Why Side Hustles Online are the Best
Here is the thing, more people than ever are looking for ways to make extra income without adding a second job or burning out. (Totally understandable!)
Whether you want to knock out some debt, save for something big, or just breathe a little easier each month, online side hustles have become one of the most accessible ways to get there.
And the best part?
You don’t need to be tech-savvy, have a massive audience, or invest thousands in something you saw on Youtube.
You just need a game plan and the willingness to stick with it.
What Makes the Best Side Hustles Online for Beginners
Before we dive into the side hustles themselves, let’s talk about what makes a good one.
A solid online side hustle should have low startup costs (ideally $0–$100), give you the flexibility to work on your own schedule, and not require years of experience to get going.
It should also have the potential to grow with you over time with an option to scale if desired.
And most importantly, it should be doable with just your laptop or phone.
If that sounds like your vibe, keep reading because these are the best side hustles online for beginners, even if you’re starting from scratch.
1. Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is probably one of the best side hustles online for beginners. You don’t need to be a published author to get paid to write. Businesses, content creators, and bloggers are always seeking writers who can clearly explain complex concepts.
Start with platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or reach out to bloggers directly. With some clients paying $50–$100 per post, you could actually $1,000 with a few projects.
There is also an upscale of people looking for freelancers to run business ads for them. And what’s great is you can learn how to do Facebook/IG Ads for free or purchase a course from Coursera or Facebook themselves, and become certified.
(This is a great skill to learn anyway if you want to get into online business. Win-win!)
2. Create Soundscapes or Motivational Videos using AI for Youtube
So this one will take some cash and creative juices. But the world of AI has made it incredibly easy to create videos for Youtube that you can use on a side channel.
Have you ever seen those AI shorts of people turning cartoon characters and zodiac signs into real people?
Fun but creepy… 😳
Well you can do the same thing by learning to program AI to create amazing video content with human-like voice over to make a YouTube channel that becomes monetized.
In fact, I am hoping to dive into this soon. (So stay tuned.. I’ll tell you all about it.)
Another platform that is taking this idea by storm are Invideo and Envato. Here you can use their software to create your marketing videos, Youtube videos etc for a small membership fee per month.
Making money online is getting easier and easier. And this is one of the best side hustles online for beginners that uses the most popular discoveries: Artificial Intelligence. 🧠
3. Selling Printables (Done this!)
Think templates, planners, checklists, or mini-guides. These are quick to create, endlessly scalable, and have no shipping headaches.
Just solve one real problem for someone, and you’ve got a product.
When I was doing this online side hustle, I was able to generate $1200 in 6 months selling cute “Manifestation Affirmation cards” people could print out, laminate from Etsy.
Now, the key is finding the right printables to create.
To give you an example of best sellers to start creating: seasonal printables.
I’m talking about printables like wedding printables, Christmas tags, and Halloween printable pdf games.
And the best part is, many serious “printable store owners” have scaled this side hustle into 6-figure businesses.
4. Large Scale Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is as easy as sharing products you actually like and use. When someone buys through your link, you earn a commission. You can promote on Pinterest, TikTok, email, or a blog.
But, the most rewarding promos are from those items that generate $1000 in affilate sales with one sell. Yes, 1 Sell! Now, to find these types of affliates can be rather difficult.
But I got you, boo!
You can check out affiliate sites such as CJ Affiliates. Plus, CJ affiliates have TikTok integration if you want to do affiliate marketing through Social Media Platforms more efficiently. 🔥
Overall, it’s a low-effort way to earn while helping others discover valuable tools or products.
5. Flipping Items for Fast Cash
Look around your house. You probably have a few things worth flipping. Old electronics, books, clothes, and kitchen tools can sell well on eBay (maybe), Facebook Marketplace, or Poshmark.
And the best part is you can create a dual stream of income by filming the process of flipping these items to promote on a YouTube channel or Social Media.
Minimum startup cost. Quick return. And if you’re consistent, it adds up fast. So fun!
7. Virtual Assistant Gigs or Remote Admin Work
If you’re organized and good with email, consider virtual assistant work. Many small business owners need help with basic admin, social media, or calendar management.
Start on platforms like Freelancer, Upwork, or even by DM’ing local businesses you follow online. You be surprised what companies need that you can starting assisting with on the side.
8. Create Courses on Existing Platforms
Have you heard of Coursera? Well it a platform that promotes thousands of courses created by everyday people like you and me. You don’t need credentials or degrees to make these courses. And it can become a nice side hustle to do in during the evenings, working on it for 30 minutes a day.
Also, due to the smaller amount of brain cells we have lost (kidding!) you don’t need to create these long, extravagant modules anymore!
Short, sweet, and to the point is the name of the game now!
You can even create templates to be used through Canva. Or utilize websites like Creative Fabrica to get royalty-free images and fonts for commercial use.
—Now, I want to be clear about something: I hate online creator courses. So, if you do decide to create one, make sure to keep it updated regularly. Also, make sure to check if the course you are learning from is also updated within a year too. ✌🏼
How to Choose the Right Hustle for You
When thinking about which side hustle to start, you want to be honest on how much time and energy you have to exert on another project.
You also want to ask yourself:
What comes naturally to me?
Am I creative, analytical, techy, or nurturing?
How much money I have to invest in one of these side hustles?
Don’t get stuck overthinking. Just pick one that feels doable and stick with it for 60 days. You’ll learn what works by doing, not planning.
Your First $1,000 Game Plan
No one can tell you how to plan and conquer the ultimate side hustle. But I have created a generalized idea of what you should be focusing on for the first 30 days to see some gains despite which one you choose. I would expect investing at least an hour day on your side hustle creation:
Week 1- Figure out which side hustle to focus on. Research through social media and other platforms examples of people doing these things. Observe, take notes.
Week 2 – Once you have the data, focus on setting up your offers. Figure out what you need to get started and make a list. If some items cost money, see how much you need to get started and put it aside.
(If you need time to save, press pause. Save and come back to the following weeks once you have the money.)
Week 3-4 Get things in place. Need a website? Social media account? PayPal or Stripe account? Get it all set up.
Need a logo? Need a course? Make and keep everything simple and to the point. No bells and whistles starting. Need certain tools or software? Start purchasing them this week and watch their tutorials to use them correctly.
(Make sure to keep a track of your spending. You can schedule C them on your taxes for later.)
Weeks 4-8: Start promo ads and getting to that first sale. Once you get that first sale, you will see the hope! Keep going. Analyze how you made it to that sale. Find out what works and what doesn’t.
Consistency matters more than perfection. Many of these beginner side hustles to make money online can bring in $1,000 or more within 1–3 months. You just got to put in the work and be open to learning and failing.
What to Do After You Hit Your First $1K
Once you’ve made your first $1,000, celebrate! Then raise your prices, add bundles, create systems, and ask your audience what else they need. Turn one win into a system you can repeat or scale from $1,000 to $10,000.
Your first $1,000 online doesn’t have to take forever. You don’t need to be perfect, popular, or experienced. You just need to start. Pick one hustle, focus on solving one real problem, and stay consistent.
I can’t stress it enough!
–Liz