How to make extra income while working full-time: 10 ideas

Looking to beef up your bank account without sacrificing your 9-to-5 grind? You're in luck! In this guide, we're diving into the exciting world of side hustles, showing you how to turbocharge your income while keeping your day job intact. 

So, grab your coffee and get ready to explore the wild, wonderful ways to make some extra money on the side.

We're sharing 10 side hustle ideas to make your wallet a little happier. Let's turn that spare time into spare change!

• Learn about potential ways to earn additional income while maintaining a full-time job.

• Various hobbies, skills, and resources can be leveraged to earn you some extra money online.

• Explore the benefits of ecommerce as a viable side hustle option to make more money.

• Managing a side business and executing extra income ideas can be achieved without a substantial time investment or the need for inventory management.

• Gelato's print on demand services can aid in creating a profitable side business.

Ready to multiply your pennies into piles of extra cash? Here, we've lined up 10 fabulous side hustles for you. 

1. Start an online store with print on demand

If you're looking to launch an ecommerce website without the baggage of inventory management, consider print on demand! Here's how you can start:

• Design unique products: In a print on demand business model, you design distinctive products like t-shirts, mugs, posters, etc., and sell them online. A provider like Gelato does the heavy lifting by handling production, packaging, and delivery. Your only job is to let your creativity run wild and promote your store online.

• Polish your graphic design skills: You can do this yourself or hire a freelance designer. The goal is to create distinctive designs that people would love to flaunt on their coffee mugs or wear for remote meetings.

• Setting up shop: Opening an online store is easy! You need to select a hosting platform, link it with your print on demand provider, write some engaging product descriptions, and boom - you're officially a shop owner!

• Earnings galore: Your online store is a round-the-clock worker, selling products and earning profits while you're tucked in bed. With the internet as your marketplace, your customer base expands beyond your local community to nocturnal shoppers worldwide.

What's more? Print on demand businesses are low-risk ventures. You don't have the unsold stock nagging at your conscience, as every product is printed only when ordered. You can start slow and then eventually grow your online business.

2. Start a blog or YouTube channel 

Have you ever thought about channeling your creative flair and passions into a blog or YouTube channel to earn good money? Here are some reasons you should start: 

• Your passion becomes your income: Whether you geek out over skincare or have a knack for DIY crafts, there's a niche and hungry audience out there waiting for someone with your expertise. 

• You reach a global audience: The internet has no borders, and your blog and YouTube channels recognize that. With the massive number of internet users worldwide, your potential audience is, quite literally, the world - you can even sell Youtube merch.

• "Show me the Money!": Ever heard of AdWords and affiliate marketing? Most bloggers and YouTubers generate income through these channels. Regular, original content can also attract sponsorship deals and partnerships. 

• Flexible working hours: You decide when to write your next blog post or shoot your next video in your free time. Morning, night, during your lunch break - whatever floats your boat. 

• Sharpen your skills: In the process of creating content, you'll master an array of new skills, ranging from video editing, Photoshop, SEO, and social media marketing. 

3. Create and sell digital products

Ever think about leveraging your unique skills to create something that people all around the world could benefit from in your free time? We're talking about digital products!  Let's delve deeper: 

• E-books: Love to tell stories or have some expert knowledge to share? Why not pen it down and convert it into an e-book? You can self-publish through platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and reach millions of readers globally. 

• Online courses: Got a knack for coding? Are you a whiz at genealogy? You can create an online course and sell it on learning platforms like Udemy.

• Digital art: Offering custom digital artwork can be profitable for the creatively inclined. Logo designs, graphics, illustrations, or even stock photos can be sold on platforms like Etsy.

• Software or mobile apps: Coding wizards, this one's for you. Create and sell software online for a niche market or get your creative juices flowing and build a unique mobile app. This might require some serious techie skills, but the payout can be pretty significant.

• Music or sounds: Calling all Mozarts and Beatles in the making. Don't let your talent go to waste! Compose original music tracks, jingles, or sound effects and sell them on platforms like SoundCloud. 

4. Participate in focus groups and online surveys

Let's be real: who doesn't enjoy sharing opinions? Better yet, what if you could get paid to share your thoughts by participating in a focus group or online surveys? Here's how you can serve them your insights:

• Online surveys: Many businesses aim to glean consumer opinion about products or services and are willing to shell out money for it. Websites like Swagbucks or Survey Junkie connect you to those businesses seeking feedback.

• Product testing: Get a sneak peek at new items by becoming a product tester. Companies will send you products to try out, and you provide them with your honest critique. 

• Webcam surveys: Imagine getting paid to chat. Well, with webcam surveys, that’s precisely what happens. In sessions that typically last an hour, you’ll discuss various topics, answer questions, or share your experiences. To get started, sign up on sites like Respondent or User Interviews.

• Focus groups: In person or virtual, focus groups attract a generous stipend. You could have the opportunity to evaluate new features before they hit the market or discuss improvements on existing products. 

5. Offer pet-sitting and care services

We're suggesting you get paid to hang out with animals. Sounds purr-fect, right?  Here's how to go about it:

• Start small: You could start by offering services to your neighbors or colleagues.  Just remember, every pet parent is protective, so you've got to make sure you're trustworthy and reliable. Your local reputation can go a long way here.

• Expand digitally: Once you’ve gained some experience, move to online platforms that connect pet care providers with pet owners who need them. Websites like Rover and PetBacker are to pet-sitters what Gelato is to creative types looking to monetize their talents.

• Offer distinct services: Walking dogs, watching cats while their owners are away, boarding pets overnight, you name it. The more services you offer, the broader your clientele base will be.

6. Become a freelancer

Are you a wordsmith, artist, coder, or marketing maven? If so, it's time to freelance! Here's how: 

• Find your niche: You love traversing the terrain of tax law, or maybe you're a whiz at web development. Whichever it is, there are clients out there needing YOUR talents. 

• Pitch away: Once you've picked your soft spot or super skill, it's time to hit up potential clients. Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer are crawling with curious customers. 

• Set your rate: You're no longer at the mercy of an employer's wage. As a freelancer, you decide what your time and expertise are worth. Set your own hourly or project rates and tweak them as you go, depending on the complexity of the work.

• Feedback is your friend: Remember to keep an open dialogue with your clients. This will help improve your work, and great ratings and reviews will drive more contracts to your profile. 

7. Deliver food and groceries

According to Statista, there is an expected revenue growth of 27.3% in 2025 in the Grocery Delivery market, which means delivering food and groceries is another lucrative option you can explore. 

Find out if this can be a fit for you:

• Flexibility: You can do it anytime, with full flexibility and complete control over what you do and when.

• Easy to start: There is no need for a business plan or marketing strategy. Your investments? Some gas, a functional vehicle, and a GPS that won’t lead you to the middle of a cornfield!

• Freedom: Goodbye office! Forget about the tensions of the corporate world with this gig. Instead, become well acquainted with every nook and cranny of your city or town.

• Instant earnings: Food delivery companies typically pay out your earnings every week, but some offer the opportunity to cash out daily. 

8. Join the sharing economy

Ever heard of the term 'sharing economy'? Think of Airbnb, Uber, Etsy, or Fiverr. The sharing economy, also known as the 'peer-to-peer economy', is an ingenious way to earn additional cash while making use of under-utilized resources. Here's how:

• Got an extra room? List it on Airbnb. Yes, it's like turning your humble abode into a mini-hotel - only way cooler and without needing those tiny shampoo bottles.

• Possess skills or talents? Offer your services on Fiverr or Upwork. Whether you're a graphic design whiz, a grammar king or queen, or can channel your inner Mozart to create jingles, people are ready to hire.

• Love to craft? Sell your creations on Etsy. From handmade jewelry to vintage teacups – if you can create it, there's probably a market for it.

• Got wheels? Drive for Uber or Lyft. You're probably going from point A to B anyway, so why not pick up a passenger and earn some cash along the way?

9. Sell on Facebook Marketplace

Say "hello" to Facebook Marketplace - your new neighborhood garage sale. Here's why and how: 

• The why: Here's a fantastic fact for you, Facebook Marketplace is where over 800 million people worldwide go to buy, sell, or trade items. That’s a massive audience, right? Plus, it’s free to list and sell items. It's incredibly user-friendly and integrated right into your social scrolling routine. No listing fees, no shop costs, nada.

• The how: Grab your smartphone and snap some nice pictures of the stuff you want to sell. Then, tap the marketplace icon and post your items for sale - you're basically doing online marketing for products you want to sell. 

Still not convinced? Whether you are cleaning up your garage or you found a treasure in a thrift shop, Facebook Marketplace can be a gold mine. Here's your mini-guide to make money on this platform. 

• Know your niche: Study the marketplace to understand what sells best in your local area.

• Price competitively: Researching what comparable items are listed for can help set a competitive price for your articles.

• Good photos: Good photos sell. Make sure your items are well-lit and clear.

• Communicate: Answer any queries promptly. Clear communication also helps avoid any misunderstandings.

10. Start investing

Investing is always key when it comes to making those extra bucks. Here's how you can start investing:  

• Start with an emergency fund: Life is full of surprises, and not all are pleasant. Having a safety net for such rainy days means your investments remain untouched and continue to grow undisturbed. Putting aside three to six months of your monthly income should do the trick.

• Understand your risk tolerance: Investments can feel like a roller coaster sometimes. Understanding your risk tolerance, or how much volatility and losses you can stomach, can help you pick the right investment vehicle. 

• Invest in low-cost index funds: Want to own a piece of all the top companies without picking stocks one by one? Enter index funds - they're simple, diversified, and carry lower fees than actively managed funds. 

• Consider real estate investing: Commercial real estate can be a terrific source of both income and appreciation. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) allow you to invest in real estate without all the problems of owning physical properties.

• Reinvest your dividends: Did your investments pay out dividends? If so, reinvest them! You'll purchase more shares, and more shares mean more dividends.

• Consistency is key: Investing isn't about timing the market; it's about time IN the market. Regularly investing a part of your income, also known as dollar-cost averaging, can help smooth out market swings and reduce the risk of heavy losses.

With Gelato, you can tap into the lucrative world of custom products, from t-shirts and mugs to wall art, phone cases, and photo books. This isn't just about selling products; it's about giving consumers a personal touch. What’s more, with Gelato’s calculated approach to selecting the best print provider, you'll be set on a smooth journey to an efficient and profitable ecommerce venture. 

Ready to boost your income on your terms? Sign up for Gelato today and choose a subscription plan tailored to your needs and objectives.