The thought of launching a side hustle or starting a small business sounds a little intimidating. How do you build a brand? What’s the best way to manage finances? Do taxes suddenly become more complicated? It’s easy to run for the hills when you start making a mental list of all of these considerations. But don’t fear, friends! If you have dreams of side hustlin’, there are plenty of routes you can take that don’t require a full business plan upfront.
Keep reading for 15 side hustle ideas that you can start launching more or less immediately. We can’t wait to see what you can make happen!
1. Alterations: With just a little basic knowledge of fabric and a sewing machine, you can set up shop to help your friends and family perfect the way their clothes fit. If you need a refresher course, you can even check out our Sewing Online Class.
2. Baking: No event is complete without cupcakes (duh), so why not offer to whip up a batch of custom baked goods the next time you’re invited to a party or BBQ? As long as what you make is delicious, word of mouth may bring potential customers your way, and you’ll be able to start charging little by little for your tasty treats.
3. Blogging: It’s no secret that the blogosphere has become increasingly crowded over the last few years, but that doesn’t mean that your voice isn’t worth putting out there! Start small by sharing your blog with family and friends. Over time, your site can help you build an audience for your other creative hustles, or you may opt to monetize it with advertising and brand partnerships.
4. Babysitting: It’s not just for high schoolers! Becoming a family’s go-to caregiver is a great way to earn a little extra cash — and it will also give you a great excuse to play with crayons and eat mac ‘n’ cheese.
5. Cleaning + Organizing: No one ever said that launching a side hustle had to be fancy or glamorous. If you’re well known for your squeaky clean home, consider charging for your neatness and elbow grease. You’d be surprised how much businesses and individuals are willing to pay to have someone they can trust make their space extra shiny!
6. Tutoring: Everyone has a school subject that’s always just come naturally to them. Make the most of it! Whether you have a way with words or are a math whiz, you’re bound to find kids from a range of ages who could benefit from your tutoring services. If you were always a good test taker, you can also market your hustle to families who are prepping their students for the SATs or other standardized exams.
7. Cover Letter + Resume Services: Next time your friend tells you they’re hot on the job search, offer to help them compile their application materials. Make sure that their cover letter is free of spelling, grammar, and formatting errors, and help them craft their resume so it accurately represents the amazing skills they have to offer. With a little practice, you’ll be able to charge people outside of your friend group for your assistance.
8. Dog Walking: Love dogs? Let your neighbors know that you’re available to take their pups for a spin around the block on nights and weekends. If you have room to play with the schedule at your day job, you can even offer a lunchtime walk! Before you get super serious about a dog-walking side hustle, make sure to research insurance options to protect yourself and your business.
9. House Sitting: No one wants to leave their home unattended when they go out of town, and with the summer travel season upon us, there are about to be tons of opportunities for you to look after peoples’ houses and apartments. Put the word out to friends and family that you are ready and willing to house sit while they’re away.
10. Interior Decorating: You may not have a design degree, but if you have an eye for interiors and a flair for all things domestic, there’s no reason you can’t start small with a decorating business on the side. The next time someone you know moves, offer to help them choose paint colors or arrange their bookshelves for a low cost (or for free). If you do a good job, they’ll recommend you to others!
11. Party + Wedding Planning: If your friend, sister, or cousin just got engaged, now is the perfect time for you to launch the event planning hustle you’ve been dreaming about. Jump in now and offer to help them with whatever they need. Knowing that you’re interested in becoming an event coordinator, they’ll be more likely to delegate tasks to you. Help them make their big day perfect, and they’ll send all of the future brides in their lives your way.
12. Catering: Are you the queen of appetizers and homemade snacks? Why not start advertising your catering services? Start small with dips and salads, and see if you can expand to more complex menu items from there.
13. Coaching: If you ever miss your glory days on the youth sports field, you may want to consider becoming a coach. Do some research to find out if there are schools or leagues in your area looking for people to help out. These gigs may be on a volunteer basis at first, but with a little experience under your belt (and the proper certifications), you’ll be able to look for paying opportunities too.
14. Home-Sharing: All it takes to start bringing in a little extra cash through a home-sharing platform like Airbnb is some extra room in your house or apartment. If you’re happy to play host and excited by the prospect of bringing new and interesting people into your home, you may be the perfect candidate for the site.
15. Personal Training + Fitness Coaching: If you’re a gym fanatic, you can start the process of getting certified as a personal trainer online today. You may also consider researching the qualifications necessary to become an instructor for your favorite spin or yoga studio. Once you have the skills you need, you can build a virtual business helping people get healthy via email or video chat!
What’s your dream side hustle? Tweet us @BritandCo!
(Photos via Brit + Co and Getty)
