We may be halfway through the new year, but if you are looking at improving your financial situation in 2021 without quitting your day job, a “side hustle” is a great alternative. It allows you to take control of adding additional income streams to your full-time salary. It was recently determined that the average millionaire tends to have seven sources of income.
Below are seventeen potential side hustles you could start this year to get on your way to financial freedom!
- Content creation
Content creation is the process of generating written or video content around topics users may be interested in. There are many platforms for content creation to choose from including social media platforms (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, etc.), blogging, podcasts, and newsletters. There are also new channels popping up regularly. Typically, content creators create topic-centric communities in order to get paid by platforms and gain sponsored deals for views and consumption.
- Dropshipping
Dropshipping includes creating an online store through a third party, however, the seller doesn’t need to store the inventory or fulfill orders themselves. It is a convenient online business solution with a low barrier to entry.
- Freelancing
If you have a skill set that others would pay you to use, it is easy to turn that into a freelancing career. There are a number of professionals who choose to freelance either full or part-time – writers, web designers, graphic designers, photographers, videographers, data scientists, etc. There are also a host of websites to choose from, including Fiverr, Upwork, and Contra.
- Social Media Management
For those with a knack for constructing a perfect social media strategy, social media management would be a lucrative field to pursue. With the introduction of new platforms regularly, social media managers have to stay abreast of changes in the industry to keep their clients’ social media feeds fresh and engaging. With social media management, it is possible to do all of your work straight from your phone and work as much or as little as you’d like based on the packages or hours you provide to clients and how many clients you choose to manage.
- Write an ebook
If there is a topic that you have extensive knowledge of, consider writing an ebook to help others trying to learn more about this topic! There are many resources for doing this. The book can be drafted and illustrated in Canva and self-published on Amazon.com.
- Sell digital media
There are many digital products that can be created and sold online with access to only a computer or mobile device. From digital templates to art and music, the low overhead costs, potential to automate, and flexibility make it an attractive option for people looking to start a digital side hustle.
- Build an app
If you enjoy coding or looking for a reason to start and have an idea for an app that would add value to people’s lives, building an app could be just the side hustle for you. Google Play and Apple App Store are the two biggest app stores worldwide, so your first step would be to learn Swift or Java to code your app, but both of these languages can be learned easily online. If you have some available funds, an option would be to outsource the coding to someone already well-versed in the language, while you upload and promote the app. Apps can be created for a whole host of different niches including productivity, health and wellness, gaming, shopping, fashion, and so many more.
- Write or review resumes online
Job-hunting is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences for college students looking for internships, experienced professionals, and career changers alike. If you know your way around the job search process and believe you can help someone succeed in looking for their next step, writing or reviewing resumes could be a very fulfilling option.
- Become a life, career, or business coach
Writing resumes is not the only way you can help others to set up the next chapters of their lives. Whether they are looking to define their careers or start a new business, people often seek out the help of a coach to get them through it. If you enjoy helping others to stay motivated and provide clarity to them, coaching may be a great side hustle for you.
- Teach a course
If there is a topic you have a lot of knowledge about, teaching would be a very valuable side hustle. There are many educators with social media channels, their own websites, or teaching through a private website like Udemy or Coursera. You could also reach out or apply to local school or university to see if they would allow you to teach part-time.
- Walk dogs or pet sit
According to the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Association, 67% of U.S. households own a pet. Whether they get busy or want to go away for the weekend, they will need an extra pair of hands to help out with their furry family member(s).
- Sell physical items online
The internet has been a great place to buy and sell products for everyday use, which has come in handy this past year. Whether you are interested in selling your own handmade products or sourcing from a third party, selling items with high demand can be a very profitable side hustle. Sites like Shopify and Etsy make this process very easy and accessible to set up for new e-commerce sellers.
- Drive for a rideshare app
If you have a cell phone and a car that would be approved for use by apps like Uber and Lyft, you can sign up to drive for one of the services. One of the perks that drivers cite is the flexibility to set your own hours. Driving during busy times could be a very lucrative endeavor.
- Food delivery
With the emergence of food delivery apps, like UberEats and GrubHub, has come the demand for delivery drivers and riders. If you are able to get around from restaurants in your neighborhood to nearby residences, you never know when one of them will need an order delivered. Another option would be delivering grocery items through an app like Instacart, which many people have replaced with their regular grocery store run. Customers can put in a grocery order for a nearby store and you would pick and drop the items at their house or apartment.
- Online tutoring
If there is a subject you believe you can help students to understand, online tutoring may be for you. You can do this through starting up your own service or going through a tutoring services company like Chegg or Club Z. Good Housekeeping outlined the 15 best online tutoring websites.
- Real estate
While getting a real estate license takes time and investment, real estate happens to be a very flexible career path for those who already have a full-time or part-time job, especially if you are knowledgeable about or have a good host of contacts in your market. These are not requirements in the least as research, networking and consistency are what will ultimately help you become familiar with what you need in this career. Most states require you to take a certain number of classes and pass a test before you can start working as a real estate agent. Once the requirements are completed, you can look for a broker to sponsor you (and hopefully give you their tips) and be on your way to helping families or businesses find their next home!
- Part-time retail or service job
If you are looking to make some extra cash on the side and can dedicate a consistent number of hours to a businesses operating hours, one of the best ways is the traditional route – a part time job. This can be a quick way to get started on your money goals as you can start getting your resume out and interviewing right away and will receive a paycheck every two weeks based on the hours worked (+ any tips you may receive). Next time you are walking around your neighborhood, keep an eye out for a “Help Wanted” sign at some of the common shift-work type businesses – restaurants/bars, coffee shops, grocery stores, convenience stores, clothing stores, etc. Other places to look may be Craigslist (although be very careful who you meet or share your details with) or asking friends and family if they know someone who is hiring for light part-time work.
Now that you have a few money-making ideas to get to your financial goals faster in 2021, let’s get to work! Which side hustle idea spoke to you?