Top 10 Online Side Hustles You Can Start Today

Freelancing

Freelancing allows the use of your professional skills: writing, design, programming, marketing, on platforms that allow you to find paying clients, such as Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal or Freelancer.com.

For instance: Emily is a part-time copywriter from Chicago. She started writing blog posts on Fiverr for $25 each. In 8 months, she managed to create a client base that now pays her $150 each. Now, she makes over $4000/month.

How can you get started?

1. Create profiles on several platforms to reach more potential clients.

2. Niche down as narrowly as you can (e.g. “SEO blog posts for wellness brands).

3. Use tools like Grammarly and Canva to help improve your work. Pro Tip: Build a portfolio with some free work for a nonprofit or your own blog until you gain traction.

Affiliate Marketing

Get paid commissions for endorsing products from affiliate links on blogs, YouTube, TikTok, or newsletters.

Some affiliate programs you can join or get inspired by are Amazon Associates, Impact.com, ShareASale, and PartnerStack.

Real-World Example: Tim created a niche site that focuses on camping gear. By creating reviews and tutorials, he links to products on Amazon and earns just over $3,200 in affiliate commissions a month.

How to Get Started:

Choose a niche that has a strong product and margin.
Create a blog (the easiest way is through WordPress + Bluehost).
Write SEO optimized content (use Ahrefs or Ubersuggest).
Use AI tools like ChatGPT to expedite content generation. Pro Tip: Track conversions with something like Pretty Links or ThirstyAffiliates so you can optimize what is truly working for you.

Dropshipping

Sell physical products on the Internet without stock. You share the products on your website, and your supplier manages the inventory, storage, shipping, and fulfillment of the product.

Example from Real Life:
Sam, a college student, created a Shopify store selling personalized phone cases. He made TikTok videos that went viral, and made over $10K monthly in his store.

Getting Started:

Use Shopify + DSers or Oberlo, that will allow you to find product suppliers through AliExpress.
Build a website with graphics from Canva to make it look nice!
Advertise through all the online targeted ads you can use through Facebook, TikTok, or Google.

Pro Tip:
Pick products that are trending that fix a certain problem (i.e., ergonomic back braces, eco-friendly kitchen tools).

Print-on-Demand (POD)

Create and sell custom apparel, mugs, phone cases and things—you won’t have to deal with production or inventory at all. This is a great option for the creative type or small branding for niche topics.

Real-Life Example:
Laura opened a POD store a few months back on Etsy to sell astrology-themed T-shirts; she used Canva and Printful to fulfill her orders and she’s now taking home about $2,500/month.

How To Start:

Create a free online Shopify or Etsy account.
Link with Printful, TeeSpring, or Redbubble.
Utilize design tools, such as Canva or Adobe Illustrator.

Pro Tip:
Look for micro-niches (e.g. funny dog mom shirts or introvert memes) so you aren’t competing against as many people.

Virtual Assistant (VA) Services

Assist business owners with basic administrative tasks: email management, scheduling, social media management, and data entry. This side-hustle has exploded within the creator economy.

Real Life Example:
Angela started working as a VA for a solopreneur coach. After a few months, she focused her services on Pinterest management and is still only working 15 hours a week for $45/hour.

How to Begin:

Decide what skills you can offer (think back to what you’ve done at past jobs.)
Make a website, or create a portfolio using Notion or Carrd.
Search for jobs on Belay, Zirtual, Upwork, or OnlineJobs.ph.

Pro Tip:
Try recording a quick intro video with Loom — people are more likely to trust you and your service if they see you, plus it helps you stand out.

Blogging

A blog is a long-term asset that can generate residual income through advertisements, affiliate links, and digital products. It will take time, but it can be very lucrative.

Real-World Example:
I have a blog in the financial education space that took 6 months to get substantial traffic. It now consistently makes $2,200/month from affiliate programs and Mediavine advertisements.

How To Get Started:

Choose a profitable niche (i.e., personal finance, wellness, tech tools).
Select WordPress (with a simple blog theme such as Astra or Kadence).
Use SurferSEO or RankMath to optimize your articles.

Pro Tip:
Instead of focusing on keywords like “budget,” focus on long-tail keywords like “how to budget on a $50K salary.” You will be able to rank in Google faster.

Social Media Management

Lots of small companies find it hard to keep track of managing their social presence – including content creation, scheduling, engagement, and reporting.

How to Start:

Learn the basics with free courses (i.e. HubSpot or Later).
Grab free work with a local business to build up your portfolio.
Use tools like Canva Pro, Later, or Buffer to manage your content calendar.

Pro Tip:
Bundle the analytics reporting and UGC (user-generated content) to upsell your service.

Online Tutoring or Coaching

On platforms like Zoom, Outschool, Wyzant, or Teachable, you can teach academic subjects or personal development skills.

Real-world example:
Carlos, a former SAT tutor, is now teaching test prep services online and has provided himself with a recurring income stream of $3,000/month by creating and marketing courses via Teachable.

How to get started:

Identify what you are knowledgeable in.
Create a very basic one-page site and a link to book sessions (Calendly or Koalendar).
Share information about your services in Facebook groups or Reddit communities.

Pro Tip:
Record your lessons and repurpose the lesson into either a paid course or for content for your YouTube account.

Online Reselling (Flipping)

Buy a product cheap (thrift store, garage sale, Craigslist) then sell online for a profit. Great for those who like the thrill of treasure hunting.

Real-World example: Tyler made 12k flipping vintage sneakers and old electronics he sourced from Facebook Marketplace just last year.

Getting Started:
Find undervalued items on OfferUp, Craigslist, and estate sales
Resell on eBay, Facebook Marketplace/Poshmark/Depop
Use Terapeak and Sold eBay Listings to learn pricing trends

Pro Tip: Work to specialize in one category (retro video games/refurbished iPhones) if you want to scale quickly.

Remote Customer Service Jobs

Large companies, such as Amazon, Apple, and Wayfair, hire part-time customer service agents with evening and weekend shifts—and they are flexible and accommodating!

Real World Example:
Michelle works 15 hours/week answering customer emails for a meal delivery start-up. She is paid $18/hour and retrieves the hours around a full-time job!

Getting Started:

Look on Indeed, Remote.co, or We Work Remotely.
Make sure to practice your communication and problem-solving skills.
Don’t forget to practice assessments, as many companies will require typing speed or empathy towards customers.

Pro Tip:
Choose companies in industries you enjoy because it will be more rewarding

Best Side Hustles for Passive Income in 2025

Dividend Investing – Use apps like Robinhood or Fidelity to earn cash flow from stock holdings.
YouTube Channel – Monetize via ads and sponsors. Even a niche like “urban gardening” can be lucrative.
Write & Sell eBooks – Use AI tools to outline content faster.
Create Online Courses – Platforms like Kajabi make it easy to package your expertise.
Rental Income – Rent out a room, shed, or car via Airbnb or Turo.

Creative Side Hustles for the Artistically Inclined

1.Sell Handmade or Digital Goods on Etsy

Etsy is the best marketplace for creators selling physical and digital items. You can sell pretty much everything, including wedding invitations, knitting patterns, resin art, and home décor.

Real-World Examples:

Liz Fox Roseberry transitioned from graphic design to jewelry making, achieving nearly 20,000 sales in under two years. Her pieces gained popularity after going viral on TikTok.

Kate Segal, a psychologist from Manhattan, earned $32,000 by selling digital art on Etsy. Her designs have been featured in HBO’s “Succession” and Trader Joe’s stationery. Business Insider

What Can You Sell?

Digital prints (wall art, calendar, planner)
Handmade crafts (candles, jewelry, macramé)
Personalized gifts (wedding signage, pet portraits)

Pro Tips:

Use Etsy SEO tools to elevate product titles and tags like Marmalead or eRank.
Offer “bundles” to improve average order value (e.g. 5 boho wall prints for $19).
Use Canva, Procreate or Illustrators for digital designs.

For example:
A graphic designer creates editable wedding invitation templates and sells them on Etsy for $15-25 bucks for the set. If the designer sells 10/month, that’s an extra $250/month in income ~ and that sounds pretty nice to me. You can scale with minimal effort and if it takes no time to post and has little to no cost after your initial investment that’s even better.

2.Stock Photography or Videography

While it’s likely you enjoy taking photos to capture the world around you through a lens, stock can provide you with repeat income. Websites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Pexels license your photos or videos to businesses, bloggers, and creators.

Real-World Example:

John, a photographer, offers downloadable art prints on Etsy, attracting customers seeking affordable and customizable artwork. enrichest.com

Side Hustles for Busy Parents and Full-Time Workers

Pet Sitting: Apps like Rover let you earn while walking dogs or boarding pets.
TaskRabbit: Pick up odd jobs in your neighborhood.
Survey Sites: Earn small cash for surveys with Swagbucks or Pinecone Research.
Delivery Apps: Uber Eats, Instacart, and DoorDash offer flexible hours.

Case Study: A mom of two in Ohio made $1,200/month delivering groceries in her spare time.

How to Choose the Right Side Hustle for You

Ask yourself:

What skills do I already have?
How much time can I realistically invest weekly?
Do I want quick money or long-term growth?

Matrix Example:

Hustle Type	Time Required	Scalability	Risk
Freelancing	Medium	Medium	Low
Dropshipping	High	High	Medium
Affiliate Marketing	Low	High	Low
Delivery Driving	Low	Low	Low

Tools and Resources to Succeed in Your Creative Side Hustle

Being creative is great, but creativity isn’t enough to succeed in today’s creator economy. To thrive, you need resources, tools, platforms, and systems. It could be the digital products you design or edit voiceovers for, or the marketing for your Etsy shop. If you are able to utilize the best resources available, you will save time, create a better-quality product, and scale your income more quickly.

Here is a toolbox of resources believed to be important by a number of successful creators – while showing real examples of how they are being applied in real side hustle businesses.

🎨 Tools for Designing and Creating Products

These are the tools that help artists, designers, and creatives take their inception and turn it into a polished and market-ready product.

🛤 Recommended Tools:
Canva Pro – This is for graphic design, social media templates, printables and planners. Simple drag-and-drop design that includes thousands of pre-built assets.
Procreate (iPad)- This is great for illustrators and digital painters. The intuitive, pressure-sensitive drawing was designed for effortless drawing and sketching.
Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom) – This is an essential product in any serious creator’s arsenal, it’s a powerful option for better quality design, editing and layouts.
Krita (Free) – This is an amazing open-source alternative to Photoshop, allowing digital artists to create freely and through there own lens.

💡 Pro Tip:
If you are using templates kits, use them in Canva, or Illustrator to create products faster. Bundle variations (Color Themes, Fonts Options) of the product for later upsells.

🎤 Voice and Audio Tools

These tools are great for voice-over artists, podcasters, or meditation guides.

🛠 Recommended Tools:
Audacity (Free) – Open-source audio editor, wonderful for beginners.
Adobe Audition – Professional-grade software for editing and mastering quality audio.
Blue Yeti or Rode NT-USB Microphone – Reasonably priced, crisp-sounding USB microphones for home.
Krisp.ai – Noise-canceling software to help kill background noise while recording.

🛒 Selling & E-Commerce Platforms

🛠 Recommended Tools

Etsy – Best for handmade and digital products, has built-in traffic from millions of customers

Gumroad – Simple platform for selling digital products like templates, eBooks, or online courses.

Ko-fi and Buy Me a Coffee – Nice for monetizing small content of creativity where fans can support with donations and purchase digital goods.

Shopify – Best if you want to build your own brand and storefront with full customization.

Marketing & Analytics Tools

If you are not marketing, you are not making money. These resources would help you draw in buyers and monitor what is or isn’t effective.

🛠 Recommended Resources
Pinterest – It’s a great source of free traffic to digital product listings, especially for planners, templates, and crafts.

Buffer or Later – schedule and manage content across Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

Google Analytics – track where you traffic is coming from so you can refine your marketing efforts.

Learning & Skill-Building Platforms

Keep learning and hone your skills by learning from others in your creative niche.

🛠 Suggested Tools:

Skillshare – Learn anything from logo design to watercolor painting to search engine optimization strategy.

Domestika – Beautifully produced classes for creatives, I cannot recommend it enough, especially to illustrators and crafters.

YouTube – Free tutorial videos for almost every niche skill (“how to price art commissions,” “how to use Procreate,” etc.).

CreativeLive – They’re professional workshops for photographers, designers, and creative entrepreneurs.

Business, Finance & Productivity Tools

Running a hustle means tracking money, clients, and deadlines like a pro.

🛠 Recommended Tools:

Hello Bonsai – Contracts, invoices, and proposals made for freelancers.
Notion or Trello – Organize your side hustle tasks, product ideas, and customer workflows.

QuickBooks Self-Employed – Manage income, expenses, and taxes for side hustle earnings.

PayPal Business or Stripe – Secure payment processors with seller protection and client invoicing.

Scaling Your Side Hustle into a Full-Time Income

When to level up:

You’re earning consistent revenue.
You’ve built a brand or client base.
You see long-term demand.

Example: My client Laura started as a VA for $15/hour. In 18 months, she built an agency and now earns $12K/month.

Tips for growth:

Raise your rates strategically.
Productize your services.
Automate tasks with Zapier or AI tools.

Conclusion

Side hustles aren’t just positive income influencers—they’re life-changers. When we write 2025, there are virtually unlimited possibilities to create additional income in a flexible, creative, and free way.

Don’t wait for the perfect idea! Use what you already know, get started, and adjust. It can be $100 or $10,000/month, your side hustle can lead to financial independence.

👉 See the potential? Take the plunge today. Choose one idea and to do something in the next 48 hours. The best time to start was yesterday! The next best time is now.

George

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Top 10 Online Side Hustles You Can Start Today

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