Top 50 easy side hustle ideas you can start now

What is a side hustle?

Wondering how to make extra cash by starting a side hustle and need some ideas to get started? You’ve come to the right place. Money can’t buy happiness, but having a little extra to spend on the things you love never hurts.

Jump straight to our top 50 side hustle ideas

Most of your paycheck probably goes towards the essentials – groceries, rent, bills – or maybe you’re saving up for something big like your first home. After that, there’s not always a lot left for the fun stuff. That’s where the side hustle comes in.

A side hustle is all about earning extra income to help you hit your financial goals faster. It’s not about picking up another part-time job. It’s about turning your hobbies, passions, or skills into a money-making gig you can do in your spare time – whether it’s evenings, weekends, or between classes.

Reasons to start a side hustle

There are a bunch of reasons why people choose to start a side hustle, and it’s not always just about the money. While extra cash is great, side hustles can also help you build skills, explore passions, and open doors to new opportunities you never knew existed.

Paying off debt

Paying off a debt can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s a hefty one. Between HECS repayments, personal loans, chipping away at the mortgage and managing credit-card repayments, it can be difficult to make ends meet and still have cash left over for everything else. Starting a side hustle helps ease the pressure by contributing extra earnings towards repayments.

Saving for something special

Whatever you’ve got your sights set on, additional funds generated from a side hustle can help make those more indulgent spends far more doable and easier to justify when you check your bank account balance.

Preparing for the unexpected

Car accidents. Broken washing machines. A freak injury at training. When something goes wrong, the last thing you need to worry about is how to cover the cost. A side hustle can bring in extra money that you can bucket into an emergency expenses account so that when the unexpected happens, you’re well prepared. 

Feeling empowered

Money aside, there’s the feeling of accomplishment for a job well done, especially if you end up starting a new small business that actually takes off! Using your skills to serve others – whether it’s cleaning kitchens or building websites for small business owners – can be both personally rewarding and quite lucrative.

Our top 50 side hustle jobs to consider

Keen to start cashing in but not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Whether you’re looking for something creative, tech-savvy, or hands-on, there’s a side hustle out there for everyone. To help you find the perfect fit, we’ve put together 50 of the most popular and profitable side hustle ideas. From easy-to-start gigs you can do on weekends, to more specialised roles that let you work from home, these side hustles offer flexibility, fun, and the chance to grow your own income.

Ready to dive in? Let’s find the perfect hustle for you.

Jump to:

• Creative and digital side hustle ideas
• Service-based side hustle ideas
• Renting and selling side hustle ideas
• Transportation and delivery side hustle ideas
• Language and communication side hustle ideas
• Tech-savvy and specialised side hustle ideas
• Health and wellness side hustle ideas

Creative and digital side hustle ideas

Got an eye for design or a flair for content creation? These side hustles let you transform your creative talents and digital skills into cash, while building a portfolio that could unlock new opportunities and career pathways.

1. Video editing

If you’re a post-production whizz, the world’s your oyster. Whether you create your own YouTube channel or Instagram account to generate passive income from ads and sponsor deals, or edit video content for other businesses, you could be in for quite the pay check.

2. Writing

Turn your way with words into cash. Freelance platforms like Fiverr or Upwork are great places to start finding gigs, whether you’re writing blog posts, SEO articles, social media posts or product descriptions. The best part? You can work remotely and set your own rates, depending on your level of expertise in particular areas. Keep an eye on LinkedIn, opens in new window for opportunities and focus on building your network to land higher paying gigs as you build a portfolio of work.

3. Photography

Got an eye for the perfect shot? Turn your hobby snapping photos into a profitable side gig. Make extra cash on weekends shooting weddings or sporting events, or by selling framed or canvas prints at community markets. You could also create photos to sell on websites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock.

4. Digital marketing services

Every business needs to stand out online, and if you’ve got diverse skills in SEO, social media, or running ad campaigns, this side hustle is gold. Start small by managing local businesses’ online presence or advertise your services on freelance platforms. Eventually, you might find that you need to start hiring freelancers to keep up with all the work!

5. Twitch streaming

If gaming or live streaming is your passion, Twitch offers a way to turn that hobby into money. As your audience grows, you can earn cash through subscriptions, ads, and affiliate marketing programs. Keep in mind, building a loyal following takes time, but it can be highly rewarding in the long run.

6. Testing apps and websites

Get paid to try out apps and websites and provide feedback on user experience. Platforms like UserTesting pay users to navigate websites and record their opinions on usability, making this a great way to earn extra cash from home.

7. Graphic design

Use your creativity and design skills to help businesses and individuals bring their ideas to life. Whether it’s logo design, marketing materials, or website design, platforms like Canva or Adobe Creative Cloud can help you get started.

8. Social media management

With businesses increasingly relying on social media for growth, becoming a social media manager could be your calling. Schedule posts, create social media content strategies and build engagement, all from the comfort of your phone or laptop.

9. Content creation

Could you become the next big social media influencer? If you’re passionate about a specific niche, start creating engaging content on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. As your following grows, you can monetise your content through ads, sponsorships, or affiliate marketing.

Service-based side hustle ideas

Love working with people or helping in the community? These service-based gigs let you turn your skills into extra income by providing valuable, hands-on help to others.

10. Tutoring services

If you know the French Revolution like the back of your hand or excel at long division, perhaps you could help students study for exams as an after-hours tutor to earn some extra income. Whether it’s maths, English, science or even music tutoring, it can be done online or in person. Consider first building your online presence and share your expertise, then contact administration departments at local schools to see if you can advertise your services.

11. Gardening services

Got a green thumb? Offer gardening services like planting, and general yard maintenance. There’s always a high demand for these services, plus it pays well, and you can set your own rates. It’s also flexible and is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise while earning cash.

12. Lawn mowing services

If you love spending time outdoors and have basic landscaping tools, lawn mowing and landscaping can be a steady source of income. Homeowners and even real estate agents are often willing to pay for someone to take care of their properties, and you can offer additional services, like mulching or tree planting for extra profit.

13. Housekeeping and organising

If you’re great at cleaning and organisation, why not offer your services to others? Busy families and professionals are often willing to pay for someone to help them tidy up their homes or offices.

14. Handyman services

From fixing dripping taps to assembling flat-pack furniture, if you’ve got a handy skill, you should put it to use. Websites like Airtasker, opens in new window and TaskRabbit, opens in new window are the perfect places to start scoring some cash helping people with odd jobs around the home.

15. Bike repair and maintenance services

Good with tools and love bikes? Offering bike repair and maintenance is a great way to help others while earning extra cash. Many bike owners don’t have the time or expertise to keep their bikes in top shape.

16. Event planning services

If you’re organised and detail oriented, you could help others plan their special events. From weddings to corporate functions, event planners are in high demand. Plus, you can charge for everything from budgeting to vendor coordination.

17. Holiday decoration services

For those who love the holiday spirit, offering holiday decorating services for homes and businesses is a seasonable side hustle with high demand. You can provide the lights, ornaments, and creativity to make any space festive.

18. Pool cleaning services

Have access to a pool cleaning kit and know your way around chemicals? Offering pool cleaning services can be a great way to earn money, especially during warmer months when pool owners need help with maintenance.

19. Car washing and detailing

If you love cars and have an eye for detail, offering car washing and detailing services could be a very lucrative side hustle. With minimal supplies and a bit of elbow grease, you can provide high quality cleaning services for car owners who want their vehicles to shine, without spending hours doing it themselves.

20. Babysitting services

New uni textbooks can cost a fortune. If you’re a student looking for some easy money to help make ends meet, consider babysitting for busy families on the odd Friday evening or working as a live-in babysitter in your spare time. Babysitting is a classic side hustle for a reason – it pays well, is flexible, and can be a lot of fun if you enjoy spending time with kids – though you will require a Working with Children Check and references to get clients.

21. Pet grooming services

Combine your grooming skills with your passion for animals by offering pet grooming services. From washing and trimming to nail clipping, pet owners are always looking for someone to help keep their furry friends looking their best.

22. Dogsitting services

If you’re an animal lover, why not get paid to look after pets? Help pet owners ease their pup’s separation anxiety by dogsitting while they’re away. Not only do you get paid, but you also get to play with a cute fluff ball for a few hours. Who wouldn’t enjoy that?

23. Personal shopping

Love shopping and have a keen eye for style? Personal shopping can be a fun and flexible way to make money by helping others find the perfect outfits or gifts. You can cater to busy professionals or people needing assistance with fashion choices.

Renting and selling side hustle ideas

Got items laying around that you could sell? Maybe you have some extra space that you don’t use or have skills in knowing what products to flip – it’s all about turning what you already own or can access or create, into a steady income stream.

24. Renting out extra space

If you have unused space in your home, whether it’s a room, garage, or parking spot, consider renting it out for extra income. Sites like Airbnb and Spacer make it easy to connect with renters.

25. Selling hand-made crafts

Are you crafty? Turn your DIY projects into cash by selling items online – and when it comes to creative side hustles, there’s no looking past Etsy, opens in new window. Whether you’re crocheting cute little critters to sell, custom-made ceramics, jewellery or home décor and artwork, it could prove to be a great way to make money on the side.

26. Buy, fix and resell

Calling all carpenters, mechanics, and builders! If you enjoy working with your hands, flipping furniture, restoring cars, or renovating property, this could be the ultimate side hustle for your skills. Buy used items like electronics or bikes, fix them up, and sell them for a profit. Platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace are great places to start.

27. Rental equipment for events

If you own sound systems, tables, and decorations, renting out equipment for weddings, parties or corporate events can bring in consistent income. People and businesses are always looking for affordable equipment rentals for special occasions.

28. Reselling vintage fashion

Vintage clothing and fashion are in high demand, and if you’ve got an eye for style, reselling second hand clothing can be a lucrative side hustle. Start by sourcing unique pieces from op-shops and selling them on eBay and Facebook Marketplace.

29. Selling digital products

If you’ve got design, online advertising, and niche research skills, you could be selling digital products like templates, prints or eBooks online. Once created, digital products can be sold repeatedly without much extra effort, making it a great way to earn passive income.

30. Flipping domain names

If you’ve got skills in identifying valuable web domains, you can buy them cheaply and resell them for a profit. Sites like GoDaddy Auctions and Flippa are popular for buying and selling domain names, and eventually you could even create your own consultancy.

Transportation and delivery side hustle ideas

Got a vehicle and some spare time? These side hustles let you earn money by delivering food, packages, or offering rides, all while working on your own schedule.

31. Delivering packages

Platforms like Amazon Flex offer opportunities to deliver packages in your area. It’s a flexible side hustle, allowing you to work on your own time while earning extra cash. You could even start your own package delivery service and start advertising through channels like Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace.

32. Rideshare driving

Platforms like Uber and Didi make it easy to turn your car into a money-making machine. Set your own hours and pick up passengers when it fits your schedule. It’s a great option if you enjoy meeting new people and driving your car around the city.

33. Delivering groceries or take away food

With platforms like UberEats and DoorDash, delivering food or groceries is a flexible side hustle that can fit around your existing schedule Plus, you get to stay active and explore your city while earning extra money.

34. Moving and junk removal services

If you’ve got a strong back and a truck, offering moving or junk removal services can help people declutter or move house, while making extra money. This is a flexible side hustle where you can pick and choose jobs to suit your schedule.

Language and communication side hustle ideas

Are you fluent in multiple languages, or a strong communicator? These side hustles let you leverage your linguistic or communication skills to help others, whether it’s through translation, teaching, or creating engaging content.

35. Translation services

If you’re fluent in more than one language, offer personalised translation services to businesses or individuals. Sites like Gengo and ProZ are great platforms for finding freelance translation gigs.

36. Voiceover work

Got a unique voice? You could be getting paid to record voiceovers for videos, ads, or even audiobooks. Start by creating a demo reel and offering your voiceover services on platforms like Fiverr and Voices.com.

37. Language teaching

If you enjoy teaching and are fluent in other languages, you can teach language courses to students through online platforms like iTalki and Preply. It’s a great way to share your knowledge with other language learners while earning money on the side.

38. Podcasting

Passionate about a particular topic? Start a podcast and share your thoughts with the world. Once you’ve built an audience, you can monetise your podcast through sponsorships, ads, or listener donations. Connect with other podcasters to grow your reputation and build your fanbase.

Tech-savvy and specialised side hustle ideas

For the tech pros and specialists out there, these side gigs offer a way to monetise your niche expertise, whether it’s through consulting, web development or using your digital marketing skills.

39. Coding and web development

If you know how to code, there’s a huge demand for web developers and software engineers – plus the pay rates are great. You can start by taking on small freelance projects on sites like Upwork, then build your portfolio and increase your rates over time.

40. Data entry

It may not seem like the most interesting or exciting side hustle, but data entry is simple, straight forward and can be done from home. Sites like Clickworker and Amazon’s Mechanical Turk offer a range of opportunities for online data entry gigs.

41. IT support

If you know your way around a computer and have IT skills, offer support to individuals or local businesses in your area. Help them by troubleshooting issues, setting up new devices, or improving their network security.

42. Online tech support

Many businesses of all shapes and sizes are outsourcing their tech support to freelance workers. With a bit of technical know-how, you can help users troubleshoot issues from home through platforms like JustAnswer and Geek Squad.

43. 3D printing services

If you’ve got access to a 3D printer, you can start offering customer 3D printing services to businesses or individuals. You can make anything from prototypes to personalised gifts to sell on places like Etsy, eBay, and local marketplaces.

44. Dropshipping services

Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products without holding inventory. With platforms like Shopify and Oberlo, you can easily set up an entire online store and start selling products from suppliers directly to customers.

45. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing lets you earn a commission by promoting products or services online. Sign up for programs like Amazon Associates, and start recommending products you love on your blog, social media, or your website.

46. Print on demand

Passionate about a particular topic? Start a podcast and share your thoughts with the world. Once you’ve built an audience, you can monetise your podcast through sponsorships, ads, or listener donations. Connect with other podcasters to grow your reputation and build your fanbase.

Health and wellness side hustle ideas

Passionate about fitness and mental wellbeing? These health and wellness side hustles allow you to earn money by helping others achieve their fitness goals or improve their overall wellbeing.

47. Personal fitness training

Love fitness and exercise? You could become a personal trainer by helping others reach their fitness goals, helping them with creating personalise fitness routines and schedules. It’s relatively easy to become certified via online personal fitness training schools, developing your experience first by offering sessions to friends or family, and through social media.

48. Yoga instructor

If you’re a yoga enthusiast, consider becoming a certified yoga instructor. You can teach classes at local studios, community areas, or even offer private lessons at home. Plus, it’s a great way to maintain your fitness levels while earning money.

49. Nutrition coaching

Passionate about health eating? You could offer nutrition coaching services and develop personalised meal plans for clients on an individual or subscription basis. Certifications are available online, and you can start by helping friends or family improve their diet before expanding. Don’t forget the importance of social media when advertising your services.

50. Making specialty food

Whether it’s home-made jams, gluten-free treats, or gourmet meals, if you have a talent for cooking, selling specialty foods can turn your kitchen into a small business. From selling at local markets, online, or offering delivery through social media or local apps, food lovers will flock to your creations.

Starting a side hustle the right way

Ready take the next step after finding the perfect side hustle idea?

Take a look at our checklist for starting a new business or learn how to set up your side hustle as a sole trader.

We recommend getting your own business account, so make sure you check out our $0 monthly fee NAB Business Everyday Account. You may also like to consider why you should open a separate business bank account instead of using a personal account for your side hustle.