Ways To Make Money On The Side Starter Guide
How to Get the Best Results
Start by matching one clear skill to one simple offer that you can deliver reliably in a week. Small, repeatable services convert faster than broad promises, and they scale into steady income streams for ways to make money on the side.
Test offers with three customers before raising prices, and track time and expenses for each job. Use local outreach, community groups, or two online marketplaces to find your first clients and build momentum.
Step 1 — Who are you?
Pick the description below that most closely fits your current work history and strengths; that match will shorten your path to earning on the side.
- Marketing manager — copywriting — You can sell short email sequences or social posts to small shops that need better retention.
- Former teacher — tutoring — You can offer weekday or weekend sessions that target test prep or skill gaps for local students.
- Graphic designer — layout — You can produce templates and branded assets for indie creators who lack design time.
- Software developer — automation — You can automate routine tasks for local businesses and charge per workflow saved.
- Retail worker — customer service — You can provide part-time support or product listing optimization for online sellers.
- Photographer hobbyist — editing — You can batch-edit event photos and sell packages to families or small venues.
- Handyperson — home repairs — You can offer quick-fix visits for landlords and new homeowners on weekends.
- Social media user — content creation — You can create short-form videos or reels for local restaurants to drive foot traffic.
- Financial analyst — budgeting — You can build simple cashflow templates and coaching sessions for freelancers.
Step 2 — Add interests & skills
List skills or hobbies you enjoy and then pick the ones you can monetise quickly; the right combination gives you edge in ways to make money on the side.
- Writing and producing quick how-to guides that local businesses can use as lead magnets.
- Editing and polishing client newsletters so owners can communicate professionally without hiring full time.
- Illustration and designing stickers or printable art to sell on marketplaces.
- Web design and building single-page sites that showcase a business and accept bookings.
- SEO and optimising a freelancer’s profile or local listing to increase discovery.
- Photography and shooting quick brand kits for makers who need product images.
- Video and editing short promotional clips that restaurants can use on social channels.
- Teaching and offering micro-courses that condense your expertise into a weekend workshop.
- Crafting and making small runs of goods to sell at markets or online for immediate cash.
- Translation and converting short web pages or menus to another language for local retailers.
- Voice work and recording short ads or narration for podcasts and small brands.
- Data entry and cleaning spreadsheets for businesses that need tidy records before tax season.
- Event planning and coordinating small gatherings or popups that charge a planning fee.
- Gardening and offering seasonal yard care packages for neighbors who lack time.
- Pet care and providing drop-in walks or overnight stays for busy pet owners.
- Consulting and running 60-minute advisory calls to solve a specific problem for a business.
Step 3 — Set available capital
Decide how much money you can invest up front; different entry costs open different opportunities and speed to profit.
- ≤$200 and you can start with basic tools: a phone camera, free editing apps, and low-cost listings on marketplaces to test offers quickly.
- $200–$1000 and you can buy niche equipment, a simple website, and small ads to attract your first paying customers faster.
- $1000+ and you can invest in premium tools, paid training, or a targeted launch that helps convert higher-value clients early.
Step 4 — Choose weekly hours
Be realistic about how much time you can sustain each week; match hours to project types and client expectations.
- 2–5 hours/week and you should focus on asymmetric offers like digital templates, batch editing, or scheduling content that sells repeatedly.
- 6–10 hours/week and you can take on recurring work such as weekly social posts, part-time bookkeeping, or a few tutoring clients.
- 10+ hours/week and you can build higher-touch services, small retainers, or scale with subcontractors to take more clients.
Interpreting your results
- Look for combinations that minimise startup cost and time while delivering clear value. The fastest wins tend to be narrowly scoped services with visible outcomes.
- If multiple options require the same setup, choose the one that aligns with existing contacts you can call this week. Cold marketing takes longer than asking a familiar customer for a referral.
- Track one metric per offer—client acquisition cost, hours per job, or time to first payment—and stop anything that doesn’t pay back within two months.
- After three paying customers, raise prices or create a package that bundles your most profitable tasks. Repeatable packages are the backbone of consistent ways to make money on the side.
Use the generator above to try different backgrounds, skills, budgets, and weekly hours until you find a compact offer you can deliver well and scale over time.