Side hustle ideas from people who actually run them

651 side hustles, each one described by the person running it, in a podcast, a YouTube interview or a Hacker News thread. Every idea links to its source. Filter by what it costs to start, how much time it takes, and how it earns.

AllDigital products 67Software and apps 205Content and media 105Physical products 105Services and freelancing 103Rentals and assets 36Directories and marketplaces 11Teaching and coaching 19
Startup costUnder $100$100 to $1k$1k to $10kOver $10k
TimeHands-offA few hours a weekPart-timeNear full-time
WhereOnlineIn personOnline and in person
Earns fromAdsAffiliateSubscriptionsOne-time salesService feesRentMarketplace cutSponsors and donations
CodingNo coding neededNeeds coding
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13 ideas

  • Job board website that wins on marketing
    A simple job board website in a saturated category. The founder credits distribution and marketing, not the product, for its success.
    Directories and marketplaces
    Starter Story, 2026
  • Online estate auctions for families
    Running online estate auctions that clear out homes for families without buying any inventory. The operator photographs, catalogs and lists the items and keeps a cut of the sale.
    Services and freelancing
    Side Hustle Nation, 2026
  • Niche credit card processing business
    Started a niche credit card processor that has made money for many years.
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Own a pawn shop run by a manager
    Owns a pawn shop that someone else manages day to day.
    Over $10kHands-off
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Buyer-side real estate brokerage with rebates
    A brokerage that represents home buyers in residential purchases and rebates part of its commission back to them.
    Services and freelancing
    Hacker News, 2019
  • 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.
    Services and freelancing
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Social network for amateur voice actors
    A community site where hobbyist voice actors connect and find work. It started by accident and now earns a steady monthly income.
    Hacker News, 2016
  • E-commerce site built for profit share
    Built an online store for an acquaintance in exchange for a share of profits each pay period.
    Services and freelancingHands-off
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Marketplace for boat dock listings
    A marketplace connecting boat owners and dock spaces, grown by posting in boating groups and forums.
    Directories and marketplaces
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Online marketplace for plant nurseries
    A niche marketplace where garden centers sell plants nationwide, with the owner taking a share of each sale.
    Directories and marketplaces$1k to $10k
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Lease out a developer to a client
    Places a former lead developer with an overseas client and earns a margin on the arrangement, alongside personal consulting.
    Services and freelancingUnder $100Hands-off
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Local penny auction website
    A penny auction site for a local market, relying on manual bank transfers for payment since cards are rare, with plans to white-label it.
    Part-time
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Paid introductions between local contractors
    The operator connects contractors who can pass work to each other and charges for each introduction or a larger referral package. It runs mainly by phone and text.
    Under $100
    The Koerner Office