10 Smart Ideas to Start Side Hustles in 2021

10 Smart Ideas to Start Side Hustles in 2021

Many people have recently become interested in creating a supplement source of income to try to meet the increasing costs of their life. Many think about starting side hustles to bring them extra cash that can be used as a supplement income to cover expenses, pay off debt, or build up savings. A side hustle is simply any freelance job or service in which you work part time, usually online, to create another source of income in addition to your primary or full-time job.

Depending on your time, passion, skills and interests, you can find suitable means to start a side hustle. Here are 10 smart ideas that can help you start your own side hustles to make money outside of your nine-to-five job:

 

1. Writing, Editing, and Proofreading

If you are quite good at writing essays and articles, you can consider starting a side hustle in content writing, article editing, and documents proofreading. Many websites like Fiverr, Freelancer, Upwork, among others, can be helpful in offering your services and providing you with clients. Of course, having decent command of computer skills and typing can be very important for you to provide you clients with quality work that meets their expectations and helps build your good reputation in this field.

 

2. Translation

If you are fluent in another language, then you can think about starting a side hustle in translation. In fact, many companies and organization worldwide can make use of your multilingual abilities to translate almost all types of business, academic, and non-academic documents and correspondences. According to Indeed, the average translator can earn about $21 per hour.  You can sign up to translate documents on sites like Translate or Bunny Studio, or find translator services on Indeed or on other job websites.

 

3. Transcribing Documents

If you are a fast typist, you could be a good asset for companies and individuals that look for people who can record conversations for interviews, document company meetings, and so on. Transcribers listen to and transcribe these recordings accurately and clearly for future use. Average hourly rate is $15 per hour, according to PayScale. Find transcribing jobs on sites like Fiverr, Upwork , or FlexJobs. 

4. Writing Resumes

Due to the increasing levels of unemployment caused by the pandemic, you can use your writing and typing skills to help millions of applicants around the globe craft their impressive resumes. If you have recruitment or human resources experience and know what employers are looking for, consider writing resumes as a side hustle by offering your services on sites like Upwork or Fiverr. Typical pay for writing resumes is usually around $21 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter.

 5. Ghost Writing

One common field of interest for many people who enjoy writing is ghost writing, or simply working with someone who has a story to tell but doesn’t have the skill or time to put together a script of his/her own. Again, consider creating a profile on freelancing platforms like Fiverr, where experienced writers charge as much as $150 per 500-word blog post, or Upwork, where skilled writers charge as much as $150 per hour. Parenting blogs like A Fine Parent, for instance, pay $75 per article. Look around to find blogs and publications covering subjects you are well acquainted with.

 6. Creating an Online Course

If you have special knowledge on how to cook, build a website, or knit clothes, then you can consider creating an online course teaching people how to do such things. Instructors on sites like Udemy can charge between $20 and $200 per course, and Udemy takes various commissions, ranging from 3% to 75%, depending on how students find you.

 7. Teaching Lessons Online

If you have some teaching experience and knowledge about a subject matter, then you need to consider starting teaching online. One good platform that can help you get that job done is Outschool. Outschool is a popular marketplace of live, online classes for kids ages 3 to 18 covering a wide array of subject matters. Instructors teach anything from a one-time 40-minute class to eight 90-minute classes over the course of eight weeks and earn  an average of $40 per hour. Sites like VIPKid and GoGoKid pair English-speaking teachers with Chinese and Japanese students for 25-minute classes online. Teachers can get to choose time slots at their convenience, and both companies provide the lesson plans. GoGoKid teachers usually earn around $14 to $25 per hour, while VIPKid teachers earn an average of $22 per hour, according to their websites. 

 8. Selling Used Items Online

There has been a growing trend among many people these days to sell their unused second-hand household items and gadgets. It is pretty easy to go through unused items in your attic, garage, or basement to see what you want to get rid of, and then consider selling these second-hand items and accessories on sites like eBay, Vinted, Mercari, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark (for clothes and shoes), or Decluttr (for electronics). In fact, selling your unused second-hand items can be a very good side hustle for many people.

 9. Selling Services on Fiverr

Fiverr has helped in giving birth to the Gig Economy in a very short time. Despite the fact that services start out at as cheap as $5, some Fiverr sellers are earning six-figure-plus revenues net annually. You can surf through the site for the different services available to see what niche can fit your skills and interests, and then start offering you services. It's worth mentioning that to succeed and become a Super Seller, you need to deliver massive amounts of value, at those lower prices.

 10. Walking Dogs

Dog walking is one of the easiest side hustles that you can consider if you have the spare time for it. If you live in a dog-filled neighborhood, create some flyers on your computer and slip them into mailboxes. Identify yourself as a dog walker and pitch your price. Build up a steady stream of clients and your dog-walking service will grow over time a short period of time.