Side hustles, or side jobs, are a great way to bring in extra money in your spare time and achieve financial freedom.

From freelance opportunities to flexible customer service jobs, there are a variety of side job options available to those who are interested in supplementing their income.

Additionally, many of these jobs have low startup costs and can be done remotely.

In this article, we will look at the top 10 side job ideas for 2023 and provide tips and tricks on how to get started.

Lets get straight to the list.

1. Ride sharing
2. Airbnb
3. Sell handmade items online
4. Odd job and handyman services
5. Consulting work
6. Set up an ecommerce site
7. Freelance work
8. Online teaching
9. Delivery driving
10. Provide Personal Services that Cannot Be Automated Online

1. Ride sharing

Like driving? How to start up ride sharing

The first step in starting up a ride sharing business is to research the market in which you will be operating.

This includes an assessment of the existing ride sharing services, their pricing models and the types of services they offer.

You can start with some of the more famous ride sharing companies such as Uber, Lyft and Curb, and also research the local scene or any potential new entrants to determine who you may have to compete against.

Once you have done your research and have determined the size of the local market and the competition, the next step is to devise a strategy for your business.

Business plan

You should then develop an appropriate business plan, which includes a detailed target market analysis and market segmentation, a pricing plan, a marketing strategy, and a strategy for growing your business. Additionally, you will need to consider how you will finance your operations, including how much capital you will need for start-up costs and how you will create a budget for ongoing expenses.

2. Airbnb

How to make extra money with Airbnb

The first step is to determine if your local regulations allow hosting a property on Airbnb. You’ll need to explore zoning regulations, local ordinances and other regulatory requirements that may apply to your area. If you’re permitted to host on Airbnb, you’ll need to decide what type of rental property or space to list.

You might have a whole apartment, a private room with shared space, a cabin, and other options.

Once you decide on the type of rental, you’ll need to create an account with Airbnb, upload photographs of your space, decide on rental rates, and create a listing for your property.

Strategy

You’ll also need to develop a strategy to market your rental, by promoting it to potential guests in the local area. You can do this by connecting with local travel bloggers, reaching out to regional publications, joining local trade organizations and participating in local events.

You’ll need to ensure you have the right insurance to protect your property and your business, and you’ll need to craft a clear rental agreement to ensure both you and your guests are covered.

Operational costs

It’s important to be aware of the operational costs associated with running a rental space, as well as any additional taxes or fees you may owe Finally, you should be prepared to regularly maintain and update your rental listing to keep your guests informed with any changes or updates in the rental.

This is essential to preventing any potential problems that can arise from dissatisfaction or lack of communication.

You may also want to include additional amenities like WiFi, so guests feel comfortable and have everything they need to accommodate their stay. You can also consider adding a concierge service to help coordinate essential services like travel arrangements and restaurant reservations.

Additionally, you may want to invest in interactive tools to help the rental process run smoothly, like an online system where guests can book their stay and submit deposits and payments. You should also make sure to update any house rules in the rental, such as quiet hours and other regulations. These are important for maintaining an enjoyable and peaceful atmosphere for your guests and ensuring that their stay goes as smoothly as possible.

Check-in and check-out

Make sure to have a check-in and check-out policy that is clearly communicated to all guests. This gives them a timeline to abide by, ensures that you are adequately prepared for their arrival and departure, and helps to reduce any conflicts that may arise from unexpected changes. Additionally, make sure to provide clear instructions for how to use home features, such as how to use the thermostat, how to work the television and how to access WiFi. By taking the time to communicate these details, you can ensure that your guests will have a comfortable and stress-free stay.

Your guests trusted you to provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming space for them, so do everything you can to make sure their stay matches their expectations. Show your guests that you value their presence by providing thoughtful and personalized touches like a welcome basket with some snacks and beverages, or treats for their four-legged friends.

Stay in touch

Lastly, stay in touch with your guests throughout their stay. Ask them from time to time if they need anything. Make sure they have all the necessary supplies they may need to make their stay more convenient. Make sure they are at ease and that they have a pleasant experience at your property. If guests need something and you can provide it for them, then go ahead and do it!

This will build up your reputation and your bookings may increase and become more lucrative.

3. Sell handmade items online

Selling handmade items online can be lucrative. All you need to start is a computer, an internet connection, a payment gateway like PayPal, a website or online store to host your products, a way of creating or sourcing the items, and the willingness to put in the work and promote your items to attract customers. You could also consider advertising or using social media platforms to increase your reach.

Creating the items.

If you are creative you can make items such as jewelry, fashion accessories, artwork, home decor items, or handmade gifts. Many successful handmade sellers use a combination of materials like fabric, beads, leather, yarn, wood, and metal to make unique items.

You may need some basic equipment to help you create your items such as a sewing machine, jewelry supplies, woodworking tools, or making pots and renting time at a local kiln. But if you can’t afford these items consider using more economical materials like felt and hot glue for fabric items, or pre-made parts for jewelry. Creating something unique that reflects your style or personality may be the selling point that customers will love.

Sourcing the items from elsewhere

If you don’t have the talent or skill to create the items, you can source items from artisans or Internet marketplaces like Etsy and eBay. You just need to do your research and make sure the items you find are of good quality and are properly listed online for customers to purchase and resell.

Promoting the items

The key to success when selling handmade items is to promote them through a variety of channels. You can use social media, email campaigns, and even traditional advertising to reach potential customers. Additionally, you should consider networking with local influencers and connecting with the right people in the handmade community to help get the word out about your handmade items.

4.Odd job and handyman services

Starting a handyman service you first have to determine what services you would like to offer.

Depending on your level of expertise, you might want to limit the services to small tasks, such as changing a lightbulb, assembling furniture, cleaning out gutters, or mowing a lawn.

Higher expertise handyman jobs such as replacing a roof, installing a sink, tiling a floor, or replacing a door knob might require additional knowledge and training. This higher level can attract a higher rate, so learning and improving your handyman skills may be fruitful. You can learn handyman skills from courses on sites such as Home Depot or Lowe’s and you can also find advice from experienced handyman professionals on sites such as YouTube and YouTube Instructables for free. You will also want to acquire the necessary tools, such as saws, drills, and hammers, to complete your jobs safely and effectively.

Once you have established the services you will be offering, it is a good idea to create a business plan to help guide you through the start-up process.

Plan

This plan should include information such as the estimated costs associated with starting the business, your pricing model, and any marketing strategies you will use. Additionally, consider registering with the local government to obtain a business license and ensure that all of your work is compliant with local regulations.

Advertise

You can advertise your services in local press or use sites such as taskrabbit or Thumbtack to reach more potential customers. You may also want to consider partnering with local contractors who specialize in renovation and remodeling or even developing your own referral network so you can quickly respond to inquiries.

Showcase

You could also create a website to help showcase your business and the services that it offers. This website should include detailed descriptions of your services, contact information, and customer testimonials.

By building your skills, obtaining the necessary tools, creating and processes for completing the jobs, and establishing a strong digital presence, you can build a successful business and complete jobs safely and effectively.

5. Consulting work

Consulting work comes in many forms. Here is a list of 5 popular types

1. Business Advisory:
   Helping organizations plan for growth and improvement of their operations, strategy, and financials.
   
2. Strategy Consulting:
   Working with leadership to assess current strategies, market conditions, and opportunities to improve business performance.
   
3. Market Research Consulting:
   Assessing current customer needs and preferences through data analysis, surveys, focus groups, and interviews, helping organizations to identify and understand their target markets.
   
4. Process Improvement Consulting:
   Designing plans to improve an organization’s processes, operations, and customer service, leveraging advanced tools and techniques.
   
5. Organizational Change Consulting:
   Developing and implementing plans to ensure successful transitions of leadership and organizational structures, making sure necessary skills, processes, and operational capabilities remain in place.

The planning

When setting yourself in business doing consulting work the first thing you have to do is develop a business plan. A business plan will help you understand the purpose of your business and define your specific goals. It is important for a consultant to clearly define the services they offer, their target clients, identify revenue opportunity, create a marketing plan, and set fees.

A business plan will also help you anticipate possible challenges, create an operational plan, create financial plans, and outline an exit strategy for your business. Additionally, a business plan should set expectations for your clients and lead them to a successful relationship with your services.

Once you have a plan in place, you can get started with registering your business, setting up an accounting system and shopping for insurance.

Marketing strategy

Finally, you need to develop a marketing strategy. Having a website, blogging, and creating an online presence on social media can all help establish recognition for your business. You should also consider networking and making contacts with potential clients in your industry who may be interested in your services.

Along with marketing, you need to set the fee for your services. Your fees need to account for the cost of your time, the potential for additional expenses, and whatever value you are providing for the client. You should also consider any taxes, equipment and supplies needed for your work.

6. Set up an ecommerce site

When setting up an ecommerce site the first 5 things you need to consider are;

1. Your Product:
   What kind of products do you plan to sell? Will you be selling physical or digital items? Will the product require special packing, shipping and/or handling?
   
2. Payment Processing:
   What type of payment gateway will you use? How will you accept and process customer payments ?
   
3. Website Platform:
   What type of ecommerce platform will you use to build your website? What features and functionalities are important for your store?
   
4. Shopping Cart Integration:
   How do customers add items to their shopping cart and check out securely? What are the payment and shipping options you’ll offer?
   
5. Shipping & Delivery:
   How will you ship your products and how long will it take for them to arrive? What kind of delivery services do you need to set up, such as tracking numbers or signature requirements?

Will it be a dropshipping business?

Dropshipping is a type of retail business model where retailers do not keep products in stock, instead, when a customer places an order, the retailer will pass the order and customer details to a third-party supplier that will then ship the orders directly to the customer.

How does dropshipping work?
See our article on Starting a dropshipping business

Starting a Dropshipping Business

Bricks and Mortar?

The benefits of having an ecommerce store as opposed to a brick and mortar store are;

Increased Accessibility:
An ecommerce store can reach a much larger audience than a traditional brick and mortar store, and customers can shop from anywhere with an internet connection.

Improved Efficiency:
The entire process from inventory management to checkout is automated and streamlined, making it easier to manage your store

Reduced Cost:
Operating an ecommerce store can be a more cost-effective option than a traditional store since it doesn’t require the overhead associated with physical stores. With no need to pay rent, utilities, or other physical store expenses, businesses can focus their resources on providing a great customer experience.

How can you build your store?

There are plenty of ecommerce site builders the most famous of which are Shopify and WooCommerce. These platforms make setting up an ecommerce store easy and cost-effective. They provide a hosting solution that includes a secure shopping cart, secure payment options, and comprehensive analytics and performance reports.

Furthermore, both Shopify and WooCommerce offer customizable store designs, making it simple to create a branded online experience for your customers. Additionally, the site builders provide a suite of marketing automation tools designed to help you engage and retain customers. These tools make it easy to grow your customer base without having to dedicate more time and resources to customer acquisition.

Finally, both Shopify and WooCommerce offer customer support should you encounter any issues along the way. As you get started building your store, you can reach out to customer support for guidance and help with any questions or technical issues you may have. With these two ecommerce site builders, building your store can be easy, cost-effective, and hassle-free.

There are lots of online ecommerce site builders including Wix, Squarespace and Sellfy, to name but a few. Research the features they provide and compare that with your budget to narrow down the choices.

You can always look to Fiverr or Upwork to get technical assistance in setting up your store.

Our article 20 ways for beginners to make money online features more on dropshipping

20 Ways for Beginners to Make Money Online

Growing Market

In 2022 worldwide spend for ecommerce was estimated to reach $7 trillion, with more and more people turning to online shopping. By making sure your store is secure and easy to use, you can stand out from the competition and attract customers. With a reliable ecommerce site builder, you can create a stunning online store that brings in customers and encourages conversions.

In 2022 worldwide spend for ecommerce was estimated to reach $7 trillion

https://www.insiderintelligence.com/insights/worldwide-ecommerce-sales-to-top-7-trillion/

7. Freelance work

The majority of freelance work in 2022 involved providing digital services such as web design, content writing, video and audio editing, graphic design, and software development.

The demand for online tutoring and virtual assistance is also expected to grow rapidly as more businesses and individuals turn to digital solutions in the next few years. Demand for bookkeeping, accounting, data analysis, and project management services will also remain strong.

Those looking for work as app developers and data analysts could also find plenty of opportunities in the coming years.

Starting off

For those looking to start off with freelance work the best place to begin is by creating a portfolio or short demo reel showcasing their skillset and experience. For potential employers, a portfolio or demo is a great way to determine the credibility and capabilities of a freelancer. This will allow them to provide clients with the assurance that the freelancer is qualified to carry out the desired tasks.

Additionally it is important to network and find the best job opportunities through existing connections. Utilizing resources such as social media, recommending services to others, and seeking out honest reviews and ratings can help businesses and individuals to find the right freelancer. So make sure you are seen in the right places.

Where to be found

The most popular sites for freelance work over the last few years are UpWork, Freelancer, Fiverr, Guru, and PeoplePerHour. These sites often provide competitive rates and the convenience of remote work. Additionally, these sites offer tools such as price estimators and payment history to help freelancers keep track of their finances. They also provide access to a wide selection of freelance work, from writing and proofreading to coding and design.

Find out more about being a freelance writer, virtual assistants and transcribers.

8. Online teaching

Setting up an online teaching side hustle is as simple as setting up your own website or social media page to promote yourself, defining your service package, listing your rates and services, and posting content related to the subjects you are offering to teach.

Additionally, make sure to use the right hashtags and marketing techniques to reach more potential students. Once you have built a following and have students, you can start offering real-time video classes. You will need to invest in a good quality video platform, such as Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet, which will enable you to easily interact with the students. You will also need to familiarize yourself with the platform so that you can provide a professional service.

You may want to consider investing in different tools that give you the ability to record your lessons, collect payments from students, and keep track of lesson plans. Lastly, you should make sure to promote your services to your existing network, as well as reach out to potential students.

There are specific sites that allow you to upload your own online courses, some of the the most popular are

1. Udemy:
   Udemy – one of the most popular website that lets educators create, publish, and sell their own courses.
   
2. Skillshare:
   Skillshare is a platform that mainly focuses on creative skills such as drawing and photography.
   
3. Teachable:
   Teachable is an easy to use platform that allows you to customize the look of your course and promote it to a large online audience.
   
4. LinkedIn Learning:
   Linked in Learning allows you to leverage and showcase your professional experience and qualifications.
   
5. Thinkific:
   Thinkific can be used to host individual courses, as well as entire subscription sites.
   
6. Coursera:
   Coursera is a platform that focuses more on higher-level courses and gives teachers access to a range of detailed analytics.
   
7. Udacity:
   Udacity is a popular platform for technology focused courses.

Before you start

Before you start teaching, it would be a good idea to create a plan for what topics you want to teach and how you will structure your course. It’s also important to research the platform you are using and make sure that you understand how to best use its features to help you reach your goals as an educator.

There is more information about teaching online on our 20 ways to make meny online page and a review of course sites on our create an online course page.

9. Delivery Driving

Starting a side hustle delivery driving is relatively straightforward as long as you consider these 10 points

1. Research local laws in your area related to delivery driving to ensure you are compliant.
   
2. Determine the type of vehicle you need for the job.
   
3. Check with your insurance provider to ensure you are covered to drive for deliveries.
   
4. Find out what type of compensation you will get and what other payments, such as gas costs or mileage, you should expect to receive.
   
5. Learn the proper route-planning procedure for picking up and delivering packages.
   
6. Make sure you understand customer expectations, such as delivery times and customer service.
   
7. Make sure you have access to a reliable internet connection and a mobile device to use for navigation.
   
8. Determine what type of onboarding or training is necessary to get started.
   
9. Assemble any necessary supplies or equipment, such as uniforms and forms.
   
10. Establish relationships with customers, local businesses and other drivers who can provide support or assistance in case of an emergency.

Popular choice

Delivery driving is very popular amongst people who want to earn a second wage. It is the highest paid gig economy job, with an average pay of $15 per hour. Unlike a full-time job, delivery driving offers maximum flexibility since you choose your own hours.

The most popular delivery driving companies in America as voted by drivers are;

• DoorDash
• Postmates
• Instacart
• Uber Eats
• Grubhub
• Amazon Flex
• Caviar
• Roadie
• Shipt
• Lyft

Safety

Make sure to stick to a consistent schedule and stay on top of all safety protocols. Regular maintenance and upkeep of your vehicle should be a priority to ensure it runs predictably and efficiently.

Its important to remember when becoming a delivery driver that safety should come first. Drive cautiously and responsibly, adhere to traffic laws, and always wear a seatbelt. If you’re dealing with dangerous or hazardous materials, be sure to follow all safety guidelines to keep yourself and others protected.

Also, make sure to dress appropriately for the job and be aware of your surroundings. Before beginning your shift, make sure to check your vehicle’s tires, oil, and water levels. Have a first-aid kit ready in case of an emergency, and use a GPS device or function on your mobile phone to track your route and time.

Also, if something unexpected comes up, communicate this to your customers and employers as soon As a driver, it’s important to maintain a professional attitude, even when dealing with customer service issues. Be courteous and respectful of customers, and take time to listen to their concerns.

10. Provide Personal Services that Cannot Be Automated Online

What are provide personal services that cannot be automated online?

Personal services may include everyday services such as;

• Providing emotional support and companionship
• House sitting
• Nursing and personal care
• Pet walking and pet care
• Laundry and housekeeping
• Nutrition and dietary consultation
• Yoga, exercise, and personal training
• Life coaching, career guidance, and advice
• Event planning
• Child care
• Grooming and styling services
• Travel planning and organization
• Arts and crafts teaching and tutoring
• Catering and cooking services
• Automotive repair and maintenance
• Interior decorating and landscaping

With these services may be a little crossover with a handyman or odd job service, but the examples above tend to be a little more specialized and focused on one particular task.

While there are many services that can only be offered in person, such as massage therapy, acupuncture, hairdressing, counseling, and personal training, there are also many other types of service that can only be conducted in person due to the need for personalization and customization.

These may include things like personal shopping, event coordination and planning, home organization, photography and videography, home staging, wedding and event planning, pet sitting, and other personal services. As the needs of each individual vary, as does the services that are necessary to fulfill those needs.

Tailor your services

Being able able to tailor services to individual needs is an important part of providing services that can really make a difference in a person’s life.

Companies like TaskRabbit and Thumbtack are perfect examples of companies that provide specialized service solutions customized to each individual customer. Additionally, many freelance professionals specialize in very specific services.

For these types of services, online platforms may provide a solution for connecting customers to the service providers in their area. These types of platforms provide a great way for customers to research, compare, and connect with the best professionals in the area.

Consider subscription-based services

Since the services involved often have a large time commitment or require specialist skills, many companies offer subscription-based services to make it easier for customers to access the services they need. Subscription services provide customers with access to multiple service providers and ensure that customers are taken care of even when their needs change.

Subscription services can provide customers with the convenience of a package deal and access to exclusive discounts, deals, and access to exclusive professionals that may not be available elsewhere. Customers are also often given the ability to make appointments and schedule follow-up sessions ahead of time, so they don’t have to worry about constantly finding the time and resources to find the best freelancers.

Conclusion

No matter what financial goals you want to reach, having a side hustle to supplement your income can help you reach them faster.

Whether you’re looking to save up for a big purchase, pay off debt, or just have some extra money coming in, a side hustle can be the perfect way to dip your toes into the world of entrepreneurship and start earning extra money.

With so many options to choose from, you are bound to find something that fits your lifestyle and interests.

Once you have decided on a side hustle idea, it’s time to get started!