Side Hustles for Moms: Ideas to Earn Extra Income

Side hustles for moms can start small and grow alongside a full-time job. Samantha Renée's real story of building a hair extension business shows how to balance both, from Shopify.

Samantha Renée always knew she wouldn’t take the safe route. She left a lucrative corporate sales career to start Weave Got It, an online hair extension business, with her partner in 2016. When we spoke to her, Samantha was expecting a baby, about to add parenthood to her growing list of roles. Because not only was she at the helm of a successful business in a risky industry—she had a day job at Shopify too.

This is Samantha’s story, in her words:

“Entrepreneurship is something that has always been in my family. My mom has very much been the spearhead of all that—she’s passionate about so many things. My parents would buy houses and flip them, so I’ve moved close to 40 times. They always talked about having multiple streams of income and not relying on a j-o-b and how unhappy you could be in the workforce. So, it’s never been a fear of mine to try things.

My partner and I wanted to start a business but really didn’t know what to start. He was on Instagram one day and saw some guy say, ‘I don’t deal drugs. I deal bundles.’ This guy was doing well selling bundles of hair extensions. My partner was like, ‘Is there a lot of money in hair extensions or something?’ I said, ‘No, we’re not doing that,’ because I never really liked hair extensions.

I’ve always done hair. I’m the type of person to pick things up and just learn how to do them. I would do hair extensions for other people, but my experience had been with really crappy versions. They were shedding all over the place and would tangle. But I eventually said, ‘If we can source our own product where I’m in love with it, then let’s do this.’ We started to test different things and to figure out why some hair would shed or tangle and some not. After doing a lot of research, we ended up with a product that I really loved.

Samantha Renée researched the hair extension industry before starting her business Weave Got It.

We sell bundles, which means they’re from one donor and the hairs lay in the same direction so they don’t tangle, whereas pack hair is just a bunch of random mixed-up hair. It could be from 100 different people. The shaft of the hairs could be completely different, and when they rub against one another, it causes it to tangle and become matted really easily. Ours is an expensive product, but at the end of the day, you’re making an investment that’s going to last you a long time. It was just so nice to hear how great people felt in our hair extensions. That’s what got me more and more passionate about the business.

Around the time we started, I also was hired at Shopify as a guru. I started helping other people with their businesses while I was building mine. I was learning from these other business owners as I was talking to them. It was like a collective space of learning where I would be able to teach people and they would teach me.

We started to grow by just focusing on SEO [search engine optimization] and the education piece. People would come to the website to learn about hair extensions in general, like what’s the difference between the grades, and why should they choose bundles over pack hair? Visitors became customers because people felt like they could trust us based on the education.

There have definitely been a lot of rough things that have happened, things I didn’t anticipate. Like fraud. The hair-extension industry has a high amount of fraud on the internet. We would get orders and be all excited, and all of a sudden you get a chargeback [in which the business is on the hook for a fraudulent transaction] for $3,000. I’m doing this from my home. I’m not a big, huge company, and that’s a lot of money. We had to put safeguards in place and check ID and call people.

We also had to learn to not try to do everything. I eventually realized that we just need to focus on what we’re good at rather than trying to satisfy every person who reached out. We were just spreading ourselves way too thin. I want this to be a vessel for me that I still enjoy putting my time into rather than feeling like it’s sucking everything out of me just trying to maintain it.

Samantha learned to stick to her strengths while trying to balance work, a side hustle, and impending motherhood.

I’m all about efficiency—trimming the fat and realizing what’s necessary and what’s not. It was just me and my partner at first. Now we have someone we hired who does customer service for us remotely. Making sure that my customers feel like they’re taken care of is important. Our emails look very professional—they would have no idea that I’m sitting here in my bed doing all of this.

In terms of prioritizing what’s important in life, I definitely do feel like I need to back away from the business a little bit. Maybe when I’m on maternity leave, I’ll do that. But I also look at mat leave as my opportunity to really kick the business into gear.”

Learn more: How to Find a Business Partner

Side Hustles For Moms FAQ

What are the best side hustles for moms with limited free time?

The best side hustle matches a mom's existing skills, interests, and available hours rather than following a one-size-fits-all list. Moms commonly find success with affiliate marketing, freelance writing, content creation, podcasting, pet sitting, photography, and bookkeeping. Picking something enjoyable makes it easier to stay consistent when energy and time are already stretched thin.

How much can moms typically earn from a side hustle?

Earnings vary widely depending on the hustle and hours committed, but one survey found side hustlers earn on average about $1,215 per month, with a median closer to $400. Income tends to rise once a mom moves from one-off gigs to repeat clients. Most parents reach the $2,000 per month mark by choosing a service-based hustle with recurring clients, like freelance writing, social media management, bookkeeping, or tutoring.

How do I find time for a side hustle while parenting full-time?

Side hustles fit around parenting by using small, consistent blocks of time rather than requiring a fixed schedule. Today's side jobs offer flexibility, letting moms work during naptime, school hours, or after bedtime, ensuring responsibilities as a mom remain the top priority. Even just an hour in the evening after bedtime or during a nap in the afternoon is enough to start building momentum.

What side hustles require little or no startup money?

Several side hustles need almost no upfront cash, since they rely on existing items or skills instead of inventory or equipment. Selling gently used clothing, toys, or household items through online resale marketplaces turns clutter into cash with no production cost. Offering freelance services like writing, proofreading, or virtual assistance through freelance marketplaces also requires only a computer and internet connection to get started.

How do I know if a side hustle is the right fit for me?

A side hustle is the right fit when the work itself feels manageable, not just the potential paycheck. A side hustle takes effort, but the right one won't feel like a punishment, and a mom will know she's found the right fit when she looks forward to working on it, even during busy periods. Testing a few ideas before committing helps rule out ones that only look good on paper.

Can a side hustle grow into a full-time business while I still work a job?

Yes, many moms scale a side hustle into a full business while still employed by reinvesting early profits and formalizing the business as demand grows. Forming an LLC safeguards personal assets and protects the family from potential business liabilities, while also adding credibility that makes it easier to attract clients and partners. Setting that structure early gives a growing hustle room to expand without threatening household finances.