In the past, people had one job and relied on corporations to boost their salary. Now, the gig economy is king, giving opportunities to people to find their own financial freedom.
There are plenty of fun, creative ways to bring in extra cash on the side, from monetizing your skills to getting involved in real estate. Just about any individual with a little bit of time and a whole lot of passion can find a side hustle that fits in perfectly in their lives. Here are eight ways you can start working today.
Freelance Graphic Design
Digital design isn’t just reserved for highly trained designers. If you have a natural talent for design and an eye for style, you have a shot at making some extra cash as a freelance designer. Web apps like Canva have templated designs for inspiration. Professional design apps from Adobe used to cost $500 or more and now can be licensed for monthly payments. Technology has broken down barriers for hobbyist creatives to become professionals.
Fiverr and UpWork are platforms for designers of all kinds to link with individuals and agencies to find great talent on a contract basis. It’s as easy as opening up an account, filling out a profile, and keeping tabs on incoming projects.
Designers can also try their hand at physical products — stickers, prints, custom invitations — and sell them on Etsy or Amazon.
Real Estate
Real estate can be a feast or famine business, and becoming a realtor can be a long and stressful process. Traditional real estate agents typically use this as their career rather than their side gig.
Investing in real estate, however, is a great way to reap the benefits of the industry without committing to a Realtor license. You also don’t need a great deal of capital to buy and sell wholesale real estate.
To take part in this side gig to make a little extra cash, wholesale real estate sellers buy a contract from a seller and then sell the contract to an end buyer. Profit comes from a wholesale fee on the transaction that equals to be a percentage of the home price.
Investing in real estate isn’t always easy money. To make this side gig work, you have to put in the time to identify undervalued homes, find cash buyers, and negotiate pricing. If you don’t have the time, consider using a wholesale investment brokerage like New Western. They do the research and discovery for you and help remove obstacles so the process can be as quick and easy as possible.
Uber Or Lyft
Uber and Lyft give an opportunity to make more money for individuals with a decent car and clean driving record.
The ride-sharing apps have become more popular in the past few years, which means there is ample opportunity to make money. You can be paid through a flat fee and tipping for providing top-notch service. This can be a fun way to explore new areas and chat with travelers.
Grocery and Food Delivery
Food delivery services have spread across the country as more people opt for home delivery to save time. As demand increases, so will grocery and meal delivery gigs.
Food delivery companies, including Postmates, GrubHub, and DoorDash, connect users to their favorite restaurants and convenience stores. The companies use a squad of delivery reps to bring the food to the customers’ doorsteps. Delivery gigs pay using a combination of mileage, time on the road, tips, and sometimes special incentives.
Self Publishing
If you have a flair for design and enjoy storytelling, you can become a self-published author and make money while you sleep. With Amazon’s direct publishing platform, you design a book, upload the cover and pages, set your price, and Amazon does the rest.
In the same category, personalized notebooks are a quick and easy way to add products to your Amazon bookstore. Simply design the front of the notebook and designate your number of blank pages.
The options for publishing are endless, and only limited by your imagination.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a billion-dollar industry that leverages the power of social selling and influencer marketing. With affiliate marketing, people join third-party agencies or go through companies directly and are given discount codes or referral links they send to their friends. These links and codes can be sent through email newsletters, in social media, and on blogs.
When their friends, family, or audience clicks the link and buys a product from the link, they get a small commission or payout.
You can make the most money from affiliate marketing by establishing authority in your niche and by building an audience and sharing links as a natural part of your communication.
Social Media Specialist
Most businesses have social media, but many of them aren’t using platforms effectively. Social media usually falls to the end of the to-do list. It’s a perfect opportunity for a savvy social media individual to jump in to write, post, engage, and grow social media accounts on the side.
Social media management for companies is something you can do in your spare time — evenings, weekends, or early mornings. It’s a perfect side gig, and can grow your portfolio for future marketing or business roles.
Pet Sitting Or Walking
More people are starting to travel after a year of staying indoors, which means someone needs to take care of their furry friends. Dog walking can also be included in this list, especially when people start going back to the office. Translate your love of animals into a new side business.
You can find clients for this side gig through apps like Rover, local Facebook pages, and through friends and family referrals.
With shifts in culture and working styles, as well as digital apps bringing together consumers and workers, now is the best time to start a side gig, make some extra money, and secure your financial future.
