Brits earn £210 from side hustles per week, which adds up to £914 a month or £10,967 a year. If you want to add to your income, here are the low-effort side hustles that pay.
When it comes to making money from side hustles, anything goes. You could sell items online, do voice work, walk dogs, be a sleep coach and even a panda cuddler - though you'd have to move to China first!
So successful are side hustles as a way to make extra cash that a survey conducted by Finder.com has found:
- 2 in 5 Brits (39%) have a side hustle as an additional source of income.
- The average income from side hustles is £210 a week or £914 a month.
- A third of Brits (35%) are earning £20 a week or more on average from their side hustles.
- Forty-three per cent of men make money from a side hustle, compared to a third of women (34%).
- Three in five Gen Zers (61%) and over half of millennials (55%) earn money from side hustles, compared to just 17% of baby boomers.
- Millennials earn the most from side hustles, with an average monthly income of £1,321.
If you're considering a side hustle idea, it pays to consider a few key things before you start:
- Is there a need or demand for your service or product? Research trends online and ask friends and family.
- Who is your audience, and how will you reach them? Look at how others are doing it.
- Test demand by starting small and tweaking your side hustle as you go. Test on friends and family first.
- How many hours per week can you commit to? Even 45 minutes a day (approximately 5 hours a week) can be effective.
- Are there startup costs? Some hustles require no investment, while others necessitate the purchase of items.
- Are you willing to put in the effort? Even low effort is annoying if you really don't want to do something.
Here's what to consider.
1. Be a mystery shopper:
A mystery shopper (also called a secret shopper) is someone hired by companies, restaurants, brands or market research firms to anonymously evaluate the quality of their products, services, and customer experience.
As a mystery shopper, you will visit or contact businesses in person, online, or by phone, acting as a regular customer while assessing various aspects of the company according to their instructions.
Some assignments require purchasing a product or service to test the sales process. In contrast, others involve dining out or drinking, and then, after the visit, you are asked to fill out detailed reports or surveys about your experience.
Places that use mystery shoppers include:
- Retail brands
- Banks
- Restaurants
- Pubs
- Gyms
- Hotels
- Service providers
What do I need to do this?
To sign up for jobs, receive assignments, and submit reports, you must be over 18 and have access to a smartphone or computer. You will also need to have good verbal and written communication skills to provide accurate feedback, which may sometimes require a photo or video.
Never pay to become a mystery shopper. A legitimate company won't charge you to do this role.
How much can I earn?
Small payments per job (£5 to £20), or you may be paid with meals and holiday stays. There are higher-paying jobs, but you need to work your way up to them.
How much time do I need to dedicate to it?
A couple of hours a week.
Low, medium or high effort:
Low.
Ideas for mystery shopping sites:
Ipsos mystery shopper - one of the best, and you can choose how much you want to do. Paid weekly. Jobs range from £5 to £40 and can include anything from a pub visit to a pre-booked visit to a watch store.
JKS Mystery Shopping: In addition to sports, leisure, and retail, JKS covers a diverse range of industries, including call centres, care homes, children's nurseries, spa hotels, and car services.
2. Be a marketplace seller:
A marketplace seller is a person who sells products or services through an online third-party marketplace, such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Vinted, TikTok Shop or Facebook Marketplace.
Selling products on these platforms not only helps you reach a larger audience, but it's also a low-effort way to make some extra cash. All you have to do is sign up, list your wares, and get rid of things you no longer want or sell items you've made.
What do I need for this?
A smartphone with a good camera, packing bags (buy them cheap on the TikTok shop) and items to sell.
How much can I earn?
It depends on what you decide to sell. Vinted sellers can earn more than £500 by selling items in good condition from H&M and Zara. Marks and Spencer, Nike and Adidas. You can make more for luxury items and brand-new items with tags attached.
Etsy earnings are variable depending on what you sell and the price tag. For instance, selling digital items, such as downloadable templates and inspirational quotes, requires no shipping or manufacturing, making them a low-cost option that can lead to high profits and a lucrative way to earn passive income.
On a range of other pre-loved marketplaces selling high-quality items, such as limited-edition trainers, vintage clothes, and designer-verified items, you can earn anywhere from £500 to £2000.
How much time do I need to dedicate to it?
It very much depends on what you are selling and how much you want to earn from it. Using Vinted as an example:
- Researching what sells on the app (10 mins a week)
- Listing items - photos and text from your phone (5 mins per item)
- Responding to buyer questions, accepting and negotiating offers (5 mins per item)
- Packaging items and printing labels for drop off (5 mins)
- If you sell five items a week, this could take 1 to 2 hours a week.
The part that takes the most time is responding to buyers' questions and ensuring that you send items quickly, so that you receive good reviews and your page is shown to other buyers more frequently.
Low, medium or high effort:
Low to medium
Ideas for marketplace selling:
Once you have decided what to sell, always research to determine what sells and where. For instance, on Vinted, trainers and women's clothes are always good sellers. High-quality beauty products and bags also do well.
On Etsy, digital downloads such as daily, weekly, and monthly planners, budget trackers, gratitude journals, meal planners, inspirational quotes, and revision timetables do very well with minimal effort.
On Facebook Marketplace, furniture, home decor, baby supplies, toys, and outdoor garden furniture sell well.
On TikTok, beauty items rank high in sales alongside skincare and haircare, while on eBay, it's clothing, collectables and home and garden items.
For more tips, hacks, and selling advice, check out our posts on:
Vinted buying and selling tips
3. Be an online tutor:
You don't need to have excelled academically to be an online tutor. While there is a market for academic tutors at every level (from Primary to University), you can be an online tutor in a wide range of subjects.
Consider your professional skills (coding, business, design), art (music, drawing, writing), lifestyle coaching (fitness, mindfulness, finance), or even niche interests (gaming, astrology, knitting skills).
What do I need for this?
When it comes to online tutoring, ensure you have a professional workspace with reliable tools, such as a decent camera, Zoom, and a digital whiteboard.
How much can I earn?
You can earn anything from £25 to £50 an hour and up. The more training you have, the more in demand your skill set and the more you can charge. However, be competitive about your pricing if you want to work.
How much time do I need to dedicate to it?
At least 3 to 4 hours a week to make money.
Low, medium or high effort:
Low to medium
Ideas for tutor work:
As with any side hustle, the more you market your business, the better your earning potential. If you have experience and certifications in areas you are teaching, ensure they are in your bio.
Consider enhancing your credibility with relevant certifications and creating a portfolio (easily done on Canva.com) showcasing your experience.
Sign up on tutoring platforms such as First Tutors, SuperProf, and Tutorful, where you can create a tutor profile for potential clients. You can also offer freelance services on Upwork and Fiverr.
You can also offer 1-on-1 sessions, group classes, or pre-recorded courses through platforms like Udemy, Skillshare or independently via Zoom.
Finally, also market yourself through social media, free trial sessions, and local Facebook forums to attract students. Above all, work on delivering engaging, structured lessons and collecting customer reviews to showcase on social media.
4. Be an event worker:
Every significant event, from a wedding to a baby shower, needs event staff, as do large conferences, concerts, festivals, sporting events and even corporate events.
This includes:
- Ticket scanner/registration assistant
- Usher
- Promotional staff
- Food & drinks server
Additionally, many catering companies hire servers, bartenders, and hosts on an as-needed basis, making this a highly flexible side hustle available throughout the UK.
What do I need for this?
To work as an event waiter, you must first sign up with a catering agency. They then book you for jobs, tell you what to do when you’re there, and pay you.
You need to have free weekends and evenings and be willing to work during busy periods, such as Christmas and New Year, as well as throughout the summer and the wedding season.
You also need to have smart clothes, typically consisting of black trousers, white shirts, black shoes, and often a tie.
Working as a server often includes setting up and breaking down everything at the party. Shifts are typically six to eight hours long, and you must be willing to work late hours.
How much can I earn?
£16 to £25 an hour, depending on your experience and expertise (bar staff and mixologists earn more). Much of the work is seasonal, so you can focus on areas like the summer or the Christmas period.
How much time do I need to dedicate to it?
You can choose your jobs, but one shift a week can make you around £120+ a week
Low, medium or high effort:
Low, as it's easy to get jobs, but the work effort is medium.
Ideas for event work:
Contact catering and events companies in your area to explore potential work opportunities. Additionally, consider local hotels, wedding venues, and concert venues near you for details on how to sign up.
5. How to be a pet sitter:
Since the lockdown, PDSA research has found that nearly a third of UK adults own a dog, 24% own a cat, and 2% own a pet rabbit. According to UK Pet Food, this equates to around 12 million dogs, 12 million cats, and 800,000 rabbits.
That's a lot of pets, and with rising prices for pet care, pet owners are always on the lookout for pet sitters to avoid kennel costs. Additionally, it's less stressful for pets to stay in their own homes, which helps maintain their routine. All of this makes it the perfect side hustle if you're passionate about animals.
Pet sitting can range from a few hours during the day or night to overnight stays and weekly stays for holidays. It usually involves (depending on the animal and duration of the job):
- Company - being around for the pet.
- Feeding, refilling water bowls, and managing treats and special foods.
- Giving the pet company throughout the day (primarily dogs).
- Exercise and playtime – Walking dogs, engaging in interactive play (using toys), or providing mental stimulation.
- Cleaning - Scooping litter and refreshing bedding for small animals.
What do I need for this?
You don't legally need insurance, but having public liability and pet accident coverage can protect you from financial risks if something goes wrong. Aside from that, you can make yourself a more desirable candidate by having a pet first aid certificate and being knowledgeable about cat and dog behaviour.
That aside, references, being good with animals and being able to demonstrate reliability and initiative will help.
How much can I earn?
£8 to £20 for daytime pet sitting, overnight from £25, live-in or holiday care from £50 per night. Prices depend on your location, the owners' expectations, and the duration of your pet-sitting job.
How much time do I need to dedicate to it?
Pet sitting can be anywhere from two hours to two weeks.
Low, medium or high effort:
Low to medium, depending on the job.
Ideas for pet sitting:
The best way to become a pet sitter is to gain experience volunteering for friends with pets. Once you have done this a few times, ask them to write references for you so you can set yourself up as a pet sitter.
There are several ways to find jobs. Start by asking friends and family to spread the word that you are a pet sitter and available for evenings, weekends and holiday periods.
Next, set up a profile on social media and join local Facebook groups where people look for pet sitters. Finally, you can join platforms like Rover, Pawshake, TrustedHousesitters, and NARPS UK - The Pet Sitters Association.
Note: If you earn over £1000 a year from a side hustle, you need to declare your earnings to the HMRC. For example, if you earn £800 from Vinted and £500 from selling something on Etsy, that adds up to £1,300 from trading. You will need to pay tax on this as it’s above the £1,000 trading allowance, even if you have a PAYE job.
For other ways to make extra cash, check out our posts on Boosting your savings, How to get free money and The top 10 voucher codes this month.
