Profitable Ideas to Make Extra Money on the Side
You know how to do something people would hire you for, but only if they know you are available.
Working from home has created the perfect environment for anyone to earn extra money with a side hustle. Depending on your unique needs and your skills , there are thousands of ways to earn a respectable amount of cash during your downtime.
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Below are proven ways that people have generated significant revenue for themselves, from short-term gigs that deliver a quick extra cash to longer-term ventures that have to possibility to grow into a full-fledged small business. Whatever you are looking for, check the list below and select a method that fits within your skill set and time availability. Why sit around scrolling through social media when you could be earning much-needed cash?
1. Sell items on eBay, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
One of the surest ways you can make extra money if you’re in a bind is to sell items on sites like eBay, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Any used items like furniture, household appliances, collectibles or anything else that you’re just not using or is collecting dust, can be sold online to make extra cash. If you’re serious about this, you can even do it professionally for others and collect a small commission for each sale. Take quality photos and write a good description and you’ll be in great shape.
2. Recycle used smartphones on Gazelle.
I’ve sold a few used smartphones on Gazelle and it’s a no-hassle way of making some extra cash if you have an old iPhone, Samsung smartphone or another device sitting around. While it’s not the most lucrative side hustle, you will be able to get a little bit of extra money that might just help you out depending on your financial situation.
3. Drive for Uber or Lyft.
One of the most widely available side hustles is to drive for Uber or Lyft . The sharing economy has quite literally exploded, and both Uber and Lyft are at the forefront. The best part? You can turn on and off your availability through these networks with the simple click of a button, effectively allowing you to make extra bucks on your spare time.
4. Deliver for PostMates.
Another great option for earning extra income is to deliver for PostMates . Similar to working for Uber and Lyft, you can work whenever you want. While the pay might not be enormous, you do have the ability to earn tips. If you’re in a highly trafficked area such as Los Angeles or New York City, this is a great way to earn some cash without quitting your day job — and you don’t even need a car.
5. Rent your spare room on Airbnb.
AirBnB offers a great resource for people that are willing to rent out a spare room or even their entire home. If you’re in a bind for some fast cash, AirBnB offers you an avenue for creating a profitable side hustle. You’ll get paid 24 hours after a guest checks in, which is to avoid any problems or potential scams that might arise. Some people earn their primary income just by renting out rooms or homes on AirBnB.
6. Manage social media for small businesses.
Many small businesses need a social media manager and simply don’t have the time nor the expertise to be constantly posting on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter. Take it upon yourself to contact local businesses and offer up your services for a contracted monthly fee. This is an easy way to make extra money no matter where you live.
7. Sell services on Fiverr.
Fiverr helped give birth to the Gig Economy. Although services start out at $5, some Fiverr sellers are earning six-figure-plus revenues annually. You can sell just about anything on this platform, but to succeed and become a Super Seller, you need to deliver massive amounts of value, even at those lower price-points.
8. Tutor over Skype.
Another creative side hustle idea: You can tutor people over Skype, no matter where you might live. This is great, especially if you’re a digital nomad and you’re looking to earn more money than the local job market can potentially provide. Tutor people from the United States or United Kingdom if you’re traveling through Asia or another low-cost-of-living country around the world.
9. Start a blog.
Okay, so you won’t make money that fast with a blog. But, if you start a blog and deliver enormous amounts of value, you could set yourself up with a platform for ending a tremendous amount of passive income . This hustle idea is something you can easily build on the side with just a few hours of work per week, but you need to stay consistent and post great content regularly.
10. Create an online course.
Create an online course with a platform like Udemy or Teachable and leverage some of your skills to create a healthy extra income. Depending upon how much time you invest in your course, you could make a substantial side revenue stream by creating courses that deliver tremendous amounts of value.
11. Build a sales funnel with ClickFunnels.
As an online marketer and a software engineer, I am obsessed with sales funnels. However, many people struggle with creating the proper funnel that converts. It takes a high degree of technical and marketing knowledge. However, ClickFunnels , a SaaS business with over 40,000 customers, which was started by Russell Brunson, takes all the guesswork out of that. Build a sales funnel and automate your selling with a platform like this.
12. Write an ebook.
I’ve long been drawn to the passive income supplied by creating an ebook and publishing an accompanied print-on-demand paperback. By using platforms like KDP and CreateSpace , both by Amazon, you can create an easily create and sell an ebook that costs nothing to produce, and a paperback that earns you money only when it sells, removing much of the prior friction it took to get published.
13. Produce an audiobook.
Use a platform like ACX to create and sell audiobooks on platforms like Audible and iTunes. If you have a great idea for a non-fiction audiobook where you can teach a difficult skill, like stock trading, foreign currency investing, accounting, online marketing or others, you can easily create a five-figure monthly income with the right volume of audiobooks.
14. Become a personal chef.
Are you a good cook? You could become a personal chef and prepare meals for other people. You could easily market your services on social media or even go all out and build yourself a website. There are also plenty of websites you can use to market your services such as HireAChef .
15. Walk dogs.
Almost anyone can walk dogs. If you live in a dog-filled neighborhood, create a few flyers on your computer and slip them into mailboxes. Identify yourself as a dog walker and pitch your price. Build up a steady stream of clients and your dog-walking service will grow over time.
16. Babysit or become a nanny.
If you need to make some quick cash, you could always start babysitting or even become a part-time nanny. You use a variety of sites to do this like Care.com or SitterCity or even post your services on social media sites. You’ll get vetted and rated for your services, so be sure to provide a top-notch experience.
17. Clean houses.
Housekeeping is always a viable side hustle. There are loads of private families and homeowners that are renting out their homes on a short-term basis that need housekeeping or house cleaning services. You can list your services on a site like HouseKeeper.com and many others to promote your services.
18. Participate in marketing focus groups.
Marketing companies are always holding focus groups to study the consumer’s response to products, services and advertisements across a variety of mediums. I used to participate in these studies often in college, and so can you to generate some extra cash. You don’t need any special training to do it.
19. Have a garage sale.
You could always hold a garage sale to make some extra money by getting rid of excess clutter in your house. This is great if you have children that have outgrown toys or you simply have a large number of items that you’re looking to part ways with. Post up some signs around town or advertise on Craigslist.
20. Create YouTube tutorials.
Although this isn’t the quickest way you can make extra income, creating YouTube tutorials can help you earn a respectable amount of money as long as what you deliver is engaging and keeps people interested for long enough. You could also use free tutorials to upsell viewers on products and services you might be offering.
21. Sell technical services on Upwork.
I’ve used Upwork as a platform to hire graphic and web designers for a long time. But Upwork also provides a platform for accountants, lawyers and other professionals to earn money. Keep in mind that you’re keeping with thousands of other service providers so getting this off the ground will take you some time.
