17 Types of Side Hustles (Ideas & Examples)

I’m familiar with side hustles.

I started one 12 years ago. It’s now my main line of work.

I started a niche website part time. I had a full-time job. I worked on the site when I could.

It earned nothing for a long time which was fine because I had a job.

In time though, my niche sites earned more than my full time job.

That’s when I ditched the job and went full time on my side hustle… which was converted my side hustle into a business.

I chose the niche site route because I like writing. It was a great fit for me, but it’s not even close to your only side hustle option. This extensive article discusses the various types of side hustles and then lists many ideas you can consider.

What is a Side Hustle?

A side hustle is a self-employed type of work you do on the side of whatever your main job/career or obligation is (such as stay-at-home-parent or caregiver).

It’s work where you are your own boss and can work as much or as little as you like. Although because you’re self-employed there is not guarantee you’ll make anything, especially in the beginning.

Often side hustles start off by accident. A friend asks for your help to do something you’re good at. You do that. They pay you a nominal amount or buy you a gift card and sing your praises. They mention your name to their friends who come a’callin’. Before you know it, you’re in business.

Side Hustle Categorization (Types)

There are many side hustles in the gig economy. What you do depends on an individual. As such, I will list the categories available and then discuss the hustles independently.

Categorized by remuneration

Piecework: Piecework is getting paid per output. Examples of piecework include driving for Uber and taking surveys. It’s not a self-employment side hustle but it operates much like your self-employed in that you have a great deal of flexibility. Some piecework side hustles are self-employed. Take freelance writing for example. Many freelance writers charge per word or some measurement of output.

Results-based remuneration: This is the true side hustle IMO, where you start something on the side or a hobby turns into a small business that has potential to grow into something big. Whether you’re marking up products you sell, selling services by flat rate or time or earning via third parties like advertisers… your remuneration is based on results.

Categorized by what is offered

• Digital Products: Create and sell EBooks, Digital Courses and Online Membership Programs
• Tangible Products: This can be in the form of Making Arts and Crafts, Selling Private Labels, and Making your own Inventions.
• Services: You can provide services like driving (Uber), graphic design, landscaping, freelancing, coaching and done-for-you solutions.
• Selling Products: Create and sell on Etsy, dropship, sell on Amazon or other platforms, and/or product arbitrage (buy discounted products locally and sell them at retail prices online).
• Advertising: This can be through Google Adsense, Sponsored Post, or Placing ads Directly. An example would be blogging, niche sites, vlogging and/or building up an influencer business.

Categorized by evolution

Another way to view types of side hustles is how people start them. Some are accidental or organic. Some are deliberate.

Accidental/organic: You have a skill. People find out. They offer you money out of the blue. Happens all the time.

Organic: You have a skill or hobby. You realize you have extra time. You grow into earning money for your offering(s).

Deliberate: You have extra time. You need money. You review your side hustle options and go for it with initial intention of making money.

Types of Side Hustles (Ideas & Examples)

The list of side hustles is endless. However, you will find some side hustles being more popular than others. Below I explore some of them through definition, pros and cons, and whether they can become full-time jobs. Sit back, relax and let me take you through the hustles.

Freelancing

It is estimated that 59 million Americans are freelancers or have done freelancing at some point. Freelancing is the fastest and affordable way to start working as your own boss away from a conventional workplace setup. Thus, if you possess the skills to sell online, you can take freelancing to earn that extra coin.

Freelancing can take up different forms. As a freelancer, you can be a writer, blogger, designer, photographer, or any other freelance gig you come across. Note that freelancing is very flexible. You can search for gigs, bid, and once you get the job, you are good to go. Below are some of the sites where you can find online jobs.

• Problogger
• Freelancer
• Upwork
• Outsourcely
• Fivver
• Guru
• PeoplePerHour

Pros

• Exposure

The freelance world opens up a variety of projects and topics. Your day job may not open you up about or give you experience in other areas or careers.

• Flexibility in working hours

One advantage of being a freelancer is that you work at the time of your choice. You choose your working hours, and if you want to extend your sleep to noon, you can always do that. A weekend off won’t do any harm since you work during your most productive hours. These hours need not fall during the regular office hours.

• Control

Working for someone else can be tricky. Apart from routine working, you might be stuck with customers who are either rude or unprofessional. As a freelancer, you are at liberty to choose who to work with. If a client’s personality doesn’t work for you or has issues with business and payments, you can drop them. You forgo their gig and wish them well.

• Work Location

How does working in a local coffee shop sound? What about work while on vacation in Europe? As a freelancer, you are not confined to one place for you to deliver. You can work from anywhere you want. Thus, find the best place for you and get going.

• Own Boss

In a formal employment setup, you are obligated to report to your supervisor or manager. With a side hustle, you only answer to yourself and the clients. There is no one to micromanage you, and you are free to do as you wish. Making all these decisions on your own keeps you in control.

• Profits

You are no longer working with fixed pay, and you can now allocate the profits to your other projects. You can also choose to keep all the profits. Thus, you have the freedom to use the money for self-improvement or business expansion.

Cons

• No Steady Workloads

A freelancer’s workload is not consistent and, at times, very unstable. Thus, your income stream follows the same route too. Mostly, you won’t be able to depend on regular projects, clients, and even profits. On the other hand, you already know what to receive on a typical or traditional job.

• Balance Between Work and Personal Time

Most freelancers work from home. That means they can find themselves working long hours. As a result, they may not distinguish between the time they need to work or allocate personal time. Thus, you neglect personal interests.

• Legwork

The responsibility of looking for clients lies in your hands. While working the traditional job, you were given projects by the office. There is a lot of legwork, which means you have to do marketing, advertising, and sales on your own.

• Not Getting Paid

As a freelancer, you risk not getting paid. Thus, you also become a debt collector. You can protect yourself, but you don’t realize what is happening until it’s too late.

• Employer Benefits

While in employment, you are entitled to health benefits; switching to freelance needs you to pay for your hospital bills. It also means that if you don’t work on a day, you don’t get paid. As a freelancer, there are no paid day-offs and no vacation days to use.

Can Freelancing Become a Full-Time Job?

The decision to make online freelancing a side hustle needs a lot of courage. We have seen the good and the bad of freelancing, and as such, you need to do it right. There are many stories about the successes of freelancers that might tempt you to quit your job and be a full-time freelancer. Freelancing is a lucrative career, but very few people have made it to the top and worked for a long time. Have you ever asked yourself why?

Well, the freelancing does just involve getting on online sites and starting working on projects. There is a lot involved that requires more than your skills to achieve target results. You need to jump several hurdles before it gets comfortable.

In a nutshell, freelancing can be a full-time job, but you need to consider some things. Self-discipline, motivation, and planning should be the key to your decision to be a full-time freelancer.

Blogging

Blogging is writing or photography, which you then publish yourself online. It is an opportunity for people to write diary-style entries, though now businesses have incorporated blogs into their websites.

Blogging is a side hustle that you can do at home or anywhere else. It is one of the most popular side hustles. With blogging, you build your brand by writing from a wide range of topics to choose from. You might even start writing about your passions.

Writing is a great and creative channel and can be a powerful medium to reach a large audience.

It takes time before a blog starts making real money. What you have to do is focus and start writing in a particular niche. Otherwise, you won’t have anyone hanging around your page. That way, you are assured of traffic to your blog.

How Do You Start Blogging?

Passive income is elusive, and I am pretty sure you need that side hustle. It isn’t hard and also not expensive to start and does not take your time. You can be up and running with the setup in less than an hour. No technical skills are required, and as such, you can start a self-hosted blog.

Steps To Follow

• Decide on a topic
• Choose a blog name and register your domain name
• Buy web hosting from web hosting companies such as Bluehost and WordPress
• Launch the hosting site
• Start blogging.

Pros

• Easy to Start

The steps involved in starting blogging are straightforward. Templates are available from websites like Blogger, WordPress, and Tumbler. The templates allow you to post blogs easily and quickly.

• Blogs Bring Visitors to Your Website

Business websites are primarily static and need to be fed with new articles regularly. A blog allows you to voice your ideas more deeply. Updating your website frequently brings traffic, and since visitors have that thirst, they will keep coming back.

• It Creates a Community

Blogging is a very closed industry, and bloggers are isolated from one another. Thus, you write on issues and allow out there to discuss. Blogs also feature the problems bloggers face in the industry, and responses from readers allow bloggers generate new ideas. The feedback you get gives you something to think about. Probably you will get your next topic from there.

• Archive of Inspiration Sources

A blog is a haven for things that create inspiration. Blog posts don’t fill up your desk, and you can access past posts through Google Search.

• Incredible Outreach

When you do a blog post, you don’t have any idea who will land there. You might get potential clients, and even the press might be there reading. Once you post the blog and people like it, it gets reposted, and their followers might visit your website.

Cons

• Regular Updates

Starting a blog is pretty easy but being disciplined to keep it running is the hardest part. To be able to post frequent blogs, you need to be very committed. The best way is to have a schedule and stick to it.

• Trouble if you Become too Honest

Regular posts about your daily work make you exposed. If you are complaining about a client, the chances are that a prospective client will read about it. Thus, that honesty might bring you trouble.

• It Reflects Your Business

A blog is a mirror that reflects your business. Thus, you should treat it professionally. You need to take time and make sure that grammar and spelling are taken care of. Also, make use of high-quality images.

• Unexpected Issues Leading to Delay

Sometimes things just go south, and you have issues. Some are technical and beyond your control. As a result, you might require extra time to finish a project that you thought you would finish in time.

Can Blogging Become a Full-time Job?

Yes! Blogging can be a full-time job, but you need to love what you do. However, people have started blogs on topics that they aren’t passionate about and have become successful. Starting a blog with a topic you have seen others doing, thinking you will be successful, will only make you miserable.

On the other hand, being a blogger is hard work. It takes a lot of time and effort initially, but with time and practice, blogging gets easier. There is a lot of trial and error, but stick to it, and you will see fruits.

Keep in mind that the blog is not about you. People follow blogs because it adds value to them. It can be fashion, recipes, tips on making money, or other advice but what people want is value.

In a nutshell, you need to have the right mindset, promote your blog content, exercise patience, and enjoy having fun while the blog makes you money.

Dropshipping

The retail business has evolved so much in the past years. The marketing era we are in has seen a change in consumer behavior and the ability of manufacturers. As such, the digital market has its way of making sure that products and services reach consumers.

Dropshipping is one form of retail trade where a seller accepts a customer’s order but does not have the physical stock for the item. Once a product is sold using this model, the seller buys the product from a third party and ships it directly to the buyer(customer).

The seller doesn’t necessarily handle the product physically. The standard retail model keeps stock of products and owns an inventory.

Pros

• Little Capital Is Required

Retailers tie up large amounts of capital through the purchase of inventory. With drop shipping, you can start your eCommerce store without investing a lot of money. You don’t have to purchase an item unless it is a sale that you have made and the customer has paid. Thus, dropshipping becomes less risky as there is no buying of inventory upfront.

• Easy to Start

Since you don’t stock physical products, then it is easy to run your business. You don’t have to worry about storage, packing and shipping, stock taking, and even handling returns.

• Flexible Location

As long as you have an internet connection, you don’t have to worry about setting up your business. The important part is communicating with suppliers and customers. Once this is accomplished, then it becomes easy for you to run the business.

Cons

• Inventory Issues

It is easier to track physical products. You can do a stock take and know what you sold, what is damaged, and what is remaining in stock. On the other hand, sourcing from different warehouses makes it difficult to track your stock.

• Supplier Errors

Fulfilling customer orders can sometimes make a wrong turn. As the contact person, you will be blamed for a mistake that wasn’t your fault. You have to accept responsibility since you are the one in contact with the customer.

• Low Margins

Dropshipping is easy to start, and overhead costs are minimal. Thus, there is a lot of competition, and to survive, some stores will lower their prices too much. As such, there is a thinner margin on the expected returns.

Can Dropshipping Become a Full-time Job?

No side hustle is perfect. It all takes patience and putting in a lot of hard work. Thus, if you make plans carefully, nothing will prevent you from building a successful dropshipping business.

Survey Taking

Online survey companies are all over and require survey takers to fill and complete questionnaires. Most of these companies conduct market research that helps companies improve their products and services. In return, you get paid or get other rewards.

Online surveys are legitimate, and some of the best sites for online surveys include Toluna, Opinion Outpost, LifePoints, Valued Opinions, and i-Say(IPSOS).

Pros

• Online Surveys don’t take much of your time – There are those you can do under 5 minutes, while others require more time. The amount of money you earn depends on how much effort you are putting into completing the forms. It all depends on your willingness to answer the survey forms.
• No set working time – You can do the surveys when you want. There is also no minimum number of surveys set nor the time you have to complete. You have the freedom to choose when to work and how much money you want to make.
• Multitasking – You can have a regular job, and once you get home, you work on surveys. It is also possible to do other things while still participating in paid online surveys.

Cons

• There is a possibility that you cannot participate in all online surveys. You might find that some paid online surveys only get unlocked for specific countries like the US and UK. These are native English-speaking countries. Some companies may also require you to be in particular locations to answer those online surveys.
• It isn’t easy to accumulate wealth using paid online surveys. For instance, some people claim to have made hundreds of dollars in a week and that you can become wealthy too in less than a week. Be on the lookout for such people keeping in mind that paid online surveys won’t make you very rich.
• Otherwise, you will get some extra income to help you plan for a summer vacation or pay off some debt.

Can Survey Taking Become a Full-time Job?

Most paid online surveys take 15 minutes and pay a dollar or two to complete. Leaving your job and taking up surveys can be dangerous. Thus, before you do that, be sure that the surveys you are doing can pay your bills.

Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is a person who works remotely and provides administrative, technical, or creative assistance. These services are offered online and sometimes through the phone. The job requires you to be tech-savvy, organized, and a good communicator.

A virtual assistant(VA) earns between $10 and $50 per hour. However, some people make even $100.

Several sites provide virtual assistant jobs. They include:

• Time
• Zirtual
• Freelancer
• Boldly
• Upwork
• Fivver
• PeoplePerHour
• Fancy Hands

Pros

• Own Boss

Everyone wants to become their own boss, and especially Generation Y. Freedom brings in a good feeling but, of the essence, should be paying the bills. That freedom of doing everything by yourself is what attracts someone to a VA. You are at liberty to choose your working hours, the amount you receive, and the services to offer.

• You Choose Benefits

Health insurance can be expensive. Thus, you can decide the type of cover that suits you most. If you want to take a leave, then it’s upon you to determine when and for how long you will be gone. It is not like when you have a traditional job and have to wait for your vacation time to be approved.

• Life/Work Balance

Since you are your own boss, you live without worrying about taking time off or sick leave. You choose the clients to take and how your work mixes with your family.

• Work From Home

Becoming a virtual assistant allows you to work from home as you raise your family. You will be able to see them every time since you have an “office area” right in the house.

Cons

• House Chores

Sometimes working from home can lead to a lot of distractions. A child may get sick, a pipe might start leaking, or something breaks in the house, not to mention house chores. All these will need your attention, and it might derail you from completing your work in good time.

• No Company Benefits

Getting benefits from a company is an excellent thing. When you work as a virtual assistant, you work at home and on your own. Thus, you don’t get to enjoy paid leave, insurance, or retirement benefits. You are responsible for yourself.

Can Being A Virtual Assistant Be A Full-time Job?

You might be employed and thinking that the job is permanent. The truth is, no employment is permanent. The advantage of a monthly salary might be enticing, but you don’t have job security. But then again, how do you give up your employment that comes with benefits for a gig that won’t last?

You can work full-time as a virtual assistant. The idea here is to do it as a side gig and acquire the experience needed, giving you confidence. Once you are comfortable, you are ready to move and enjoy the freedom of working by yourself.

Food Delivery

You only hit the road when you’re missing home is a famous song. In this case, you can hit the road doing food delivery and smile all the way to the bank. If your side hustle is not flexible and giving you all the freedom, then food delivery is something you should try.

Well, business is good! Who doesn’t want a hot meal? Most people work on day jobs and move to side hustles after 5 pm. This takes a lot of time and energy, and you might not get time to cook. As such, food delivery service comes in handy here.

Again, times have changed. The world is in the middle of a pandemic. Going out to restaurants to have your favorite bite is no longer an enjoyable experience. First, you need to wear a mask, remove it as you eat, and the worst part is that you won’t see that big smile on the waiter.

Food delivery is available in most cities around the world. You can order about anything from your favorite restaurant. Some of the notable food delivery service companies are:

• Grubhub
• DoorDash
• Seamless
• Uber Eats
• Instacart
• Caviar
• ChowNow
• Delivery.com

How do you maximize Earnings?

• By focusing on the provision of the best services, you can earn tips and hence higher earnings. That is because you don’t have to share the tip you make with anyone.
• Making deliveries by car means that you’re spending money on gas. As such, a more fuel-efficient vehicle won’t make you dig too much into your pocket.
• Delivery during busy hours means that you are going to make more. Remember that you are not the only one working, and thus, you need to plan accordingly.

Pros of Food Delivery as a Side Hustle

• You can earn money by using your car, bike, or scooter. What you use for delivery depends on regulations in that city.
• You can set your own schedule and be your own boss.
• Access to your earnings is daily.

Cons

• There are many food delivery apps which mean competition is high. Hence, to be on top of the game, you have to give the best of services.
• Sometimes your car or bike breaks down. It either be before delivery or during actual delivery. This might cost you due to delays or inability to work as your car is being repaired.

Can Food Delivery be a Full-time job?

Yes! Depending on how you have positioned yourself, you can switch from your primary job and do deliveries full time. It would be best if you were committed and also provide world-class service at all times.

Dog Walking

Most pet owners are mostly busy throughout the day, such that they rarely have time to walk their pets around. As a dog walker, you step in and offer dog care services. Among them is taking them for a walk. You probably think dog walking isn’t a budding industry. Wrong!

According to the American Pet Products Association, dog walking services have gained popularity over the years, with pet owners spending more than $72 billion annually. What’s more, in another research report by IBISWorld, the dog-walking industry contributes about $1 billion in revenue. Do you still want to think the industry isn’t budding?

Steps to Starting a Dog Walking Side Hustle

Freelance dog walking is a worthwhile side hustle whose marketplace is improving. With more than 60.2 million households in America having a dog, according to the Insurance information institute, the hustle isn’t ending soon. It’s just the beginning!

Away with the hype; how do you start your dog walking side hustle? Here are the steps sequentially.

• Determine Your Schedule

As a side hustle, you need a working schedule. It would help if you didn’t start annoying clients by being unpredictable at such an early stage. Lucky for you, in the freelancing world, you determine your schedule.

But, as you do, bear in mind to consider your client’s availability, or you’ll end up getting none anyway. Depending on your main hustle, select the best time that works for you and let your marketplace know when you’re available.

• Interact With Dogs

It gets easy when it’s coming from the heart-interacting with a dog before the actual day gives you a glimpse of what to expect. Most experts regard it as chemistry; if you love dogs, dogs will love you back.

What is more, you shouldn’t feel sick or disgusted by actions like picking up poop. Also, to be sure dog walking is your thing, you shouldn’t be squeamish about discussing issues like poop with the client. Dogs are playful, and so should be the dog walker. It would help if you teased the dog with ease, irrespective of the weather.

• Find Customers

There are dozens of ways out there through which dog walkers can find clients. As a freelance dog walker, you can find clients on sites like Rover, craigslist, sitter city, wag, and when fully established through referrals. Using sites like Rover eases issues with payments by ensuring that you get paid for your hustle.

If you don’t want to build from zero, using trusted and recognized brands is wiser. There are hundreds of established dog-walking companies within the United States looking for human resources. That is if you don’t want to go freelance.

• Determine Your Rates

Rates is where freelance dog walking gets juicy. To substantially determine your rates and charge within a range that clients are willing to pay, do some research. Looking into the standard charging rates of other walkers gives a rough figure.

For example, Rover’s charging rate is $30 per hour. The company claims that offering dog walking services through the site can bring up to $1000 monthly. On the other hand,  PayScale averages that dog walkers make $14.98 per hour, but this keeps improving. Doing proper research ensures that you craft an irresistible rate that’s not expensive yet not cheap.

• Get Insurance

You will be spending your time with an animal that can go rogue and hurt you. Also, accidental bites are possible, especially when teasing them. Buy liability insurance to protect yourself.

Also, keep a record of the dog’s vaccination and other health-related items, especially if you’re freelancing. Getting pet care insurance is also advisable in case the pet gets hurt during the walk. Insurance ensures you stay safe from any liability that may source from your business.

• Create a Portfolio

Dog walking is a worthwhile side hustle that can turn full-time. Experts advise that you save and re-invest your income into marketing your services. Doing so protects you from running into a financial crisis.

Also, mastering the patterns throughout the year is vital, with experts saying that holidays and travel seasons are the busiest. Creating an online presence and portfolio helps create an accessible access channel that attracts your customers.

Pros of Dog Walking

• You get to set your schedule.
• It’s a lucrative business that you can turn into a full-time gig.
• You get to do what you love.
• It can be an excellent way to do some exercises.
• You get to make new networks from the clients you meet.
• You can explore the different terrains.

Cons

• It brings in variable income.
• It sucks to find clients.
• You need to get used to picking poop.
• Possibility of finding demanding clients.

Photography

Freelance photography is exciting, especially if it’s a passion. Turning it into a money-generating hustle is a walk in the park. Photography allows you to explore nature depending on what you love. If you’re thinking about starting a side hustle photography business, here are the essential steps you should know.

Steps Into Making Photography a Side Hustle

Most people incline towards visuals, and therefore, it ascertains that someone will spot you out there. Here are some questions whose answers directly affect your business performance.

Do You Have the Skill?

Is the work you’ll produce worth it? As the photographer, you shouldn’t be the one answering this question because of an apparent emotional attachment towards your art. Therefore, focus on asking others, especially people in the marketplace. A warning, though; you should never ask the opinion of those close to you, including family members and friends. They may give you a hype that’s not worth it.

To weigh your skill, get an opinion from the decision shapers and influencers in that particular industry. They include long-term photographers. One of the common ways to realize that you have the skill is if you occasionally receive praises from people about your photos. On the other hand, if you spend a lot of time on apps like Photoshop, you might want to reconsider.

Photography Equipment

Unlike dog walking side hustle, photography needs equipment. You will need to do a feasibility study on what you need. Here’s what you need:

• Camera and camera equipment. Your photography side hustle requires a digital camera. The camera should produce high-quality photos if at all you want to impress the clients. If you aren’t starting in photography, you probably have a camera. But, if you don’t, you can buy one that fits your budget. Cost varies depending on the quality, brand, and lens accessories.
• Photo editing software. You will need exposure to photo editing. It is not a need, but it’s necessary considering photography is a competitive field. Some typical photo editing programs include Photoshop and lightroom.
• An external hard drive. High-quality photos are notoriously known to be large files. If you solely depend on your computer space, it is going to run out quickly. Also, consuming computer space affects the speed of your computer. Therefore, be wise and buy an external hard disk.
• Studio. Depending on your niche, you might need extra space. You can, however, skip this and start with what you have.

Choosing Your Niche

You might be thinking that you can do photography in every niche. You shouldn’t. The photography business has no room for the likes of “jack of all trades.” Most budding photographers tend to focus on everything hoping that it will help them maximize their potential income.

Most clients don’t love that. They can only trust specialist’s work. Therefore, focus on specializing in one niche and work build up your skills based on it. Niches are in two categories; client-based and self-assignment. The client-based niches include weddings, portraits, newborns, events, and real estate. On the other hand, self-assignment niches include landscape, travel, and street.

Finding a Marketplace

Depending on your niche, you need clients to make money. In case you have a client-based niche, you have to find them. You can start with close family members’ events to build a portfolio. Most photography clients are through referrals or networking during those particular events. You’ll need to set friendly charges, especially if you’re starting up the side hustle. However, you should not undercharge your skill or work for free (even when it involves family).

Also, you can sell your photography online in case your niche is in the self-assignment category. Some of the most popular online sites that sell your photos include adobe stock, iStock, Shutterstock, Bigstock, among others.

Develop Your Portfolio.

Photography is a business that you can focus on for the long term. However, you will need to build a structure that markets you as a brand. Most experts recommend that you create a website. A website gets regular direct clients and eliminates occasions of solely depending on the stock sites.

Registering your business after establishment also positions you as a brand rather than “just a photographer.” Also, creating an online presence and branding your photography eases marketing your skills.

Pros

• You’ll make money from your passion.
• Photographers do network with a lot of people.
• Photography is highly flexible.
• Self-assignment photographers travel a lot.

Cons

• Startup equipment is costly.
• Working outside regular hours (evening and on weekends)
• Inconsistent and unpredictable income

Social Media Management

Social media management is a lucrative market that you can focus on. Payscale averages that social media marketers earn about $51, 898 with those of the higher-end earning $79k annually. When working as a freelance social media manager, there is no limit to what you can make.

So what do social media marketers do? They create social media strategies for companies and manage social media channels for the companies. In simple language, they sell a company’s brand on social media. So, how do you make it your side hustle?

How to Start a Social Media Management Side Hustle?

Companies are always looking for individuals who can manage their brands online. They are thirsty for a social media strategy that will convert. What’s more, every company wishes to sensitize its brand’s for potential customers. So, how do you offer all this in your side hustle business? How do you start and build up your business?

Determine Your Niche

Start with a dot and build up your circular coil; starting small and focusing on one niche keeps you safe at the onset. It helps ensure you’re not overwhelmed by clients. Social media managers craft content for the company. Therefore, niching down to an industry you understand well is advisable.

Also, besides niching down to what you understand, focus on an industry that makes money. After all, aside hustle should complement your main hustle’s income. Your niche should focus on companies that can afford to pay you. Besides the broader categories like real estate and health, other local brands like repair and electronic shops pose an excellent market.

What Are You Offering

Potential clients will vet whether you’re the solution to their problems. Therefore, consider paying attention to what and how you offer. You must address the client’s pain points that explain the what and why.

When planning what you’ll be offering, the three major product categories include content, marketing audience acquisition, and generating leads. Your products need not focus on the three if you aren’t super in social media management. You can choose to focus on content alone and leave out lead generation. Feel free to narrow to what you shine on and widen later.

Create an Online Presence

Clients won’t trust you if you don’t practice what you preach. Creating an online presence would be a great way to show them you know exactly what you’re saying. First, create accounts with social media channels like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Additionally, create a website for your budding side hustle. The domain name can include your niche or the words social media to improve its visibility. Once the site is up and running, create blog content for your website and be regular about it. You can post news blogs twice a week and share the published articles on Facebook and social media accounts, including in groups with potential customers.

Reach Out to the Targets.

Sharing your content may help you attract customers to your business. Also, you can create mailing lists by including gated content on your website. Then, market your products and services through the list. Mailing lists can help your business receive referrals from some members.

You can also create a list of prospects and reach out to them. Social media is an excellent source of clients if you market your business well. Social media management is a lucrative industry if you employ the right skills. With the consistent acquisition of clients, you can develop a long-term client list that translates to a high monthly income.

Pros

• Using social media, you have an opportunity to go viral and create a positive impact.
• It allows you to exercise your creativity.
• Sharpens your content creation skills
• The hustle grants you an opportunity of being part of a brand’s story.

Cons

• Simple mistakes can go viral.
• Especially when starting, social media causes burnout.
• Being a social media manager may lead to social isolation.

Selling Old Items on Social Media and Other Platforms

While it may sound odd, selling things in your house that you no longer need or use may earn you a dime. The goods you can sell vary, from clothes to electronics and toys. Selling these items may not be an issue since you can sell to your friends’ one on one or, better still, via social media platforms.

Since it may be challenging to reach out to a broader audience, there are some platforms you can consider to run the errands on your behalf. Each has its requirements. Also, the commissions they charge on items they sell for you also differ.

Do you have items that you no longer use and need somewhere to dispose of them for extra bucks? Here are some of the best platforms to consider.

• Consignment shops (second-hand goods shops)
• Pawnshops
• Craigslist
• Amazon’s Fulfillment program
• Social media platforms
• Buyback programs ( eBay, Gazella, and Nextworth)

Although selling old items may seem easy, there are some guidelines that you must consider to succeed. Here are some of them.

• Have a clear picture of what you’re selling. An appealing image may entice potential buyers to buy a product.
• Have a clear title of what you’re selling on the headline.
• Be honest. With old items, it’s possible to have some that are faulty but still can earn you money. Make sure you state any flaws (if there are any) of the items you’re selling.
• Have a deadline. Put a deadline for your products for customers. Although it may not always work, it may put a potential customer on toes.
• Do your homework well on prices. With many items, the price depreciates with time. Before selling your old item, research the market price of the item and have a competitive price.

If the business of disposing of the old items is doing great for you, you can consider doing it full-time. In this case, you will help other people dispose of their items for a commission. However, be sure about the price of the things you’re reselling for you to get a substantial commission.

Pros of Selling Old Items

• It helps you dispose of things you no longer need and create space for another use.
• It may earn you quick cash that you may need for other purposes.
• It gives you a chance of upgrading to modern items by disposing of the older ones.

Cons

• It may take too long to sell an old item.
• Prices for old items are relatively low compared to their initial buying price.

Renting Your Extra Room or Apartment

At your home, you may have extra space that you no longer use. Also, you may be using it once in a while. Renting that space on Airbnb may be a perfect side hustle. Payouts are after 24 hours, allowing you to earn quick cash while still committed to other usual duties.

So how do you go about it?

• You need to create an Airbnb account. You will need to provide all your details for AirBnb to verify your account.
• List the property you want to rent out. Depending on your location AirBnb will guide you on how much you are supposed to charge. Remember, you can include days that you intend to rent your room or apartment.
• Describe your property
• After listing, you will need to list all the amenities on your property. Some of the basic amenities include a kitchen, internet connection, and air conditioning.
• Post attractive pictures of your apartment. Lovely photos attract guests to your listing. Make sure you have the best.

Pros of Renting Free Space

• It’s an excellent way to supplement your income.
• You can maximize profit by renting when you’re on vacation outside your residence.
• You get chances to meet new people that may turn to be resourceful in the future.
• Listing your property is easy.

Cons

• Some guests may not be honest. Some may tamper with your items or, even worse, steal some.
• Noise pollution
• Renting your apartment while you’re out of the neighborhood may be a daunting task. Some guests may be a nuisance to your neighbors if not well supervised.
• There are stringent rules and regulations to follow while listing your property with Airbnb.

Whether renting your property may be your full-time hustle depends on you. When you move entirely out of your apartment to another residence, you can earn good cash by renting your apartment. Alternatively, you can sell it, although renting it may provide a regular source of income.

Coaching

Coaching is one area that pays good cash. Professional coaches earn good money. However, coaching on a part-time basis may pay as well. All you need is to polish up on your area of specialty, and then boom! You have a good side hustle.

Some of the most sought of coaching include life coaching, business coaching, and career coaching. Also, wellness and fitness coaching is in demand as well. As a coach, get credible certification in your area of specialty to boost your credibility.

For you to succeed in your coaching career, there are few things to consider. Here are some of them

• Have a positive attitude
• Be passionate
• Be a good listener
• Communicate effectively

Pros of Coaching

• You can coach from anywhere, virtually
• Coaching pays well since clients know what they need
• You may get certification while still practicing
• It feels great to touch other people’s lives in a positive way

Cons 

• You may need to invest in training and certification that may be expensive
• You will need to spend much of your time on meetings and phone calls which may distract you from your everyday routine
• Getting clients while starting may be challenging since you don’t have a reputation
• Delivering on every secession, even on your worst days, may be hard

Running a coaching firm may be done on a full-time basis. However, be sure that you have a big name before making it your long-term hustle.

House sitting

While people are running errands, they need to be sure that their homes are safe and sound. Their absence from their homes presents a perfect opportunity for you to earn as a home sit.

Trusted Housesitters and Pawshake are among the top companies running house-sitting businesses, among others. To land on house-sitting jobs, you need to be a member where you pay subscription fees annually. After registration, you may land house-sitting jobs that pay well.

Pros of House Sitting as a Side Hustle

• You can save on accommodation fees. However, you need to register on house-sitting websites for you to land a job. The subscription cost is much lower than accommodation fees for a whole year.
• You get an opportunity to travel and explore the world around you.
• You can make new friends while traveling.
• It presents an excellent opportunity for those who adore pets but don’t own any.

Cons

• It’s possible to pay for subscription fees and still don’t land on any sitting jobs.
• Some sittings need much of your time, for instance taking care of pets and watering flowers.
• You may be to the blame if things go south during your sit.

House sitting presents an excellent opportunity for earning while still touring the world. Paying the registration fee while you aren’t sure whether you will get any job may be risky. However, you can register and get jobs that pay more than the fees you paid.

Babysitting

Some of us used to make some little cash looking after little ones while we were kids. Surprisingly enough, it’s still a lucrative job that you can consider for a side hustle. There are various companies such as Urban Sitter that can help you land babysitting jobs.

Parents need people to take care of their kids while they are absent. The best thing about babysitting jobs, you are flexible in choosing suitable hours for you. This flexibility will ensure that you don’t interfere with your regular job routine.

Pros of Babysitting Jobs

• You enjoy the company of kids. Kids are adorable creatures that you enjoy living with.
• Babysitting schedules are flexible.
• There are no many requirements for babysitters. However, to be more professional, get some certification.

Cons

• Encountering bad kids and parents may be frustrating.
• It’s hard to earn good cash while starting out.
• It’s sad to leave kids you loved when you have positively bonded.

House Cleaning

Most people are too busy to attend to their houses. Once in a while, they need house cleansers to keep their homes organized. It’s possible to be a house cleaner as a side hustle may be on weekends or off days. If you’re looking for an opportunity to earn an extra dime, house cleaning may be an answer for you. Visit Housekeeper.com for house cleaning opportunities.

Pros of House Cleaning as a Side Hustle

• You earn extra cash.
• You can clean many houses in a day.
• You may get well-paying clients for long-term engagement.

Cons

• Some clients are just a nuisance.
• You may be exhausted if you work for long hours.

With the right tools and a good clientele base, you can do cleaning full-time. This can be in form of a small company where you can start hiring. Expand as the number of customers increase.

Renting Parking Spaces

Parking is way more expensive, especially in cities. Having a drive or garage in a strategic place presents you with an opportunity of earning few bucks. This side hustle is lucrative to those around any transport link like airport or railway station.

Finding clients may be a daunting task, but you can quickly get clients with websites like Just Park.

Pros of Renting Car Parking Spaces

• People who don’t own cars and yet have parking spaces can still benefit from them.
• No investment needed

Cons

• Some lease agreements prohibit the leasing of car parking spaces.
• In case of any damage, you are responsible.

Renting Storage

In your home, you may have extra space that you no longer use. It may be the garage or any other room in your compound. You can lease the room to your neighbors who need extra space for storage.

While it’s an excellent opportunity to get extra cash, be sure to secure goods stored in your rented room or space.

How to Perfect your Side Hustle

• We have seen some of the best side hustles; let’s look at some factors to consider before going for any. Keep this in mind.
• Know your skills and areas of inters. Doing what you love most as a side hustle may be not only profitable but also enjoyable.
• Have a bigger picture. While you may start small, have a plan of having your side hustle as the main hustle in the long haul. Having this in mind will keep you focused.
• Make use of customers’ feedback. Customers review helps you know the areas you can improve on.

Why a Side Hustle?

Your hands are already packed with your full-time job. Thus, there is no reason to create more work for yourself. Why jump into this popular ‘side hustle’ thing? Well, there are benefits associated with starting a side hustle. Quick cash is one of the benefits. Below is a summary of how you can benefit as a person.

Money

Let’s not kid ourselves. Many folks start side hustles to make some extra bucks. Whether to pay off debt or save, it’s usually the money. Whether it turns into a full-fledged biz is beside the point. That’s why it’s a side-hustle… a flexible, usually part-time gig that earns a few bucks on the side.

Full Ownership

The best thing about a side hustle is that you own the business entirely. You shoulder everything, including accountability. As the business owner, no one tells you what to do or not to do. It might be scary in the beginning because you are used to receiving instructions.

Thus, if you manage through that, you become motivated and empowered. As such, you increase your confidence, and you can rise after every fall and try again.

Learning Curve

You are starting something new, and thus there are challenges involved. As such, there is a lot of time and effort required as you wade through the unknown waters. The learning curve becomes steeper in that regard. You get to learn new skills and experiences. They may be challenging, but they will lead to your growth and development.

Self-awareness

Using your ideas at work will teach you so much about yourself, what you like and what you don’t like. Apart from the skills you learn while running the business, you open doors for your self-development. You can benefit from the training offered in your day job, but you learn by yourself when it comes to business, and you can better understand your strengths and weaknesses.

You Develop a Sense of Purpose

Working on a 9 to 5 job for a long time becomes boring, and you lose meaning for work. A side hustle will bring in a new sense of purpose, and you will channel your energy to something that you are passionate about. Running your own business creates a closer interaction with clients. The result is an immediate and tangible impact on whatever you touch in the industry.

New Opportunities

A side hustle will get you researching and talking to people about your hustle ideas. That way, you get new connections that open new opportunities for you. The experience gives you an advantage, and you can stand out using your resourcefulness and creativity. Once you start and see how the business or side hustle works out, then you are set up for success in the future.

Peace of Mind

Since you have a day job, you have the freedom to experiment and learn without investing a lot of money. Having savings to start a business has some comfort in making you want to leave your job, but at some point, fear creeps in.

Thus, implementing your idea for a side hustle is more comfortable if done alongside your day job.

Confidence

Starting a side hustle while still on your day job gives you confidence since you are sure that your salary will cater for you. Thus, you don’t have to be dependent on what comes in through the business.

You can bargain for a better price, and you are not scared of walking away from projects that don’t satisfy you. If you don’t have a day job, you find yourself agreeing with anything that comes your way.

Work/Life Balance

Work /life balance is essential, and a side hustle seems to add more to your already full plate. Surprisingly, you might find yourself achieving this balance by starting a side hustle.

Since you now have something else to do after 5 pm, you won’t allow your office work to spill over in the evenings and weekends. By doing that, you can fulfill the excitement and passion that comes with your side hustle.

How to Start a Side Hustle

A side hustle is about passion. You are doing something you love. If it is boring, it won’t work for you. You will get frustrated and fail in the process. It’s not about doing odd jobs and making ends meet. Thus, there are steps you have to take before you settle on what you want to do.

Wishlist 

It is about what you love doing. Thus, come up with a list of what you are interested in. Make a decision and choose the best. Remember that you will work on your own time after the regular job. You need a lot of motivation and energy to be able to succeed.

You may want to do graphic design, become a freelance writer, or even do affiliate marketing, but if passion is not involved in your decision, you won’t succeed.

The other thing you need to do before making a decision is research. Find out what each side hustle entails, what input is required and how to run the business. This way, you will be able to choose a productive hustle.

Decide if to Invest

A side hustle shouldn’t cost you much but might need some investment to run smoothly, e.g., web hosting, branding, and other tools. It’s like starting a small business, and you have to consider the growth and expansion of your hustle.

Is it a short-term plan or a long-term engagement? Plan your spending accordingly and measure success to see if you will continue or not. It’s important to gauge the earning potential of your gig.

Conflict of Interest

You already have a primary job, and thus you can’t afford to conflict with what you are doing between 9 and 5. Make sure that your side hustle does not interfere with the interest of your organization.

Schedule

It is essential to set a time for your side hustle. Outline your goals and do valuable work on your hustle. You can allocate 3-4 evenings a week to work on your hustle.

You can do some additional hours over the weekend. Time allocation depends on what you are doing.

Your Day Job

Your day job is still essential, and thus you need to focus 100% on your career. The side hustle will give you some money, but the check at work pays the bills. Don’t juggle your side hustle within the 9 to 5 office hours. You will find yourself neglecting one of them.

Advantages

• Brings Opportunities

Once you start your side hustle, you make or create your products or services. You then share out to the world. As your business network grows, it creates more opportunities for you.

You also meet new people and develop relationships that last a lifetime. If you are outstanding, then the customers will value you and consult you regularly. They might refer their friends who will result in more clients.

• Mitigates Risk Taking

Starting a side hustle is a risky undertaking. Most people hate taking those risks. It is difficult if you are still learning the ropes of a side hustle. There are so many ups and downs involved.

The thing is, most of us aren’t ready to quit our main job today and pursue an idea that has come to mind. Using up your savings isn’t an attractive idea, and thus, you want to be sure of what you are doing before you ax your full-time income.

Once the side hustle starts bringing money consistently, take a step of faith.

• Multiple Sources of Income

A side hustle gives you the flexibility to create and choose a lifestyle you want. You can go for more vacations, and at this point, you can buy your parents the house they have been dreaming of.

You can treat your spouse to fancy dinners without worrying about money. A side hustle allows you to see if you like a new line of work. If you want to make a career change, a side hustle helps you build relevant skills.

• Purpose and Meaning

If you choose wisely, pursue a genuine interest, then you derive purpose and meaning from it. Thus, your intention creates an impact that drives sense to what you do.

• Full Ownership and Accountability

A side hustle is an undertaking that you have chosen to pursue on your own. As such, no one tells you what to do, and no one blames you apart from yourself. It feels uncomfortable in the beginning. Once you cross that barrier, you get highly motivated and empowered. That in itself gives you confidence.

• Easy to Quit

At some point, you might realize that you don’t have the perseverance needed for a side hustle. If you find yourself here or your circumstances in life change, you can quit without many formalities. A regular job might require you to fulfill specific terms and conditions before you can leave.

• Learning Opportunity

A side hustle not only gives you monetary gain but is also an opportunity to learn new things. There is plenty of work involved in your side gig, and the more you immerse yourself in it, the more you get to know. In the long run, you will find yourself an expert in that field because of your effort.

Thus, a side hustle is the best way to gain experience and propel you to the next level. The additional skills are the best way to develop and improve yourself.

• Endless Ideas

There are so many ideas for side hustles. You can build multiple sources of income from these ideas, especially if you are following your passion. You might not get to be super rich, but your side hustle will earn you good money.

• A Side Hustle Makes you More Resilient.

While working a day job and having a side hustle simultaneously, you come face to face with complex conditions. It is pretty challenging to juggle between the two.

Thus, a side hustle helps you to be able to cope with the situations by making you organized. You are also able to cope with stress. Resilience will help with the success of your hustle.

• You make additional money.

Most jobs pay a salary that might not be enough to cater to all your needs. The limited income is a hindrance to achieving your goals and realizing your dreams. Thus, a side hustle is a way to make that extra buck. Putting in additional hours will pay off in the long run.

• Flexible Job Opportunities

A side hustle gives you flexible job opportunities. You can be inflexible in your day job since you work within core hours, but find yourself flexible in your side hustle, especially if you don’t need to communicate with clients regularly.

• You can Work as Long as you Want

With a side hustle, you can work as long as you want and when you want. If you work a regular job, you go and finish your shift, then come back home. Once you’re done eating and performing some chores, you have time to spare for your side hustle. You can do away with watching a movie or doing other things that don’t help you achieve your goals. Instead, use this time for your hustle and make that extra cash.

Disadvantages

A side hustle has many advantages, as we have seen above. Those benefits will want you to work on a side hustle with all your heart to it. However, there are still issues associated with side hustles. Below I explain some of the reasons a side hustle might be overwhelming to a hustler.

• Exhausting

You already have a day job, and you are already exhausted by the time you get home. Thus, you need to motivate yourself to be able to work on the side job. It can be mentally challenging, and you will get exhausted over time.

• Stressful

Not only are side hustles challenging but also stressful. If you have a strict timeline for yourself on when you want to make your side hustle your primary business, the chances are that you will mount pressure on yourself.

• Side Hustles Can Fail

Building a successful business is quite hard, and not many people are up to the task. You can put a lot of effort, time, and money into your side hustle and still fail.

• Day Job Performance can Suffer.

We have seen that a side hustle can be exhausting, and the chances are that your day job performance can suffer as well. Once your performance at work drops, you get fired sooner or later, and if your side hustle hasn’t picked and gives you money, you might find yourself into serious financial trouble.

• It may feel like a job in the long term.

Side hustles will excite and interest you once you start them. They soon take away plenty of your leisure time, and the hustle begins to feel like a real job. Once you turn your hobby into a business, you might lose interest in it. Again, not many people stay satisfied with their side hustles in the long run.

• Time Consuming

Side hustles take a lot of time, but people underestimate the actual time they need to put in the hustle. Time consumed is for the real work and other administrative tasks like tax filing and accounting procedures associated with the hustle.

• Giving Up Early

We have seen that side hustles are exhausting and stressful. Thus, people give up way too early, especially if the hustle is not their passion. The temptation to give up is high since it will not be easy to push through the difficult period.

Building a side hustle around something you love is the best thing to do. This way, you can put in those extra hours to make it a success.

• Burnout

Balancing a job and a side hustle can be stressful. It’s a difficult task to undertake. The amount of energy required to make your side hustle a success contributes to physical and mental fatigue. The burnout that results can be stressful and frustrating, leading to poor delivery.

• Discouragement from People

You will encounter people around you who want to bring you down. Most of them are leading miserable lives and wouldn’t want to see you succeed. Thus, if your circle of friends has these toxic people, it is time for a change to maximize opportunities and give your side gig a chance to excel.

• Robs you Family Time

It is challenging having a side hustle when you already have a family. Children require a lot of time, and that will rob you of time for your side hustle. Though you need that extra money, you might lack the energy to work your day job, come home, help your kids with homework, and embark on your side hustle. Thus, building a successful side hustle becomes a tall order.

Conclusion

There is so much out there to do. People have started something as a side hustle and later find that it is their main line of business. The idea is to find something you are passionate about, pursue it and reap the benefits.

On the other hand, patience and commitment are virtues you should possess. Without these, you are likely not able to deliver and, as such, lose trust with your clients. Once this happens, then your chances of making that extra coin slim.

Thus, learn that money-making still and stop relying on traditional employment to pay your bills. Sometimes things go south, and you don’t have any other option. You will find yourself in debt as you try looking for another job. Getting a new job takes time, and most of the time, it may not be forthcoming.

Lastly, a side hustle is a tool to earn extra money and an opportunity to teach yourself new skills that help you grow professionally and as a business owner. It teaches you independence, and as you grow professionally, you can turn your passion into a money-making machine.