Do you want to start a profitable side business?

So, that you can either supplement your income or even quit your current job altogether? 

Then this is your guide!

We’ll go over the BEST side hustle ideas that pay well.

Plus, you’ll learn the steps to set up your own side business.

Ready to dive in?

Let’s get started!

The most profitable side hustle ideas from home

Starting a side hustle is a great way to earn some extra money.

And the side hustle industry is BIG.

39% of Americans have a side hustle. And in the US alone, the market is valued at over $2.58 trillion.

Now, not every side hustle needs to turn into a full-time business.

But if that’s what you want, it’s definitely possible with the right approach.

Ready to find your niche in this booming market?

I know getting started is always the hardest.

So, to help you on your way, I’ve collected the most profitable side hustle ideas.

Let’s take a closer look at each one.

1. Online coach

Starting a coaching business lets you earn money with what you’re already good at.

As a coach, you help clients succeed in areas you have a lot of experience in.

Using your existing skills to build up your business has two BIG benefits. 

You:

• Can get started right away
• Don’t need much initial investment

Plus, because you’re offering a high-value service, your business has a high profit margin.

That means you can earn well from just a few clients.

You offer potential clients a real transformation. And that’s something many are willing to pay a lot for.

For instance, most of my students start their coaching businesses on the side and turn them into full-time businesses making six figures or more.

Want to know how to get started? 

In this article, I share exactly what you need to do to run a highly successful coaching business.

Of course, coaching isn’t the only business option that lets you capitalize on your skills…

2. Consultant

Like coaching, consulting offers great profit potential by using your existing skills.

The main difference is how you work with clients:

• Coaches empower clients to address their own challenges
• Consultants solve problems directly for their clients

As a consultant, you follow three main steps. 

You:

1. Identify and identify problems
2. Create effective strategies and set up a plan of action
3. Analyze the impact of your work and share this with the client

Because you offer specialized expertise and high-value solutions, consulting can be super lucrative.

For instance, one of my first online businesses was a digital advertising consulting business.

Within four months, I managed to double my income and quit my old job.

Check out this article to learn how you can become a successful consultant.

3. Online course instructor

With an online course, you package what you know into a product.

My favorite part about this business option is that you can do the work once, but reap the benefits for years.

To get the best results, I tell my students to:

• Begin with coaching, consulting, or freelancing
• Next, turn what you’re doing into a course

This approach means you’re not beginning from zero when you’re creating your course.

And you’ll already have people interested in what you’re sharing.

Besides setting up a website, you can host your course on popular online platforms, like:

• Udemy
• Coursera
• EdX
• Skillshare
• LinkedIn Learning

Which platform is best, depends on your niche.

These course platforms come with their own audience, which helps with making sales.

But, they also take a cut of your earnings – and ultimately, you don’t control your course.

For a deep dive into creating a six-figure online course, check out this article I put together for you.

4. Freelance writer  

Freelance writing lets you make money using your writing skills.

There are many different kinds of writers:

• Ghostwriters
• Business proposal writers
• Copywriters
• Technical writers
• Bloggers (See side hustle idea #10)

Like coaching and consulting, freelancing is profitable and lets you use your existing skills.

But instead of offering guidance, you deliver a done-for-your service. 

This could be articles, newsletters, books, proposals, and so on.

Freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr make it easy to find clients. But you have to pay a part of your revenue to them.

The downside of freelancing?

Your earnings are tied to how much you work.

That said, picking the right niche can really increase your earning potential.

Some profitable writing niches are:

• Technology
• Finance
• Health
• Digital marketing

5. User tester

If you like giving feedback, you could earn money by becoming a user tester.

You get paid to check out new products, like websites, apps, and games. 

Your job is to use them like a regular person, do some tasks, and then tell your client what you think.

The downside is that your earnings are limited to the number of tests you can perform.

While you can get started without any specific skills, specializing helps you earn A LOT more.

With specialized knowledge, your feedback becomes much more valuable. That means you can charge more too.

To further increase your income, you can combine user testing with coaching or consulting.

In that case, you not only share feedback but also offer solutions for any problems you spot.

6. Virtual assistant

If you’re great at staying organized and would love to work from anywhere, becoming a VA could be an idea.

As a virtual assistant, you help your clients with things like:

• Admin tasks
• Scheduling
• Managing emails
• Social media
• Data entry

The best part?

You don’t need any special skills to get started.

Sure, you need to be organized and communicate well. But you can essentially learn everything on the job.

That said, if you zero in on a niche or specialize in certain areas, you can earn much more.

For instance: 

If you can also take care of bookkeeping or social media, you’ll get a higher paycheck than if you’re just responding to emails.

7. Website designer

Do you know how to design or build websites? Good news: Lots of people need your skills!

Platforms like Upwork are a great spot to land your first gigs.

But don’t stop there. 

Ideally, you also want to attract clients directly at some point.

Luckily, as you gain experience and build your portfolio, you’ll find this gets much easier.

Because freelance work can be quite unstable, I recommend working with retainer agreements.

A retainer means you’re available to work for a client a set number of hours each week or month. 

This gives you steady work and money coming in.

In web development, a retainer will generally cover:

• Maintenance
• Technical support
• Updates
• Bug fixes

8.   Event planner  

Event planning lets you put together unforgettable moments for others. But it’s not the easiest business to set up…

As an event planner, you need to deal with:

• Building a network of reliable vendors and venues
• The stress of making sure everything goes just right

Handling all these things can be challenging for new entrepreneurs.

But if you have a great eye for detail and love organizing events, it could be a good business option.

To increase your income potential, you can specialize in luxury or corporate events.

You can also offer additional services like:

• Marketing to promote the event
• Sponsorship management to reduce costs
• Website development for the event
• Live streaming services
• Eco-friendly and sustainable event solutions
• Post-event analysis, like checking outcomes and ROI

9. Affiliate marketing

With affiliate marketing, you can earn money by sharing products you like.

It’s a huge $12 billion industry that keeps growing every year.

Here’s how it works:

• You recommend products to people
• If they buy, you get a cut of the sale

The key is to only pick products you actually like and which fit your niche.

If you’re just promoting anything, your audience will trust you less.

Affiliate marketing can be a nice passive income stream, but you need a lot of traffic.

That makes it a great side hustle to add to ANOTHER business of yours.

In other words: Don’t make affiliate marketing your main gig. 

Instead:

• Start by growing your audience in other ways
• Then, bring in affiliate marketing to increase your income

10. Blogger 

Blogging is a type of freelance writing.

Blogs can be about anything, like:

• Career
• Health
• Entrepreneurship
• Personal finance
• Parenting
• And so on

You can either:

• Post your blog posts on your own website
• Write guest posts for someone else’s blog

Having your own blog site can lead to passive income through:

• Ads
• Sponsorships
• Product sales

BUT growing an audience takes time.

On the other hand, guest blogging can generate immediate income and boost your visibility. Yet, they often look for writers who already have an audience.

In other words: Blogging is a long-term strategy…

When done right, blogging has many benefits. 

Blogs:

• Bring in organic traffic (through SEO)
• Make your business the “go-to” in your industry
• Engage your audience
• Build brand awareness

Want to learn more? In this article, I share how to monetize your blog.

11. Vacation planner

Vacation planning is similar to event planning but for vacations.

As a vacation planner, you tap into the booming multi-billion-dollar tourism industry.

You help clients:

• Book flights
• Find accommodation
• Schedule activities
• Arrange travel insurance
• Managing travel documents and visas

The goal is to create a seamless travel experience they’ll never forget.

Because the market is so saturated, it’s best to craft your own niche.

Here are some examples:

• Culinary tours for food-loving couples
• Luxury wellness retreats for executives
• Pet-friendly vacation packages
• Retirement celebration trips

For instance, vacation planner Shakeemah Smith has made over a million dollars by helping others travel the world.

Her target audience? Women who want to travel solo.

12. Digital product seller  

Selling digital products shares some similarities with selling online courses:

At first, the products take time and effort to create.

But once they’re done, you can sell them forever — a good source of passive income.

Some popular digital products are:

• Planners
• Templates
• Guides
• eBooks
• Checklists

Unlike physical products, digital ones don’t come with inventory management or shipping. 

This makes this business model more cost-effective and scalable.

For creating and selling these products, there are many resources you can use:

• Canva is great for design
• Platforms like Teachable or Gumroad help you sell your products

The trick is to create digital tools that solve specific problems.

Ask yourself:

How will your product make your customers’ lives easier or better?

As with online courses, it’s best to start with a coaching/consulting business first.

This way, you’ll already have an audience that trusts you.

13. Content marketer  

A content marketer is a person who plans, creates, and analyzes content.

The goal is to attract and engage potential customers.

This could include making:

• Blog posts
• How-to guides
• Videos
• Infographics
• And so on

Working as a freelance content marketer limits your earnings to the hours you put in.

But content marketing is a scalable business. 

For instance, you can:

• Create an agency and outsource some of the tasks
• Package your expertise into a course
• Coach your clients on how to become better content marketers

Plus, the skills you learn on the job, can also be used to promote and market your own business.

14. YouTube channel creator

YouTube currently has nearly 3 billion monthly active users.

By becoming a YouTube creator, you tap into that market.

You can make money through:

• Ad revenue
• Sponsorships
• Selling your own products or services

The great thing about YouTube is that you can get started with a good smartphone and free editing software.

Some YouTube channels are known as ‘cash cows.’ 

This means the channel owners outsource the making of videos and target topics with high ad revenue potential.

The downsides of trying to turn YouTube into a business?

• Growing a YouTube channel takes a lot of time and effort
• You need to keep your audience engaged
• YouTube’s algorithm changes can have a big impact on your business

If you already have an audience, though, sharing videos is a nice way to deepen the connection with them.

15. Personal assistant  

Being a personal assistant is a bit like being a virtual assistant (VA).

In essence, you help manage someone’s day-to-day activities.

The main differences?

Being a personal assistant tends to be more hands-on and is usually in person.

While a VA always helps from afar, as a personal assistant, you could be:

• Running errands
• Organizing an office
• Managing personal tasks

It’s a flexible job that you can start quickly and with minimal costs.

But because you often need to be physically present, your potential client base is limited to your local area. And if you’re living in a non-urban area, you’ll probably need a car.

Your income is also tied to the hours you work.

16. Photographer 

Got an eye for capturing moments? Starting a photography business might let you turn that skill into some extra income.

As a photographer, you can earn money by:

• Charging per session
• Selling prints or digital copies of your work
• Licensing your photos for commercial use
• Hold workshops
• Create online courses

While it can be fulfilling, starting a photography business isn’t super easy.

You need the right skills. And the initial costs can be high.

For instance, you need good cameras, software, and maybe even studio space.

Social media is a powerful tool to increase your visibility. But it takes time and effort to build a portfolio that attracts clients.

The market is also saturated, so picking a niche is a must.

17. Transcriber 

Being a transcriber means you convert audio recordings into written documents.

It’s a straightforward way to earn money, especially if you’re fast at typing.

Two popular platforms to find transcription work are:

• Rev
• TranscribeMe

Your payment is typically based on:

• Your niche
• The length of the audio file
• Your speed

Unfortunately, the pay per hour can be low, especially for beginners.

If you don’t have any experience, it takes time to increase your speed to where you’re earning more.

With coaching or consulting, you can start earning a lot with just a few clients. 

But transcription work requires ongoing effort for each project.

This limits your income potential without a built-up clientele or specialized niche. 

Think of niches like legal or medical transcription.

18. Bookkeeper 

Bookkeeping is all about keeping track of financial records.

As a freelance bookkeeper, you make money by:

• Managing clients’ accounts
• Preparing financial statements
• Handling payroll or taxes
• Offering financial advice and budget analysis
• Helping with invoicing and payment processing

You can boost your earnings by:

• Setting higher rates
• Specializing in certain areas or industries (your niche)
• Mastering advanced bookkeeping software

While you don’t need a formal qualification, you do need a solid understanding of accounting and financial software.

Startup costs are relatively low, but building a client base without a network can be slow. 

Plus, because you’re competing with established bookkeeping services and software, picking a niche is a must to stand out.

19. Ecommerce seller 

Running an e-commerce business involves selling physical products online.

The typical process looks like this:

1. You source or create products
2. You manufacture them
3. You sell them

Although platforms like Shopify and Amazon FBA simplify the process, it’s not the easiest business for beginners.

Here are five reasons why:

• Dealing with both inventory and shipping means more upfront costs and risk
• To turn a good profit, you need to make many sales
• You need to invest a lot in marketing right away
• Customer service and returns are complex to manage
• It’s challenging to combine competitive pricing with a good profit margin

Of course, a lot depends on what you sell.

But compared to less complex business models, e-commerce demands much more from you right from the start.

20. Tutor and language teacher 

If you love sharing your knowledge of a language, this is a nice option.

You could either teach your native tongue or a language you’ve learned yourself.

Here’s how you can make money as a language teacher:

• Charging per hour for one-on-one or sessions
• Creating and selling course materials
• Running group classes or workshops

Two popular platforms to find your first few clients are:

• Italki
• Preply

Want to earn more?

Then you can boost your rates by specializing in a profitable niche, like:

• Medical English for healthcare professionals
• Legal terminology for law students

This can be a flexible side hustle.

But unless you turn it into a passive income stream, how much you earn is limited to how many hours you teach.

You might also need to get an official certification.

21. Podcaster

As a podcast host, you chat about topics that interest you and/or interview guests.

You don’t need much to get started:

• A decent microphone
• Editing software
• A hosting platform
• A quiet space

For instance, many creators start podcasting from their living rooms or makeshift home studios.

You can make money through:

• Sponsorships from brands that resonate with your audience
• Advertisements within your episodes
• Support from listeners via platforms like Patreon

But because it takes a long time to grow and monetize, it’s not ideal as a first business.

Like YouTube, I rather recommend podcasting as something you add to an existing business of yours.

It’s a nice way to:

• Bond with your audience
• Boost your visibility
• Establish yourself as an expert
• Network with others in your field

22. Make-up artist 

Ever thought about making a living with your make-up talent?

There are several ways you can make money as a make-up artist:

• Working on special events like weddings and parties
• Collaborating with photographers or fashion shows
• Giving makeup tutorials and workshops
• Selling makeup products through affiliate marketing

If make-up is your passion, this can be a good idea.

But it comes with some drawbacks:

• The initial setup can be expensive because you need quality makeup products and tools.
• Building a reputation and client base often requires a lot of networking.
• If you do your work in person, your potential reach and scalability are more limited.
• Because it’s a hands-on job, your income is directly tied to the number of bookings you can manage.

23. Social media manager 

The social media industry is HUGE.

It’s expected to grow to $251.45 billion this year, with a compound annual growth rate of 14.8%.

Translation: Specializing in social media can be very lucrative.

Being a social media manager means you run social media accounts.

Some typical tasks include:

• Doing market research
• Creating posts
• Engaging with followers
• Planning content calendars
• Analyzing performance metrics
• Running social media ads
• Collaborating with influencers

You can earn money by either:

• Setting monthly fees
• Charging per project

You don’t need much to get started, but it comes with some challenges.

One of the biggest downsides is that you don’t own the platform.

That means you’re at the mercy of the platform’s ever-changing rules and whims.

Algorithms often change overnight, which can really affect visibility and engagement.

24. Stylist 

As a stylist, you help your clients look and feel their best.

You can earn money through:

• Charging for personal styling sessions
• Offering wardrobe consultations
• Collaborating with brands or stores

This option is nice if you’re into fashion, but it’s not the BEST business idea…

Here’s why:

Building a portfolio and client base takes a lot of time and effort.

Plus, unlike more scalable online businesses, your income depends on the number of clients you can serve.

This limits how much you earn — unless you expand your services online or hire more stylists.

25. Babysitter  

This idea is the right for you if you love taking care of children.

Babysitters typically earn money by:

• Charging an hourly rate
• Offering additional services like tutoring or meal preparation

While it can be a flexible job, some hurdles make this business model less ideal…

Unlike businesses like coaching or consulting, babysitting isn’t very scalable. It’s also hard to turn this into a source of passive income.

You’re trading time for money, and there’s a limit to how many hours you can work.

Plus, because it’s often not viewed as a high-value service, it’s harder to command higher rates.

That’s why offering extra valuable services is such a good idea.

26. Dog walker and pet sitter 

Pet sitting is like babysitting but for pets.

You get paid to walk dogs or care for pets while the owners are away.

Rates vary, and you can:

• Charge per walk or per day
• Offer package deals for regular clients
• Provide extra services like grooming or training

There are some downsides to this business model, though:

• Your income is directly tied to your time and availability.
• It’s hard to scale because you can only walk so many dogs or visit so many homes in a day.

To get started, you can find gigs online. For instance, Rover is a popular pet-sitting app.

27. Ebook writer and publisher

Thanks to self-publishing, you no longer have to wait for a publisher to say yes — you can make it happen yourself.

However, this independence also means you’re in charge of everything, from marketing to design.

Here’s another catch:

The popularity of self-publishing combined with the AI boom has led to a crowded market.

And while online platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Apple Books offer exposure, they take a cut of your revenue.

Ebooks can be a form of passive income, and the startup costs are low.

But unless you sell a bestseller, you have to write several books to generate good income…

Want a high ROI on your book?

Then a smarter approach is to use it as a tool to drive traffic to other revenue streams, such as coaching or courses.

28. Proofreader 

Proofreading is all about perfecting written content.

You focus on fixing spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

Many people start out by writing and later add proofreading to their services.

But you can also get started with proofreading right away.

You can make money by charging per:

• Word
• Page
• Project

Freelance platforms and direct outreach are common ways to find clients. You could work with:

• Authors
• Businesses
• Online content creators
• And so on

However, the work can get repetitive. And unless you create an agency, it’s tricky to scale your business.

To boost your income, you can specialize in a high-paying niche, like:

• Legal documents
• Medical research papers
• Technical manuals
• Financial reports
• Marketing brochures
• Corporate annual reports

29. Home service provider 

Being a home service provider means you offer services people need in or around their homes. Think:

• Cleaners
• Landscapers
• Personal chefs
• Home organizers
• Pool maintenance experts

You set your rates and get paid per job or on a retainer for regular clients.

Not sure where to get started?

Platforms like Angi or TaskRabbit help you find your first gigs.

To increase your earnings, you can specialize in high-demand or niche areas and offer premium services.

For example, you can set yourself apart by offering:

• Eco-friendly cleaning solutions
• Gourmet meal prep for dietary restrictions

The main downside?

The physical nature of these jobs means there’s a cap on how much you can earn — there are only so many hours in a day.

30. Online brand ambassador  

If you’ve already built up a following, becoming an online brand ambassador opens up a new revenue stream.

It’s a type of influencer marketing. (But more on that in business idea #32…)

You partner with brands to promote their products or services on your social media or blog. 

In other words: You use your online presence to boost a brand’s visibility.

Staying authentic while promoting products is a balancing act.

But there are several ways how you can make money:

• Sponsored posts
• Affiliate links
• Free products or services

While it can bring in some nice additional income, it’s not ideal as a first business.

To be successful, you need a decent-sized following. This takes time to build.

31. Professional organizer

As a professional organizer, you transform chaos into order.

Being a professional organizer can be a type of ‘home service provider’ (see business idea #29), but you’re not limited to just homes.

For instance, you can also organize commercial spaces, like offices or retail stores.

You’re the go-to person to make spaces functional and aesthetically pleasing. Whether it’s a:

• Cluttered home
• Disorganized office
• Stuffed storage unit

If you only work on-site, your earnings are bound by the clock. Each day has its limit on how many jobs you can take on.

That’s why you could also offer:

• Workshops
• Online courses
• Digital organization guides
• Affiliate marketing for organizing tools and products

32. Influencer marketing 

Through influencer marketing, you leverage your social media presence to promote brands, products, or services.

Businesses love influencer marketing because they get to tap into your relationship with your followers.

You can make money with:

• Sponsored posts: Companies pay you to post about them.
• Affiliate marketing: Earn a cut for every sale made through your referral.
• Product collaborations: Partner with brands to create or promote a product.

Ideally, though, you don’t want to only rely on external companies.

You can diversify your income streams with your own:

• Digital products
• Online courses

A major downside of this business model is that you need a relatively big following. This takes a lot of time and effort.

33. Artisanal product sellers 

This business model lets you turn your creativity into profit.

You could sell:

• Jewelry
• Embroidery
• Paintings
• Crafts
• And so on

The point is that you sell something special and not mass-produced.

You can earn money by:

• Selling through online marketplaces, like Etsy, or your own website
• Selling at craft fairs or local markets
• Offering custom, made-to-order items for a premium price

The challenge?

Making enough sales…

Unless you charge premium prices, you’ll need to sell a lot of items to turn a profit.

Plus, the materials can be expensive. This leads to higher startup costs and more risk for you.

34. Private label product seller  

Selling private label products means you sell items made by another company but with your brand name on them.

It’s a way to have your own products without the hassle of making them yourself.

You can make money by:

• Selling online on your site or places like Amazon
• Selling in bulk to stores
• Offering subscriptions for regular orders

But the tough parts are:

• Paying upfront for products and branding
• Finding a good company to make your products
• Standing out when many others might sell similar stuff
• Needing a good grasp of branding and marketing
• Dealing with supply chain management

These challenges make it tricky for new entrepreneurs.

35. Graphic designer 

As a graphic designer, you work on things like:

• Logos
• Social media posts
• Websites
• Brochures
• Business cards
• Branding packages

Most graphic designers charge by the job or by the hour.

You can earn money by:

• Doing jobs for clients
• Selling your designs online
• Working directly with businesses

The goal is to focus on getting well-paying clients.

That way, just a handful of clients can already make your business profitable.

The challenge?

Graphic design is a competitive field.

To stand out, you not only need experience and skills but also marketing know-how.

You also need to invest in the right tools and software. This adds to your startup costs.

36. Apartment or car rentals

Renting out apartments or cars means others use something you own in exchange for money. You generate income from the rental fees.

You can do this through websites like Airbnb for homes or Turo for cars.

This business model lets you make (semi-)passive income from things you own.

But there are some downsides:

• Initial investment: Buying property or vehicles is expensive.
• Maintenance: Keeping your rentals in good condition requires time and money.
• Liability: You might have to deal with damage or legal issues.

To reduce your workload, you can outsource tasks like:

• Cleaning
• Customer service
• Booking management
• Maintenance
• Marketing

But this also increases your costs.

37. Handyman 

Being a handyman (or woman) is a hands-on job.

You earn money by doing repairs that people don’t want or know how to do themselves.

Think of tasks like:

• Plumbing
• Unclogging drains
• Electrical issues
• Painting
• Carpentry
• Renovations
• Appliance installation

Handyman platforms like Angi or TaskRabbit make it easier to find your first clients. And if you already have the right tools, the startup costs are minimal.

But it’s very physically demanding work.

Because it’s so hands-on, your income is limited to how many tasks you can handle.

Traveling to clients’ locations also adds to your workday.

38. Personal trainer 

As a personal trainer, you improve your clients’ lives by helping them reach their fitness goals.

You can earn money by:

• Charging per one-on-one session
• Offering package deals for multiple sessions
• Offering group classes
• Online coaching
• Selling personalized workout and nutrition plans

With the right clients, being a personal trainer is lucrative.

But if your business model needs you to be physically present for each session, your income potential is limited.

That’s why I’d recommend offering online classes or becoming a fitness coach instead. 

When you work online, you reach more people without being restricted by time or place.

To boost your income, you can also add high-value services like nutrition advice. But just know that you might need a certification for that.

So, always double-check for any official requirements.

39. Car washer

Here’s how you can make money as a car washer:

• Charging per car wash
• Offering extra services like waxing or interior detailing
• Setting up subscription packages for regular customers

But, there are a few downsides:

• Physical work: It can be tiring to wash cars all day.
• Weather dependent: Bad weather often means fewer customers.
• Competition: Lots of places offer car washes, so standing out is tough.

Car wash platforms like MobileWash can help get you started. But competing with established car washes is tough.

Even though it’s a straightforward way to earn, it’s hard to scale this business without hiring help or adding more services.

Plus, because it’s so hands-on, your income is tied to how many cars you can wash.

40. Delivery personnel 

Being a delivery person means you bring items, like food or packages, to people’s homes or offices.

You can work with:

• Restaurants
• Online stores
• Delivery apps like UberEats and DoorDash

The appeal?

You get to set your own schedule and start earning quickly.

You make money through delivery fees and tips. And you earn money for each delivery you make.

But, there are some challenges…

• How much you earn depends on how many deliveries you can make.
• Your income depends on demand, delivery location, and tips. This makes it less predictable than other side hustles.
• Wear and tear on your vehicle and fuel costs can eat into your earnings.

41. Baker 

While baking is a traditional profession, today, there are many modern ways to make money from it:

• Selling directly to customers from a home kitchen or at markets
• Supplying local cafes and restaurants
• Taking custom orders for events like weddings or parties
• Offering subscription boxes
• Hosting workshops or classes
• Creating an online baking course

If you love to bake, this is a nice business idea.

But these are some typical challenges you’d face:

• You need to comply with food safety regulations
• The market is competitive
• Initial setup costs can be high
• Building a consistent customer base takes time
• Besides baking experience, you also need marketing skills

These were the most profitable side hustle ideas.

But how do you even go about starting a side business that pays well?

We’ll cover that next.

How can you start a side hustle that pays well?

If you’d like to dive deeper into how to start your own side business from home, then this article is for you.

For now, let’s take a quick look at three important steps.

1. Find an idea

A common mistake new entrepreneurs make is trying to find a groundbreaking business idea.

But here’s the thing:

It’s not about inventing the next big Amazon or Microsoft.

Rather, it’s about leveraging what you’re already good at.

You want a side hustle that:

• You can start right away
• Has a high profit margin

The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see progress.

And with a high profit margin, even a few sales can mean good income.

That’s why coaching, consulting, or freelancing are such great business models — they fulfill both criteria.

They:

• Rely on skills you already have
• Require little to no initial investment
• Let you offer a high-value service for which you can charge higher prices

The trick is to find the intersection between your existing skills and market needs.

Once you’ve figured that out, it’s time to officially set up your side hustle…

2. Set up your side hustle 

If you want to launch your side hustle the right way, this checklist is your go-to resource.

Here are three important steps to keep in mind:

• Choose your business structure: Decide if you’ll work solo as a sole proprietor or set up an LLC. Sole proprietorships are straightforward which makes them ideal for a small side hustle. An LLC offers legal protection and tax benefits but takes more effort to set up.
• Register your business: Registering your business is sometimes as simple as letting your local or state government know your business name. And if you’re using your personal name, you might not even have to register at all. This saves you time, but you also miss out on legal protections and tax benefits.
• Look into licenses and certifications: Some fields need special licenses or certifications. Health, finance, or law, for example, have strict rules. Depending on your location, you might also need a business license, a professional permit, or a DBA (doing business as) registration.

Got your business set up?

Then all that’s left is finding your first customers. That’s the next step.

3. Get your first paying customers 

To run a successful business, you need to generate income.

But finding your first customers can seem challenging.

So, how do you start?

Use these strategies:

• Tap into your network: This goldmine is often overlooked. Chat with family, friends, and colleagues. They could become your first customers or recommend you to others.
• Use social media: Find out where your potential customers hang out online and join them there. Be helpful and provide value by answering their questions.
• Join podcasts: This can get you in front of more people. The key is to choose podcasts that really match what you’re selling.

At first, you need to actively seek out clients.

But as your reputation and experience grow, you’ll notice a shift — clients will start seeking you out.

That’s when you can then either:

• Expand your side hustle into a full-time business
• Or keep it a side hustle, but raise your prices to earn even more

The choice is yours.

Next steps

OK, that’s a wrap!

You now know what the best side hustle ideas are that pay well.

If you pick the right side hustle, it can be a nice source of extra income.

But it can also be the stepping stone to finally being your own boss.

Whatever your intentions are with your side hustle, there’s a lot more that goes into keeping a business successful.

Interested in diving deeper? 

Get my FREE blueprint to building your own six-figure online business: 

Read more:

How to Start a Successful Coaching Business

Overcome Your Fear of Starting a Business

Finally Go From Employee to Entrepreneur