Expert Tips to Start Your Side Hustle

How to start a side hustle: Expert tips to make money from home or on the go

The dollar doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. Borrowing is expensive, and no one wants to get caught in a debt trap. What are the alternatives? A side hustle is an income-generating activity you do outside your main job. It offers more flexibility than a part-time job and the opportunity to be an entrepreneur, possibly even a full-time business owner someday. This article provides suggestions for how to start a side hustle from home and what you can do to be successful.

Key takeaways:

1. You don't need perfection to start earning. A polished brand comes later—action comes first.
2. Your existing skills are more valuable than you think. People will pay for what you already know.
3. Simple market research prevents costly mistakes. Validate demand before diving deep.
4. Many profitable side hustles require minimal startup costs. You can begin earning without a major investment.
5. Financial planning separates successful hustlers from hobby tinkerers. Track everything from day one.
6. The best time to start was yesterday—the second best time is now. Today's tools make launching easier than ever.

What is a side hustle and why you might need one

Side hustles, also known as “gig work,” can be anything you do outside your full-time job, to make extra money. Many of them are creative, like writing, photography, or ceramics. Others, like coding or bookkeeping, require a special skill set. Doing these on the side, and not on someone else's schedule, is what classifies them as side hustles, not part-time jobs.

Side hustles to make money from home can certainly relieve financial pressure, but the benefits extend far beyond that. Side hustles provide creative outlets, networking opportunities, and may lead to potential career changes. They're also excellent for paying off debt, building savings, or testing entrepreneurial waters without quitting your day job.

Common side hustle categories include:

• Freelancing (writing, design, consulting)
• Online sales (Etsy shops, eBay flipping)
• Gig economy (rideshare, delivery, TaskRabbit)
• Digital products (courses, printables, apps)
• Services (lawnmowing, dog walking, babysitting)

The key is finding something that aligns with your skills, schedule, and income goals. If the idea is big enough, you might want to take on a partner. Two people can work the same side hustle if there’s enough work to go around. That’s often how small businesses get started.

How to start a side hustle in 6 steps

Starting a side hustle doesn't require an MBA or massive startup capital. This is an opportunity to “do what you love for a living.” In the first step, choose something you’re good at and enjoy doing, then follow the rest of the steps to go from idea to income.

Step #1: Identify your skills, interests, and time

This is the discovery step. Successful side hustles start with honest self-assessment. You’ll want to offer something you’re good at, but it also needs to be something you enjoy so you don’t get burnt out. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What do people already ask for my help with?
• What skills from my day job could I monetize?
• What do I genuinely enjoy doing?
• How many hours per week can I realistically commit?

Spend some time observing the people around you before you decide which way to go. There’s a real need for “soft” skills like organization, communication, and problem-solving. You could also offer services like housecleaning or lawnmowing that people need but can’t afford to pay full-time contractors for. If you live in a winter climate, you could also shovel snow.

Step #2: Validate your hustle idea

Knowing how to make money with a side hustle is only half the equation. The other half is figuring out whether there’s a demand for what you’re offering. Many people start a side hustle without taking this step, only to find out later that they wasted their time. Before investing time and money, confirm people want what you're offering. Use these simple validation tactics:

• Search Google Trends for related keywords
• Check competitors on platforms like Fiverr or Etsy
• Browse relevant Reddit communities and Facebook groups
• Ask friends and family for honest feedback

If similar services exist and thrive, demand likely exists. The goal isn't to find an empty market—it's to find a market you can serve better. This is true for online gigs and physical services that could be offered by other companies.

Step #3: Choose a business model

You don’t need to create a complex business plan with competitor analyses and target markets, but you will need a business model. This step may seem simple, but it’s critical to get this right. Different side hustles require different time investments and skill sets:

Service-based: Freelancing, tutoring, pet sitting

• Pros: Quick start, immediate income
• Cons: Trading time for money

Product sales: Crafts, digital downloads, dropshipping

• Pros: Scalable income potential
• Cons: Inventory and shipping logistics

Gig platforms: Uber, DoorDash, Amazon Flex

• Pros: Flexible schedule, no customer acquisition
• Cons: Platform dependency, variable earnings

Content creation: YouTube, blogging, courses

• Pros: Passive income potential
• Cons: Slow initial growth, algorithm dependence

Choose a business model based on your available time, startup budget, and long-term goals. If you’re creating content to sell a product or service, put that in the product or service category. The “content” category is for people marketing the actual content.

Step #4: Set up your tools and online presence

Learn from others who have gone before you. They may be able to provide insights into keeping costs down and knowing when to pull the plug on a bad business idea. Knowledge is power. Here are a few things you may help you kickstart your business:

Essential tools:

• Professional email address
• Basic online presence (LinkedIn profile, simple website, or social media)
• Payment system (PayPal, Venmo, or Stripe)
• Calendar booking system (Calendly for service providers)

Design on a budget:

• Canva for graphics and branding
• Wix or Carrd for simple websites
• Free stock photos from Unsplash

Don’t waste time trying to find the “perfect” setup. Technology moves quickly, so the tools you use today could change tomorrow. Check off each of the boxes on this list and get started. You can always improve your setup as you grow.

Step #5: Land your first client or sale

There’s no feeling quite like making your first sale or landing your first client. It validates all your hard work and confirms that your plan is viable. Don’t get discouraged if this doesn’t happen right away. You may need to promote in other areas or change your pricing before you get your first conversion. Here are some side hustle tips to get customers:

• Tell friends, family, and colleagues about your new service
• Post in relevant online groups or community boards
• Create profiles on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or TaskRabbit
• Offer introductory discounts in exchange for testimonials

The first sale is always the hardest. Once you have one satisfied customer and positive feedback, momentum builds naturally, especially if you ask for referrals. You’ll also find that if you do a good job and treat your customers right, they’ll tell all their friends.

Step #6: Build systems for growth

As orders increase, systematize your operations. This is the point where a side hustle starts to become a real business. Start with the basics listed below:

• Goal setting: Set monthly income targets and weekly hour commitments
• Financial tracking: Use apps or simple spreadsheets to monitor earnings and expenses
• Process documentation: Create templates for common tasks and client communications.
• Reinvestment strategy: Allocate profits toward better tools, marketing, or skill development

Common mistakes to avoid when starting a side hustle

Learning from the mistakes of others saves time and frustration. Learning from your own mistakes takes humility. It’s important to be open-minded when starting a side hustle. Here’s a list of some basic errors most commonly seen in the side hustle industry:

• Overthinking the launch: Perfect websites and logos don't generate income—customers do. Ship early, improve later.
• Falling for scams: Research any opportunity requiring upfront payment or promising unrealistic earnings. Legitimate businesses pay you, not the other way around.
• Ignoring taxes: Track income and expenses from day one. Set aside 25% - 30% of earnings for taxes if you're not having them automatically deducted.
• Spreading too thin: Focus on one hustle until it's profitable before starting another. Depth beats breadth in the early stages.

Expert tips to stay motivated and succeed long-term

Industry experts emphasize these crucial success factors:

• Maddy Osman, Digital Marketing Expert: "Just start—even without a website or logo. The most important move is the first one. Many people never make it past the planning stage."
• Kristin Marquet, Creative Development Agency: "Plan at least 12 months ahead to maintain motivation. You need to see the big picture to stay committed when things get tough."
• Bryan Clayton, GreenPal CEO: "Live lean to buy freedom. The less your expenses, the greater your options. Be willing to make short-term sacrifices for long-term success."

Persistence trumps perfection. Every successful side hustler has faced setbacks—what matters is how quickly you recover and adapt.

5 Great side hustles to make money from home

Ready to dive in? Here are proven options with low barriers to entry:

1. Freelance writing or design: Platforms like Upwork and content agencies always need skilled creators. Earnings vary depending on expertise.
2. Focus groups and app testing: Sites like UserTesting and Dscout pay per session for sharing opinions on products and services. Time commitment: Typically 1 - 3 hours per test.
3. Pet care with Rover: Dog walking and pet sitting lets animal lovers earn an average of $22 per hour while setting their own schedules.
4. Digital product sales: Create printables, templates, or guides using Canva, then sell on Etsy or your own website. Potential for passive income after initial creation.
5. Amazon Flex delivery: Deliver packages on your schedule, earning $18 - $25 per hour without dealing with passengers or complex pickup logistics.

Conclusion: Start small. Start now.

There’s no such thing as a “perfect” side hustle. Everyone’s idea of success is different. You might just be looking to make a few dollars to pay off some debt, or you could be looking for a side gig that can turn into a full-time business. Pick an idea from our list here or choose your own, spend half an hour validating it, and give it a try. That one small step could turn into an amazing journey.

Bryan Clayton is the CEO of GreenPal, an online marketplace connecting homeowners with local lawn care professionals. Bryan is a serial entrepreneur in the lawn and landscaping industry having built and sold Peach Tree Inc., a Nashville-based landscape group, growing the firm to over 120 employees to ultimate acquisition by Landscapes USA.

Kristin Marquet is the founder and managing director of Creative Development Agency. She has generated media placements in the Wall Street Journal, The Today Show, Seventeen, Glamour, and ELLE magazines, Glam.com, and countless other outlets. Kristin holds a master's degree in marketing and PR from New York University and is also a contributor to HuffingtonPost.com, Entrepreneur.com, and NYDailyNews.com. She is the owner of PR consultancy and software company, FemFounder.co, and the founder of the lifestyle startup, TheHauteRebel.com.

Maddy Osman creates engaging content with SEO best practices for marketing thought leaders and agencies that have their hands full with clients and projects. Learn more about her process and experience on her website, The-Blogsmith.com.