This article covers 10 ideas for side gigs you can start quickly and cheaply. As a result, you could be a business owner before you know it!
1. ONLINE COURSE CREATOR
First off, let me say I firmly believe everyone’s an expert at something!
Take your skills, knowledge and experience and turn it into a side gig by creating an online course. There are many great tools out there that allow you to easily package up your knowledge and turn it into ready-to-sell e-courses. Some of the most well-known online course creation sites are:
Thinkific
Teachable
Udemy
Stuck for course ideas? Here are just a few I found on Udemy:
The Web Developer Bootcamp
Elevate Your Photography: Learn Essentials of Great Photos
The Complete Piano Course: Master the Piano
Write a Book: Basic Creative Writing Skills for Beginners
Wood Carving for Beginners
2. Sell Handmade Goods Locally and Online
Do you have a gift for creating amazing, handmade items? Whether it’s knitting, baking, sewing or woodwork, there is likely a market somewhere for your goods.
To test out the local market, take your wares to local farmer’s markets, craft sales or flea markets. Additonally, you can also promote your stuff online through Craigslist or through local Facebook buy and sell groups.
3. Neighborhood Service-Based Business
Prefer to start a local, offline business? The beauty of this type of business is that it requires very little investment up front (if any).
Some ideas for this kind of hand-on business include: Buying and selling of goods, delivery etc.
4. Online Writer or Editor
Want a side gig you can do 100% from home? There’s a huge need out there for excellent writers, editors, bloggers and proofreaders.
The majority of businesses are now engaging in some form of content marketing. Consequently, good writers and editors are in high demand.
Sound like something you’d be interested in? There are tons of places online where you can look for high-paying writing, editing and proofreading gigs.
5. Tutoring
Sign up to be a tutor at TutorMe.com and earn $18+/hour
Do you have a passion for helping students succeed? Are you great at math, science or English? Do you have a university education…or maybe even a teaching certification?
Then tutoring may be a great side business for you. There’s a huge demand out there for smart, personable tutors, both locally and online.
For online tutoring jobs, apply to be a tutor at sites like Tutor.com,
6. Consultant or Coach
Interested in helping businesses or individuals achieve their personal or professional goals? Consider hanging up your shingle as a consultant or coach.
There are many different areas you can choose to focus on – life coach, business coach, parenting consultant, fitness coach…the possibilities are limited only by your own education, experience and passion.
Set up a website or blog to establish yourself as an expert in your field.
Create a coaching practice based on your existing education or training.
Basically, if you’re knowledgeable and experienced in a certain field, there are people out there who will pay to know what you know! Find them and your consulting or coaching business is born.
7. Start a Blog
Want to earn money working from home, writing about what you LOVE? Then you may want to start a blog as a side gig!
Start by identifying a topic you’re passionate about, and can write about with authority. Imagine you have to write 10 amazing blog posts off the top of your head…could you do it? Then you may have found a great topic for your blog!
Starting a blog these days is super easy…in fact, it can be done in 30 minutes or less, and costs as little as $2.95/month.
8. Social Media Management
Do you have advanced training or experience in social media, marketing and/or writing? Do you love fostering community and facilitating online discussion? Then, you may want to think about starting a social media management company for instance!
As a social media manager, you may perform a number of important tasks for your clients including:
Creating and scheduling post that are aligned with your clients’ brand and goals.
Responding to questions and complaints on social media
Facilitating discussions in groups.
Creating images or videos to share on social media
9. Become a Virtual Assistant
Becoming a virtual assistant is another great gig for anyone who wants to earn extra money without ever leaving the house.
A virtual assistant (VA) is just what it sounds like: a personal or business assistant who works virtually, anywhere in the world.
Becoming a virtual assistant may be right up your alley if you have great computer and technical skills, and are extremely organized and self-motivated.
Indeed VA jobs.
Freelancer virtual assistant job board
Hire My Mom.com
10. A Reality Show
Sincerely speaking most people apply for different reality shows year in year out, because once you succesfully get to be a part of that reality show, you don't necessarilly have to win because a lot of viewers tune in to watch and that way you tend to have a lot of fans and followers that might gift you with cash or a present. Also you might get endorsement deals and also win some cash on the course of the reality show.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, if starting a business sounds exciting to you – but you’re hesitant about investing a ton of time and money, then one of these ten side gigs may be the right option for you.
I’m curious: Are you going to try any of the side gigs above? Which one(s), for instance and if you have any new ideas? Share below!
