30 Best Side Business Ideas to Earn Extra Income in 2025

Whether you want to test out your business idea before quitting your day job, earn some extra money in your free time, build new skill sets, or pursue more creative hobbies, a side hustle can be the perfect solution.

More than one-third (36%) of Americans have a side hustle, according to a 2024 survey by financial services company Bankrate, including 48% of Gen Z and 44% of millennial respondents. Plus, side hustlers make an average of $891 per month in extra income—an increase from $810 in 2023.

From home-based hustles to low-investment small business ideas and beyond, consider these 30 side hustle ideas to find the right one for you.

30 best side business ideas

We’ve split up these side business ideas into five categories: side businesses you can start from home, side businesses you can do with no money, side businesses that require a bigger budget upfront, side businesses inspired by your hobbies, and side business ideas for creatives.

Side business ideas to start from home

1. Become a virtual assistant Do you have incredible organizational and time management skills? Monetize them by becoming a virtual assistant. You’ll manage the administrative side of a business remotely, including scheduling appointments, arranging travel, managing emails, taking phone calls, and ordering supplies. The time commitment can be as big or small as you want, depending on how many clients you take on.

2. Be a usability tester A usability tester gives feedback on a website, app, or product. Many companies look for usability testers to improve new software before releasing it to the general public—and they offer compensation in return for testers’ time.

3. Become a dropshipper Dropshipping is an ecommerce business model that has minimal startup costs. You start an online store to sell products, but a third-party business, known as a dropshipping supplier, fulfills the order on your behalf so you don’t have to worry about the costs and logistics of holding stock yourself.

4. Rent your space If you don’t have much time to invest in a side business idea, consider renting space in your home through sites like Airbnb or Vrbo. About 123 million people booked rentals and experiences through Airbnb in the third quarter of 2024, according to the company. Depending on where you live, a spare room, vacant home, or guest house can fetch upward of nearly $200 per night.

5. Start affiliate marketing If you’re a good marketer and have an engaged social media following, becoming an affiliate can be a lucrative business. Affiliate marketing works when you earn commission on a product you market for another company. This commission can range anywhere from 1% to 50%.

6. Offer consultancy services Offering consulting services means using your expertise in a particular field—such as marketing, IT, human resources, or finance—to advise or guide clients. First, define your niche and the type of clients you want to work with. Then, build a network of industry contacts that can help you secure your first few clients.

Side business ideas to start for free

7. Teach a language The online language learning market is forecast to be worth $91.6 billion by 2030, according to a report by Research and Markets. If you speak multiple languages, sharing your skills could be a lucrative side business.

8. Start a house- or pet-sitting business Eighty-two million US households own a pet, according to American Pet Products Association data. When these pet owners travel, they’ll often seek out someone who can take care of their pets in their homes, making this the perfect side business idea if you like pets.

9. Become a rideshare driver The rideshare industry is projected to grow to $185.1 billion by 2026, according to industry research. Becoming a rideshare driver is a great side business idea that can help you capture a slice of that growing market.

10. Deliver food People frequently use food delivery services like Uber Eats, Postmates, and DoorDash to order food to their homes or workplaces. You can become a delivery driver for those platforms and get paid to transport food to hungry customers.

11. Become a dog walker For a smaller commitment than pet-sitting, dog walking is a great side business idea that gets you some exercise outside and earns you a bit of extra cash.

Side business ideas for bigger budgets

12. Start a cleaning business Offering cleaning services can be a relatively low-cost side business idea. All you’ll need is some cleaning equipment and a vehicle to transport your cleaning supplies around.

13. Become an event planner From weddings and birthday parties to corporate events, taking over the organizational aspect of hosting an event can be a lucrative business venture.

14. Become a landscaper Landscaping can be as simple as mowing lawns and trimming hedges or as involved as planting and maintaining flowers. While you will need some tools, including a lawn mower and trimmer, there’s consistent demand for these services and the chance to build a loyal client base.

15. Sell coffee to local businesses Selling coffee to local businesses is a simple concept but a great side business idea: You brew high-quality coffee and cold brew and deliver it fresh to local offices, cafés, or shops that want to offer their customers something unique.

16. Grow and sell microgreens Microgreens—small, nutrient-packed greens like arugula, radish, and pea shoots—are really popular at the moment with health-conscious consumers, chefs, and local restaurants.

Side business ideas inspired by your hobbies

17. Start a photography business A passion for photography can become a rewarding side business.

18. Sell thrift store finds People donate unwanted items to thrift stores every day, and if you have the patience to sift through their inventory, you’ll ultimately find gems you can flip for a profit online through marketplaces like eBay and Depop.

19. Teach a class Teaching is a great way to make extra money on the side while also helping other people. You can teach anything that you’re good at, whether it’s cooking the best curry or pottery painting.

20. Sell online courses An online course teaches people how to do something, while allowing them to tune in on their own schedule. Even the smallest niches can be monetized through an online course.

21. Organize people’s homes If you’ve got an eagle eye for detail and organization, consider helping people transform their homes into functional, clutter-free spaces.

22. Repair and troubleshoot tech devices Everyone uses technology of some kind, but not everyone knows how to fix their mobile phone, tablet, or computer if it breaks. This leaves a gap in the market for a tech-savvy pro to repair and maintain people’s devices so they can get back online ASAP.

23. Offer home repairs and DIY services If you’re handy and have your own tools, why not make extra income from your DIY skills? You can help people with small repairs around their homes, maintenance tasks, and DIY projects they might not have the time, tools, or expertise to tackle on their own.

Side business ideas for creatives

24. Sell your skills Most skill-based businesses are free to start, since you don’t need inventory. Look at the skills you already have and research whether they’re in high demand.

25. Start a clothing line The fashion ecommerce market is valued at $883 billion, according to market research platform Statista. A print-on-demand business model can help you enter the market quickly and without a significant upfront investment.

26. Become an influencer To start a side business as an influencer you need a loyal, engaged following on social media to whom you can then promote products and services.

27. Write an ebook If you’re a keen writer, self-publishing your own ebook can be a rewarding side business.

28. Sell your art Another great way to make money with a side business is to sell your art online, whether that’s greeting cards, digital art downloads, or textiles.

29. Private label your own products Private labeling works when you outsource the production of a product to a manufacturer. It’s their job to create the product and then attach your branded packaging.

30. Sell handmade goods Handmade goods are among the most profitable things you can sell online, whether directly to consumers or other businesses.

Start your side business today

Bringing your side business ideas to life is a great way to earn extra cash outside of a full-time job. A side business also provides an opportunity to expand your skill set and build something that eventually could become your main income source.

When you start a business alongside your day job, it gives you a safety net to test the viability of your ideas while earning extra money. Figure out which side hustle ideas, business models, and products you and your customers like best. That increases the chance of success if you quit your day job to work on a side business full time.

Boost your side business with Aliexpress Business

Looking for reliable suppliers, wholesale pricing, and a vast selection of products to kickstart your side business? Aliexpress Business offers everything you need to find trending products, source inventory at competitive prices, and access powerful tools to streamline your business operations. Explore exclusive benefits designed for small businesses—from bulk discounts to product sourcing assistance—to help you grow your venture efficiently.