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

12 ideas

  • Teaching and coaching
    Shop classes for kids
    Teaching hands-on shop class projects to kids, with customers found through homeschool groups and word of mouth. It can stay a weekend side hustle or grow larger.
    In person
    The Koerner Office, 2026
  • Teaching and coaching
    Private music lessons and live gigs
    Teaches private music lessons and plays jazz gigs.
    In person
    Hacker News, 2026
  • Rentals and assets
    Rent out tables at local comic conventions
    Rents out tables to vendors at local comic conventions.
    In person
    Hacker News, 2026
  • Physical products
    Sell goat milk to a zoo nursery
    Sold unprocessed goat milk to a zoo's exotic animal nursery, used to feed young animals.
    In person
    Hacker News, 2026
  • Rentals and assets
    Imported perfume vending machines
    The operator imports vending machines that dispense perfume and places them in venues. Sales come from customers buying from the machines. The owner dropped it as too much hassle.
    Over $10kIn person
    The Koerner Office, 2025
  • Services and freelancing
    Weekend nightclub DJ
    DJs at nightclubs on Friday and Saturday nights, built up from a university hobby into a steady side income.
    $1k to $10kIn person
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Physical products
    Sell music CDs and crafts at fan conventions
    Sells folk music CDs and handmade items at science fiction and fantasy conventions.
    $100 to $1kIn person
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Physical products
    Backyard chickens and egg sales
    Keeps chickens and sells the eggs, which covers little more than feed costs.
    A few hours a week
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Physical products
    Beekeeping and honey sales
    Keeps bees and sells the honey, which brings in a few thousand a year.
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Physical products
    Homemade berry jellies sold by word of mouth
    Makes jelly by hand from berries grown in the garden and sells it through word of mouth.
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Services and freelancing
    Laser cutting jobs for friends and schools
    Uses a CNC laser cutter to make items for friends and local schools, for a modest monthly income.
    A few hours a week
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Services and freelancing
    Wildland fire contractor work
    Works as a firefighter and medic, adding contract wildland fire deployments. Takes a few hours a week plus one deployment a year.
    A few hours a weekIn person
    Hacker News, 2019