All Side Hustle Ideas
Every idea links to its source

Side hustle ideas from people who actually run them

Real side businesses, described by their owners. Filter by cost, time and how they earn.

Ideas
651
ideas
Publications
14
publications and shows
Categories
8
categories

Browse by category

  • Digital products67
    Files sold online: templates, printables, ebooks, stock photos, fonts, presets, plugins, recorded courses
  • Software and apps205
    A web app, SaaS, mobile app, browser extension, bot or API that people pay for or that earns from ads
  • Content and media105
    A blog, niche website, newsletter, YouTube channel, podcast or social account that earns from ads, affiliate links or sponsors
  • Physical products105
    Making, printing or reselling physical goods, online or in person
  • Services and freelancing103
    Doing work for clients for a fee: freelance, consulting, done-for-you services, repairs, local services
  • Rentals and assets36
    Earning from something you own: renting property, rooms, equipment, vehicles, parking, vending machines, domains
  • Directories and marketplaces11
    A job board, listings site, directory or marketplace that connects buyers and sellers
  • Teaching and coaching19
    Live tutoring, lessons, workshops, coaching or cohort classes

Matching ideas

About the data

Startup cost
Under $100$100 to $1k$1k to $10kOver $10k
Time
Hands-offA few hours a weekPart-timeNear full-time
Where
OnlineIn personOnline and in person
Earns from
AdsAffiliateSubscriptionsOne-time salesService feesRentMarketplace cutSponsors and donations
Coding
No coding neededNeeds coding

111 ideas, page 3 of 3

  • Software and apps
    Browser strategy game with niche audience
    Created a web game that earns enough to live on while traveling.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Buy and redesign an existing iOS app
    Bought an iOS sleep calculator app from its owner and redesigned the interface.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Educational 3D and 4D geometry iPhone app
    Built an iOS app that teaches what a tesseract is and lets users manipulate it. People keep buying it in a small niche.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Mac web development app
    A web development tool for Mac sold through the Mac App Store.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Marketing attribution software with affiliates
    A subscription analytics product largely automated in onboarding and billing, with an affiliate program and agency customers that expand usage.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Directories and marketplaces
    Marketplace for Flash website components
    Runs a marketplace and sells components on larger marketplaces, still earning from support and sales.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Membership club for premium WordPress plugins
    Launched a membership offering premium WordPress plugins with support.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Teaching and coaching
    Online music school
    An online music education site that earns from sales and recurring subscriptions, built in evenings and weekends.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Press release distribution service for media
    Runs a web service for sending press releases to media, used by customers promoting books and events, with a free tier for anonymous whistleblowers.
    $1k to $10kOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Proposal software for designers
    Building a web service that helps designers create client proposals.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Directories and marketplaces
    Local penny auction website
    A penny auction site for a local market, relying on manual bank transfers for payment since cards are rare, with plans to white-label it.
    Part-timeOnline
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Software and apps
    Machinima tool sold inside Second Life
    An application sold within Second Life that helps users make machinima, earning small sales long after launch.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Software and apps
    Paid card game for iOS
    Wrote a card game for iPhone that sells steadily with almost no maintenance.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Physical products
    Sensor-to-serial hardware device
    A small hardware device that reads digital sensors and outputs data through a serial connection, sold to customers.
    Online and in person
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Software and apps
    Twitter scheduling app with freemium plans
    Built a Twitter app that helps users share more links without flooding followers. Offers a free plan and paid monthly plans.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2011