13 Best Side Hustles Of 2023

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Think about this for a moment: What would earning an extra $5,000, $10,000, even $20,000 or more each year look like?

Would you finally be able to take that dream vacation? Upgrade to a better car? Pay off all your debts?

Today, people just like you are taking advantage of a gig economy that allows them to make extra money on their own time.

Whether you’re looking to add to your current income, replace your income down the road, or simply tackle a new exciting challenge, you, too, can have your own side hustle!

Here are some of the best side hustles you can start signing up for today:

1. Make Deliveries on Your Own Time

man wearing white t-shirt and sunglasses sitting in the driver's seat

Tarutoa on Unsplash

Want a delivery gig that allows you to earn money when it’s most convenient for you? There are a few different companies that allow you to use your own car, on your own schedule, to pick up and deliver orders to their customers.

As a Postmates Fleet member, you’ll be able to do just that. Pick up food, drink, retail, and other deliveries that line up with your schedule.

The best part? It’s free and there are no fees. You take home 100% of your earnings. Using the Postmates Fleet app, you’ll have the option of receiving a weekly deposit or cashing out instantly.

Plus, it’s easy to get started with Postmates. When signing up, just let them know how you plan to deliver, upload a picture, and verify your identity. That’s it. You’ll get a free delivery bag and receive a prepaid card just for signing up!

Earning potential: Postmates claims fleet members can earn up to $22 an hour. Postmates also offers driver guarantees depending on your city.

2. Get Paid to Watch Others’ Pets

black pug being walked by man

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If you love animals, pet sitting might be the perfect side hustle for you!

No, you don’t have to quit your full-time job to be a pet sitter. Filling in your evenings or weekends with pet sitting gigs can be a great way to enjoy and care for animals, while also making extra money on the side.

Rover is a network that connects pet owners with pet sitters. As a pet sitter, you’ll have the option of boarding (watching pets in your own home) or sitting (watching pets at the owner’s home).

Do you prefer dogs over cats, or vice versa? As a Rover sitter, you’ll be able to set pet preferences that include age and size, so that you’re always paired with furry friends you feel comfortable watching.

Want to get started with Rover? Simply create your profile, accept gigs, and start getting paid!

You can manage your new pet sitting business right from the Rover app. By setting your hourly or nightly rate, you decide what you want to earn!

Earning potential: Earn up to $100 (or more!) a week depending on how much time you spend.

3. Fill in Your Schedule with Food Deliveries

small brown cardboard box with handle

Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Before the days of delivery apps, companies largely relied on customer pickup or staff delivery to get food orders to their customers.

But today, there are a handful of different apps that actually mobilize everyday drivers to complete deliveries. Anyone can pick up delivery gigs and earn extra money, including you!

Most of us have heard of the popular food delivery service, DoorDash. It’s convenient for customers, but it’s pretty convenient for Dashers, too.

Thanks to the flexibility of DoorDash, you get to be your own boss. Choose your own hours, where you want to drive, and ultimately, how much you want to make!

To sign up as a Dasher, all you need to do is have your own vehicle and provide some basic information. You don’t even need to get your vehicle inspected!

Once you’ve been approved, download the DoorDash app, tap “Dash Now”, and choose jobs when you want them! Does it get any easier than that?

Earning Potential: DoorDash claims that drivers can make up to $25 an hour, but you are guaranteed $10 an hour.

4. Launch Your Own Money-Making Blog

desk with computers

Domenico Loia on Unsplash

A blog is one of the best ways to make a little money on the side, because it offers flexibility that very few jobs do. With only a laptop and an internet connection, you can blog about anything you want, from anywhere in the world!

Have a passion? Blog about it. Have expertise on a topic? Blog about it.

No boss. No schedule. Just you and your ideas. And what’s better than writing about something you love and getting paid for it?

Some top bloggers make well over $100,000 monthly. They make money on advertisements or selling products to their audience.

Today, it’s easy to start your own blog, and you can do it on a budget.

In fact, get this — you can even get your blog up and running with Bluehost for as little as $3.95 a month. That’s the equivalent of giving up just one coffee each month!

With Bluehost, you’ll get a free domain name, a free SSL certificate (to keep your site secure), and access to 24/7 customer support. Bluehost also offers a one-click WordPress install.

And guess what? The company’s 30-day money-back guarantee means that you can start with Bluehost today, risk-free!

Earning potential: Although you might make nothing for a while, there is an opportunity for significant earnings.

5. List Your Unused Space Online

gray house key

Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Do you have a room, floor, or property that isn’t being used? You can list it online and earn additional income from guests, and then use that money to pay some (or perhaps all!) of your mortgage or rent.

One of the more popular places where people list extra space is Airbnb.

And actually, the average Airbnb host earns quite a bit of dough. Depending on what you’re offering and the area where you live, you could make anywhere up to a couple of thousand dollars a month. Not bad for a side hustle, huh?

Plus, it’s easy to become an Airbnb host. After listing your space and setting your preferences, you’ll be able to start accepting guests!

With Airbnb, you’ll be able to charge whatever you want, pay low fees, and get paid quickly via PayPal, direct deposit, or another preferred method.

Worried about your property getting damaged? We get it. But fear not — Airbnb covers every booking with $1,000,000 in damage protection and another $1,000,000 in insurance.

Earning Potential: The average Airbnb host makes $924 a month. You can make much less or much more, depending on your property, schedule, and rate.

6. Put That Car of Yours to Good Use

black car on concrete road

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Do you have a car that you don’t use during certain hours of the day, or on weekends? What about a second car that doesn’t see much use? You can actually rent out your to other people and make pretty good money!

If you do this a few times, you may be able to use that money to make your lease or loan payment!

Getaround is a great place to begin renting out your car and start getting paid for it.

And you don’t even have to part with your keys! Renters use a digital key within the Getaround Connect app to unlock your car. This app only grants access for the times and dates agreed on, and tracks the driver’s location at all times.

Most importantly, Getaround emphasizes safety by securing driver record checks, and by covering all trips with a $1,000,000 insurance policy.

Getting started is a breeze. List your car on Getaround, link your car with the Getaround Connect device, and start earning money!

Earning potential: GetAround claims that the average car owner makes roughly $6,000 a year. There is the potential for greater earnings, but you also need to factor in wear and tear on your vehicle.

7. Step Into the Investing World

stock list display on mobile phone

William Iven on Unsplash

Sure, investing in stocks can be a little risky. But time in the market can also yield a great return on your investment.

Not to mention, when the money you put in the stock market grows, that’s passive income you’re earning! Rather than working for your money, your money is working for you.

M1 Finance is a platform that allows you to build a portfolio or “pie” of stocks and funds customized to your financial goals, or choose from roughly 100 different expert pies.

The best part is — you can automate your contributions, sit back, and let your money do the work for you. Talk about a side hustle!

If you have more than $10,000 invested, you can unlock a flexible portfolio line of credit. Borrow money at one of the lowest rates in the market.

What are you waiting for? Open your free account today and make your money work hard.

Earning potential: With investing, there are no guarantees. You might invest in the stock market and see gains. You might invest in the stock market and see losses.

8. Teach English to Kids Online


Do you have a knack or love for teaching? Thanks to the internet, there are children all over the world who are signing up to be taught online. And the internet needs more teachers!

Through VIPKid, you can teach English to kids in China and earn a respectable side income. You set your own schedule, allowing you to teach from anywhere at any time.

And guess what? You don’t even need to come up with lesson plans! VIPKid creates them for you, handles all of the grading, and provides you with round-the-clock support, so that you’re 100% prepared every time you log on for a lesson.

You don’t even need to know how to speak Chinese! Simply sign up, start teaching, get paid, and make a difference in young lives!

Earning potential: You can earn up to $22 an hour with VIPKid, so teaching a few classes five nights a week, for example, could earn you an extra $400-600 a month!

9. Take Up Freelancing on the Side

woman sitting at desk typing on a laptop

Christin Hume on Unsplash

Has the freelance life always been a dream of yours? Today, it’s more achievable than ever. It’s estimated that over 57 million Americans freelance, and that number is only expected to grow.

There are tons of different freelance opportunities, from writing to editing to proofreading and more! With very minimal training, you can kick-start your own freelance side hustle:

  • Bookkeepers.com: Learn how to start, scale, and grow a virtual bookkeeping business. Claim your free spot and get a behind-the-scenes inside look with 3 free classes that show you how to work from home, earn good money, and be your own boss.
  • Proofread Anywhere: During this free, 76-minute workshop, you’ll learn how to launch your own proofreading business in 30 days or less, how to fill out your schedule, and where to find paying clients!
  • Transcribe Anywhere: Sign up for Transcription Foundations, a 7-lesson mini-course, where you’ll learn how to become a transcriptionist, how to find work, and what you need to start!

Earning potential: With freelancing, the sky is really the limit. You get to create your own schedule and set your own rates. Earn a few hundred dollars a month, or much more!

10. Find Used Stuff and Sell It

white pickup truck with thrift shop signage

chrissie kremer on Unsplash

You can make quite a bit of dough by finding used items and selling them online, and there are so many different resources you can use to turn this into a killer side hustle.

Start by checking out some of the yard sales, scrap yards, or even finding recyclables in your area. Often, people are just looking to de-clutter their homes, which allows you pick up items at discount!

There are also tons of ways to find free furniture. If you find pieces that have value or are salvageable, pick them up!

You can then post your used items to eBay, sites like Craigslist, and plenty of other marketplaces. You can even set up your own Shopify store in minutes, and sell your items there!

Earning potential: How much you earn depends entirely on how much you pay for used items and how much you’re able to sell them for. Finding free or cheap items and selling them at a higher value could easily earn you a few hundred bucks or more each month!

11. Make Money Watching Online Videos

man sitting with laptop in his lap

Lucian Novosel on Unsplash

If you often spend hours clicking through videos on YouTube, Facebook, or other platforms, you can channel your love for video into its own side hustle!

There are a few companies that will actually pay you to simply watch videos:

Swagbucks: This app gives out points or “swagbucks” whenever you finish one of their video playlists. Download the app for a free $5 signup bonus, start racking up points, and earn a little extra cash!

InboxDollars: Watch short video snippets and you’ll earn a few cents for every video you watch. You’ll also get a $5 bonus just for signing up!

Earning potential: Without watching a single video, you’ll earn $15 by signing up for Swagbucks and InboxDollars. After that, you can expect to earn a few bucks a week by running videos in the background.

12. Take Surveys Online

woman sitting drinking coffee looking at laptop computer

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You love sharing your opinion, right? Well, by filling out surveys online, you can create your own little side hustle.

There are a bunch of survey sites that will pay you money for your feedback:

Survey Junkie: Sign up for Survey Junkie, build your profile, and the company will match you with surveys that you might find engaging. You’ll earn virtual points for every survey you complete, and you’ll be able to redeem those points via PayPal or gift cards!

PointClub: Complete surveys with PointClub and earn cash! Register now and get a $5 signup bonus right off the bat!

Earning potential: Sign up for enough survey sites and you could rack up $50 or so in signup bonuses alone. Filling out surveys can add up and earn you a couple hundred bucks (give or take) each month.

13. Get Cashback on Everyday Purchases

man checking mobile phone on the sidewalk

Startup Stock Photos On Pexels

Are you missing opportunities to make money on most of your everyday purchases?

There are a handful of cashback apps that will actually reward you when you use one of their store links to buy something:

Rakuten: This company earns a commission whenever you make a purchase through them. Rather than keeping that money, they actually pass some of it back to you! Shop at over 2,500 of your favorite stores and earn up to 40% back. Each quarter, you’ll get to cash out on whatever you’ve earned. Sign up today and you’ll get a $10 bonus!

Ibotta: Use this app and you’ll earn cashback on both online and in-store purchases! You can get paid in three ways: get instant cashback by using Pay with Ibotta, upload your receipts, or link your loyalty accounts to the app for automatic payments. If you sign up for Ibotta today, you’ll get a free $20 bonus!

Earning potential: This depends entirely on your spending habits, you might earn a few hundred dollars a year or more!

Reasons to Start a Side Hustle

Considering starting your own side hustle? Sure, more money is always a good thing, but there are a handful of other reasons why starting your own side hustle might benefit you:

  • Develop new skills: Starting a side hustle allows you to learn and hone skills in a new industry or role.
  • Get real business experience: Running a side hustle gives you a taste of what it’s like to have your own business and be your own boss.
  • Build your resume: A few successful side hustles under your belt may impress future employers.
  • Diversify your income: If you ever lose your day job, you’ll have a stream of income to fall back on.
  • Prime a new job opportunity: Looking to transition out of your current full-time job? Build up your side hustle until it’s financially viable for you.
  • Keep yourself busy: Have an activity that gives you a sense of productivity and accomplishment after your regular 9-5.
  • Make connections: Starting a side hustle can put you in touch with new names and faces — connections that you can leverage down the road.

What Makes a Top Side Hustle?

Today, there are thousands of different opportunities to make money. But not all of them are good side hustle ideas. Why?

A great side hustle needs to offer the potential for earnings, flexibility, and growth opportunities to make it worthwhile.

If your side hustle isn’t financially viable, or if you’re going to spend a ton of money to keep it alive, it’s time to rethink its earning potential.

If your side hustle doesn’t allow you to work around the hours of your day job, it may not offer enough flexibility.

If your side hustle doesn’t offer any room for growth or the potential to scale it into a decent business down the road, perhaps there is a better side hustle opportunity out there for you.

Ready to Make Side Money?

There are so many different ways to earn extra money, and these simple side jobs aren’t tough!

You can dedicate your weekends to a new venture, spend a few hours a week doing something fun, or you can spend little to no time at all and still earn passive income.

Try your hand at a couple of these best side hustles and watch as those extra dollars trickle in!