The New Side Hustle Economy

When it comes to side hustles there’s no shortage of ideas these days. Maybe that’s why approximately 36% of U.S. adults report having a side hustle, according to Bankrate.

From photography to floral design, to balloon arches for parties - think of all those small projects from home construction labor to entertainment that you might outsource to those specialized in a niche.

Typically, the “Gig Economy” is pictured as ride-sharing services or part time jobs you can stack, however there are a few categories the jobs typically fit into. The average monthly income from side hustles varies but is reportedly $810 per month (average) and $400 as a median for US households.

Check out these services incase any inspire you for your next side hustle!

Delivery and ride-sharing - Uber, Lyft and any other ride-sharing services. This also includes other gig roles like delivery drivers for food like UberEats or Instacart for packages.

Top reasons side hustlers enjoy working for Uber are the ability to work whenever they want with no set hours. Ride-sharing can be ideal for parents, students, retirees, or those with another job with the added flexibility to pause or stop driving anytime without penalty.

Task-based Work: For task based assignments participants sign up to complete specific tasks such as home repairs, cleaning, or assembly. TaskRabbit, Thumbtack and Handy are examples of platforms for such gigs.

The most popular TaskRabbit requests include furniture assembly (especially IKEA furniture), home cleaning, light computer help and moving assistance.

Next, Freelancing. Freelancing is different from task support as individuals offer their professional skills and services (such as writing, graphic design, or consulting) to clients on a project-by-project basis. Before freelancing and announcing your availability on social media or LinkedIn - make sure this doesn’t break your non-compete at your full time job.

The most common freelance jobs tend to fall into a few categories, especially in creative, technical, and business-support fields. From website design, graphic designer support to makeup and hair styling services - many have easily racked up the cash freelancing in their spare time.

Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr facilitate these gigs which can be quite lucrative when you build a following.

Next, Online Marketplaces. Those looking to make quick extra cash can sell goods or services through platforms like Etsy (handmade goods), eBay, Poshmark, ThredUp (general products), or Amazon (various types of selling opportunities). You can either can either consider selling items you have tucked in your clothes or take on a marketplace drop-shipping on a greater scale.

Online Teaching and Coaching. People with expertise in specific subjects or skills can teach or tutor online, such as through platforms like VIPKid, Teachable, or Coursera. This opportunity is great for those in the education space as you can easily rework your lesson plans to fit a wider marketplace.

For those looking to sharpen their knowledge, many experts and influencers offer courses in their social media feeds on a variety of topics. However, do your research on what seems of value before committing to any of these courses if you’re not familiar with their credentials.

Consulting: Like tutoring, professionals with specific expertise (e.g., marketing, business strategy, engineering, IT) can work as consultants on short-term or project-based contracts, either independently or through platforms like Toptal or Fiverr.

The difference between tutoring and consulting is these experts are providing strategic POV’s and branching out to their network of contacts to facilitate connections. Consultants typically lean strategy-heavy vs. facilitate the actual work or execution.

Remote or Virtual Assistance is a great opportunity for someone retired or on sabbatical looking for more structure in their day. Freelance virtual assistants provide administrative services remotely, like scheduling or data entry, often working for multiple clients simultaneously. These low pressure jobs can be found on FlexJobs, Remote.co, NoDesk or RemoteWoman.