This month, Tyler Tervooren did a great two-part series for us on some of the basic principles of starting a successful side hustle.
Today, I want to round out those posts by offering a list of concrete side hustle ideas for guys who need more specific inspiration on what kind of “microbusiness” to create. Remember, as Tyler explained, a lot of men never get started with their side hustle because they think their idea has to be unique and ground-breaking. It doesn’t. You just need a customer who’s willing and able to pay for your services and a strong work ethic to make your business a success.
You might think, “I’d like to start X business, but I can’t because so many people are already doing the same thing.” Well, I’ve seen half a dozen guys try to start a business with the exact same idea, but only one succeeded, because only one was willing to really hustle. Within any current niche, there is another niche waiting for you to dominate: the super responsive, super enthusiastic, non-flaky, on-time, quality producer. Seriously, how many flaky graphic designers and computer programmers are out there? Tons. And people who use their services are frustrated. By making yourself the super responsive, super enthusiastic, non-flaky, on-time computer programmer, you can put yourself head and shoulders above your competitors, and easily rack up referrals and dominate your niche.
Here’s an example: I had a dead tree in my front yard that I needed cut down and removed. I called a couple of places. No one answered the phone, so I left a message. A couple of days went by, no response. So I sent an email to another guy. He showed up at my front door within the hour and gave me an estimate. I hired him and he came the next day with his men to do the work.
The same principles apply to side hustles. And if you want to turn it into your real job? Then treat it like one. Take blogging, for instance. People think they can start a blog, spend an hour each day writing down their musings about the world, and crap out golden eggs. Yet after a year they still have two subscribers: their girlfriend and their mom. I am often asked how I made AoM a success. Well, Kate and I each worked on it 30-60 hours a week…even when I was in law school and even when I had a full-time corporate job. Early mornings, late nights. We treated it like a job…until it became our job.
In trying to come up with a side business idea, the two richest veins are 1) hobbies you already do for free, and 2) stuff people are unable or unwilling to do themselves. That latter category keeps on growing, as people are increasingly “outsourcing” their lives and becoming averse to doing little unpleasant tasks and chores themselves. However you feel about this trend, the market is definitely there for more and more outsourcing niches.
The ideas below generally fall into these two categories. Most will allow you to stick with Tyler’s suggested $100 budget and can be started right away. Maybe one will pique your interest, or will give you another idea. Certainly don’t limit yourself to this list.
37 Side Hustle Ideas
Crafter of ____. The Industrial Revolution dealt craftsmen a terrible blow. But small, independent artisans have been making a comeback these days. Because of sites like etsy.com, it’s never been easier to set up a “shop,” and get your wares out there in front of people. What should you make? Whatever your imagination, skills, and tools can dream up. There are guys making simple lamps, shaving brushes and keepsake boxes, leather notebook covers, knives — you name it.
Editor/proofreader. Got an English degree? It’s good for more than a job at McDonald’s! (I kid, I kid). You can start freelance editing when you’re still in school – friends and classmates often need their papers and graduate school application essays edited. Once you’ve gotten some experience under your belt, branch out to other things. How do you find clients? Editor Jeremy Anderberg, left this helpful comment on one of the previous side hustle posts:
“Believe it or not, all my clients have come from three sources:
-Twitter search for people needing an editor
-Craigslists postings in the Writing / Editing Jobs
-Independent/Indie author’s forumsI found where the authors are, and went to them! It’s worked great so far.”
Graphic designer. It seems like everyone and their mom is a graphic designer these days, but the number of professional, reliable, and affordable graphic designers is few and far between. If you have a goal of becoming a full-time graphic designer who can charge giant corporations a million dollars to come up with a new logo, start off by doing projects for smaller businesses. I know many folks who find clients by offering to do a small project for a business or website they frequent and enjoy. Once the business owner sees how awesome the work is, they end up hiring the designer for other projects. The one thing you can do to set yourself apart in this niche is to be super-reliable and responsive.
Personal chef/meal delivery. Personal chefs used to be the exclusive privilege of the rich and famous, but are now a service people of more modest means are signing up for. You can go into someone’s home to cook for them a few times a week, or make meals in your own kitchen that you deliver weekly or daily. The latter option is often done for those who are on a diet and want someone to prepare fresh, calorie-controlled meals for them. One thing to note about this, and any other side business that involves making food in your own kitchen, is that your state or city may have laws requiring commercially-sold food to be made in a commercially-certified kitchen. Getting that certification can be pricey. One way around this is that some cities offer a community commercial kitchen where you can rent a slot.
Dog poop picker-upper. Yup, this is really a job. Some people’s full-time job, actually. All dogs poop, and some people don’t want to crisscross their yard every week searching for Fido’s droppings. I actually heard of a guy here in town, Jon Wood, who started his own dog poop scooping business –Poop 911 — while he was getting his biology degree from the University of Tulsa. He intended to go to medical school, but his side business became so successful that his previous plan was soon put on hold, and now he’s looking to franchise.
Soap maker. There seems to be a bunch of soaps available at the grocery store, but they’re really all about the same. That leaves a lot of special niches to be filled — folks looking for super natural fragrance-free soap, guys who want a unique and manly scent, and those who’d like their soap to come in a fun shape (like, say, guns or bacon and eggs) to name a few. Making your own soap isn’t as difficult as you might think. Let Bryan Schatz show you how.
Poem/letter writer. Not everyone’s got a way with words. If you do, start a letter/poem writing service where the client tells you what they’re trying to convey, and you bring it to life for them.
Computer troubleshooter. Some people (read: older people) find their computer to be entirely inscrutable, and do not know how to fix their machines when issues come up. They may know how to turn it off and on, but that’s often about it. Become a one-man Geek Squad for these folks.
Website/blog creator. In this day and age every business needs to have a sharp-looking, easy-to-use website or blog. But surprisingly, a lot of business websites still look like they’re stuck in 1999. Plus, ordinary people often want to start a personal blog, but don’t know where to begin. In addition to your site creation service, you can also offer help on making the site easier to find in search engines and getting connected to potential readers and customers with social media.
To find clients, consider combining your website-building know-how with a special area of expertise. For example, during law school I noticed that a lot of law firms in town had pretty terrible looking websites. While I never had time to execute it, I thought about offering these firms my services, as I could help them both build their site and offer the legal know-how to create content for their blog.
Dog walker/pet sitter. If people work long hours, they need someone to come walk their dogs during the day, and if they go on vacation, they need someone to both walk and feed their pets. There are people in NYC making six figures a year doing this. Six figures for walking dogs!
Pet taxi. People use a pet taxi when they don’t have a car or work long hours, but need someone to take their kitty or pooch to the vet, the groomer, or to and from the airport. Pet taxis pick up animals from their homes, and take them to and from appointments.
Pet baths. While all-out pet grooming requires training, you could specialize in giving people’s four-legged friends a bath. Many people really don’t like doing this chore themselves.
Window cleaner. Got some cleaning solution and a squeegee? You’re ready to be a window washer. No, not the kind that stands at intersections and harasses you into having your windshield cleaned. Stick to people’s homes or businesses.
Family history creator. Many people want to know more about their ancestry, but find the idea of tracing their genealogy intimidating. They may even have the software to do so, but are still confused about how to use it. Your business could be helping these folks create their family tree.
Music/instrument teacher. If you know how to play a musical instrument, give lessons in your home.
Music performer. If you have a talent for music, perform at small business events or weddings. I have an acquaintance here in town that performs the violin both solo and in a quartet at various events during her free time.
Blogger. Making money from a blog isn’t easy, but definitely possible if you’re willing to invest a lot of sweat equity into it. I’ll do a post in the future on my best tips for creating a successful blog if there is interest (let us know in the comments!).
Auto detailer. While many people enjoy detailing their own car, there are plenty of folks who will gladly pay someone else to make their vehicle look like new.
Jerky maker. When it comes to small businesses that started out in somebody’s kitchen, women have cupcakes; men have jerky. In recent years, a lot of independent artisan jerky makers have emerged to offer an alternative to the big name, low quality, preservative-ridden jerky available in grocery stores. But there’s always room for another guy serving up his meaty creations.
Christmas lights/holiday display installer. Obviously this isn’t just a side hustle, but a seasonal hustle. It’s a job people really hate doing themselves, so you can make some good dough taking the work off their hands once a year.
Dial-a-Santa. Maybe you’re a skinny 30-something and couldn’t grow a beard to save your life. But, you sound a lot like Santa. Offer a service where parents hire you to make live, personalized phone calls to their astonished children.
Designer of t-shirts/mugs/posters. It used to be that if you wanted to create your own t-shirts and such, you’d have to screen print them in your basement. Now the cost to entry is nil with print-on-demand sites like Zazzle that allow you to slap your designs on everything from shirts to mugs. They take care of all the printing and shipping for you – all you have to do is come up with the design. Of course, with any POD service, the printer/distributor takes a huge cut and leaves you with a lot less profit. But, it’s a good way to dip your toes into something to see if there’s interest in your creations.
Antique refurbisher. If you enjoy refurbishing antiques in your spare time, why not have people pay you to refurbish theirs? My grandpa actually started two side hustles after retiring from the Forest Service that involved refurbishing antiques. He mainly did it to pass the time, but made a bit of money in the process. The first was restoring old wagons and carriages; the second was restoring and refurbishing antique phonograph players.
Teacher/public speaker. Teaching gigs aren’t reserved for those with the credentials to teach in public schools or colleges. If you have a skill or area of expertise, you can turn it into a class given through continuing education programs, rec centers, and libraries. Also check out a new site called dabble that lets you host one-time classes for interested students.
What could you teach about? Origami, drawing, basic computer skills, conversational foreign language, photography, and electrical safety were just a few of the classes I found by flipping through a Tulsa Continuing Education catalog. Think outside the box, as well, regarding where you can give your class. For example, I’ve thought it would be cool to offer a safety or straight razor class from time to time at a local barbershop.
If you’d like to get into public speaking, check out this SYWMJ interview.
Jack of all trades handyman. When you live in an apartment, there’s one guy who takes care of all the minor things that go wrong in the complex. When you move into a house, you have to call a specialist to fix every little thing. Here’s a winning idea I’m surprised I don’t see more often: set yourself up as an all-around handyman for homeowners. You might try the retainer model: having people pay a monthly fee to be able to call you whenever, for whatever, just like they did as apartment dwellers.
Gofer. Gofers are people who run errands. Usually the errands involve things like picking up dry cleaning or dropping stuff off in the mail. Gofers were once primarily hired by businesses, but more and more individuals are hiring them to do the errands they just don’t have time for. If you have a flexible schedule, you might consider signing up with TaskRabit and offering your services.
Photographer. With a good camera and a lot of practice, you can start documenting people’s weddings, birthdays, and family moments. You can also license your shots of all kinds of things for commercial use. Flickr makes doing this easy.
Tutor. If you’re knowledgeable in an academic subject, amiable, and able to explain difficult concepts to others, look into tutoring. This is something you can do when you’re still a student yourself; in college I tutored my classmates in Spanish, for instance. I got the word out about my service by putting up flyers in the building where foreign language classes were given. I easily got a few clients and made a nice bit of extra money each week. You can also try calling the offices at public schools; some keep lists of available tutors to offer to parents who are looking for one for their kid.
Odd and unpleasant jobs guy. There are a lot of little unpleasant jobs that people are either unwilling or unable to do. If you’ve got a strong stomach and work ethic, set yourself up as the guy who will do anything. Clean the cobwebs out of a garage. Clean a shower that’s so dirty the owner too embarrassed to even call a maid. Be creative about the gross things you can do.
Knife/blade sharpener. Put an ad on Craigslist offering your services. You don’t need to limit yourself to just knives; offer to sharpen any edged tool and the blades of manual lawn mowers, too.
Freelance writer. Not all blogs or websites pay for freelance submissions, or if they do, pay very little. But you can make money if you’re willing to boost the quantity (and probably lower the quality) of your output. And traditional magazines still pay well for topnotch stuff.
Personal shopper. Sorting through the thicket of choices available for every single consumer item these days can be incredibly frustrating and time-consuming. What credit card is best for me? Where can I find a sweater like this one? What’s the best laptop for my needs? Let your client tell you what they’re looking for, and then you’ll go to work combing through the options and presenting to them the three best choices, or, depending on their level of trust, making the purchase for them. You can specialize; for example, I think a good side hustle would be setting yourself up as the guy who finds and books airline tickets. Full-on travel agents do this too, but this would be your sole service.
Videographer/video editor. More and more couples not only want their wedding photographed, they also want it filmed and edited professionally. As people watch more and more video online, the demand for quality videographers and video editors is only increasing. If you have a hobby of making and editing short films, offer your service to friends who are getting married. Another source of potential clients are local businesses. Offer to make a short YouTube commercial that a business could share with customers or put on their webpage.
Computer programmer. Now that even your Aunt Myrtle has an idea for an iPhone app, computer programmers have never been so in demand. But reliable ones are still hard to find. Be that guy!
Lawn care and landscaper. Many young men have found success with a pick-up truck, a mower, and a weed whacker. But I also know grown men who do lawn care on the side to make a few extra dollars in order to pay down their debt or increase their savings.
Personal trainer/fitness instructor. Being a personal trainer requires getting some credentials, but once you get them, you can start helping people work out at a local gym. Or you can start an outdoor boot camp. A lot of people are looking for more unique forms of exercise than going to the gym, and I see a big untapped market for trainers offering “outside the box” kind of programs.
Monkey phone call maker. I came across this the other day, and it’s still cracking me up. Incredibly random, and proof you can make a side business out of anything.
What kinds of side hustles have you done personally, or have heard about from others? Share more ideas with us in the comments!
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I’d definitely be interested in hearing more about what it took to make the blog profitable.
I’d be interested in reading your blogging tips. I’m also liking the “Heading out on your own” series, it’s neat and informative.
The Graphic Designer “Side Hustle” description shows a general lack of understanding and frankly, respect for the profession. Graphic Design is not and should not be a “Side Hustle,” nor should you expect to be able to do it with any sort of success. To pick up one day and decide to be a designer is tantamount to picking up one day and deciding that you’re going to be a car mechanic. There is a lot of time and skill that goes into Design. A major reason that American culture is inundated with so much BAD design is directly related to the All American Pull-Yourself-By-Your-Bootstraps “Side Hustle” idea that you’re perpetuating here.
Careful with food and building related side-hustles. A single health code or building code violation and your hustle could set you back more than it’s worth.
Excellent ideas! I’ve been looking for a way to make money while not having a job (I’m going to school so the job would be part time anyways), and this list far outdoes any list I’ve seen yet. I’ve been debating being a tutor for a while- there’s this programming class at school that many find difficult that I could definitely help with.
This is a great article! Brett you should totally write an article about how to write a successful blog. I’m trying to start one up and I’m having a really hard time. Thanks!
Wow, what a great list of ideas. As a Lit and Film student I can see myself being able to make use of a few of these ideas. A post on how to make and run a successful blog would also be greatly appreciated.
Oh, and, seeing as this is my first time commenting, I just want to say that I absolutely love this website, think it is a genius and terribly well executed idea and fills a void in men’s media that really needs addressing.
Great list here. I started on my “side hustle” 4 years ago and today it’s my main hustle/business raking in more that I could ever earn as an employee. It’s very satisfying that I can do all this from the comforts of my bedroom. I’m a web developer.
Another fun “side hustle” I would like to add is “Social Trader”. Where you can trade currencies, commodities and stock with the click of a button. I’ve found sites like eToro, http://bit.ly/QFJgtl make it exceptionally easy for people to trade (and profit) without in-depth financial knowledge or training. People such as myself!
I’ve been successful with both, able to pay rent and provide for my family with the earnings. These are my “hustles” and they work for me.
Would def like more info on starting a blog, thanks for these little seeds, something is bound to sprout.
The handyman “hustle” requires licensing, bonding, and insurance to be legit and to protect both you and your customer if something goes wrong. It’s also something a man of integrity does. State Contractor boards are not a sympathetic lot and the fines are pretty stiff; read $5-10,000. As a contractor I don’t mind competing on a level playing field but have zero tolerance for the cash and carry crowd.
If I catch them, I bust them.
Keaton, your comment shows a limited understanding of what a side hustle can be. You’re coming at it from the idea that it has to be something you’re untrained to do, but in actuality, it can be something you are trained to do, but just don’t want to do full-time. Case in point: I have a good friend who went to school to be a graphic designer, and was one for a few years but played in a band on the side. His real passion is his music, and now his band is starting to take off to the point where he spends more time on it, than on graphic design projects, so that graphic design has become a side gig, with the band more his main job. Doesn’t mean he takes any less pride in his graphic design work. I think it’s great when men do more than one thing. Can’t put all your eggs in one basket these days.
Great post, btw! And I’ll throw my hat in the ring too for wanting to hear your blogging tips.
Oh, and I personally feel like America’s boot strapper attitude is what makes us great!
My cousins made a six figure income setting up Christmas lights and then sold the business. Love to hear your blogging startup tips and the origin of AoM. Great article.
Please do write that article on making a blog profitable. That could be very useful to a lot of people with things to say but who feel they can’t afford to invest the time.
I started my side hustle business 32 years ago shoeing horses. I work a few hours in the evenings and I make $30,000 annually on the side.
I dj at weddings. I’ve got a reasonably decent sound system from when I used to play in a band. I charge a couple hundred dollars each time, plow half of it back into building my music library and sound gear. I do a couple a year and am building up some good word of mouth and references. Don’t know that I’d ever want to go pro but it’s a great side gig if you know a lot about music and enjoy getting parties started.
I was a Harley mechanic for eight years then quit to become a high school math teacher. People started calling me for side jobs and eight years later I am turning down work and picking and choosing what jobs I take. During the summers my side hustle is a full time gig.
Eric S. : Great for your friend, he’s trained in design so that’s a little different than the feeling I was getting from the initial line of the post.
” It seems like everyone and their mom is a graphic designer these days, but the number of professional, reliable, and affordable graphic designers is few and far between.”
Should State something along the lines of:
“It seems like everyone and their mom claims to be a graphic designer these days, and the number of unreliable, cheap (not inexpensive) and unprofessional hacks seems to be increasing.”
I’d love to read some of your blogging tips as well!
I would love to read your blogging tips.
Well I must say, there are things I see here that I’ve had doubt to do for a long time and am glad I saw this post – now am definitely kickin off 3 sidejobs from this lisT: poetry/letter writer , tutoring , public speaker.
Keep the good work up.
Eric S.
I see what you’re getting at, and it does seem logical, but even if you’re trained you still need to have the passion and drive to make sure you create the best possible piece to uphold the ideals of good design. If the passion is lost, the art/design is at risk. It’s why all skin care and photo studios have Papyrus as a logo font. Keaton, personally, is more correct in my book as its something that can’t be done by the general public. Or rather, SHOULDN’T be done by the general public. In regards to your friend, I’d say stick with the music and let the ones directly involved with Graphic Design handle it so that he can focus on making good music for us to listen to as we design. Good music seems to be flirting with the endangered species list lately. I can’t say he’s a bad designer since I haven’t seen his work, so I’m not trying to put him down. Not all musicians are bad at art. Actually, I have noticed that many musicians are quite impressive with hands-on mediums of art.
In the end I sincerely hope that people see the quality over the cost because it WILL show when comparing a pro with some 16 year old kid who calls himself a designer because he figured out some of the tools to his illegal copy of (only) Photoshop Essentials.
I have a BS in Graphic Design and an emphasis in Video Production and I laugh at “Fauxtographers” and the like who think they are pros just because they bought a 5D MK II with a KIT lens. Learning Photography/Videography is not a 2 year here-and-there endeavor. It’s a continuous lesson in light, color, attitude, and technical knowledge. The pros just make it look easy. Don’t risk ruining a fiend or client’s moment because you don’t actually know how 1/50 @ 2f – ISO 3200 will look as print or on film (terrible, btw).
Don’t get me wrong, I love this article, but I think the writer should clarify the difference between a trade and a “general side hustle” endeavor.
I’ve been there, done that with photography, and learned a lot along the way.
To paraphrase K.T.(above):
“It seems like everyone and their mom claims to be a photographer these days, and the number of unreliable, cheap (not inexpensive) and unprofessional hacks seems to be increasing, along with the megapixels of their low-quality cameras.”
If you want to start a side hustle as a photographer, DO IT! It’s fun despite being competitive and difficult. But know your limits – start by taking random photos and selling prints at markets, to friends, etc. Take on friend’s parties or minor occasions only if you explain your current skills accurately and show examples that YOU have taken. DO NOT accept commission jobs without that, without legal contracts, insurance, etc. You can and will be sued if you don’t deliver. It is relatively common for ‘faux’ wedding photographers to be sued for the costs of re-creating a wedding, in order to get some decent photos done. That can cost you $20,000 or more. Why? A wedding is busy, difficult in technical ways (eg dim light and movement), and you MUST guarantee to be able to get the shots well. You CAN’T do it with a $500 camera. You need at least two cameras, preferably $1000+ models, with a bag of pro-quality lenses ($1000+ each), plus loads of experience and training. Telling someone to do a side hustle of “photography including weddings”, is like telling them to do a side hustle of “delivery driving, including winning the Formula 1 or Nascar”. Watch this video of a court case: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lz-07D5KoE
Also, be aware of the laws – in most cities and public buildings you need a specific permit for each paid shoot. If a party guest trips over your camera bag you could be sued for medical bills. Etc, etc.
I’ve been working as a freelance musican/music teacher for a few years now while I’ve been studying music performance and music education at college. So I guess it’s a side hustle that will eventually turn into a main job. As a performer, I’ve played with local orchestras, in biker bars, with youth theaters, at weddings and funerals, and I even had a steady gig this summer performing at the local renaissance fair! It’s a fun way to earn some extra money, but it can be very inconsistent. I’ll have a few weeks in which I’ll make a couple months rent (such as the month of December, when I’m playing fall graduation events as well as Christmas and holiday parties, concerts and religious services), followed by a month or two without a single call and my only income is from private students. But I get to do what I love and apply what I’m learning in school every day. And I probably wear a tuxedo more then almost any other twenty-something year old out there.
I figured the graphic designers would get all stabby about this. Many are really sensitive about people not taking their craft seriously, and I understand where they’re coming from. I have a few friends that are graphic desigers -pros- and I’ve heard plenty of horror stories about crappy clients.
But if graphic designers want people to take them serious as a trade, they need to do what every other trade has done throughout history – organize and regulate their trade, or at least create some sort of certification system that would notify potential clients that the graphic designer in question has met some benchmark of proficency. I know there has been some movement for that, but it hasn’t caught on. Why? Who knows.
Until then, quit being pissy when an article suggests someone take on graphic design as a side hustle. If they’re crappy, the market will take care of them. Even if they’re crappy, some people like crappy graphic design. Who am I to tell somebody they can’t pay $25 for a logo made with comic sans and rudimentry vector art? If that’s what they want to spend their money on, well, to each their own.
I started and ran a yard-work business with my buddy in high school. We worked our tails off and made a name for ourselves being reliable, efficient, and friendly. Definitely a great gig, but it does involve a lot of tough manual labor that a lot of young people just aren’t willing to do. If you’re young and have the will I definitely recommend it.
Great post! I’m an undergrad and already help edit my friends papers (although I don’t charge them for it). I would love to expand it into a paid side hustle once I graduate.
Brilliant ideas! Similarly along the photography route I have a friend who does wedding photography – has slowly built up from just doing friends to having a 6 month waiting list, can pick and choose jobs as he likes AND makes $50k a year on the side from doing it. Not bad for somebody who works part time AND is at uni full time already!
Thanks to this series of articles I am the process of starting my own side hustle – selling/making manly products!
These are some great ideas. I would definitely be interested in hearing more specifics about how to start making money blogging. I have an idea for a blog that I would like to build but have been unsure of how I would be able to generate any income with it. I have thought that you might have some insights on that issue considering what you have built here.
I’ve been shooting weddings for the past five years. It was scary at first but not something that a dedicated amateur can’t do well. I need the money since I’m a student. However, I’m really looking forward to being able to quit this side hustle soon.
Please Master, teach us how to make money from blogs!
Great list, I’m also interested in more information on creating successful blogs.
To Keaton Taylor, I don’t think he was implying that the Graphic design profession should not be taken seriously or that anyone can do it. Similar to his suggestions on programming which also cannot be learned overnight, it’s a viable side hustle because it can be done remotely, it’s in high demand and most importantly…it IS a rare skill.
Would be very interested in a post on the viability of blogging — how it works, how it doesn’t. Friends who have careers and actually make money blogging fascinate me. It’s seems part creativity, part luck, part talent, and lots of sweat equity. Would be interested in hearing the AOM evolution, as well as tips from other successful bloggers who have transitioned from a past-time, to full-time.
I would love to hear your ideas on becoming a successful blogger. If you write ‘em up, I’ll read them.
The idea of making money based on doing something you like is so obvious that it is profound and, as such, we must be reminded to stay focused on the task, our passion, and not on the distracting paychecks from other professions.
And as much as I need to unplug from the internet, I am interested in finding out more about how to monetize a blog.
This is quite a list you have here! Regards.
Awesome post!
I found some of the side hustles interesting, I just wish I had the time (being in highschool, having a casual job and body building doesn’t leave much time for anything anymore) to get some more money on the side.
I also found the comment about the film/photography interesting, I never knew there was so much going into it.
Athletic officials make a nice hunk of money now a days. Baseball Umpiring pays about 50 bucks a game, 2 hours. Others vary. But their are swimming officials, diving officials, Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Rugby, Field Hockey, Soccer and I could go on.
Some require a state test and some require only interest and a little knowledge.
Fantastic post!! I’ve done music teaching, and I’d like to get into dog training. I’d really like to see a future article on starting a blog. Specifically how do you start it, how to you plan the breadth/width/depth of the topic area, the writing style used, etc.
Great addition to the “Hustle” series. I think your willingness to actual give concrete suggestions make this series even more inspiring.
Great article to get one thinking
I would definitely be interested in a how-to blog post. I have been thinking and working on starting a blog or two and would appreciate some guidance. I don’t plan on making a lot of money or even doing it full time, just a place or two to share some ideas, knowledge and discussion. With any luck I might make a little side money.
Love the site!
To the grumpy graphics artists out there, I’m glad you spent 4 years learning your trade, but this is a side hustle post. My younger brother does this, and he charges 10 to 20 bucks for posters for local bands who want to promote their next gig. True, he art is nowhere close to what you could do, but it fills a need for those cash-strapped bands.
To the photographer, if you only make a side hustle for weddings of people you know, there isn’t any real risk of being sued for anything. My father did this for years. Every month he had a wedding shoot and he made some great photographs and good money. He also never got sued or asked to redo any of his work. 20 years later and his wedding couples still enjoy their pictures.
This was a really good post, please continue what you are doing! I really enjoy reading all the ideas and comments. I might even take a stab into lawn care on a Saturday soon!
Great stuff. I’ve run the gamut of side hustles ranging from personal sushi chef to lawn mower to web and mobile app developer. It’s a wide range of hustles for a banker, but it’s nice to learn new things. I’ll be sticking with the developer stuff though.
I would add Freelance Translator/Interpreter.
To do a particularly good job of live interpretation requires a lot more practice/experience and skill/talent than it might seem on the surface, but, nevertheless, if you’re bilingual (or tri- or even more), you can be an interpreter for a talk or lecture or other event. Do your best, and do a little better next time.
Freelance translation (i.e. of documents, not of speech as it occurs) is, in my experience, much easier. Deadlines can be quite rushed, it’s true, but still, you have a dictionary, you have the opportunity to ask friends or ask the internet if you’re really stumped on a phrase.. As I work my way up through academia, in the pursuit of a career in the arts & culture / museum worlds, or in academia, I’ve acquired solid language skills in a second language (and, soon, third, maybe fourth), as well as a high level vocabulary, grasp of grammar, etc. in English, and so it’s really quite easy, if you have the time, to take on and do a little translation work here and there. There are some professional translators’ websites where you can sign up to get notifications about jobs, and bid to get those jobs, but for the most part, I’ve gotten most of my translation jobs from friends and colleagues. It’s a lot more fun (and easier) in any case to translate essays about art and history than it is to translate legal, medical, or engineering documents, which do seem to be the vast majority of translations jobs that are out there.
Good article. I would love to hear those blotting tips of yours.
http://www.Ebay.com is the #1 spot for side hustles, beware of the fees, but you can make money if you put enough hard work into your store.
This is a good brainstorming list. I’ll add that it’s worth your while to think about where you want your efforts to lead long-term. Always a side hustle? A full-time gig? Big money, small money, or just for passion?
Side hustles that help people manage routine maintenance (landscaping, pool maintenance – here in Arizona, house cleaning, hair styling, etc.) require “selling” to fewer clients – you’ll end up performing the same service for the same people over and over again.
Small price / small margin gigs, something that pays $10-$15 per hour for example, may be a lot easier to get, but are unlikely to grow into anything meaningful…
I’d love to hear your advice on blogging. I’m 3 months in, and while it’s going well so far, I’d love the chance to learn from somebody who’s been successful at it.
Thanks.
Yes! A post about steps for a successful blog would be great!
“Be creative about the gross things you can do.”
Timeless wisdom.
Inspiring post. I always keep a composition book running of good ideas that my friends or I generate. I fixed a lot of computer issues through high school and college for pocket money. My only regret was investing in a serious photo scanner and running a local family memory archival/conversion service for friends and family.
The successful blog thing would be a perfect post idea. I write a blog (click my name if you’re curious) that I think is pretty decent and involves subject matter that many people would be interested in, I just don’t know where those people are. The basic advice of comment on other blogs, etc. has only done so much for me. I know you guys would undoubtedly write the definitive post on the matter.
Keaton is right on this one. Frankly, a lot of these professions should take offense, calling something a “side hustle” makes it sound like anyone can just start doing these professions. Designers, photographers, writers, editors, these are all skilled creatives, much like a carpenter or a welder is a skilled labor. The problem is, while not everyone can just buy a hammer and some wood and call themselves a carpenter, someone can just buy some software and start calling themselves a designer or a photographer.
They should have left this article alone when they ran it about just creating a side hustle. Everyone has a skill they can freelance, but when Brett and Kate say “Just pick up a camera! You’re a photographer now.” or “Just design and make money!” it trivializes a skilled creative craft, and people in these lines of work constantly have to combat that.
I’d definitely like to hear about creating and maintaining a successful blog!
Know what I did with my English degree? Went to law school! Bahaha! = )
Missing from this list is “host/hostess/hotelier,” if you have a spare room. Using airbnb or other similar websites, you can bring in as much money in a few days as you would having a fulltime roommate. Just change the sheets, provide some advice about where to eat and what to see in your town, and charge less than hotel. Easy to bring in $4k/yr doing this and basically no start-up cost.
Great article! I’m really interested in hearing about how to make a blog profitable.
Justin, The problem with trade organizations is that they basically accomplish nothing except to make it harder for people to get into the trade. Once you have an organization they then lobby for laws to “protect” the public from unlicensed operators and artificially restrict the number of operators. Certain death to a side hustle because it becomes too difficult and expensive to get into the game while providing no benefit to the general public.
I’m more offended by the music teacher thing. It takes both talent and dedication to be a good teacher. I can’t tell you how many bad habits and bad attitudes I’ve had to struggle and correct because of previous bad teachers. (They have run the gamut from teachers who keep the student on Twinkle Twinkle for 6 months to teachers who let their students play whatever they want, even if it’s way above their skill level.) Frankly, most people who can teach music are probably doing it already, or at least know it’s an option. (It’s hard enough making a living as a musician.)
Would love to see a post about creating a blog!
As a blog writer myself of http://www.huntwildpig.com … A website about wild boar hunting, I would like to hear a blog “how to” from a successful blog writer to pick up some morsels I may not know. Just don’t make it too general, and have actionable steps. Teach like 3 easy ways to monetize your blog… Great idea for a post!
One side job I’m looking into right now is Notary Public/Loan Signer.
Love all the side hustle ideas and plan to start at least one or two of my own soon. Until that day I wanted to share something that I believe will shed a lot of light on the graphic design discussion taking place in this articles comment section. http://www.theneave.com/david-thorne-missing-missy/
This is quite possibly the funniest thing I’ve ever read and encourage you to read it all the way through.
Please write the article on blogs. I am sure it would be useful to many.
My wife opened her own poop scoop business and it has become a full time gig now. She is looking to hire employees very soon.
This list is pure “sweetness”!
I’m definitely interested in your advice on starting a blog. If you had to start all over, what would you do differently in your first six months of blogging?
what about internet marketing hustles?
The defensive people on this thread are pretty amusing. Get over yourselves. All I see is fear. Fear that someone might be able to teach themselves what you spent a crapload of money to go to school for. If your product is superior to every one else, then people will pay you for it, Like someone else said, the market will take care of it, so why are you spending so much time worried about what other people are doing? I personally wouldn’t hire any of the guys complaining above, because clearly they’re not secure that their work can speak for itself. It’s not manly to be scared of competition.
Design, photography, art, editing, all of these things can be learned on your own, and some of the best people out there have learned it on their own. Don’t listen to these insecure ninnies folks.
I would definitely be interested in hearing more about how to “succeed” at blogging. I’ve only had mine for a short while now so I understand that it can take a while to grow it. I would describe mine as a do-it-yourself-dad blog, but one of the things I’m having trouble right now is finding a blogging community to plug into. Also a lot of the blog tech is pretty foreigh to me.
To the defensive people, I don’t think they’re suggesting these things are easy or that you can just “pick up a camera and magically you’re a photographer.” I think the idea is more about using whatever talents you DO have in a side business if you want the extra income, have the time, and feel your skills are good enough to do it.
As an example (and perhaps this will upset people, we’ll see), I am a professional sound engineer in the games industry. I make video game noises for a living. Fun. On my path to becoming this, I did a lot of audio work in television and advertising. When I was struggling in the early years, I worked as a film colorist’s assistant. When I was working as an audio assistant, I was at a post production facility that was the whole package: film xfer, offline and online video, finishing, audio post, even duplication and distribution. I got my hands on a bit of everything.
So if I wanted to be a video editor as a side hustle, I could probably pull it off for small things. Could I do an amazing ad campaign? No. But I’ve worked on a few local spots, I’ve certainly made my share of demo reels over the years to showcase my audio work in games, and I’ve made plenty of videos for my own family (particularly of our children).
I would be a good candidate because I have enough knowledge to do it as a side gig and do a good job.
And I think that’s what they’re getting at. It’s not “Buy a camera and start advertising yourself as a photographer.” It’s “Hey, you have some unused skill, you could turn this into more cash flow on the side if you used it in a different way,” or “Hey, you have an interest in X, you could pursue that interest for a while then maybe start making a little money at it.”
As a creative and technical professional, I wasn’t offended by what I read here. I did know that some idiots would probably read it and think they could do things they couldn’t, but you’re going to have that whether this article exists or not.
How is graphic design any different than lawnmowing? Sure anyone can do it, but it takes a lot of time and natural talent to be a master of it.
I am very interested in hearing more on Tips to getting a Blog going. I have also been very stern on the idea of creating a Career for myself such as Public speaking, Marketing and Entertainment, Comedian and Professional Human Being; The world needs this. Thank you for your informative and enjoyable articles.
I also wanted to jump in on the heat, when i realised that any professional from any of the mentioned fields could feel devalued, when one talks about his profession as a “hustle”.
As a (young) man of many interests (and skills), nearing the end of my studies but working in a remotely related field, plus looking into expanding into other “side hustles” – i must admit i’m having a real struggle. Be the jack of all trades, or to choose one, and willingly focus all of my energy into one field.
If you think this is an all american problem, you’d be wrong, because the country where i’m from, this defines us to a point of a stereotype. Since the market is probably some 1000 times smaller, we ended up having a country run by amateurs in every field, simply because one could always find a son/cousin/uncle/niece/etc. who claimed they could do the job. And the pros? They left the country to somewhere where the market isnt defined by nepotism.
But another, more positive viewpoint, is also evident. Our educational and social system (be it the formal or informal) is not rigged correctly for the working-life ahead anymore. It does not serve to develop individuals true potentials, to make the best (and most useful) out of a person, but rather to “push him along the assembly line”, to serve the perpetuation of the system.
Thus the “side hustle” can be described as the passion that burns within us, even though we educated ourselves in another field. The side hustle might just be the thing, to get us in the right direction at last.
I just think it’s stupid to suggest a “side hustle” where the market is already saturated, so that the only way to be successful is to price gouge. And the problem with a field like music teaching is that it’s hard to “let the market sort it out” because most parents don’t have a clue what makes a good or bad teacher.
You know how many times I’ve had a parent come to me after a few lessons and say, “wow, little Jimmy has made more progress with you in a month than 2 years with his last teacher!” So essentially, that last teacher spent two years taking these parents money while either not making an honest effort (who cares as long as you get the check?) or just flat out being bad at what they do. The problem is that most parents have no idea that their son or daughter is being taught by a hack until he or she winds up with a good teacher.
All I’m saying is that there’s an ethical (and in many cases, legal) obligation that comes with many of these suggestions, and the word “hustle” puts them on the level of a kid buying boxes of candy bars and selling them for a markup in the school cafeteria.
Small engine repair. So many lawnmowers, string trimmers, edgers, chainsaws, go-karts, pressure washers, etc out there, and not many people with the time or know-how to fix them (although you could argue that they are getting like electronics – cheaper to replace than repair).
Definitely write about how to make a blog, and how to profit from it! I’ve been thinking about doing this for awhile, but didn’t really know where to start.
I was working in a job that took to much of my time away from my family. I read some books on creating a “muse” business, one that I could automate and that would allow me to work from home and let my business work for me. It took six months to put together and test, why so long?, mostly because I was so afraid to pull the trigger and screw something up. Luckily I had friends that made fun of my inability to just launch it and let go until I did so. As soon as I let go and put it out there things happened fast and within a month I was already profitable. Accelerated failure is key to starting anything new, getting out of your comfort zone (and out of your own way) and learning from your mistakes as quickly as possible and adjusting is just part of becoming successful. Key things I learned, I didn’t need know how to do anything (logo design, specific coding for cool functionality, etc.) and hired those who did for relatively little cost. I have already replaced my monthly income and business continues to grow. My only regret is that I waited so long to launch because I was nervous and afraid to mess something up. So don’t be afraid to just start, little steps are still progress and soon your steps will become leaps and bounds. Go get em tiger! – Russ,
I’m a computer geek. I paid a BUNCH of money to become a professional computer geek (programming and web development).
I don’t get upset if someone who has no training can write a program, or build a website. I let my quality speak for itself.
I have a good day job, but I still make some money cleaning computers of acquaintances who got porn viruses, and setting up home networks.
I think it’s unfortunate that we’re in a point in society, where individuals are so permissive of regulation, that they actually get upset at the idea of someone doing something that’s not being regulated and burdened to death by government. If ethics are a concern, individuals need to be free to accept responsibility, not have it removed by government or labor organizations!
If you’re a designer or a photographer, let the amateurs trash their own reputation by doing substandard work. In the long run, that work returns to you. if you see people being happy with substandard work, those are clients that never would have appreciated your skills to begin with!
Blog tips please.
Thanks for the article. When I used to work in a music retail store, my manager would throw me a bone, and allow me to do guitar repairs (set-ups, pickup changes, etc) at home and charge what I wanted when the customer didn’t have the time to wait for our company shop to do it (2-3 week turnaround). Makes me want to sharpen up my skills and put out some ads to start it up again.
Dan,
What if someone took your job but never did anything properly or to the highest standard held by those in the actual profession? I paid money for my degree so that I’ll know how to immediately start working the moment I sit at a computer because the previous professional was taught how to work and properly design, too. Plus it tells others that I have been approved by those same professionals creating GOOD design.
Yes I am filled with fear. Fear that you or anyone else will use Papyrus, Comic Sans, or Wing Dings and be seen as a self-proclaimed quality designer. Thus insulting all the ones who actually spent time and thought about anchoring, points of interest, tag lines, title sizes, kearning, leading, hierarchical thought, making sure no orphans or widows are present, keeping type safely away from the gutter, and all the other things we NEED to consider when designing. I’m beginning to think that your job is just too easy and that you feel like you have to prove that everyone else has a job just as simple and easily replaceable as yours.
My work is great and catches many eyes of buyers all over the world, and I want to make sure that some hack doesn’t ruin all design that our ancestors helped to create. Design something for me and I’ll make one that puts yours to absolute and utter shame.
Maybe I should start a plumbing business and never use flux when I join two copper lines together because ‘hey I learned on the go and it seems to work so far.’
Dan I highly recommend you read history books and find the overall idea ABOUT history. And then go work for Jashua’s wife because she needs help performing simple tasks that don’t require much thought; a TRUE side hustle.
I was a little upset to see how over-simplified “Window washer” was.
One of my mentors has been in the window washing business for years, he’s shown me how to clean windows the proper way and there’s more to it than just going crazy with a squeegee.
I love this list of inspirations and I fully support having a “Side Hustle” to keep busy and make a profit, but you’ve gotta’ have some respect for the guys who work their tails off to do these things professionally.
Karate teacher! I have a black belt and am willing to provide good quality instruction for about a quarter of what one would pay at a professional studio.this has been my side business for about a decade and brings me several hundred dollars a month for about 4 hours of work a week. I tell my wife I an the big lots of karate!
Sorry to derail from the arguing but I want to quickly say, I’d really like to learn more from you about blogging.
Not just how to make it profitable but how to make it substantial and successful. I really enjoy AOM and I think it has truly solid, respectable content. I’d be very happy if someday my (very new) site grew up to be even a less-cool-step-sister version of AOM, haha.
I have worked for the past two summers as a private swimming teacher. I just put an ad in a community newsletter and got students by word of mouth. If I had 2 students together for a half an hour followed by two students for the next half an hour, I made $40 with virtually no overhead cost, pure profit!
I would love to hear any thoughts you have on how a musician could make some money. I love playing music and while doing the occasional wedding/old folks home/business event type thing is great, I’d like to expand my possibilities. Unfortunately, I’m not a very good teacher.
Another inspiring article. There is always some great ideas from this site. I have to add to the side of caution though. I have worked as a compounder in the pharmaceutical/cosmetic industry for over 15 years now. While making soap in your garage or basement is an easy thing, the stuff you find in the store is made with a validated process and tested for quality after every batch. The documentation is extensive (think about the stack of papers you signed for a mortgage and double it) and up for review by the FDA at a moments notice. If your lye solution burns someones skin your side hustle is going to cost you more than it will ever be worth.
Just be careful out there.
I funded my daughter’s 3 year full -time photography studies – no small feat. Then along come these “weekend warriors” who do a short course and call themseves photographers. Well, I have thought long and hard about this. Some of those weekend warriors produce crappy pics but others superb shots. What’s the difference? Passion! You don’t need to study anything full time to become good at it. It takes passion and practice – the 10 000 hour rule holds true here too. Think of Gates and Branson. If they had been dissuaded by the comments here we would never have had Microsoft or Virgin (and there are many other similar stories). So yes, my daughter (who is a superb photographer btw) doesn’t always compete on a level playing field. But hey, that’s life!
I agree with keaton taylor. I work for a publishing company in design and layout. You wouldn’t believe the ads I get from companies that are trying to save a buck in making their ads and they give it to the receptionist’s sister to design for them . . . . using Word or Microsoft Publisher. They don’t have a clue as to how to make a file that will print. Extremely large corporations go on the cheap too, and provide us with junk. Go ahead and design garage sale flyers and print it at home for a side job, but leave the rest for professionals.
Dustin Wyatt’s comment above is dead on. Americans are obsessed with licenses, certifications, and degrees. In my nearly 70 years of experience I have found that certification does not equal competence and licenses are a scam for governments to increase income and businesses to limit competition. In short, they do nothing to improve quality nor decrease costs. Whenever possible, I hire unlicensed and uninsured help, and pay them in cash. How they work out their tribute to the IRS is strictly their business and not mine. I believe in paying for the highest quality at the lowest cost. And even when forced to do business with those who are licensed, I still watch them like a hawk. Oversight on a job is my responsibility. Maybe oversight on jobs would be a good hustle. Some folks do not have expertise.may be willing to pay for expert oversight. Don’t expect your local government to protect you.
Welder/fabricator, Farmers market/produce grower, lawn trinket maker, gun smith,
Its interesting how profitable a patch of ground that your friends don’t have can be so profitable. I have an acre that can net out some good money whether I sell at a stand or sell to a restaraunt or just wholesale for the local grocer. Go organic and it can be more profitable. I have too many other hobbies for that.
I’m a professional freelance animator, and while I understand the feeling an artist gets when he sees shoddy work being rewarded with big contracts, the best reaction is to ignore it. I never begrudge anyone who is trying to make an honest living in animation, even if he doesn’t yet have the skills that I’ve learned through many years of diligent work. And if I lose clients to such a person, then that is my fault, not his. Or perhaps the clients weren’t worth having. Either way, it’s not worth dwelling upon. Besides, I more or less hustled myself into the animation business myself, being self taught. I wish more folks would hustle their way into their careers.
To the laughable fool who thinks ‘graphic design’ is some elite profession and that the blogger didn’t ‘pay it enough respect’… thank you for making me laugh.
I went to the monkey phone call site just to check it out. Lots of hype but the site never gets around to telling you what a monkey phone call is.
Here’s an idea for a sideline business. There are many web sites like this. They’re quite taken with themselves and either assume that you know what they’re offering or they make you jump through hoops to find what you’re looking for (try to find a hammer at look-at-all-we-have-to-offer-hardware dot com.) That is, many of these sites are “all about us”, not “what do you need and here’s how to find it.”
So the sideline job is “web site usability tester.” For a small (or micro) fee, we’ll visit your site and let you know how useful it is. It seems that many web site designers don’t put themselves in the place of the web site users. Imagine designing a wonderful car or truck, all fitted out with the latest energy-saving gadgetry, but they never let you know the non-intuitive trick you have to perform to get the key out of the ignition once you’ve turned off the engine.
Alex,
You’re really not coming off too well in this discussion. If you have the skills, regardless of where you got them, you will stand out from those who don’t. But, just because you can’t stand to see others with less skill trying to do your job, you shouldn’t get so defensive about it. I work in IT, and spent quite a bit of time and resources getting good at it. I have no problem with others not being as good, because I can fix their problems and get promoted before them.
I think part of the problem here is that there are (at least) 2 different definitions of “hustle.” This post was NOT about being a con man, like Jackie Gleason in “The Hustler.” It was about being willing to work your backside off to make some extra cash, doing something part time. If you just want a part time “job,” you may make a little cash, but not much, unless you are extremely talented. In that case, why isn’t that your main job?
BTW, in my state “home improvement contractors” are required to be licensed. They have to pass a test. What does the test cover? How and when to charge, collect and pay state sales tax. The license also limits the recourse customers have in case of a bad job.
I’d love to see a post about best tips for creating a successful blog. I started http://www.beastbodyfitness.com and currently I’m the only writer. I get decent traffic for a new site, but I’d like to see it be as successful as artofmanliness.com.
YES… please post that info about blogging.
Dan couldnt agree more
im a 19 year old last year my best friend and i started a lawn care business with a pick up truck two push mowers a trimmer and some gasoline.. before we knew it people started asking us about landscaping projects. we were out of area of expertise but got our feet wet in a few books and practiced on our own yards. we ended up making close to $30,000 last summer. we didnt even work the whole summer just may to late august when we went to college.. Due to our promptness and our low prices, word got around town. we now have upgraded machinery, have over 50 regular lawns and at least 2 big money landscaping jobs a week. weve hired 4 guys to work beneath us and things are going great. some jobs you need some real experience in but with a lawncare business whenever someone asked if we could do a job we’ve never done before we said “sure”, did some research, practiced, and got it done. now we advertise those things that we originallly didnt know how to do and the business keeps growing. Even in every day life ive found ive been able to improvise to get anything done because of this. id highly recommend it its great to be out doors all day keeping your body in shape, working with your friends ( it feels more like your just hanging out), making great money with very few taxes. even with high gas prices mowers hardly use any. probably three times a week we say “wow what a great day lets go fishing” after a few hours of work and we do it. id highly recommend it. living the life
Fun stuff. You’ll be amazed at the things you can come up with…
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