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

18 ideas

  • Software and apps
    Searchable database product sites
    The operator runs a few near-identical sites that each sell access to a niche database, such as investors, angels or journalists. The revenue model is not stated in the source and is likely paid access.
    Online
    Starter Story, 2026
  • Software and apps
    Directory tool with a lead generation focus
    After leaving an agency, the operator built a directory-related software tool that earns recurring revenue and is adding a lead-gen angle.
    Online
    Niche Pursuits Podcast, 2026
  • Software and apps
    Checklist web app for repeated routines
    A checklist app built for the owner's own routines that now earns recurring income.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Software and apps
    Cloud true random number generator
    A random number service sold through a website and a cloud marketplace listing, left running with little attention.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2024
  • Software and apps
    PDF bank statement data extraction web app
    A web app that pulls transaction data out of PDF bank statements, built after the owner needed it for personal spending analysis.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Software and apps
    Weekly email of saved Twitter bookmarks
    Built a small tool that emails a weekly digest of newly saved Twitter bookmarks, with paid subscribers.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2022
  • Software and apps
    Configurable announcement banner service for websites
    Runs a subscription service that lets sites display announcement banners.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Software and apps
    Web service that texts kids to call parents
    Sells a web service that randomly sends text reminders for kids to call their parents or for adults to call theirs.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2019
  • Software and apps
    Custom CMS and CRM billed per user
    Built a simple CMS and CRM for a freelance client and set up automated billing per user. Income grows as the client's user base grows.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Domain name idea generator
    Built a tool that takes a keyword, translates it into many languages and shows available .com domains. It has earned some revenue from users.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Hosted instance of open source software for friends
    Lets a couple of people use a personal instance of an open source program they run, so they do not have to host it themselves, in exchange for a small monthly fee.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Services and freelancing
    Web design with ongoing hosting fees
    Designs websites for clients and hosts them on cloud infrastructure, collecting monthly web and email hosting fees.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Subscription RSS reader on cloud hosting
    A paid RSS reader that is open source and runs on a managed cloud platform. Users pay a subscription handled through a payment processor, and it needs almost no ongoing effort.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2016
  • Software and apps
    Anonymous messaging web app
    A web app for sending and reading anonymous messages, with paid accounts adding extra features.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Daily photo reminder app for iPhone
    Built an iPhone photo reminder app that Apple featured, earning without marketing spend.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2014
  • Software and apps
    Licensing system for Android app developers
    Built an anti-piracy licensing system for their own Android apps and then sold it to other developers as a subscription service.
    Hands-offOnline
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Software and apps
    Self-hosted social network software
    Sold software that lets people build their own social network, later releasing the code for free.
    Online
    Hacker News, 2011
  • Services and freelancing
    Rank-and-rent local lead sites
    The operator builds search-ranked sites for local trades such as junk removal and auto glass, then rents the resulting phone leads to contractors for a flat monthly fee. Costs per site are small.
    Online
    The Koerner Office