Services and freelancing side hustle ideas

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

6 ideas

Services and freelancing
Fractional chief AI officer for mid-size companies
An experienced operator sits in leadership meetings for companies without a technology chief, finds where AI helps, and builds or teaches the team to build it. It is billed as a monthly retainer, and a paid training day often leads into it.
Part-timeOnline and in person
Ryan Doser, 2026
Services and freelancing
Building permit expediting service
Handling building permits for property owners and developers as a niche service, using skills learned while flipping houses. Clients come by referral, with no ads or cold calling.
Side Hustle Nation, 2026
Services and freelancing
Tech troubleshooting consulting
Helps people fix broken technology, a paid skill since youth.
Under $100
Hacker News, 2019
Services and freelancing
Websites for wineries paid in barter
Built web pages for local wineries and was paid in goods such as wine rather than cash.
Under $100
Hacker News, 2019
Services and freelancing
Community ad boards in restaurants
The operator places ad boards in local restaurants, sells the slots to nearby businesses, and upsells those advertisers websites and AI services. Profit comes from slot sales per board.
The Koerner Office
Services and freelancing
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