Maybe you’re having a hard time making ends meet. Or maybe you’re stuck in a day job that’s just not right for you. Or perhaps you just need a way to explore your passion without committing to a full-on business.
Whatever your reason, side hustles are becoming more and more popular as workers seek ways to earn outside of the traditional 9-to-5. In fact, an estimated 35% of millennials are involved in some type of side business that contributes to their incomes.
And, take it from someone who’s tried a lot of them, a side hustle really can be the financial solution or creative outlet you need. I’ve used side hustles to:
- Pay down student loan debt
- Build an emergency fund
- Eliminate credit card debt
- Pursue my passion (writing)
But, perhaps my most successful side hustle to date is this blog. I started Work from Home Happiness as a way to discuss remote work, extra income ideas, and help others find happiness in working on their own terms. In the beginning, it was a fun way to write about the things I wanted (at the time, I was a legal freelance writer so was getting paid to write what others told me). And in nine months, it turned into my full-time job.
And, really, a lot of people have similar side hustle success stories — where they pick something they enjoy doing, start as a side hustle and grow into a full-time career. The good news is you can too. I’ve written a lot about different side hustles, but they’re spread out all over the place across this blog. So, I decided to package them all together here on this reference page so you can more easily find the right side hustle for you!
Popular Beginner-Friendly Side Hustles
Not all side hustles are built out of passion. Sometimes, they’re done out of necessity, as in you’re living paycheck to paycheck, are behind on bills, and need more money, like yesterday. That’s okay. There are no shortage of side hustles that can get you through financially and are easy to get started.
Writing
You know that somewhat overused phrase, “content is king?” Well, it’s kinda true. With nearly 1 billion websites in existence, that amounts to a whole lot of content that needs to be written each and every day. And that’s good news for writers because it equals tons of work to go around.
I’m always amazed (but not surprised) to read side hustle success stories where someone turns a love of writing into a lucrative business. But, before you can be a success, you’ve got to get started.
I’ve written a lot about launching a freelance writing career with absolutely no experience. And, to make it easier to absorb everything, I’ve put together a quick-start Become a Freelance Writer guide.
Give it a read and start writing — you really don’t need any experience to get started.
Virtual Assistant
We can also thank the Internet for making it easier to get things done — with an internet connection and computer, you can really do a lot of the common administrative tasks that would typically tether you to an office chair somewhere.
Today, busy professionals, solopreneurs, small business owners and bloggers seek out the services of virtual assistants (VAs) to help them get more done. This can include everything from calendar management to email handling — but really, it all depends on the client and what their line of business is.
For example, if you were helping someone who runs online stores, you might be tasked with inventory management, writing product descriptions or handling customer service via emails.
Or, if you were helping a blogger, you might write posts, create images, and/or handle social media accounts.
To help you figure out what kind of VA you are, I’ve put together the Become a Virtual Assistant quick-start guide. It’s a good place to start when you have no idea how to start 🙂
Transcription
Not everyone has the talent for transcription. I just wanted to get that out right away. There seems to be a common misconception that anyone and everyone can find success as a transcriptionist. And while there are many companies that hire beginning typists with no experience, that doesn’t mean that everyone will be good at what they do (or even enjoy it).
Generally speaking, to be a successful transcriptionist, you’ll need to type quickly and accurately all while listening to audio (which may or may not be clear!). You’ll also need to put together coherent sentences and be able to proofread your work to be consistently error-free.
If you think you have what it takes to make it as a typist, you’ll be happy to know there’s no shortage of work. To make it easier for you to understand what’s available, I’ve put together the Become a Transcriptionist quick-start guide. In it, you’ll figure out where all the transcription jobs are and whether or not you’ve got what it takes to make it!
Proofreading
I’ve dabbled in proofreading from time to time. And I’ll be the first to say, if you’re good, you can quickly build up a loyal client base. As a legal writer, I picked up a couple of legal editing assignments that then turned into several more and then even more — and I wasn’t even pitching clients or advertising my services as a proofreader. I simply was getting contacted by clients who were referred to me by other clients. Eventually, I had to turn down much of the work as I was getting too busy with Work from Home Happiness.
But, my point is, if I could fall into proofreading as a side hustle, you can certainly make a go of it when you put your full efforts and talents into it.
As with the other side hustles, I put together a Become a Proofreader quickstart guide to give a good overview of what you can expect and where to find work. It should be your jumping off point if you plan on pursuing a proofreading side hustle.
Passion Projects
As I said, side hustles usually fall into one of two camps: necessity or passion. While you can combine the two, like writing for example, sometimes you take a side hustle just to make some extra money — not because you necessarily love it or want to do it forever.
But then, there’s those side hustles that are built on passion — ones that soothes your soul and makes you feel alive. That’s how blogging is for me.
And so, that’s why I’m including blogging under the Passion Projects list — because, if I’m being honest, it’s not easy to make money as a blogger. In fact, it can take months or even years before you see any kind of income. But, if you love helping others claw their way out of debt, enjoy sharing life hacks with the rest of us, are an amazing DIYer ready to share your tips or a mom/dad who’s mastered this whole parenting thing — you can turn the things you love into a profitable blog.
As with anything worth doing, you need to start your blog off on the right foot. Make sure to read my quickstart guide, How to Start a Blog for step by step guidance on selecting a name, picking a niche and setting your blog up with a hosting provider.
But passion projects don’t just stop at blogging — really, there’s endless ways to take what you love and turn it into something that makes money. Some articles to explore:
Flip Products for Profit on Amazon
Hobbies that Can Actually Earn Money
Write an eBook in 5 Simple Steps
Sell Books Online for Extra Cash
Turn Your Existing Skills into Your Ideal Side Job
As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me: ashlee@workfromhomehappiness.com
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