Services and freelancing side hustle ideas

Doing work for clients for a fee: freelance, consulting, done-for-you services, repairs, local services.

17 ideas

Services and freelancing
Luxury tent slumber party rentals
Setting up themed tents and bedding for kids' slumber parties as a weekend rental service. A married couple runs it as a side hustle alongside full-time jobs.
In person
Side Hustle Nation, 2026
Services and freelancing
Mobile laundry pickup service
A laundry service that picks up, washes, folds and returns customers' clothes. It started solo with a van and now runs on a large network of contractors.
Side Hustle Nation, 2026
Services and freelancing
Tree trimming service
A local crew business that trims and removes trees for homeowners. Income comes from per-job fees.
Part-timeIn person
The Koerner Office, 2025
Services and freelancing
Aura photography at events
Taking aura portraits at events and partner businesses, charging per short session. The operator runs it while keeping a full-time job.
In person
Side Hustle Nation, 2025
Services and freelancing
Play in a wedding band
Plays drums in a band hired for weddings.
In person
Hacker News, 2019
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
Services and freelancing
Early music band for castles and festivals
Plays medieval and Renaissance music at castles, festivals, battle reenactments and museums.
Part-timeIn person
Hacker News, 2019
Services and freelancing
DJ for private events and nights out
Works as a DJ in addition to software work, paid per night.
$1k to $10kIn person
Hacker News, 2019
Services and freelancing
Play paid music gigs
Played music for pay for decades, including after retiring from a programming career.
In person
Hacker News, 2019
Services and freelancing
Custom woodworking from a makershop
Builds custom wood pieces for people who asked after seeing earlier work. Charges mainly to cover materials and some labor.
In person
Hacker News, 2019
Services and freelancing
Guide sea kayaking trips for an outfitter
Leads sea kayak expeditions and teaches instruction for a local outfitter, earning enough to pay for gear.
Part-timeIn person
Hacker News, 2019
Services and freelancing
Local sports and race photography
Shoots high school sports and local races for pay, as a hobby that pairs well with technical interests.
$1k to $10kIn person
Hacker News, 2019
Services and freelancing
Prototype and small-run CNC machining
Fixed up a used CNC mill and does quick prototypes and small production runs for local customers, found by referral.
Part-timeIn person
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
Services and freelancing
DJing and personal training gigs
Earns on the side from DJ gigs and personal training, both of which are also personal hobbies.
Hacker News, 2014
Services and freelancing
Brick mailbox repair and masonry for HOAs
The operator started by repairing brick mailboxes and grew into masonry work for homeowner associations, using crews for the labor. Income is per-job fees.
Part-timeIn person
The Koerner Office
Services and freelancing
Christmas light installation service
A seasonal service installs holiday lights for homeowners and businesses, with multi-year contracts to repeat the work. It was started by a teacher on the side.
In person
The Koerner Office

Filters (2 on)