Depending on where you live, you should be able to easily earn $25 to $100 per hour.

17. Assemble furniture

Many people buy IKEA furniture, but most don’t have the time or skills to assemble it. This is where you come in. Through sites like TaskRabbit, you can apply for jobs building furniture or hanging paintings on the walls.

TaskRabbit jobs can include many types of work, including yard work or errands like picking up dry cleaning. If you’d like to make money on the side by completing basic tasks that take a few hours or less, consider setting up a profile on TaskRabbit and browsing gigs today.

18. Become a steward

You can find house sitting jobs through sites like Care.com, or if you want a free place to stay, you can find free accommodation house sitting and pet sitting jobs around the world through TrustedHousesitters.com.

Either way, this side hustle is easy. Often all that is required is to live in a place and keep it safe. You might also be asked to water plants, pick up the mail, or care for some pets, but that’s about it.

19. Elderly Care

Elder care is another side hustle that is growing in popularity, largely due to our aging population. Many seniors want to continue living in their own homes, although they may need some help to make this happen.

You may be able to find senior nursing jobs through Care.com, but you can also find them by asking people you know. Fortunately, the job is usually easy, and you can make $15 to $25 an hour, or even more, doing grocery shopping and simple cleaning.

20. Selling Jewelry Online

Do you have an old wedding ring that you no longer wear? Maybe you have a knack for finding cheap jewelry that you can easily resell for much more than you paid.

Either way, you can resell your jewelry for a profit on eBay or even on sites like Worthy.com. Especially with Worthy, you can sell your jewelry to a network of professional buyers who may be willing to pay top dollar for the best jewelry.