14 Best Side Hustles for Women [2024]

Women face a heavier burden than men in many areas of life, especially when it comes to finances — the average woman only earns 82 cents for every dollar a man makes.

It’s not always possible to control your circumstances, but one thing to consider is starting up a side hustle. The best side hustles for women — such as freelancing and digital services — can easily be done in between other tasks in your life.

Key takeaways

• In 2021 women still only make 82% of what men earn, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office study.
• Many side hustles are easy to fit in between other tasks or a day job.
• Don’t be afraid to try multiple options before finding a side hustle that sticks.

The 14 best side hustles for women

• Completing surveys
• Driving for a rideshare
• Virtual assistant
• Tutoring
• Start a blog, YouTube channel, or podcast
• Resell items
• Shopping
• Pet care
• Freelancing
• Selling online courses and e-printables
• Selling handmade crafts
• Transcribing audio files
• Cleaning and laundry service
• Photography

Best side hustles for women comparison

Side hustle	Best if	Income potential	Flexibility
Completing surveys	You want a way to make money while zoning out during other activities.	$1-$30 per day	Can be done anytime and anywhere you have internet access.
Rideshare driver	You enjoy driving people around and have a decent car.	$15-$50 per hour	Can be done in your community, outside of your home.
Virtual assistant	You enjoy learning new tasks and working closely with a small group of people.	$15-$35 per hour	Can be done anytime and anywhere you have internet access.
Tutoring	You enjoy teaching people things one-on-one.	$20-$100 per hour	Can be done online or in person. Your students dictate your working schedule.
Start a blog, YouTube channel, or podcast	You want to network with friends and develop online skills for other side gigs, like freelance writing.	$0-$100,000 or more per year	Can be done from home as time allows, but you’ll need to produce content consistently to continue earning.
Resell items	You enjoy buying things, sprucing them up, and reselling them for a profit.	15-40% profit margin	Can be done in your spare time. May require trips to the post office or local stores.
Shopping	You enjoy the thrill of the hunt and picking things out for people.	$11-$14 per hour	Can be done in your spare time. May require trips to visit your customers and to stores.
Pet care	You enjoy animals.	$10-$25 per hour	Flexibility varies depending on whether you’re caring for pets in your home or your client’s and what type of services you offer.
Freelancing	You have high-value skill sets such as writing, social media, graphic design, or coding.	$20-$70 per hour	Schedule varies depending on the work you’re doing, but you can pick and choose how much you want.
Selling online courses and e-printables	You enjoy creating things and want a source of passive income.	$0-$100,000 or more per year	Passive income — can be done in spare time and then launched for repeat sales.
Selling handmade crafts	You’re good at making highly sought-after crafts.	5-20% profit margin	Can be done in your spare time at home. May require trips to the post office or to meet with buyers.
Transcribing audio files	You need to earn money fast with minimal hassle.	$20-$30 per hour	Can be done in your spare time according to your schedule and in your home.
Cleaning and laundry service	You don’t mind working with people’s dirty laundry and have your own cleaning supplies.	$15-$20 per hour	Cleaning is done in clients’ homes, but you may be able to do laundry in your home. Must keep up with a set schedule.
Photography	You enjoy photography and can market yourself to clients.	$50-$1,000 per month	Can be done in spare time or during booked appointments.

Completing surveys

Pros	Cons
No experience needed Quick and easy to get started Can do when you may get interrupted Can do as much or as little as you want	Payout is low Must keep watch for scams Can generate a lot of spam and ads Some website pay in gift cards, not cash

There’s a reason so many people recommend filling out surveys as one of the best side hustles if you’re just getting started. It’s extremely easy — in fact, if you’re reading this on a computer or a smartphone right now, you already have all you need. Survey websites such as Swagbucks and Survey Junkie offer you points for filling out surveys from partner companies, which you can trade in for rewards such as cash or gift cards.

Surveys are easy to squeeze in during a busy day and can offer some income, but it’s not much. For best results, sign up with as many survey websites as you can to find the highest-yielding option, or use it as an on-ramp while you look for higher-paying side hustles.

Driving for a rideshare

Pros	Cons
Flexible schedule Can work as much or as little as you want Can choose to drive people or deliver food	Not available in all areas Requires a certain type of car Complicates your car insurance Puts more wear and tear on your car Have to pay additional expenses such as gas

Driving for a rideshare like Uber or Lyft is another perennial side hustle and can be a good option if you enjoy driving and interacting with people. If you don’t enjoy being stuck with strangers in a car all day, you can opt to do food delivery instead with services such as Uber Eats and DoorDash.

However, keep in mind that you’ll generally need a nicer car for this gig. You can’t roll up in an old pickup truck, for example. Your regular car insurance also doesn’t apply while you’re driving people around for a side hustle, so you’ll need to factor in extra expenses such as a rideshare endorsement, gas, and more frequent repairs due to the extra wear and tear on your vehicle.

Virtual assistant

Pros	Cons
Work one-on-one with clients Opportunity to learn new skills Can charge more for in-demand skills such as video editing Can choose what services to offer and what clients to work for Varied working schedule — client dictates hours and tasks	Not all clients pay well Some clients can be demanding Must market yourself to find clients

If you’d rather develop a closer working relationship with one or a few people, a side job as a virtual assistant might work better for you. A virtual assistant operates more like a freelancer or small business owner, and helps offload small recurring tasks such as creating social media posts, editing videos, researching articles, or making appointments so that the client can focus on bigger-picture items.

Tutoring

Pros	Cons
No startup costs required Have fun teaching a skill you enjoy	Requires patience Must find your own clients May have to work nights and weekends Must have an in-demand skill that students are looking to learn

If you enjoy teaching others what you know, tutoring could be a good way to earn extra income. You’ll need to find students, which you can do on various websites such as Care.com or TutorMe. You could also join a tutoring company or seek in-person students by networking, posting on social media, and putting up flyers. You’ll likely have the best results if you have some experience tutoring or teaching, even if it’s on a volunteer basis.

Start a blog, YouTube channel, or podcast

Pros	Cons
Unlimited earning potential A fun outlet for your creativity Can allow you to network and meet new friends Can transition to other skills such as freelance writing	May not make any money Hard to stick out in crowded fields online Requires investment in tools and services Monetizing with ads can annoy your followers

Content creation — including blogging, podcasting, or hosting a YouTube channel — is popular these days, and for good reason. Many people have successfully transitioned a part-time blog into a full-time income. However, that’s still relatively rare, and it’s possible you’ll never earn any money. In fact, after investing in things like camera equipment, photo subscription services, and web hosting, it’s quite easy to lose money.

To make money, you need to start by bringing people to your blog, channel, or podcast. Once you have enough subscribers, you may be able to start running ads. You could also work with businesses directly as an influencer, pitching products on your platform and doing affiliate marketing. Just be sure to follow the rules around disclosing that you’re being paid for endorsing or advertising products.

Even if you don’t succeed in creating an income stream from your platform, if nothing else, creating unique and interesting content can be a good way to learn a new skill that you can use later. For example, you could train yourself to use social media or edit videos and then offer that as a freelance service later.

Sell or resell items

Pros	Cons
Can be done in your spare time Can be a fun outlet for creative people Lots of business models to choose from	May need to meet buyers in person or ship items to buyers Requires some investment to purchase items and materials May need to spend a lot of time figuring out a new way of doing business

There are tons of ways you can make money by selling and reselling things as a side hustle: upcycling local things in your community, selling things through Amazon FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon), setting up dropshipping systems to send items to customers as they buy them from warehouses, etc.

You’ll need to be creative in learning whether Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, or other outlets are the best choice for your particular business model. But if you enjoy shopping and making sales, it could be a great side hustle to work on in your spare time.

Shopping

Pros	Cons
Low startup costs Can be fun if you enjoy shopping Can take on as much or as little work as you want	May not pay very much Apps may take a cut of your profits May require a car, bike, or other transportation method Opportunities may not be plentiful, depending on where you live

Apps such as Instacart and Shipt make it easy to get started as a shopper. You could focus on grocery shopping or items from the other types of stores available on these platforms. Being a shopper could be a good option to earn a few extra bucks if you enjoy the thrill of finding certain items and gathering them for someone else.

You could also find clients directly and run errands and do shopping for them.

Pet care

Pros	Cons
Easy to get started Get to interact with pets Can choose about which jobs to accept Pet sitters and dog walkers are always needed	Need to market yourself to find new clients May need to give medications, including injections Could experience liability issues May have to deal with aggressive, fearful, or other unpleasant animals

Pet sitting and dog walking is a natural business idea for animal lovers. You can choose what services you offer, including in-home pet care (yours or the client’s home), dog walking, midday potty break visits, grooming, and more. Anyone can get started through websites such as Rover and Wag!, or you can leave flyers in your community or in local social media groups.

Even though it’s easy to get started, don’t underestimate your insurance. Although nothing bad happens to most pet care providers, it’s important to have good health insurance in place if you need it, and liability insurance if something unfortunate happens. Speak to your insurance provider to check whether you’re covered for side hustles such as this.

Freelancing

Pros	Cons
Can earn a lot of money in certain fields Can choose which services to offer and how much to work	Can be tough to get started Need to market yourself to find clients Requires a marketable skill to get started May have to wade through many low-paying gigs

Freelancing can be a lucrative side hustle, depending on your area of expertise. For example, if you have a solid understanding of grammar and spelling, you could try proofreading. If you have a way with words, consider being a freelance writer or doing resume writing. There are also freelance graphic designers, coders, bookkeepers, and more.

It’s relatively easy to get started offering freelance services through websites such as Upwork or Fiverr, but clients on these sites may not pay as well as finding customers directly. Consider applying for freelance jobs on LinkedIn and other sites, and networking with potential clients.

Although it can be difficult to get started, you may be able to scale up to a full-time income over time.

Selling online courses and printables

Pros	Cons
Easy to scale and sell more Fun way to share skills and be creative Passive income: create once, and sell multiple times	Can take some time to learn Requires you to market and advertise your products Requires investment in some online tools to be successful

Creating digital products such as online courses or e-printables for sale on websites such as Etsy or Teachable can be a fun way to earn passive income. You need only a few tools to get started, such as an editing program or digital graphics subscription. Although it’s passive income, you may need to put in some regular work, such as answering customer questions or creating new products to stay relevant.

Selling handmade crafts

Pros	Cons
Can be a good creative outlet Can work as much or as little as you want Can charge a lot for novel and in-demand items	Hourly pay can be very low May need to buy raw materials Can take the joy out of crafting your favorite items May need to deal with shipping or meeting customers in-person

If you’re crafty and have a head for numbers, selling handmade items can be a good side hustle for women. Sites such as Etsy make it easy to sell handmade items online, or you can sell crafts at local craft fairs or in gift shops. If you have a niche item for a high-paying clientele, like elaborate cosplay outfits, you can earn much more.

You’ll need to be extra careful here, though, as many crafts take a long time to produce and require you to buy materials. If someone offers you $100 to knit a custom sweater, for example, but it takes you 20 hours to make it and requires $50 in yarn, then your hourly rate works out to just $2.50 per hour.

Transcribing audio files

Pros	Cons
Low startup costs Can be done as much or as little as you like	Can get boring very quickly Requires a lot of attention to detail Doesn’t pay much unless you have specialized skills

There are lots of websites out there that will send you audio files from focus groups, recorded phone calls, journalist interviews, or other sources. You type what you hear, send it back, and get paid. The field can be quite crowded as you get started, but as you show proficiency, you can earn more money. That’s especially true if you’re familiar with niche terminology, as in the medical or legal fields.

You don’t need equipment besides a computer and a headset to start transcribing audio files, though a foot-operated start/stop pedal can help speed things along so you earn more. As an added bonus, you’ll become a lightning-fast typer.

Cleaning and laundry service

Pros	Cons
Easy to get started Can charge more for extra services, like folding or deep cleaning	May require a car Requires a set schedule Requires a lot of physical work May require your own cleaning tools or machines

Another option for a side hustle or starting your own business is laundry and cleaning services. You can offer to clean people’s homes or local businesses on a regular schedule. Alternatively, concierge pick-up and drop-off laundry services are becoming more popular, which you can do from your own home.

Photography

Pros	Cons
Creative outlet Can charge good prices Can earn passive income Work with individual customers	Usually need some experience Requires you to market yourself May need to find new clients each time Requires certain equipment and programs

There are lots of ways to make money with photography. Two of the most popular are by taking photos that you sell for prints or as stock images online, or by offering a photography service, such as family photos.

You will need some equipment to get started — namely, a professional camera and perhaps editing software — but otherwise, it’s a relatively low-barrier side hustle. You may be able to charge more for specialized services, such as boudoir or wedding photography.

How to choose the best side hustle for you

With so many options, it can be hard to choose from the best side hustle ideas for women. Here are a few tips on how you can quickly identify the right choice:

• Give yourself permission to try a few options. Sometimes you just need some hands-on experience to know whether it’ll work out or not, so don’t be afraid to try several options.
• Create a budget. Some side hustles, such as photography and selling handmade items, require you to buy things to get started. Others, such as transcribing audio files or filling out surveys, are cheap or even free.
• Make a short list of options. After checking out a few side hustle lists like this, note which options sound most interesting to you. Then, spend some time investigating each one further.
• Make a list of your skills: Set a timer for 15 minutes and write down all of the skills you have that someone might pay you to do — including everyday things such as pet care and household chores.
• Identify your limitations. If you have young children, it might be hard to do things like tutor older children or do photography shoots. Everyone has certain constraints, so make sure to pick a side hustle that works around yours.
• Figure out a realistic earning potential. Some side hustles, such as selling e-printables and blogging, have the potential to bring in a lot of money, but it could take a long time. If you need extra cash immediately, it might be better to choose a side hustle with a more immediate and guaranteed payout.

FAQs about side hustles for women

Best side hustles for women: bottom line

Everyone has skills that they can share with others in return for extra income, and that includes you. Learning how to make money on your own terms can go a long way toward helping you save a solid emergency fund, buy a house, pay down debt, and more.

The best side hustles for women are flexible and offer a good income potential. The right side hustle for you may be one where you set your own schedule. Or you might prefer to start an online business where you work from home.

Many women are even able to transition these side hustles into full-time jobs when the time is right. If you’ll be working for yourself, remember to treat your side hustle as though you’re starting a new business — because that’s exactly what it is.

Methodology

In determining the best side hustles for women, we compiled a list of potential side hustle options. We evaluated each option based on its pros and cons, earning potential, and amount of flexibility.

Note that we did not review all potential side hustles for women. This list is not exhaustive, and each person may have different preferences and circumstances. This list is meant to serve as a general guide and starting point for women looking to explore side hustle opportunities.