20 Side Hustles That Will Surprisingly Make You Decent Income

Published:

Lots of people are eager to find a side hustle that helps pay the bills, save for vacation, fund a party, etc.

Most people think of side hustles as items that bring in a few dollars here and there, but there are some side hustles that can actually bring in a decent income.

A study once showed that In a survey of more than 1,100 full-time working Americans, 9 in 10 (93%) currently work a side hustle. Upon taking a  closer look at working Americans with a side hustle, they found that, on average, Americans are banking $777 a month from that hustle. Even if they aren’t working one of the side hustles that pay weekly, the additional monthly income can be helpful.

So convinced to start a side hustle?

Here are 20 for you to consider. 

Carpentry

Carpenter working with equipment on wooden table in carpentry shop. woman works in a carpentry shop.
Image Credit: MIND AND I/Shutterstock.

If you’re handy this way, you can make good money building chairs, benches, tables, etc. You can also restore furniture that’s been discarded or has fallen into disrepair.

 

Monetizing Hobbies

Rear view of a young woman taking a photo of her most recent painting to share it and sell it online.
Image Credit: antoniodiaz/Shutterstock.

Is there a hobby you have that you could turn into a source of profit? Many people skilled in crafts have done this. Another example is leading guided tours of parks and historical sites if you have a passion for the outdoors or history.

 

Window Washing

Portrait of young pretty lady in rubber gloves cleaning window with detergent at home. Lovely millennial housewife keeping her home tidy, happily performing domestic chores, enjoying housework.
Image Credit: Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.

Windows get grimy over time, and that actually makes them more susceptible to damage as well as detracting from their appearance and function. Many people lack the time or equipment to wash windows but would prefer not to pay contractor rates.

 

Gutter Cleaning

A man worker is cleaning a clogged roof gutter from dirt, debris and fallen leaves to prevent water and let rainwater drain properly.
Image Credit: Billion Photos/Shutterstock.

The same goes for cleaning gutters. It’s an important task that most people don’t like to do even if they do have a good ladder for it.

 

Stool Donation (?!)

Blood donate is helping people.
Image Credit: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.

No, we don’t mean donating old stools you no longer use. Healthy human stool can be used in medical treatment for people with some chronic diseases. We even found someone claiming to have made $180,000 this way in just one year. It’s definitely not for everyone!

 

Selling Homemade Foods

Tex-Mex cuisine salsa Asada sauce with roasted vegetables, served with Chicken Fajitas, horizontal.
Image Credit: iuliia_n/Shutterstock.

Do you grow your own fruits and vegetables, stir up a good salsa, or make some other food item that’s a hit with people? You can sell it at a local farmers market or online.

 

Reselling Clearance Items

reseller is photographing used clothes in a box for online Selling.
Image Credit: bigshot01/Shutterstock.

This is a form of flipping, buying something at a low price and then reselling it at a higher one. Flipping usually involves refurbishing something, but this doesn’t. However, you could be out that money if you don’t know your market.

 

Clearing Drain Lines

Sewer cleaning. A plumber uses a sewer snake to clean blockage in a sewer line.
Image Credit: mikeledray/Shutterstock.

Plumbers are expensive, and you should still use them for major repairs, but do you want to pay a few hundred dollars to unclog a drain? If you have some basic plumbing tools, you can perform these jobs for much less than a pro plumber charges, and you’ll earn back your investment after a few jobs.

 

Dumpster Diving

Recycling a grocery store's waste food by harvesting out of the garbage dumpster.
Image Credit: GROGL/Shutterstock.

This one sounds a little seedy, and it might be illegal depending on the location. However, you’d be amazed at what valuable items people sometimes put in the trash: watches, cash, working electronics, and more.

 

Doing Taxes

A W9 tax form with Tax Brackets written on a yellow sticky note.
Image Credit: enterlinedesign/Shutterstock.

Few people outside CPAs and IRS agents understand the tax code, and the tax-prep business is a booming one. If you’re good with taxes, you can start your own service, and it can be a lucrative side hustle.

 

Driving for Uber or Lyft

CHIANG MAI,THAILAND - SEP 16,2015 : A woman hand holding Uber app showing on Samsung note 3 in the car,Uber is smartphone app-based transportation network.
Image Credit: Prathankarnpap/Shutterstock.

With a reliable car that gets good gas mileage, you might like driving people between destinations. You can also choose when you want to work. Peak times can get you some nice extra income really fast.

 

Freelance Copywriting and Editing

Cheerful young muslim arabian lady young woman sit on cozy sofa female freelancer writer take notes in diary noting information write book daily tasks.
Image Credit: MAYA LAB/Shutterstock.

Some people hate writing or aren’t good at it. Others just don’t have the time for it. As a freelancer, you can pick and choose the jobs you want to take and set your own asking prices.

 

Coding

Developing programmer Team Development Website design and coding technologies working in software company office.
Image Credit: Joyseulay/Shutterstock.

Coding pays well, and there aren’t enough coders, so that’s a winning combination if you have solid coding skills. Plus, a lot of coding positions are fully remote, so you can work from wherever you want as long as you have internet access.

 

Blogging

Workplace with laptop, girl's hands, peonies, golden scissors and diary. Flat lay composition for bloggers, magazines, social media and artists. Top view.
Image Credit: Floral Deco/Shutterstock.

If you have strong writing skills and a certain passion or special knowledge set, you can write a blog. How much content you create is up to you, but the more content, the more likely you will be to earn ad revenue or attract paying subscribers.

 

Shoveling Driveways

A teenage girl and boy shoveling a snow covered suburban house driveway during winter.
Image Credit: mooremedia/Shutterstock.

Most people think a fresh snowfall looks beautiful. Then comes the next day, when they have to start digging out. Many people will gladly pay someone with a snowblower or a snow shovel and strong back to clear their driveways and sidewalks.

 

Online Tutoring

girl on computer getting online tutor.
Image Credit: Maria Symchych/Shutterstock.

Tutoring used to mean that one party had to travel to the other, and that meant time and hassle, and it often affected what a tutor could earn. Now, a lot of tutoring is conveniently online, and it’s always in demand.

 

Consulting

Professional male lawyer financial advisor consulting happy family couple clients in modern office. Interested young customers meeting realtor broker bank worker, discussing agreement or deal.
Image Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock.

Many companies need the services of a consultant but don’t need or can’t afford to have one full-time. Experienced consultants knowledgeable in particular areas can earn good income while avoiding the daily office grind.

 

Selling Unwanted/Unneeded Items on eBay

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND - AUG 26, 2018: Close up of ebay app on a Apple iPhone 6 screen. ebay is one of the largest online auction and shopping websites.
Image Credit: Natee Meepian/Shutterstock.

With eBay, you have access to a worldwide marketplace. If you have items you no longer want or need that are still usable and in good condition, try selling them online.

 

Stocking Warehouses and Grocery Stores

Asian man stocking worker holding tablet and checking inventory, counting the number of boxes at a wholesale store warehouse.
Image Credit: Supavadee butradee/Shutterstock.

Are you looking for a side hustle that accommodates almost any schedule and lets you mostly keep to yourself as you do it? Working as a stocker might be for you.

 

Pet Sitting

Close up of cockapoo pet dog being walked on suburban street with other dogs by male dog walker.
Image Credit: gemphoto/Shutterstock.

Kennels are expensive, as is doggy daycare. Plus, many people feel guilty about dropping their pets off somewhere, and it stresses a lot of animals. Animal lovers can earn a nice side income walking and feeding pets, spending time with them, cleaning litter boxes, etc.

18 Jobs You Can Do Without Ever Leaving Your Home (Or Your Pajamas)

Nice beautiful lady with blonde curly hair work at the notebook sit down on the sofa at home - check on oline shops for cyber monday sales - technology woman concept for alternative office freelance.
Image Credit: simona pilolla 2/Shutterstock.

When you can’t leave home for work or simply don’t want to, there is a wealth of jobs you can do from home.

Some of them require specific types of experience, while others you can learn as you do them. Here are 18 jobs you can do without leaving home.

18 Jobs You Can Do Without Ever Leaving Your Home (Or Your Pajamas)

19 of the Best Stay-At-Home Job Ideas

Young woman in yellow sweater working with laptop and phone on the bench in the city.
Image Credit: RossHelen/Shutterstock.

 

Earning money does not have to involve a commute or going to a place of work anymore. Thanks to modern technology, anyone can now work from anywhere as long as they have a strong internet connection. Because of this, there are now alternative ways of having full-time employment without leaving the comforts of your own home.

19 of the Best Stay-At-Home Job Ideas

20 Ways Make Money Really Fast

Portrait of a Beautiful Authentic Latina Female with Afro Hair Wearing Light Blue Jumper and Glasses. She Looks to the Camera and Smiling Charmingly. Successful Woman Resting in Bright Living Room.
Image Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.

 

Maybe you have some unexpected bills to pay. Maybe you want to move out of your parent’s home into a place of your own. Maybe you need to make a down payment on a new car. Whatever it is, you need to make some money fast.

Fortunately, there are a lot of good ways to do that!

20 Ways Make Money Really Fast