Earning a little extra money on the side doesn’t require years of training or startup capital. In fact, many profitable side hustles are beginner-friendly and flexible enough to fit into a busy schedule. Whether you’re looking to explore a new passion, generate passive income, or just pad your savings, here are 10 accessible online side hustle ideas anyone can try.
1. Launch a Niche YouTube Channel
Video content is more popular than ever, and platforms like YouTube allow creators to turn their passion into profit. While earning through ads takes time, you can also monetize by partnering with brands, promoting affiliate products, or selling your own merchandise.
Get started: Choose a topic you enjoy, create helpful or entertaining videos consistently, and start building your subscriber base. Explore monetization options once you have an engaged audience.
Read: How To Monetize A YouTube Channel
2. Write and Monetize a Personal Newsletter
Blogging has evolved, now platforms like Substack or Beehiiv make it easy to share your writing and get paid through reader subscriptions. Whether you cover personal stories, industry insights, or niche interests, newsletters let you grow a loyal audience without relying on ads or sponsors.
Get started: Pick a topic you love, send out valuable content regularly, and invite readers to support your work. Later, you can offer paid tiers or exclusive content.
Read: How To Create And Monetize A Newsletter
3. Create and Sell a Simple Mobile App
You don’t need a big team to develop an app. If you have coding knowledge, you can create simple tools, games, or productivity apps and earn through ads, subscriptions, or in-app purchases.
Get started: Build a basic app with a single function and upload it to the App Store or Google Play. Track user feedback to improve and scale over time.
4. Become a Product Promoter Through Affiliate Marketing
With affiliate marketing, you earn a commission by recommending products and sharing unique referral links. This is great for content creators, bloggers, or anyone with a social following.
Get started: Join affiliate networks like ClickBank, ShareASale, or Amazon Associates. Pick products that align with your audience, and share reviews or tutorials that include your affiliate links.
5. Sell Stock Photos or Prints Online
If you have a good eye for photography, you can earn money by licensing your photos on stock platforms or selling them as prints and merchandise.
Get started: Upload your best work to stock sites like Adobe Stock or Shutterstock. Alternatively, create your own store for selling wall art, photo books, or printed products.
6. Start a Low-Risk Dropshipping Store
Dropshipping is a retail model where products are shipped directly from the supplier to the customer, meaning you don’t handle inventory or fulfillment.
Get started: Choose a niche, build a simple ecommerce website (using Shopify or WooCommerce), and connect with a dropshipping supplier. Focus on marketing and customer service to grow.
7. Offer Freelance Digital Marketing
Businesses are constantly seeking help with things like managing social media, writing content, running ads, and SEO. If you have any basic marketing knowledge, you can offer your services as a freelancer.
Get started: Build a simple portfolio showcasing what you can do. Promote your services on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or LinkedIn.
8. Launch a Personal Brand with a Blog
Even with no prior experience, you can start a blog around something you’re passionate about, parenting, tech, wellness, finance, you name it. Over time, you can monetize with affiliate links, digital products, or even coaching.
Get started: Choose a blogging platform like WordPress or Ghost. Start publishing useful content, grow your email list, and experiment with different ways to earn from your blog.
9. Start a Podcast
Podcasting is one of the fastest-growing content formats today, and it’s surprisingly easy to get started. With just a basic mic and some free software, you can build an audience and turn your voice into a valuable asset. Over time, your show can attract sponsorships, affiliate deals, or listener support, making it a flexible and rewarding side hustle.
Get started: Pick a theme that fits your interests and has an audience. Record a few episodes in advance using tools like Audacity. Once you launch, focus on consistency and building a loyal listener base.
10. Take Online Surveys
While it won’t make you rich, taking surveys online is one of the easiest ways to earn a little extra money in your free time. Companies and researchers are always looking for consumer opinions, and they’ll pay for your feedback. It’s a low-effort side hustle that can be done from anywhere, perfect for filling in downtime or covering small expenses.
Get started: Sign up with platforms like Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, or Branded Surveys. Complete surveys that match your profile and start earning points or cash for your time.