5 Best Side Hustles To Earn An Extra $1000 Per Month (And How To Get Started)

As seen on Forbes.

They say putting all your eggs in one basket is never a good idea. With predictions of a recession always in the air, it’s a good idea to have multiple streams of income. If you’re already holding down a regular 9 to 5 job but find that you’re not earning enough to live your desired lifestyle, then a side hustle can be a great way to achieve your financial goals.

There are lots of different definitions of what a side hustle can be. Some people earn extra cash by taking on a part-time job, while others launch a small business that they can attend to outside of their work hours. If you’re looking to start a side hustle, here are five of the most popular ones that can help you make an additional $1000+ a month. 

1. Transcribing audio files

If you’re new to the world of side hustles but have a lot of free time after your regular work hours, transcription jobs are an excellent way to earn extra income while working from home. All you need is a stable internet connection, a reliable computer, and you’re good to start earning $5 to $20 per hour.

Transcription jobs involve listening to an audio file and transcribing it into a text format used in various applications. Here are a few examples: 

• Video recordings of legal depositions need to be transcribed for accurate record-keeping 
• Content creators  need transcriptions of their existing content to repurpose to other platforms
• Streaming services such as Netflix use transcriptions for their subtitles, making the service more accessible to their viewers 

Transcription jobs can be found on lots of different job boards, but there are also specific transcription services, such as Scribie, who are always looking for additional staff.

2. Language Translation

If you are already fluent in another language other than English, then this is the perfect side hustle for you. With businesses becoming increasingly global, the ability to communicate in another language has become a prized ability that you can turn into some serious cash.  

It’s worth noting that some languages are more in demand than others. According to Indeed, the highest-paying translation jobs are in Portuguese, with the average annual pay clocked at $242,179, although this can vary depending on your qualifications and experience.   

To get started, I recommend looking at more gig-focused platforms like Fiverr and Upwork to get started. This is especially crucial for new freelancers, as these websites make it easier for you to look through different postings and find credible opportunities. You can also check out translation services such as Stepes and Translated.

3. Airbnb hosting

If you have a spare bedroom in your house that nobody uses, you may be staring at a reliable and lucrative money-making opportunity. With some elbow grease and a bit of creativity, you can transform that unused space into a profitable side hustle through Airbnb hosting. 

With that said, I’m not here to sugarcoat it for you. While Airbnb hosting can definitely be a lucrative side hustle, it’s no cakewalk. There are certain risks and lots of work required to make it a success. These risks include dealing with impolite guests, property damage or theft, neighbors getting upset, and even potentially violating local laws, all depending on where you live. There’s also the cost of cleaning, higher utility bills, taxes, and Airbnb’s host fee.

If you’re comfortable that the rewards outweigh the risks, then you can start by signing up and creating a profile with Airbnb. Take photos and videos of your spruced-up room, and make sure to stock on necessities such as spare blankets, pillows, toiletries, and other items that your guests may need. The happier your guests are, the more likely they’ll be willing to leave positive reviews, which is what you want to attract future bookings.

4. Affiliate marketing 

Think of affiliate marketing as a kind of partnership where individuals, often referred to as affiliates or publishers, help spread the word about products or services for another company.  

Affiliate marketers earn a commission whenever someone they’ve sent their way makes a purchase, clicks a link, or takes some desired action, thanks to their marketing magic. It’s like getting rewarded for recommending your favorite restaurant to a friend.

To succeed in affiliate marketing, it’s extremely helpful to have an established and engaged audience that trusts your content, which requires time and a lot of effort. That being said, affiliate marketing can be an excellent way to monetize passion projects that have a community aspect attached to them (e.g. blog, YouTube channel, podcast)

5. Dropshipping

Last but not least, this specific side hustle has taken social media by storm. 

Dropshipping refers to a business model in which entrepreneurs can sell products to customers without holding any inventory. Instead of purchasing products in advance and risking your hard-earned capital, you can partner with suppliers who handle inventory storage, packaging, and shipping. The dropshipper only purchases the product from the supplier once a customer places an order, with the supplier taking care of the rest. 

Once you’ve found a supplier, getting a dropshipping business started is as easy as putting up an online shop on platforms like Facebook Marketplace. You can also create your own website using platforms like Wix. How much you earn as a drop shipper depends on how much product you can sell. However the most successful dropshipping businesses have an average profit margin range of 10% to 45%. 

Dropshipping can be overwhelming at first, especially if you’re a complete beginner to e-commerce. That being said, there’s also a ton of tutorials and reading materials out there written by experts that will help you get started in no time. I can’t think of a better place to start than this excellent tutorial from Shopify. 

Some words of advice

Side hustles are an excellent way to earn some much-needed cash, but it’s critical to understand that you shouldn’t be sacrificing your physical and mental well-being for it. If you find yourself already spread too thin at your current full-time job, it’s best to find a side hustle that is more flexible when it comes to effort and your time. 

But if you are eager to take on a new challenge and earn outside of your typical working hours, then a side hustle could be a great new opportunity. Let me know which one you are most interested in trying out!