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
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- 14 publications and shows
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- Files sold online: templates, printables, ebooks, stock photos, fonts, presets, plugins, recorded courses
- A web app, SaaS, mobile app, browser extension, bot or API that people pay for or that earns from ads
- A blog, niche website, newsletter, YouTube channel, podcast or social account that earns from ads, affiliate links or sponsors
- Making, printing or reselling physical goods, online or in person
- Doing work for clients for a fee: freelance, consulting, done-for-you services, repairs, local services
- Earning from something you own: renting property, rooms, equipment, vehicles, parking, vending machines, domains
- A job board, listings site, directory or marketplace that connects buyers and sellers
- Live tutoring, lessons, workshops, coaching or cohort classes
Matching ideas
About the data21 ideas
- Software and appsA browser extension that automatically claims daily login bonuses at online casinos for a monthly subscription.OnlineHacker News, 2024
- Software and appsSoftware that ties game stats to video footage for coaches, sold to schools in many states.Hands-offOnlineHacker News, 2022
- Software and appsBuilt a web tool for stock technical analysis and offered it white-labeled to companies with distribution, splitting profits with them.Hands-offOnlineHacker News, 2019
- Software and appsBuilt a service with an API that lets businesses send cookies to customers and partners across Europe and the US.OnlineHacker News, 2019
- Software and appsAn open source API that generates embeddable chart images and QR codes. Monetized as a hosted service.Hands-offOnlineHacker News, 2019
- Software and appsA web tool that lets esports teams create mascot style gaming logos, currently in private beta.OnlineHacker News, 2019
- Software and appsAn outgoing text message API with flat pricing, small packages for hobbyists, and a free daily message. Has an open source version.Hands-offOnlineHacker News, 2019
- Software and appsA team calendar software product that earns recurring revenue and could grow with more marketing.$1k to $10kOnlineHacker News, 2019
- Software and appsBuilt a documentation product that earned its first revenue with little maintenance, and is planning a second version.Hands-offOnlineHacker News, 2018
- Software and appsA competitor monitoring product that began as a side project and grew into a systemised business with a team, so the owner now acts more like an investor.Hands-offOnlineHacker News, 2016
- Software and appsA subscription tool that watches DNS zones for changes and alerts the owner, keeping a revision history. Aimed at people who manage DNS for clients.OnlineHacker News, 2016
- Software and appsSoftware for protecting source code with encryption, built to meet the owner's own need when existing products were very expensive. It has produced steady income for years with a small remote team.OnlineHacker News, 2016
- Software and appsBuilt an online exam preparation platform for aspiring medical students together with a sibling. Once launched it needed very little upkeep and sold access to students.Hands-offOnlineHacker News, 2016
- Software and appsBuilt a service that delivers updates for private WordPress plugins and themes, which developers otherwise find painful to manage. Customers pay for the service.Hands-offOnlineHacker News, 2016
- Software and appsA service that generates website thumbnails automatically. The owner bought it from another person, kept developing it, and earns from its customers.OnlineHacker News, 2016
- Software and appsRuns a website that helps people practice music notation. It has earned steadily for years.Hands-offOnlineHacker News, 2016
- Software and appsBuilt a mobile app that tracks commuter rail trains in real time. Downloads spike whenever the transit system has service problems.OnlineHacker News, 2016
- Software and appsBuilt a business software product that still brings in monthly revenue with little attention.Hands-offOnlineHacker News, 2014
- Software and appsA service letting users email files into cloud storage accounts, with premium paid accounts popular with realtors and lawyers.Hands-offOnlineHacker News, 2014
- Software and appsBuilt a small ERP system sold to businesses on monthly fees.OnlineHacker News, 2014
- Software and appsA subscription analytics product largely automated in onboarding and billing, with an affiliate program and agency customers that expand usage.OnlineHacker News, 2014