What's the best side hustle to make money?

Asked by: Charlotte Mayer  |  Last update: January 30, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (70 votes)

The "best" side hustle depends on your skills and goals, but top options include freelancing online (writing, coding, design) on platforms like Upwork for high-income potential, selling digital products (e-books, printables) on Etsy for passive income, online tutoring/coaching (subjects, fitness) leveraging expertise, and gig economy work (Uber, pet sitting) for immediate cash. Consider your passions, free time, and whether you prefer active income (driving) or scalable income (digital products).

What is the most profitable side hustle?

The most lucrative side hustles often involve leveraging digital skills (like freelance writing, social media management, web development, digital marketing, or AI assistance) for high hourly rates, creating digital products (courses, printables, e-books) for passive income, or starting niche businesses in high-margin areas like dropshipping luxury goods, pet products, or home decor. Other top options include content creation (YouTube, podcasting), niche consulting, real estate rentals, and specialized local services.
 

How can I make $2000 a month on the side?

To make an extra $2,000 a month, combine skills with online platforms for freelancing (writing, design, VA work), leverage the sharing economy (Airbnb, renting your car), start a scalable online business (dropshipping, digital products, blogging), offer local services (landscaping, pet care, cleaning), or utilize your knowledge through tutoring/coaching and content creation (YouTube, podcasting). Success often comes from multiple streams, focusing on high-demand skills, and consistent effort.
 

How can I make $1000 a month passively?

To make an extra $1,000 a month in passive income, you can invest in dividend stocks or Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), create and sell digital products like printables or online courses, build a rental income stream from property or even shared items (cars, storage space), start a YouTube channel with ad revenue, or leverage affiliate marketing through a blog or niche website, though most options require initial time or capital investment. 

How to make $500 per day?

Earning $500 a day requires high-value skills or significant volume, achievable through freelancing (writing, design, coding on platforms like Upwork/Fiverr), digital products (e-books, courses, printables on Etsy/Gumroad), affiliate marketing, content creation (YouTube, niche sites), or high-ticket dropshipping/e-commerce, often leveraging AI tools to create content or automate tasks. For faster income, consider gig economy jobs (Uber, DoorDash, TaskRabbit) or renting assets (car, room on Turo/Airbnb). 

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Which is the No. 1 earning app?

There's no single "No. 1" earning app, as the best choice depends on your activity (gaming, surveys, shopping, tasks), but Swagbucks, Rakuten, Ibotta, Survey Junkie, Mistplay, and InboxDollars consistently rank high for earning rewards like gift cards or PayPal cash for simple activities like playing games, taking surveys, watching videos, or getting cashback. For higher potential earnings in freelancing or gig work, apps like Upwork, Fiverr, or local delivery apps (like Uber Eats/DoorDash) are options, while TaskRabbit is noted for higher-paying local tasks [1, 14, vid1]. 

How to realistically make $1000 a day?

Realistically making $1,000 a day involves high-income skills (consulting, programming, specialized freelancing) or scalable online businesses (digital products, content creation with affiliate marketing/ads, e-commerce), requiring significant expertise, audience building, or initial investment, with faster but less sustainable methods like high-value flipping or intensive gig work possible for quick cash. Consistency comes from building assets, like courses or communities, or leveraging high-paying traditional careers, not luck. 

What is the 7 3 2 rule?

The 7-3-2 rule is a financial strategy for wealth accumulation, suggesting it takes 7 years to save your first "crore" (10 million), then 3 years for the second, and only 2 years for the third, leveraging compounding to accelerate wealth growth over time. It's a guideline to build discipline, emphasizing patience, consistency, and starting early, with later stages seeing returns compound faster than new contributions. 

How to flip 1k to 10k?

How To Turn $1,000 Into $10,000 in a Month

  1. Start by flipping what you already own. ...
  2. Turn flipping into an Amazon reselling business. ...
  3. Use education and online courses to raise your earning power. ...
  4. Add simple long-term investing in the background. ...
  5. Put it all together: a practical path from 1,000 to 10,000.

What is the most profitable passive income?

The most profitable passive income streams often involve real estate (rentals, REITs), dividend stocks, and creating digital assets (courses, e-books, apps), as these offer high scalability and significant long-term returns, though they require substantial upfront capital or effort. Other high-potential areas include affiliate marketing, vending machines, and buying existing online businesses, balancing potential profit with required involvement. 

What are some unusual side hustles?

Not Sure Where to Begin? Here Are Some NEW Side Hustle Ideas to Get You Started!

  • RENT STROLLERS, CAR SEATS, AND OTHER “BABY GEAR” TO VISITORS. ...
  • PUT YOUR ART ON IPHONE CASES; GET PAID WHEN PEOPLE BUY IT. ...
  • TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO USE THEIR SMART DEVICES. ...
  • RENT OUT YOUR CAR TO STRANGERS.

What are common side hustle mistakes to avoid?

5 common side hustle mistakes and how to fix them

  • Your audience is too broad. If you're saying “this is for everyone,” it's actually for no one. ...
  • You're skipping the quick wins. ...
  • You're not setting small challenges. ...
  • You're working in isolation. ...
  • You're afraid to start small.

What to sell to make money?

What can I sell to quickly make money? Selling high-demand items like electronics, collectibles, designer clothing, and a DIY craft business can generate quick sales. Unused gadgets, vintage goods, and trending products also sell fast.

What is the cheapest side hustle to start?

15 Inexpensive Side Hustle Ideas

  1. Selling an Online Course. Many people today are turning to the internet for learning opportunities. ...
  2. Narrating Audiobooks. ...
  3. Tutoring. ...
  4. Selling Handmade Items on Etsy. ...
  5. Building Websites with WordPress. ...
  6. Renting Your Clothes Out to Others. ...
  7. Flipping Furniture. ...
  8. Get Paid for Your Social Media Posts.

Can I start a side hustle with no skills?

Focus Group Work is the highest pay for a side hustle that requires no experience ($28.00 per hour).

What side jobs can I do from home?

25 Best Side Hustles From Home

  • Career Coach. Average Hourly Pay: $18.23. ...
  • Community Manager. Average Hourly Pay: $22.60. ...
  • Content Creator. Average Hourly Pay: $24.11. ...
  • Curriculum Writer. Average Hourly Pay: $33.25. ...
  • Editor. Average Hourly Pay: $24.25. ...
  • Executive Assistant. Average Hourly Pay: $25.54. ...
  • Graphic Designer. ...
  • Health Coach.

What's the easiest thing to flip for money?

15 best things to flip

  1. Vintage clothing & accessories. Old is truly gold, and vintage clothing is a prime example of this. ...
  2. Toys & games. Toys are another great item to flip. ...
  3. Consumer electronics. If tech-savvy, consider consumer electronics. ...
  4. Furniture. ...
  5. Books. ...
  6. Clearance items. ...
  7. Watches. ...
  8. Musical Instruments.

How to make 10K fast legally?

14 Ways to quickly rake in $10,000

  1. Sell valuable items you own. ...
  2. Take on freelance work in your area of expertise. ...
  3. Rent out a room or your entire home on Airbnb. ...
  4. Offer consulting services in your professional field. ...
  5. Flip items by buying low and reselling higher. ...
  6. Become a virtual assistant for multiple clients.

What is the safest investment with the highest return?

There's no single "safest" investment with the absolute highest return, as safety and high returns usually conflict; however, strong contenders for low-risk, decent-yield options include High-Yield Savings Accounts (HYSAs), Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), Money Market Funds, and Investment-Grade Corporate Bonds, with Dividend-Paying Stocks, Preferred Stocks, and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) offering higher potential returns with slightly more risk. The best choice depends on your timeline and risk tolerance, balancing capital preservation with growth potential. 

What if I invested $1000 in Coca-Cola 30 years ago?

Investing $1,000 in Coca-Cola (KO) 30 years ago would have grown significantly, with estimates suggesting around $9,000-$10,000+ today, thanks largely to consistent dividend payouts (making you a "Dividend King" investor) that compounded, though a similar investment in the S&P 500 might have yielded over $20,000, showing that while KO is great for income, the broad market often outperforms single stocks over long periods.
 

What is the $27.40 rule?

The "$27.40 rule" is a personal finance strategy to save $10,000 in a year by consistently setting aside $27.40 every single day, which adds up to over $10,000 annually ($27.40 x 365 days). This method makes saving less daunting by breaking a large goal into small, manageable daily habits, fostering discipline, and helping build funds for emergencies, debt repayment, or other financial goals. 

What is Warren Buffett's golden rule?

Warren Buffett has several "golden rules," but a core one is to treat people with kindness and respect, like the cleaning lady as much as the CEO, emphasizing value beyond money. For investing, his famous rules are: Rule #1: Never lose money. Rule #2: Never forget Rule #1, alongside principles like understanding what you invest in, being patient and rational, and focusing on long-term business value over stock price. 

Can ChatGPT really make you money?

Yes, you can make money with ChatGPT by using it to create content (blogs, scripts, social media), offer services (writing, editing, coding help, chatbots), develop digital products (e-books, courses, apps), and streamline business tasks like marketing copy or sales automation, with successful strategies focusing on niche applications and adding original human value for scalable income. 

How to make cash on the side?

Examples include Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com. These platforms offer opportunities to do jobs like writing, programming, design, marketing, data entry, virtual assistance and more. You'll want to research the going rate for the kind of work you provide so you know what to charge.

What skills can help me earn $1000 quickly?

Here are 10 strategies to make $1,000 fast.

  • Freelance your professional skills. ...
  • Do online surveys. ...
  • Pick up extra shifts at work or do overtime. ...
  • Work for food delivery services. ...
  • Drive for rideshare apps. ...
  • Rent out your parking or storage space. ...
  • Sell items you don't need. ...
  • Lead local food tours or experiences.