Best 49 Side Hustles for College Students [Updated for 2023]
Whether you're a college student looking to make a little extra money on the side or just starting in your career, there are plenty of side hustles for college students to choose from.
A side hustle is a great way to make extra money and can be a lot of fun.
So if you're looking for excellent and easy side hustles for college students, Here are the best side hustles to help you make the most of your skills and knowledge as a college student. So get ready to start earning!
1. Start an uber driver business as a side hustle
Uber is the top ridesharing and delivery platform that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
As an uber driver, you have the chance to set your schedule. You can drive with the Uber app anytime, day or night. Uber app gives you driving directions and suggestions, enabling you to maximize your profitability and make money on your terms.
To get started, check the driving requirements for your area, sign up online, and choose the cities you would like to drive in. Ensure the car types meet Uber’s specifications.
My name is Albert Williams. I am the President and CEO of The Best Deal Group of Companies. located in the Boogie Down Bronx. Best Deal is a transportation company, who specializes in local community transportation, Corporate Transportation as well as Non Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT).
Below is a picture of our cars gathered to pick up 30+ passengers for one of corporate accounts
2. Start a junk removal business as a side hustle ($23.3K/month)
Households and businesses need help hauling away broken furniture, clearing out trash, and even emptying properties during a foreclosure. Therefore, the demand for junk removal services is high. Starting a junk removal business can be profitable if you own a box truck and are looking for self-employment opportunities.
To begin, perform market research in your area, and apply for the necessary regulatory permits or licenses. Build a website and market your services.
My name is Sam Evans. I am 23 years old and a recent graduate from Penn State Altoona. I am the founder of You Call We Haul Junk Removal, a junk removal company that removes anything from single items to hoarder home cleanouts. We’re located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and have been in business (part-time) since May of 2016.
Our main customers are middle-aged and up adults, typically with a higher income that do not want to or are unable to do the work themselves. We complete over 75 jobs per month, bring in about $20,000 in revenue per month profiting about 65% per job.
3. Start a newspaper delivery business as a side hustle
Despite the adoption of digital news platforms, some people still love reading a physical newspaper and will buy them daily. Thus, starting a newspaper delivery business could be one of the fastest routes to becoming an entrepreneur.
The newspaper delivery business does not require huge capital and is a high-margin business. You can partner with a local newspaper company and become their distributor. Target offices and homeowners who want to read the daily newspaper.
4. Start a music lessons business as a side hustle ($35K/month)
Hello! My name is Brooke Schrager and I am the founder and studio manager of Lessons By Brooke & Company. We provide customized, in-home, private music lessons to students of all interests, ages, and ability levels.
We have also been able to expand our offerings to include lessons in arranging, bass, brass, composition, guitar, piano, sound engineering, viola, violin, and voice. I could not be more proud of and grateful for my team and our community of incredible students and families.
5. Become a wedding photographer as a side hustle ($14K/month)
Wedding photography is a highly sought-after service that involves capturing the special moments and memories of a couple’s big day. As a wedding photographer, you will be responsible for capturing the emotions and beauty of the wedding ceremony and reception through your camera's lens.
To start a successful wedding photography business, you must have a strong eye for detail, excellent customer service skills, and a passion for photography. You will also need to invest in high-quality camera equipment and editing software to produce professional-grade images.
In addition to having technical skills, it is important to have a strong marketing strategy to reach potential clients. This can include creating a professional website, utilizing social media, and networking with wedding coordinators and venues.
According to a recent survey, the average cost of a wedding photographer in the United States is $2,500. With the wedding industry expected to generate over $72 billion in revenue in 2021, there is a significant demand for wedding photographers.
To succeed in this business, having a strong portfolio and continuously improving your skills through education and training is essential. By offering top-notch service and beautiful images, you can establish a successful wedding photography business that captures the special moments of couples’ big day.
Hi, I’m Steven and I’m a wedding photographer based out of Adelaide, Australia. I believe photography is about portraying a scene in ways that people recognize, but at the same time, have never witnessed before. Anyone can take a photo of a scene, but I want to show the world what I can create through my lens in ways that are unique and yet completely relatable to other people who have witnessed the same scene, all the while allowing my couples to act as though I’m not there just as a ‘photographer’ but rather their friend. This allows for a much more genuine set of photos for them to remember their big day!
One of the things that stand out to my clients when comparing myself with my competitors is my ability to come across as a professional wedding attendee! I can help out with any aspect of a wedding, not just their photographer - so I’m often planning everyone's wedding for them. I also make use of some cool technology such as Virtual Reality cameras, hybrid shooting video, and photography, and course drones - and not just the aerial kind, underwater too!
6. Mobile pet grooming business as a side hustle
A mobile pet grooming business offers the convenience of professional grooming services right at the doorstep of pet owners.
With this service, your day-to-day activities involve traveling to clients' locations with a fully equipped mobile grooming van, providing personalized grooming services for their beloved pets.
My name is Amy Reed and in 2004 my neighbor, Leslie Barron, and I founded Woofie’s - a professional pet care services company in Northern Virginia. Woofie’s offers Pet Sitting, Dog Walking, and Mobile Pet Grooming services.
With 16+ years of experience, Leslie and I have seen the industry grow and mature, we have turned challenges into opportunities, and we continue to keep Woofie’s evolving well ahead of the pack!
7. Start a sewing and alteration business as a side hustle ($1K/month)
Do you have sewing skills and looking for an entrepreneurship opportunity? You can start your sewing and alteration business.
A sewing and alteration business offers customers clothing repair, custom tailoring, button replacement, and other alterations. You can start a sewing and alteration business at home or set up a retail location.
To start a sewing and alteration business, you will need a commercial-grade sewing machine and a marketing strategy, so target customers learn about your business.
We are Saara and Stephanie - we’ve been friends for 8 years and have both launched our own socially oriented businesses. We recently started ALTRD - a clothing alteration service.
8. Become a mobile personal trainer as a side hustle ($30K/month)
Do you love helping people through their fitness journey? If you want a great side hustle to earn extra income, consider becoming a personal trainer.
The fitness trainer side hustle can be an adamant industry to earn good money. However, once you develop a reputation as a good trainer, you can get more clients through referrals. You need to register for the certification course to start offering personal trainer services .
To attract your first clients, consider online advertising, and seek referrals from every customer.
Hey everyone! I am Chris and in March 2011 I started Live Fit. Live Fit is a personal training company that was created to change the standards in the personal training industry. Early on I focused on building a company that is not only based on results, as most fitness companies are, but that is also focused very heavily on relationships. Relationships create trust, trust creates buy-in, and buy-in leads to the accountability and dedication it takes to get results.
9. Become a business consultant as a side hustle ($5K/month)
Business consultants serve as professional advisors who help companies achieve their goals or to streamline operations in a particular business area.
Business consulting is big business. Experts project the demand for consultants to keep increasing in the coming years. Therefore, becoming a certified business consultant can be rewarding.
To become a business consultant, you need a bachelor’s degree and expertise in a specific area. Are you ready to start your business consulting career and develop a professional network and web presence to help you connect with clients?
Hi guys! We are Elena and Andrew, and we are corporate services providers in the UAE - we run a business consultancy company in Dubai for 9 years already.
We started as a “one-man-show”, but managed to grow quickly. We now reached a point of having about 15 full-time employees and average monthly revenue of over 200K USD.
10. Start a language translation service as a side hustle ($275K/month)
Language translation services bridge the linguistic barriers, helping businesses reach a wider audience outside of a single language. A language translation job is an opportunity to cover a wide range of topics and meet people from different cultures.
To become a language translator , master a second language and earn some experience so you become fluent in the second language.
Hello, my name is Cédric Sigoire and I am the owner of the DEMAN Translations group.
We will reach more than 6 million euros in the year 2021 and my target for 2022 is 10 million euros!
11. Start an etsy shop as a side hustle
Etsy has been around for over a decade, and the platform has become more popular for creators, entrepreneurs, and consumers.
The platform started as a place for crafters to sell their supplies and handmade goods. Now it has become a venue for artists and small businesses of all kinds to sell their products.
If you just started your shop or want to sell your products on Etsy, there are many different ways to kill on the platform. With the tips and advice of Etsy sellers who’ve been in your position, you’ll soon be successful!
Hi, I’m Jess. I’m 34 years old from Tasmania, Australia. I started Chasing Planner Peace back in 2015 when I was pregnant with my third child. Originally we were based on Etsy and only sold planner inserts, however, we’ve now turned into a one-stop planner shop that caters to seasoned “planner addicts” who want to add to their planners, and also planner newbies who love the fact our shop is the only store in Australia you can custom build your own ring planner style planner.
Over the past few years, we’ve really expanded our range to not only offer planners and inserts, but also planner dashboards (beautiful cover pages), dividers, notepads, stationery items and more. We also recently started our subscription box service where every two months customers can receive a “Planner Peace Box” which is full of planner and self-care goodies. We have so many more plans for new products in 2020.
12. Start a golf instruction business as a side hustle
Hello, my name is Sean Petersen and I am the founder of Golf Trip Junkie, a trusted source for delivering memorable customized golf vacations to our valued customers.
My business is growing more than I ever expected, with average monthly revenue of $165,000.
13. Become a copywriter as a side hustle
Copywriting is a high-demand, high-reward job. This kind of work can be done from anywhere - all you need is a computer and an internet connection.
With services like Upwork and Fiverr, it's easier than ever to find work, build up your clientele, and make a substantial living copywriting.
Once you've gained experience and connections in this field, you may consider venturing out on your own and starting your own copywriting business.
My name is David Tile. I own and operate a Content Writing Service, under the banner Article-Writing.co.
We don’t consider ourselves a content marketing firm. But a firm dedicated to the business of writing. Project management offers most often attached to marketing agencies. We work against marketing briefs delivering content on time and under budget.
14. Start an affiliate marketing business as a side hustle ($298K/month)
Are you looking for a side hustle to pay you a passive income? Affiliate marketing is one of those side hustles that will pay you well over the long term. It is a way to earn money online by promoting other companies' products and services. You will be paid a commission for each sale you make as an affiliate marketer.
To get started, learn how to find the right product and brand to partner with. For example, you may prefer becoming an affiliate marketer for an eCommerce store, partnering with a manufacturer, and marketing their products for a commission.
My name is Spencer Mecham. In 2016 I first heard about an industry called affiliate marketing and in 2017 I founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate business.
15. Become a proofreader as a side hustle ($2K/month)
Proofreading business is a service that helps customers review their written work and ensure it is ready for publication. Typically, a proofreader corrects grammatical errors and provides the written piece meets any relevant style guide.
As a proofreader, you can work online, allowing you to choose what time to work.
If you plan to start a professional proofreading business, make sure you possess the following skills:
- Have an excellent grasp of grammar
- Ability to correct mistakenly capitalized words
- Familiarity with the proper use of capitalization
- Use spell-checkers to flag misspelled words
Proofreading is a great way to enhance content quality. With the increased use of written content marketing to reach a broader market, the demand for professional proofreaders has grown tremendously. Professional proofreaders earn an average of $12/hr. And $30/hr.
Therefore, consider proofreading as a business if you are looking for a great side hustle idea or simply looking for ways to increase your income.
Hi, my name is Lenny Bron, and I am The Blog Proofreader. I’m the annoying grammar police person you’ve always been tired of hearing from every time you use an ellipses incorrectly in a Facebook post you wrote 3 years ago.
I’ve been able to build my business from scratch to consistently make ~$2,000 per month with zero experience in the field, no expenses, and barely any upfront costs.
16. Start a podcast as a side hustle ($39.5K/month)
Do you have knowledge and passion that you'd love to share with other people? Or perhaps you are a content creator and looking for ways to expand your revenue streams? If you match any of these criteria, then becoming a podcast host could be the perfect opportunity for you.
Podcasts are the new radio. Podcasting is one of the fastest-growing mediums for online audio, and it's not expected to slow down any time soon. But unlike traditional radio, podcasts are driven by content creators who have a passion for sharing stories with their listeners.
One of the main benefits that come with starting a podcast is the minimal investment needed to get started. All you need is a computer or phone with a microphone and a way to host it online. You can even create one on your own website if you want.
Hey there! I’m Jeremy Enns, the founder and Storyteller In Chief at Counterweight Creative, a podcast production and strategy agency.
I started the company 3 years ago, in 2016 with one client, making $15/hour and have grown into a team of 10 contractors producing more than 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10K/mo.
17. Start a resume and cover letter business as a side hustle
A resume & cover letter is short documents used to advertise yourself for an open job. This document also helps with winning over the hiring manager and provides evidence that you have what it takes to get the job done.
Starting a resume and cover letter business is an excellent way to make money. You can start this as a side-hustle or a full-time career. Running a resume and cover letter business could be very lucrative, yet it is also something that you should put your heart into. Resume and cover letter businesses are not only able to make a living but they can also find joy in helping others become successful.
The resume writing business is a multi-million dollar industry. Everyone is worried about making sure that they have a good resume. The resume and cover letter writing business is actually one of the coolest things you can do at first. You get to help people turn their careers around and serve them in your own way.
Hi, my name is Ana Colak-Fustin and I am the founder of ByRecruiters, a website and resume shop for job seekers (originally named Recommended By Recruiters). In 2018, I started an Etsy shop selling resume templates that have since supported over 6,000 job seekers on their career journey.
Since 2018, I have sold over 6,000 resume templates supporting job seekers from 50+ countries. Today my business brings in between $1,500 to $4,000 per month.
18. Start a babysitting business as a side hustle
Babysitting service entails providing baby care to infants and children either in their homes, with registered caregivers, or in a child care center. A babysitting service requires a low startup cost and is a low overhead business with high profit margins.
The target market includes affluent and middle-income families where both parents are working. Baby sitters earn a fixed monthly income or are paid per hour depending on the agreement that suits both sides.
19. Start a party planning business as a side hustle
Party planning involves budgeting, establishing party timelines, selecting and reserving ideal party sites, acquiring permits, theme décor, and coordinating party catering and transportation.
Are you organized, creative, and client-focused? You can put those skills into starting a successful party planning business. To become a party planner, you must desire to help other people enjoy themselves. Besides, you need diplomacy, salesmanship, and multitasking skills.
Hello, I am Akshay Patel from Albuquerque, NM the land of enchantment. I started an event rental and decor company that led me to an event venue. The View Event Center is a lavish space that is an indoor and outdoor event venue with panoramic city views. Our high-end venue with experienced staff will assist from venue decor to the smallest details entailed in making memories of a lifetime. Simply Decor, Tents, and Events ensures exclusive decor and thrives to bring your event to life through customized, elegant decor for all of their clients.
The full-service company will individually work with every client to design their event that will intrigue every eye in the room. Our company is broad that we get many different types of customers and we make many great connections with them as well. The company was making upwards of $380,000 a year.
20. Become a house sitter as a side hustle
My name is Gareth Mahon. I’m the co-founder and CEO of The CareSide, a home care and nursing service provider for elderly individuals in Australia. We are based in Perth, Australia.
We launched our company in 2017. Over the past 3 years, we have scaled to $5 million in revenue.
21. Start a pet sitting business as a side hustle
A pet sitter is a professional who provides daily care for pets while the pet owners are at work or on vacation. The pet sitter's duties include:
- Cooking special meals for pets as instructed by pet owners.
- Reporting any behavioral issues to pet owners.
- Playing with the pets to encourage their mental and physical stimulation.
One of the advantages of working as a pet sitter is that it's not a stressful career. You also get to work with different animals while enjoying a work-life balance.
22. Start a dog walking business as a side hustle ($54K/month)
Do you love dogs? If yes, you can turn your love for animals into a lucrative side hustle that can help you pay extra toward your mortgage, save for a vacation, or even clear that student loan.
If you offer dog walking services as a side hustle, you could earn an average income of between $10,000 and $30,000 per year. As a dog walker, sitter or boarder, you offer your services to dog owners looking for a caregiver for their puppy. Register on a legitimate dog-walking app and create a compelling profile to get started.
Hi. My name is Melodi Landi. I am the Founder & Owner of Furry Fellas Pet Service LLC.
Furry Fellas has been voted in the TOP 3 Pet Sitting / Dog Walking Company within the RI / MA area for 8 years in a row!
23. Start a gardening business as a side hustle
A gardening business makes money by planting trees, growing specific produce, maintaining landscapes, and more.
Gardening companies work with homeowners to install, maintain and repair their landscaping areas. For instance, a typical gardening business provides all-inclusive services to create and maintain a lawn, such as mowing, fertilizing, and edging.
Owning a gardening business can be a very flexible and profitable business venture.
My name is Chris Crawford and I am the founder of RinseKit. We design, manufacture, and sell the RinseKit- a portable pressurized shower that’s like having a hose to go. It doesn’t require pumping or batteries, fills from a hose spigot or sink in 30 seconds, can maintain pressure for up to a month, and is entirely portable. We started the business back about 5 years ago and have since grown to average over $1.5 M in sales each year.
24. Start a painting business as a side hustle
If you are looking for a self-employment opportunity that gives you a chance to define your working schedule, consider starting a painting business. Painting is one of the low startup costs craft businesses with a high-profit margin. However, only some have the patience or the skill to do painting tasks.
To start a painting business, craft a business plan and register your business. Then, get insurance cover for your business and apply for licenses. Finally, get the right painting equipment and focus on marketing your business.
I’m Debbie, and I’m known online as TheFlooringGirl. I have a home décor blog where I blog about flooring, painting, and home décor. It has now become my full-time job.
My site has over 700,000 pageviews/month. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has been the key to my success and you can find my SEO ebooks here.
25. Start a pool cleaning business as a side hustle
Pool cleaning services serve affluent homes and commercial places. Their service involves adding and testing chemical levels and catching debris to keep the swimming pools clean. A pool cleaning company ensures the swimming pool water stays clear and inhibits the growth of microorganisms.
Starting a pool cleaning business fulfills your entrepreneurial spirit and is also profitable. Suppose you are starting a pool cleaning business. In that case, you need a basic understanding of how to mix pool cleaning chemicals, invest in professional pool cleaning equipment, and market your pool cleaning business.
I’m Dan Stewart and I’m the founder of Dundas Valley Pools. We help homeowners with swimming pools in Southern Ontario, Canada maximize the summers in their backyard. We do this by providing personalized, on-site services such as pool openings/ closings, pool maintenance, equipment installations, pool renovations, and new pool installations. Since our humble beginnings in May of 2016 we have serviced 350+ pools, opened and closed 200+ pools, and have installed tons of high-quality pool equipment, pool liners, and winter safety covers for happy customers throughout Southern Ontario.
Dundas Valley Pools has grown from a company producing very little revenue in 2016 to a company that is earning an average of $8000/ month net revenue during the on-season. This year we hope to actually double that number. This is due to our expansion into more technical services as well as taking on larger jobs-- namely, new pool installations.
26. Start a window cleaning business as a side hustle
If you are ambitious about cleaning spaces, you may consider the window cleaning business opportunity.
Starting a window cleaning business offers several advantages. First, you get to choose a suitable work schedule. Also, you have access to repeat business since windows need regular cleaning to keep their shiny appearance.
Besides, starting a window cleaning service is not capital-intensive and comes with minimal overhead costs.
While he was still a full-time student, Johnny Robinson built OrangeWindowCleaning.com into a $700k/year operation.
One day while hanging out with his friend Sergio, Johnny came up with the idea of the window cleaning business. He first approached door-to-door marketing and approached local stores to offer window cleaning services.
Later, after he discovered digital marketing and how tools and software could help him multiply his client base was when this journey started to take off for real.
His story proves that if you want to start your own business, it doesn’t necessarily take a never-before-seen business idea to have a never-before-seen impact on your life.
Listen to the full podcast on sidehustlenation.libsyn.com ➜
27. Start a lawn care service as a side hustle
Are you ready to begin your lawn care business and be your boss? A lawncare business offers lawn aeration, Seeding, fertilizing, soil acidity tests, and controlling weeds, among other services. If you love creating amazing landscapes, consider starting a lawn care company.
To start lawn care legally and run it profitably, you must register the business legally. You can get into a franchise or start a business from scratch. Decide what lawn care services you will offer and your target clients.
To offer effective service, purchase lawn care equipment, and hire skilled lawn care personnel.
I'm Bryan Clayton CEO of GreenPal which is best described as Uber for Lawn Care.
Good thing early investors told us no because with their capital they would have owned and controlled 30% of our business.e are self-funded and my cofounders and I own it all.
28. Start a packers & movers business as a side hustle ($5.8K/month)
Packers and movers are service providers that pack and move customers' belongings, easing the relocating experience from start to end.
The moving and packers' industry is set to experience growth over the next decade. The growing population and influx of multinational corporations are reasons for the current and anticipated demand for moving and packers' services.
Therefore, starting your movers and packers' in 2023 can be rewarding if you ensure the right business approach.
To start, identify the niche, prepare a business plan, and acquire the necessary equipment and freight. An online presence is essential for running the movers and packers. A website and active social media presence will advertise your business.
Besides, you must ensure proper competitor research to focus on strategies to help your business stand out.
My name is Max Maher I am a serial entrepreneur, lifelong learner, and a founder of Skinny Wimp Moving!
I am now 23 years old and my locations average $115,000 a month in revenue with record monthly sales of $158,000.
29. Start an auto detailing business as a side hustle ($6K/month)
Starting an auto detailing business is a great way to start your own business and get in on the action. Auto detailing is one of the fastest-growing industries in America, and it’s only going to get bigger as people want their cars to look like they just came off the showroom floor. Plus, you’ll be satisfied knowing that you’re helping people take care of their most prized possession: their car!
Auto detailing business is a low barrier to entry entrepreneurship opportunity and can be mobile or operate from a physical location. To start an auto detailing business, find a strategic location and invest in modern equipment and technology.
My name is Matt Paskow. I started a mobile auto detailing business called Fresh Look Mobile Auto Detailing which services North County, San Diego.
30. Start a car wash as a side hustle
As more people purchase vehicles, the demand for carwash services will keep increasing. Starting a car wash can be the ticket for the budding entrepreneur looking for an innovative business idea with low startup costs.
You must choose an ideal location and invest in quality car wash equipment to operate a successful car wash. Proper advertising and marketing are critical to running a successful car wash business.
Hi Starter Story! My name is Joey Sanchez and I'm the founder of Wolf's Auto Detailing in Phoenix, Arizona. We are a mobile auto detailing service that focuses on quality work and convenience. We specialize in interior detailing, Paint polishing, and ceramic coating just to name a few.
While our client list consists of many different types of vehicles and personalities, they all share one thing in common: they all understand the value of quality work. We hold our standards very high and measure our success not only in dollar amounts but in the satisfaction of our clients. However, making $3K a month only working 3 days a week isn't a bad deal!
31. Start a grocery delivery service as a side hustle
Grocery delivery is an on-demand service where clients shop for groceries, and you deliver to their commercial or residential premises.
As a carrier in grocery delivery, you have an opportunity to maximize your output, as you can serve multiple customers in one trip. Besides, you get to choose your preferred working time and location.
Gopuff, a leading food & consumer goods delivery service, was started in 2013 by two Drexel University students, Yakir Gola and Rafael Ilishayev.
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the business began as an on-demand hookah delivery business but has now grown to provide food and supplies.
This consumer products delivery business operates on an on-demand basis. The firm mostly fulfills deliveries for food, drinks, alcohol, home essentials, and other necessities you typically find in a convenience shop.
GoPuff's business model is distinct from those of other delivery firms. The firm operates its warehouses, where it stockpiles items and fills orders on demand.
Rafael, born in Russia, began his career at his father’s sandwich restaurant and afterward at a banquet hall that his father had purchased. Yakir, the son of an Israeli immigrant, used to work in his father’s cash-for-gold store.
The genesis of GoPuff began in 2011, when its creators, Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola, met in a Business 101 class at Drexel University in Philadelphia.
In less than a decade, the company has evolved into a multibillion-dollar corporation serving over 1000 locations. In 2021, GoPuff generated $1 billion in revenue, three times what it did in 2020.
GoPuff has raised $3.4 billion over nine rounds, with its latest $1 billion funding round in July 2021. The company is valued at a massive $15 billion.
Read the full story on blog.wishpond.com ➜
32. Start an airbnb hosting business as a side hustle
Do you have an extra room or an unoccupied house in your home? You can turn that property into a revenue-generating asset by starting an Airbnb listing. Airbnb is one of the world’s largest accommodation platforms. According to experts, Airbnb’s future is undoubtedly bright.
Therefore, starting an Airbnb business can be rewarding. To start, prepare your Airbnb listing and set it up accordingly. To increase bookings, offer the best services, and encourage the guests to leave a positive review.
My name is Gary Fox, and I run HostButlers, an Airbnb concierge service in Dublin, Ireland.
Since we started nearly four years ago, we have hosted over 200,000 people and have been profitable from month 5.
33. Start a niche blog as a side hustle ($10.2K/month)
Growing a niche blog can be an incredible way to build an income on the Internet. You can start blogging in any niche that you find interesting with a few easy steps. You simply need a domain, hosting, and WordPress to start blogging. The hard part comes when you try to monetize your website traffic. Making income from your blog, and making a blog that actually pays you the money takes time, work, and effort.
There are more than 500 million blogs out of 1.7 billion websites. Over 409 million people view more than 20 billion pages each month. Users produce around 70 million new posts and 77 million new comments each month. Content marketing is predicted to be an industry worth $412.88B by 2021.
- The most comprehensive interview about starting: Founder Interviews: Pat Walls of Starter Story.
- A more personal side of the story: The Best Year Of My Life: In 35 Tweets.
- More recent: How Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and $500,000 in annual revenue
- Latest: 5 years building Starter Story # Read these first
- The most comprehensive interview about starting: Founder Interviews: Pat Walls of Starter Story.
- A more personal side of the story: The Best Year Of My Life: In 35 Tweets.
- More recent: How Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and $500,000 in annual revenue
- Latest: 5 years building Starter Story
34. Become a social media influencer as a side hustle
Social media has become integral to people's lives and daily routines. Given the importance of social media, brands are flocking to different social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok in the hope of connecting with their target audience.
A popular approach taken by these brands is engaging social media influencers. A social media influencer has established credibility in a specific industry and has access to a vast audience they can persuade to act based on recommendations.
Anyone can become a social influencer so long as they have the right strategy. Choose a popular niche based on your interests and start creating relevant content.
My name is Asia Crawford and I am a Motherhood, Life, and Travel blogger that resides in Vancouver, Canada. I am a wife and mother to two sweet little girls aged 4 and 2!
I started with no community, 0 followers on any media page I had and in just two years have grown to 18.5K followers on Instagram, 1.2 MILLION monthly viewers on my Pinterest, 12.5K Pageviews a month on my blog website and have been nominated for 3 blogging awards.
35. Start a catering business as a side hustle ($20K/month)
A catering business is responsible for providing food & beverage-related services for vast types of events.
Catering businesses are known to be more flexible than other businesses because they don't have to worry about location or pricing and can even work 24/7. They can cater anywhere and offer any price point that they want.
However, starting a catering business requires a lot of planning. To start a successful catering business , you'll need to plan and prepare menus, manage budgets, handle clients, and more. In addition, catering allows you to meet more people and show off your cooking skills.
Hi, my name is Nestor Nidome and I am the founder and owner of Elegante Catering. Serving the Inland Empire (San Bernardino and Riverside county) and now have expanded to serve all of Southern California. Our customers, mostly higher middle class, have enjoyed our delicious menu ranging from full service plated meals, made to order pasta bars to buffet-style menus such as Mexican fajitas bar and tacos.
Weddings because there is no higher compliment than to have the bride and groom come up to us complimenting us and letting us know how all their guests are raving about the food. As for corporate caterings we like to make it as simple as possible for them. We have 12 different menus they can choose from so that every month their employees enjoy a different menu. Plus once we have their information all they have to do is text us the Date, Menu, and Time they want. We understand that they have better, more important things to do than order food. This has allowed us to grow our monthly sales to $20,000.
36. Start a language translation service as a side hustle ($275K/month)
Language translation services bridge the linguistic barriers, helping businesses reach a wider audience outside of a single language. A language translation job is an opportunity to cover a wide range of topics and meet people from different cultures.
To become a language translator , master a second language and earn some experience so you become fluent in the second language.
Hello, my name is Cédric Sigoire and I am the owner of the DEMAN Translations group.
We will reach more than 6 million euros in the year 2021 and my target for 2022 is 10 million euros!
37. Start a graphic design business as a side hustle ($46.8K/month)
Graphic designers create logos, brochures, ads, and other marketing materials for companies and organizations. They also design websites and other digital content, including social media graphics.
Graphic designers may specialize in one type of design (such as print or web design), or they can be generalists who do everything from logo design to social media graphics.
Starting a graphic design business can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. It’s not easy, but if you’re passionate about design and want to make a living, starting your own graphic design business is a great way to go.
Consider a suitable pricing structure when starting a graphic design business. You may charge the customers per hour or fixed pricing based on the project’s nature.
There are so many project examples but an interesting one in the early years was a portable vacuum to clean up dog poop when you walk your day. It was called the “Vacapoo”
38. Start a data entry service as a side hustle
Data entry service is expanding and growing with each passing day. Thus, starting a data entry business can be a profitable opportunity. Data entry experts can work from home and choose their preferred work schedule. To become a data entry specialist, you need computing skills. Alternatively, you can outsource the contracts to a third party.
My name is Rahul, I'm the co-founder at Flamon cloudtech. Which is the parent company that owns our primary product TeleCRM. Taking a step back and looking at the big picture of what we are trying to achieve with TeleCRM - What if there was a way to bring software, automation, and intelligence together in a way that salespeople would only have to do the human part? Instead of spending countless hours every week entering data into specific formats and then more hours crunching that data to figure out who are the leads that they need to focus on, the system that collects all the data do the crunching and return a simple list of people who have already been warmed and just need that human touch.
39. Start a transcription business as a side hustle ($100K/month)
A transcription service converts live or recorded speech into a written or electronic text document. Transcription service is in demand globally across industries.
Becoming a transcriptionist can be a side hustle or a full-time job, so long as you have the right gear.
Do you plan to become a transcriber ? Take an online transcriptionist course and work on your listening skills. To succeed, you need a good typing speed and excellent language command.
My name is Ben Walker and I am the CEO and Founder of Transcription Outsourcing, LLC in Denver, Colorado.
Transcription Outsourcing was awarded the NASPO ValuePoint ($16 billion in annual sales from 65 contracts) transcription services contract three years ago, over 26 other companies, and haven’t looked back since.
More business ideas
- 40. Start a messenger service as a side hustle
41. Start a mobile oil change business as a side hustle ($4M/month)
My name is Billy Westbrook and I reinvented the wiper blade making it more useful for the consumer. My company is called Scrubblade and our wiper blades clean your windshield beyond rain, to remove bugs, dirt and road grime from impairing your vision.
Scrubblade Heavy Duty and Scrubblade Platinum are our two models available today. We believe in keeping our product models available to a minimum, not to confuse the customer with too many options. We landed on the INC 5000 and awarded wiper blade of the year by Frost & Sullivan in 2018. That was a big accomplishment for Scrubblade and me personally.
More business ideas
- 42. Start a sport coach training business as a side hustle
- 43. Start a life guard business as a side hustle
44. Start a security guard business as a side hustle
Coro, a cyber security SaaS platform, was established by Dror Liwer and Guy Moskowitz in 2014 to offer cloud security services to midmarket enterprises.
It is one of the fastest-growing security solutions targeted at mid-market, offering all-in-one protection that enables enterprises to defend against malware, ransomware, phishing, and bots.
- Coro began as part of an accelerator and raised $1.5 million in its first Seed round.
- They secured an additional $20 million before their $60 million Series C round.
- Coro confirmed reaching a $1 million run rate in 2019.
- This firm has 4,500 clients on the platform.
Read the full story on blog.getlatka.com ➜
45. Start a snow removal service as a side hustle
Snow plowing is a high-margin scalable business with low overhead costs. Although seasonal, you can earn a decent living by plowing snow in winter. Entrepreneurs with a dump trailer and snow plow can serve commercial and residential customers and stay busy during or after a snowstorm.
More business ideas
- 46. Renting out a parking space as a side hustle
- 47. Start a rent out extra space as a side hustle
- 48. Become a website tester as a side hustle
- 49. Start a mystery shopper business as a side hustle
How to pick the perfect side hustle for you?
Side hustles are great for you as a college student. For some, it's about paying off debt or building savings. Others use it to take vacations and spend more money.
Apart from money, side gigs can open doors to new careers. So, as a college student, you should consider your side hustle carefully rather than just finding one randomly.
Here are some tips for picking your side hustle as a college student:
Pick a side hustle you enjoy
As a college student, you likely spend 40 hours or more working on your main tasks each day, which means you are pretty tired at the end of the day. In addition, a college student's life can be stressful, so finding a side hustle you enjoy is crucial.
Working 10 hours a week at a side hustle as a college student will be challenging, so that side work should be something you enjoy. With this in mind, you could turn your hobby into an income source. This way, that side hustle won't seem so hard.
Prioritize choosing flexible side hustles
Having a side hustle shouldn't interfere with your college student's duties. As a college student, it pays to choose a side hustle that accommodates your schedule and deadlines. If you don't have predictable tasks as a college student, you may need to prioritize choosing a side hustle that offers flexible hours.
Get a job with room for growth
It is not uncommon for college students to turn their side gigs into full-time jobs. However, college students' side hustles can be good to carry into retirement, especially if you start them later in life. As a result, you can earn a living and do something meaningful with your time.
For this reason, it's wise to take on a secondary gig with expansion potential. For instance, if you're a college student who decides to do graphic design work on the side, you can grow the job as more clients discover you. However, if you work a seasonal job at a restaurant to make some money, you might find yourself unemployed soon.
Find a side hustle that pays
While you might like your side hustle as a college student, chances are you're doing it to earn more. So, if you're going to work on top of your duties as a college student, you should do something that lets you earn but you still enjoy it.
Try to find that sweet spot in between. It can make a noticeable difference in your finances as a college student, but you'll also enjoy and learn from it.
Having a side hustle as a college student is an excellent idea to boost your earnings. If you choose the proper gig, you'll hopefully have a rewarding experience.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work for myself as a college student?
As a college student, you can work for yourself, and you will improve your skills and abilities while improving your career prospects.
Having the ability to work on your own as a college student can result in greater productivity. This is because besides the daily tasks you must complete as a college student, you are challenged to do more.
How much time do I need to spend on a side hustle as a college student?
The time you need to spend on a side hustle depends on your free time as a college student. After all, a side hustle is meant for us to earn more using only the time we can spare. Therefore, as a college student, you must maintain a balance of everything.
The goal here is to understand how much time you have besides the time you have to do your tasks as a college student and the time for you to rest.
For instance, it takes around 8 hours daily to finish your tasks as a college student, together with all your schedules. If the rest of the day is only spent doing leisure activities, then that's the potential hours for you to work for your side hustle.
Another essential thing to note as you consider the hours to spend on a side hustle is your resting time. As always, the last thing you'll want is to compromise your time to rest, as it can affect your health in all aspects, especially when you have tasks to finish as a college student.
In short, please take it as a rule of thumb to evaluate your day. It includes your tasks as a college student, your time to sleep and rest, and your spare time. Once you do so, you'll learn how much time to spend on a side hustle and pick one according to it.
How much can I make side hustling as a college student?
Every side hustle has its potential income to offer. As a college student, you can make as little or as high an income depending on your chosen side hustle.
In most cases, the potential income you can earn from side hustling as a college student can be 10%, 20%, or 30% of your actual income if you're working full-time.
However, such a range depends mainly on your chosen side hustle, allotted work hours, and primary income. It's not even impossible for you to make more money from your side hustle over time than in your full-time job.
Conclusion
College students can find side hustles to make more money and have more job security. There are many opportunities for college students to find a side hustle, including online options.
Side hustles can help college students stay current in their field, learn new skills, and network with other professionals.
College students should consider their goals and needs when choosing a side hustle. The best way to start a side hustle is by researching and planning.
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