17 Best Side Hustles In Small Towns That Actually Pay Well

best side hustles in small towns

If you live in a small town, you might think there are limited opportunities for finding a good side hustle.

However, with a little creativity and effort, you can find some great ways to make extra money.

From dog walking to yard work, and even starting your own small business, there are plenty of options for generating extra income.

In this post, we’ll take a look at those options in terms of earning potential, time commitment, and skills required.

We’ll also provide some tips on how to get started and where to find more information on each example that gets mentioned.

So without further ado, let’s get started!

1. Open up a small coffee shop or cafe

  • Earning Potential: $2000 – $8000
  • Difficulty: 5/10

Opening up a small coffee shop or cafe can be a great way to earn some extra money.

This side hustle requires some initial investment in terms of equipment and supplies, but if you’re passionate about coffee, it can be a great way to earn some extra cash.

You’ll need to find a suitable location for your cafe, and make sure you have all the necessary equipment and supplies.

Once you’re up and running, you can start attracting customers and serving up delicious coffee drinks.

For people living in small towns or rural areas, a small coffee shop or cafe can be a great way to bring in some extra income.

It can also be a great way to meet new people and build community ties.

If you love coffee and enjoy being around people, this side hustle could be perfect for you!

  • Earning Potential:

The earning potential for a small coffee shop or cafe can vary depending on location, size, and other factors.

In general, though, a small coffee shop or cafe can bring in anywhere from $2000 to $8000 per month.

To maximize earnings, it’s important to choose a strategic location and offer quality coffee and service.

You can also consider offering additional items such as pastries, sandwiches, and other drinks to boost your income.

With some hard work and dedication, it’s possible to make a great living by running a small coffee shop or cafe!

  • How to get started?

If you’re interested in starting a small coffee shop or cafe, the first step is to find a suitable location.

Once you’ve found a location, you’ll need to invest in some equipment and supplies.

You’ll also need to get your business registered and licensed.

After that, it’s time to start attracting customers and serving up delicious coffee drinks!

small coffe shop

If you put in the hard work, this side hustle can be a great way to earn some extra cash.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you’ll need to stay up-to-date on trends in the coffee industry.

This way, you can be sure that your cafe is offering the latest and greatest products and services.

By staying ahead of the curve, you can ensure that your small coffee shop or cafe is a success!

  • Pros:
    • It’s fairly scalable.
    • Can help you meet new people and build community ties.
    • Offers the opportunity to be your own boss.
  • Cons:
    • Requires some initial investment.
    • -Location is important for success.
    • Can fail very easily.

2. Start a local tour guide business

  • Earning Potential: $100-$10,000 per month
  • Difficulty: 4/10

If you’re in a small town, chances are there are plenty of tourists who come to visit and would love to have a tour guide.

Starting a local tour guide business is a great way to make some extra money while showing off your town’s best features.

You can create your own tours, or partner with local businesses to give visitors the best experience possible.

These tours can include visits to historic sites, local businesses, and even just a walking tour of the town.

Additionally, you can also offer unique tours, like a food tour or a ghost tour.

No matter what type of tour you offer, make sure you are passionate about your town and providing an enjoyable experience for tourists.

  • Earning Potential:

This side hustle has the potential to earn $200-$10,000 per month, but it all depends on how you market it and the number of clients you are able to get.

To make more money from this side hustle, try to get as many clients as possible and offer unique tours that will stand out from the competition.

Additionally, you can also charge a higher price for private tours or group tours.

tour guide around the world

Offering add-ons, like refreshments or souvenirs, can also help you make more money.

Also, partnering with local businesses can help you promote your tours and earn a commission for every booking.

Once you’ve established yourself, you could reach out to businesses and offer to bring them groups of tourists for a commission.

  • How to get started?

To get started in this side hustle, you’ll need to create a tour guide business plan.

This includes deciding what type of tours you want to offer, how much you will charge, and what promotions or partnerships you will have.

Next, you’ll need to create some marketing materials, like a website or social media pages, to promote your tours.

Start reaching out to potential clients and partners to get the word out about your business.

After that, it’s just a matter of getting out there and giving tours!

You can choose to have buses go around and pick up tourists, or you can meet them at a certain location.

Just be sure to be prepared with everything you need for the tour, like maps, water, and snacks.

  • Pros:
    • Very fun way to show off your town.
    • Can make good money.
    • It’s a flexible side hustle.
  • Cons:
    • Difficult to get started.
    • Can be a lot of work to promote tours.

3. Sell homemade arts and crafts at local markets

  • Earning Potential: $100-$300 per month
  • Difficulty: 1/10

If you’re crafty and enjoy making things by hand, then why not sell your homemade arts and crafts at local markets?

This can be a great way to earn some extra cash, and you’ll get to showcase your talents to the community.

You’ll need to create a variety of items that people will be interested in purchasing, and then promote your stall at the market.

Be sure to price your items reasonably, and don’t be afraid to haggle with customers.

In a small town, there might not be a lot of foot traffic at the market, but people know each other so you could get regular customers that way.

  • Earning Potential:

The earning potential for this side hustle is around $100-$300 per month.

It all highly depends on the location of the market, foot traffic, and how much you’re selling your items for.

On the other hand, if you choose to sell by using word-of-mouth, you could potentially make more money as people are more likely to return for repeat business.

To make more money from this side hustle, try to create unique items that people can’t find anywhere else.

Also, customizable items are always a big hit as people love feeling like they’re getting something that’s one-of-a-kind.

Things like putting someone’s initials on a keychain, or painting a picture of their pet would be perfect for this.

Get creative and have fun with it!

  • How to get started?

All you need to get started in this side hustle is some crafting supplies, and a market or fair to sell at.

Start by creating a few items to gauge interest, and then see how much foot traffic there is at the local market.

If people seem interested in your products, then start making more to sell.

It’s always a good idea to promote your stall beforehand on social media or by handing out flyers.

making and selling  homemade arts and crafts

Now, if you can’t afford a market stall, or there are none in your area, you could always try selling your items online or through word-of-mouth.

Begin by taking some nice photos of your products, and then post them on social media or online marketplaces.

Be sure to include the price and a brief description of each item.

Or, if you know people in your town who are looking for a certain type of craft, then let them know that you’re selling them!

  • Pros:
    • Can be a fun way to express your creativity.
    • A great way to earn some cash.
    • Can be done on your own time.
  • Cons:
    • Not everyone is crafty or creative.
    • Can be difficult to promote your items.
    • May not make a lot of money.

4. Become an Airbnb host

  • Earning Potential: $800 – $10,000
  • Difficulty: 5/10

If you have an extra room or space in your home, you can make money by becoming an Airbnb host.

Airbnb is an online marketplace that allows people to rent out their homes (or rooms in their homes) to travelers from all over the world.

As an Airbnb host, you’ll be responsible for providing a clean and comfortable space for your guests, as well as any other amenities they may need during their stay.

You can set your own prices and schedule, and you’ll only be responsible for hosting guests when it’s convenient for you.

This is a great way to earn some extra income if you have the space and the time to commit to being a good host.

In small towns and cities, Airbnb hosts can sometimes earn a significant amount of money by renting out their homes on a regular basis.

  • Earning Potential:

The earning potential for this side hustle is $800 – $10,000 per month.

If you want to make more money from this side hustle, you can rent out your space more often or charge more per night.

You can also offer additional services to your guests, such as breakfast or a tour of the city.

The more you do to make your guests’ stay enjoyable, the more likely they are to leave a positive review – and the more money you’ll make in the long run.

Also, if you live in a popular tourist destination, you can make even more money by catering to travelers who are looking for a place to stay.

  • How to get started?

Although it’s possible to become an Airbnb host without owning a property, it’s much easier to get started if you do.

If you have an extra room or space in your home that you’re not using, you can list it on Airbnb and start earning money right away.

As I mentioned above, you’ll need to be prepared to provide a clean and comfortable space for your guests, as well as any other amenities they may need during their stay.

airbnb-homepage-screenshot

You should also make sure that you are familiar with the Airbnb platform and how it works before you get started.

Once you list your space on Airbnb, you’ll need to wait for guests to book it.

You can also actively promote your listing by sharing it on social media or other online platforms.

The great thing about Airbnb is that people are already familiar with the brand, so you won’t have to do too much marketing to get people to book your space.

If you provide a great experience for your guests, you’ll start to build up a good reputation on Airbnb – and that can lead to even more bookings and higher prices in the future.

  • Pros:
    • Can make a significant amount of money.
    • Flexible hours.
    • Can rent out space on a regular basis.
  • Cons:
    • Responsible for cleaning and providing amenities.
    • May not always have guests booked.
    • Additional work may be required.

5. Start an auto detailing business

  • Earning Potential: $100 – $3000
  • Difficulty: 5/10

For those of you into cars and keeping them clean, auto detailing is the perfect side hustle!

It doesn’t require a lot of start-up costs – just some basic supplies, and a little elbow grease, and you’re good to go.

Plus, it’s a great way to make some extra cash on the weekends or evenings.

So what exactly does auto detailing entail?

Basically, it’s a thorough cleaning of the vehicle – both inside and out.

This means shampooing the carpets and upholstery, cleaning the windows, polishing the exterior, and anything else that will make the car look its best.

  • Earning Potential:

The earning potential for auto detailing depends on a few factors, such as how many cars you’re able to clean in a day and what kind of services you’re offering.

Also, your pricing will play a role – if you charge more per car, you can obviously earn more money.

To increase your earnings from auto detailing, try to take on as many clients as you can and offer additional services such as waxing or interior detailing.

You could also consider running promotions or discounts to attract new business.

Let’s say you charge $50 per car and you’re able to clean 3 cars in a day. That’s $150 in earnings for just one day!

If you work 5 days a week, that’s $750 per week and $3,000 per month.

And that’s me being conservative with the estimate – some auto detailers charge much more per car and are able to clean upwards of 5 or 6 cars a day.

So the earning potential is really up to you!

  • How to get started?

To get started in auto detailing, you’ll need to gather some supplies.

A good shampoo and conditioner for the carpets and upholstery, a window cleaner, polish or wax for the exterior, and a few rags or sponges.

You might also want to invest in a portable vacuum cleaner to make the job easier.

Once you have your supplies, you can start advertising your services.

auto detailing business

You can put up flyers in local businesses, post ads online, or even just tell your friends and family about what you’re doing.

The key is to get the word out there and start building up a clientele.

Before you know it, you’ll be raking in the cash from your very own auto detailing business!

Posting pictures of your work on social media can also help attract new business.

Even places such as Facebook Marketplace can help you find new customers in your area.

  • Pros:
    • Can be done in your spare time.
    • No expensive start-up costs for the most part.
    • Can be a fun and satisfying.
  • Cons:
    • May require some physical labor.
    • Not be suitable for those with certain allergies.
    • May not be as profitable in small towns or rural areas

6. Offer child or adult care services

  • Earning Potential: $100 – $2000+
  • Difficulty: 5/10

If you love spending time with kids or have a lot of patience with teaching, then starting your own in-home daycare could be a great way to earn some extra cash.

You can offer childcare services for working parents who need someone to look after their kids during the day.

On the other hand, some elderly people may need help with basic tasks like bathing, eating, or even just someone to talk to.

To get started, you’ll need to create a safe and inviting space in your home for the kids or seniors to stay in.

You’ll also need to be CPR certified, have liability insurance, and create a schedule that works for you and the families you’ll be caring for.

This can be a great opportunity to earn money while also getting to do something you love.

  • Earning Potential:

Overall, the earning potential for this side hustle is $100 – $2000+ per month.

This potential earning is based on the average rate of $10-$20 per hour that most in-home daycares charge.

If you’re able to care for more than one child or senior citizen, you could potentially earn even more.

Doing this would require more space in your home as well as a schedule that can accommodate more than one family.

You could also offer other services such as light housekeeping, meal prep, or even transportation to and from school or appointments.

The more services you’re able to offer, the more money you can potentially make.

  • How to get started?

If you’re interested in starting your own in-home daycare, there are a few things you’ll need to do first.

You’ll need to check with your state and local regulations to see what is required in order to operate legally.

You’ll also need to get liability insurance to protect yourself and your business.

Now, whether you choose to have your own place or go to the homes of the people you’ll be caring for, there will be different steps for each.

If you’re planning on having your own space, you’ll need to find a suitable location as well as set up the necessary furniture and supplies.

On the other hand, if you’re going to the homes of the people you’ll be caring for, you’ll need to make sure you have all the supplies you need to provide quality care.

child day care room

In either case, once you have everything in place, you can start advertising your services and finding clients.

One great way to get started is by networking with other parents and caregivers in your community.

They may be able to give you some leads or put you in touch with someone who’s looking for your services.

Another great way to get started is by creating a profile on a platform like Care.com.

This will allow you to reach a wider audience and get your name out there.

  • Pros:
    • Flexible hours for the most part.
    • Can be very rewarding.
    • Very profitable depending on your pricing.
  • Cons:
    • May require additional space in your home.
    • Must buy furniture and supplies.
    • Challenging with more than one child or senior citizen.

7. Sell your home-grown produce

  • Earning Potential: $500 – $5000
  • Difficulty: 3/10

If people around you love your home-grown tomatoes, peppers, or zucchini, why not start selling them?

This can be a great way to make some extra money while doing something you love.

You can sell your produce at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, or even door-to-door.

Just be sure to price your products competitively so people will keep coming back for more!

I’m assuming that if you live in a small town, you know a lot of people and they would be more likely to buy from you if they know you.

Also, this is especially perfect for you if you have the space to grow a lot of produce.

The more you have to sell, the more money you can make!

  • Earning Potential:

The earning potential for selling products like this it’s realistically $500 – $5000 per month.

Of course, the more time and effort you put into it, the more money you can make.

To make more money from this hustle, try growing a wider variety of products so you have more to sell and appeal to more customers.

You could also try selling at multiple farmers’ markets or stands in order to reach more people.

Also, upgrading to a bigger space or growing more produce will obviously result in more money as well.

Have in mind that the prices of the products you’re selling will also have an effect on how much money you make.

So, if you want to make more money, be sure to price your items competitively according to the demand you’re getting!

  • How to get started?

There’re many ways you can get started with this side hustle.

If you have a green thumb and some space in your backyard, then you’re already on your way!

Start by planting some fruits or vegetables that you think people in your area would like to buy.

Once they start growing, you can start selling them at farmers’ markets or roadside stands.

selling home grown produce

You could also try selling door-to-door if you think that would work well in your area.

Just be sure to do some research on pricing so you can compete with other sellers in your area.

To scale this side hustle and make even more money, you could try growing a wider variety of produce or selling at multiple markets.

And as I mentioned earlier, you could also upgrade to a bigger space if you’re running out of room to grow more produce.

  • Pros:
    • Can be a fun and easy way to make money.
    • Could be done on a small or large scale.
    • Relatively low start-up costs.
  • Cons:
    • Can be time-consuming for the most part.
    • Prices of products may fluctuate, affecting earnings potential.
    • Requires some knowledge about gardening and growing produce.

8. Offer photography services for special events

  • Earning Potential: $100 – $2000
  • Difficulty: 5/10

Do you have a talent for photography? Why not use your skills to make some extra money on the side?

Offering photography services for special events is a great way to do just that!

You can promote your business online or through word-of-mouth, and book clients for things like weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, and more.

The best thing for those who live in small towns or rural areas is that there are usually fewer photographers competing for business.

In other words, you may have a better chance of standing out and getting booked!

  • Earning Potential:

Overall, the earning potential for this side hustle is good, but it depends on how many events you book and the type of events that you do.

Realistically, anywhere from $500 to $2000 per month could be easily achievable.

To make more money from it, try to land higher-paying gigs such as weddings or corporate events.

You could also raise your prices if you have a good reputation and are in high demand.

Posting on online classifieds websites or word-of-mouth are also great ways to get more work.

  • How to get started?

To get started, the first thing you need to do is build up a portfolio of your work.

This can be done by taking pictures at events for friends or family or even offering your services for free at local events.

Once you have a good portfolio, start promoting your business online or through word-of-mouth.

When it comes to equipment, you’ll need a camera, tripod, and other photography gear.

photography services for special events

The time commitment for this side hustle really depends on how many events you book.

If you’re just starting out, you may want to only take on one or two gigs per month.

As you get more experience, you can take on more work.

Remember that after you shoot an event, then there’s still some editing and post-processing that needs to be done.

So, factor in some additional time for that as well.

  • Pros:
    • Can be a great way to make money.
    • Generally, you’ll work flexible hours.
    • It’s very fun and creative.
  • Cons:
    • Can be challenging to find clients at first.
    • Post-processing can take up extra time.
    • You may need to invest in some equipment.

9. Help small businesses with their social media

  • Earning Potential: $300-$2000
  • Difficulty: 3/10

Many small businesses struggle to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of social media.

As a result, they miss out on valuable opportunities to reach new customers and grow their businesses.

You, as the social media expert, can help small businesses around your town by managing their social media accounts and helping them connect with their target audiences.

social media management and planning

In return, they’ll pay you a fee for your time and expertise.

Tasks usually involve scheduling posts, creating content, monitoring analytics, and engaging with followers.

With a little bit of time and effort, you can easily build up a steady stream of side income by helping small businesses succeed on social media.

  • Earning Potential:

The earning potential for this side hustle is $300-$2000 per month.

Based on your experience and expertise, you can charge an hourly rate or a monthly retainer to manage a small business’s social media accounts.

To make more money from this side hustle, you can take on more clients or offer additional services like social media consulting or training.

You could also create and sell social media templates or e-books to help small businesses save time and grow their online presence.

With a little creativity, there are many ways to turn this side hustle into a profitable business.

  • How to get started?

If you’re interested in helping small businesses with their social media, the best way to get started is to begin offering your services to the local ones around you.

Start by creating a list of potential clients and reaching out to them with a personalized proposal.

Be sure to include your rates, services, and previous experience in your proposal.

If you don’t have any previous experience, consider offering to work for a reduced rate or for free in order to build up your portfolio.

Social Media Manager: How to Become a Social Media Manager with No Experience

Once you land a few clients, be sure to deliver quality work and exceed their expectations.

This will help you build a positive reputation and grow through word-of-mouth referrals.

Some other things that help with credibility include creating a professional website, blog, or social media profile specifically for your side hustle.

This will show potential clients that you’re serious about your business and give them a way to learn more about your services.

If you put in the time and effort, you can easily turn this side hustle into a successful business venture since it’s fairly scalable as well.

  • Pros:
    • Can be fairly profitable.
    • You can work from home.
    • Can be scaled up very easily.
  • Cons:
    • Requires a good amount of time and effort to get started.
    • Need to be well-versed in social media trends and strategies.

10. Start a laundry and dry cleaning delivery business

  • Earning Potential: $100 – $3000
  • Difficulty: 5/10

Starting a laundry and dry cleaning delivery business is a great way to make some extra money on the side.

You can pick up laundry from customers’ homes and businesses, and then deliver it back to them once it’s clean.

This is a convenient service that people are always in need of, so you’re sure to find plenty of customers if you market your business well.

Especially in small towns, you’re sure to be the only laundry and dry cleaning delivery service around, so you’ll have a captive audience!

Some of the tasks that you’ll need to take care of as a business owner include picking up and dropping off laundry, keeping track of customers’ orders, and maintaining a steady stream of new business.

If you’re organized and have good customer service skills, this side hustle is perfect for you.

  • Earning Potential:

The earning potential for this side hustle is $100 – $3000 per month.

With this number, we’re assuming that you’ll be doing this side hustle part-time and that your customer base is relatively small.

For example, you could charge $30 per month for each customer’s laundry and dry cleaning service.

If you have 100 customers, that would be a monthly income of $3000!

Of course, the more customers you have, the more money you can make.

You could also raise your prices if you find that you’re getting busier and can’t keep up with the demand.

The big money is once you can open a brick-and-mortar shop with multiple employees.

Then you can really start to scale your business with a coin-operated laundry business model in which you won’t need to do any of the work!

You can make a lot more money from this side hustle by expanding it into a full-fledged business.

But even if you keep it small, there’s still good potential to earn some extra cash each month.

  • How to get started?

To get started in this side hustle, you’ll need to do some planning and research.

First, you’ll need to decide what kind of laundry and dry cleaning services you want to offer.

Do you want to offer pick-up and delivery? Will you wash and fold clothes, or just deliver them back to the customer?

You’ll also need to research your competition and pricing.

Find out how much other laundry and dry cleaning businesses in your area are charging, and set your prices accordingly.

Once you have all of this planned out, you can start advertising your services to potential customers.

You can hand out flyers, post ads online, or even go door-to-door to promote your business.

The more people you can reach, the more customers you’re likely to get.

With a little hard work and some good marketing, you can soon have a thriving laundry and dry cleaning delivery business!

laundry services business

I’d recommend you get online from the start to get some customers – online there are always people searching for this kind of service.

Use Google Ads and Bing Ads to drive traffic to a simple website or landing page where they can sign up for your service.

You could even use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to promote your business and find customers that way.

Now, remember you also need to buy some equipment – a washer and dryer, for starters, as well as hangers, an iron, and some laundry detergent.

You’ll also need some form of transportation to get the laundry to and from your customers’ homes.

A car will suffice if you only have a few customers, but you may need a van or truck if you have a lot of customers or live in a densely populated area.

  • Pros:
    • Not too difficult to get started.
    • Good earning potential.
  • Cons:
    • Requires some initial investment.
    • Can be hard to find customers at first.

11. Tutor students in your area of expertise

  • Earning Potential: $500 – $4000
  • Difficulty: 5/10

Tutoring students in your area of expertise can be a great way to earn some extra money.

You can use your knowledge and skills to help students improve their grades or simply better understand the material.

This side hustle is also a great way to build your own credibility as an expert in your field.

It can be done online or in person, and you can set your own hours and rates.

tutor dot com homepage

Platforms such as Tutor.com and Wyzant.com can help connect you with students in need of tutoring.

You can also just advertise your services on social media or through word-of-mouth.

  • Earning Potential:

There is a lot of potential to earn money from tutoring students.

You can set your own rates and hours, so the amount you make will depend on how much time you’re willing to put in.

Realistically, you could earn anywhere from $500 to $4000 per month, depending on how many students you’re able to take on.

For example, if you charge $50 per hour and tutor 4 students for 5 hours each week, you would make $4000 in a month.

There are also opportunities to make more money by becoming a tutor for higher-level classes or taking on more students.

You could also offer other services such as homework help or test prep to increase your earnings.

  • How to get started?

There are a few ways to get started with this side hustle.

For example, you can join an online tutoring platform like Tutor.com or Wyzant.com.

These two platforms are great because they will help connect you with students who need tutoring.

In other words, they will essentially do the marketing for you.

Another option is to simply advertise your services on social media or through word-of-mouth.

You can let people know that you’re available to tutor and what subjects you’re qualified to teach.

Setting up your own website or blog and writing articles about tutoring can also help you attract students.

No matter which method you choose, make sure you’re clear about your rates and what services you’re offering.

Lastly, if you choose to do in-person tutoring, you can either meet students at their homes or at a public place like a library.

Just make sure the location is safe and comfortable for both you and the student.

  • Pros:
    • Can be done online or in person.
    • Builds credibility in your field.
    • Great way to earn extra money.
  • Cons:
    • It can be difficult to find students who need help.
    • There may be competition from other tutors in your area.

12. Become a virtual assistant

  • Earning Potential: $10 to $60 per hour
  • Difficulty: 31/10

A virtual assistant is a person who provides remote services to companies and entrepreneurs.

The tasks of a virtual assistant can be very varied, but they’ll mostly be administrative tasks such as answering emails, managing schedules or doing customer service.

Other tasks may be more creative, such as social media management or content creation.

Virtual assistants can work for several clients at the same time and usually work from home.

  • Earning Potential:

Virtual assistants can earn anywhere from $10 to $60 per hour, depending on their skills and experience.

It will also depend on where you’re located and the type of company you work for.

Because remember, you’re competing with other virtual assistants from all over the world, so rates can vary greatly.

And somebody in China will obviously charge less than somebody in the United States.

Hence, the best way to maximize your earnings as a virtual assistant is to specialize in a particular area or skill set.

  • How to get started?

If you want to start working as a virtual assistant, the best thing you can do is create a profile on one of the many platforms that connect virtual assistants with clients.

That way, you can start offering your services and get paid for them.

Fiverr virtual assistant gigs

There’re many options, but two of the most popular platforms for finding virtual assistant jobs are Upwork and Fiverr.

Do you start to see a pattern here?

Upwork and Fiverr are two great platforms for finding all kinds of remote jobs, so definitely check them out.

  • Pros:
    • All you need is a computer and an internet connection.
    • Can be done from anywhere in the world.
    • It’s very flexible, so you can work as you want.
  • Cons:
    • Can be quite stressful at times.
    • Hard to scale by yourself.
    • Few opportunity to increase earnings.

13. Start a blog about something you love

  • Earning Potential: $100 – $10,000+ per month
  • Difficulty: 5/10

Starting a blog is one of the most popular ways to make money online and is a great way to share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences with the world.

And it’s not surprising why – it’s also a great way to earn passive income, and you can do it from anywhere in the world.

All you need is a computer and a good internet connection.

creating a blog

It’s also a great way to make a lot of money!

The most common ways of making money from a blog include:

  • Affiliate marketing (where you recommend a product or service and receive a commission).
  • Sponsored posts (where a company will pay you to talk about them).
  • Products or services, e.g., budget binder, coaching.
  • Advertising

If you’ve ever been drawn to writing, telling stories, or helping other people answer their questions or fix their problems, then blogging is definitely for you.

Also, it does not require previous experience so you can learn as you go.

You must remember that you have the blog to generate money, so you should focus on selecting what will be the topic you want to talk about and develop a plan for it.

  • Earning Potential:

A lot of people are making over $10,000 per month from their blogs!

Of course, it takes time and hard work to get to that level.

But it is definitely possible, and there are many bloggers out there who are proof of that.

Now, not every blog is going to make that much money, though, some others aren’t making even a dollar from their blogs.

But if you’re dedicated and willing to put in the work, you can definitely make a full-time income from blogging.

It really depends on your niche, how well you market your blog, and what type of content you produce.

Some of the most profitable niches for bloggers include:

  • Finance
  • Parenting/lifestyle
  • Food
  • DIY/home improvement
  • Travel
  • Health/Fitness

There are endless possibilities when it comes to blogging, so choose a niche that you’re passionate about and start sharing your thoughts, ideas, and experiences with the world!

Note that the old days of having a blog that’s about your daily life are gone.

You need to have a focus and share content that is helpful, interesting, or entertaining to your target audience.

  • How to get started?

The first thing to do is choose your niche and come up with a plan for your blog.

Then, you need to set up your blog by purchasing a domain name and hosting and installing WordPress.

We recommend Bluehost for this matter:

bluehost homepage screenshot

Once your blog is all set up, you need to do keyword research and start creating high-quality content that will help you rank in the search engines and attract readers.

And finally, you need to promote your blog and build an audience.

This can be done by guest posting on other blogs, and social media, and using SEO techniques.

Once you have a decent amount of traffic coming to your blog, you can start making money with affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, products, or services.

We’re definitely leaving a lot of details out because of the scope of this post, but those are the basics of starting.

  • Pros:
    • Getting started is relatively easy.
    • You create a community around the content you publish.
    • You manage your time and workspace according to your needs.
  • Cons:
    • To be a good blog requires periodic publications.
    • Internal errors can occur within the code and you need time to fix it.
    • It takes time to generate significant income.

14. Drive for ridesharing apps

  • Earning Potential: $37,402 per year.
  • Difficulty: 3/10

There are numerous ways to generate income from your car, whether it’s making deliveries or providing transportation and taxi services.

Ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft are a great way to make some extra money.

You can set your own schedule and choose when and where you want to drive.

Plus, you get to meet new people, see new places, and can make money by referring new drivers to the ridesharing service.

  • Earning Potential:

As a driver for ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft, your potential income is largely dependent on how many hours you are willing to work.

In general, the more hours you work, the more money you will make.

However, other factors can affect your earnings as well, such as the time of day or night that you work, the areas you work in, and whether or not you have a surge in fares.

Lyft homepage

Overall, drivers for ridesharing apps make around $15-$25 per hour.

However, some drivers make significantly more than this!

For example, drivers who are willing to work during peak hours (such as Friday and Saturday nights) or in high-demand areas (such as downtown and airports) can make much more than the average driver.

In addition, drivers who can capitalize on surge pricing (when fares are increased due to high demand) can also make a lot more money.

  • How to get started?

If you want to start using a ridesharing app like Uber or Lyft to make money, you’ll need to sign up as a driver.

Then they’ll ask you to provide some basic information, such as your name, email address, and phone number.

Once you’ve signed up, applied, and got approved, you’ll be able to start using it to find passengers.

A usual way to find passengers is to wait in high-traffic areas, such as near a busy train station or airport.

How it works is that you’ll open up the app and wait for it to match you with a nearby passenger.

Once it does, you’ll pick them up and drop them off at their destination.

Then, you’ll get paid through the app according to the fare.

  • Pros:
    • Work as little or as much as you want.
    • Meet new and interesting people from all over.
  • Cons:
    • Dealing with unruly or drunk passengers.
    • Fewer fares during certain times or days.

15. Be a personal shopper for busy residents or vacationers

  • Earning Potential: $200 – $1000 per month
  • Difficulty: 5/10

Being a personal shopper is all about being able to help those who are either too busy or don’t have the time to do their own shopping.

This can be anything from groceries to clothes and anything in between.

It’s all about being able to provide a service that is convenient and helpful for those who need it.

For those of you living in small towns, this could be a great way to make money since there are likely many people who would be interested in this type of service.

If you’re organized, efficient, and have a good eye for detail, then being a personal shopper could be the perfect side hustle for you!

  • Earning Potential:

The earning potential from being a personal shopper can vary depending on the number of clients and the services that you provide.

For example, let’s say you get paid $20 per hour and you work 10 hours per week.

In that case, you would earn $200 per week or $800 per month.

However, let’s say that you charge per client and you have 20 clients.

If you charge each client $50 a month, for example, then you would earn $1,000 per month.

Of course, these numbers are just examples and your actual earnings will depend on a number of factors.

To make more money from being a personal shopper, you could raise your rates or take on more clients.

You could also offer additional services such as gift wrapping or home delivery for an additional fee.

If you’re able to provide a high-quality service that is convenient and helpful for your clients, then you should be able to earn a good income from being a personal shopper.

  • How to get started?

There are a few things that you need to do in order to get started as a personal shopper.

First, you need to decide what types of products or services you’re going to offer.

This could be anything from groceries to clothes to home decor.

You also need to set your rates.

Be sure to consider how much time and effort you’ll be putting into each task when setting your rates.

Once you’ve decided what you’re going to offer and how much you’re going to charge, it’s time to start marketing your services.

You could create a website or social media page to promote your business, or simply reach out to people you know and let them know.

If you’re able to get some good word-of-mouth going, then you should start seeing some clients coming your way.

Another way is to sign up with a personal shopping service like InstaCart:

instacart homepage

This can be a great way to get started because it will give you some exposure and you’ll actually be able to get started making money right away.

Of course, there are several other ways to get started as a personal shopper.

But these are just a few ideas to get you started.

If you’re interested in this side hustle, then be sure to do some research and figure out what would work best for you.

  • Pros:
    • Can be a very rewarding way to help others.
    • Great way to earn extra money.
    • You can do it on your own time.
  • Cons:
    • Can be time-consuming.
    • Driving may be required.
    • May require working on weekends.

16. Do yard work or offer landscaping services

  • Earning Potential: $1,000 – $4,000 per month
  • Difficulty: 7/10

Most likely than not you know how to work a lawn mower and weed whacker.

You could make some serious money by starting a small business that offers yard work or landscaping services.

In small towns, this is often a very lucrative business because people are always looking for someone to help them with their yards.

Even though a few people might prefer to do their own yard work, the majority of people would rather pay someone to do it for them.

There is always a demand for these services, so you should be able to find plenty of customers.

  • Earning Potential:

The earning potential for a side hustle like this is $1,000 – $4,000 per month.

I’m assuming here that you would be working on a per-job or per-hour basis.

For example, you could charge $25 per hour for your services.

If you work 20 hours per week, that would be $500 per week or $2,000 per month.

On the other side, if you work 40 hours per week, you could earn $1,000 per week or $4,000 per month.

Of course, the more hours you work, the more money you will make.

However, there is a limit to how many hours you can work without burning yourself out.

Also, it won’t be all the time that you will be able to find work, so you need to factor in some downtime as well.

  • How to get started?

The best way to get started in this side hustle is to start small.

Get yourself a lawn mower and a weed whacker and begin offering your services to family, friends, and neighbors.

Once you have built up a reputation for being a good worker, you can begin to expand your business by advertising in your local newspaper or online.

You could also put up flyers in public places such as grocery stores or community centers.

The more people you reach, the more likely you are to get customers.

Additionally, websites like LawnStarter or even Yelp can be a great way to connect with potential customers in your area.

LawnStarter dot com homepage

Now, what I want you to do is Google “landscaping services near me” and whatever platform is ranking the highest for your location, make sure to sign up for it.

By doing this, you’ll be able to get in front of potential customers who are already looking for services like yours.

  • Pros:
    • Can be very lucrative.
    • Flexible hours for the most part.
    • It can be rewarding to see the finished work.
  • Cons:
    • Can be physically demanding.
    • Weather can be a factor.
    • May have to work on weekends.

17. Start a home cleaning business around your area

  • Earning Potential: $100-$1000+ per month
  • Difficulty: 3/10

A home cleaning business is a great way to make some extra money.

You can set your own hours and work around your schedule.

This type of business is perfect for those who enjoy cleaning and organizing.

best side hustles in small towns

Nowadays, many people are too busy to clean their own homes and are willing to pay someone else to do it for them.

If you start your own home cleaning business, you can be your own boss and make some extra cash.

  • Earning Potential:

The earning potential for a home cleaning business is $100-$1000+ per month.

In other words, you could make some decent money from this side hustle if you put in the time and effort.

That said number will also depend on how many houses you clean per month and how much you charge per house.

You could also offer additional upgrades to the service, such as deep cleaning or organizing, for an additional fee.

Having a membership or something similar could also help you to make more money from this side hustle.

This way, people would be more likely to use your service on a regular basis and you could potentially earn a steady income from it.

  • How to get started?

To get started in this side hustle, you will first need to purchase or gather the necessary cleaning supplies.

For example, you will need things like a vacuum, mop, cleaning solutions, etc.

Once you have all of the supplies that you need, you can start advertising your services.

You could put up flyers in local businesses or post ads online.

Additionally, you could also talk to people in your network and let them know that you are starting a home cleaning business.

Signing up for websites like Handy.com or Care.com could also help you to get started.

This is because people use these websites to find cleaning services in their area.

So, by creating a profile on these websites, you’re using their traffic to your advantage.

Last but not least, make sure that you have a solid business plan and pricing structure in place before you start taking on clients.

This will help you to run your business smoothly and ensure that you are making a profit.

  • Pros:
    • You can be your own boss.
    • Flexible hours for the most part.
    • Relatively easy to get started.
  • Cons:
    • Can be time-consuming.
    • Need to be organized and efficient.
    • Can be tiring, physically demanding work.