A side hustle or a side job is a fantastic way to earn some extra cash! Whether it’s part-time or on a freelance basis, the idea is that you’ll take on an additional role on top of your primary job to supplement your earnings. But what are the best side hustles available and what will they require? Keep reading to learn more!
1) Start a Dropshipping Business
This entails selling a product directly to the customer without buying or owning inventories.¹ The vendors work directly with the manufacturers/suppliers and negotiate a discount on their items. The vendor will then transfer the sale order to the respective suppliers, who then act on the order. The lifeline of this sort of business would be marketing and customer service.
2) Start freelance writing
Freelance writing allows one to trade their time and make money while working from home. You can earn from freelance writing by charging clients for projects assigned. You can learn and take up freelance writing tasks from various freelance websites.²
3) Start blogging
Blogging allows one to build their brand while owning their assets. The best thing about blogging is that one has the freedom to write about anything, and build an audience from the people who share the same interests.
4) Become a virtual assistant
A virtual assistant is someone who works from a remote location, as opposed to a physical office, and assists in tasks such as administration, record keeping, social media management, etc. The demand for virtual assistants by business owners has been on the rise.
Photography has become one of the best side hustles. One can sell their photography to publications such as blogs or newspapers. Some sites also allow individuals to sell their pictures on their platform.
6) Become a transcriptionist
If you have good typing skills, several transcription sites can pay you to write articles from listening to audio.³
7) Become an taxi driver
Taxi apps such as uber are becoming very common all over the world. Driving for uber and any other taxi apps is a good side hustle. The best thing about becoming an uber driver is that you can do it even within your normal 9 to 5 working hours.
8) Food delivery
Another side hustle that is increasingly becoming popular is food delivery. Most restaurants have opted towards engaging food delivery agents as opposed to employing in-house food delivery staff. This has also been catapulted by the fact that most people prefer avoiding the drive-through queues and enjoy having food delivered to the comfort of their homes.
Importance of Side Hustles
Several reasons could compel one to engage a side hustle.⁴ Some people do it out of necessity, especially when one’s earnings from their primary job are not sufficient to support them. The second reason, which is common with millennials, is establishing a financial “safety net”.
Side jobs also provide an effective means of paying off your student loans. Others engage in side hustles as a way of leveraging their creativity in a manner that would somehow not be feasible in their primary work places. As for most students and graduates, side hustles are a means of paying their rent. For instance, close to two-thirds of students and graduates in the United Kingdom require a side job for this purpose.
Side hustles can also be done simply to fulfill the desire to raise more income. In general, side hustles are gaining popularity all over the world, mainly because the wage growth is stagnating while the cost of living is continuously rising. Your choice of the best side hustle to venture into should be pegged on a couple of factors that include skills and experience, flexibility, interests, and goals.
The Bottom Line
Your side hustle will definitely help you earn extra cash every month. Besides the money, it will also help you build new skills, your brand, and attain more freedom so try to have some fun with it! Take some risks by establishing a business or work on some hobbies that you are curious about.
Having a side hustle is actually the best opportunity to manage your life on your personal terms. Since side hustles come along with making more money, nothing should stop you from exploring. However, most people often find it difficult to settle on the best side hustle to start. Before making a decision, make a list of potential options and research extensively to find the best side hustle.
[1] “Dropshipping: What is Dropshipping and How it Works,” June 17, 2019. https://www.orderhive.com/primer-dropshipping-works.
[2] “18 Best Freelance Websites to Find Work in 2020.” Hostinger Tutorials, June 8, 2020. https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/best-freelance-websites.
[3] Realwaystoearn. “Work at Home Transcription For Beginners – 8 Companies.” Real Ways to Earn, June 13, 2020. https://realwaystoearnmoneyonline.com/transcription-for-newbies/.
[4] Karpis, Paulina. “Why Having A Side Hustle Is Essential For Your Career.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, April 21, 2017. https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulinaguditch/2017/04/19/four-essential-strategies-for-launching-a-side-hustle-from-creative-leader-greg-wacks/.