Looking to earn some extra cash quickly? Explore these nine side hustles to get inspired and start making money fast.
We all encounter times when we need a financial boost. Whether it’s covering essential bills or unexpected expenses — like a sick pet, a leaky roof, or closing on a new home — the need for immediate funds is common.
Traditional pay cycles may not always suffice, but fortunately, there are quick, efficient, and legal ways to generate income. As you venture into these side hustles, it’s crucial to manage your tax obligations. These insights and ideas will guide you towards rapid earnings and new revenue streams.
Sell your items online
To make money swiftly, consider selling items you already own: clothes, electronics, collectibles, books, and other knick-knacks cluttering your space. While yard sales are an option, online platforms like eBay, Poshmark, Craigslist, Etsy, or Facebook Marketplace offer a faster route to selling. Just be mindful of potential shipping costs that might affect your profit. Do the math before accepting offers:
Setup time: A few hours.
Time to earn: Days or weeks.
Requirements: An account on a selling platform and valuable items.
Take online surveys
Completing online surveys can earn you money in mere minutes. Platforms like Survey Junkie and Swagbucks offer cash prizes or gift cards in exchange for survey participation. The advantage? Quick spending cash. The downside? Earnings are typically modest, just a few dollars per survey.
However, it’s a simple, effortless way to earn while multitasking, requiring only a smartphone or computer — no degree or elaborate setup needed. Note that some sites offer cashback or gift cards instead of direct payouts, so be aware of potential scams.
Setup time: Minutes.
Time to earn: Hours.
Requirements: A computer or smartphone.
Find Freelance Gigs
Freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr connect clients with skilled freelancers. If you possess a marketable skill such as programming, graphic design, or writing, you can find jobs quickly. Create an account, bid on jobs, and complete tasks to earn money.
Delivering quality work can lead to a positive reputation and more opportunities. Successful freelancers often do this full-time, enjoying the flexibility of self-employment. Depending on your expertise, you can also create online courses, work as a virtual assistant, or contribute to online publications.
Setup time: Hours.
Time to earn: Days.
Requirements: Relevant skills and qualifications, a computer, and necessary software.
Pet sitting and dog walking
If you’re an animal enthusiast, apps like Rover and Wag offer fantastic ways to earn money quickly. By engaging in pet sitting and dog walking, you can start generating income in less than a day. Simply create a profile, upload photos of you with some furry companions, and begin booking clients.
You have the flexibility to walk dogs during the day, in the evening, or whenever suits your clients’ needs.
These platforms also offer opportunities for longer pet care services, such as looking after cats and dogs when their owners are on vacation or dealing with emergencies. It’s important to note that building a steady income may require time and consistent positive experiences as a pet sitter.
Time to set up: Hours.
Time to make money: Hours.
Requirements: Pet sitter app, a smartphone, pet supplies (like leashes and bowls), a love for animals.
Babysitting
Babysitting can be just as fulfilling and potentially more lucrative than pet sitting. However, parents often vet babysitters more thoroughly than they do pet sitters. Therefore, it’s essential to establish a reputation as a reliable babysitter in your community.
You can apply to job boards like Care.com or gain referrals from current clients. Although it may take time to build a client base, the demand for babysitting services can arise quickly, especially in emergencies.
Keeping your schedule open allows you to respond promptly to babysitting requests, offering you extra income for engaging with kids, preparing meals, taking them for walks or to the playground, and ensuring they follow their bedtime routine.
The right mix of patience, energy, playfulness, and assertiveness is crucial for success.
Time to set up: Days.
Time to make money: Varies.
Requirements: A mobile phone, good communication skills, patience, fondness for kids.
Become a tutor
Whether you’re a math expert or a grammar guru, tutoring local students can be a rewarding endeavor. Start by reaching out to your network—family, friends, colleagues, neighbors—to assess demand and secure initial clients.
Perhaps your eighth-grade neighbor needs help with pre-algebra, or a family friend is preparing for the ACT. Your expertise can assist them in grasping new concepts and mastering test-taking strategies.
You might also consider joining online tutoring platforms like Chugg Tutors or Tutor.com, which allow you to teach from your home on your schedule. While these sites offer flexibility, they do take a portion of your earnings.
Time to set up: A few days.
Time to make money: Hours.
Requirements: Good grades, subject-specific expertise, a laptop.
Host guests on airbnb
Airbnb is a popular platform for homeowners and investors alike, offering a means to rent out unused real estate and provide travelers with accommodations.
Whether you have a spare bedroom in your apartment or own a second property, you can list your space with appealing photos and house rules to start earning passive income.
Keep in mind that Airbnb hosting comes with challenges. You need to prepare your property to be clean, safe, and welcoming, providing essentials such as bath towels, toiletries, coffee, and fresh linens. Additionally, ensure compliance with local zoning laws, as regulations on short-term rentals are becoming stricter.
Time to set up: Days.
Time to make money: Varies.
Requirements: Second home or spare room to rent, Airbnb account, extra home supplies to ensure a comfortable stay for guests.
Drive delivery
Becoming a delivery driver is an appealing side gig, requiring only two essentials: a vehicle and a smartphone. As a driver, you can work with various rideshare and food delivery apps like Lyft, Uber Eats, Instacart, and DoorDash, allowing you to earn money at any time of the day.
Your tasks include picking up orders from restaurants, delivering them to customers, and accepting new assignments through the app. While this role offers flexibility, onboarding can be a traditional process involving a resume submission, an interview, and a background check.
This setup may take several weeks, so it’s not an immediate option for quick cash.
Time to set up: Weeks.
Time to earn money: Hourly, post-employment.
Requirements: A car, a smartphone, strong communication skills.
Do odd jobs
Your local community likely has a demand for various services, such as home repairs, grocery shopping for seniors, landscaping, housecleaning, house sitting, furniture repair, junk removal, or snow shoveling.
Many of these tasks await someone with the right skills or equipment. You could be that person. Promote your services in your neighborhood and consider joining Taskrabbit, an app that facilitates home service bookings, from TV mounting to deep cleaning.
Odd jobs offer a fast way to earn, often paying immediately upon completion. Most tasks can be finished in a few hours, making it possible to earn quickly.
Time to set up: Hours.
Time to earn money: Hours.
Requirements: Handy skills, tools, an app profile.
Managing taxes and side hustle income
Before diving into side hustles for fast income, it’s crucial to manage your tax obligations. The last thing you want is a hefty tax bill in April, so it’s important to set aside money throughout the year. Consider both income and self-employment taxes, and consult with a tax professional for guidance.
Are taxes required on side hustle income?
Yes, according to the IRS, self-employed individuals must file an annual return and pay estimated quarterly taxes if they earn over $400. If your side hustle generates significant income, you’ll need to pay taxes on it. Unlike full-time employers who withhold taxes before issuing paychecks, freelancers or self-employed workers must handle federal income taxes themselves.
How to set aside money for taxes
To avoid an unexpected tax bill, open a savings account specifically for tax purposes and deposit money as you earn. Use this account solely for taxes and refrain from other transactions.
How much should go into the tax savings account?
It’s generally safe to allocate 25% to 35% of your side hustle income to this tax account. This should cover income taxes and the self-employment tax, which is 15.3% for Social Security and Medicare. Most likely, you’ll pay taxes quarterly, so ensure this account has sufficient funds.
Handling side hustle expenses
A benefit of self-employment is the ability to deduct business-related expenses from taxable income. An effective way to manage this is by maintaining a separate checking account for expenses, distinct from personal finances. When filing taxes, this simplifies the process of totaling expenses for deductions.