10 Ideas for Your Next Side Hustle
By: Kristin Park
Tags: Travel, Remote Working, Website Development, Side Hustle, Business

Photo by Matt Nelson on Unsplash

Whether you’re one of those people that always needs to be doing something, or you need some extra cash while you’re building your client base for your new company, doing some work outside your “real” job can be empowering and rewarding. Especially when you’re feeling like you need a little more agency over your work but aren’t quite in a position to have it yet. Other than filling up your accounts, you can make use of that special skill you have or even find a renewed passion for something.

Here are a few ideas that don’t break the bank to get started:

Bookkeeping

Are you a numbers guy or girl? Or put, are you good with numbers? Even if you don’t love it, you could make a tidy sum helping people with something most people not only dread but are bad at. I don’t know about you, but I would pay serious money to not have to deal with any of that. And so would others. Depending on the situation, this is something you could probably even do remotely, just in case you’re having dreams about working from your bed. The possibility is real.

2. Lawyer

I know what you’re thinking. Not a side hustle. But if you’re a solicitor by day, you can also take advantage of your hard-earned skills by doing a little freelance work with your evenings. And you can unchain yourself from the office for a bit.

Maybe you start brokering deals or handling property disputes for some locals. If you’re burnt out doing tax litigation all day, you might even find a renewed sense of purpose. Or maybe you’ll discover motivation to adjust your day job. If you like it enough, it’s not a huge stretch to turn your night job into your day job by opening your own practice. You’ve already paid for your law degree. You might as well use it fully.

3. User Testing

There are always a lot of issues to iron out when a company launches a new product or service, and they invest a lot of time and money into having people test out the buying process. The idea is that if there’s a bug in the system, one of the testers will find it before an actual customer does. That tester could be you! With these types of jobs, you can either sign up on freelance sites or simply make a website and advertise yourself as a tester.

4. CV Writer

This is a great option if you’ve ever worked in HR or have been in a hiring position. If you’ve ever spent time going through job applicants, you have a pretty good idea as to what stands out. From there, it’s just a matter of filling in individualised information in the most effective way possible. There aren’t any special certifications or degrees required here, but just be sure you are well-versed in different formats for different industries. This can all be found online.

5. Sell Something

This is pretty generic, I know, but stick with me. If you have a skill, whether it’s baking, watercolors, designing paper mache elephants — whatever it is — don’t be intimidated to open up shop. The idea of renting a space and decorating a brick-and-mortar store can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to start with that.

Try holding a short-term pop-up shop, renting a shop space for a day or a week. If it goes well, you can sell once a month or simply sell online. Taking orders is a great way to avoid holding unnecessary inventory.

6. Translation Services

If you can even consider this, you should be proud of your language skills. If you want to use them so you don’t lose them, this is a great way to stay in touch with those secondary school French classes. You could do this from the shores of Nice if you so desire. Or the Swiss Alps. It’s a perfect way to start working remotely if that’s a lifestyle you’d like to have.

7. Travel Planner

If you love to travel, what better way to get in touch with the ins and outs of the industry and use your knowledge of tourism you’ve picked up over the years than to help plan trips for others? Not only will it help you get a better idea of where you want to go, but you’ll be able to share your travel stories with people who actually might want to know about that riad you found in Casablanca that was fit for royalty.

Or when you decided to hire a car in LA for a first-time adventure on the opposite side of the road and ended up taking off the mirror of Brad Pitt’s Audi. Oops. Maybe not that one, but you get the idea.

8. Dog Walker

To many, this may sound like a job you did as a child, but to dog lovers, this is the dream. Taking care of pets is a constant job, and sometimes, pet parents need a vacation. That might mean letting you walk the fur babies a few times a week or playing babysitter to some cuddlies while their family is in Aruba. If you like animals, this can be a rewarding job, even if it is just temporary.

9. AirBnb Host

Do you have an extra space in your house that’s storing all of that stuff you’ve been meaning to sort through and get rid of? Now is the time. Running a bed and breakfast is a career change, but letting out a room once in a while is just a good financial decision. Plus, it can be fun playing host to travelers who are excited to see your part of the world for the first time.

Looking at your town or city as a tourist can often make you appreciate what you have the opportunity to take advantage of any day of the week. Be honest, Londoners. How many of you have actually been up in the London Eye? You might even enjoy spending time with your guests.

10. Moving or Delivery Company

With climate change at the forefront of everyone’s minds, most people are buying small — even electric — cars. At the same time, there will always be a need for a lorry or van. You can’t strap a sofa to a Fiat, and no one wants to finagle that brand new, 30-piece IKEA table into the backseat of a….well, anything.

If you already have a vehicle good for hauling, build that side hustle before you ditch it for a greener car. Your wallet will thank you. So will all of the people you help.

So there it is. Obviously, this is not a comprehensive list. It’s simply here to get you started. Thinking about what you’re going to do is often the part that takes the longest. And who knows? Maybe your side job will turn into a full-fledged business you’re passionate about. But if not, you’re bound to appreciate the flexibility and quick cash that comes with many of the things on this list.