Best Side Hustles to Start While Working Full-Time
Looking for the best side hustles to start while working full-time?
There are A LOT of side hustle ideas out there but not all of them are feasible with a full-time job. If you find yourself fully employed buy you’re still looking for something more (the economy sucks right now!), then this is the list for you.
I’ve widdled down my favorite side hustles to ones that you can feasibly do with a full-time job and could bring in enough money to make it worth it.
Per usual, there’s no guarantee. Side hustles are what you make them, unfortunately, they’re not magic buttons for money (we all wish, right?). But there is potential to add one to your workload EVEN IF you already have a full-time job.
So, without further ado, these are my top picks for side hustles to start when you have a full-time job:
My #1 Side Hustle Tip
The best side hustle for YOU will be something you’re passionate about and skilled at. I cannot stress this enough. Money is a great motivator in the beginning, but it’s not a sustainable driver.
Side hustle income isn’t consistent, it ebbs and flows. One month I might pull in $10,000, the next I struggle for that $1,000 mark. If you only enjoy working on your hustle when you’re raking it in, you probably won’t stick around long enough to see that happen.
I would argue that passion is a bigger factor than skill because you can always get better at something you’re passionate about.
That said, let’s dig into the side hustles you can do while working a full-time job:
Best Side Hustles While Working Full-Time
1. Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is ALWAYS my number one pick because it’s where I started. I was working a full-time job when I took to freelancing on the side… and I managed to switch quickly from full-time to freelance income-wise when I quit my corporate marketing job.
I’ll admit, it’s not for everyone. But if you enjoy writing (even if you’re not amazing at it yet), then I’d encourage you to look into it.
I like freelance writing because there’s room for everyone, regardless of your skill level and time commitment.
That’s not to say you’ll make $10,000 if you only dedicate a handful of hours a month. But if you only have 5 hours a week and you’re willing to put in the work, you could probably turn those 20 hours a month into $1,000.
If writing isn’t your thing but freelancing could be, you can freelance in almost anything. From graphic design to video editing, there’s always people looking for a little extra help.
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2. Sell Products
“Products” is a broad and vague term, but I used it purposefully. But selling something – physical or digital – is a great way to make extra money.
As someone who operates in the digital product space, I can tell you that it takes serious time and effort to set yourself up for success… but when the money starts to roll in, it can feel easy (which is good!).
This is NOT a consistent way to earn money (nothing on this list is going to be), because purchasing tends to go up and down with the seasons. For example, the November and December holiday seasons tend to be BUSY for shops (online and physical) but the summer can be quiet.
All that said, it’s easy to set up a shop these days. In fact, you can start selling without a website or physical store so long as you have access to your target audience.
I started with selling in groups on Facebook (according to their rules, don’t just start pitching anyone!) and opened a digital storefront a few weeks later. I issued invoices and collected payment via PayPal and sent the finished product (it was digital!) via email.
Thinking of selling physical goods instead? My mom does this without a website or any social media platforms – she prints fliers and delivers them to the areas she sells in or takes her goods on the road with her to farmer’s markets.
From a long-term perspective, you’ll want to set up a “shop” space, whether it be online, in person or simply a social media platform… but you don’t need to have those formal things set up to get started!
3. Create Content
Before you roll your eyes at me because everyone and their dog is a content creator these days… it’s important to know there are so many out there because it’s an actual route to money. Yes, you really can get paid to create content!
Not everyone who tries succeeds – in fact, more people fail. But I’d argue that it happens mostly because people give up before they’ve gotten anywhere because it honestly takes a lot of time and effort.
The beauty of the modern world is that there are SO MANY ways to create content these days. You can do it via a:
- Blog
- YouTube channel
- TikTok
… if your audience is there and you know how to use it AND you’re active on the platform, there’s potential.
4. Selling Photos
If you are photographically inclined (or willing to put in the effort to learn), then you could make some side cash selling photos.
When it comes to selling photos, there are a few options. You could:
- Upload your photos to a stock photo site and earn on licence sales – this is great if you don’t have your own audience but you’ll earn less per photo
- Sell specific types of photos to those that need them – bloggers, content creators and small businesses need photos and sometimes they buy them. A great example would be a food blogger who needs recipe photos for their site, they may higher someone to take them or buy a set that’s already for sale.
- Take your photos and merchandise them – that is, work with a print-on-demand company and put your photos on prints, towels, phone cases… whatever your heart desires.
None of these are instant cash options (nothing here is) but there are absolutely options where you can earn from your photos.
5. Tutor English Online
There are plenty of sites out there like iTalki or VIPkid where you can teach English on a part-time basis.
Not ALL of these services will be available to everyone as far as ultimate flexibility is concerned, but chances are there’s one that’ll work for you. Requirements to sign up for these services also vary, so you’ll want to dig in before you start signing up.
Your best bet for easy set-up is going to be signing up for a site that already has the customers, but the pay might leave something to be desired. I know many of the sites post competitive hourly rates of $15 or more, but I’ve heard otherwise through the grapevine. That said, if you opt to find your own clients, you’ll have to put more effort into marketing.
It’s worth noting that you could also just tutor online in general, it doesn’t have to be English specifically.
6. Part-Time Data Entry
Getting a part-time job in general could be an option when it comes to finding a “side hustle” that works while you’ve got your full-time job. However, they’re probably not going to give you as much flexibility as you need. But something that’s online and do-at-your-own-pace, like data entry, could be a good fit.
You likely won’t find high hourly rates, but if you’re just looking to fill the financial gaps, something like this might be a great solution. You can search for home-based data entry jobs online – there are a surprising number of them, but the competition is pretty high too!
7. Pet Sitting or Walking
I LOVE dog walking or sitting as a side-hustle, probably because I wish everyone got to hangout with four-legged, furry friends like I do all day. If you live a pet-friendly lifestyle and would like to get paid to hangout with them, then this might be the perfect side gig for you.
Pet sitting apps can be a great place to start and establish those initial client relationships – but if you want to make top dollar, provide stellar customer service and ask for referrals. This is BY FAR the best way to get new clients as a freelancer or service provider of ANY sort.
If you’ve got the time during the day, a quick walk or check-in can be a great way to add a little side cash. And if you’ve got space in your home for overnight visitors, you can change a bit more!
There are plenty of great pet business ideas out there if you want to have more animal interaction in your life.
8. Delivery
Delivery is an exception to the passion rule for me if you’re looking for additional cash but don’t want to start an actual business – it’s cool if you don’t!
While I don’t think apps like Uber Eats or Instacart pay well, I do think they can be a good way to get “quick cash” – depending on your definition.
As long as you have a way to deliver and the time to do it, you can feasibly make money on your own schedule. But you’ll need to sit down with yourself after a bit of time and decide if the cost vs reward (as far as expenses like gas, wear and tear, etc.) are worth the income they provided – to be fair, you should do this for ANY side hustle!
I will also mention I specifically put delivery on this list but left off driving services because they have additional costs (like specific car and insurance requirements), but they could be feasible if that’s your preference.
9. Handy Services
Much like delivery, if you enjoy performing odd job services, like cleaning or furniture set-up, some sort of handy service or task app might be a great pick for you. While it depends on where you’re located, apps could include:
- Taskrabbit
- Thumbtack
- Handy
Honestly, there are a dozen-and-a-half apps out there.
But, like with any other app, make sure you check the TOS and see what kind of fee they’ll take out of your pay, because it can really eat away at your pay!
How to Pick the Right Side Gig
I included nine of my top picks for side hustles that fit with full-time jobs, but there are PLENTY out there you could try. If you’re going to look for your own, here’s what I recommend taking into consideration when you’re evaluating:
Time Commitment
You’ll want to watch for side hustles that require significant time or have rigid schedules that clash with your full-time job. Focus on flexibility, specifically gigs that let you set your OWN hours – completely, not just within a specific “window.”
Start-Up Costs
Don’t get fooled by great-sounding gigs that have hidden up-front costs. You shouldn’t HAVE TO get anything specific to get started. Stick with low-cost entry options like joining gig economy platforms. Avoid opportunities that demand large fees for training, materials, or membership.
Be Realistic About Income Potential
Side hustles are not money trees, sadly…
Keep an eye out for overhyped promises like “earn $10,000 a month immediately” or pyramid schemes disguised as side hustles. Research typical earnings for your chosen hustle and understand that most side hustles take time to build up.
Final Thoughts: Side Hustles While Working Full-Time
The economy sucks right now. If you find yourself in a position where you want or need to inject a little more cash into your wallet, you’re not alone – but the good news is, you can totally have a side hustle while working your full-time job.
From freelancing in your evenings to pet sitting on the weekends, there is an opportunity for you to earn more on your own terms. It’s not money magic, but if you’re willing to dedicate the time to earning more, there’s plenty of opportunity out there for you!
