unique side hustles

Unique Side Hustles To Earn Cash

Disclaimer

As an affiliate marketer, I may receive affiliate commissions, at no cost to you, through some of the links in this post if you decide to purchase a product or service. This affiliate commission is paid by the linking company at no additional cost to you. You can read our full disclaimer here.

Unique side hustles are what most people are looking for to make some extra money. Are you looking for some unique side hustle ideas to earn some extra money? Are you tired of the same old 9-5 job routine, but don’t want to give up your freedom? If so, then this blog post is for you.

This post lists 33 unique side hustles that are perfect for people who want to make more money. We’ll go over everything from making money with social media, to ways of earning cash on the weekends. These ideas will leave you feeling inspired and ready to take action towards your next paycheck!

Table of contents

Unlimited Possibilities With These Unique Side Hustles

The possibilities for different ways to make money really do seem endless these days. This is why it’s important that you stay up-to-date on what methods people are using most often. In order for your unique side hustles to not only work out the first time, but also continue working over time, it will require quite a bit of research. Along with plenty of trial and error from your end. Hopefully, once one business has been developed successfully then all future unique side hustles should run smoothly.

As I mentioned in my previous posts, Best Side Hustles for Women and Best Side Hustles for Men, the best way to start off your unique side hustles is by brainstorming as many ideas as possible. This can be done with a friend, family member, or even on your own if you’re feeling adventurous. Once you have a list of potential unique side hustles that you may want to try out, it’s time to research them

It’s important that when starting any unique side hustle, you take some time to learn about what’s involved and how much work will be required from you. If the unique side hustle seems too difficult or risky then it might not be worth it in the end – remember, this extra money should supplement your main income, not replace it entirely!

There are many ways for you to make some extra income, but these 33 unique side hustles may not be ideas you have considered in the past.

1. Social Media Influencer – A Unique Side Hustle With Huge Potential

One great way to make some extra cash is by becoming a social media influencer. Now this is no easy task, but with some careful planning and diligent daily work you can build a a strong following.

Platforms like Instagram and YouTube allow you to share your content with the world, and if you have a large following, brands may be interested in working with you to promote their products or services.

This can be a great way to make money on the side, and it’s something that you can continue to do even after you’ve left your full-time job. There are a lot of people making a full-time income as a social media influencer.

While this unique side hustle is becoming more popular, it’s still not for everyone. You need to have the right type of following and fan base in order to make a lot of money through social media influencer marketing. However, if you are someone who already has thousands of followers on one or multiple platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, then you can definitely start making some extra income today!

It’s possible to charge anywhere from $20 – $100+ per post depending on your following size and engagement rates with your audience. This unique side hustle could be lucrative over time if done correctly and diligently throughout the year.

2. Participate In Focus Groups – A Simple Unique Side Hustle

Another unique way that you can earn some extra cash is by participating in focus groups. These are groups of people who get together in order to discuss a certain product, service, or topic.

Usually, these focus groups are moderated by a market research company and will pay anywhere from $50 – $200 per session. Companies rely on focus group feedback in order to make decisions about their products and services, so it’s important that you voice your opinion if you’re invited to participate.

Participating in focus groups is one way for you to make some extra income without having to give up too much of your time. Sessions usually last around two hours, but the payout can be worth your while.

If you don’t live near any major cities then this unique side hustle may not be ideal for you. However, if there are sessions in your area then this unique side hustle can be worth looking into to make some extra cash.

3. Sell Used Items Online – Another Unique Side Hustle To Consider

You can sell used items online to make some extra cash without a lot of work. This unique side hustle will not only help you get rid of things around the house that are no longer being utilized, but it will also give you a little bit of extra spending money in return.

If done correctly and efficiently, you could potentially earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars each month with this unique side hustle. It’s important to list all the details about an item when selling because there may be someone out there who is willing to pay top dollar if they’re interested in what they see.

Selling on sites like eBay has become one popular way for people to make extra money. However, there are other unique ways that you can sell your stuff online like listing it on Craigslist or starting an etsy shop.

There’s no limit to how much you could potentially earn with this unique side hustle because selling used items has become so popular in recent years.

4. Photography

Many people love the idea of taking photos and making them into beautiful pieces of art. If photography is something that interests you, then becoming a stock photographer may be perfect for you.

Photography can be a unique side hustle

Stock photographers take images and upload them to sites, like iStock, Pixabay and others, where they’re sold for usage by large corporations. We all know just how much companies need stylish images in order to market their products well. This is why stock photographers have been able to make quite a bit of money through this unique side hustle.

You can choose to sign up with one or multiple stock photography websites in order for your images to be sold faster and more efficiently. There are a lot of unique ways you could make money as a stock photographer. It’s important that you sell quality photos if you want people to come back again the next time they need an image.

The best thing about this unique side hustle is that there really isn’t much involved on your end – all you have to do is shoot some high-quality photographs and upload them online. This unique side hustle may not pay off right away depending on how many photographs get bought, but over time it could add up quite nicely.

5. Sell Items Globally From eBay and Craigslist

Selling your things on ebay can make you extra money.

As we’ve discussed above, selling used items is a great way for you to make extra money. This unique side hustle can be done in a number of ways, but one of the most popular methods these days is by using online marketplaces like eBay and Craigslist.

These sites allow you to sell your items to people all over the world, which means that you could potentially earn more money than if you were to sell them locally.

When listing an item on eBay or Craigslist, it’s important that you take pictures of the product from different angles. You need to write a detailed description about what’s included. You’ll also want to state the price that you’re looking for so that there aren’t any surprises after somebody has made an offer.

It may take some time to get used to selling items online, but once you realize how much money you could potentially make doing this unique side hustle then it will be well worth it.

6. Selling Old Books And Textbooks

Another great way that you can earn some extra cash is by selling your old books and textbooks. If you are pack rat, like me, you probably have a huge collection of books and text books sitting on a bookshelf or in a box somewhere.

Earn extra cash by selling old books or text books.

If the books are still in good condition with no damage or markings, there’s a chance that somebody else may want to buy them from you for their own personal use. This unique side hustle will not only give you quite a bit of extra spending money as an incentive, but it might also inspire someone who needs these particular books for school!

Just like many other unique ways to earn extra cash, selling used items has become incredibly popular over time people have realized just how easy it can be to make some extra money. Whether you have a lot of unique items lying around your home or just a few textbooks that are still in good condition, there’s no limit as to how much you could potentially earn with this side hustle.

7. Become A Consultant To Small Business Owners

Here is another unique side hustle to put more money in your pocket. When you have some down time, offer your services as a consultant to small businesses. You can do this by word of mouth or through social media platforms.

Today more than ever small business owners are looking for professional guidance on how to grow and scale their business. If you have the experience and expertise to help these owners, you can make nice income from this side gig. You can find these people who need help in many Facebook Groups and other online forums.

8. Start A Blog To Share Your Expertise

Many people start their own unique side hustles in order to gain more experience and knowledge in a certain field. If you’re one of those people, then consider starting a blog. Just remember that a blog is a business. You must treat it that way at all times. It is not a place to just voice your opinion or to share with your readers what you ate this morning.

Starting a blog is a great side hustle that can bring in extra cash

This unique side hustle can be quite lucrative if done correctly, and it also allows you to share your thoughts and ideas with the world. Your blog should answer people’s questions in the particular niche you have chosen. Let them know what the “best practices” are or what is the “best software for your money”. By answering their questions, you become a resource to them. And they will, come back to you time after time for help.

One thing that all successful bloggers have in common is that they are passionate about the topic they’re writing about. So before you dive into this unique side hustle, make sure that you’re truly interested in blogging about something specific.

9. Make And Sell Gift Baskets

Try making gift baskets that your neighbors, friends and relatives can give on birthdays, holiday and other festive occasions. People like giving unique personalized gifts, but don’t have the time to make them. Offer your personalized service to them by making the baskets for a fair and reasonable price.

Making gift baskets is a creative way so make money

If you do a great job with these baskets, more people will want to use your services. I had a friend who eventually quit her six-figure corporate job to do gift baskets for a living. She is now making nearly three times as much money as she was working in the corporate world. She is also a lot less stressed out these days.

10. Offer Special Services Based On Your Skills

You can also try offering some unique side hustle services on sites like TaskRabbit.com or Airtasker.com. These are websites that connect people who need help with unique tasks, so you could offer any of these unique side hustles while getting paid!

TaskRabbit.com is an excellent resource

The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to unique ways to earn extra money today. Even though there may be lots of competitors in this market already, don’t let that discourage you from starting your own successful unique business.

Just remember that once one method has been proven profitable then all future unique side hustles should follow suit without much difficulty at all.

11. Become a Social Media Manager For Small Businesses

Most small business owners don’t have the time or expertise to handle their own social media, so you can fill a void for them while generating some nice cash flow from this unique side hustle. All you have to do is offer a unique service that will help them grow their online presence and with it, the number of customers they’re bringing in.

In recent years, more businesses have been embracing social media marketing as a way to grow their business and profits. Unfortunately, many small business owners don’t have the time to make social media posts and keep up with everything. That’s where you can fill the void for them and make a consistent flow of income. Once you land an account, if you do a good job, you will keep their business for a long time.

12. Blog About Your Unique Side Hustles Experiences

If you love writing then consider starting a blog where you can share what you’ve learned from all of these unique side hustles. That’s right, you can take your experience in doing unique side hustles and turn it into another money-making opportunity for you while helping others. That is what I have done with my blog here.

It’s important to be as detailed as possible when blogging so others who are interested in this topic can learn more about how they can start making money through unique ideas.

13. Sell Your Personal Art Online Or Offline

Combine your creativity with one or two unique skills and sell art pieces at local craft fairs or on sites like Etsy.com There are millions of people around the world looking for handmade products and artwork. You just need to market your work online or at craft fairs in your local community or across the globe.

Sell your personal art for income

This will allow you to take your passion and turn it into a brand. Many artists start off struggling as “starving artists”, but once they figure out how to display and market their work they can turn it into a nice side gig or a full-time income.

14. Transcribe Audio And Videos For Content Creators

Many content creators on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms need help with this. That’s where content marketers come in, you can use the skill set of transcribing to generate an additional income stream or even a primary one if it scales enough for you.

Transcribe audio and/or video for extra income

You need some equipment like headphones, good quality ones ideally with noise cancellation feature which is helpful especially when there are loud ambient sounds on your video/audio recording that might be picked up by the microphone while recording.

An external microphone wouldn’t hurt either if this isn’t available to you already on your laptop or phone device as well as transcription software. Some people who have tried using Google Docs for transcriptions but it’s often not accurate enough.

Hire Someone To Do The Actual Work

You can also hire a transcriptionist from Fiverr or other freelancing platforms if you only have one audio file to transcribe and need it done quickly, but I recommend having your own personal virtual assistant for this task so they do multiple files at once when needed without the lag of communicating back and forth with clients on low paying gigs like these.

There are some software programs that will help speed up the process. Express Scribe Transcription Software which is available both in mobile app form where you use your phone’s microphone to record the speech then listen to it later while typing out what was said via text format or the traditional computer desktop software. It’s around $40 for the lifetime license and it’s a great investment if you plan on doing this as a unique side hustle long term.

One thing to note is that many transcription services do not require an experience level, they are more interested in your typing speed which is usually tested before being hired onto their team of transcribers. This gives people who may be new to content marketing or want to get into it without any prior experience a chance to start gaining some skills and getting paid at the same time.

15. Start A Pet Waste Removal Business – A Unique Side Hustle For Very Few

First, let me say this is not the most enjoyable side job, but it can be financially rewarding if you get enough customers. A service cleaning up pet waste can be lucrative if you live in a nice neighborhood that has large yards and the homeowners have multiple pets.

You can promote your services in many different ways, including social media, neighborhood groups on Facebook, through veterinary offices and local publications.

16. Offer Unique Tours Of Your City

In the city that I grew up in, Louisville, Kentucky, there are a number of people who have made a nice side income by giving tours of Churchill Downs, Bourbon Distilleries and historic homes. If you live in a city that has lots of tourist attractions and a lot of history, you could offer walking tours that focus on off-the-beaten path attractions and activities. Some people have made great money by leading restaurant tours and bourbon tours.

These money-making opportunities have increased tremendously in recent years. More people today want to learn the history of cities and have become obsessed with unique food experiences. I love this side hustle idea because it is fun for both the paying customer and you as the guide.

17. Start A Business That Delivers Unique Meals To People’s Homes.

This is another unique side hustle that can be very profitable – especially if you’re good at coming up with creative recipes! All you need is a vehicle, some cooking supplies, and some cool packaging to wow your customers.

Create unique meals for a side business

You don’t have to be a gourmet chef to do this. You just need to offer something unique that cannot be found easily within your city. If fact, this unique side hustle doesn’t require you to cook at all if you can find restaurants or individuals who like to cook then you can be the middle man and make a nice hefty profit off each meal sold.

18. Offer services such as yard work, home repair or house sitting

There are a lot of services that people need done and will gladly pay you a handsome wage if you do an excellent job. These unique side hustles can be done in your spare time and don’t require any specific skillset – you just need to be good with people and animals!

Whether you cut grass, rake leaves, do home maintenance or other similar tasks, you can make some nice cash while helping an elderly or needy person keep their house looking good.

You can market your services or find people who need your services on websites, like on websites like Care.com, TaskRabbit.com, UrbanSitter.com and others.

19. Start A Business That Provides Unique Marketing Or Consulting Services

There are always businesses who are looking for unique marketing ideas or for help with their branding. If you have a lot of experience in these areas, then starting your own business as a consultant is a great way to make some extra money on the side.

Just remember, it’s important to offer something different and valuable if you want to attract clients. Generic services will not get you very far – especially in today’s competitive market.

20. Offer Unique Handmade Items For Sale On Websites Like Etsy.com

If you have artistic or craft skills, you can cash in with unique handmade items. You don’t have to be a designer – you can make unique hand-made mugs, jewelry or even knit scarves and other unique accessories for sale online.

However, the most important thing is to set yourself apart from your competition by offering unique pieces that will attract buyers who are looking for something truly one of a kind. If you manage and market this properly, then you’ll likely do very well.

21. Start An Online Business With Unique Products

Set up an ecommerce store to earn cash

If none of these options sound good enough for whatever reason but you still want to earn some extra money on the side without working too hard than consider starting an online store with unique products like t-shirts or coffee mugs which offer funny say related to what people love in your area.

There are many products you could offer, this could include things like jewelry, artwork, handmade soaps, etc.

You can sell unique and funny t-shirts online with TeeSpring or CafePress for example which is a unique side hustle that requires no real work except to design the shirts yourself!

Make unique items like these and resell them on Etsy, eBay or other similar websites as well as local shops in your city. You might find people willing to buy such unique products from you if you offer something they cannot get anywhere else – especially since this type of product will be one of a kind because it’s handmade by you specifically!

22. Do Research for Keywords & Hashtags for Businesses and Individuals

When you look at Fiverr, Upwork and other similar websites you see hundreds of people offering website optimization services or to write product descriptions. There are so many other services you could offer to standout in a crowded space. You could help them with finding high-quality keywords and hashtags they can use.

It is easy to get started. Just pick some niches that you are interested in and start building a database of keywords, search queries, and influencers in those niche. A unique side hustle like this will help brand managers at larger companies who are too busy to do a great amount of research. Therefore, they are only scratching the surface with their copy.

Additionally, you can cross reference Amazon, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and other social media to compile important data that provides more than a simple Google search. 

23. Set up a Social Media Influencer Marketing Company

Let’s face it, with social media today, with some strong, consistent effort, it is easy to become a social media personality or influencer. Some of the biggest social media influencers have marketing companies or agencies who help them get sponsorship deals, but many do it themselves.

These social media celebrities act on their own behalf, by marketing themselves and setting their own endorsement rates. In many cases they wait on brands to come to them instead of proactively going after brands that are best align with who they are and their followers. Most likely, they are missing out on a lot of potential revenue and better sponsorship opportunities. If you enjoy social media management and potentially working with some of the up-and-coming social media stars, start reaching out to some of the social media influencers to see if they would like for you to represent them in finding key sponsorship and branding deals.

This is not one of the easier unique side hustles to get started in, but the reward could be huge for you. Most agencies get a percentage of sponsored post fees and other sponsorship revenue. You will act as their business development manager and allow them to focus more on creating more engaging and entertaining content that will bring in more followers.

If you have the business experience and savvy you can introduce these social media influencers to law firms, accountants and other business advisors who will probably be glad to pay you a one-time or on-going finders fee.

24. Start a car wash and detailing service in a parking garage while people are at work

Start a side business detailing and washing cars

For many years in the parking garage where I parked my car, a father and son team used to offer a car wash and detailing service to all of the patrons of the parking garage. I never knew the exact amount of money they made from this endeavor, but the father made it clear to me that he was making enough money to live in one of the major upscale neighborhoods in our city. Simple math told me, they were making a very nice 6-figure income from this unique side hustle that became their full-time job.

In the beginning, they started their company by putting flyers on the cars in the parking garage about once a week. They offered to wash and detail your car while you were at work. You drive into work with a dirty car and drive home in a sparkling clean vehicle. It was a very nice service that you didn’t find in most downtown parking garages.

25. Organize and plan birthday parties for kids

Planning birthday parties for kids is a creative side hustle

There are many unique side hustles, but organizing and planning birthday parties for kids takes creativity and patience. You need to have a knack for event planning and be able to handle different personalities.

One unique selling proposition (USP) you could use is that you are an expert at themed birthday parties. This can set your business apart from other party planners in your city. If you’re creative, it’s easy enough to find new ideas for themes on the internet or even in your own backyard.

Be sure to have a solid business plan and pricing strategy before you start taking birthday party bookings. You’ll also want to have a list of vendors that you can recommend for decorations, catering, entertainment and other services needed for birthday parties. Not only will this side hustle make you extra money, but it will also give you experience in event planning, which can be a lucrative career.

26. Offer Pet-Sitting Services

This unique side hustle is perfect for animal lovers who are looking for a way to make some extra money. Pet-sitting is a great service to offer because most people don’t want to leave their pets at home for an extended period of time.

Offer pet sitting services as a side hustle

You can offer a variety of services, such as feeding and walking the pet, providing playtime, or giving them medicine if needed. You could also offer to take care of other animals in the owner’s home while they’re away.

Be sure to have a website and online booking system set up before you start advertising your pet-sitting services. This will make it easy for people to find and book appointments with you. You can also market your services on social media, through word-of-mouth, or by handing out flyers in your neighborhood.

27. Start a Virtual Assistant Business

This unique side hustle is perfect for people who are organized and have a lot of administrative skills. As a virtual assistant, you will be providing support to clients who need help with tasks such as scheduling appointments, answering emails, managing social media accounts, or doing research.

You can start your own virtual assistant business by creating a website or blog that promotes your services. You can also market your services on social media, through word-of-mouth, or by handing out flyers in your neighborhood.

28. Start a Lawn Care Business – A Unique Side Hustle That Is Seasonal

A lawn care business makes a great side hustle

This unique side hustle idea is perfect for people who love to work outdoors and have a lot of experience in landscaping. As a lawn care business, you will be providing services such as mowing the lawn, trimming the bushes, and pulling the weeds.

In the fall and winter, you could also offer services such as leaf removal and snow shoveling. In addition, you could provide a firewood service in the winter. Be sure to market your services in advance of each season. You want to get a jump on the competition and get your customers locked in before any one else gets them.

29. Start a Personal Chef Or Meal Planning Business

Offer your service as a personal chef or meal planner for extra money

Today, many families are looking for quick, healthy meals for their families, but many of the national services are extremely expensive. If you have good cooking skills, you could target people in your neighborhood or a few good friends and offer your services as a personal chef or meal planner.

Planning meals is very challenging for most families who are constantly on the go. As a personal chef or meal planner, you can offer to do all the planning for them. You could also prepare and cook the meals yourself, or simply provide them with a grocery list of items they need to buy.

Be sure to have a website and online booking system set up before you start advertising your personal chef services. This will make it easy for people to find and book appointments with you. You can also market your services on social media, through word-of-mouth, or by handing out flyers in your neighborhood.

31. Start a Home Or Office Organizing Business

A home or office organizer is a perfect side hustle for people who love to organize.

This unique side hustle is perfect for people who love to organize and have experience in organizing homes. As a home organizer, you will be providing services such as decluttering, organizing cabinets and closets. Additionally, you will be creating systems for paperwork and bills, or designing storage solutions.

This service can include digital organization too. You can become a records management guru. Digital clutter has become a major problem for most people and it is an untapped industry.

Work with your clients to set up a digital organization system so they have a place to store important digital files. Set up their file structure on Google Drive, Dropbox or other files on their computer. You will want back up all of their files for each of your clients. The more support you give them the more money you can charge for your service.

With so many more people working from home this service is in demand by more people that ever. If this is a service that you offer be sure to market your services on social media. You can also promote it through word-of-mouth, or by handing out flyers in your neighborhood.

32. Start a Business Cleaning Out Foreclosed Homes

This unique side hustle idea is perfect for people who love to clean and have experience in cleaning homes. As a foreclosure cleaner, you will be providing services such as cleaning the windows and scrubbing the floors. It may include removing all of the furniture and appliances, and deep-cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen.

Start a side hustle business cleaning foreclosure homes

This is a great side hustle ideal to get into if you want to start your own business. You can start by marketing your services in your local community. There are many people who are looking for someone to clean out their foreclosed home. You can also market your services online. There are many websites that list foreclosure homes in different parts of the country.

Be sure to have a website and online booking system set up before you start advertising your foreclosure cleaning services. This will make it easy for people to find and book appointments with you. You can also market your services on social media, through word-of-mouth, or by handing out flyers in your neighborhood.

33. Start a Business Doing Laundry for Others

This unique side hustle is perfect for people who love to do laundry and have experience in doing laundry for others. As a laundry service owner, you will be providing services such as washing, drying, and folding laundry for others.

This is a great side hustle idea to get into if you want to start your own business. You can start by marketing your services in your local community. There are many people who are looking for someone to do their laundry for them.

My mother provided this service for neighbors and friends for many years. It allowed her to work from home while still making a nice income. She was able to supplement the money my father brought in from his job.

A simple flyer in the local laundromat or social media posts will probably generate a lot of prospective customers.