26 Best Side Hustle Ideas to Make Extra Cash in 2023

We love making extra money, and that’s the power of a side hustle! And according to a new study from Zapier, 40% of Americans had a side hustle in 2022, which is no surprise considering that a side hustle can help you cope with inflation, pay off debt, save up for a vacation, or just add a little extra room in your budget.

My team and I have reviewed dozens of side hustles, and we've narrowed it down to ones with the right combination of flexibility and pay for your effort.

If you want a quick and easy way to make a little extra money? You might consider taking surveys for Survey Junkie or Branded Surveys instead. But if you want to make an extra $1,000-$2,000 per month, keep reading. We’ve got the best side hustle ideas for you.

1. Food Delivery

Earning potential: Varies by delivery

Food delivery is one of the easiest side hustles to start if you want a flexible way to money fast. DoorDash currently dominates the market with nearly 65% of the market share, and they are always looking for new drivers. 

Dashers (what DoorDash drivers are called) can schedule themselves to drive whenever they want, there are no minimums or limits to the number of hours you can deliver, and you can cash out weekly. 

Getting started: You can learn how to get started and what to expect in our article How to Become a DoorDash Driver (Requirements and Signing Up).

2. Drive With Uber

You have multiple options for rideshare companies, and Uber has become a top pick for anyone who wants to make money driving. What stands out so much about Uber is that you have a ton of flexibility as you can set your own schedule. There are no minimums, and you can drive when it works for you because the Uber app is available 24/7.

If you’re interested, here’s what you need to know about driving with Uber:

• Extreme flexibility: As we said, you don’t have set hours, rather get to drive on your own schedule.

• Weekly or daily pay: Drivers cash out once a week, but you can also gain immediate access to your earnings with Instant Pay. Terms apply. 

• Driver requirements: You must meet the minimum age to drive in your city, have an eligible mode of transportation, and submit required documents, including a valid driver’s license. You must also consent to a background screening and have at least one year of licensed driving experience.

3. Bookkeeping

Earning potential: $20 to $40+/hour

Freelance bookkeepers help business owners record and manage their business's daily financial transactions, including bill pay, managing payroll, and collecting payments. Bookkeeping is not the same thing as accounting, and that difference is why you can start bookkeeping online without a degree or certification.

Bookkeepers need to be familiar with bookkeeping software and know how to read and create balance sheets. Pay averages $500/month per client, and you can work online and get paid daily or weekly. It's a great side hustle for home if you like to nerd out with numbers.

Getting started: We break down the steps to getting started in How to Become a Bookkeeper at Home.

4. Proofreading

Earning potential: $20 to $50/hour

Proofreaders are responsible for polishing written content for bloggers, content writers, website owners, academics, business owners, and more.  If you cringe when someone uses the wrong verb tense or can’t tell the difference between their/there/they’re, then proofreading might be one of the best side hustles for you. 

Freelance proofreaders can work for a number of clients at once, and you can set your own rates and bill hourly or by the word. And if you're looking for remote work, proofreading is one of the best side hustles from home — you only need an internet connection and access to a computer. 

Getting started: Our article, How to Become a Proofreader, outlines everything you need to know about starting a proofreading side hustle.

5. Run Facebook and Instagram Ads

Earning potential: $1,000 to $2,000+/month

Running Facebook and Instagram ads is simply digital marketing through two of the world's largest social media platforms, which continue to be some of the best platforms for small business owners to reach new customers. Business owners pay digital marketers because they often lack the time or knowledge to run an effective ad campaign.

This is one of the best side hustles because you  don't need a degree in marketing or have a background in advertising either — these are skills you can learn, and you can make $1,000-$2,000 per client working just a few hours a week. And I know this is true because I ran Facebook ads while I was building this site.

Getting started: You can learn the basics to getting started in How to Become a Digital Marketer (2023 Guide).

6. Freelance Writer

Earning potential: $500 to $5,000/month

Freelance writing is a broad field that can encompass a number of different jobs, from blog posts, web copy, technical writing, and more. This is one of the best side hustles for anyone who loves storytelling and is good with words.

It can take a little time to build your portfolio and business, but freelance writers can realistically make $1,000 to $5,000+/month.

Getting started: How to Become a Freelance Writer explains the steps to starting, and you can also check out this list of Best Sites Paying Writers in 2023.

7. Clean Houses

Earning potential: $20 to $50/hour

While it’s not the most exciting option on this list of side hustles, cleaning houses cleaning houses pays surprisingly well if you work for yourself. House cleaners can make $20-$50/hour working for themselves. 

As you begin to build trust with your clients, you’ll find them sharing your name with their contacts and growing your business from there.

Getting started: Care.com is a great place to start listing your services.

8. Invest in Commercial Real Estate

Earning potential: Varies on the market

While this side hustle takes a financial investment to see any returns, you can start investing in real estate for as little as $10. Overall, learning how to invest in real estate can be a fairly lucrative and passive side hustle, but it's also an excellent hedge against inflation.

Getting started: We highly recommend Fundrise if you're interested in getting started because you can start investing in commercial real estate for as little as $10.

9. Get Paid to Grocery Shop

Earning potential: $15 to $25/hour

Having your groceries delivered is incredibly convenient for families, busy professionals, and anyone who has different priorities for their time. Getting paid to grocery shop requires that you're at least 18 years old, have access to a reliable vehicle, and a smartphone. You must also be able to lift 40lbs.

Getting started: DoorDash has recently partnered with groceries stores to offer grocery delivery services, and you get the same flexibility as their food delivery program.

10. Become a Virtual Assistant

Earning potential: $500 to $1,000+/month

We have several virtual assistants (or VAs) on our team who help us manage social media accounts, with inbox management, scheduling, data entry, WordPress tasks, and more. Having a solid VA is lifesaver!

Additional virtual assistant tasks include responding to emails, project management, bookkeeping, blog management, preparing reports, and more.

Getting started: You can leverage skills and experience you’ve learned in a past or current job and start looking for side hustle work in How to Find Virtual Assistant Jobs. You can also check out Gina Horkey’s course Fully Booked VA.

11. Start a Blog

Earning potential: $500 to $10,000+/month

Blogging easily has the highest earning potential on our list of best side hustles. It’s a slow business model overall, but look at what I’ve done: I started this blog in my spare time after coming home from my job as a high school band director, and in five years I was able to turn my blog into a seven-figure business that I run from my laptop.

That trajectory isn’t the norm for everyone, but you get out of it what you put into it. You can start and grow your blog on your lunch break, after the kids go to bed, and on the weekends.

Getting started: If you’re interested in starting one of the best side hustles ideas, I highly recommend Bluehost because you'll get a professional-looking site without paying for web design services. 

12. Get Paid For Your Opinions

Earning potential: $1 to $3/survey

Large companies use market research companies, like Branded Surveys, to learn about the opinions and habits of their target customers. Because companies pay for the research, market research companies pay members an average of $1-$3 to complete surveys.

This isn't the highest-paying side hustle, but online surveys are honestly one of the easiest, fastest, and flexible ways to make money online.

Getting started: Check out our Branded Surveys Review to learn what it's like and how to get started.

13. Make Money Taking Surveys

Earning potential:  $1 to $3/survey

 Survey Junkie is one of the most well-known and most reputable survey sites online. It’s completely free to sign up, and the process takes about 5 minutes or less. The sign-up process includes filling out several questionnaires so they can match you with appropriate surveys, and you’re paid in points for filling them out.

You earn points for each survey you complete, and 100 points = $1. You can request a payout once you reach 500 points. Survey Junkie used to require that users reach 1,000 points before they were paid, but lowering the payout threshold to 500 points means you get paid that much faster! You can cash out with PayPal cash, bank transfer, or gift cards to major U.S. retailers.

Getting started: To learn more about this side hustle idea, check out our in-depth Survey Junkie review.

14. Sell on Shopify

Earning potential: $500 to $5,000+/month

Shopify is an easy-to-use platform for setting up and running your own eCommerce store.

You use Shopify’s platform to build your eCommerce site — there are over 70 customizable themes, a drag-and-drop editor, and custom domains. You select items to sell on the site that can be drop shipped. You don’t touch, store, or ship these goods. You’re only listing them for sale, and then connecting the customer with the supplier.

Getting started: You can learn how Shopify works and how to set up your eCommerce site in our full Shopify review.

15. Find a Flexible Part-Time Job

Earning potential: $20 to $50+/hour

You've probably seen a store or restaurant in your area with a "Help Wanted" sign up, and you might not want to overlook those options because sometimes the best side hustles are the ones right in front of you. While part-time jobs aren't technically side hustles, it might be exactly what you need to realize your financial goals. Major companies like Amazon, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Michael's are all hiring.

Getting started: If you want an even more flexible part-time job, we highly recommend FlexJobs. This platform specializes in flexible or remote-work positions, and they vet all of the jobs before listing them so you know they're legit. Learn more in our full FlexJobs Review.

16. Buy Fractional Stock Shares

Earning potential: Varies on the market

Financially savvy people understand that investing is how you grow true, long-term wealth. One of the easiest ways to start investing is with fractional shares of stocks. It's when you buy a portion of a stock instead of a full share, which can be expensive! It's far more affordable, and you can quickly diversify your portfolio.

Getting started: Acorns is a beginner-friendly investing app. It costs as little as $3/month, and you can start investing with as little as $5. Learn more in our full Acorns Review.

17. Sell Printables on Etsy

Earning potential: $500 to $1,000+/month

Founded in 2005, Etsy has become the go-to marketplace for all things crafty. It’s grown into a massive site that saw over $3 billion in sales in 2021, and some of the best things to sell on Etsy these days are printables, like planner pages, wall art, lifestyle trackers, stickers, and more. These are digital files that you only need to create once and sell indefinitely.

Getting started: Grab your copy of this FREE ebook called the Seasonal Products Secret to learn what sells best each month of the year.

18. Watch Videos on Your Phone

Earning potential: $1/hour

Watching videos on your phone is another one of the easiest side hustle ideas. However, you can realistically expect to make under $1/hour watching videos (we know that’s low), but think of it as something that can run in the background while you’re working on other side hustles.

Getting started: Here are a few platforms to check out if you want to learn more:

• MyPoints: Get paid to watch videos, take surveys, play games, and more. New users can earn a $10 bonus reward for signing up today.
• InboxDollars: Make money watching videos, playing games, and taking online surveys. New users can claim a $5 sign-up bonus.
• Swagbucks: Get paid to watch videos, take online surveys, shop online, and more. New users can take advantage of a $10 sign-up bonus.

19. Play on Pinterest

Earning potential: $500 to $1,000+/month

Pinterest is a great place to find recipes, workouts, DIYs, etc. But did you know that online business owners and bloggers have a high need for Pinterest virtual assistants who make an average of $500 per month/per client. Their responsibility include creating pins, optimizing images, developing a pinning schedule, doing keyword research.

Getting started: Check out How to Make Money on Pinterest for more information about working as a Pinterest VA and more options.

20. Walk Dogs & Pet Sit

Earning potential: $15 to $25/walk and $35 to $70/overnight stay

Rover is a platform dedicated to connecting pet owners with dog walkers and pet sitters in their area. Pay varies depending on where you live. You’ll be paid more if you live in an urban area, which can be around $25 per walk or $70 for an overnight stay. Rover can help you find clients, but you can also list your services on social media. Because trust is such a big part of this side hustle, referrals go a long way. 

Getting started: Learn how Rover works and how to set up your account in our Rover App Review.

21. Earn Cash Back Shopping

Earning potential: $5 to $50/month

I was a little hesitant to put this on my list of best side hustles because there’s not big money in cash back sites and apps, but it’s honestly too easy to leave out. I mean, if you’re already shopping, why not make money back on your purchases?

Getting started: Sign up for Ibotta to earn cash back when you shop online, and use Upside to earn cash back when you fill up with gas.

22. Sell Old Electronics

Earning potential: Varies based on what you sell

If you have unused or out-of-date electronics sitting around your house, you can make a little extra money selling them. People and companies can refurbish them to use or resell for a profit. 

Getting started: Decluttr will buy gently used electronics, and they send you a prepaid shipping label and pay you a day after receiving your items.

23. Tutor From Home

Earning potential: $15 to $40/hour

If there is a subject you know well and can teach to others, tutoring is one of the best side hustle ideas for teachers because the hourly pay can get pretty high, around $15-$40/hour depending on where you live. 

Getting started: You can sign up and start tutoring through BookNook, and their tutors make $15-$22/hour.

24. Rent Out Your Car

Earning potential: Average of $700/month

Hyrecar is a peer-to-peer rental platform where you can list your car, which dates it’s available, and then rent it out to prescreened customers. Most of the cars listed on HyreCar list for approximately $35/day, and HyreCar takes a 15% to 25% commission. This is a great side hustle to offset the cost of your car payment, or if you aren’t driving as much these days.

Getting started: You can check out our HyreCar review for more information.

25. OnlyFans

Earning potential: Varies based on audience and content

We know, OnlyFans isn't the best side hustle for everyone, but it's become a very lucrative way to make money online from the comfort of your home for those who are interested. Actually, you might be surprised to learn that you can make money on OnlyFans with content that is safe for work.

You can even side hustles as a virtual assistant, bookkeeper, social media manager and more for OnlyFans content creators.

Getting started: If you want to learn more, check out How to Make Money on OnlyFans in 2023.

26. Selling Plasma

Earning potential: $30 to $100 per donation

Many plasma donation sites actually pay you each time you donate plasma. The process is similar to donating blood, but it takes a little more time, up to two hours.

The requirements are similar to donating blood, an you'll have to go through a short medical screening before you start the donation process. It's a simple side hustle if you're eligible!

Getting started: Doing a quick Google search of "where to sell plasma in" and add the name of your city at the end is the fastest way to find a donation center near you that pays for plasma donations.

How Do You Start a Side Hustle?

When I started my blog, I had no freaking clue that it would turn into a seven-figure business. I just really disliked being a teacher and knew I wanted more than a teacher’s salary could ever allow me.

That was why I started a side hustle. Your reason or goal is an incredibly important part of this process.

A hustle means work, and your why is how you motivate yourself to make it happen.

After you have your motivation, start looking into side hustle ideas by thinking about what you’re good at, things you enjoy, and your availability. For example, if you are already good at spotting errors when you’re reading, why not try proofreading?

Say you just want to make a little extra cash here and there with something pretty mindless. Why not drive for DoorDash or take surveys with Branded Surveys?

Or, if you’re really motivated to find something you can scale and maybe one day leave your 9-5 for, a lot of people have done that running Facebook ads.

What is The Best Side Hustle of 2023?

There is no magic pill to earn more money, and I see lots of so-called magic pills online. That drives me to produce lists like this. I want my readers to have the best options available, like:

• Driving for DoorDash: Get paid to delivery good and groceries for DoorDash, and drivers set their own hours and can work as little or as much as they want. This is a nice side hustle if you’re looking for something that offers both a low commitment and decent pay.
• Become a bookkeeper: Bookkeepers make around $500/month per client, and that's working 5-10 a month. It's an incredibly flexible option if you're organized and good with numbers. You can learn more about how to get started here.
• Take online surveys: Sign up for Branded Surveys and Survey Junkie and make $1-$3/survey. It's not a lot of money, but it's super easy.

The reality is that not all side hustles are created equal. Do your research, read the reviews, and find the best side hustles to make your goals happen.