Turn Spare Time Into Spare Cash with a Side Hustle

A whole 70 million Americans report having a side gig to supplement their income, and it‘s easy to see why. A side hustle can add up to 20% on top of your monthly earnings, and it can be done in your free time. Read on to find out why so many entrepreneurs are bringing in cash on the side, why they do it and how you can start a side business with a big idea (or even no ideas!) and little money, too.

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What is a Side Hustle, and Why Do I Need One?

Here‘s Your Lightbulb Moment: Top Side Business Ideas

What is a Side Hustle, and Why Do I Need One?

There are many reasons people choose a side gig, but mostly, it’s to earn extra income. Side hustles bring in, on average, just over $1,000 a month — money that pays the bills…or even changes your lifestyle. Having a thriving side hustle can help you:

Get rid of that student loan debt for good

Travel the world (without maxing out your credit card)

Pay down a mortgage, vehicle or other debt

Finally start planning for retirement

Gain great financial freedom, so you can spend more time on the things you love

Sounds pretty great, right? The best part is, it’s all within reach. You can start a side hustle with very little upfront cash and just a few extra hours a week. Keep reading to spark some ideas and start living that hustle life!

Here‘s Your Lightbulb Moment: Top Side Business Ideas

Getting started with a brilliant idea is as easy as flipping the switch on your creativity. Almost anything, done right, can become a side hustle. You just have to figure out what you‘re selling, who you want to sell it to and how. Sounds overwhelming? That‘s okay.

1. Become A Content Creation Whiz

You've got a lot to say, and there are people out there who want to hear it. Being a content creator is a great side hustle job, because the subject matter options are limitless and you get to position yourself as an expert. There's also very little overhead to get started. Here are some of the types of content you can create:

A blog on a subject you know a lot about or something you feel passionate about

A YouTube series on anything that interests you and has something to offer

A podcast on your favorite topic, featuring an interesting lineup of guests

An Instagram influencer, documenting your passion, knowledge or just you

2. Go On A Shopping Spree, Then Sell It For Profit

Looking for easy side hustles that are also a lot of fun? Reselling is a hugely popular option for side hustlers. And if you've got a good eye, it can be very profitable. Wondering how and where to sell your treasures?

List vintage collectibles on eBay.

Set up a shop dedicated to retro jewelry or home decor on Etsy.

Restore and sell old furniture on Facebook marketplace.

Sell niche products on targeted resale sites, like Chairish, OfferUp or Poshmark.

3. Start Consulting Or Freelance Your Way To Financial Freedom

Freelancers can earn big money, plus they benefit from amazing flexibility and the ability to work from just about anywhere. Offer your services on websites like Upwork, Fiverr or Freelancer.com. Here are some of the skilled services people are looking to outsource to qualified freelancers:

Copywriting and content creation

Graphic design

Photography

Editing

4. Get On Board With The Gig Economy

If you haven't got the time to brainstorm an idea and put it to work, look to the gig economy, where the planning and process are already done for you. The income isn't as high as in some other side business areas, but if you've got a few spare hours and enjoy running errands, it could be the right pick for you. Here are some of your options:

Driving for Uber or Lyft

Delivering food or groceries via Shipt, Instacart, Grubhub or DoorDash

Pet sitting through Rover

Babysitting or nannying via Care.com, Bambino or other similar apps

5. Share Your Expertise

What are you good at? Chances are, someone wants to be as good as you are and you've got a lot to share to help them learn. Best of all, sharing your knowledge can bring in a good amount of income.

Here's how:

Coach a local kids' sports team.

Give private lessons in swimming, tennis, horseback riding, etc.

Offer virtual tutoring services to school kids or college students.

Provide independent review/editing services for term papers, thesis papers or dissertations.

Offer tips for being a social media influencer that everyone wants to follow.

Offer tips for being a social media influencer that everyone wants to follow.

6. Get In The Property Game

Real estate is a booming business, but you don't need to be a tycoon to get started.

Here are some ideas:

Rent out your home on Airbnb while you're traveling.

Turn extra space (like a basement) into an apartment and become a landlord.

Offer your services as an independent property manager to local owners.

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How to start a side hustle make it legit

Treat your side hustle like a hobby and you might earn a little extra pocket money. Treat it like a business and you might just have yourself a viable source of income that could change your financial outlook. To do that, you’ll need a plan. You’ll also need discipline, creative thinking and laser focus. If you’ve got the right mix of skills and determination, you can pull this off.

But First, Consider This:

Many side hustlers give up some of their recreational time to make their side gig a success. Decide now how much time you're willing to devote to this endeavor and what types of activities you'll be willing to sacrifice (and for how long) to give it a go.

Prepping for Launch: Tips for Getting Your Side Hustle Off the Ground

Identify Your Online Business’s Unique Selling Points (Usps)

Think about what you’re offering and how you make it unique. Perhaps you specialize in a particular niche, offer faster turnaround times, or provide a level of service that sets you apart from competitors. Whatever area you decide on, work out how this differentiates your side hustle.

Look At Who Your Competitors Are In The Space

Understanding your competitive landscape is crucial for any side hustle. Research who else is offering similar services or products, analyze their pricing, marketing strategies, and customer reviews. Once you know who your competitors are, see how you can further specialize your offerings and make them unique.

Understand Your Market

Clearly identify who your target customers are and exactly what they need. You will need to understand the best channels to reach them and the services or products that will appeal the most. Consider demographics, pain points, and what motivates your ideal customer to make a purchase.

Talk To Clients

Speak with potential customers to understand what they want from your side hustle, and validate this by asking if they would commit to spending real money on your offerings. Their feedback will help you refine your business idea and ensure there’s actual demand for what you’re planning to offer.

Get Involved With Business Communities And Discussion Groups

Join online forums, social media groups, and local networking events related to your side hustle niche. These communities can provide valuable insights, support, and potential customers. Engaging with others in your space helps you stay current with trends and build relationships that can benefit your business.

Right Business Structure

Don’t Push Your Business Plan Aside

Protect Your Side Hustle with Legal Business Formation

Don’t Push Your Business Plan Aside

Side hustles need the same careful planning as any other business. Even better, if you someday want to grow your side hustle into your full-time gig, having a strong business plan in place will make the process much easier to navigate. What makes a great side business plan? It should cover everything from how you’ll market your business, to how you’ll profit from it, to how you’ll continue to grow. While every business plan is unique to the hustle, all should cover the following key points:

An executive summary with the most important points from your business plan

Your goals and what you hope to achieve with your side business

A description of your side business, background information and context

A market analysis and likely demand

An overview of how your side business is structured

Your online business model

How you will market and sell your offerings

Financial projections, revenue and profitability

Appendices

GOT THE PERFECT GUIDE TO WRITING YOUR BUSINESS PLAN GOT THE PERFECT GUIDE TO WRITING YOUR BUSINESS PLAN

Protect Your Side Hustle with Legal Business Formation

If you’re operating solo (as a sole proprietor), you aren’t required to form a legal business entity. However, if something unexpected happens, doing it alone leaves your personal assets vulnerable to risk. Legal formation isn’t as overwhelming (or expensive) as it sounds, and it provides a shield between you and your business, so your assets remain protected. There are various types of business structures, but these are the most common:

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

This is what we recommend for most side hustlers. LLCs usually have simple filing requirements (and minimal ongoing requirements), they're often inexpensive and they offer all the benefits you need to keep your hustle (and yourself) protected. When you file a $0 + state fee LLC with Bizee, we handle the paperwork, so you can stay focused on running your side gig.

S Corporation (S Corp)

An S Corp is a tax designation that allows owners to operate a corporation with the same pass-through taxation as an LLC. While it can save on taxes for some business owners, it's not generally necessary for side hustlers. However, if you want to check, you can use our S Corp Tax Calculator.

C Corporation (C Corp)

C Corps are the largest business entities and can work very well for bigger companies. However, for side hustles and smaller businesses, they are usually more complex than necessary.

Still not sure?

Check out our Entity Comparison, and when you're ready, read our Complete Guide to Starting an LLC.

Time to Do the Hustle!

You’ve got the idea, the plan, the strategies and the business entity. You’re almost ready for launch. But before your side hustle takes off, make sure you consider these business functions that will guide how you operate your hustle.

Software And Process

The right software can make running your side business quicker and more efficient. See our great list of the top apps at the end of this guide.

Marketing

If you’re in an online marketplace, you probably won’t need to do much marketing. It’s important to represent yourself in the best possible way and gather good reviews. For people with another type of side business, your marketing needs will vary depending on the specifics of what you’re selling.

Equipment

Just like the location of your business, the equipment you need will depend on the type of side business you’re running. In most cases a laptop and smartphone will be sufficient, although other types of side businesses may need more specialized equipment.

Location Of Your Business

The location of your side business will depend on the type of business you run. In almost all cases, you’ll run your side business mainly from home, even if your main place of work is your car or property that you’re renting out. Remember that if you’re selling products, you will need space to store your stock.

Finances And Taxes

You will need a separate business bank account for your online business. You might also want to consider a business credit card. Additionally, you will also need to keep careful bookkeeping records and file business and personal taxes. Here at Bizee we can even help you file your taxes.

The Complete ’Start Your Business’ Checklist

A Clear and Comprehensive Guide to Starting Your Business the Right Way

Hustle Helpers Useful Tools to Get You Started

There is a vast amount of tech tools, apps and services available to business owners to help them market and manage their business. But for side hustlers, you’re looking for something that’s quick to adopt, without a steep learning curve.

Project Management

Asana

Basecamp

Trello

Productivity

Todoist

Evernote

Collaboration

Google Docs

Dropbox

Box

Social Media Management

Hootsuite

Buffer

Sprout Social

BuzzSumo

Communication

Skype

Grasshopper

Slack

Yammer

Email Marketing

MailChimp

Campaign Monitor

Advertising

Google AdWords

Bing Ads

Marketing Automation

Hubspot

Hatchbuck

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

SalesForce

Insightly

Zoho CRM

Customer Support

ZenDesk

SurveyMonkey

Human Resources

Gusto

Hire Athena

Legal

DocuSign

RightSignature

Ecommerce

Wix

Recurly

Vendio

Square

Website Development

Wix

Squarespace

WordPress

Analytics

Google Analytics

SEO

SemRush

KWFinder

Ahrefs

Moz

Hiring

ZipRecruiter

Please note: This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links.

Ready to Get Your Side Hustle On?

Side businesses can supplement your income, help you pay the bills during a job hunt or inspire you to work toward becoming a full-time entrepreneur. You’ve gotten this far — now it’s time to take the next step and turn your side hustle into a legit money-maker. Form your LLC today with Bizee for $0 + state fee.