In its most broadly-used sense, a side hustle is any activity outside of your day job that helps make more money.
It’s no surprise that many Shopify merchants start successful businesses out of a hobby they did in their spare time. If you enjoy doing the work, it doesn’t feel like work.
Think of something you enjoy doing, even when no one’s paying you. Whether it’s carpentry, knitting, painting, or crafting—these hobbies can serve as the foundation for many excellent side hustles.
For artists and writers, a zine can be a valuable vehicle to showcase your work. For activists, it can be an important way to mobilize people. Zines have a rich tradition of showcasing alternative, underappreciated works of art and literature.
The internet has given the next generation of zine editors a platform for sharing new ideas through the form of digital subscriptions.
If you’re looking for a side gig that provides a lot of room for growth and comparatively quick returns, freelancing might be for you. While freelancing does require you to trade time for money directly, the path to revenue is more straightforward than waiting for a product to pick up traction.
Freelancing is an especially great side-hustle for soon-to-be or recent graduates who find themselves getting crowded out of full-time jobs by more experienced peers.
For some professionals, working on a project-by-project basis allows them to earn money whilebuilding a valuable portfolio and strengthening their resumes with a list of satisfied clients.
Teaching is one of the most rewarding opportunities, and with online platforms, it’s become incredibly easy for experienced teachers across the world to connect with enthusiastic students.
Blogging may not be profitable right away, but for aspiring writers looking to build up a personal brand, audience, and portfolio, a blog goes a long way in advancing your career.
In fact, one of the most interesting things about blogging is the roundabout way it may benefit your current career—sharing your work can show employers and hiring managers how you think about problems and what projects you’ve worked on. Getting this knowledge down can help you get discovered or stand out from a barrage of resumes if you decide to apply to a new role.
YouTube has more than a billion users who watch hours of videos each day. As the popularity of the site has soared, so have the opportunities for creatives looking to craft their own video content.
You can always start your own channel where you talk about current events, perform sketches, music, or just about anything else—but the real money is in creating a channel that works along-side your business.