30 Side Business Ideas To Make Money (2025)

Learn how to make money online with our collection of side business ideas you can start today from home or anywhere.

A side business is something you do to earn extra money when you’re not at your day job. According to a 2024 Bankrate survey, one-third of Americans have a small side business, with 32% believing they’ll always need one to stay afloat. The average side hustler makes $891 on average per month in extra income from their side business (an increase from $810 in 2023). 

Financial benefits aside, pursuing small side business ideas also gives you a chance to build new skill sets. Entrepreneurs enjoy the satisfaction of creating a business while forging a new career path that gives oneself greater security—particularly amid the common looming threat of layoffs.

Do you want to start a side business but aren’t sure what you can make money from or what might be the best fit for you? 

From low-investment small business ideas to turning your hobby into a lucrative income stream, check out our list of side business ideas you can kick off today. 

Ready to start your business? Create your website today or learn more about Shopify’s tools for selling online and in person.

30 best side business ideas

We’ve split up these side business ideas into five categories: side businesses you can start from home, side businesses you can do with no money, side businesses that require a bigger budget upfront, side businesses inspired by your hobbies, and side business ideas for creatives.

Side business ideas to start from home

• Become a virtual assistant
• Be a usability tester
• Become a dropshipper
• Rent your space
• Start affiliate marketing
• Offer consultancy services

1. Become a virtual assistant

Do you have incredible organizational and time management skills? Monetize them by becoming a virtual assistant. You’ll manage the administrative side of a small business remotely, making it one of the best home business ideas to do on the side of a day job. At first, your virtual assistant work may require just a few hours per week, but you can expand those hours as you take on more clients.

It’s a virtual assistant’s responsibility to:

• Schedule appointments
• Arrange travel
• Manage emails
• Take phone calls
• Order supplies

Business owner Ariana Rodriguez started a virtual assistant business in April 2021. It cost $2,000 to get her side business up and running, which included launching a website, taking a business course, and purchasing any technology she’d need to run a virtual assistant business.

“In April, I began making $700 a month,” Ariana says. “By December I was making $6,000 a month and working a full-time job. I was able to hire a subcontractor to make the work more sustainable.”

How to become a virtual assistant

Decide what services you want to specialize in offering. For example, you could assist in admin tasks, like light design work, managing emails, booking travel, etc. Set up a website or create a LinkedIn account to promote your virtual assistant services, and start reaching out to business owners or busy individuals who might need your help. 

2. Be a usability tester

A usability tester gives feedback on a website, app, or product. Many companies look for usability testers to improve new software before releasing it to the general public—and they offer compensation in return for testers’ time.

How to be a usability tester

Become a usability tester through platforms like:

• Wynter
• UserTesting
• Userlytics

One user test each day can add up to a few hundred dollars per month.

3. Become a dropshipper

Dropshipping is an ecommerce business model that has minimal startup costs. You essentially sell products online, but a third-party business fulfills the order for you. That way, you don’t have to worry about the costs and logistics of holding stock yourself. 

Thomas Sleeth, founder of Dropshipping Hustle, says he worked full time for 14 years as a disability support worker before attempting dropshipping as a side hustle.

“I was fascinated by the business model and completely immersed myself in it and spent all my free time and even some work time learning all I could,” Thomas says.

It took Thomas five months to start seeing consistent profits through his small side business.

“However, I did not quit my full-time job for almost a year,” he says. “At the time I found it extremely stressful to quit my long-term job, but in hindsight, I should have quit several months earlier. I was in the dropshipping and ecommerce space for four years and made more than I could have if I continued at my regular job.”

How to become a dropshipper

Find products to sell through dropshipping apps like DSers or Spocket. Then, start an online store to sell them. Your dropshipping supplier will automatically pick, pack, and ship products to your customer whenever an order comes through.

4. Rent your space

If you don’t have much time to invest in a side business idea, consider renting space in your home. More than 132.6 million people booked night rentals and experiences through Airbnb in the first quarter of 2024. Depending on where you live, a spare room, vacant home, or guest house can fetch upward of nearly $200 per night.

How to rent your space

Spruce up your spare room, take some photos, and list it on apps like Airbnb or Vrbo. 

Alternatively, you can list spare commercial space on Peerspace. Companies host photoshoots, galleries, launch events, and workshops through renting:

• Rooftops
• Galleries
• Studios
• Kitchens
• Lofts

5. Start affiliate marketing

If you’re a good marketer, becoming an affiliate can be a lucrative business. Affiliate marketing works when you earn commission on a product you market for another company. This commission can range anywhere from 1% to 50%.

How to start affiliate marketing

To start an affiliate marketing business on the side, choose a niche. You’ll need to create supporting content around the products you’re promoting. It’ll be easier to create a successful affiliate program if you choose an industry you’re passionate about.

Next, find companies with affiliate programs you can join through sites like ShareASale, ClickBank, or Awin. Grab your referral links and promote them online. You’ll get a kickback whenever someone purchases through your affiliate links. You can share affiliate links via your link in bio on social media and via posts on your own blog.

This side business idea could be easier for you to get off the ground if you already have an engaged social media following that’s relevant to your chosen affiliate marketing niche. For example, if you’re a popular #BookTok creator, you could join a program like Bookshop.org’s affiliate program. That way, you’d have a built-in audience who’s hungry for your book recommendations and more likely to tap your affiliate links to make a purchase. 

Otherwise, the process of building an audience around your niche will require some extra work in order to make a profit as an affiliate side business.

6. Offer consultancy services

Offering consulting services means using your expertise in a particular field to advise or guide clients. The good news is this type of business requires very little in the way of startup costs. You can also set your own hours, but keep in mind those hours will need to have at least some crossover with the typical working hours in your chosen industry. 

You might decide to consult in marketing, IT, HR, finance, or any other domain where you have either experience or expertise. 

How to start a side business offering consulting services

First, define your niche and the type of clients you want to work with. Then, build a network of industry contracts that can help you secure your first few clients. Create a simple website and LinkedIn profile where you can promote your services. 

Side business ideas to start for free

• Teach a language
• Start a house- or pet-sitting business
• Become a rideshare driver
• Deliver food
• Become a dog walker

7. Teach a language

The online language learning market is forecast to be worth $41.6 billion by 2030. If you speak multiple languages, monetize your skill by starting a side business that teaches other people how to do the same.

The most popular languages for this side business idea include:

• English
• Chinese (Mandarin)
• Hindi
• Spanish
• French

How to teach a language

Create your own business website and offer one-to-one virtual classes. You could also join an online language learning platform like Skooli, VIPKid, or Qkids. On average, tutors can earn up to $40 per hour teaching English on the side, but your exact rate may vary depending on experience. You could also host group classes in a free-to-book space, such as a local library or community center, many of which are keen to make education accessible to locals.

8. Start a house- or pet-sitting business

More than 66% of US households own pets. What do these pet owners do when they go on vacation and choose to leave their pets behind? Often, they’ll seek out someone who can take care of their pets in their homes, making this the perfect side business idea if you like pets. It’s particularly common for people to hire pet sitters for their dogs and cats, but you may also encounter the need for pet sitters with experience in caring for other types of animals, like birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, and more.

There are lucrative side business opportunities for entrepreneurs in this space, since pet owners are willing to spend big on caretaking. In 2024 alone, the average US pet owner spent $1,733 on their pets. The average pet-sitting rates you can charge vary wildly based on a number of factors, including: location, fees taken by booking platforms (if relevant), length of stay, the needs of the pets, and the number of pets per job.

How to start a house- or pet-sitting business

Owners often look for a house and pet sitters on platforms like Rover. It’s an added bonus if you have pet-related qualifications, such as animal first aid or animal behavior training. But most of all, you need to assure potential clients their pets will be safe in your care. The easiest way to do that is to build a base of client testimonials and referrals, so new clients can feel reassured by your success stories with other pets and the people who entrusted them in your care.

If you’re not confident with animals, offer to take care of someone’s home while they’re on vacation. House sitters can earn between $25 and $100 per day. That rate can increase for overnight stays, the size of a house, and its location. Combine this with a full-time job that allows you to work remotely, and you’ll be able to earn extra income with minimal disruption to your regular job.

9. Become a rideshare driver

The rideshare industry is projected to grow to $185.1 billion by 2026. Becoming a rideshare driver is a great side business idea that can help you capture a slice of that growing market. 

The best part about becoming a rideshare driver is that you’re in control of your own schedule. Night times and weekends tend to be peak times for customers, but since you’re your own boss, you can earn extra cash during any free time that works best for you.

How to become a rideshare driver

There were 44.1 million US Uber users in 2024. If you live in a busy city or tourist town and have a car that meets Uber’s requirements, consider registering to become a driver and get paid to transport people around the city.

10. Deliver food

People frequently use food delivery services like Uber Eats, Postmates, and Deliveroo to order food to their homes or workplaces. You can become a delivery driver for those platforms and get paid to transport food to hungry customers.

How to start delivering food

The barrier to entry to become a food delivery driver is low, which makes it a great side business idea. 

In most cases, to deliver food for those apps you’ll only need:

• A scooter, car, or bicycle
• A driver’s license and auto insurance
• A smartphone

Based on the city, Ridester estimates that the average Uber Eats driver can earn between $12.87 and $19.77 per hour, though this can increase with tips and gratuities. Deliver food as quickly (and safely) as possible to increase income from your side business.

11. Become a dog walker 

Becoming a dog walker is a great side business idea if you love dogs. It gets you some exercise outside every day and earns you a bit of extra cash on the side. 

Many people are too busy to give their dogs the exercise they need—especially if they live in urban areas or work long hours. The great thing is, this kind of side business is flexible. Plus, there’s always potential for repeat business, since dogs need walking every day. 

How to start a side business as a dog walker

Start by offering your dog walking services to people in your local area, starting with friends and family. Consider creating a listing on pet care platforms and posting in local community groups to spread the word. 

Side business ideas for bigger budgets

• Start a cleaning business
• Become an event planner
• Clean cars and mow lawns
• Sell coffee to local businesses
• Grow and sell microgreens

12. Start a cleaning business

Offering cleaning services can be a low-cost side business idea that’s easy to get off the ground. All you need for a cleaning side business is some cleaning equipment and a vehicle to transport your cleaning supplies around. 

Take it from Brian Winch, of Cleanlots, who originally started his cleaning business on the side.

“I provide a parking lot litter-cleaning service for property management companies,” he says. “My service is performed on-foot, using simple hand tools. Almost as easy to do as going for a walk! We walk the exterior property outside commercial properties and sweep up litter material into our collection tools then empty into waste bins on site.”

It cost Brian $200 to start the parking lot cleaning company. Eight weeks later, the side business idea ended up making more money than his full-time job, eventually grossing more than $650,000 per year.

“I started my business on the side because I wanted the security from the income of my day job to pay the bills while I gained experience growing my business,” Brian says. “The income I generated from my side hustle was invested back into it to grow.”

How to start a cleaning business

First, make sure you have the equipment you need. Buy enough to see you through your first couple of jobs and then promote your services on a local networking site like Facebook or NextDoor. You could also spread the word by handing out or posting flyers in your local area. 

13. Become an event planner

From weddings and birthday parties to corporate events, taking over the organizational aspect of hosting an event can earn you extra money on the side.

Amber Sironen Massey took this approach when starting her side business, Epic Elopements. The wedding planning business handles everything from officiating, organizing vendors, and signing contracts.

“I knew I wasn’t going to be able to sustain a full income and needed more money to get the business going, so quitting my day job wasn’t an option,” Amber says. “I also wanted to make sure that I was on the right track with my market audience and that I was building traction before jumping in head first.”

How to become an event planner

First, decide what type of events you want to specialize in, such as weddings, corporate parties, or community gatherings. Next, create a business plan outlining your services, target clients, pricing, and marketing strategy. Build a portfolio showcasing your past event planning work, and network with local venues, vendors, and industry professionals to establish relationships and find clients. 

Note: Make sure you have the necessary business licenses, insurance, and accounting practices in place to operate legally and professionally.

14. Clean cars and mow lawns

Starting your own business in car cleaning and lawn mowing is a brilliant way to dip your toes into entrepreneurship without needing a massive investment. 

These are services people need regularly, which means there’s consistent demand and the chance to build a loyal client base, making it a great side business idea. Plus, it’s flexible—you can easily work around a full-time job or studies and pick up extra work when you want to boost your earnings.

How to start a side business cleaning cars and mowing lawns 

To get going, start with a small investment in some quality equipment: a few car-cleaning essentials like microfiber cloths, eco-friendly soap, and a portable vacuum for car interiors, plus a lawn mower and trimmer if you don’t already have them. 

After that, get the word out. Make a simple flyer or create social media posts, and spread the word among family, friends, and neighbors. 

15. Sell coffee to local businesses

Selling coffee to local businesses is a simple concept but a great side business idea: You brew high-quality coffee and cold brew and deliver it fresh to local offices, cafés, or shops that want to offer their customers something unique. 

Everyone loves a good cup of coffee, and more businesses are looking for easy ways to improve their offerings without the hassle of brewing in-house. Plus, as people increasingly seek out local small-batch products, there’s a growing appreciation for a more personal, high-quality coffee experience—something you can provide.

How to sell coffee to local businesses

To get started, invest in some quality coffee beans, a reliable cold brew setup, and durable containers that keep the coffee fresh. 

Try out a few recipes to create a smooth, consistent taste that will keep customers coming back. Start by approaching a handful of businesses, like co-working spaces or independent stores, offering samples and letting them know about your delivery service. 

16. Grow and sell microgreens 

Microgreens—small, nutrient-packed greens like arugula, radish, and pea shoots—are really popular at the moment with health-conscious consumers, chefs, and local restaurants. 

Growing them doesn’t require a lot of space, which makes it ideal for anyone who wants to start small (even in an apartment!) and expand gradually as demand grows. It’s a great business idea because microgreens grow quickly—many microgreens are ready to harvest in just a couple of weeks—so with a bit of consistency, you can quickly create a steady product supply. 

How to get started growing and selling microgreens

First, you’ll need a few basic supplies, like trays, high-quality seeds, a growing medium like soil or coconut coir, and a grow light if you’re growing indoors. 

Once you’re set up, experiment with different varieties to find what grows best in your setup and appeals to your local market. Reach out to nearby restaurants, farmers’ markets, and health food stores to gauge interest and offer samples. 

Side business ideas inspired by your hobbies

• Start a photography business
• Sell thrift store finds
• Teach a class
• Sell online courses
• Organize people’s homes
• Repair and troubleshoot tech devices
• Offer home repairs and DIY services

17. Start a photography business

Turn a passion for photography into a side business. Promote your photography services in your local area and earn hundreds of dollars or more per photoshoot. Alicia Ho of Precious Ones Photography turned her hobby into a gratifying business photographing families and children.

“The ability to get the creative juices flowing while creating heirloom artwork that will last a lifetime for families is such an incredible feeling,” she says.

How to start a photography business

You can follow Alicia’s example when starting your own photography business:

• Photograph a specific niche, like newborn babies, engaged couples, or pets
• Work with nearby businesses to photograph their store or products
• Build a photography portfolio website to showcase your work to potential clients
• Partner with event managers to photograph local events

Expand your horizons (and make more money) by selling your photos online. Sites like Stocksy, Shutterstock, and Alamy pay photographers when their photos are commissioned, downloaded, or sold.

If you live in a city, you can venture out into the world too. Buy a camera that takes Polaroid-style instant photos and go to tourist hotspots or bars and sell photos for $5. 

18. Sell thrift store finds

People donate unwanted items to thrift stores every day. For many thrift stores, revenue typically goes to charity or back into the shop’s operating costs. 

Kim Hawkins, president of EventsWholesale says, “I originally started selling items on eBay, and my goal was to get enough additional income coming in to quit my day job so I could stay home with my children.

“I started from scratch and invested very little money—under a hundred dollars—to get started, and then I would just reinvest the profit off of what I sold.

“Very quickly the business grew into more than a full-time job. Within two years, my husband was able to quit his day job to help with the business. The business has grown through the years.”

How to sell thrift store finds

If you’re looking for a business idea to run on the side of your day job, try scouring second-hand stores—then flip items for a profit online. You can use sites like eBay or Depop to sell your thrift store finds online. 

Popular items to flip include:

• Antiques
• Books
• Retro clothing
• Kids’ toys
• Furniture

19. Teach a class

Teaching is a great way to make extra money on the side while also helping other people. Assess the skills that you already have and put together a class that teaches others. You can teach anything that you’re good at, whether it’s cooking the best curry or pottery painting. 

There are many ways you can package up your teaching too. For example, if you’re a skilled guitarist, you could offer music lessons as:

• Online group workshops
• Junior college courses
• A class you can teach through a co-working space or community group

How to teach a class

If you’re hosting a group class, list it on websites like Eventbrite or Meetup. Local people use those platforms to find nearby classes, making it a great marketing channel to reach potential students for your side business.

20. Sell online courses

An online course teaches people how to do something. Look at your hobbies, skills, and personal interests to see if you can develop an online course related to any of them.

Even the smallest niches can be monetized through an online course. For example, you could teach:

• Vedic astrology
• Caring for succulents
• How to construct a chef’s knife

Michael Keenan is one entrepreneur who sells online courses on the side. Creative Class teaches the business side of freelancing.

“I sell the Creative Class course on the side of my day job as a marketer. It’s a great creative outlet to sell products online—instead of services—while also helping people build their own career.”

How to sell an online course

Decide what you want to create your course about and then outline the modules and lessons you want to include. Record or create content for each lesson, and use a course creation platform to host it. 

21. Organize people’s homes

If you’ve got an eagle eye for detail and are very organized, consider helping people transform their homes into functional, clutter-free spaces. This might include organizing a closet, revamping a pantry, or designing an entire room layout. 

How to start a side business organizing people’s homes

Begin by offering your services to friends and family or by posting on social media to get the word out locally. Share before and after photos to showcase your work, as visuals are powerful when it comes to organizing. 

22. Repair and troubleshoot tech devices

Everyone uses technology of some kind, but not everyone knows how to fix their mobile, tablet, or computer if it breaks. This leaves a gap in the market for a tech-savvy pro to repair and maintain people’s devices so they can get back online ASAP. 

You can either run this kind of side business from home and encourage people to bring their devices to you, or you can offer a mobile service, where you make home visits around people’s schedules. 

How to start a side business repairing devices

Focus on the types of devices you know best, whether that’s smartphones, laptops, or gaming consoles. Start by advertising your services in local groups, posting on social media, and reaching out to friends and family that might need your help. 

23. Offer home repairs and DIY services

If you’re handy with a tool, why not make extra income from your DIY skills? You can help people with small repairs around their homes, maintenance tasks, and DIY projects they might not have the time, tools, or expertise to tackle on their own. 

From fixing leaky faucets and patching drywall to assembling furniture and hanging shelves, there’s always a never-ending list of small jobs people need doing around the house. 

How to start a side business offering home repairs

You need to make a small investment to get started, as you’ll need a toolkit including a hammer, drill, screws, and other everyday hardware supplies. Start by offering your services to friends, family, and neighbors to get off the ground and then branch out by posting on local community boards or social media to get the word out. 

Create a simple rate sheet for common tasks and consider offering package deals for multiple small jobs. 

Side business ideas for creatives

• Sell your skills
• Start a clothing line
• Become an influencer
• Write an ebook
• Sell your art
• Private label your own products
• Sell handmade goods

24. Sell your skills

Selling your skills is a profitable side business idea if you’re on a budget. Most skill-based businesses are free to start, since you don’t need inventory. You can also do free marketing by asking if anyone in your network needs help.

How to sell your skills

Look at the skills you already have and research whether they’re in high demand—either as a service or as advice through a consulting business.

Popular skills-based side business ideas you can start alongside a day job include:

• Freelance writing
• Graphic design
• Online dating consulting
• Personal training
• Landscaping
• Pet sitting

Content consultant Ashley R. Cummings took this approach when starting her side business.

“I was working as a full-time corporate trainer and also teaching Russian at the university,” she says. “My background was in English, and I’d always loved writing, so I started taking on projects slowly. Eventually, I had enough clients to replace my full-time income from my 9-to-5 and teaching. So, I quit and started my freelance writing business.”

25. Start a clothing line

The clothing industry is big business: The fashion ecommerce market is valued at $781.5 billion. Get a slice of that fast by using the print-on-demand model.

Platforms like Printful, Lulu Direct, and Printify allow you to upload your design onto t-shirts, sweaters, hats, and more.

The best part about this side business idea is you don’t need to invest tons of cash upfront. Whenever you receive an order through your online store, print-on-demand suppliers will print your design and ship it to the customer—no need to hold and manage inventory for your clothing business.

How to start a clothing line

First, create a few designs using a tool like Canva. Upload your design into an on-demand printing platform and either sell through Amazon or create your own website. 

26. Become an influencer

To start a side business as an influencer you need a loyal, engaged following on social media to whom you can then promote products and services.

The key is to choose a specific niche or topic that you’re particularly knowledgeable and passionate about. Then, consistently create and share high-quality content about that topic.

This might involve posting regularly on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, your own blog, or some combination of those channels. As your follower count grows, you can approach companies within your niche and offer to promote their products or services in exchange for money or freebies.

How to become an influencer 

To get started, you’ll need to choose your platform, define your niche, and start creating engaging content that showcases your expertise and personality. 

Popular ways to monetize a small following include:

• Affiliate marketing. With affiliate marketing you promote a brand’s products and earn commission on sales made via your affiliate links.
• Selling your own merchandise. TikTok influencer Charli D’Amelio launched her own line of fan merchandise to monetize a 154-million-strong TikTok audience.
• Paid partnerships. Influencers with fewer than 10,000 Instagram followers can demand up to $100 per sponsored post for these types of paid brand partnerships.

27. Write an ebook

If you’re a keen writer, self-publish your own ebook to earn extra money on the side. Self-publishing platforms such as Barnes & Noble Press and Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allow you to upload your book’s contents, along with a cover and author biography.

How to write an ebook

First, think about a topic you know well and can write a lot about. Then, outline and write your ebook. When it’s finished, decide whether you want to sell it as a PDF or whether you want to go through a more official channel. 

KDP, for example, lets independent authors sell books on Amazon through a print-on-demand model. You don’t need to invest money upfront into producing the book. KDP will print, assemble, and ship your book to each customer whenever an order is placed.

Alternatively, package your book into a digital file, and create your own website to sell your ebook. As soon as customers pay for it, they’ll receive instant access to the digital download.

28. Sell your art

Another great way to make money with a side business is to sell your art online.

Popular ways to package your art include:

• Greeting cards
• Digital art downloads
• Fabric, paper, or wallpaper prints

How to sell your art

Online marketplaces like Etsy are crowded with buyers looking to purchase unique art pieces. You can also use print-on-demand artist marketplaces like Society6. Listing your products for sale in marketplaces like these can help your brand gain more exposure as you’re starting out, but be aware: Etsy and other ecommerce marketplaces take a cut out of any sale you make through them. It’s a good idea to operate an online store on your own website alongside your marketplace profiles to maintain strong profit margins from your side hustle.

29. Private label your own products

Private labeling works when you outsource the production of a product to a manufacturer. It’s their job to create the product with your branded packaging.

Popular items to private label include:

• Pet products
• Hair growth vitamins
• Makeup and skin care lines
• Supplements and essential oils

How to private label your own products

To start your own business using the private label model, find a trustworthy manufacturer and have a sample product made.

If you’re just starting out with a minimal budget to invest, balance cost-effectiveness and quality. It’s often easier to make money selling inexpensive items at a markup. You can reinvest profits into higher-quality products as your side business grows.

30. Sell handmade goods

Handmade goods are among the most profitable things you can sell online both directly to consumers and under a wholesale model. Take raw materials and turn them into something of higher value—be that clothing, jewelry, or skin care products—to sell through an online store and online marketplaces like Etsy.

Sydney So Sweet founder Jen Greenlees started a side business selling handmade children’s products when her first daughter was born.

“At the time I was a high school chemistry teacher,” says Jen. “I ran my new business while teaching full time and also raising five kids.

“It took very little money to start, since I was making everything myself. Time was another issue. There were weeks during the fall where I was staying up until 2 a.m. to make and fulfill orders, and then getting up at 6 a.m. to get ready for work.”

Jen eventually took her side business idea full-time. “It was a huge risk at the time,” she says. “Teaching provided a great salary and benefits, and I gave up a lot leaving my job. But the risk has paid off, and the freedom I enjoy being an entrepreneur is worth more than any paycheck!”

How to sell handmade goods

Come up with a product or product line that you can make and sell, either through an online marketplace like Etsy or by setting up your own online store. You’ll need to develop your business name, design products, source materials, perfect your production process, and create product listings with high-quality product photographs and detailed descriptions. 

Start your side business today

Bringing your side business ideas to life is a great way to earn extra cash outside of a full-time job. A side business also provides an opportunity to expand your skill set and build something that eventually could become your main income source.

When you start a business alongside your day job, it gives you a safety net to test the viability of your ideas while earning extra money. Figure out which side hustle ideas, business models, and products you and your customers like best. That increases the chance of success if you quit your day job to work on a side business full time.

Later down the line, you can register your business and invest more as it starts to grow. At some point, you might even be able to quit your day job to work on your side business full-time. 

Side business ideas FAQ

What are the top side business ideas to start? 

Some popular side business ideas include: 

• Dropshipping through your own website
• Flipping vintage thrift store finds
• Teaching a language
• Becoming a virtual assistant
• Selling DIY handmade goods

How do I make time for a side business?

The beauty of a home business idea is that you’re in control of your own schedule. You can balance a side business with a full-time job by working on your online business on your lunch break, evenings, or weekends. Make a plan, put in the hours, and you’ll get your side business off the ground.

How much tax will I pay on my side business?

Small business owners who earn extra money through multiple jobs will be taxed. The rate of taxation depends on your state and income bracket. As a safety net, save between 20% and 50% of the extra money you made through the side business for taxes.

How much money do I need to start my side business?

The amount you need to start a side business depends on what you’re offering, but most side hustles can get off the ground with a small initial investment. Focus on the essentials—like a few basic tools or supplies—and grow from there as you start bringing in clients. It doesn’t have to be expensive; a few hundred dollars (or less) is often all you need to get started.

What makes a good second job?

The best side business ideas give you freedom to explore new skills. They also are flexible with your full-time job, earn good money on the side, and sell products or services that are in high demand.