In recent years, the side hustle has reached epic proportions. What was once a handful of people looking to create additional income has become a boom of people with an entrepreneurial spirit trying to make money and discover their next lucrative business idea.
Whether you are looking for something that has the potential to grow into a business opportunity or you’re just trying to supplement your regular income to make ends meet, there are a handful of side hustles for beginners that are simple to get started in and don’t require any experience.
What’s a Side Hustle?
A side hustle is an “on-the-side” job or gig that you can do aside from your regular job to create additional income. Side hustles can be done in person or digitally, depending on the specifics. With the increase in digital and work-from-home opportunities, more and more people are finding side hustles that are convenient and easy to do from anywhere.
While some side hustles only bring in a small, supplemental income, others have the potential to grow into something more lucrative. As the opportunities continue to expand, some people are able to turn a much-loved side hustle into their main hustle.
However, to begin earning that additional money, you have to start somewhere. Here are 10 of the best side hustles for beginners.
Beginning Side Hustles You Can Start Today
1. Start an eCommerce Store
Opening an eCommerce store is simple. It’s actually one of the easiest side hustles to start and can be incredibly rewarding. Many people have gone from a side hustle eCommerce store to a popular online store making nearly three-figures a year.
The most difficult part of starting an online store is deciding what you’re going to sell and what platform you want to sell on. You’ll also need to decide if you are going to be creating your product on your own or having someone else make it and ship it for you.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to eCommerce stores. You can sell your own designs printed on products such as mugs, shirts, blankets, and bags. You can sell handmade items, downloads, and more. Decide what type of store you want to have and what you want to sell, and you’ll be ready to open your eCommerce store.
2. Sell Old Items
Selling old items is one of the fastest ways to make money. There are multiple online platforms where you can sell old clothes, toys, household goods, books, electronics, and more. Or, you can open an online store simply to sell these items. In fact, many claim that online stores selling old things tend to be more successful than eCommerce dropshipping or handmade item shops.
Find your old things around your house or in your storage. Then, post online on Poshmark, eBay, or on your own online store. By selling in this manner you can make a lot of money quickly.
3. Buy and Resell Items
Buying items, marking them up, and reselling them can be a great way to turn a profit. Many times thrift stores and garage sales don’t know the value of the items they’re selling and they sell them cheap. If you can purchase these items at a low price and then turn around and sell them for a great deal more, you can make a lot of money.
Another option is to purchase items and flip them, fixing them up in some way so that you can sell them for more. In this instance, you can add value to items and increase the amount they’re worth. Sell them on eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, and other platforms.
4. Babysit
If you feel like babysitting is only for teens, think again. In fact, many parents prefer mature and responsible adults to babysit their children. If you have experience with children and you have the time, putting yourself out there as a babysitter can be a great option.
Most parents pay a decent amount when it comes to watching their kids. Getting CPR certified or taking some babysitting classes can make you a more desirable and better paid babysitter. Start with the kids of people you know, get some experience, and then advertise your babysitting services on Craigslist.
5. Become a Dog Walker
If you are an animal lover, walking dogs could be a great side hustle for you! The majority of people out there have dogs but also don’t have the time or ability to take them on walks every day. If you have the extra time each day, advertise as a dog walker on Craigslist or Rover. Walk multiple dogs in a day to earn a nice supplemental income.
6. Ghostwriting
Ghostwriting can be a lucrative side hustle for those who have decent writing skills. To become a ghostwriter you can use a variety of freelance writing platforms or simply put your name out there and find clients.
You will gather information from your client about what they want written, perform the actual task of writing, and then allow them to publish the work in their own name. You’ll never get the credit for writing it, but you will get paid a nice income.
7. Rent Your Space
Do you have a spare room in your house? Maybe you even have a house you’re not living in full time. Or, you might have an RV or trailer that you rarely use. Whatever you have available, you can actually rent your space out and make a great supplemental income.
Check out AirBnb or Vrbo for home/room rentals and Outdoorsy.com or RVShare for RV/trailer rentals. If you go this route, you’ll have to take the time to fix up your rental and you’ll need to keep it in top condition. However, some people end up making a lot of money from renting their space, so it can be a great thing to get into.
8. Photography
Everyone needs a photographer eventually, which means that if you start a side hustle as a photographer, you’re bound to find clients. Technology has made it easy for even amateurs to take high-quality photos. If you have the equipment, the time, and a bit of skill, you can easily make some additional income as a photographer.
There are various types of photography to consider getting into; wedding, family, baby, or portrait photography is always popular. Depending on where you live, you might want to consider location, business, or event photography as well.
9. Advertise Using Your Car
The absolute easiest thing you can do to make additional income is to use your vehicle as an advertisement. Many companies pay people to put removable stickers or wraps on their cars. If you go this route, nothing else is needed than to place the sticker and drive around safely.
Check out websites such as Carvertise, StickerRide, and Wrapify for more information.
10. Become an Influencer
Becoming an influencer can be a great side hustle if you have the time, ability, and desire to put into growing your audience and online visibility.
Start posting on social media regularly throughout the day. Tag companies of the clothes you’re wearing, the places you’re visiting, and the products you’re using. Engage with your audience. If you are consistent and determined, you’ll start to grow your audience and you’ll eventually catch the eye of brands. These brands will begin to offer free products, affiliate codes, and even payments for your posts.
In Conclusion
These days, finding a side hustle isn’t hard. If you want to increase your income, choose the option that sounds best to you, and start working at it. You’ll be making additional income in no time.
