30 Best Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money In 2023 – Forbes Advisor INDIA

Side hustles are a great way to boost your income, plus they let you explore potential business ideas with little upfront costs or major time commitments. There are a variety of successful side hustle opportunities, whether in-person or online, so chances are there is a side hustle that could work for you. To help you find the right side hustle for you, here are 30 side hustle ideas.

1. Freelancing

Freelancing is a tried-and-true way to earn extra money and deserves a top spot on any list of easy side hustle ideas. Freelancers deliver work on a per-project basis for one or more clients and you can schedule it in your spare time. Freelance graphic designers, writers, editors and website developers are in high demand, and other fields offer freelance opportunities as well. Skilled mechanics, trained bookkeepers, video editors, interior decorators and even licensed real estate agents can find flexible project-based work within their skill sets.

Costs and platforms: Market your freelance skills to your personal network for free via email and social media accounts. You can also reach potential clients using freelancer portals such as Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer.com, which handles project management and payments for you. Marketing skills on your own website adds professional polish, plus lets you offer convenient online invoicing and payments via Square or another online payment provider.

2. Pet-Sitting And Doggie Daycare

A pet-sitting side hustle is ideal for animal lovers and easy to set up and promote. You can provide in-home care for pets while owners are working or vacationing or keep pets in your home for daytime or long-term care. Some states and municipalities require permits, so research requirements in your area. You can also earn added income by marketing pet insurance to your clients.

Costs and platforms: Costs are minimal for in-home care, but initial setup in your own home might require investments in kennels or gates. Find clients and manage gigs using popular pet-sitting apps like PetBacker or set up your own bookings and payment system using Square’s free tools.

3. Dog Walking

Love dogs but don’t have enough free time for pet sitting or space to commit to a doggie daycare setup? A dog-walking service might be the right side hustle for you. This side hustle is easy to fit into a busy schedule and offers the added benefit of getting exercise while making extra cash.

Costs and platforms: Costs are minimal since owners generally provide leashes, but you might want to invest in a few leashes and waste bags. In urban areas, you can find dog walking gigs using Wag!, TimetoPet and Rover, or manage your own bookings and payments using Square’s free tools.

4. Tech Setup Services

Are you a tech whiz when it comes to setting up home networks, smart home devices, computers and cell phones? You can easily make extra cash by marketing these skills to your community via social media and handyman apps. You can also seek tech certifications, and provide insurance and bonding to boost your credibility for in-home services.

Costs and platforms: Startup and ongoing costs are minimal, however, you might need to invest in a few tools to help with installations. Find and manage gigs using handyman application like HelloTech or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

5. Blogging

If you enjoy writing and sharing information with people, consider starting a blog focusing on a niche that interests you, such as travel, food, beauty or fashion. As you attract traffic, you can monetize the blog with ads or affiliate sales. Ads pay per view or per click while affiliate sales pay you to promote a product or service. When someone clicks on an affiliate link, you get paid a commission if they complete a purchase.

Costs and platforms: Expect to spend around INR 4,110 to around INR 8,220 per year to run a basic blog. You’ll need to buy a domain and build a blog website using a WordPress hosting service or web builder platform such as Wix or Squarespace. All offer user-friendly design tools and attractive blog templates so you won’t need to pay a designer or developer.

Learn more: Review the best blogging platforms on the market to find the right fit for your needs.

6. Senior Sitting and Companion

With advances in in-home senior care, more families are keeping aging relatives at home. This opens up side hustle opportunities for anyone looking to make extra cash as a companion or sitter while primary caregivers are away. To add credibility to your services, you can take CPR and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) courses.

Costs and platforms: This is a very low-cost side hustle. You can market your services and manage clients on care-based apps like care24 or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

7. Babysitting and Child Care

Babysitting and in-home child care are in demand, and this side hustle is a great way to earn extra income in your spare time or on a set schedule. 

Costs and platforms: Babysitting is another low-cost side hustle. You can market your services and manage gigs and payments using an application like 2050 HEALTHCARE, or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

8. Personal Assistant

Busy professionals need help getting day-to-day tasks done, and many prefer to have one person handle it all rather than juggle various service apps. This is an excellent opportunity for a side hustler who loves to check all the boxes on a to-do list, from grocery shopping and dry cleaning pickup to dog walking and getting kids to their destinations.

Costs and platforms: You can launch a personal assistant side hustle with few costs. However, in nonurban areas, you’ll probably need a vehicle. Top gig and payments apps for personal assistant services include ChatterBoss or you can set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

9. Mobile Car Washing and Detailing

Car washing is another low-cost side hustle and an ideal gig for anyone who loves working outdoors. You can offer this service to individuals at their homes, or contract with local businesses that run fleet vehicles or that want to offer weekly car washes as an employee perk.

Costs and platforms: Cleaning tools, a sturdy hose and nozzle and a vehicle are the primary startup costs for this side hustle idea. Top mobile car wash gigs and payments apps include CARFAX Car Care, Drivvo and AUTOsist, or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

10. Local Handyman

Are you the first one friends call to fix a light switch or hang a ceiling fan? Cash in on your handyman skills in your spare time while helping your neighbors check home improvement tasks off their to-do lists. To protect yourself and your clients and boost your credibility, you can become insured and bonded, but that’s not a requirement in most areas.

Costs and platforms: Costs are minimal for this side hustle, especially if you already have the tools of the trade. Handyman apps like UrbanClap help you market and manage gigs and payments, or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

11. Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants provide personal assistant services in the digital world and handle tasks including appointment scheduling, customer emails, travel bookings, data entry and much more. If you’re organized and tech-savvy, this side hustle is an ideal way to make money from home in your spare time.

Costs and platforms: You’ll need a reliable computer and internet connection, but those are your only costs to this side hustle. Virtual assistant apps including TaskRabbit, ChatterBoss and Upwork help you market services and manage gigs and payments. Or, manage bookings and payments using Square.

12. Sell at Local Markets and Festivals

Many product-focused side hustlers profit by selling unique goods that they source or create themselves at local markets and fairs. With travel time to markets and setup, this can be a time-consuming side hustle, but if you love getting out and mixing and mingling with people, it can be the perfect way to make extra money on the side. Plus, you can use these in-person sales to build brand awareness and promote your online store and social media platforms to attract sales between market appearances.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs for in-person product sales can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands since you need to stock your booth. You can lower your initial investment by sticking with suppliers that support returns of unsold goods, or by offering custom-order items that don’t require deep stock. Faire is an excellent source of unique resale and private label items and supports returns of unsold stock. You can also open a free Square account to accept in-person card payments, track sales in a sleek mobile POS and integrate with online sales on your own Square e-commerce website.

Learn more: Most top-rated POS systems fully integrate in-person mobile, retail and online sales so you can sell anywhere using one system.

13. Tutoring and Instruction

Do you have academic, musical, fine arts or sports skills? Tutors and personal instructors are always in demand, opening up all sorts of flexible side hustle opportunities. You can market in-person and virtual instruction services to parents looking for convenient sessions for kids, but don’t forget about adult students. Adults love to expand their horizons and can often attend sessions during school hours if that’s better for your side hustle schedule.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs are minimal in most cases, and apps and online platforms like TakeLessons.com help you market services and manage gigs and payments. Or, manage bookings and payments yourself using Square.

14. Self-Publishing Ebooks

Self-publishing ebooks is another side hustle idea that’s perfect for writers, but you don’t need to be a skilled wordsmith to cash in on this opportunity. If you can craft a creative story or explain how to do something, you can hire ghostwriters and editors to complete and polish your work. Then, you simply publish to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing and other ebook platforms such as Smashwords, Barnes & Noble Press, Lulu and others, and wait for the royalties to roll in.

Costs and platforms: Self-publishing ebooks can be very low-cost if you write your book and develop your own cover art. But most serious authors tap cover design and editing pros for the finishing touches and spend upwards of around INR 8,220 per title to publish. Ghostwriters can cost around INR 16,440 or more to develop a complete manuscript, based on book length and topic. Publishing to most ebook platforms is free, but these outlets take a percentage of the sale price, plus marketing adds costs as well.

15. Online Courses and Coaching

Do you have an area of expertise? You can cash in on your knowledge by creating and selling online courses and coaching programs in your spare time. Thanks to user-friendly, low-cost online course platforms, this is another side hustle idea that’s easy to launch. Plus, combined with social media marketing, ebooks, YouTube promotion and blogging, online courses and coaching side hustles can grow into a lucrative business.

Costs and platforms: Online course platforms such as Udemy, Thinkific and Podia walk you through the course creation process and help you pair courses with personalized coaching. Most have monthly fees or retain a portion of the fee when you sell a course. You can also add online courses and members-only content to website platforms including WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and others to create your own branded platform.

16. Digital Product Sales

Do you have a creative streak? Creating and selling digital products in your free time is another low to no-cost side hustle idea. Digital artwork, logos, music, photography, video and website design templates are a hot market You can cash in by creating these digitally and selling via download on your own website, social media platforms and myriad digital product marketplaces.

Costs and platforms: You can create digital products using your own graphic, photo, video or music software, or tap free online platforms such as Canva, PhotoPea and the Garageband app for creation. Monetize your creations on your own website or an Etsy store, and by uploading to creative marketplaces including Canva, Envato Market, Creative Fabrica, Shutterstock, iTunes, SoundCloud and many more.

Learn more: Many top e-commerce platforms support all types of digital product sales.

17. YouTube Channel

YouTube side hustles are a great way to make money in your spare time by sharing what you know, discussing current events or providing entertainment. YouTube is free to use, and you can monetize YouTube videos once you’ve reached at least 1,000 subscribers and average over 4,000 video watch hours per year. This can take a while to achieve, but with work, it’s possible to earn many thousands each month. Many dedicated side hustlers have turned their YouTube channel into a highly profitable full-time gig.

Costs and platforms: YouTube is free to join and you can upload unlimited videos for free. You can also create videos for free using a smartphone with a good camera and free video editing apps such as iMovie, Loom, Canva and AdobeSpark. To grow your YouTube channel, you can tap low-cost YouTube ads and share videos on your blog and social media accounts.

18. Viral Social Media Creator

Viral social media content takes many forms and you can cash in if you know how to create it. Top platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram have creator programs that let you monetize edgy entertainment shorts, helpful how-to’s, commentary videos and more. You need high-volume views to earn money, but it’s a fun and low-cost side hustle idea with big income potential.

Costs and platforms: This is a no-cost side hustle opportunity. Social media platforms are free to join and let you upload unlimited posts and videos. Most platforms provide their own free post and video creation tools, too, so you just need a cell phone with a camera to get started.

19. Influencer Marketing

Successful influencer marketers build a brand by posting engaging content across multiple platforms such as an affiliate website and blog, podcast channel, social media accounts and a YouTube channel. Influencers earn money using all types of content, such as product reviews and suggestions, entertaining videos, how-to tips and tricks, edgy social commentary and much more.

You can launch an influencer brand as a side hustle and earn money through affiliate links, ad income and sponsored content and monetize videos when views and followers reach certain levels. For example, earning money on YouTube requires 1,000 channel subscribers and 4,000 hours of views per year, while Facebook Reels profiles require 100,000 reel plays within 30 days to pay out.

Costs and platforms: It costs nothing to start an influencer side hustle on social media and YouTube since those accounts are free. You can also launch a free or low-cost website and blog using WordPress, SquareSpace, Wix and other website platforms, then upgrade your storage space and features as you grow.

Learn more: Using the right SEO tools across all channels helps boost your brand’s reach.

20. Create a Podcast

Podcasting is another popular low to no-cost side hustle idea that’s easy to launch and build. Podcasts are pre-recorded audio files that you record, edit and upload to podcasting services so listeners can access them at their convenience. Podcasts can be monetized through ads, sponsored content, affiliate links in the podcast descriptions and paid subscriptions.

Costs and platforms: You can record and edit a podcast with audio recording apps built into your smartphone, tablet or computer, then upload them to channels you create on platforms including iTunes, Anchor, Spotify and many more. Some have free plans, and most offer premium paid plans that support earnings via paid listener subscriptions, downloads and ad revenue splits.

21. Become an E-Commerce Reseller

Many successful side hustles center on classic e-commerce, where you buy, stock and sell a collection of items from multiple vendors yourself. This side hustle does require more upfront investment and time than other side hustle ideas listed here. However, plenty of entrepreneurs grow full-time businesses out of this side hustle. You can also boost income by combining standard e-commerce sales with POD goods, dropship products and affiliate blogging income.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs for this side hustle can range from around INR 41,292 to INR 412,836 or more, depending on initial stock purchases. However, a top-rated e-commerce platform won’t set you back too much. Starter plans on Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce and Weebly by Square range from free to just around INR 2,394 per month.

22. Take Online Surveys

Many marketing research companies are happy to pay for your opinion on various products, systems and topics. This side hustle idea doesn’t help you build your own business, but it’s an easy way to make extra cash in your spare time. Most survey outfits have you create an online account and connect a PayPal, Venmo or CashApp account for payment. Then, you can search and sign up for surveys that interest you via an app or online dashboard. 

If selected, you complete the questionnaire or project and typically get paid within a few days. Many surveys pay around INR 165 to INR 825 for a few minutes of your time, others pay upwards of around INR 8,256 for in-depth product reviews or questionnaires.

Costs and platforms: This is a no-cost side hustle idea. Legitimate survey groups such as User Interviews, Survey Junkie and Dscout have no upfront or monthly fees. However, reviewing and applying for various opportunities can be time-consuming. To avoid wasting time, check survey or project descriptions to ensure you fit their target demographic.

23. Test Apps and Platforms

Market research firms, app and game developers and website designers seek users of all technical skill levels to review their platforms and provide user feedback. Like online survey side hustles, testing apps and platforms doesn’t help you build a business. However, with payouts of around INR 825 to INR 12,385 or more for a few minutes or hours of your time, it can be quite lucrative.

Costs and platforms: This is another no-cost side hustle idea since it costs you nothing to apply for legitimate testing opportunities. Swagbucks, UserTesting and Enroll are a few of the top app and software platforms to check out.

24. Sell Artisan Products

If you love painting, woodworking, baking, sewing, knitting or crafting other handmade goods, you can cash in on your passion by selling artisan products in your spare time. To earn money with this side hustle idea, sell your ready-made or made-to-order handcrafted goods online and at local fairs and markets.

Costs and platforms: This side hustle idea has upfront costs for supplies and tools, but you can market and sell online with little to no upfront costs using Etsy, your own e-commerce website and social media accounts. If you plan to sell both online and in-person, consider Square or Shopify. Both offer sleek systems with fully integrated online stores, retail POS apps and mobile card readers.

25. Sell Goods Via Dropshipping

Dropshipping lets you build a robust e-commerce store without worrying about purchasing, stocking and shipping the items you sell. With dropshipping, you only pay for the items you sell when a customer makes a purchase. The dropship vendors take care of all storage, packing and shipping details, then charge you the item’s wholesale and shipping costs per order. Dropshipping can be a time-consuming side hustle since you manage your own website and customer service, but it’s the cheapest and easiest way to break into e-commerce sales.

Costs and platforms: For this side hustle, you need a good e-commerce platform that integrates with dropshipping vendors, such as Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce and BigCommerce. Proven dropshipping suppliers including Doba, AliExpress and Sprocket are the best place to start building your product collection.

26. Sell Print-on-Demand (POD) Products

Do you like to create fun graphics and sayings or have a talent for illustration or photography? You can turn your creativity into extra cash by adding your creations to various POD products, such as tee shirts, mugs, pillows, wall decor and much more. This side hustle idea is a cousin to dropshipping because the POD vendor takes care of all the details for you. You simply upload your artwork and add it to various items available for print to build a product collection. When ordered, your POD vendor prints, packs and ships the item and charges you the wholesale cost and shipping fee.

Costs and platforms: Like dropshipping, you need an e-commerce platform that integrates with POD vendors such as Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce and BigCommerce. For POD items, start with proven suppliers including Printful. 

Learn more: Shopify is a user-friendly e-commerce platform that integrates with most top-rated POD vendors.

27. Self-Publish Print-on-Demand (POD) Books

Are you a writer or illustrator or interested in capitalizing on the latest innovation in self-publishing? Then POD books might be the right side hustle for you. POD books cover the full spectrum of printable books, from novels and nonfiction to notebooks, planners, cookbooks, coloring books, puzzle books and more. You can create books using free or low-cost online tools, then upload the digital files to POD book sales platforms. When a customer purchases your title, the sales platform prints and ships the physical books and pays you a royalty.

Costs and platforms: Several free and low-cost platforms make it easy to create POD book files, including Canva, Reedsy and the BookBolt Studio. It costs nothing to list your titles with top POD bookseller platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Lulu and IngramSpark. Printing and shipping costs are charged when a book is sold, so you have no upfront print fees for this side hustle idea.

28. Sell Products Using Retail Arbitrage

Are you a savvy shopper who can sniff out a deal and isn’t afraid to do a little price research? Then retail arbitrage might be the side hustle idea for you. In retail arbitrage, you buy clearance and markdown products from retail stores, then sell them online at a higher price. If you’re willing to check out local sales, compare prices on Amazon and other online marketplaces, and invest a little money purchasing goods, this side hustle can be a real cash cow.

Costs and platforms: The retail arbitrage side hustle comes with upfront costs in purchasing and shipping products, and some time commitments running to stores and comparing prices. However, free and low-cost price checker apps include Amazon Seller App help you make smart buys.

29. Sell Proprietary Goods

If you have an idea for a product and don’t mind making an upfront investment, you can contract with factories to create proprietary goods. Many side hustlers simply find a product that already exists, make a few improvements, and produce it at a reasonable cost. You can wholesale these goods under your own brand to retailers, plus sell directly to consumers on your own website, on Amazon, and through social media marketplaces. 

This is another side hustle idea that has launched many successful businesses, but it does take research and work to get it right.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs for this side hustle can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands, depending on your product design needs and factory order, but that’s the primary cost. Searching for factories and custom suppliers on Alibaba.com costs nothing, and e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce and Weebly by Square range from free to just around INR 2,394 per month.

30. Sell Private Label Products

Many side hustlers create unique branded goods using private label suppliers. These are products that a factory already makes, but will package it using your logo, labels and unique packaging specifications. This supplier method is especially suited to a side hustle since most private label sellers have lower order minimums than ordering proprietary goods direct from a factory.

Private label products let you build a complete grouping of items such as a cosmetic line, kitchen tool collection or gourmet food brand without a huge cost investment. Like most other product side hustle ideas in this section, you can wholesale private label goods or sell directly via your own website, social media profiles and marketplaces such as Amazon.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs for a private label side hustle can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands, depending on the items you’re purchasing. However, some suppliers offer returns on unsold items and dropshipping, which lowers your investment. Check out private label goods on Alibaba.com and sell via a low-cost e-commerce website using Shopify, Weebly by Square or WordPress with WooCommerce.

Side Hustles to Avoid

Some side hustles seem like great money-making opportunities. But in reality, many require hefty investments of time, money or both, and deliver limited returns without a serious commitment. Here are some red flags to watch out for when considering side hustle opportunities and gig work.

Hustles That Require Licensing or Certification

Salon services, real estate sales and certified accounting and tax prep services are often touted as top side hustle ideas. While these fields can be very profitable, you must have the required education and licensing or certification. To get this, you’ll spend anywhere from around INR 41,286 to INR 825,760, or more, to complete your initial education, plus pay initial and annual licensing fees in most states.

If you’re hoping to build a career in these fields, this investment can be worthwhile. However, it’s a considerable time and cost commitment with no guarantees if you just want to make extra cash.

Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) Schemes

MLM companies are skilled at convincing you of easy money and big profit potential, and there certainly are many who do well in this model. However, you should carefully research any MLM opportunity’s required costs and product investment—which can be hefty—and examine their sales and profit model. In most cases, you’ll only profit if you build a large team of downstream salespeople, and that takes ongoing time and effort.

If high-pressure sales are your thing, an MLM side hustle might work for you. But if not, you might end up with a stack of unsold items that you can’t return, and no profits to speak of.

Side Hustle Coaching Programs

As you explore various side hustle ideas, you’re sure to stumble across coaching programs that tout untold profits and promise to help you quickly succeed. This is another group of skilled marketers who know how to convince you to pay INR 100s or INR 1000s for their “foolproof” system. While some coaching programs offer sound techniques and good advice, none are a ticket to quick riches.

Before paying for any coaching program, explore YouTube, Google and Kindle Unlimited to find free videos, how-to articles and e-books for the side hustles ideas that interest you. In most cases, you can find plenty of free information to help launch and grow your side hustle.

Bottom Line

Side hustles are a great way to earn extra income, pursue a passion or launch a new business in your spare time. With so many side hustle opportunities, it’s wise to explore the options to determine which hustles fit your skills, goals, budget and available time. 

No side hustle is a guaranteed success or get-rich-quick scheme, despite what some clever marketers and coaches claim. Like any business, a side hustle requires attention, commitment and follow-through. But done right, they offer great profit and growth potential, and can even turn into a full-time gig.