Best Side Hustles of 2024

Here at The RideShare Guy, we’ve been helping people just like you find the best side hustles for over 6 years.

We’ve written about how to earn $100 dollars fast, $1,000 dollars fast, and the best gig jobs. We’ve appeared in The New York Times, on CNBC, NPR, 60 Minutes on CBS, and much more.

The side hustles we’re highlighting here have flexible hours and are pretty easy to start, even with no experience. With a side hustle, you can pay off debt, fund a new business idea, pay for travel or other hobbies, and more.

21 Best Side Hustle Ideas of 2024

  1. Deliver Groceries
  2. Deliver Food
  3. Deliver Convenience Store Items
  4. Deliver for Amazon
  5. Drive for Uber or Lyft
  6. Rent Your Car
  7. Help People Move
  8. Start a Blog
  9. Start Freelance Writing
  10. Take Online Surveys
  11. Participate in Focus Groups
  12. Use Cash Back Apps
  13. Virtual Assistant
  14. Bookkeeper
  15. Tutor Online
  16. Rent Out a Room on Airbnb
  17. House Cleaner
  18. Dog Walker
  19. Photographer
  20. Babysit
  21. Odd Jobs

1. Deliver Groceries

  • This side hustle pays: $25 to $35 per hour with Instacart

We love this delivery side hustle.  Delivering groceries with Instacart or Shipt is fantastic for a part-time job. Our audience is reporting they’re earning as much as $37 per hour.  Even better, this side hustle is easy to learn.  All it takes is the willingness to work – and it definitely helps if you’re a fast, efficient shopper.

You’ll get notified on your phone when customers need you. Then you go to your local supermarket such as Costco, Target, Fairway, Key Food, ShopRite, Publix, or Aldi and shop the customer’s list. Then simply bring the groceries to the customer, get paid, and move on to the next customer!

Instacart shoppers can deliver from over 25,000 stores in more than 5,500 cities in North America.

Another grocery store shopping option is Shipt, although they’re not as well known or seem to pay as well as Instacart. Still, it pays to sign up with multiple delivery services so give it a shot!

2. Deliver Food

  • This side hustle pays: Varies per hour with Uber Eats & DoorDash

DoorDash and Uber Eats will alert you to new delivery jobs. We recommend you sign-up for both services so you can pick only the high-paying hustles and skip the rest. There’s no reason to be loyal to one app over the other.

“Make the most money you can” is what we recommend for side hustles.

With these side hustles, you head into restaurants like Chick-fil-A, Burger King, and Red Lobster, or into stores like Walgreens, grab the order, then get it to your customer.

While it helps to have a car, it’s not required for this side hustle. You could deliver on a bicycle or scooter.

3. Deliver Convenience Store Items

  • This side hustle pays: about $15 per hour with GoPuff

First, check if GoPuff is in your area! Being an independent contract driver, you can choose your own hours. For instance, you can work only on the weekends.

The more deliveries you complete, the more you get paid, plus you earn tips.  We don’t have too many people in our audience using GoPuff yet, but I’ve read that it’s possible to make $200 in an 8-hour shift.

Deliver for GoPuff

4. Deliver for Amazon

  • This side hustle pays: $18-$25 per hour

If you’re a frequent Amazon shopper, you may have noticed that delivery drivers aren’t always in an Amazon uniform and company van.

Amazon hires individuals to make local deliveries using their own vehicles with Amazon Flex. If you want to get into the delivery game, Amazon Flex is one of the highest paying delivery apps.

Once you sign up and get approved, you can find available 2-4 hour delivery blocks near you and add yourself to the schedule. Then, you pick up the packages form one of Amazon’s facilities and use the app to make deliveries.

Amazon pays its drivers via direct deposit, and you can choose which weekdays you want to get paid. Amazon Flex made our list of the best delivery apps for its competitive pay, user-friendly app, and flexible scheduling.

5. Drive for Uber or Lyft

  • This side hustle pays: $15 to $25 per hour

Signing up for Uber, or Lyft is a great driving side hustle and pays pretty well, especially if you’re able to drive during demanding times (usually the weekends and “bar hours”).

Drive for Uber

6. Rent Your Car

  • This side hustle pays: $500+ per month

If you have a car that you don’t need to drive 24/7, renting it out is one of the easiest ways to earn passive income.

This is a great side hustle option if you work remotely, own two cars, or are away at school. Some people even buy multiple cars just to rent them out on peer-to-peer car rental sites.

You can rent out your car for free on gig platforms like Turo and HyreCar. Both of these sites let you create a profile with pictures and a description of your vehicle, set your availability, and book rentals. And they provide insurance for each rental so your car is protected during bookings.

With a few rentals a month, you could easily cover your monthly car payments.

Rent Your Car with HyreCar

7. Help People Move

A lot of people are willing to pay for help moving. If you’re strong enough to lift boxes and haul furniture and you have access to a truck, you could make extra money helping people move.

Since most people move on the weekends, it’s the perfect side hustle to add to your work or school schedule.

The more services you provide, the more you can get paid. Here are two apps you can use to list your moving services and book work:

  • Dolly: You can use Dolly to make money as a Helper or Hand. Hands get paid for labor and don’t need a truck, while Helpers transport items in their own trucks and get paid more.
  • Lugg: Lugg also pays you to provide some muscle for moves or to use your truck to move people’s belongings.

If you don’t live in one of the cities where these apps are available, you can also promote your services using social media and word of mouth, or book moving gigs on TaskRabbit.

8. Start a Blog

  • This side hustle pays: nothing if you have no readers, to millions of dollars once you grow your following…really!

Just writing about your random thoughts probably won’t make you rich. But here’s what really can, writing about subjects that help people make money, save money, save time, or entertain them.

The RideShare Guy started as a simple side hustle blog aimed at helping people make more money driving for Uber and Lyft. Now it reaches millions of people each year!

Harry the Rideshare Guy Himself
Harry the Rideshare Guy Himself

I personally know bloggers that have turned their side-hustle blog into a full-time business that replaced their 9 to 5.  The blog topics ranged from travel to saving for retirement to relationship advice.

To get started, sign-up for very affordable and reliable web hosting from Bluehost or Hostgator.

Don’t start with free hosting because you get what you pay for. 🙂  Commit to paying $2.95 per month and you’ll get the support you need.

9. Freelance Writer

  • This side hustle pays: $25 to $450 per article.

Freelancer writers are in high demand.  My favorite humor publication accepted submissions — and a couple of mine were selected!  It was the most fun way I’ve ever been paid.

In general, the most lucrative freelance writing fields are in science and tech, health and medicine, and personal finance or travel. If you have a background or passion for any of these fields, start writing about them and get your work out there.

Another job came from a site I learned from for years.  Not only did I write for them, but they also hired me to run editorial for the site!  Yes, a freelance writing side hustle can lead to full-time work, if you want it.

Holly is an incredibly successful freelance writer.  You can shortcut her years of experience and get your high-paying writing jobs.

10. Take Online Surveys

  • This side hustle pays: Anywhere from $0.50 – $250 per survey

While online businesses like dropshipping, online tutoring, podcasting, or selling your stuff on eBay are more lucrative, online surveys are a low-key and easy side hustle to try.

Here are a few of our favorite platforms:

  • KashKick: With KashKick, you can skim through offers to take surveys, sign up for platforms, and play games for cash. Most surveys pay between $0.50 and $5. Once you’ve earned $10, you can cash out with PayPal.
  • Swagbucks: With Swagbucks, you can earn cash or gift cards for completing surveys. Melissa on our team makes about $300 per year with Swagbucks. You can also get a $10 bonus for signing up.

Take Surveys with Swagbucks

11. Participate in Focus Groups

Wondering how you can make bigger bucks sharing your opinion than with online surveys? Signing up with focus groups (aka in-person surveys).

When Melissa lived in a bigger city, she would regularly get invited to focus groups for everything from eyeglasses to video game testing.

Yes – she made $250 trying out a video game!

Now, you can find online focus groups to participate in virtually, whether you live in a big city or not.

There are a lot of focus group surveys out there, but the most legitimate one we’ve found is Focus Pointe Global.

12. Promote Cash Back Apps

  • This side hustle pays: $25 to $30 per sign-up

These days, everyone is looking to save money and online shopping is through the roof. Get on your social media channels and help people save money with popular cash back apps.

Our 3 favorite cash back apps we use here are:

  1. Rakuten – cash back for retail and restaurants
  2. GetUpside – cash back on gasoline
  3. Ibotta – cash back at supermarkets

I’ve made over $400 with Rakuten.  I really like it because you get paid when your friend uses it and they get paid too.

I also use it for my own shopping, typically earning 5% to 10% cash back on purchases I was going to make anyhow.

13. Virtual Assistant

  • This side hustle pays: $5 to $25 per hour

This is a great side hustle because you can do it from anywhere in the world, including your house.  At The RideShare Guy, we pay a few virtual assistants.

The tasks range from data entry to finding contact information.

If you’re dependable and can follow instructions, you’re likely to succeed at this side hustle.

Specialized virtual assistants can earn even more, depending on your skills and what people are looking to hire for.

If you’re interested in being a virtual assistant (VA), we highly recommend Kayla Sloan’s 10KVA course.

14. Bookkeeper

  • This side hustle pays: about $20 per hour

You can do this side hustle from home.  Required traits are honesty, organization, and being detail-oriented.

This Bookkeeping Basics can get you started, as can other helpful courses on Udemy.

15. Tutor Online

  • This side hustle pays: $25 to $100 per lesson

For years I taught various subjects for side hustle income.  I taught essay writing to a middle school student, computers to an older gentleman, and high school math.  It was a fun way to earn extra money.

Advertise on Craigslist or Facebook to teach people in person or over Skype or Zoom.

Think about the skills you have to offer others.  Remember, you’ll often be teaching beginners.  You might be a musician, artist, or good at science.

There are a ton of opportunities to teach English online. If you have a Bachelor’s degree in any field, consider Education First (EF). This is an online classroom where you educate students in English.

You can also create videos on a site like Teachable. In fact, we use Teachable here at The RideShare Guy to show people how to make more money driving for Uber and Lyft with the course Maximum Ridesharing Profits!

16. Rent Out a Room on Airbnb

  • This side hustle pays: $75 to $300 per day

As far as side hustles go, this is pretty easy and can have a big payoff.  The tough part here is having a place to rent out!

You can rent a spare room or your entire place.  I know a woman who even rented out her living room as a place to crash to earn side hustle money.

While travel is without a doubt down right now, people are still using Airbnb. For instance, I know a woman who recently left her condo in the big city to rent a house in a fresh-air suburb for a couple of months.

17. House Cleaner

  • This side hustle pays: $70 to $150 per home

List your home cleaning side hustle on sites like Craigslist, Thumbtack, and Facebook.

18. Dog Walker

  • This side hustle pays: $10-60+ a visit (30-minute visits are the cheapest whereas overnight stays are more profitable)

Use an app like Rover to pick up some dog walking or pet-sitting side hustles.

Melissa initially started side hustling with Rover because she lived in an apartment and couldn’t have a pet – but then she made over $1000 in one month that went straight into her ‘travel fun’ fund and she was hooked!

You’ll start on the cheaper end of the spectrum, but as you get clients and 5 star reviews, you can increase your earnings and even build up your own cadre of regulars!

19. Photographer

  • This side hustle pays: $15 to $25 per hour

There are a few ways you can go here.  You can sell your photography to stock photo agencies like Depositphotos, Shutterstock, iStock, Adobe stock.

You can also list your services on sites like Airbnb Experiences.

I know a woman who was a hobbyist photographer and got side gigs with more experienced professional photographers.  She met some celebrities this way while earning money.

20. Babysit

  • This side hustle pays: $15 to $20 per hour

Try sites like urbansitters.com and care.com in addition to networking with parents in your area.

21. Odd Jobs

Do the jobs others don’t want to do! Promote your services with flyers, on Thumbtack, and on your local Nextdoor app.

A few odd job side hustle ideas:

  • move furniture
  • paint rooms
  • shovel snow
  • mow lawns
  • clean up yards
  • wash cars

How to Pick the Right Side Hustle

  • Start with your skills: As you start your search for the perfect side hustle, think about what professional skills you have that other people need. Whether you have an eye for graphic design or you’re always the one proofreading your friends’ papers, think about how you could translate these skills into a side hustle to earn extra income.
  • Factor in your interests: Don’t forget about your passions. A good side hustle combines your interests and skill set. If you’re passionate about creating, consider opening an online store with an e-commerce platform like Shopify or Etsy as a side job.
  • Evaluate your options: Check out reviews from other small business owners and hustlers to choose a lucrative side hustle with high demand and earning potential. Look into the business models of apps for independent contractors. If you’re planning to use a gig platform to get clients and book work, make sure it’s legit.  Fiverr and Upwork are two solid choices for freelancers.
  • Know your preferences: Do you want to work remotely and make money online, or are you willing to get behind the wheel for a food delivery service?
  • Define your goals: Are you looking for a low-maintenance way to make extra cash in your spare time, or do you want to launch a small business that could one day become a full-time job? Keep your overall financial goals in mind and choose a side hustle that aligns with them.

Common Side Hustle Questions

What is your side hustle?

My side hustle is freelance writing.  In the past, I did tutoring and teaching.  Melissa is our Managing Editor and her side hustle is pet-sitting on Rover.

How do I make an extra $1000 a month?

You can deliver groceries with Instacart.  Complete restaurant deliveries with Uber Eats and DoorDash.

What are some side hustle jobs?

Here are some of the most popular side hustle jobs:

Should you have a side hustle?

Anyone could benefit from having a side hustle. Creating multiple streams of income can provide additional financial security, allow you to purse your passions, and help you reach your personal finance goals faster.

What are the most profitable side hustles?

Based on our research of earning data, these are some of the most profitable side hustles:

  • Supermarket Shopper with Instacart
  • Restaurant Delivery driver with DoorDash and Uber Eats
  • Blog Publisher
  • Teacher
  • Uber Driver
  • Writer

What side hustles make the most money?

A blog publisher has the highest earning potential. But delivering for Instacart is the easiest and highest-paying side hustle right now.

You can also earn a lot as a real estate investor. Affiliate marketing has significant earning potential as well, but these jobs will take more legwork and experience.

What are passive side hustles?

Blog or book publisher – if you write about topics that rarely change, like delicious recipes, you might be able to write an article that still generates income for years.

Online courses – Record your class on video and if the material is basically the same for many years (like math or how to sing) then updates really aren’t needed.

What are the best side hustles for moms?

The best side hustles for moms have flexible hours and can be done remotely, or they allow your kids to tag along.

Here are some of our top picks:

  • Supermarket shopping with Instacart
  • Restaurant delivery with DoorDash and Postmates – I’ve seen moms bring their children in the car!
  • Blog Publisher
  • Online teacher/tutor
  • Virtual Assistant
  • Bookkeeper
  • Writer

How to Get Started with Your Side Hustle

The first step to getting into the side hustle business is choosing what you want to do. Once you’ve chosen a side hustle, look into what steps you need to take to be the best in the business.

Maybe that looks like getting a certification or taking an online course. Or you might need to purchase a domain for your website.

Do your homework to see what other entrepreneurs have done to be successful.

More Opportunities to Make Money with Side Hustles