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Published 8 Oct 2020

102 Side Hustle Ideas Compared: Make Extra Cash in Your Spare Time

Adele Cochrane

Need ideas for a side hustle? Whether you’re after something that will earn you cash straight away, or you’re playing the long game, this list of 102 side hustle will help you choose the best one for you.

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While everyone wants something different out of a side hustle, some are better than others. Side hustles are a trending way to build income streams and make extra cash. But before you jump into the gig economy, it’s a great idea to make sure the side hustle you choose suits your life and your goals.

Everyone and their cat has a side hustle. Lists of side hustle ideas abound, rich with the promise of effortlessly generating thousands of extra dollars. But is that the reality? Side hustles are not a get rich quick scheme. There is no magic money fountain. There are, however, several ways to make extra money, some better than others. Not all of which will suit you – but some that will.

What Makes a Great Side Hustle?

The catch is all that all these business ideas require a sacrifice of some kind, with the aim of long-term gain. It’s usually some combination of time, money, or using a hard-earned skill set. Some hustles will only require one, such as hours of your time, or upfront monetary investment. Some side jobs will demand all three. Some hustles start you earning straight away. Some lucrative side hustles take years to pay off, but when they do, they pay big bucks and can even be scaled from part-time side gig into a full-time job.

So, in the end, the answer is: whatever works with the resources you have, and achieves the outcome you want.

Looking for something you can do from home? Find the best ways to make extra money online.

Your Guide to the Best Side Hustles in Australia: Make an Extra $1000 a Month

Keen to join the millions of people running a side hustle? Here are the best ideas for starting your side job, reviewed by real people – so you can find out which is the best choice for you.

Learn More

102 Side Hustles: Comparison Table

Tap to Expand Table
Top Hustle Type Time Asset Skill Fast Scalable Online
– Blogging Creating content ✔ – ✔ – – ✔
– Podcast Creating content ✔ – ✔ – – ✔
– Create Ebooks Creating content – – ✔ – ✔ ✔
– Become a Brand Ambassador Creating content ✔ – ✔ – ✔ –
– Create Software Creating content ✔ – ✔ – ✔ –
– License Stock Music Creating content – ✔ ✔ – ✔ –
✔ Youtube Channel Creating content ✔ – ✔ – ✔ –
✔ Affiliate Marketing Creating content ✔ ✔ – – ✔ ✔
– Sell Your Old Stuff Easy side hustles – ✔ – ✔ – ✔
– Marketing Focus Groups Easy side hustles ✔ – – – – ✔
– Online Surveys Easy side hustles ✔ – – ✔ – ✔
– Swagbucks Easy side hustles ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Amazon Mechanical Turk Easy side hustles ✔ – – ✔ – ✔
– Dropshipping Ecommerce ✔ – – – ✔ ✔
– eBay Store Ecommerce ✔ – – – ✔ ✔
– Amazon Store Ecommerce – ✔ – ✔ – ✔
– Print T-Shirts Ecommerce – – ✔ – ✔ ✔
– Online Nursery Delivery Service Ecommerce ✔ ✔ – – – –
✔ Sell Handmade Things (Etsy) Ecommerce ✔ – – – – ✔
– Sell Digital Templates Ecommerce – – ✔ – ✔ ✔
– Flipping Cars Flipping ✔ ✔ – – ✔ –
– Bidding On Abandoned Storage Lockers Flipping ✔ ✔ – – – –
– Flipping Bicycles Flipping ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ – –
– Flipping Campervans Flipping ✔ ✔ – ✔ ✔ –
– Flipping Vintage Furniture Flipping ✔ ✔ – – – –
– Delivery Gig economy ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Host Airbnb Food Tour Gig economy ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ –
– Help People Move House/Furniture Gig economy ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Help People Grocery Shop Gig economy ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Dating Gig economy ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Human Billboard Gig economy ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Customer Service Gig economy ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Graphic Design Gig economy ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ –
– Rent a Friend Gig economy ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Snuggling Gig economy ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Mystery Shopping Gig economy ✔ – – – –
– Domain Flipping Investing – ✔ – – ✔ ✔
– Vending Machines Investing – ✔ – – ✔ –
– Dividend Investing Investing – ✔ – – ✔ –
– Real Estate Investing Investing ✔ ✔ – – ✔ –
– Invest In Shares Investments – ✔ – – – ✔
– Babysitting Service ✔ – – ✔ ✔ –
✔ Virtual Assistant Service ✔ – – ✔ ✔ ✔
✔ Freelancing Service ✔ – ✔ – ✔ ✔
– Dog Walking Service ✔ – – – ✔ –
– Tour Guide Service ✔ – – – – –
– Private Chef Service ✔ – ✔ ✔ – –
– Babysitting Service ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Housekeeping Service ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Personal Shopper Service Service ✔ – ✔ – ✔ –
– Write Resumes Service ✔ – ✔ ✔ – ✔
– Become An Extra Service ✔ – – – ✔ –
– Freelance Writing Service ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
– Personal Training Service ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
– Clothing Alterations Service ✔ – ✔ ✔ – –
– Recycling Business Service ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Event DJ Service ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ –
– Ironing Service Service ✔ – – – ✔ –
– Distribute Flyers Service ✔ – – – ✔ –
– Stock Photo Modeling Service – – ✔ – ✔ –
– Pet Grooming Service ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Baking Service ✔ – ✔ – ✔ –
– Pet Sitting Service ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Proofreading Service ✔ – ✔ – ✔ –
– Child Care Service ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Building Niche Websites Service ✔ – ✔ ✔ – –
– Car Washing Service ✔ – – ✔ – –
– Carpet Cleaning Service ✔ ✔ – ✔ – –
– Catering Service ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ –
– Coaching Service ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ –
– Small Business Marketing Service ✔ – ✔ – ✔ –
– Interior Decorating Service ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ –
– Translation Service Service ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ –
– Travel Agent Service ✔ – – ✔ ✔ –
– Voiceover Acting Service ✔ – ✔ – ✔ –
– Window Cleaning Service ✔ – – ✔ ✔ –
– Yard Work Service ✔ – – ✔ ✔ –
– Pooper Scooper Service ✔ – – ✔ ✔ –
– Cleaning Business Service ✔ ✔ – – ✔ –
– Computer Repair Service ✔ – ✔ ✔ – –
✔ Digital Marketing Service ✔ – – – ✔ ✔
– Handyman Services Service ✔ – ✔ – – –
– Photographer Service ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ – –
– Kids Birthday Parties Business Service ✔ ✔ – – ✔ –
– Rideshare Driving (Uber) Sharing economy ✔ ✔ – ✔ – –
– Airbnb Sharing economy – ✔ – ✔ – –
✔ Rent Your Car Sharing economy – ✔ – ✔ – –
– Rent Out Garage Or Driveway Sharing economy – ✔ – ✔ – ✔
– Vehicle Advertising Sharing economy – ✔ – ✔ – –
– Rent Out Clothes Sharing economy – ✔ – ✔ – –
– Create an Online Course or Tutorial Teaching – – ✔ – – ✔
– Tutoring (e.g. English, Music) Teaching ✔ – ✔ ✔ – ✔
– Teach People To Cook Teaching ✔ – ✔ – – –
– Teach People Arts And Crafts Teaching ✔ – ✔ ✔ – –
– Music Lessons Teaching ✔ – ✔ ✔ – –
– Teach A Language Teaching ✔ – – ✔ ✔ ✔
– Coach Sports Teaching ✔ – ✔ ✔ – –
– Teach Yoga Teaching ✔ – ✔ ✔ – –
– Teach Computer Skills Teaching ✔ – ✔ ✔ – –
– Marking CPA Exam Papers Online Teaching ✔ – ✔ ✔ – ✔
– Bookkeeping Service ✔ – ✔ ✔ – ✔

How to Find Your Perfect Side Hustle

We all have different life situations and needs, so we’re all looking for something different out of a side hustle: enjoyment and satisfaction, a new source of income, career capital. But simple lists don’t often do much to clarify your options, which is why we’ve created a comparison table. Follow these steps to find the perfect side hustle for you.

  • What Do You Have More Of?

    First, you decide what resources you have at your disposal: Spare time? Savings? A rare skill?

  • Long or Short Term?

    Then, identify whether you’d rather have lower short-term gains or higher long-term gains. Do you want to build a passive income stream, or replace your full-time job?

  • Find Ideas That Match Those Criteria

    Your next step is to identify the ideas that fulfil your criteria on the table. We’ve marked the best side hustle ideas – ways to make cash that have the right balance between effort and payoff.

Best? Hustle Type Time? Upfront investment? Asset? Skill? Quick turnaround? Growth potential? Online?
– Blogging Creating content ✓ – – ✓ – – ✓
– Podcast Creating content ✓ – – ✓ – – ✓
– Create Ebooks Creating content – – – ✓ – ✓ ✓
– Become A Brand Ambassador Creating content ✓ – – ✓ – ✓ –
– Create Software Creating content ✓ – – ✓ – ✓ –
– License Stock Music Creating content – – – ✓ – ✓ –
✓ Youtube Channel Creating content ✓ – – ✓ – ✓ –
✓ Affiliate Marketing Creating content ✓ ✓ – – – ✓ ✓
– Sell Your Old Stuff Easy side hustles – – ✓ – ✓ – ✓
– Marketing Focus Groups Easy side hustles ✓ – – – – – ✓
– Online Surveys Easy side hustles ✓ – – – ✓ – ✓
– Swagbucks Easy side hustles ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Amazon Mechanical Turk Easy side hustles ✓ – – – ✓ – ✓
– Dropshipping Ecommerce ✓ – – – – ✓ ✓
– eBay Store Ecommerce ✓ – – – – ✓ ✓
– Amazon Store Ecommerce – ✓ – – ✓ – ✓
– Print T-Shirts Ecommerce – – – ✓ – ✓ ✓
– Online Nursery Delivery Service Ecommerce ✓ ✓ – – – – –
✓ Sell Handmade Things (Etsy) Ecommerce ✓ – – – – – ✓
– Sell Digital Templates Ecommerce – – – ✓ – ✓ ✓
– Flipping Cars Flipping ✓ ✓ – – – ✓ –
– Bidding On Abandoned Storage Lockers Flipping ✓ ✓ – – – – –
– Flipping Bicycles Flipping ✓ ✓ – ✓ ✓ – –
– Flipping Campervans Flipping ✓ ✓ – – ✓ ✓ –
– Flipping Vintage Furniture Flipping ✓ ✓ – – – – –
– Delivery Gig economy ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Host Airbnb Food Tour Gig economy ✓ – – ✓ ✓ ✓ –
– Help People Move House/Furniture Gig economy ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Help People Grocery Shop Gig economy ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Dating Gig economy ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Human Billboard Gig economy ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Customer Service Gig economy ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Graphic Design Gig economy ✓ – – ✓ ✓ ✓ –
– Rent a Friend Gig economy ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Snuggling Gig economy ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Mystery Shopping Gig economy ✓ – – –   – –
– Domain Flipping Investing – ✓ – – – ✓ ✓
– Vending Machines Investing – ✓ – – – ✓ –
– Dividend Investing Investing – ✓ – – – ✓ –
– Real Estate Investing Investing ✓ ✓ – – – ✓ –
– Invest In Shares Investments – ✓ – – – – ✓
– Babysitting Service ✓ – – – ✓ ✓ –
✓ Virtual Assistant Service ✓ – – – ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ Freelancing Service ✓ – – ✓ – ✓ ✓
– Dog Walking Service ✓ – – – – ✓ –
– Tour Guide Service ✓ – – – – – –
– Private Chef Service ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – –
– Babysitting Service ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Housekeeping Service ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Personal Shopper Service Service ✓ – – ✓ – ✓ –
– Write Resumes Service ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – ✓
– Become An Extra Service ✓ – – – – ✓ –
– Freelance Writing Service ✓ – – ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
– Personal Training Service ✓ – – ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
– Clothing Alterations Service ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – –
– Recycling Business Service ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Event DJ Service ✓ – – ✓ ✓ ✓ –
– Ironing Service Service ✓ – – – – ✓ –
– Distribute Flyers Service ✓ – – – – ✓ –
– Stock Photo Modeling Service – – – ✓ – ✓ –
– Pet Grooming Service ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Baking Service ✓ – – ✓ – ✓ –
– Pet Sitting Service ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Proofreading Service ✓ – – ✓ – ✓ –
– Child Care Service ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Building Niche Websites Service ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – –
– Car Washing Service ✓ – – – ✓ – –
– Carpet Cleaning Service ✓ ✓ – – ✓ – –
– Catering Service ✓ ✓ – ✓ ✓ ✓ –
– Coaching Service ✓ – – ✓ ✓ ✓ –
– Small Business Marketing Service ✓ – – ✓ – ✓ –
– Interior Decorating Service ✓ – – ✓ ✓ ✓ –
– Translation Service Service ✓ – – ✓ ✓ ✓ –
– Travel Agent Service ✓ – – – ✓ ✓ –
– Voiceover Acting Service ✓ – – ✓ – ✓ –
– Window Cleaning Service ✓ – – – ✓ ✓ –
– Yard Work Service ✓ – – – ✓ ✓ –
– Pooper Scooper Service ✓ – – – ✓ ✓ –
– Cleaning Business Service ✓ ✓ – – – ✓ –
– Computer Repair Service ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – –
✓ Digital Marketing Service ✓ – – – – ✓ ✓
– Handyman Services Service ✓ – – ✓ – – –
– Photographer Service ✓ ✓ – ✓ ✓ – –
– Kids Birthday Parties Business Service ✓ ✓ – – – ✓ –
– Rideshare Driving (Uber) Sharing economy ✓ ✓ – – ✓ – –
– Airbnb Sharing economy – – ✓ – ✓ – –
✓ Rent Your Car Sharing economy – – ✓ – ✓ – –
– Rent Out Garage Or Driveway Sharing economy – – ✓ – ✓ – ✓
– Vehicle Advertising Sharing economy – – ✓ – ✓ – –
– Rent Out Clothes Sharing economy – ✓ – – ✓ – –
– Create an Online Course or Tutorial Teaching – – – ✓ – – ✓
– Tutoring (eg English, Music) Teaching ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – ✓
– Teach People To Cook Teaching ✓ – – ✓ – – –
– Teach People Arts And Crafts Teaching ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – –
– Music Lessons Teaching ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – –
– Teach A Language Teaching ✓ – – – ✓ ✓ ✓
– Coach Sports Teaching ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – –
– Teach Yoga Teaching ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – –
– Teach Computer Skills Teaching ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – –
– Marking CPA Exam Papers Online Teaching ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – ✓
– Bookkeeping Service ✓ – – ✓ ✓ – ✓

A side hustle can help you achieve your financial or career goals, but it’s a good idea to make sure it fits in with your life and your interests first. If one of these ideas has caught your eye, why not investigate further with a small business course?

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Adele Cochrane

Adele is a writer specialising in tertiary education and careers. She helps people take the next step in their study, upskilling and career change journeys. Studying as a mature-age student and changing careers showed her the unique challenges  — and rewards — of finding the right information and inspiration along the way.

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