In today’s economy, it is not uncommon for a household to have at least two forms of income. Sometimes this is out of necessity; sometimes it is to get ahead financially. Regardless of why you want the extra income, it’s easier than ever to start a side gig with little or no initial investment. Here are eleven side hustles that can make you extra income in your spare time:
Photographer
If you have an eye for it, you can create your own side business as a photographer – even if you lack formal training. You might choose the traditional role of a photographer for formal family, wedding, or graduation photo shoots. Or you can make money as a photographer by taking high-quality photos and selling stock photos online.
Uber/Lyft
Do you own a car? If so, you could use your car to pick up some extra money as a driver for a company such as Uber or Lyft. You will also need to have a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, and a clean background check… then you can start earning money.
Sell goods online
Owning a business used to mean investing a large sum of money into a building, inventory, and employees. Now, e-commerce is replacing brick-and-mortar retail, and it requires little or no initial investment. You could start selling on Amazon, sell handmade goods on Etsy, or sell new or used items on eBay. You could also partner with a Multi-Level Marketing company to open your own virtual franchise.
Blogger
Why not start a blog and get paid to chronicle your passion in life? Blogs can range from the very informal online diaries a to more formal educational resources. So how do you make money running your blog? Advertisements, sponsored posts, direct selling of your own products, and affiliate programs.
Freelance Writer
If you love to write and create content, you might be able to pick up some extra income each month as a freelance writer. These types of jobs range from writing articles for websites to creating a resource manual for a specific company. Advertise your services on sites such as Fiverr. Once you’ve developed a portfolio and reputation, you could get a listing through a freelance writers’ service.
Consultant
The only thing limiting your consulting capability is your own expertise. Businesses often hire consultants to offer expert advice in a particular area. Are you highly skilled with social media? Offer to coach small business owners on how to increase their online presence. Think about the skills on your resume, and consider which of those could be a consulting opportunity for you.
Business/Life Coach
Anyone can be self-employed thanks to the popularity of online businesses. Developing a successful business plan and organizational skills? That’s a little more complicated, and many people seek coaching to build those abilities. If you’ve been through the process of starting your own side business, you can help others get up and running as well.
Virtual Assistant
There are many small businesses that simply don’t have the manpower to do all the jobs needed to run and grow their business. This is where a virtual assistant can come in. The type of work will depend on the type of business, but tasks may include marketing, customer service, or even payroll and record-keeping. Take a look at Upwork for starters.
Gardener
if you have a green thumb and love to garden, you could make some extra money by selling fresh produce that you’ve grown. Depending on how much land you have and how big of a garden you can manage, you can sell your home-grown produce from a road-side stand or farmer’s markets. If you prove particularly reliable, you may even be able to capitalize on the farm-to-table trend and sell to local restaurants.
Lawn care
Mowing lawns isn’t just for tweens to make extra money during the summer. Many elderly people cannot take care of their property like they once did, and many working-age people have very little time to for housework. If you are able to maintain their lawns for them, can earn you some extra income. If lawn care is your passion, you may even be able to get contract with local businesses to cut the grass on a weekly basis. Of course, you will need to have a reliable lawn mower and be able to transport your mower to the various locations. Take a look at advertising your lawn care business on Angieslist, or Craigslist.
Calligrapher
Blame Instagram, Pinterest, or social media in general for the increased pressure for picture-perfect weddings. Handwritten signs, placecards, and more are in vogue, but not everyone has the skills to make them on their own. If you have the talent and patience required, you can earn extra income selling your calligraphy services online.
With side hustles, the sky is the limit, because the internet enables people with skills to connect with people with need of those skills, with ease, and very little upfront investment. If you need extra income, dig into your skill set and see what will sell. Whether it’s professional insight, manual skills, or even a hobby you’ve perfected, odds are good that someone out there wants to pay you to do your thing.
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