Name a hobby or skill you haven’t turned into a profession, and we can tell you at least three ways it can bring you extra cash. Whatever you enjoy doing after your paying job, there’s a good chance it can become a lucrative side hustle. Okay, maybe not everything — if you sit and stare at a blank wall, we don’t see a way to monetize that. But for most hobbies, the possibilities are endless. Here are 30 hobbies that can make you extra money.
1. Social Media
It turns out that scrolling through social media can do more than strain your eyes and wear out your thumbs — it can turn into a paying gig. With the rise of social media influencers, a new career path emerged: Influencer Marketing Manager. You’ll post photos, engage with followers, and do all the things you already love to do — just for a paycheck. And a pretty nice one at that, with an average salary of around $76,992 per year in the United States.
2. Gardening
You can put your green thumb to use and turn your love for plants into a profitable hobby by starting a small nursery or offering landscaping services. People pay good money for beautiful, well-maintained gardens. Or you can sell homegrown herbs, flowers, or vegetables at local markets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture keeps a registry of farmers markets, and you can find tips on setting up a roadside produce stand at the Hobby Farms website.
3. Antique Hunting
If you spend your weekends scouring flea markets and garage sales, you can turn that into a money-making hobby. With a good eye for valuable items, you can flip your finds for a profit at online marketplaces like eBay.
4. Gaming
Your parents were very wrong when they said, “You’ll never amount to anything by playing games.” Well, in fact, you can. Gaming can be a lucrative hobby with the help of streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube, which allow you to earn money through ads, sponsorships, and viewer donations. You can also review games, test games, and enroll in gaming tournaments that pay a pretty penny as a prize.
5. Photography
If you have an eye for composition and great images, you can turn your skill into a high-paying side gig. According to the Bureau of Labor, the average photographer’s annual pay starts at $40,760, with wedding photographers topping $100,000.
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6. Handyman
If you are your family’s go-to handyman and the first person your friend call to fix a plumbing problem or a light switch you can cash on those skills. There a number of apps like TaskRabbit and Angi that will help you book gigs.
7. Travel Planning
All that time spent daydreaming, wandering, and searching for the cheapest flights, affordable hotels, and must-dos can finally pay off, and you can turn your wanderlust into a profitable career. If you love planning trips, travel planning is a gig for you. You’ll handle everything from booking flights and hotels to arranging car rentals and creating itineraries. Plus, it’s a mostly remote position, allowing you to work from home in your PJs. You can find gigs on freelance outsourcing sites like Upwork. According to ZipRecruiter, as of July 2024, travel planners in America are paid $33.46 an hour or $69,591 per year.
8. Flipping Furniture
Flipping furniture is an increasingly popular side hustle as turning a shabby old dresser into an Instagram-worthy piece can make a tidy profit.
You can find undervalued furniture pieces, often for cheap or even free, and transform them into chic items with a little elbow grease, paint, and creative flair.
You can sell your revamped creations on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and Etsy.
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9. Knitting
Apparently, knitting isn’t a thing only for grandmas anymore—it can be hip and profitable side hustle.
If you love knitting, you can create cool handmade items like scarves, hats, blankets, and sweaters and sell them on platforms like Etsy and Ravelry or you can also give online knitting classes or sell your patterns online.
10. Calligraphy
Considered a lost art in the digital era, calligraphy is making a modern comeback. People are willing to pay a pretty penny for beautiful, hand-lettered pieces. If you have a knack for handwriting, you can create custom wedding invitations, place cards, and event signage. You can also design and sell prints, greeting cards, and personalized gifts on platforms like Etsy or at local craft fairs.
11. Baking
If you consider yourself quite the baker, why not make some dough while doing it? You can sell your baked goods like cookies, cakes, bread, and pastries at local farmers’ markets, fairs, or even start an online shop. You can also start a baking blog or vlog. Many self-made bakers on social media have huge followings and sell their own cookbooks, proving that you can turn your skills into a sweet side hustle.
12. Shopping
Who said shopping is a vice? If you find shopping therapeutic but, unfortunately, your wallet doesn’t agree with you, becoming a personal shopper might be your perfect gig. You can offer your services to busy professionals, elderly individuals, or anyone who needs help with shopping.
13. Driving
Many times, we feel like personal chauffeurs to our kids, parents, or friends, driving them around town. So why not get paid for it? If you don’t mind being behind the wheel, there is a way to turn driving in your free time into a profitable side hustle. Sign up with ride-sharing apps like Uber or Lyft and start picking up passengers. But don’t charge your kids, that’s not cool.
14. House Sitting
Instead of sitting on your couch wondering what to do with your spare time, you can do this in someone else’s place and get paid for it. House sitting is an easy side hustle and perfect for anyone who loves a change of scenery without the hassle of moving.
Homeowners are always looking for reliable people to watch over their properties while they’re away. Your job will be to keep the place secure, water the plants, maybe take care of pets, and make it look lived-in. You can find house-sitting gigs on websites such as TrustedHousesitters, HouseSitter.com, and MindMyHouse. You can earn between $25 to $45 per day, and some high-end gigs in desirable locations can pay even more.
15. Sewing
Whether you love tinkering with a sewing machine, or you are skilled in hemming and altering garments, there’s a market for your needlework. You can start by offering your services for alterations on platforms like Thumbtack.
But if you really have a way with the sewing machine why not think big and start designing and selling custom clothing. Custom-made pieces are gaining popularity as people seek unique, high-quality items that stand out from mass-produced fashion.
16. Car Detailing
If you spend your free time tinkering with cars for fun, you can turn this into a money-making side hustle. You can start small by offering basic services like washing, waxing, and interior cleaning. As you gain experience, you can expand to advanced services such as paint correction, ceramic coating, and upholstery treatment. Word-of-mouth and repeat business can quickly build a loyal customer base.
17. Writing
If you are a born wordsmith, you can turn that talent into extra cash. Freelance writing is a great place to start, and platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer connect you with clients looking for blog posts, articles, marketing copy, and even ghostwriting. You can also dip your toes into blogging and generate income through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and ads.
18. Podcasting
So you are one of those who has a strong opinion on everything from politics to why the grass is green? Great! Share those opinions with the word and earn some extra cash. Podcasting is becoming a booming medium that lets you share your voice, connect with an audience, and, yes, make money. You can start by picking a niche you’re passionate about, invest in basic equipment like microphone, headphones, and editing software and list it on popular platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
19. Fitness Coaching
Now is your time to prove that gym membership wasn’t just an ambitious New Year’s resolution. Offering online workout classes on Zoom can be a great side hustle, turning your workouts into a profitable venture while helping others get into shape.
You don’t need more than a high school diploma or GED to start. You will only need a certification from programs like ACE or NASM, and you can offer classes, whether it is yoga, pilates, or some high-intensity workout.
20. Music
If the band never made it, there’s still hope. Any kind of music experience, whether you play an instrument or have great taste in music, can be turned into a profitable side hustle. You can tutor kids, DJ at local bars and events, or even teach online music lessons.
21. Beekeeping
Beekeeping isn’t for everyone, but if you have a way with bees, it can be a buzzworthy side hustle. A single hive can produce 20-60 pounds of honey annually, which sounds like a sweet deal. You can also sell beeswax, propolis, and other bee-related products at farmers’ markets or online.
22. Jewelry Making
Jewelry making is another great hobby that can turn into a profitable side hustle. Custom, handmade jewelry is in high demand, as people love handmade items that make them feel unique. You can design personalized pieces and sell them on platforms like Etsy, eBay, or at local craft fairs.
23. Makeup
There’s a difference between splashing makeup on your face and contouring and priming. If you know that difference, you might as well make money out of it.
You can both do makeup tutorials on TikTok, YouTube or Instagram and then offer your makeup services for events like weddings, proms, and photoshoots.
24. Woodworking
It doesn’t mean you need to instal laminated floors or build cabinets to turn your woodworking hobby into a side hustle. You can craft small bookshelves, picture frames and cutting boards and sell them on platforms like Etsy, eBay, or local craft fairs.
25. Pottery
Pottery is a great way to turning mud into moolah. If you happen to be into this messy hobby, the good news is there is a market for your creations. You can sell your quirky mugs, chic bowls, and vases on Etsy or eBay or flaunt them on social media.
26. Reading
Bookworms rejoice! It turns out being well-read doesn’t repay only with wisdom but with some extra cash too. You can turn your love for reading into a side hustle by reviewing books on platforms like Goodreads or owning your own blog. Once you have a following, authors and publishers might pay you for your reviews.
Another option is “BookTube” — a YouTube channel where you share reviews, discuss your favorite reads, and interview authors.
27. Animal Care
Americans love their pets but do not always have the time to take care of them, spending more than $50 billion a year on pet services. So dog walking or pet sitting are your win-win to hang out with your furry friends and earn extra cash. You can start on websites like Rover and PetSit. Dog walkers can make up to $40 per hour, according to Thumbtack.
28. Sleep
Well, this might not be your run-of-the-mill hobby, but let’s be honest — it should be, and you can get paid for doing it. You can literally sleep on the job by taking part in sleep research studies, or you can test mattresses for manufacturers and companies that produce bed linens.
29. Home Brewing
Cash in on your love for suds by bringing your special brew to market. While this is not an easy side hustle, as selling alcohol comes with a lot of regulation which translates to mountains of paperwork, it’s quite worth it — gross profits range between 74% and 92%.
30. Watching TV
Believe it or not, being a couch potato might actually be worth it. Websites and apps like Swagbucks TV pay you to watch and review TV shows and ads.
You can also start a TV review blog or YouTube channel where you share your opinions, discuss theories, rank shows, and monetize your content through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate links.
You can also join the Nielsen ratings program and get paid to provide feedback on your viewing habits.
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