By day, I’m a freelance writer. I create content for brands in the form of blog posts, sales pages, case studies, and ebooks. But I also have a side hustle. I create resources and courses for other freelancers, offer mentoring, and host webinars and workshops.
Side hustles are a great way to earn extra income, flex your creativity in different areas, and explore hobbies in a profitable way. My side hustle was born out of necessity—I had lots of freelancers coming to me asking for advice. But there are plenty of side hustle ideas that you can get started with right away.
Many of these side hustle ideas can be done from anywhere with just an internet connection and a little bit of elbow grease. But I’ve also included some offline side hustles that can help you earn extra income each month.
Digital Side Hustle Ideas: Make Money Online This Year
1. Offer Freelance Services
I’m a full-time freelancer, but I know plenty of freelancers who have a few clients on the side or do a couple of projects a year to top up their main income. The beauty of freelancing is you can tap into it whenever you have the spare time or need extra cash. Even better, you can offer freelance services in almost any industry, whether graphic design, web development, writing, or marketing.
My freelance website lists the different services I offer.
How to start: figure out what you’re good at and turn that into a service offering. Set up a one-page website or create a LinkedIn profile to connect with people needing those services.
2. Sell Digital Products
I’m a big fan of digital products. I currently have three digital products that make me an extra $1,000 a month. The best part is, that once you’ve created a download, template, or worksheet, you can sell it over and over again without any extra work. It helps to have a pre-built audience to sell your products to, but even if you don't - you can still generate sales by uploading your digital products to marketplaces like Whop.
How to start: consider what kind of digital product your audience could benefit from or what skills you have that you can package into a downloadable. Use a tool like Canva to create your digital product and upload it to your Whop hub to start selling.
3. Become a Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants provide remote administrative support to businesses. You can work from anywhere—all you need is an internet connection. VA tasks can range from updating website copy and posting on social media to answering emails and compiling lists of contact details. Most businesses ask for a few hours of VA help a week, which means you can do it alongside your full-time job or piece together a full client roster with multiple businesses.
Anna Burton offers business and personal services as a VA, including bookkeeping, holiday research, and website administration.
How to start: sign up for a virtual assistant matching website and apply for positions. Stick to what you’re good at and enjoy—for example, if you love creating social media graphics, look for businesses that are specifically seeking help in that area.
4. Offer Online Tutoring
My mentoring sessions fall under this example. I basically sit with a fellow freelancer for half an hour and go through their most pressing questions. But you can offer classes in anything you’re skilled in—maths? English? Managerial skills?
Again, you can pick up tutoring as and when you need to replenish your income. All you need is a way to host the sessions, which can be done via platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, or Whop (you can host video calls from your Whop hub and sell digital downloads, like worksheets, in that same hub).
These maths tutors charge up to $30 an hour.
How to start: pick a topic you’re proficient in (you can choose a couple if you don’t want to box yourself in) and start promoting your classes. Either find students yourself on social media or join tutoring websites and advertise on local noticeboards.
5. Design and Sell T-shirts
Print-on-demand websites like Printful make it easy to upload designs onto clothing and ship them directly to customers. If you’ve got a good eye for design, you can create your own logos, motifs, and illustrations to print onto t-shirts.
Try to come up with unique designs or a particular theme so people will remember your brand.
The best part is, that you don’t have to handle stock or ship the t-shirts yourself. Most t-shirt printing platforms will do it for you—the customer simply enters their payment information and address, and the platform will automatically deliver it to them.
Jolie Noire uses Printful to print designs onto t-shirts that it then sells on its website.
How to start: sketch out several potential t-shirt designs and upload them to a print-on-demand website. Promote your products on social media to get your first few sales, then consider expanding your range and trying out new marketing methods.
6. Start an Ecommerce Store
Why not start an ecommerce store? You don’t have to sell clothes. In fact, you can sell pretty much any kind of product, from candles and dog toys to hats and ice cream. Setting up your store requires a bit of time, especially if you’re making or sourcing your own products. But if you don’t fancy setting up a store from scratch, you can sell your products through marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon which have a pre-built audience.
Japanese food brand Cabi Soy sells a handful of sauces directly to consumers via a Shopify storefront.
How to start: decide what products you want to sell in your ecommerce store and create a storefront. Alternatively, upload your product catalog to marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon to tap into their expansive user bases.
7. Become an Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate marketers promote products by other businesses in exchange for a slice of commission every time they make a sale. This is a great way to earn extra income without your own products.
However, you do need some kind of audience or promotion strategy to make it work as a lot of it relies on volume. For example, if you’re getting a 20% cut from each sale, you need to sell at least four products or services to generate the same revenue as you would have selling just one product not in an affiliate scheme.
Jeremy and Lia of Practical Wanderlust have a packing list guide that includes affiliate links to their favorite travel products.
How to start: sign up for affiliate programs relevant to you and your audience. Create content that promotes your affiliate links, such as blog posts, social media captions, and ads.
8. Start Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a term used to describe an online store that doesn’t hold inventory. Unlike traditional ecommerce stores that stock products and manage shipping and delivery, dropshippers only have to worry about attracting customers to their stores.
Once an order is placed, a third-party company takes over to fulfill and ship the order. This is a great way to experiment with running an ecommerce store without the hassle of building an inventory.
Notebook Therapy runs an online dropshipping store that sells notebooks from various different brands and lines.
How to start: research third-party dropshipping providers and choose what kind of products you want to sell in your store. Then, promote your products to potential customers.
9. Start a Blog or Newsletter
This is where my side hustle began. Blogs and newsletters are ideal for building an audience, but can also be a great foundation for selling products, courses, and paid subscriptions.
When I started my blog back in 2012, it was just a way to voice my thoughts and flex my creative muscles. I had no idea it would turn into a viable income stream that’s allowed me to sell sponsorships, courses, and downloadables.
There are a few ways you can monetize your blog or newsletter:
- Sell sponsorships to relevant businesses who want to reach your audience
- Create courses and resources to sell to your audience
- Insert affiliate links into blog posts to generate commission
- Sell paid subscriptions or a paid membership for recurring revenue
- Promote freelance or coaching services
Emma Gannon runs a paid newsletter, The Hyphen, that offers different subscription tiers.
How to start: it helps to have a niche for your blog or newsletter, so think about topics you know a lot about or enjoy writing about. You can build your blog on a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix, or add a widget to your Whop hub that lets you create a blog and send a newsletter.
10. Create Online Courses
This was my first foray into side hustling. Back in 2016, I built an online course helping other freelancers start their businesses. I set up an account on Teachable, uploaded the content, and promoted it to my audience. You can also use course-specific platforms like Udemy that host and promote your courses for you. But the most comprehensive platform is Whop, where you can not only sell courses but also create a community alongside your course, sell ebooks, files, and anything else digital.
Grey’s Store has several online courses that show students how to build a SaaS product.
How to start: consider what topic you’d like to create a course about. I drew inspiration from the most common questions I received from my blog readers, but you can choose something you’re passionate about. Create a whop and add a course app that lets you upload your course content and sell it to students.
11. Get Sponsorships on Social Media
Most people have at least one social media account. If you have some semblance of a following (1,000+), you can generate income by selling sponsorships and promoting companies on your social media accounts. I’ve worked with SaaS tools that my audience might use and promoted them on LinkedIn and X, but you might work with B2C brands to promote your favorite products.
India Moon works with brands like Uniqlo and promotes their products on her Instagram feed.
How to start: it’s easy to start with what you know. Think about the products you use regularly and reach out to the marketing teams of those brands to pitch a partnership or sponsorship opportunity. If you don’t have a sizeable following yet, work on growing your audience so your account is more appealing to brands.
12. Offer Home Services
Plenty of people need help with gardening, IT support, cleaning, and DIY. Consider offering these services to the local community to make a side income. For example, if you’re particularly good at setting up new computers or troubleshooting tech issues for your family and friends, expand those services to your local community or offer remote help via Zoom or Whop.
How to start: think about what you’re good at (or what your friends and family regularly come to you for help with). Create a flyer or a simple website and promote these services to your local community. Word-of-mouth is the name of the game here—once you start getting customers, your side hustle can snowball quickly when they refer you to their family and friends.
13. Plan Events
Are you a stickler for a clipboard and organization? Consider selling event planning services for weddings, parties, and corporate events. Many of these events take place on evenings and weekends so you can plan them around your full-time job. You’ll need strong organizational and people skills, but if you’ve already planned a few events for friends, there’s no reason you can expand your reach and offer this service to your local community.
Roisin Skinner is an event planner and host who organizes corporate events for companies all over the world.
How to start: ask for testimonials and photos from events you’ve already planned and use these to promote your services on social media. Look for local Facebook groups or venues that offer event packages to customers.
14. Fill Out Online Surveys
It’s not a huge money-maker, but answering online surveys and taking part in research can earn you a little bit of side income. Sites like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, and Survey Junkie pay respondents in cash or gift cards when they take part. There’s a limit to how many surveys you can take part in on each website, but if you gather a big list of potential paid survey sites, you can bring in some extra cash each month.
How to start: sign up for paid surveys and research sites to register your interest. Browse relevant surveys and take part in the ones you qualify for.
15. Resell Used and Vintage Goods
Sites like eBay and Etsy make it easy for vintage-lovers to find and sell used goods. Scour second-hand websites, boot sales, and junk shops to find treasure among the trash and relist it on your own website or account. It helps if you have a good eye for valuable items, but you can always specialize in a specific type of product.
The cash return will be even better if you know how to restore and upcycle old items. This is something I dabbled with in lockdown—I bought old pieces of furniture (or got them for free), restored them, and sold them.
This Etsy user is selling a 1900s liquor cabinet online.
How to start: visit your local flea markets and boot sales and browse eBay for items where you can add value. Create your own account on websites where you can sell used goods and list your finds.
16. Offer Language Translation Services
Can you speak another language? Use it to your advantage by offering translation services for documents, websites, and other content. Many businesses are looking for help reaching new markets and a large part of that is speaking the same language as their customers.
These German-to-English translators charge up to $40 an hour for their services.
How to start: build a simple website promoting your language translation services, sign up for a gig site like Upwork, or create a translation services product on Whop and make sales through your hub.
17. Sell Your Photos
If you’re a keen photographer, you can make extra cash by selling your photos on stock photo sites, such as Shutterstock and Unsplash. Alternatively, you can offer your photography services for events or portraits.
Leo Bayard sells his street and landscape photography on Unsplash but is also available to hire for people who want commissioned photo shoots.
How to start: sign up for paid stock photo sites and upload your images. If you want to sell your photography services, create a simple website to promote your availability and join local groups to find potential clients.
18. Create and Sell Handmade Crafts
If you spend your evenings crocheting in front of the television or making pottery, there’s money to be made. Turn your creative hobby into a side hustle by selling your creations on handmade marketplaces like Etsy or building your own storefront to sell your goods on. You can also venture out into the wild and run a stall at local markets and events to reach more potential buyers.
Alice Eden sells her handmade jewelry online.
How to start: either learn a new creative skill or use an existing one to generate an inventory of products. Either upload your products to a handmade marketplace or create your own storefront. Don’t forget to sign up for local craft markets and events to get in front of more people.
19. Offer Pet Sitting or Dog Walking Services
Prefer to spend your days outside? Consider offering dog walking or pet sitting services. Yes, while this is not a digital side hustle, it is still one that you can promote online. Many people need a reliable person to look after their pets while they’re away or walk their much-loved dog while they’re at work. Check whether you need any qualifications to become a dog walker in your local area and ensure your house is set up for furry guests if you plan to look after them in your home.
How to start: first, find out if you need any qualifications. Then, create a flyer or a simple website to promote your services and spread the word in your local community. Post on local Facebook groups, put flyers through doors, and advertise in your community newsletter.
20. Deliver Groceries or Parcels
Lots of people make a side income delivering food and packages to locals. If you’ve got a vehicle and a driving license, consider signing up for delivery services like GrubHub, DoorDash, UPS, and FedEx. These companies are often on the hunt for more drivers. The best part is, that you can choose your own hours. You can work for a few hours after your full-time job or do an extended stretch at the weekend to top up your income. Again, while this is not an online side-hustle, it is one with a digital aspect, thanks to delivery apps.
How to start: sign up on delivery company websites and check you meet their requirements. Follow the protocol for each company to ensure you have the best chance of success.
Are Side Hustles a Good Way to Make Money Online?
In short: yes.
Most of the side hustle ideas here can be done with a computer and an internet connection. The amount of money you make depends on your side hustle, how much time you can dedicate to it, and whether you already have an audience or are starting from scratch.
My first course made about $2,000 when I first launched it and courses after that have brought me almost $15,000 over the years. At the moment, my resources, courses, and downloadables net me about $1,500-$2,000 extra income each month - which is decent considering I don’t spend a ton of time on them now they’re created and out there in the world.
Creators on Whop are making over $2000 per month selling digital products, with over 1300 creators in March 2024 alone earning over $2000, and the top 18 creators raking in more than $250,000 each.
How to Find Side Hustle Jobs
Starting a side hustle was a very organic process for me. I listened to my blog readers and newsletter subscribers and created something they consistently asked for. Creating a course wasn’t a deliberate move, but over time I’ve realized just how valuable it is to have your fingers in a few pies.
There are two ways you can find side hustles:
- Organically
- Actively
The organic process involves building an audience first. Maybe you start a blog or a newsletter, or maybe you work on growing your social media following. When you have a large enough following, you’ll start to notice patterns. Followers will ask you similar questions and you’ll find yourself talking about the same things over and over again.
This can organically translate into a side hustle. For example, you might answer a question with a downloadable guide or create a course that walks your audience through a specific task they struggle with.
Alternatively, you can actively seek out side hustles. This is a more direct approach and usually means you’ll make money quicker. While many online side hustles require some sort of audience or online presence, many offline side hustles don’t. For example, you can start DoorDashing tomorrow if you want to, or you can put flyers through your neighbors’ doors today to promote your home IT services.
Either way, follow these steps to ensure you’re choosing the right side hustle for you:
- Consider what you’re good at. Do you have design skills? Can you make macrame plant hangers? Are you a keen photographer? Think about what skills you have that can be monetized. You’re more likely to be successful with a side hustle you enjoy, so it pays to choose something you’re interested in.
- Determine your need for money. Do you need money to pay the bills right now or are you looking for a sustainable way to top up your income each month? If you need the money ASAP, look at side hustles that pay immediately, like delivering food and packages or filling out online surveys.
- Think about the future. Do you want your side hustle to become your full-time job one day? This will determine which side hustle you choose. For example, you might not want to be a full-time dog walker, but you might decide you’d like to quit your job to run a blog at some point in the future.
What are the Best Side Hustle Jobs of 2024?
The best side hustle jobs this year are predominantly online-based. Technology has made it easier than ever to sell services and products to people all over the world, but you can still make money locally too.
Here are some of the best side hustle jobs this year:
- Freelancing. Plenty of businesses are looking for external help with writing, design, and marketing.
- Start an ecommerce store. Advanced technology has made it easier than ever to sell products to people all over the world.
- Get sponsorship on social media. As more brands seek out micro-influencers to promote their products, there’s an opportunity to monetize your social media following—however small it is!
- Create online courses. An increasing number of people are looking to learn online. Online courses are more credible today than they’ve ever been.
- Sell handmade goods. Despite the surge in technology, people still want homemade products.
- Affiliate marketing. Capitalize on the rise in online purchases and promote affiliate links to get a slice of commission.
However, the best way to make an income is not by focusing on one side-hustle, but many. For example, if you are a writer, why not start a paid community, sell checklists online side that, create and sell an ebook, a course, and earn income with affiliate marketing by promoting other products to your own audience? You can do all of this, and more, right here on Whop.
Start Your Side Hustle With Whop
There are many reasons I love having a side hustle—mostly because I get to call the shots. I can work on them as little or as much as I like and they bring in a tidy little income each month.
While it can be hard work getting set up and started, a platform like Whop really helps streamline the process. You don’t need to spend money upfront to test new ideas. Plus, you can build an audience before trialing a few different side hustles to see which ones work best.
Whop’s hub format means you can sell almost anything online, including courses, ebooks, newsletters, photos, and freelancing services. You can make passive income travel blogging, selling sponsorships, writing ebooks, selling your knitting patterns, and teaching online courses—and everything in between.
And, unlike many other ecommerce platforms, Whop doesn’t charge a monthly fee. All you pay is a 3% commission on each sale you make.
Even better, you don’t need any fancy technical skills to start selling on Whop. The platform handles all the backend stuff—including order fulfillment and payment processing—so you can focus on growing your audience and creating great content.
Take your first step away from the rat race today. Open a Whop Hub and start selling your products online.
