If you want to make some extra money, starting a side hustle can be a great way to do it. It feels exhilarating and empowering to earn extra cash beyond the limits of your paycheck. And there are more ways than ever to make money with side hustles, especially if you have some in-demand professional skills.
According to a recent survey from NetCredit, several U.S side hustles that companies hire for on major freelance platforms are paying over $100 per day. Let's look at a few easy ways for American side hustlers to make extra cash.
Top ten side hustles from NetCredit study
In January 2024, NetCredit announced a study where the company analyzed thousands of short-term freelance gigs that had been posted on Fiverr. All of these side hustle gigs are defined as "one-day" projects, because they all require short turnaround times of 24 hours.
According to NetCredit, here are the top 10 side hustles for U.S. workers who want to earn more money in one day:
- Marketing strategy ($178.08 average pay for projects with one-day turnaround)
- Mobile app developer ($164.15)
- Presentation design ($163.62)
- Website designer ($162.18)
- Songwriter ($158.14)
- 3D Industrial design ($142.34)
- Brand style design ($136.43)
- AI spokespersons videos ($134.40)
- Packaging and label design ($122.66)
- UX design ($122.09)
Altogether, these top 10 side hustles for U.S. workers offer average pay of $148.41 per day.
What do the top ten side hustles tell us about the economy
Most of the best-paying side hustles identified by the NetCredit study involve professional, "digital world," or "knowledge work" skills that can be done from a laptop, like graphic design and software development. Side hustles can also involve other types of "physical world" skills, like lawn mowing, dog walking, food delivery, and home organizing. But if you have digital skills and are willing to put in some extra hours during nights and weekends, starting a side hustle could be a great way to earn extra income.
How to find good side hustles online
If you want to earn money with a side hustle, there are a few options.
1. Digital freelance work platforms
There are many freelance services marketplaces or "talent platforms" where gig workers and side hustlers can apply for freelance gig "job postings" from companies that are hiring. There are several types of online talent marketplaces for various freelance skill sets. A few of the best platforms for gig workers include:
- Fiverr (featured in the NetCredit side hustle study; Fiverr ranks as one of the best for creatives)
- Toptal (best for technical workers like developers)
- Upwork (best for a wide range of freelance gigs)
2. Part-time and contract gigs
If you have a flexible schedule, you could get a work-from-home side gig like customer service. Or if you're handy with tools, you could start a side hustle doing home maintenance projects. Some of the best places to find these part-time and contract side hustles include:
- FlexJobs and ZipRecruiter: These sites offer freelance, part-time, flexible, and remote/work-from-home jobs like customer service, copywriting, administrative roles, and more.
- TaskRabbit: Get paid to do small projects like yard work, deliveries, furniture assembly, moving, and more.
- Rover: Get paid to walk dogs or provide pet-sitting services.
How to start a side hustle
You don't need much to start a side hustle nowadays. Just make sure you're able to meet the expectations of any gig platforms where you sign up -- for example, some platforms might charge a one-time fee or require you to follow certain terms of service (TOS) for using the site or app.
And if you have a full-time day job, make sure you're not violating any expectations of your company's terms of employment -- don't do your side hustle during company time, don't use company laptops or equipment to do your side hustle, and don't work for competitors or otherwise violate your commitments to your "day job" employer. Side hustles should help you earn extra cash without jeopardizing your regular paycheck.
You might also want to open a new bank account that is separate from your usual checking account where you get your paycheck. Get a dedicated credit card that you can use for your side hustle business expenses. Keeping your side hustle money separate from your usual personal finances can help make it easier to track your income and any tax-deductible business expenses.
And if your side hustle starts earning serious money, and you want to turn it into an "official" small business, you might want to form an LLC (limited liability company) to get extra tax benefits and legal protections.
Bottom line
The top 10 side hustles for people with digital skills and knowledge work expertise are paying over $148 per day -- but that's not the only way to make money with a side hustle. You're not alone in wanting to make extra cash: approximately 64 million Americans, or 38% of the U.S. workforce, did freelance gigs in 2023. There are plenty of opportunities for people who can put their skills to work in a flexible way that's outside of the usual 9-to-5 world. Side hustles can be a good thing for your career, and for your budget.
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