Dream side hustles: 12 ideas for starting your own business

A side hustle offers a chance to have fun and indulge in a hobby or passion at the same time. This means that not only can you get a sense of fulfillment from your side hustle, but you can also make some extra money. All the sweeter, if you ask us. 

When it comes to starting a side hustle, consider how much time and energy you can realistically commit to your endeavor. Some people are comfortable with investing an hour or two a day into their business, while others might opt for a full-day commitment on the weekend. One of the most appealing aspects of starting your own business is that you can fit your working hours around your 9-to-5 and other obligations. 

With the above in mind, here are 12 ideas to get you started.

Credit: Pexels

Dog walker

Difficulty level: Easy

What could be better than spending hours with man’s best friend?! Being a dog walker (or sitter) means you can spend time with plenty of furry friends, who are always up for exciting adventures. While you can set up your own dog-walking business, services like PetSitterPlus and Rover make it easy to turn a passion for pooches into a source of extra income. In fact, 500,000+ pet sitters and dog walkers have earned money caring for pets on Rover alone!

Credit: Pexels

Create worksheets or templates

Difficulty level: Easy

Digital products like worksheets or templates let you offer a product faster than something like a full-scale online course, with less upfront investment. An individual worksheet or template might sell for as little as a few dollars, but you only have to create it one time and can enjoy passive revenue from sales month after month. Jen Regan left her full-time teaching job in 2017 thanks to the sizable income she nets from her side hustle selling curated classroom resources online. The real work when it comes to making bank off of worksheets and templates is promoting them. Sites like Etsy help simplify the process.

Credit: Pexels

Start a blog

Difficulty level: Medium

Starting a blog about a topic you’re passionate about is a great way to meld work and profit. You won’t start making money right away, but with good SEO practices and a dedicated following, you can slowly turn this side hustle into a full-on business. Cristina Curp started her blog, Castaway Kitchen, to share her passion for food. In a few years she’s landed brand sponsorships, two cookbooks, and has created a consulting business. 

Credit: Pexels

Create ASMR videos

Difficulty level: Hard

Creating stimulating videos that give people warm fuzzies is not only a noble profession (in our humble opinion) but it can also be pretty lucrative. Some ASMRtists earn upwards of $1,000 or more per month making YouTube content. This side hustle is challenging due to the technical skills required to create and publish content, but is well-suited for artsy or techy entrepreneurs. 

Credit: Pexels

Stream on Twitch

Difficulty level: Easy

Start your own Twitch channel around a topic you’re passionate about, then build a community around it – no matter what you’re into. (Most people use it to stream video game play). All you need to start streaming is a stable internet connection and a tool that can broadcast video to the internet. Twitch offers monetization options for Twitch Affiliates, and you can use off-platform donations, merch, and sponsorship deals to make money streaming on Twitch.

Credit: Pexels

Sell your photography

Difficulty level: Medium

No matter what style of photos you shoot – from landscapes to headshots – you can license them through a photo-sharing website, or set up your own ecommerce store. You can also use your photography skills and a camera to earn a little extra dough by venturing into wedding photography, pet photography, or product photography. Los Angeles-based outdoor photographer Ryan Locknecker is just one photographer who offers photographs as prints on paper and canvas in a variety of sizes through his website. Additionally, you could hold flash print sales via social media or Etsy for further revenue streams.

Credit: Pexels

Give tours of your neighborhood

Difficulty level: Medium

What better tour guide to have than a local who knows the neighborhood? If you live in a touristy destination, set up a local tour guide company as your new side hustle. You’ll get to explore your city and meet new people. To be successful, you’ll have to market heavily, build contacts, and provide outstanding service. Entrepreneur says tour guides can typically charge clients around $150 for half-day tours, and as much as $300 for full-day tours.

Credit: Pexels

House sitter

Difficulty level: Easy

House-sitting is a pretty fun and low-stress way to make money, as long as you can find enough clients. As an added bonus, you could also save yourself some cash on rent or accommodations while traveling. Stephanie Perry at House Sitter School is one such professional house sitter exploring the world on a budget. Sites like Nomadr make it easy to connect with people in need of house-sitting services.

Credit: Pexels

Calligrapher

Difficulty level: Easy

If you have nice penmanship and enjoy the art of the handwritten note, you can start a side hustle selling calligraphy services. You could also teach others your craft through online or in-person workshops. Amanda Reid started her business in 2020 after catching the calligraphy bug a few years earlier. Her first client was herself! (She made her own wedding signage.) She says that after about four years of practice, she decided to launch her own business doing what she loves.

Credit: Pexels

Matchmaker

Difficulty level: Hard

If you have a large network and like throwing parties and connecting people, starting a matchmaking side hustle could be a fun opportunity. This is one side hustle that’s on the harder side, as you’ll need to know a lot of people well enough to spot and make a connection. In addition, you’re coordinating events like minglers, and dealing with big feelings, which can get messy. In spite of the challenges, Jasbina Ahluwalia left a career in law to start her matchmaking service Intersections Match, blending aspects of traditional Indian matchmaking with modern-day approaches to pair progressive, successful singles.

Credit: Pexels

Flip used items

Difficulty level: Medium

Odds are you’ve got a bunch of stuff laying around the house collecting dust. Turn those used items into cash by listing them on websites like Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, or eBay. You can also collect free or inexpensive items from online listings and sell them for a higher price. The challenge here is to take good listing photos, and manage pickups and deliveries. You’ll also need a keen eye for what’s a quality resale item and what’s simply junk. Some flippers are racking in six-figure salaries reselling items. 

Credit: Pexels

Flower farmer

Difficulty level: Hard

While it might make for cute Instagram posts, selling flowers at a roadside stand is truly a labor of love. First you have to plan the garden and order the materials. Then you have to plant it. Lovingly care for your bulbs and seeds and you’ll be rewarded with fresh blooms to sell. You’ll need to carefully manage expenses, inventory levels, and payments to be successful – oh, and don’t forget about getting the word out about your venture. Even starting a small flower farm will likely take a few thousand dollars of investment. As if that isn’t enough, the quality of your product is at the mercy of Mother Nature – talk about stress! That said, cut flowers are one of the most profitable crops you can grow, so if it’s something you’re passionate about, dig in!