10 Quick Ways To Make Extra Money In San Francisco [2024]

Updated: August 31st, 2022

10 Quick Ways To Make Extra Money In San Francisco [2024]

Are you looking for quick ways to make easy money in San Francisco? Side-gigs can be a great way to earn extra cash and supplement your income. And who knows, maybe your side-hustle could result in a long-term profitable business.

Alexandra Kenin, left her job at Google when she felt burnt out. As a side hustle, she started her hiking tour business, Urban Hiker San Francisco. Today, she is making$8000/month from her side gig.

Whether you're trying to make rent or need some extra money to spend, there are several side gigs in San Francisco that you can work on your off-time. You don't need to commit full-time or even be on contract; you can go in, do the job and get your cash. You'll be your own boss!

What is the average cost of living and income in San Francisco anyway?

  • Cost of living: $3,415 per month for a single person, $7,268 for a family of four
  • Average income: $105,000 per year

Considering this, it makes sense if you want to make some extra money.

If you're looking for easy ways to make extra money in San Francisco jobs, then here are 10 great side gig options for you.

1. Become a Dog Walker

If you have a couple of hours and need an exercise buddy, consider taking a stranger's dog for a walk. There are tons of people in the area that can't walk their dogs and will pay you to have a fun hour or two with their bundle of fur. Can it get any better?

Apps like Wag let you work on a flexible schedule and choose when you want to work. However, if you're open to doggy sitting/boarding - you're on call 24/7. Still, you're doing a service to your neighborhood and getting paid handsomely for it!

Earning Potential: up to $25/hour

Benefits: You get to play with a furball, get some exercise and explore the area!

How To Get Started: You can apply to be a dog walker through apps like Rover, Walkatxpets, Wag.

Dog walking can bring in some serious money. Learn how Melodi makes $54k/month walking dogs.

2. Stop Deleting Your Emails

Did you know that deleting your email comes at a cost? Yes, that is right! Therefore, you could use a tool to get money back when purchasing anything online. Such tools allow you to register for free and scan your email for any receipts.

When they notice that you've purchased from one of its monitored retailers, you get a refund when the price of the item you've brought drops in the market. Interesting, isn't it?

Earning Potential: Depends on the kind of purchases you make.

Benefit: Your online shopping habit can finally become profitable.

How To Get Started: You can sign up for free at Capital One Shopping Price Protection to get started.

3. Earn Money By Getting Fit

Yes, you read the title right! You can actually earn cash prizes by losing weight. There are tools on the internet that allow you to define a goal weight and a time frame to achieve your goal. Take up a challenge, full it, and earn.

Accordingly, you can place a bet on yourself between $20-$500 and let the tool determine your reward as you travel the course of achieving your goal.

Earning Potential:: Earn anywhere between $20 to $500 per month!

Benefit:: What’s better than getting paid to take care of yourself?

How To Get Started: You can register at HealthyWage to start earning cash prizes along with getting fit!

4. Start Investing In Real Estate

Investments are a great way to make some extra money. Moreover, it depends on the type of investment you make that determines the number of returns you can expect. Real estate is a great way to make investments with high profits. However, you need good knowledge of the real estate market to step into it.

Different real estate investing platforms allow you to invest amounts as small as $500 right from the convenience of your home. You can check where you are investing and invest according to your preferences but before making any decisions make sure you study the market well.

Earning Potential:: Depends on the market and how much you invest, but you’re guaranteed a profit!

Requirements: You will need an initial capital to for investing in real estate plus detailed market knowledge (you can seek advice from a real estate consultant to make more informed choices).

Investment needed: You can start your investment with as low as $500 in the beginning.

How To Get Started: You can start investing with as little as $500 from platforms like Fundrise

6. Get Paid To Unplug Your Devices

The avenues to make money are unlimited these days. You can make money doing anything, even unplugging your toaster! An app called Ohmconnect will pay you to unplug your devices when they’re not in use. It pays you based on the amount of electricity you save. If you pay attention to Ohm Hours, then you can earn a lot more than you expect!

Earning Potential:: Earn Up to $400 per month!

Benefit:: You’re doing your bit for the environment and still making money!

Investment needed: $0 investment needed

How To Get Started: You can get started by registering on Ohmconnect and getting rewarded for saving electricity.

6. Rent Out Your Extra Space

You can rent out spare space in your home for some extra cash, like an extra room, or your garage.

You can offer your property to someone looking for accommodation or storage space and make some decent income from it each month.

Earning Potential: Up to $300/month

Requirements: You will need an extra room that's in a good condition with all the basic facilities.

Investment needed: $0 investment if the room is in good shape.

How To Get Started: Visit websites like Neighbor and list yourself as a Neighbor host. For more info click on this link.

7. Make Money Renting Out Your Car

Are you using your car for a short time and it just sits idle for the rest of the day? Or do you own more than one car and want to use the extra one to earn some additional income on the side. Renting your car out on an hourly basis can be a good source of side income for you to have while you are working a regular job.

Earning Potential: Up to $10/hour

Requirements: You will need to have an extra car that's in good running condition and also car insurance. You should yourself check or ask the agent to check if the person you are renting your car to has a valid driver's license, a government-approved photo ID, and no criminal background.

Investment needed: $0 upfront cost if you have insured the vehicle beforehand.

How To Get Started: List your car on HyreCar or Turo and let your car earn for you while you rest.

8. Start Dropshipping Online

Another easy way to make extra money irrespective of your location is to start a dropshipping business. You can set up an online store & start earning money with minimal effort.

All you need to do is select the items you want to sell, add them to your online store & start selling. The supplier is responsible for packing & shipping the product directly to your customer. All you need to do is market.

Earning Potential: Depending on your skills and effort, you can make up to $100,000/year

Benefits: You will be your own boss, gain entrepreneurial skills & operate the store from anywhere in the world

Requirements: You will need to have a business license to sell at a dropshipping store.

Investment Needed: You will need as low as $100 to start a dropshipping business.

How to Get Started: You can start by setting up a free online storefront via Wix or Weebly

Learn how Amanda makes $12k per month dropshipping these tiny products.

9. Sell Your Stuff Online

If you're looking for one of the easiest ways to make quick money in San Francisco, then it's by selling your things. Whether it's through eBay or Craigslist, sell off the things you don't need anymore and watch that dough stack up!

Potential: Depends on the items you sell

Benefits: Make extra cash while getting rid of things you don't need anymore, free up space in your house.

How to get started: You can start by setting up accounts on eBay and listing the items you want to sell.

Learn how Adam makes $10K/month selling sports cards on eBay.

Not looking for extra income, but rather a better job? Find a new job in San Francisco:

Resources:

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.