The Highest-Paying Side Hustles
Earn a considerable amount of money during your free time with the finest side hustles that can even lead to a full-time income.
1. Freelance Writing
When working as a freelance writer, your tasks may include composing articles, blog posts, e-books, among other written content for individuals and businesses. Before securing lucrative opportunities, it will be necessary to compile a collection of writing samples. However, once you do, it is possible to earn up to $50 per hour (although most opportunities will compensate per word or per article).
The payment rates for freelance writers vary greatly. While numerous writing jobs offer meager compensation, there are also numerous lucrative prospects available.
To increase your earnings as a freelance writer, it’s advisable to specialize in a specific area or topic. Freelance writers who write about a wide range of subjects are usually paid less. Nevertheless, if you focus on a niche and excel in it, you can command higher pay rates.
In the beginning, it’s advisable to take up freelance writing assignments meant for novices to acquire experience and create a portfolio. However, you should aim to progress to better-paying jobs once you have gained sufficient expertise.
Freelance writers can earn a considerable amount of money, with the potential to make six figures. It’s an achievable feat, and several individuals have achieved it. Even if you work part-time, there’s still a good chance you’ll receive good pay.
If you’re aiming to launch a career as a freelance writer, Brad Merrill’s Freelance Writing 101 is a great starting point that can provide you with a solid foundation.
2. Web Design and Development
Starting a business in website design and development is achievable for individuals with proficiency in technology and a comprehensive understanding of web development technologies such as WordPress, HTML, and CSS.
By working as a freelance web designer or developer, you have the potential to make $50-$100 per hour or more. Securing long-term clients can yield a six-figure revenue stream.
Modern page builders such as Divi from Elegant Themes have made it possible to provide web design services without the need for coding. With the Divi Builder, custom sites can be created for clients without any code being written, making it unnecessary to build sites from the ground up with HTML.
Although not coding would result in a lower income, you can still earn a decent amount. There are numerous small business owners searching for cost-effective website solutions, and they lack the expertise to do it themselves. You could aid them in creating a top-notch website at a fraction of the price charged by agencies for bespoke coding and design.
It is not possible to establish a web design and development company overnight; it takes considerable effort to create a portfolio and earn additional income. However, if you are willing to dedicate yourself, it can be a profitable source of income on the side or even evolve into a legitimate full-time enterprise.
For additional information, check out our piece titled Ways to Earn Money as a Web Designer.
3. Investing
Although investing can be one of the most lucrative money-making methods, it may not be regarded as a side gig since the outcome may take a while to manifest. Nevertheless, if you invest for an extended term (five years or more), it can serve as an excellent means of generating supplementary earnings.
Investing in individual stocks is an option that may carry higher risk but also offers the possibility of greater returns. Public.com, Webull, and M1 Finance are user-friendly investment platforms that enable everyone to begin investing.
Instead of investing in the stock market, you could consider real estate investment as an alternative. Fundrise and Arrived are excellent options for individuals interested in passive real estate investment, even with minimal funds.
Investing as a side gig is advantageous as it enables you to enhance your financial and money administration abilities, which can be beneficial in numerous aspects.
Best Choice
Get Free Stock from Public.com
With Public.com, individuals have the opportunity to begin investing by purchasing fractional shares. The platform is designed to allow users to socialize with other investors and enjoy the connectedness. If you sign up through our referral link, you’ll receive a free stock slice that could be valued up to $300.
- Commission-free trades of stocks and ETFs
- Buy and sell 27 different cryptocurrencies
- Fractional shares
- Easy to use and beginner-friendly
- Connect with a supportive community of investors
- “Themes” help you to find investments that interest you
Residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to take advantage of this offer, which is contingent upon account approval. This is not intended to be a recommendation. Investing always involves the risk of losing money, regardless of the investment. Open To The Public Investing is a member of FINRA and SIPC, and regulatory and firm fees are applicable. New customers will receive a free stock with a value ranging between $3 and $300; however, only 0.3% will receive the maximum value. Apex Crypto LLC (NMLS ID 1828849) offers cryptocurrency trading, and they have been authorized to engage in virtual currency business by the New York State Department of Financial Services. For more information, please see Public.com/disclosures/.
4. Blogging
Starting a blog on a subject you’re passionate about allows you to share your knowledge with a wider audience. Additionally, it’s possible to monetize your blog through various means such as sponsored content, ads, affiliate marketing, and digital products, among others.
It is likely that you are familiar with the idea of bloggers making significant six or seven-figure earnings by running their blog from home. Blogging evidently presents a lucrative opportunity as a part-time job.
While it’s not as simple as some claim, attaining success as a blogger can be feasible if one exercises patience and dedicates effort prior to witnessing results. Numerous accomplished bloggers generate minimal revenue for the initial 6 to 12 months, focusing instead on expanding their audience.
Blogging holds a unique significance for me as it began as a part-time endeavor in 2007 but gradually turned into a full-time profession by 2008.
If making money from blogging is of interest to you, I suggest reading my article titled “How to Start a Blog,” as it will guide you through the necessary steps.
5. Build a Niche Website
Niche websites share many similarities with blogs, but they have some notable differences, and the terms are occasionally used interchangeably. The significant differentiator of a niche website is that it has a narrow concentration on a specific subject, with all content being closely related to it.
Unlike a lifestyle blog that encompasses a range of subjects such as cooking, travel, money, fashion, etc., a niche website offers specialized content on a particular topic. More often than not, the website would have a much narrower focus. To illustrate, instead of providing an overview of cooking, the website may concentrate solely on plant-based recipes.
Blogs can often reflect the author’s personal opinions and style, which can attract readers to the blog. However, in the case of a niche website, the author is typically insignificant. The focus of a niche site is the content rather than the person creating it.
The primary focus for creators of niche websites is to attract traffic from search engines such as Google. They typically develop content centered on specific keywords that are commonly searched for in order to increase search traffic. Typically, site owners aim for keywords with low competition which are identified through research.
Similar to blogging, creating a niche website based on your interests can generate additional revenue. However, it is important to ensure the existence of an audience, to avoid investing your time in creating content that lacks interest. Fortunately, there is an abundance of possibilities with likely hundreds or even thousands of options available.
Although display ads and affiliate marketing are the primary monetization methods for niche websites, other alternatives are also feasible.
6. Rent out your home to vacationers
If you’re already devoting time to taking care of your residence, why not use it as a way to earn additional income? Renting out your property, including extra rooms, can lead to substantial earning possibilities. Airbnb is a well-known option for renting out your space, but it’s worth considering other applications like Vrbo, Agoda, or Plum Guide (UK only).
7. Deliver food
The popularity of food delivery has grown considerably in recent years, much like grocery delivery. It can be a simple side gig to begin, with various apps such as UberEats, DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, SkipTheDishes (exclusive to Canada), and Menulog (solely in Australia and New Zealand) available for driver registration.
8. Become an affiliate marketer
By engaging in affiliate marketing, you have the opportunity to showcase someone else’s goods or services on your own platform and earn a portion of the profits earned from any resulting sales, which typically involves the use of a distinct link or code. This approach is an excellent means of combining supplementary sources of income.
Consider delving into affiliate marketing if you possess a podcast, exert influence, or own a store; it presents a superb opportunity for earning passive revenue while either pursuing an alternative side gig or following your passions.
Commence by visiting an affiliate marketplace, such as Leadpages, ConvertKit, ClickBank, or ShareASale, to locate suitable products. Additionally, if you work as a content creator, course educator, or influencer in the ecommerce realm, the Shopify Affiliate Program could be an excellent secondary source of income.
9. Tutor online
It is possible for anyone to become an online tutor through platforms such as Cambly, TutorOcean, Preply, and Learn to Be, making teaching a highly fulfilling opportunity. Young entrepreneurs even begin freelancing while still studying, with tutoring and exam preparation being in high demand among student freelancers in universities. As a result, the test-preparation market is predicted to grow by 6% annually until 2027.
10. Walk dogs and pet-sit
Nowadays, pets are regarded as part of the family which means there is an increasing need for trustworthy individuals to look after their beloved furry companions. In the past, the most difficult aspect of pursuing a career as a dog walker or pet sitter was securing clientele. However, thanks to apps like Rover, Wag!, PetSitter.com, and PetBacker, it is now more convenient than ever to connect with reputable clients seeking assistance.
11. Start a blog on Substack
While blogging has always been a favored side job, generating revenue from it can be difficult. Consequently, an increasing number of bloggers are opting for Substack, a platform on which self-reliant writers can broadcast their articles directly to their readership and make money by recurring subscriptions.
Bloggers can steadily increase their readership and generate consistent monthly earnings without resorting to intrusive advertisements, sponsorships, or searching for freelance writing jobs.
