All Side Hustle Ideas
Every idea links to its source

Side hustle ideas from people who actually run them

Real side businesses, described by their owners. Filter by cost, time and how they earn.

Ideas
651
ideas
Publications
14
publications and shows
Categories
8
categories

Browse by category

  • Digital products67
    Files sold online: templates, printables, ebooks, stock photos, fonts, presets, plugins, recorded courses
  • Software and apps205
    A web app, SaaS, mobile app, browser extension, bot or API that people pay for or that earns from ads
  • Content and media105
    A blog, niche website, newsletter, YouTube channel, podcast or social account that earns from ads, affiliate links or sponsors
  • Physical products105
    Making, printing or reselling physical goods, online or in person
  • Services and freelancing103
    Doing work for clients for a fee: freelance, consulting, done-for-you services, repairs, local services
  • Rentals and assets36
    Earning from something you own: renting property, rooms, equipment, vehicles, parking, vending machines, domains
  • Directories and marketplaces11
    A job board, listings site, directory or marketplace that connects buyers and sellers
  • Teaching and coaching19
    Live tutoring, lessons, workshops, coaching or cohort classes

Matching ideas

About the data

Startup cost
Under $100$100 to $1k$1k to $10kOver $10k
Time
Hands-offA few hours a weekPart-timeNear full-time
Where
OnlineIn personOnline and in person
Earns from
AdsAffiliateSubscriptionsOne-time salesService feesRentMarketplace cutSponsors and donations
Coding
No coding neededNeeds coding

19 ideas

  • Software and apps
    AI rendering tool for architects and designers
    An AI tool that lets architects and designers generate realistic home renders in seconds. Revenue stayed flat for years until a single product pivot changed the business.
    Online
    Starter Story, 2026
  • Software and apps
    Analytics software sold to agencies
    An analytics SaaS built specifically for agencies as the customer, a niche most builders overlook.
    Online
    Starter Story, 2026
  • Software and apps
    Mobile order-taking app for field sales
    Built an app for creating orders and invoices on the road, syncing with local accounting software. A partner handles sales.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Software and apps
    Continuous web app security scanning service
    Offers automated recurring security scans of web apps with reports sent to team tools like Slack.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Software and apps
    Shipping data model for options trading
    Built an algorithm using maritime trade data to trade options on shipping firms, also selling subscriptions to friends.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Software and apps
    Backtesting service for options traders
    Runs a simulation service that lets traders backtest advanced options strategies, built from a background in processor simulation.
    Over $10kOnline
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Software and apps
    Email marketing tool for creators
    Grew from blogging and a self-published book into building an email marketing tool for bloggers and creators.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Software and apps
    Game server and compute hosting
    Began hosting game servers for friends, grew into renting servers including scientific computing to universities.
    Over $10kHands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Software and apps
    Niche credit card processing business
    Started a niche credit card processor that has made money for many years.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Physical products
    Hardware security keys with partners
    Launched hardware security keys with partners, working on it part time at first.
    Over $10kOnline
    Hacker News, 2021
  • Software and apps
    Customizable GPS scavenger hunt platform
    Built a platform for scavenger hunts played on phones. Sells it to team-building event companies and also to individuals for birthdays and parties.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Software and apps
    Remote logging tool for mobile app developers
    Turned an internal debugging and remote logging tool for iOS and Android into a subscription product for customers of all sizes.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Services and freelancing
    Payment processing reseller and gateway
    Sells payment processing services, runs a white-label payment gateway, and builds custom apps for payment terminals, alongside a do-it-yourself website builder.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Software and apps
    Document review SaaS with monthly maintenance contract
    Built a document management and review web app for a large company and gets a monthly maintenance fee, needing very little time each month.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Directories and marketplaces
    Marketplace for premium startup domain names
    Sold a few domains at a profit and then launched a site selling high-quality startup names to fund other ventures.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Services and freelancing
    Small shared web hosting company
    Started a shared hosting company so existing clients could move away from big, confusing hosts. Customers pay hosting fees.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    SSL certificate add-on for Heroku apps
    Built an add-on that lets customers get SSL installed quickly. Reselling certificates required upfront cash.
    Over $10kHands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Web analytics and conversion tracking services
    Runs subscription services for tracking website traffic and ad conversions, solo and mostly hands-off.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Live streaming platform for event organizers
    A platform for event organizers to host and live stream events.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2014