30 Profitable Side Hustle Ideas To Earn Extra Money (2024) - Shopify Canada (2024)

Nearly everyone could benefit from a bit more cash, especially when a full-time salary falls short. A well-chosen side hustle can provide the additional income you need.

Side hustlers come from all walks of life. They’re inventive, willing to embrace experiments, and see limited resources as an exciting challenge. By dedicating just a few hours a week, you too can tap into the potential of a side hustle.

Whether your goal is to generate passive income or transform a hobby into a profitable business, this list of side hustle ideas has something for everyone.

30 side hustle ideas to try in 2024

1. Monetize a YouTube channel
2. Start a blog or newsletter
3. Record a podcast
4. Participate in online surveys
5. Get paid to test apps
6. Secure social media sponsorships
7. Become an affiliate marketer
8. Sell digital products
9. Start a dropshipping business
10. Offer digital marketing services
11. Develop mobile apps
12. Resell used or vintage goods
13. Advise eco-friendly businesses
14. Design and sell t-shirts
15. Develop a clothing line
16. Sell your photography
17. Sell your voice as a voiceover artist
18. Offer virtual interior design consultation
19. Create handmade goods
20. Become an IRL or online tutor
21. Transcribe or translate content
22. Teach fitness classes online
23. Deliver packages
24. Deliver groceries and other items
25. Rent out your home or spare room
26. Become a rideshare driver
27. Wash and detail cars
28. Mow lawns and do other landscaping tasks
29. Give neighborhood tours
30. Offer pet sitting and dog walking services

Popular online hustles for digital creators

1. Monetize a YouTube channel

YouTube has a massive audience of 2.7 billion users, who watch a combined billion hours of videos every day. Tap into those views by joining the YouTube Partner Program, which lets you earn money from ads shown during your videos.

Keep in mind that it takes time to gather enough viewers to earn a lot from ads. That’s why many YouTubers look for other ways to monetize their content.

There are several ways to make money on YouTube that go beyond the Partner Program. For example, you could team up with brands to promote their products in your videos. They’ll pay you a fee or give you a cut of the sales. Another option is to direct viewers to buy products from your online store.

Next steps: Start by making engaging videos and Shorts that appeal to your target audience. As you gain subscribers, explore monetization strategies such as joining the Partner Program, selling merch, and promoting affiliate partners.

2. Start a blog or newsletter

Blogging has long been a popular side hustle, but monetization can prove challenging. That’s why more and more bloggers are turning to subscription platforms like Substack, where independent writers can publish their work and get paid directly from their readers.

This allows bloggers to build an audience over time and maintain a regular stream of monthly income, without having to rely on intrusive ads, sponsorships, or finding freelance writing gigs.

Next steps: Once you’ve built a readership, consider selling products and merch to your fans. This is a great way to build awareness for your personal brand.

3. Record a podcast

Podcasting, like social media and blogging, has become a staple of the broader world of online content. In fact, podcast audiences have grown consistently over the past six years.

Podcasting is comparatively cheap, too. A decent USB microphone sold specifically for podcasting can be purchased for less than $100, and recording platforms like Audacity are free and easy to use.

Next steps: To start a podcast, find a theme or subject that resonates with a target audience. Record a few episodes in advance and plan your launch campaign. As you grow, incorporate ads or sponsorships to turn your podcast into a side hustle.

4. Participate in online surveys

There are countless companies and market researchers that want to know what people think of their products and services. Filling out surveys won’t pay your bills, but it can pad your pocket with extra money for the weekend.

Next steps: Websites like Branded Surveys, Swagbucks, and Survey Junkie have a ton of surveys you can get paid to take.

5. Get paid to test apps

Nothing will halt business faster than a website riddled with issues or an app that doesn’t work. So developers get testers to go in and push all the links and play with all the buttons to make sure things work before they go live. Guess what? You can get paid for that. Some competitive gigs even offer $100 for a 60-minute test, so there is money to be made.

Next steps: Matchmaking sites like UserTesting, uTest, Userlytics, UserCrowd, and Enroll can connect you with website- and app-testing gigs.

6. Secure social media sponsorships

If you have a niche hobby, start producing content on TikTok or Instagram that appeals to your community. Once you’ve established a loyal following, you can monetize your account through sponsorships, where brands pay you to promote their products.

Next steps: Try these tips to go viral on TikTok.

Profitable marketing and ecommerce hustles

7. Become an affiliate marketer

Affiliate marketing is when you advertise products or services on your platform and get paid a commission for any sales generated from your referrals (usually through a unique link or code).

If you have a podcast, are an influencer, or have a store of your own, consider trying affiliate marketing. It’s a great way to gain some passive income that you can reinvest into your content or business.

To get started, go to an affiliate marketplace like Leadpages, ConvertKit, ClickBank, or ShareASale and find the right products for you. And if you’re a content creator, course educator, or influencer working in the world of ecommerce, the Shopify Affiliate Program might be your next lucrative side hustle.

Next steps: Browse this list of affiliate programs for marketers and content creators.

8. Sell digital products

Digital products are items that exist only online. Examples include downloadable or streamable files such as MP3s, PDFs, videos, and technical templates.

Use your existing skills to start a side hustle creating digital products. That might mean educational ebooks for your industry, custom music or visuals, or different kinds of digital templates.

If you’re a graphic designer, think about how websites are always on the lookout for unique fonts and eye-catching page layouts to set them apart.

Next steps: Once you’ve created your product, start an online store to sell to customers. Promote your products on social media with enticing incentives such as a free sample or discount code.

9. Start a dropshipping business

If you want to open a store but don’t like the idea of buying and storing inventory, consider starting a dropshipping business.

Dropshipping is an online business model where a third party produces and ships products on your behalf. All you have to do is set up your store, price your products, and make sales.

Because products are only bought and shipped after they’re ordered, dropshipping is a relatively low-risk side hustle. With fulfillment handled by your supplier, you can focus on marketing to your customers.

Next steps: Choose a dropshipping partner from this list of dropshipping suppliers.

10. Offer digital marketing services

The surge of online businesses has created a constant demand for digital marketing services. Founders often look for freelancers who can manage content creation, run social media accounts, optimize websites, and more.

Next steps: Tap into this market by advertising your services on freelancer platforms. Consider creating a demo website to showcase your skills, or a portfolio containing your previous work.

11. Develop mobile apps

Developing mobile apps can be a profitable venture if you’re proficient in coding. Whether it’s a functional app or a fun game, the right app can generate significant income. And, as you’ll be working as a solo developer, you can channel focused hours during the evenings and weekends into your project.

Next steps: Challenge yourself and test your skills by creating a simple app with a single functionality and posting it on an app store.

12. Resell used or vintage goods

Another way to make a few extra bucks is by selling your used goods. You can sell items you’re no longer using on a local buy-and-sell group or on Facebook Marketplace. Level up by finding great thrift items and reselling them on a vintage marketplace. This is a fun side hustle idea if you have a great eye for décor or fashion.

Next steps: If you have a knack for selling vintage clothing online, why not open an online store?

13. Advise eco-friendly businesses

Support businesses and individuals as they strive to become more environmentally friendly with a green business consulting firm, which helps balance profits with pollution reduction.

Next steps: Build up your green credentials by volunteering your skills to local businesses and charities.

Creative and artistic home-based side gigs

14. Design and sell t-shirts

If you have a passion for design, print-on-demand businesses are fun, low-risk side hustles. Apps such as Printful, Printify, and Gelato allow you to easily upload custom designs onto t-shirts that are printed and shipped at the point of purchase, meaning there’s no need to make large inventory purchases upfront.

Next steps: Shopify has everything you need to start selling t-shirts online.

15. Develop a clothing line

Sure, starting a clothing line might seem like more of a full-time job than a side hustle, but curating your own clothing line is easier than it sounds, especially using a dropshipping business model.

If you’re creative, you can level up your side hustle to design and produce your own clothing line from scratch. Sew one-of-a-kind pieces or outsource your vision to a factory.

Next steps: Here is a list of dropshipping suppliers who specialize in clothing.

16. Sell your photography

Sites like Shutterstock and Getty Images are always looking to buy photos that can be used on websites and ad campaigns. As long as the web exists, there will always be a need for new photos, because websites will always need to update and refresh their content.

You can also sell your photography as prints or put them on items like a mug or sweatshirt. Get your images on something physical and sell them as hangable and wearable art. Getting quality prints of your photos is easy and cheap these days, so there’s a real market if you’ve got the right image.

You might even sell your photography as a service. Photographing weddings alone can be a full-time gig, and that’s not even mentioning concerts, graduations, baby announcements, annual family photos—the list goes on.

Next steps: Build a professional portfolio to showcase your best photos. This could be a dedicated website or a profile on Instagram.

17. Sell your voice as a voiceover artist

Voiceover work can range from audiobook narration to voicing characters in animations. With a quality microphone and sound editing software, you can start this hustle from home.

Next steps: Create samples and join freelance platforms like Voices.com or Fiverr to find gigs.

18. Offer virtual interior design consultation

If you have a knack for home organization or décor, virtual interior design consultations are a low-cost way to provide advice, layouts, shopping lists, or renovation plans for clients. Consider creating a professional website with a client onboarding experience, where customers can upload information about their design challenges and request your services.

Next steps:Build a portfolio by creating interior solutions for friends and family, then start planning a user-friendly website.

19. Create handmade goods

If you’ve ever wanted to make money from your hobbies, there are plenty of crafts to make and sell online. Although creating handmade products requires plenty of time spent learning a craft, it’s one of the best ways to stand out in a sea of commodity products.

Next steps: Think of something you enjoy doing, even when no one’s paying you. Whether it’s carpentry, knitting, painting, jewelry making, or crafting, these hobbies can serve as the foundation for many unique side hustles.

Flexible side hustles for educators and communicators

20. Become an IRL or online tutor

Teaching is incredibly rewarding, and thanks to online platforms like Cambly, TutorOcean, Preply, and Learn to Be, it’s easier than ever to become an online tutor. Even students are getting into the tutoring business, offering services like test prep and homework help, tapping into a market that’s expected to grow at a rate of 5.2% annually till 2032.

To make your tutoring side hustle extra profitable, consider creating an online course. Building an online course takes considerable effort at the start, but once it’s set up, it can generate passive income continuously.

Next steps: Identify the subject or skills you are most knowledgeable about, then look for students on tutoring platforms or at local educational institutions.

21. Transcribe or translate content

A transcriptionist receives audio files from their clients and types out what they hear. These files may be videos, audio notes, phone calls, or even legal proceedings, so a good ear and quick fingers are crucial.

Next steps: Check out freelancer sites like Rev, TranscribeMe, and GoTranscript for transcription side hustle opportunities.

22. Teach fitness classes online

With home workouts enjoying a surge in popularity, offering online fitness classes can be a lucrative side hustle. Platforms like Zoom and Instagram Live make it easy to host sessions from home. Become a fitness influencer and brand your healthy lifestyle, or share your workouts with a smaller, dedicated audience.

Next steps: Offer free in-person classes to build a following, then transition to an online subscription model.

Hands-on and local side hustles

23. Deliver packages

If you have some free time and a vehicle, you can start a side hustle as a delivery driver. What’s great about this gig is the flexible schedule. Most delivery drivers choose when they want to work and only receive delivery assignments when they’re available.

Next steps: To get started, sign up with a service like Amazon Flex. Once you’re registered, you can start picking the time blocks that suit your schedule.

24. Deliver groceries and other items

If you like the idea of driving for extra income but are not keen on having passengers, delivering groceries or takeout is a great alternative.

Food delivery services have grown in popularity, with plenty of platforms to choose from. You can drive for well-known apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Postmates, or country-specific apps like SkipTheDishes in Canada and Menulog in Australia and New Zealand.

Next steps: Check out Instacart or Spark Driver (Walmart’s delivery app) for grocery delivery side gigs.

25. Rent out your home or spare room

You already invest time and effort into maintaining your home—why not monetize it? Renting out your home or a spare room offers substantial earning potential. Platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, Agoda, and Plum Guide (UK only) simplify the process of listing short-term rentals.

Next steps: Take your side hustle further by selling products to your guests. Use Shopify Collabs to earn commissions on products your guests might enjoy. For example, if guests love the soap in your bathroom, why not place a QR code there that links directly to a purchase page?

26. Become a rideshare driver

These days, there are several options for those wanting to drive for a rideshare company. You can always drive for tried and tested companies like Uber or Lyft, but there are also independent options that cater to specific needs or cities, like Wingz, which specializes in shuttling people to and from the airport.

Next steps: Decide which rideshare platform aligns with your schedule and vehicle type. If you are planning to sign up with Uber, check their driver requirements.

27. Wash and detail cars

Washing cars, both inside and out, is a task that most people know how to do, but few are eager to do themselves. That’s what makes it such a lucrative side hustle. Costs can be kept low: just a few cleaning supplies that you may already have. Apps like Jobble have a ton of hourly labor jobs available in cities all over the world.

Next steps: Offer your services to neighbors, friends, and family to build your initial client base and gain some word-of-mouth recommendations.

28. Mow lawns and do other landscaping tasks

Starting a lawn care service might seem daunting—especially the challenge of finding clients. However, platforms like TaskEasy and TaskRabbit offer a plethora of short-term lawn care and landscaping jobs. These tasks are perfectly suited for fitting into spare time and are ideal side hustles for those who enjoy outdoor work.

Next steps: Start small, taking jobs you can manage in your free time. As your experience and client base grow, consider investing in quality lawn care equipment to boost your efficiency.

29. Give neighborhood tours

A study done by Eventbrite shows that 78% of millennials prefer to spend money on experiences over products. Platforms like Showaround and Airbnb Experiences can help you access the growing demand for a good neighborhood tour.

Next steps: Familiarize yourself with the most interesting and unique aspects of your neighborhood. Develop a tour plan that includes these highlights and think about what stories or facts you can share that visitors might not easily find elsewhere.

30. Offer pet sitting and dog walking services

People treat their pets as members of the family⁠—meaning they’re willing to pay for reliable professionals who can take care of their furry loved ones. In the past, finding clients was the hardest part of becoming a dog walker or pet sitter, but with apps like Rover, Wag!, PetSitter.com, and PetBacker, it’s easier than ever to find owners in need of a hand.

Next steps: Once you have a few regular customers, expand your side hustle into a full pet business and source products to sell to clients.

How to choose a side hustle

If you stick with a side hustle, it can become a profitable full-time career.

To see if a side hustle is a good long-term fit for you, consider how well it matches your interests, how it impacts your finances, and whether it works with your schedule.

Does the side hustle align with your interests?

After a long workday, you’ll need extra energy to focus on a side project. The best way to summon the effort needed for a side hustle is to choose a business you’re passionate about.

Perhaps you’re interested in a niche, such as gardening products. It could also be a business model that excites you, such as social media content creation. Whatever you choose, look for something that will help you swap doom scrolling for side hustling.

Is the side hustle financially viable?

Like any business, you’ll likely need to invest some time into your side hustle before it generates revenue. Initially, focus on establishing demand for your product or service to make your first sale.

Once you’ve made some progress, step back and assess your business’s profitability. It’s important to consider whether your efforts are worth the returns.

Does the side hustle fit your schedule?

With work, family, and daily responsibilities filling up most of your week, finding time for a side hustle can be challenging. If your schedule is already packed, pick a flexible business model that lets you break tasks into manageable chunks and complete them during spare moments.

Passive or hands-on: What’s your style?

Different side hustles require varying levels of involvement, and even passive income ideas take effort to get started.

For instance, setting up an affiliate marketing website can be labor-intensive, but needs less day-to-day management than a hands-on task like pet sitting.

Decide if you want a side hustle that needs your constant attention or one that allows for isolated bursts of work.

How to start a side hustle while working full-time

Side hustles are a fantastic way to earn extra income, but like all new ventures, they require upfront work to get traction. If you don’t choose an idea that fits your lifestyle, especially when balancing a full-time job, it’s easy for this extra work to sink to the bottom of your to-do list and, eventually, fall by the wayside.

Side hustles that conflict with your job and eat into social time are less likely to last. Follow these tips to give yourself the best chances of sticking with your side gig.

Respect your schedule

Explore side hustles that naturally fit into your available time slots. For instance, if you find that you have chunks of free time in the evenings, a side hustle that can be done entirely online, like freelance writing or graphic design, might be ideal.

Look for under-utilized times in your day—maybe you can work on your side hustle during a lunch break or while commuting via public transit.

Map out a realistic plan

Once you’ve chosen a side hustle, outline what you need to get started. This might include setting up a workspace, purchasing equipment, or networking for clients.

Set specific, achievable goals

Having measurable goals for your side hustle will help you stay on track and motivated. Instead of vague ambitions, set specific targets like gaining a specific number of clients or creating a certain amount of content within a quarter.

Automate and delegate

Whether it’s an AI assistant, an SEO tool, or freelance support, look for automated solutions to make managing your side hustle easier. The goal is to reduce the time you spend on administrative or repetitive tasks, leaving more time for the actual work.

Aim to level up (or not)

Sometimes, it helps to decide early on whether you want to keep your side hustle as just that, or if you eventually want to turn it into a full-time business. This decision will influence how much time and effort you invest and guide your strategic planning.

Side hustles to avoid

The internet is full of ads promising easy money and so-called influencers promoting get-rich-quick schemes. Steer clear of any side hustle that operates on a “pay-to-play” model, where you’re required to invest money upfront with the promise of future earnings. These opportunities often end up being time sinks, financial drains, or downright scams.

Here are several types of side hustles that are generally best avoided:

• Pay-to-play gigs: These require you to purchase the “opportunity” before you can start earning.
• Multi-level marketing schemes: MLMs rely on your ability to recruit others to see any return.
• Time-consuming surveys: Some survey platforms offer minimal compensation for the time investment they require.
• Non-scalable crafts: Some crafted items are time-intensive but don’t sell for much, limiting your potential profit.
• Illegal activities: Engaging in these can damage your reputation with consumers.
• Speculative trading: Avoid high-risk trading that puts your principal investment at risk.
• Internships: View internships as long-term career plays rather than side hustles.
• Travel-intensive hustles: The costs of fuel and accommodation can quickly surpass your earnings.
• Monotonous data entry jobs: These tend to offer low pay for extensive, repetitive work.

Where will your side hustle take you?

Side hustles are a great way to earn extra income. But they also let you try your hand at a new business idea. As you develop skills and gain experience, what starts as a part-time gig can evolve into a profitable career. Whether it’s walking dogs, delivering food, or selling things online, a side hustle is the first step toward financial independence.

Start your side hustle with Shopify

Feature illustration by Eugenia Mello