10 Entrepreneurial Side Hustles
/They say successful entrepreneurs have eight streams of income. That might sound like a lot to juggle but if you can turn a lot of them into passive income, as in set it up and go, or incorporate them into your lifestyle, then you’re onto a winner. Here are some entrepreneurial ideas for you to consider.
1. Etsy
Design and create products and artwork to sell in an online shop like Etsy. I have been running my Etsy shop for years now as a side hustle and it has brought in a nice little income. From offering commissions to selling my paintings, prints, and now Icelandic artwork, it has been something I have kept going and growing over that time.
Avoid postal costs and time by creating digital items like digital download prints, lists, calendars, etc. Etsy can be a fun way to monetize your hobbies, i.e. knitting, watercolour, painting, calligraphy, jewelry, etc. Check out my shop here.
2. Digital Artwork
Create digital artwork, print patterns, and lettering to sell on sites such as Society6, CafePress, etc. If you have skills in adobe then also try 99Designs.
3. YouTube Channel
YouTube is a long game and takes a lot of work and dedication to be consistent. If you are thinking of jumping on YouTube to build a channel and earn an income from it, consider more of a tutorial-based channel than a vlog channel unless you already have an audience who you know would follow and watch.
Think about what you can share, teach, offer, and what people are searching for right now. If your aim is to grow and be monetized, make it work for you - smarter rather than harder.
I started my YouTube channel to document my move to Iceland and later, our #IcelandFamilyLife adventures, and so on. I am so glad I did this as it is so fun to watch back and have all these memories literally recorded but it isn’t a big income maker. It takes a lot of work and dedication to grow your channel and build up those watch hours. Check out my YouTube channel here.
4. Teach Online
The best kind of passive income, in my opinion, is an online course. You can take a skill or experience you have and plan out the curriculum. Film the lessons and edit them into a set of classes. Upload to a teaching platform of your choice and let students enroll and learn over and over again.
Skillshare are great as they already offer a built-in audience of students looking to learn. You can earn a commission when a student signs up and whilst they’re taking your classes. If you already have an audience, offer your course on your own website using a site like Teachable.
You could also offer online tutoring via zoom or skype. Share what you know, i.e a language, drawing, music, cooking, etc, and get paid to do so.
5. Online Freelancing
This might not make you a load of money quickly but it can be an easy way to use your time and talents. Check out sites like Fiverr and UpWork to pitch for roles big and small like editing and logo design to social media manager and virtual assistant.
6. Content Creation
Blogging isn’t dead, and although it and Instagram can take a lot of time and effort to build up a following, it can be worth it to help promote your own products, courses, or affiliates. You can accept sponsored posts, adverts, can offer freelance content creation on other sites, and check out sites like Freelancer and UpWork too.
7. Declutter
Let's all have a big old declutter and clear out. Not only does decluttering free the mind and make us feel better, but it could also earn you some money. Pull everything out and only put back what you want and need. Look at everything you have and see what you could sell either on your local Facebook marketplace, Facebook groups, rent a stall at a secondhand shop, or list items on eBay, etc. Look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves.
8. Odd Jobs
There are probably loads of odd jobs you could do if you have some spare time. Have a think, they don’t need to be groundbreaking. Personal training, styling, personal shopper, dog walking, babysitting, cleaning, food delivery, mystery shopper, answering surveys, help writing or designing people’s CVs, and much more.
9. Air BnB
If you have a spare room or are heading off for a long trip, why not consider rent out your space on Air BnB? We did this for a year or two here in Reykjavik (before kids) and met some great people from all over. It was fun having them stay, helping them plan out their trip, and giving them the inside local knowledge on things like the Northern Lights.
When we stopped listing our spare room on Air BnB, and it became Mia’s nursery, I ventured into the events space and offered Sketching Walking Tours on Reykjavik. This was a great way for me to get out and about, sketch as we went, and show people around my new home. I would meet them in one spot, show them around and give them some facts on the place, let them sketch for a few minutes, and offer up pointers when needed. We walked around for an hour and sometimes sat in a coffee shop if the Icelandic weather was too challenging. It was really fun - I only stopped due to Covid social distancing.
10. Digital Products
And finally, here’s a little dump of other things you could try:
Have a transformational story to tell or skill to share, why not try creating an EBook, audiobook, or digital product to sell to an online audience.
Sell templates you already use within your household or business.
Look into dropshipping and create your own store.
Become an affiliate for a program, course, and/or product you use and love.
Create an Amazon shopfront and earn a small commission when you link to a recommended item and a sale is made.
