If you’re looking for a list of unique side hustles to increase your monthly income, look no further!
Due to unforeseen circumstances, your nine-to-five job may no longer be enough to let you live comfortably or even make ends meet. Perhaps there’s a recession and the prices of necessities like food, utilities, and housing have skyrocketed. Maybe something unexpected happened in your life, and now you have additional expenses you need to cover.
The logical solution to this problem would be to tighten the belt and find a better-paying job. However, while reducing expenses using various saving tips for summer and winter months is a great idea, landing a more profitable job is often much harder. Fortunately, not all is lost – even if you can’t find a better line of work, you can still earn additional income by starting your own unique side hustles.
The unique side hustles you’ll find below are really diverse – from simple manual jobs to gigs that require your professional skill set to work. However, all of them are easily capable of giving you the much-needed influx of extra cash and may help you survive the trying times, especially for beginners looking to make money.
Read the article below and find unique side hustle idea to earn additional income!
1. Offer Online Courses
If you feel that you have enough experience in some field, you might want to start offering online courses to third parties as a side hustle idea for some extra cash. If you’re unsure what skills to sell, look at your current job for inspiration. In many cases, your professional skill set will be the one most developed.
For example, if you work at an SEO company but your job is not enough to cover all of your expenses, you can use your understanding of SEO processes to create the best online seminars and earn some money on the side. You might instruct aspiring copywriters on how to write quality copy or just explain to SEO managers when it’s worth using the white label link-building services for your agency.
Of course, this is only one scenario. Your online courses could be completely unrelated to your work skills – as long as you’re knowledgeable about an in-demand subject, people might be interested in your lectures.
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2. Sell Your Unnecessary Stuff Online
An easy side hustle idea to get some money on the side is to sell your possessions on the Internet. Most people have tons of commodities and devices they no longer need in their basements or garages. Instead of letting these items collect dust, it might be better to slowly start auctioning them off.
Before you start posting your offers online, it’s best to take stock of all your junk and see what is still in relatively good condition. The reason for that is simple – you can safely increase your asking price if the item in question is still in good working order.
Also, look if you have things that are currently in demand (like graphic cards or a current-generation console that you no longer use) and prioritize selling them first for maximum gain.
3. Rent Your Car
If you live in a big city with a good mass transit system, there’s probably no need to use your car to get around. Everything is either close enough to access by foot or within walking distance of a bus stop. However, you don’t have to let your vehicle sit around – instead, consider renting your automobile to others as a unique side hustle for some extra cash.
There are many specialized sites or apps that let you rent your car to individuals or businesses. Once you choose your platform, create an account and post your car rental offer. Make sure to add some quality photos and basic information about the vehicle to increase your chances of finding a willing customer. Also, list any special features that your four-wheeler has, e.g., a trailer hitch or a self-driving capability.
Before you post your offer, make sure that your insurance will cover any eventual damage done during the rental period. Also, take detailed photos of your vehicle before each rental and keep them as evidence for your insurer.
4. Start a YouTube Channel
Fourth on our list of unique side hustles is starting your own YouTube channel. YouTube videos are a perfect platform to turn your free time and passions into a possible source of additional income. Given enough dedication and luck, it might even turn into your main way of earning extra money online.
Before you start your channel, make sure to find your ideal niche. Look at your interests and pick the ones that you know the most about. You should also make sure that the quality of your content goes beyond being helpful and substantive. Try to make your videos visually appealing and constantly improve your editing skills.
Use social media platforms to create a community around your channel and try to maintain a good relationship with your subscribers, as being close to your audience guarantees more views per video and may prevent excessive viewer attrition.
Once your channel is big enough and gets monetized, you can further increase your earnings by using Google AdSense, doing affiliate marketing, or entering into partnerships with other businesses and promoting their products and services directly to your subscribers.
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5. Offer Private Classes To Students
Many young people want to excel at their studies or simply pass their exams with flying colors. Unfortunately, lessons at school are sometimes insufficient to perfectly understand the covered material. If you have a good understanding of some school subjects, you could easily start a unique side hustle by becoming a virtual tutor.
Holding classes online is much easier than doing so in person. You don’t have to worry about having enough space or equipment for your students – all you need are good quality recording devices and a stable Internet connection.
No matter if you choose to tutor pupils in math, physics, or modern foreign languages, you should decide on the form your classes will take. Would you rather hold individual classes or teach several students at the same time? Will you give them home assignments or not? Should you stick to the curriculum or expand on it?
Once you find your answers to such questions, start promoting your new side gig. Use your social media and ask satisfied students and parents to spread the word about your private tutoring gig. After a while, you should have no issues finding new students willing to learn.
6. Rent Your Garage
Transforming your unused garage into a side hustle is a unique way to generate extra income. If you no longer own a car, consider renting your garage space for extra money. Of course, before you do so, you need to remove all of the junk from your garage and clean it up. Also, make sure that there are no leaks there and that the garage door operates properly.
Once that’s done, take good photos of your garage space to help convince potential renters, as people might have different reasons for renting your space. Perhaps a local or a lifestyle business is looking for additional storage space and might appreciate the shelves and cabinets there. Maybe a car enthusiast wants to restore their vintage vehicle and prefers a garage with a pit. The best way to market your offer is by sharing it on your social media and local boards.
If you want to increase your chances of finding a renter, try to make your price tag more attractive than the competitors. Sometimes even a 10% difference in monthly rent might be enough to make your offer an obvious choice. Finally, remember to sign a contract with your customer to protect yourself from any future issues.
Renting your unused garage is definitely worth it – depending on the size and condition of your garage, you might be earning hundreds each month.
7. Become a Freelance Writer
If you are good with words and have some free time on your hands, you might want to do freelance work as a writer. you might want to consider freelance writing as a side hustle. You don’t need any expensive devices to earn extra money online here – a computer with Internet access and your wit will be more than enough.
You can use sites such as Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer to advertise your services and get commissions. Finding customers shouldn’t be too hard – there are always bloggers who want to improve the quality of their online content but don’t have enough money for a full-fledged SEO agency.
As a freelance writer side hustle, you should always research the subject of the article before writing it. The reason is you will be getting commissions from a wide range of sources. It’s perfectly possible to get an order for a piece of content on post-workout supplements and a commission concerning quality fishing rods on the same day.
Remember to ask your customers to leave a positive opinion on your social media accounts and your website. This will help convince future clients of your credibility and attest to the quality of your copy.
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8. Become a Delivery Driver
If you’re worried about renting your car to strangers, you might want to become a delivery driver in your free time. There are many specialized platforms that will connect you with customers who need something delivered.
You can work with food delivery platforms like Uber Eats or Grubhub, or you can simply offer to deliver packages for people. Most of these services also let you choose your schedule and the type of services you’re willing to offer, so you can pick something that fits your lifestyle best.
Before you decide to offer your services, be realistic about the sort of work you can do. If you have a lot of commitments, it might be hard to deliver packages at all hours of the day, for example. In this case, it would be safer to focus on delivering food only during lunch or dinner times.
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9. Do Online Surveys
If you don’t want to commit too much time to your side hustle, you might want to consider taking online surveys. There are many companies that will pay you for your opinion – and usually, the surveys are pretty short and easy to complete.
There are many different types of surveys available online. Some platforms will ask you to provide your opinion on popular brands or products, while others will let you participate in market research experiments. You can also find surveys that ask you to provide your thoughts on various issues or trends.
Of course, most of these platforms will not pay you a lot for your time – it’s not like you can replace your primary source of income by taking surveys. However, if you take enough of them, you might be able to cover some of your monthly expenses.
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10. Start Pet Sitting
Last on our list of unique side hustles is pet sitting, which could also include dog walking. If you love animals and have some free time on your hands, why not start pet sitting or dog walking? In many cases, it’s much better to leave your furry friend at home while you’re traveling, but neighbors or family members are not always available.
Before you decide to start doing it, make sure that you can commit the time needed for this side hustle – you can’t ignore a pet for an entire day just because you have other work commitments.
Also, keep in mind that some pets require special care if they’re ill or have a disability, so think carefully about what kind of animals you’d be willing to take care of.
11. Amazon Ads Campaign Manager
If you enjoy marketing, creating ad copy and testing and tweaking paid ads, consider becoming an Amazon Ads Campaign Manager to unlock the door to endless possibilities in the ever-expanding ecommerce world.
With the rapid growth of online shopping, Amazon Advertising has emerged as a vital tool for businesses to reach their target audience and boost sales.
Completing the Amazon Ads Campaign Planning Certification will help you to master various ad solutions such as Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and Sponsored Display.
This knowledge will equip you to create effective ad campaigns tailored to clients’ specific needs and goals, making you an invaluable asset to any organization.
12. Tech Setup Services
Tech Setup Services” presents a lucrative, unique earning opportunity in today’s digital era. As technology continues to permeate every facet of our lives, many find themselves overwhelmed by the continuous stream of new gadgets and applications.
Tech Setup Service helps individuals and businesses in setting up their tech devices and software. This can range from configuring a new smartphone, tablet, or computer, installing and troubleshooting software applications, to setting up smart home devices or complex office networks.
The aim is to help customers get the most out of their technology, without the stress and hassle that usually comes with it.
What makes this an attractive earning idea is the demand. As technology continues to evolve, so does the need for tech-savvy individuals who can bridge the gap between users and their devices.
Furthermore, the breadth of services one can offer under this category is vast, making it a versatile business opportunity.
It also caters to diverse markets, from the elderly who might struggle with technology, to small businesses without in-house tech support.
With the right skills and a customer-centric approach, Tech Setup Services can become a unique, profitable venture in the burgeoning world of tech.
13. Blogging
Blogging, once seen as a personal online journaling activity, has now emerged as an intriguing and unique side hustle. It offers a platform for individuals to share their expertise, experiences, and passion, while potentially earning extra income.
One of the unique aspects of blogging as a side hustle is its versatility. Whether you’re passionate about cooking, traveling, technology, fashion, or personal finance, you can start a blog about it.
By consistently producing high-quality content that resonates with a particular audience, you can gradually build a loyal following. This often opens the door to a multitude of earning opportunities.
Monetization methods include advertising revenue through platforms like Google AdSense, affiliate marketing where you promote products or services and earn a commission on sales, sponsored posts, and even selling your own products or services.
Another unique aspect is the passive income potential. Once a blog post is live, it can continue to attract visitors and generate extra income over time.
Moreover, blogging enhances your writing skills, provides a creative outlet, and can position you as an expert in your field. With minimal start-up costs and the flexibility to work at your own pace, blogging stands out as a unique and appealing side hustle idea in the digital age.
14. Self-Publishing Ebooks
Self-publishing eBooks has become an increasingly popular and unique side hustle in the digital age.
This entrepreneurial venture offers writers a direct pathway to share their creative work or expertise without the traditional gatekeeping of publishing houses.
One of the compelling aspects of self-publishing is its democratic nature. Anyone with a story to tell or knowledge to share can write an eBook.
This could be a gripping novel, a useful guide, a cookbook, or an insightful self-help book. The broad spectrum of genres and topics opens opportunities for diverse voices and content.
With platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, writers can publish their eBooks directly to market.
They maintain creative control, get to set their own pricing, and can earn up to 70% in royalties, a much higher rate than traditional publishing.
Another unique advantage of this side hustle is its potential for passive income.
Once the eBook is written, edited, and published, it can generate earnings for years to come. Additionally, it builds your reputation as an author and expert in your field.
15. Digital Product Sales
This concept involves creating and selling non-physical products that can be stored, delivered, and used electronically.
The scope is broad, ranging from eBooks, online courses, music, photography, software, graphic designs, to templates, and much more.
The uniqueness of this side hustle idea lies in its scalability and the potential for passive income. Once a digital product is created, it can be sold an infinite number of times without the need for inventory or shipping.
This means low overhead costs and higher profit margins. Moreover, digital products can be sold around the clock, to customers around the globe, expanding your potential market.
Platforms such as Etsy, Gumroad, and Shopify simplify the process of setting up a digital storefront, making it easier than ever to sell your digital creations.
Furthermore, digital product sales can complement other online endeavors such as blogging or social media influencing, offering additional streams of revenue.
16. Manage social media for local businesses
Managing social media for local businesses presents a unique and lucrative side hustle opportunity, especially in the contemporary digital landscape.
This role involves creating, curating, and managing content across social media platforms to enhance a business’s online presence, engage its audience, and promote its products or services.
As more small businesses recognize the potential of social media for customer engagement and brand awareness, the demand for skilled social media managers is soaring.
This side hustle idea is unique in that it combines creativity, marketing acumen, and digital savvy. Whether it’s crafting compelling posts, engaging with followers, or monitoring trends and analytics, each task is essential in shaping a business’s online persona.
What makes this side hustle particularly appealing is its flexibility. It can be done remotely, on a schedule that suits you. Moreover, with a variety of businesses out there—from boutiques to restaurants, from consulting firms to artisanal crafts—there’s likely to be a sector that aligns with your interests.
With the right blend of skills and a knack for understanding what resonates with audiences, managing social media for small businesses can be a rewarding, creative, and unique side hustle with significant earning potential.
16 Unique Side Hustles – Summary
As you can see, there are many unique side hustles you can do to earn additional income and make your financial situation better. You can sell your professional skills outside of your primary job by offering online courses to third parties. If you don’t use your car or the garage right now, you can rent them to guarantee yourself a steady source of extra money each month.
If you have any unnecessary things lying around, selling them to the highest bidder is an obvious choice. Just make sure to see if these items work before you sell them to safely increase your initial asking price.
If you have a good understanding of school subjects, you can turn it into a reliable source of profit by being a virtual tutor and holding online classes for students. You also try being a delivery driver or doing pet sitting and online surveys for some extra cash.
Finally, you might want to start a YouTube channel or become a freelance writer and use your free time to create profitable content for extra income.
As some of these unique side hustles require little to no effort from your side, it’s possible to combine some of them to generate even more income! Good luck.
Unique Side Hustles – FAQ’s
I already have a full-time job. How much time will these unique side hustles require?
The time required for these side hustles can vary widely depending on the nature of the work. Some may only require a few hours per week, while others may demand more commitment. It’s essential to choose a side hustle idea that aligns with your available time and commitment level.
Can these side hustles replace my full-time job eventually?
It’s possible, but it often depends on the nature of the side hustle, your effort, and the market demand. Some people have successfully transitioned their side hustles into full-time businesses. However, it’s crucial to have a stable income and financial safety net before making such a significant decision.
What kind of skills or knowledge do I need to start these unique side hustles?
The required skills or knowledge vary depending on the type of side hustle. For instance, managing social media for businesses would require understanding of various social media platforms and marketing strategies, whereas self-publishing eBooks might require strong writing skills and some understanding of the publishing process.
How quickly can I start earning from these unique side hustles?
This again depends on the type of side hustle. Some might provide immediate returns, while others, like blogging or writing a book, could take more time to start generating income. Patience and persistence are key.
Is there a substantial initial investment needed for these unique side hustles?
Most of these side hustles do not require a substantial initial investment. For instance, starting a blog, managing social media for businesses, or self-publishing eBooks mostly require time and skill. However, some might have minimal startup costs, like purchasing a domain or marketing your services.
How can I market my unique side hustle to reach potential customers?
Marketing strategies could include creating a professional website, utilizing social media platforms, networking, and word-of-mouth referrals. The strategy will depend on the nature of your side hustle and your target audience.
What are some challenges I might face when pursuing these unique side hustles, and how can I overcome them?
Common challenges could include finding time to commit, building a customer base, and managing multiple responsibilities. Overcoming these challenges often involves careful planning, time management, and patience. Networking and seeking advice from others who have successful side hustles can also be beneficial
Max is a copywriter who loves to create engaging and informative content. He’s an avid fan of all things science fiction and futurism.