Nine best side hustle ideas to earn extra money in 2024

The year 2024 is blooming with potential—for self-improvement, personal growth, and financial gain. Today's digital landscape is fertile ground for a diverse range of side hustles, whether you're looking to monetize a hobby, exploit a skill, or merely explore a new money-making avenue. 

This article explores nine of the best side hustle ideas for 2024—offering flexibility, variety, and a golden opportunity to boost your income in creative and practical ways.

• You can turn your unique skills, interests, hobbies, or expertise into a promising side hustle in 2024 by devoting just a few hours to one of the many available avenues for generating extra income.

• Online commerce allows you to create and sell physical or digital products without the need for significant initial investment or inventory management. Platforms like Gelato make this much more accessible.

• By participating in surveys, delivering food or packages, or offering pet care services, you can diversify your income streams to earn additional money around your primary work schedule.

• For those with specific professional skills or creative talents, freelancing or creating and selling digital products and online courses can be highly lucrative, allowing individuals to capitalize on their expertise and passions.

• Choosing the most suitable side hustle involves considering personal interests, skills, available resources, and the desired income level, ensuring the chosen activity is both enjoyable and financially beneficial, with a clear understanding of the competitive landscape.

We've compiled the top nine side hustle strategies for earning extra dough in 2024. Designed to cater to a wide spectrum of skills, there's something for everyone in this comprehensive guide.

1. Create an online store with print on demand

If you're creative and have an eye for design, setting up an online store with print on demand can be a perfect side hustle. 

By partnering with a print on demand service like Gelato, you’re essentially setting up a shop where you sell your own custom designs on a range of products.

Here's how it works: you create the designs, use them on any of the following products, and Gelato does the rest.  

• T-shirts: Everyone loves a good t-shirt. With your unique designs, you stand a chance to tap into this ever-demanding market.

• Mugs: A great choice for those of you who fancy creating cute or quirky designs. These make perfect gifts for virtually any occasion.

• Wall art: Showcase your artistry by making it a home decor. Wall art is an excellent way to reach customers who appreciate artistry and are willing to pay for it.

• Phone cases: With how much we use our phones, stylish phone cases will always be in demand. Offer various designs for various phone models to attract a larger audience.

• Photo books: Provide a priceless product that helps people preserve cherished memories in a uniquely aesthetic way.

2. Participate in online surveys and market research

Looking to make some extra cash without stepping out of your home? You can get paid to participate in online surveys and market research. Local businesses are continually seeking consumer opinions, and notable platforms like Survey Junkie and Branded Surveys offer you the chance to earn money by providing your views. 

Let's delve into the details:

• Earning through opinions: Market research companies pay for your opinion on a range of topics, such as your shopping habits, favorite brands, or even your thoughts about current events.

• Getting started: The process is quite simple. Sign up on the platform, fill out your profile, and start receiving surveys matched to your demographic profile and interests.

• Time and compensation: Most surveys take around 15-20 minutes to complete, and you can expect to earn around $1 to $3 per questionnaire.

3. Deliver food

With the rapid growth of the food delivery industry and the popularity of apps such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and Postmates, there's never been a better time to become a food delivery driver.

Here's how it works: 

• Signup: Earn extra cash by signing up with one of the aforementioned delivery apps. The application process is typically straightforward and fast, with minimal requirements. Usually, you'll need a vehicle, a valid driver's license, and be of legal age.

• Flexible schedule: You set your own hours, allowing you to start and stop working at your convenience. You can choose to work during peak demand times to maximize your earnings or simply work whenever you're free.

• Receive and deliver orders: Once signed up and logged in to the delivery app, you'll receive orders from customers. Your task is to pick up food from the restaurant and deliver it to the customer's doorstep. Each app has a built-in navigation system, making it easy to find your way.

• Earnings: You earn money for each delivery, which is typically a flat rate plus tips. Factors affecting your earnings include the distance of delivery, time of day, and order total.

4. Deliver packages

With the surge in online shopping, delivery services like Amazon Flex have opened up opportunities for folks looking to earn some extra cash. 

Here's what you need to know: 

• Decent earning potential: While your exact earnings will depend on many factors, including your location and the hours you work, most delivery drivers can expect to earn a respectable hourly rate.

• Opportunity for tips: Depending on the service you work for and the generosity of the customers you deliver to, you might also earn tips - a nice bonus atop your regular earnings.

• Get started quickly: The requirements to start delivering packages are usually quite basic - a reliable vehicle, a valid driver’s license, and passing a background check.

5. Offer pet care services like pet sitting and dog walking

More and more pet owners are seeking professional pet care services like pet sitting and dog walking, opening up a significant opportunity for animal lovers like you to make a little extra money and eventually set up your own business. 

• Pet sitting: Pet sitting typically involves taking care of a pet while the owner is away. This service could be particularly in high demand during the holiday season when many pet owners may be traveling. Your duties may include feeding the pet, providing water, cleaning litter boxes, and ensuring the pet gets enough exercise and social interaction.

• Dog walking: Many dog owners, due to their hectic schedules or physical constraints, are looking for responsible individuals to exercise their dogs. Your work could range from a single walk to multiple walks per day, depending on the dog's breed, age, and health.

Platforms like Rover connect pet owners with potential pet sitters and dog walkers, making it easy for you to utilize your free time for some extra money.

6. Freelance in your field of expertise

If you have specific skills or professional experience, freelancing can be one of the most lucrative ways to make money on the side in 2024. Here's how you can get started. 

• Identify your marketplace: Recognize the platform where your skills are in high demand. If you are a writer, designer, or developer, websites like Contently, Upwork, or Fiverr can be ideal places to secure freelance work.

• Brand yourself: Create an online presence representing your professional persona. This could be a portfolio website or a LinkedIn profile that showcases your work and skills, making you attractive to potential clients.

• Networking: Connect with people and companies in your field. Networking can lead to referrals and more job opportunities.

• Set your rates: Research what others in your field charge and set competitive rates for your services. Your rates can and should increase as you gain experience and expertise.

7. Create digital products

First of all, identify a field or niche that aligns with your skills or passion. This could be anything, such as design, writing, music, and coding. The key here is to ensure that you are creating a product that you are confident in and that resonates with your target audience. 

• For writers, consider creating and selling eBooks or online articles. If you have a knack for storytelling, writing scripts for videos or podcasts could also be a profitable venture.

• Designers can create and sell digital art, templates, and illustrations. With a largely visual internet population, aesthetically pleasing elements are always sought after.

• Musicians can create and monetize their music by selling beats, tracks, or even sheet music.

• For those with technical skills, developing apps, software, or games can lead to significant income. Even creating and selling online courses on programming or other tech-related subjects can lead to steady earnings.

Once you have developed your product, the next step is to put it up for sale on appropriate platforms. There are myriad websites out there for selling digital products. These include Etsy for handmade digital designs, Amazon for eBooks, and Gelato for print on demand products. 

You can also consider leveraging Facebook Marketplace or creating your own website to sell your products directly to consumers. 

8. Develop online courses or tutorials

Are you an expert in a specific field or have a special skill that you're excited to share? Or perhaps you've mastered the art of making complex concepts easy to understand? 

If that sounds like you, developing online courses or tutorials could be your golden ticket to generating extra income in 2024. Here's how: 

• Identify your area of expertise: This could be anything from coding to cooking, fitness to finance. As a rule of thumb, pick a subject that you are passionate about and have good knowledge.

• Create engaging content: Depending on your topic, this could be a mix of video lessons, reading materials, interactive quizzes, and assignments. Remember, your aim is to impart knowledge in the most engaging and effective way. Short, concise lessons often work best.

• Host your course online: Choose the right online platform to host your course. There are numerous websites like Udemy, Skillshare and Coursera where you can upload your courses and reach out to a global audience.

• Market your course: Promotion plays a key role in the success of your course. Utilize social media platforms, emails, your own website, or blog to get the word out about your course.

• Monetize your course: You can either charge upfront for your course or offer a freemium model where some content is free, with more detailed or advanced lessons available for a fee. Another option is to offer your course for free and earn money from ads or sponsorships.

9. Offer social media marketing services

This is a flexible job that you can do from anywhere, on your own schedule— all while potentially making between $1,000 to $2,000+ per month. 

• Sociable strategy: Craft and execute innovative social media strategies for your clients. Understand their brand's unique voice and target audience to generate impactful engagement.

• Compelling content creation: Create enticing content tailored to each social media platform: Snappy tweets, engaging Facebook posts, visually stunning Instagram photos, and persuasive LinkedIn articles.

• Data analysis: Use analytics tools to understand post performance and follower behavior. Impress your clients by showcasing the tangible effects of your work and suggesting data-driven improvements.

• Manage paid campaigns: Run and monitor paid advertising campaigns on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Your ability to navigate the complexities of ad budgeting and targeting can lead to major gains for your clients.

Here are some points to consider when deciding on the perfect match for you: 

• Interests: Whether you're a whiz in the kitchen, an avid gamer, a social media enthusiast, or a DIY home improver, there's likely a side gig that plays to your passions. When enjoying what you do, it won't feel like a job, and you'll be more likely to stick with it.

• Skills and expertise: Capitalize on your professional and personal experiences and supplement them with additional skills to optimize your side hustle. For instance, if you're a graphic designer, creating digital products like logos or website templates could be a great option.

• Resources required: Compared to other side hustles, some require more up-front investment–either in money, time, or equipment. Be clear about what you’re willing and able to dedicate to your sideline gig.

• Profit potential: Consider how much money you hope to earn from your side hustle and how quickly you need it. Remember, some ventures may take longer to become profitable, while others have a quicker return.

• Competitor analysis: It’s a good practice to know your competition. Who is already doing what you intend to do? What are their strategies, and how can you differentiate yourself?

Ready to transform your creativity into a lucrative side hustle? Gelato is your one-stop solution! Easily craft and sell a range of thoughtful custom merchandise, and bring your designs to life with our user-friendly print on demand service. Most importantly, there are no upfront costs or inventory management.

Everything from production to delivery is taken care of, freeing you up to focus on your creativity.

So why wait? Sign up for Gelato today, choose a subscription plan that aligns with your needs, and kickstart your creative hustle with ease and convenience.