25 Great Ways to Earn Money on the Side

Who should skip this? If you aren’t tech-savvy or don’t like to be on camera, this gig may not be for you. It also often requires a commitment and a more structured work schedule. 

9. Serve on a mock jury

When lawyers want to try out their arguments before they enter the courtroom, they sometimes hire a mock jury to hear the case and provide feedback. Websites such as eJury and OnlineVerdict will pay you — roughly $5 to $10 per case — to read and respond to arguments lawyers in your community are preparing. Ejury estimates that it takes roughly 35 minutes or less to read each case. Most mock juror positions let you work from home.

Who should skip this? If you currently or recently worked in a legal field or some insurance roles, you may not be eligible for some mock juror jobs. Also, mock juries tend to be less common in rural communities, so your opportunities may be limited if you live in the suburbs or exurbs.

10. Help people with household projects

If you enjoy household tasks such as assembling furniture, fixing cabinets, hanging artwork or other handyman duties, sites like TaskRabbit, Handy and Thumbtack will connect you to people who are willing to pay for your helping hand. The amount you can earn varies by project.

Who should skip this? Both Handy and Thumbtack require users to have at least some previous paid experience, though that does not need to have been full-time work. These jobs typically involve physical labor, which sometimes can become more difficult or dangerous than expected. Consider your capabilities before taking on one of these tasks.

11. Become a virtual assistant

If you’ve ever worked as an administrative assistant or office clerk, virtual assistant positions let you use those skills while working remote with flexible hours. Job responsibilities will vary, but you should be comfortable using software such as Microsoft Office, PowerPoint and QuickBooks, for example. You can find openings for these jobs on FlexJobs, LinkedIn and Upwork, among other sites.

Who should skip this? Many employers look for candidates who have at least one or two years of administrative experience on their resume, so this may not be the right role if you lack that credential.

12. Transcribe meetings and other recordings

Full-time jobs as transcriptionists are in danger of disappearing as new technology takes over the role, but there are still opportunities to make money on the side in this field. Law firms and other businesses that prefer to keep their meetings confidential sometimes hire transcriptionists for freelance work. You can find opportunities on Rev, TranscribeMe and Quicktate, among other sites.

Who should skip this? Your typing and listening skills need to be strong to meet the requirements of the job. You also should be comfortable with meeting deadlines.

13. Put your wardrobe to work

Take some time to declutter your closets, and you might find some income opportunities in there, too. Thrift stores and secondhand clothing shops have become a booming business. An estimated one-third of clothing items sold between August 2023 and August 2024 were secondhand, according to a report from Capital One. Places to try selling your garments include Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Poshmark and local consignment shops.

Who should skip this? There’s a resale appetite for all types of clothing, from workwear staples to high-end fashion, but garments typically need to be in good condition. If your clothing is so worn out that you wouldn’t buy it, you probably won’t be able to sell it. 

14. Share your ride

In the more than 15 years since Uber launched, ridesharing has become a popular way to get around. Driving for a rideshare service like Uber, Lyft or others can be a fast and flexible way to make money. It can also be an easy way to meet and talk to new people.

Who should skip this? In general, you’ll need to be a licensed driver for at least one year, and own your own car that meets the service’s requirements. For example, with Uber, your car must be a 4-door vehicle that is not more than 15 years old. You must have a clean driving record and should expect situations when riders may not be at their best, such as riders who are intoxicated, in a hurry or otherwise upset. 

15. Walk a dog or pet-sit

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 59.8 million households owned dogs and 42.2 million owned cats in 2024. That’s a lot of pets that need attention when their humans are at the office or on vacation. If you’re good with animals, dog-walking offers flexible hours, furry companionship and light exercise. Sites that offer pet-sitting and dog-walking gigs include Care.com, Rover and Wag!

Who should skip this? Just because you have a great relationship with your own pets doesn’t mean that you'll hit it off with other people’s, too. Make sure you have experience with a variety of different pet personalities before you take on this job. 

16. Become an influencer

If you’re social media savvy, as many “grandfluencers” are, you can turn your connection with your audience into cash. According to a 2024 report from Influencer Marketing Hub, if you have 10,000 or fewer followers (“nano-influencer”), you can earn roughly $195 on average for a sponsored post. The price can jump to $1,221 for a post if you’re a “midtier influencer,” with between 10,000 and a million followers.

Who should skip this? It can take a while to attract followers to your account. Also, you typically must do the initial outreach to sponsors. As a result, this may not be the fastest way to earn money on the side.

17. Deliver food and groceries

If you have a car but don’t feel comfortable driving for a ride-share service, food delivery services such as DoorDash, Grubhub, Instacart, Postmates or Uber Eats may be another option to earn spare cash. One 50-plus DoorDash driver told AARP, “Dashing, for me, is not really about the money. I drive in silence, using the time as a break from the world, even in the midst of the controlled chaos of each delivery cycle. The sights and sounds I wouldn’t have seen and heard otherwise have been rewarding.”

Who should skip this? Most delivery services — and customers — expect food to be picked up and delivered at specific times, so you need to be comfortable driving under tight constraints.

18. Sell your crafts

If you have an artsy hobby — knitting, crocheting, painting, photography — you may be able to make extra money doing something you already enjoy. You can show off and sell your wares at local flea markets, craft fairs and yard sales. You might also try online marketplaces such as Etsy, Facebook Marketplace or eBay.

Who should skip this? If you have emotional attachments to your creations, you may later regret selling them.

19. Try house-sitting

Some people hire a housesitter to keep an eye on their home while they’re away on vacation. That’s especially true if they have pets. The role generally doesn’t pay much, because getting to live in a stranger’s home for free is generally the perk — and the arrangement can help you trim your own living expenses if you go from one house-sitting assignment to the next. But some homeowners will pay house sitters a small fee. Sites that can connect you with opportunities include MindMyHouse, Nomador and TrustedHousesitters.

Who should skip this? As mentioned, the job often includes some pet duties, so you should be comfortable with animals. You will also need to balance your responsibilities as a house sitter with the maintenance of your own home. 

20. Referee in a local sports league

If you enjoyed playing sports when you were younger, you probably have skills that can help the next generation of athletes. As a ref, you’ll have flexibility with which games you choose to officiate, but you may need to be certified by the league or another agency. According to Indeed, the average hourly wage for a state- or club-level referee ranges from $13.88 to $53.75, depending on the sport.

Who should skip this? Some sports, such as basketball and soccer, may require referees to do a significant amount of running, along with other possible collision hazards. And, of course, players, coaches and parents may disagree with your calls.

21. Test websites and apps

You can turn your internet skills into a side hustle by signing up for services that pay you to test websites to see how user-friendly they are. Userlytics, uTest, UserTesting and other sites will pay you for your feedback. Once you have completed the application process and enrolled as a tester, the company sends you online assignments as they become available. According to users, the pay rate ranges between $10 and $60 per completed test.

Who should skip this? UserTesting assigns tests in part based on your rating as a tester. Testers who don’t fully finish their assignments get lower ratings and then receive fewer assignments. If you tend to get distracted or lose interest quickly, this may not be a match for you.

22. Sell your photos online

Those photos you took on your smartphone for fun may be worth some money. Platforms such as SmugMug, Fine Art America and 500px let you set up an online store where other photography enthusiasts can buy or license your work. However, you have to pay a subscription fee to sell work on some of these platforms. For example, SmugMug has three subscription tiers, ranging from $25 to $45 per month.

Who should skip this? Photography can be a competitive field to break into, especially for newcomers. If you want your photos to sell well, you may need a special subject (a particular sport or national park, for example) or exceptional photography skills.

23. Manage social media for a small business

While many entrepreneurs are excited to post about what’s happening at their business, some decide to hand the social media duties over to a freelancer who can help them build buzz. You’ll have to negotiate the tasks and pay rate with the business owner. Pay typically ranges from $15 to $50 per hour, according to freelancers on Upwork. Other sites to find freelance social media assignments include Fiverr and Indeed.

Who should skip this? Social media management is a fast-paced field, often requiring quick responses to viral trends and engagement with comments on posts. If you prefer to work at a steadier pace, pick your assignments carefully.

24. Sell your unused gift cards

Why let a gift card sit unused just because you never shop at that store or eat at that restaurant? Websites such as CardCash and GiftCash will let you sell or trade unwanted gift cards, generally for up to 90 percent of the card’s remaining balance, depending on which business the gift card is for.

Who should skip this? For most people, selling or trading gift cards is more of an occasional way to make quick money rather than a steady side hustle.

25. Trade in your old cellphone or used electronics

Chances are you have an old cellphone or other unused gadget in your house that could score you some quick cash. One place to check the resale value of these items is Amazon’s Trade-in program, which pays in Amazon gift cards and discounts. Amazon is even willing to accept nonfunctioning items, which it hands over to electronics recyclers. Other options are Facebook Marketplace and eBay.

Who should skip this? This is another option for people looking to make fast money rather than a steady side hustle, though you could make a practice of rounding up unused tech from your friends and family.