The gig economy has a little something for everyone. But, still, going all-in on being a remote, self-employed professional is not everyone’s cup of tea. After all, many still prefer the relative security of a stable job that provides a steady income. Yet, what if we told you that you can have the best of both worlds? In truth, you can basically try on the gig economy for size, and see whether it can help you pay the bills in full or, in the worst-case scenario, supplement your existing revenue stream. In that case, a side hustle can be just what the doctor ordered.
We’ve gone over this before, but we’ll gladly go again; the gig economy is centered around the skills of freelancers and the need of employers. It’s a shorter-term, less centralized economy that thrives on more discrete tasks and projects, but gets the job done in spades.
It’s no mystery that we’re big gig economy proponents here at Bunny Studio. And, since we practice what we preach, we don’t just offer the best in freelance creative services, but also hire freelancers ourselves. Many of these are not full-time freelancers, but “sidelancers”, people who see these professional outlets as a good side hustle. As you can see, it’s not all an “either/or” proposition.
In this article, we’ll talk about the art of the side hustle. Here, we’ll aim to let you know good ways to make money on the side, as well as why more and more people are choosing to dip their toe in the gig economy ocean.
Let’s take a look.
Side Hustle Meaning
A side hustle (or side gig) is a job one takes up in addition to their full-time employment, or main occupation. Most people take up side hustles because they’re a handy way to supplement their income from their 9-5 job. Or, in some cases, they live comfortably with their regular income but may need extra funds for some project or goal. Of course, everyone’s built different:
- Many side hustlers (47%) use their money for extra spending.
- 27%, though, need the cash for paying monthly bills.
As a result, side hustle jobs are typically not as structured as full-time jobs. Generally, they consist of smaller, more separate tasks, or projects that don’t require a long-term commitment. For instance, a side gig that we all know is being an Uber driver. But, there are all sorts of side hustles built for all types of professional niches.
When people think about side hustles, they tend to think about informal work. While doing roofing for your neighbor might be a side hustle, that’s not the end of the story; these jobs can pay anything from $5/10 an hour to over $100, depending on your type of expertise. The fact that you’re doing a job on the side does not necessarily mean it’s not serious or requires rare skills.
But, to avoid any confusion, we’ll start out slow. Our aim is to give you some entry-level ideas to get you into the side hustle groove. At the bottom, we’ll share some thoughts about what to do if you’ve got monetizable skills, and where to go. But, for now, let’s keep it very simple.
Side Hustle Ideas
Selling Items Online
Places like eBay or Craigslist are usually abuzz with activity. And, let’s be honest, you probably have a pile of items laying around that hasn’t seen any use since the 90s. If you’re a little tech-savvy, you can cash out these items online fairly quickly. Anything from household appliances, furniture (that old couch you keep talking about changing), old collectibles, magazines, etc., can net you more money than you think.
Plus, if you’re good at it, you can make it a longer-term side hustle too. Many people sell things for others online and collect a small commission. In effect, they become managers for other people’s property.
Pro Tip: it’s all in the description and images. Make sure you get these right, and that’s half the job done.
Book Reviews
Do you have some writing talent, but don’t want to go pro yet? You’d be surprised at how many publishing houses and websites are paying for book reviews. Not surprisingly, this is probably your dream gig if you’re an avid reader. But, just how much are they shelling out per review? Depending on the website, publishing house, and book type, it can range from $5 to as much as $60 per review.
A great place to get started? The Online Book Club. In just a few minutes, you can have your account up and ready to go. Oh, and did we mention that they’ll give you free books to review? Sounds like a plan!
Trade-in Your Old Smartphones on Gazelle and Recycle
Smartphones are one of those things that we all use constantly. But, what we don’t normally think is about the environmental impact of the “use and throw away” mentality. Therefore, smartphones, and especially their batteries, end up contributing negatively to environmental issues.
In this scenario, though, places like Gazelle can make some difference. Not only do they take old phones off your hands, but they give them a new lease on life by reselling them. Instead of letting your phone end up stowed away or in the trash, you can get some cash for it, and help keep the world a little greener.
Become a Spokesperson for a Business
There’s an idea! If you have the right look or social media presence, you can become a business spokesperson. Moreover, these businesses usually offer a nice commission from any sale made as a result of the spokesperson’s efforts. Apps like Drum are estimating their average commissions as being between $10 and $12. Not too bad for what amounts to recording a small video!
Making Deliveries
Do you have a bike, car, or other means of getting around easily? Then this could be the side hustle for you. As you probably know yourself, we’ve all become veritable shut-ins during the COVID-19 pandemic. And, what doesn’t come as a surprise is that deliveries, especially grocery deliveries, spiked up like crazy during this past couple of years.
Thus, delivery apps like Uber Eats and Shipt are currently a great side hustle option. Delivery people typically make over $22 an hour on these apps, so definitely something to keep an eye out for if you like driving around.
Of course, always keep aware of the latest social distancing guidelines. Take care out there!
Rent Out Your Room on Airbnb
At this point, you probably know the story of Airbnb inside and out. And hey, why not put that vacant room you have to good use? If you live in a nice holiday destination and are a people person, becoming a host is a great side hustle idea. In fact, many people use Airbnb as their primary source of income after they found out that their side gig made them more than their main job.
Transcription
Now, that’s something we know a thing or two about here. Becoming a transcriptionist is something that anyone who’s a fast typist can do. And everyone needs a good transcriptionist, from companies who need to take meeting minutes, to understaffed courthouses, and more. Plus, with an average pay of $15 an hour, it’s not too bad for a job you’re most likely going to be doing from home.
Answer Questions
If you have high-level experience in jobs like medicine, law, engineering, or others, this could be for you. In websites like JustAnswer, experts answer all sorts of questions that require their deep technical knowledge and skills. If you’re one of such experts, then you’re in luck, because they typically can make over $2000 a month on average, according to their website. That comes out to between $18 to $50 per question.
Be mindful though, this side hustle is not for everyone; JustAnswer has an acceptance rate of only around 12%.
Dog Walking
Let’s be honest, this is something you’ve probably tried out in your youth. But, if you’re good with our canine companions, it’s still a perfect way to spend those nice Spring days making some cash on the side. And, when you build a steady stream of clients, you could be making even more than you think!
Virtual Assistant
You’d be surprised at how many businesses simply can’t get their house in order. And, if you have experience with office jobs, you could be just what they need. Depending on how much and where you work, the average rate is around $19.
Cleaning Houses
Another example of not getting their house in order, most people will need help around the house at some point in their lives. Many families need a housekeeper or house cleaning on a regular basis, and there are many websites out there where you can easily get started with this side hustle.
Teach a Language
If you’re an expert at a second language, you could consider teaching. In fact, this is a great remote side gig if you’re traveling around, as many are looking for tutors over Skype and Zoom. Yes, you don’t even have to join an academy or go anywhere in order to teach!
Final Thoughts on the Side Hustle Market
There are so many jobs out there that you’ll be spoiled for choice. But, we also want to remind you that if you’ve got great technical skills, then checking out Bunny Studio is as sound a choice as any. While most of our voice-over artists, translators, copywriters, designers, and sound and video experts pursue their professions as full-on freelancers, others do it as a side hustle. If you’ve got the goods, and are looking for a change of pace, we’re always open to expanding our family!
