Discover the Best Side Hustle Ideas to Earn Money From Home in 2025
Monika Ivanauskaite
a day ago
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Working from home has become a norm in today’s digital world. People often look for the best side hustles to supplement their income. Such extra work is a practical way to earn additional money online, develop new skills, and achieve financial independence.
You can find various side hustles from home on social media but it’s important to distinguish the most suitable side hustles for yourself.
From starting your blog to setting up an e-commerce store, we’ll dive into the best gigs for beginners to help you start making a few extra bucks while forking a full-time job.
What is a side hustle and why start one from home?
A side hustle is an income-generating activity that you can complete alongside your primary job. It requires minimal upfront investment such as a reliable computer, internet access, and time.
The main benefits of having a side hustle include:
- Flexible schedule
- Minimal setup costs
- Opportunity to monetize existing skills or hobbies
Millions of freelancers are actively working on online gigs. In fact, around 46.6% of the global workforce were self-employed in 2024. From freelance gigs to virtual interior design consultations, you can join the community of freelancers and earn extra money fast.
Unlike a traditional 9-5 job, side hustles have flexibility so that you can balance your main job and personal life. Some people have multiple hustles since they find profitable ventures where they utilize their skills.
The top 15 side hustle ideas from home
Let’s dive into the best hustles that are beginner-friendly and have long-term earning potential.
1. Online surveys and GPT platforms
Some of the best side hustle jobs include taking online surveys and using Get-Paid-To (GPT) platforms. You can get rewards for microtasks that don’t require any special skills or upfront costs.
For example, you can get paid to take surveys on JumpTask. It’ll take you anywhere from several minutes to an hour to complete a survey and you’ll earn a few dollars to a hundred dollars each time.
Also, people can get paid to watch videos and supplement their income. It’s an easy and quick way to make a few bucks in your spare time.
Home sweet hustle
Never tried Get-Paid-To platforms? Now’s the time! Play games, complete surveys, test products—your next payout is just a click away.
2. Freelance writing or graphic design
If you have creative skills such as writing or designing, you might want to consider becoming a freelancer. Many people who work corporate jobs utilize their skills and take up extra work in their free time to earn extra income.
Numerous companies seek extra help from contractors who have extensive knowledge of a particular subject. Freelance writers or graphic design specialists are in high demand, so you can find potential clients on online platforms like Fiverr or Upwork.
Becoming self-employed might seem daunting for beginners, so you might want to look for guides on how to become a freelancer. Here are a few tips:
- Build a portfolio or create your own website to showcase your skills.
- Choose a reliable freelancing platform.
- Check your local laws.
- Advertise your services and prepare marketing materials in advance.
All in all, freelancing is one of the most lucrative side hustles and work-from-home jobs that you can do on your own schedule.
3. Selling handmade products on marketplaces
In today’s digital world, you can sell handcrafted bracelets or sculptures to people on the other side of the world. For example, Etsy is a platform where people can easily create their e-shops and sell handmade products to a wide audience.
Another great platform is Amazon Handmade. It’s part of the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon, and offers numerous customizations to product listings.
Also, remember that you’ll need to attract customers to sell your products. Firstly, browse similar products and set fair prices to stay competitive. Secondly, make sure you take high-quality photos of your products. Experiment with natural light and ensure the background of the image is neat. Thirdly, consider running ads or optimizing product descriptions for search engines.
4. Virtual assistance services
Do you have excellent organizational and communication skills? Virtual assistants support businesses and individuals by handling tasks like sorting and writing emails, scheduling meetings, or conducting simple research. You can utilize your language skills and increase the number in your bank account.
Starting as a virtual assistant requires a reliable internet connection and basic communication tools like email and video calls. You can find clients on social media platforms like LinkedIn by messaging managers of local businesses directly.
5. Create online courses and gamified learning content
If you’re an expert in a specific field, you can share your knowledge and earn additional money by creating online courses. It’s a passive income stream meaning that once you set it up, you’ll have a continuous stream of income.
There are countless platforms like Teachable, Outschool, and VIPKid that provide user-friendly tools to help you design, market, and sell your lessons globally.
It’s crucial to structure your lessons by breaking them down into topics, incorporating visuals or videos, and finding a sweet spot between providing engaging and informative content.
Alternatively, you can show slides or play videos and do voice-over work for your lessons without revealing your face.
6. Dropshipping and e-commerce
Online shops have skyrocketed in popularity over the recent years. For example, retail e-commerce sales reached over 4 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024.
Thus, you should consider e-commerce or dropshipping business as a profitable income source if you get enough repeat customers. Various e-commerce platforms offer user-friendly interfaces for designing your e-shop, so you don’t need to have any technical knowledge.
The most important part is finding the correct business model. Dropshipping is a popular option for people who want to have low upfront costs and store inventory in designated warehouses. Alternatively, you can sell digital products with correct digital marketing techniques to make money.
7. Niche blogging with affiliate marketing
Blogging is a traditional way of making money via affiliate marketing. You can start a blog on any topic – gardening tips, car repairs, and more. Make sure you pick a niche that you’re passionate about and put those accurate typing skills to use. You can even get paid to write letters and publish them online, so the possibilities are endless.
Once you have several articles published, start researching affiliate programs in your niche. Companies will pay you to have their products promoted on your blog and you can earn cash passively.
8. Review websites and apps for usability
User experience is at the forefront of digitalization, so companies are looking to optimize their websites and apps for usability. If you’re looking for a time-efficient hustle, you can sign up to become a website tester and reviewer.
Your responsibilities include reviewing websites and apps for bugs, glitches, spelling errors, and more. Once you identify them, you’ll need to report them by providing clear feedback to companies. It’s an exciting opportunity to work with some of the biggest brands in the world – you can even get paid to review the Amazon website.
9. Online community manager
Another popular side hustle that you can do from home is becoming an online community manager for Discord, Reddit, Facebook Groups, and other platforms. You’ll need to moderate discussions, engage members with creative content, and grow communities.
It’s a rewarding gig that allows you to be creative and sociable since you’ll have the freedom to represent a brand while organizing contests or doing fun quizzes.
10. AI prompt writer
The growing popularity of AI tools like ChatGPT requires companies to adopt them in their daily operations. They help to streamline processes and save time on repetitive tasks. However, they need a crafty person with a solid foundation of knowledge to write AI prompts for maximum results.
As an AI prompt writer, you’ll need to provide context, historical data, and actionable questions to produce a great AI answer. It can be a rewarding side hustle for those interested in the latest tech.
11. AI chatbot trainer
AI chatbots are a crucial part of customer service – they help to manage the workload of these departments in a company and provide generic answers in a fast manner. You can become an AI chatbot trainer and test chatbot responses, provide feedback for improvements, and help grow customer satisfaction.
Such jobs are relatively low-effort but you’ll need to learn about advancements in AI and natural language processing models. However, there are dedicated YouTube channels and other online learning sources to get started.
12. Social media management
If you have a knack for social media trends, you should consider doing part-time work as a social media manager. Various companies are looking for people who can take over their social media profiles and grow their accounts by scheduling posts and creating content.
There are hundreds of tools to help you come up with high-quality and engaging content. If you need pre-made content, platforms like Canva offer hundreds of professional templates that you can customize and adapt. Also, scheduling tools like Hootsuite allow you to conveniently publish posts anytime.
13. Online mystery shopper
Companies hire mystery shoppers to evaluate customer experience for their e-commerce stores or other service platforms. As an online mystery shopper, you’ll need to give feedback on the functionality of their website or app, service quality, and more by browsing products or making purchases. Such efforts help companies identify the need for improvement.
You can get started with platforms like Market Force or BestMark to find your first side gig. Read through the requirements of each job as each company needs different testing. Nevertheless, if you love online shopping, you’ll definitely enjoy being a mystery shopper.
14. Sell unwanted items
Is it time to declutter your home? Sell your unwanted items on platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Poshmark to earn extra cash. You’ll need to take high-quality photos and include item descriptions to find potential buyers. However, these platforms make this gig relatively easy with tips and tricks to attract more customers.
An important thing to note is pricing. You should compare your products with similar items on the platform and price them according to the market trends and value. Also, consider doing local advertising to attract more customers.
15. Rent out your Wi-Fi hotspot
Thanks to the world of digitalization, you can earn money by sharing your unused internet bandwidth. If you have unlimited data plans, it’s a great passive income stream for you to try.
To get started, sign up on specialized mobile apps. The app works in the background and you won’t need to do anything else besides turn it on. While you won’t make hundreds of dollars sharing your internet connection, it’s a great way to make a couple of dollars alongside your day job.
How to choose the best side hustle for you
Finding the most profitable side hustle requires identifying your skills, financial goals, and resources. You should consider
- Your skills
- How much time you’re willing to invest
- Your financial goals
For example, if you wish to leverage your skills, freelancing is a great option. However, if you’re short on time, microtasks might be a convenient option for you.
If your financial goals are big, create courses or start dropshipping. Also, you can deliver groceries, try walking dogs, or pet sitting to earn cash if you’re not into digital gigs.
Your new side hustle?
Turn small tasks into earnings. Watch videos, share opinions, or test apps - all from home, all on your time.
Common mistakes to avoid when starting a side hustle
Before setting out on the journey of earning additional income, you should carefully consider which option is the most suitable for you. Avoid common mistakes such as:
- Overcommitting your time or money,
- Not checking your local legislation,
- Going for a hustle that doesn’t suit your lifestyle.
It’s crucial to understand why you want to start a gig and which one is the best pick for you. If you need to learn a new skill like graphic design, avoid jumping into freelance work as it’ll be time-consuming with minimal results.
Key Takeaways
Starting a gig from home has several benefits – you’ll have flexibility, earn additional income, and explore new long-term opportunities. It’s crucial to choose the most suitable gig for you, so explore different options and don’t be afraid to experiment.
Also, if you consider using platforms to make money, research them and see what others are saying. Other people’s experiences might help you in deciding whether you want to become a freelancer, an online tutor, or do dog walking as a gig.
FAQs
Some of the easiest side gigs to start from home include completing surveys, using GPT platforms, selling unwanted items, and many more. You should evaluate the skills you have, and how much money you want to make, and check out your options.
You should evaluate your lifestyle and your financial goals before starting a side hustle with no skills. If you want to earn some extra cash, you should check out AI chatbot training programs or community management. However, you can make more money by selling unwanted items or reviewing websites. The best side gigs have a lot of flexible and profitable options.
The amount of money you make with online side hustles depends on the type of side hustle you do. For example, you’ll get a couple of dollars for answering surveys but you can earn hundreds of dollars from freelancing or having an online store.
Side hustles like freelancing or having an online store can become your main source of income and replace your traditional 9-5 job! You should research how to scale these business ideas and make anywhere from a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars every month.
Monika Ivanauskaite
Content manager
The mind behind JumpTask updates is also a nature enthusiast, balancing announcements with hikes and capturing serene moments. Dive into the blog for a scenic journey through JumpTask's ever-evolving landscape.
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IN THIS ARTICLE
- What is a side hustle and why start one from home?
- The top 15 side hustle ideas from home
- How to choose the best side hustle for you
- Common mistakes to avoid when starting a side hustle
- Key Takeaways
- FAQs
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