Best Side Hustle Ideas to Make More Money in 2024 (UK Edition)

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Looking for UK side hustle ideas?

You’re not alone: 25% of adults have a side hustle in the UK.

There’s a good chance your office coworker is moonlighting as a yoga teacher or selling custom T-shirts on Etsy.

This very blog started as a side hustle (and now brings in a full-time income!)

More and more people are looking for ways to earn extra income with a side hustle, but are not sure where to get started.

Rest assured, there are so many great side hustle ideas out there for you to choose from – and we’re about to take a look.

Best side hustle ideas UK

Here are my top 10 side hustles for the UK. These side hustles are all easy to start, and they are excellent ways to earn additional income!

1. Matched betting

My top recommended side hustle has to be matched betting.

This is one of the most profitable side hustles in the UK, and it’s so easy to get started.

Matched betting is not gambling. It’s a very low-risk way of making money online from the hundreds of bookie websites and apps out there.

These are all keen to get your business, and offer great welcome bonuses in the form of free bets.

With matched betting, you will learn how to use these free bets in a way that means that you always win!

In short, matched betting sees you unlocking the bonuses at the bookies and using your free bets to cover all eventualities.

You do this by placing two bets: one at the bookie itself, and another on a site called an ‘exchange’ which lets you bet on an event not happening.

Sound a little confusing? You can read more about it here.

There are also companies like this one (I’m a member) that talk you through it and show you the best offers to do daily.

By spending just a few hours a week it’s possible to earn an extra £200-£300 a month, and those who take it seriously could earn up to £1000.

What’s more, this side hustle is tax-free! Yes, really.

Although matched betting is not gambling, HMRC classes the income as gambling wins, which means they don’t need to hear about it.

Matched betting is a great way to start earning extra income right away. You could even make up to £40 this weekend with a free trial of my favourite matched betting site!

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2. Sign-up offers

Screenshot of OhMyDosh!, a website to make extra money online in the UK, showing the 'lightening payouts' section. If you complete these offers and earn at least £10 you can get the money within three days.

Did you know that dozens of businesses are lining up to give you cash, just for signing up for their service or downloading their app?

Sign-up offers are not exactly a long-term business opportunity.

But if you’re looking for an easy side hustle idea just to bring in a little extra each month, this is a great option to make quick cash.

You can make £200-£600 just by going through all the offers at the links below.

And since there are always new offers, you can probably make an extra £20-£50 per month ongoing.

You can also find lucrative sign-up offers through websites such as OhMyDosh! and Freecash.

More info:

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3. Selling digital printables

a woman at a side hustle in the UK, sitting at a desk with a cup of tea and design ideas on the computer screen.

This profitable side hustle idea can lead to a passive income (once the initial work has been put in, of course).

With free websites such as Canva, it’s easy to create stunning digital designs for greeting cards, planners, invitations, and even wall art.

Once you have created your masterpiece, you can upload your digital file to sites like Etsy.

When someone buys from you, the whole process is automated: Etsy will send the customer the file, and they print it at home.

You can sell the same item 100s or 1,000s of times over, with no additional work or expense on your behalf.

By filling your Etsy shop with plenty of great designs, you can generate a healthy, hands-free second income.

And, thanks to the way you can scale it up, this can be one of the highest-paying side hustles.

Here is an awesome free seminar that explains exactly how it works:

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4. Print-on-demand business

If you like the sound of this automated business idea, you should also look into print-on-demand (POD).

This is where you create designs to be printed onto T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and even newborn baby clothes.

All you have to do is upload your digital design. When you make a sale, the POD company prints out your item to order and ships it off to the customer for you.

There are many POD platforms to choose from, including Amazon Merch on Demand, Printful, Teelaunch and more.

You can sell your products on other platforms such as Etsy or Shopify, or on the POD platform itself.

And you don’t even need to be a design dynamo. I’ve personally made £1,000s on Amazon Merch selling T-shirts with just simple text slogans! (Proof)

More info:

5. Online English tutor

a young woman sitting at a laptop, pointing to a whiteboard behind her on which English vocabulary items are written. Teaching English online is a good way to make extra money in the UK.

Online English teaching is one side hustle idea from home that is perfect for UK citizens, as native English speakers are in huge demand worldwide.

How do you fancy taking an hour out and chatting online to a cute kid in Japan who is learning English at school? How about an entrepreneur in Dubai who is about to launch a new product, but needs to get some practice in before a presentation?

If this sounds appealing, you can earn around £10 an hour just for having a chat.

With Cambly, you do not need any teaching qualifications. You just need to demonstrate that you are a native English speaker and that you come across well online.

There is plenty of flexibility with this side hustle and you can choose the hours that you want to work.

And if you do have a teaching qualification such as a TEFL cert, there are even more companies ready to hire you – plus you can command a higher wage.

More info:

6. Paid surveys

Surveys for money are a very popular and easy side hustle in the UK because anyone can do it.

You won’t make millions, but it’s a legit way to earn some extra spending money. Think £20-£100+ per month.

You can fill out paid surveys on your computer or phone, wherever you are. Perfect for filling in wasted time on the bus, or even while watching TV!

Here are some of the top survey sites for beginners:

More info:

7. Virtual Assistant

A Virtual Assistant (or VA) is an assistant who works online.

Your clients will most likely be small business owners, bloggers and anyone else with an online presence who needs a little extra help!

Here are some of the services you can offer as a VA:

  • Responding to emails
  • Responding to DMs/comments on social media
  • Admin support
  • Phone support
  • Research and outreach
  • Drafting/editing/publishing/updating blog posts
  • Managing clients’ calendars/appointments
  • Bookkeeping
  • … and dozens of extra tasks!

You can specialise in any one of these, or keep it flexible and do whatever’s needed.

This is a super flexible part-time side hustle that’s perfect for organised and proactive people.

The starting rate for virtual assistants in the UK is around £25 per hour and you could even charge up to £40 if you have specialist skills.

8. Social media management

A young woman showcasing her side hustle as social media manager standing in a large Instagram style frame against a vibrant yellow background.

If you’re incredibly online, why not get paid for it?

Every kind of business needs social media these days. But many small businesses or sole traders don’t have the time or know-how to run a meaningful online presence.

That’s where you come in!

Freelance social media managers offer various packages, depending on the needs of the business, but usually this would include:

  • Planning, creating and publishing social media content
  • Replying to comments and messages
  • Monitoring data and reporting back to clients

Freelance social media managers can charge each client from £200-£1000+ per month, making this a very profitable and fun side hustle business idea that you can easily scale up!

9. Make extra cash by reselling

A woman in the UK is browsing a laptop near a stack of clothes which she is packing into boxes for her reselling side hustle.

As side hustle ideas go, selling your unwanted items on eBay or Vinted is one of the best.

Already raided your cupboards and sold off all your clutter? You don’t have to stop there!

You can earn extra money by sourcing cheap items, purely to sell them on.

This could be finding second-hand branded clothes in charity shops, picking up cheap electronics on clearance, or scouring car boots for forgotten collectables.

More info:

10. Blogging

a man in yellow jumper making notes on a notepad, sitting by a laptop

It is now easier than ever to get yourself online and create a profitable blog.

Starting a blog is a great way to earn money each month, and you can even build it into a successful full-time job (I did!)

Whether you want to write about the struggles of parenting or the latest vegan recipes, there are people out there who want to read about it.

The trick is finding something valuable you can share or teach.

If you can answer people’s questions and help them overcome their pain points, the money will follow.

Blogging for profit is a long-term game. It will take a good few months to start getting some traffic to your blog, but once you do, the earning potential is limitless.

How do you make money from a blog? There are many ways to monetise, but here are the big earners:

  • Include affiliate links in your posts
  • Adverts
  • Write sponsored posts for brands
  • Display banner ads or sponsored links for brands
  • Sell your own digital products to your audience
  • Sell your site on/flip blogs for massive profit!

More info:

30+ more great side hustles to make extra money

Vlogging/YouTube

A woman in the UK is waving to the camera while holding a video camera for her youtube side hustle.

If blogging isn’t for you, consider vlogging!

As with blogging, it takes a while to build up followers.

But eventually, your YouTube channel can provide you with ongoing passive income from ads, affiliate links, products and sponsorships.

Whatever your skill or specialism, you can surely carve out a niche on YouTube.

If you don’t fancy appearing in front of the camera, you still have options.

There are many profitable YouTubers making tutorial or unboxing videos that only show their hands, or walkthroughs of software using screen recorders.

Make money from arts and crafts

a woman's hands making bead jewellery

If you’re the arty type, then selling your handmade goods could be the perfect side hustle idea for you.

There are millions of people making extra money from selling handmade items such as jewellery, wall art, and pottery on sites such as Etsy and Not on the High Street.

You might have a bit to learn about listings and keywords before you start getting those sales.

But with a little bit of traction, this has proven to be an ideal side hustle for people in the UK.

If this sounds like an idea that could work for you, then now is the time to get crafty and begin to generate some cash.

More info:

Get paid for ironing

Ironing? It’s a bit like Marmite: you either love it, or you hate it.

If you’re the former rather than the latter, then why not look at an ironing service as a side hustle business idea?

There are people out there who absolutely hate ironing and others who simply struggle for the time (perhaps they’re already working and running side hustles of their own!).

Whatever the reasons, there are people out there who are willing to pay you to do their ironing.

You can charge by the item, the weight, or even by the hour.

However you choose to charge, you are sure to be able to bring in a good second income by offering an ironing service.

Become a freelance writer

a freelance woman sitting at her desk with a laptop in front of her and a pen in her hand, thinking

Do you have a way with words? Freelance content writing could be the side hustle idea you’re looking for.

The truth is that content is everywhere.

Whether you’re reading a blog post, browsing a website, or even reading a product description, it’s likely that somebody, somewhere, has been paid to put those words together.

Why not make that person you?

With freelance sites such as Upwork and People Per Hour, it is easy to create a profile, list your skills and start earning money as a freelance writer.

You can create a listing for clients to find you, or you can also search for job postings that appeal and put in a bid.

With freelance work, it is worth considering the time that it can take to apply for jobs and liaise with new clients.

Alternatively, by signing up to write for companies such as Text Royal and Copify, you pick and choose when you take on jobs and all the admin will go through them.

More info:

Extra cash for speaking your mind

Companies love to know what people like you and me think about their products and services. They’re also prepared to pay to find out.

I’m talking about taking part in focus groups.

Companies such as Testing Time will pay you around £20 per hour to take part in a focus group discussing a product or service.

What’s more, many of these take place online, meaning you don’t even have to travel anywhere.

Then there is Respondent where you can easily earn £200 + by sharing your thoughts – if you fit the profile the researchers are looking for.

More info:

Be a mystery shopper

a mystery shopper wearing big sunglasses and holding a finger to her lips, in a clothes shop

Ever wanted to sneak around taking covert photos without the risk of being arrested? If so, then this side hustle idea could well work for you.

Of course, I’m talking about mystery shopping. Getting paid to go into shops that you already shop in anyway is a great side hustle in the UK.

It could be that you’re asked to go and check out a certain display, take some photographs to prove it was there, and then answer a few short questions.

Or it could be that you’re asked to go in and buy a certain product and report back on your experience.

Signing up to do this side hustle is easy: you can simply download a mystery shopping app on your phone from Be My Eye or Field Agent.

There is also MarketForce that offers this kind of work, and the pay can be pretty rewarding for a few minutes of work.

More info:

Social media reviewer

A woman multitasking at a side hustle in the UK with her laptop on a desk.

If you’re anything like me, you’re probably spending a fair bit of time on Facebook.

Why not get paid for being there?

As annoying as we may find some of those ads that interrupt our newsfeeds, you can actually earn some decent cash by taking a look at them.

A company called Appen will pay you to review Facebook ads and then answer a few questions about them.

Spending an hour a day doing this can see you bringing home an extra £300 or so a month.

Make money taking photographs

Some of the best side hustle business ideas come from looking at your hobbies.

If you’re going to be working above and beyond your day job, then you may as well make sure that it is something that you enjoy.

Photography is one hobby that you can easily turn into a cash generator.

And who doesn’t have a mobile phone that is full of hundreds or thousands of photographs?

If you’ve got a few snaps that you’re just a little bit proud of, then you can start to make money from sites such as Shutterstock and Alamy, or even apps such as Foap.

Get creative with logo design

a freelance graphic designer at her desk with compuet and pot of colourful pencils

When you start to look at side hustle business ideas, you’ll realise that there are a whole host of other people doing the same thing.

Sometimes these people invest a fair bit of money to get their side hustle off the ground and want a truly professional and polished finish.

As part of this, they’re going to need a nice new logo to place on their website and business cards.

This is where you can come in.

There is plenty of free software out there that will allow you to put together a great-looking logo in a matter of minutes.

Take the time to learn how to use the software, and you could soon be getting paid for your designs.

Fiverr is a great place to start selling these when you are just getting started.

Babysitting

The perfect side hustle for people who love kids!

There are no formal qualifications required to be a casual babysitter, but you’ll get more work (and can ask for more money!) if you do a first-aid certificate.

Childminding is a popular side hustle for mums because you can keep your kids at home with you while you work.

Childminders need to register with Ofsted, but babysitters do not – check the gov website to see when this applies.

Pet sitting

More of an animal person?

I got you – pet sitting is also a fab way to earn money on the side!

You can look after pets in your own home (this is also called pet boarding), or pop round to the owners’ home while they are at work or on holiday.

You will need a licence to board pets in your own home, but not to pet sit in somebody else’s home.

If you are looking into this as a serious side job idea, you might want to look into professional liability insurance too.

Cleaning

Cleaning is a very accessible side hustle that’s in high demand all over the UK!

You can join an agency, or start up by yourself by putting the word out locally.

If you’re looking for a side hustle to find around your day job, look into commercial cleaning. Many businesses hire cleaners to work at night after the staff have left for the day.

Pallet flipping

Here’s an interesting side hustle business idea that can be a fantastic source of extra income – although it can also be labour-intensive.

Pallets are bulk lots of returned, unwanted or damaged items. You can buy return pallets cheaply from online retailers such as Marthill or Merkandi.

Then, you can flip them by selling the enclosed items individually for a higher price.

This can be risky because you usually don’t know exactly what will be in each pallet, but if you are careful you can generally make a great profit.

Test websites

A fun and easy side hustle you can do from home!

Website testers check out websites and apps using screen recording software to look out for any bugs and give feedback to the companies.

You don’t need any technical know-how; they just want to know how their website comes across to the average user. It pays around £7 per test.

More info:

Teach exercise classes

Three women meditating in a field at sunset as part of their yoga teacher side hustle.

If you’ve reached a good level in your preferred sport or exercise, could you teach it to others?

Whether that’s running yoga classes in a local hall, personal training or one-on-one jogging coaching for beginners, you’re sure to find a niche. And the best thing is that you can plan sessions to fit around your day job.

You’ll need to look into qualifications, licensing and insurance – this will vary depending on your activity.

As a spin-off idea, you could film classes to post on YouTube and potentially make an ongoing income from ads if you build up a following!

Get yourself published!

A woman in glasses with pink hair is working on her laptop at a desk, managing her ebook writing side hustle in the UK.

Always dreamed of being an author?

With the arrival of e-books, anyone can publish a digital book themselves and have it up for sale in just a few clicks.

It doesn’t have to be the next Harry Potter. Short, practical ‘how to’ guides also sell well. So as long as you have something to share, you can turn it into a book.

Low content books

Maybe you’re not the best at writing, or perhaps you don’t want to produce an ebook and you want a physical book that people can hold.

If that’s the case then Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KPD) is a great side hustle business idea for you.

With KDP, it’s not about writing the next best-selling romance novel. What people are selling – and selling well – are things like journals, notebooks and logbooks.

You simply upload your design to Amazon, and once a sale is made they will print a physical copy and post it to your customer.

Once you’ve put in the initial work of uploading designs, this can become a great form of passive income.

Make money by delivering food

a happy pizza delivery man in red with a stack of pizzas, showing an open pizza box

Not all side hustle ideas see you being tied to the laptop!

There are still plenty of offline opportunities to make some extra cash while being out and about. One such way is by making food deliveries.

Companies such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo are constantly on the lookout for delivery drivers. Not to mention all the independent takeaways that employ their own drivers.

With flexible hours, this could be the ideal side hustle for you if you’re not interested in starting a business, just a reliable source of cash.

Proofreading

Have you spotted how many mistakes I’ve made so far? How many spelling mistakes, poor word choices, and passive voice misuse?

If you have then that’s great, but you don’t have to go and hurt my feelings by telling me 😉

Instead, you can use these skills for another side hustle business idea: proofreading.

We’ve already looked at the amount of content that is being produced daily (remember we talked about freelance writing?), and sometimes people need to know that they have got it just right before they hit that button to publish.

It could be blog posts, academic essays or even a full-blown novel, but you can earn well by highlighting other people’s mistakes.

More info:

Start your Freelance Proofreading Hustle

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Transcription

a woman in blue denim shirt sitting in front of her laptop, wearing headphones

Are you a good listener?

It’s okay, I don’t need a shoulder to cry on (well, not right now anyway), but you can make some decent money by using your listening skills.

As extra income ideas go, transcribing is a pretty decent one.

It may be that someone needs a recorded business meeting transferred to paper. Maybe a YouTuber wants their latest video transcribing to turn it into a blog post.

Whatever the reasons, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see how in demand this service is.

So, how do you get started with this side hustle? You could offer your services on freelance sites such as Fiverr, People Per Hour, or even through your own website.

You can also sign up with one of the many companies hiring transcribers directly, such as Way With Words.

More info:

Translation

If you speak more than one language, this could be the obvious side hustle for you.

You can find freelance translation work on websites such as Upwork or Fiverr, and there are also many specialist translation sites and forums where you can find clients.

Once you know the ropes, you can also make your own website and have clients come to you.

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is when you promote a company’s product online and you get paid for all the sales you refer!

Compared to buying or making and selling your own products, it has very low start-up costs and it’s very low risk.

Before you can sell products, you first need an audience. Effective affiliate marketers choose a narrow but profitable niche, which could be anything from paddleboarding to pet care.

Then you need to build up an online audience. Popular choices are blogging, social media channels, and email newsletters.

The magic happens when you sign up to affiliate programs for the companies you want to promote, and share your special tracking links with your followers.

If you choose a niche and products that you are passionate about, the sales will come naturally.

Create online courses

Are you a know-it-all?

No, I’m not looking to insult you! Did you know that you can start a side hustle by selling your knowledge?

You may not be a know-it-all, but I’m pretty sure that you know a lot about something. Whatever that ‘something’ may be, you can be sure that you can make money by selling a course.

You are an expert by knowing more than someone else: you don’t have to know everything about a topic.

Taking your knowledge and transforming it into an online course means that you can sell that knowledge time and time again making it another passive income side hustle idea.

Sites such as Udemy allow you to upload your courses and expose them to a massive audience.

More info:

Create an online store and start dropshipping

Ever fancied starting your own online store?

Many people like the idea of this side hustle, but are put off by the idea of their home quickly turning into a warehouse and finding the time to schlep to the post office over and over.

That’s where dropshipping comes in.

By using the likes of Shopify, you can quickly and easily get your store up and live. As for stock, you source a supplier who’s happy to ship directly to your customer.

When your customer places an order, you then request that the seller posts this out directly on your behalf.

This means that you never even have to see or handle the stock, and you do away with the risk of buying stock upfront that might not sell.

Dog walking

a female dog walker strikes a pose with lots of small dogs on leads

Take a walk on the wild side. Well, with dogs anyway!

If you’re an animal lover and you’ve got some spare time on your hands this is the side hustle for you.

There are plenty of dog owners out there who love their pets but who are unable to walk them due to work commitments or health.

Loving their pets as they do, they’re not going to deprive their four-legged friend of its daily exercise and so are quite willing to pay someone to provide it.

Sites like Rover or Tailster will connect you with dog owners (for a fee), or you can go old-school and post flyers around your area or advertise on Facebook.

There aren’t any official requirements to become a dog walker in the UK. However, to boost your employability you might consider getting specialist insurance and completing an animal first aid certificate.

Dog walking can be a great way of earning some extra money on the side. And it can help to keep you in shape too!

More info:

Sell baked goods

If you’re a keen bake-off contestant in the making, a baking business could be the side hustle for you.

Whether you knock out a mean sourdough loaf, decadent cupcakes or novelty children’s birthday cakes, everyone loves a homemade bake – and there’s a market for this all over the UK.

You’ll need to make sure your home kitchen meets all relevant health and hygiene standards. See this page for advice on setting up a food business.

Be a face painter

A woman in the UK engaging in a face painting side hustle by painting a child's face with blue paint in the shape of a batman symbol.

Here’s another side hustle idea for the creative types!

Consider setting up a face painting business. With some skill and practice, and a small investment in materials, you can start earning extra cash at children’s parties, fairs and events.

Sign up to Airbnb and rent out a room in your home (tax-free side hustle!)

If you’ve got a spare room you could use this to start a simple side hustle by listing it on Airbnb.

From business people on overnight trips to couples looking for a night away somewhere new, there are plenty of people who will snap up a room that is in a great location.

Another benefit to this side hustle in the UK is that thanks to the government’s Rent A Room scheme, the first £7,500 you make each year will be tax free.

Even without the luxury of a spare room, Airbnb offers a wealth of ways to make money.

You can give guided tours of your hometown on Airbnb experiences, or provide cleaning or Airbnb management services to busy property owners.

More info:

Uber driver

Driving the night away: if you own your own car, this can open up a whole host of good side hustles.

One of these is joining the army of drivers at Uber.

Why Uber? Well, driving here means that there is a great deal of flexibility, and that is exactly what you need from a side hustle.

You could drive a few hours in an evening, or maybe a lot more hours over the weekend. Some people just pick up passengers on their regular commute to and from work.

Either way, it’s your choice, but you’ll be getting paid and starting to build a worthwhile second income.

More info:

Rent out your parking space

On the other hand, perhaps you have a parking space or driveway, but no car to park on it!

Did you know you can cash in by allowing other people to park there for a fee?

Yes, with apps such as Just Park, you can advertise your parking space to anyone who needs it.

And what’s more, if you make under £1000 a year from this side hustle you don’t have to tell the tax man, thanks to the government’s property allowance.

Home organiser

Are you the next Marie Kondo? Since the Kondo craze, the demand for professional organisers has gone through the roof!

If you love a good declutter and helping others, perhaps this is the side hustle business for you.

Side hustle UK FAQs

Hopefully this list of side hustle ideas has given you some inspiration and got you thinking about how you can use your talents and time to make extra cash!

Maybe you have some questions on the practical side of how to start a side hustle in the UK. Let’s see if we can answer them:

What does side hustle mean?

A side hustle refers to earning extra income alongside your main job through various activities, such as freelance work, gig economy jobs or running a small business.

Do I need to pay tax on my side hustle?

If your side hustle earns under £1,000 per tax year in the UK, you generally don’t need to declare it, pay tax or register as self-employed. This is known as the trading allowance. Keep track of all your earnings, because once you go over £1,000 you may be liable to pay tax.

How do I pay tax on my side hustle in the UK?

Once your side hustle earns more than £1,000, you must register as a sole trader with HMRC. This can be done online and won’t impact your main job. You’ll need to submit an online self-assessment tax return at the end of the tax year, detailing your total earnings and expenses related to your side hustle. HMRC will then tell you how much tax you owe and how to pay it.

Which side hustle pays the most?

While there’s no definitive answer, side hustles with potential for passive income tend to be more lucrative. Scalable ventures like blogging, dropshipping, YouTube content creation, and selling digital products can lead to very substantial earnings over time. We’re talking thousands of pounds every month.

What is a good side hustle in the UK?

A suitable side hustle depends on your skills, interests, and resources. Online options like freelancing, blogging, affiliate marketing, and online tutoring are popular choices. Additionally, offering local services such as gardening, pet sitting, or home organisation can be profitable.

How do I start a side hustle in the UK?

To begin a side hustle in the UK, start by identifying your strengths and interests. Research potential ideas and target markets. Create a plan outlining your goals, budget, and strategies. Ensure you understand any legal requirements and tax implications. Finally, promote your side hustle through online platforms, social media, or local networks to attract clients or customers.

What is the best side hustle for me?

Even armed with some awesome side hustle ideas, it can be tricky to pick one.

Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you find the best side hustle for you.

What are your goals?

Do you need money fast, or are you aiming to build an extra income stream to support your long-term plans?

If you need reliable income right now to pay your monthly bills, perhaps you should go for a more traditional second job such as food delivery or driving for Uber.

If you can fund your lifestyle right now but hope to upgrade in the future, invest your time in building a side business such as blogging or dropshipping.

It might take several months until the money starts dripping in, but the long-term potential is far greater.

Who are your contacts?

Think about your network and the circles you move in, as this will make it easier to get clients. It’s not the be-all and end-all, but it can certainly help get a new business off the ground!

For example, perhaps you’re a stay-at-home mum, and you know your kids’ friends’ parents struggle with childcare in the school holidays. Why not look into childminding as a side hustle?

If you are a blogger, you could offer services such as freelance writing or social media graphic design to other bloggers in the Facebook groups and communities you’re part of.

What are your interests?

Remember what we talked about at the beginning of this article? A side hustle is not just about making money – it’s about self-development and fulfilment.

Ultimately, you want to feel like your side hustle enriches your life. If you pick something you don’t enjoy, you’ll burn out.

The best side hustle is when you find a way to monetise something you enjoy!

What about start-up costs?

There are many side businesses you can start for free or next to nothing. Online businesses such as blogging or designing printables are generally very cheap.

But others – such as crafting – might involve some investment in materials.

Make sure you research potential costs thoroughly, so you don’t end up losing money unexpectedly!

It’s also worth keeping in mind that certain side businesses might require a license.

Childminding, pet sitting and producing cosmetics are a few that come to mind.

Licensing requirements are generally location-specific, so check with your local authority if you’re concerned.

Side hustle UK facts

Lastly, a quick look at the big picture of side hustling in the UK.

Hopefully, this will convince you that the side hustle economy is here to stay. In fact, it’s a new way of working. 

  • 25% of UK adults have a side hustle
  • Side hustle income adds £72 billion to the UK economy (3.6% of UK GDP)
  • 73% of people with a side hustle started it to follow a passion or for a new challenge (i.e., not purely motivated by money)
  • 69% of side hustlers claim it makes life more interesting
  • On average, people with a side hustle say it contributes 20% of their income
  • 40% of adults without a side hustle are interested in starting one

Source: The Side Hustle Economy, Henley Business School (2018)

Can you afford not to have a side hustle?

An infographic presenting many statistics about side hustles and the side hustle economy in the UK
Image source: boostmybudget.com

Ready to start a side hustle?

In this post, we’ve looked at 22+ side hustle business ideas for the UK.

We’ve also talked about some common questions people have when starting a side hustle, such as how to choose a side hustle, and how to pay tax.

I hope this post has given you some inspiration and left you raring to go!

Starting a side hustle was truly life-changing for me. My side hustles developed into a full-time business, and allowed me to quit my job, take time off to spend abroad, and be at home for my baby.

Do you have a side hustle? Are you ready to start one? Do you have any more questions I can answer? Share in the comments!

Related posts

You should also check these side hustle stories: a series of interviews with real people earning real extra cash with side hustles in the UK.

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