It’s no secret that more and more people are turning to freelancing on the side to earn extra money, hone their skills, and maybe even build a business of their own.
Whether you’re just looking to supplement your day job income or eventually strike out on your own, you’ll find dozens of websites and marketplaces to connect you with potential clients.
But which ones are the best for you? That depends on your skills and expertise, and also what you want out of your side gig.
Are you looking to earn a few extra bucks this weekend, or is this something you could see yourself doing for a while and racking up some serious cash?
Here are some of the best places to find your first side hustle job, and they all have a unique angle and strategy. Check out the list and see where it makes the most sense for you to set up shop.
1. FlexJobs
FlexJobs is the leading work from home jobs site. With over 50 career categories, FlexJobs has jobs ranging from entry-level to executive and freelance to full-time.
The best place to find legit work from home jobs. Established in 2007, FlexJobs has 1000s of listings including part-time, full-time, and freelance options in tons of industries.
This is the largest resource for remote jobs, and also includes some expert resources to help in your job search.
FlexJobs charges a nominal monthly fee to access their listings, but you’ll easily earn that back and then some with one job.
Check out our full FlexJobs review to see if it’s a fit for you.
2. SolidGigs.com
Every day, SolidGigs curates the best freelance jobs in:
- marketing
- writing
- design
- development
This alone is a huge value-add because it can be incredibly time-consuming to dig through all the available listings on dozens of freelance sites — time you’re not getting paid for.
But where SolidGigs gets even better is an awesome built-in library of resources to help you learn how to best pitch and price your services. This is a platform built by freelancers, for freelancers and is really vested in your success.
SolidGigs is free to try for 7 days.
As the freelance economy continues to grow, this platform can help you sort through the clutter.
3. Fiverr
What can I say? I’ve got a warm place in my heart for the quirky Fiverr marketplace, where many services start at just $5.
I’ve been a Fiverr seller for years and it’s actually where I scored my first freelance editing clients. With a few different gigs, I ended up making over $7000 in my first year on the platform.
What’s cool about Fiverr is that it’s a search engine for services, and in recent years they’ve added a lot more capacity for sellers to charge higher prices with package offerings and even custom offers up to $10,000.
(They’ve also added a Fiverr “Pro” level tier for experienced service providers.)
As a side hustler, you’re free to create listings for whatever service you can provide — and say how many days it will take you to deliver. Think of what type of gateway service would get clients in the door to your world.
In summary:
- Simple, popular platform
- Free and easy to get started
- Rates can be low
Click here to learn more and set up your free account.
4. FreeUp
Great at what you do? With a multi-step application, interview, and vetting process, FreeUp.net matches clients from all around the world with workers that represent the top 1% of online freelancers.
The freelance marketplace specializes in e-commerce, digital marketing, web development and virtual assistance. You’re free to set your own schedule and rates, sometimes north of $50 an hour depending on your skills.
Payments are made weekly and the company takes a 15% cut for facilitating the connection.
In summary:
- Best for e-commerce and digital marketing experience
- Free to join (but you have to be good and get accepted)
- Mention me, Nick Loper, to expedite your application.
Click here to learn more and apply.
5. Facebook Groups
This is another one of my favorite ways to land clients. How it works is to embed yourself in communities where your target customer is already hanging out, and being as helpful as possible in the comment threads.
On The Side Hustle Show, Gabe Arnold even gave the tip that you can use the search box to find posts where people are asking questions, using search keywords like “help”, “recommendation”, “question”, “?”, “know anyone”, etc.
Of course, be tactful and try to provide as much public support as you can. Don’t just go in yelling, “Hire me, hire me!”
I have a few friends who have completely mastered this strategy and become the go-to people in their communities for services like podcast editing, website support, virtual assistants, and Facebook ads.
I even landed a few book editing clients by being part of a couple self-publishing groups on Facebook. Do a keyword search for the type of customer you want to serve and see what kind of groups pop up.
In summary:
- A longer-term strategy
- Free to get started
- Can be time-consuming upfront, but hey, if you’re already on Facebook, you might as well plant the seeds
6. Upshift
Upshift is like a modern temp-agency that helps businesses fill shift work roles. Those are in fields like:
- Hospitality
- Servers and bartenders
- Warehouse and logistics
- Retail
- Housekeeping
- and more
One thing that’s cool is that every Upshift worker is a W-2 employee and eligible for benefits, no matter how much or how little you work.
Rates typically range from $15-25/hour. Check out our full Upshift review to learn more.
7. Wonolo
Wonolo is a popular temp work platform that connects you with immediate hourly or same-day gig jobs. Wonolo connects you with jobs in retail, logistics, manufacturing, and more. You can choose when you want to work, and how much you want to work.
With several different industries available, you can choose gigs you’re familiar with or try something new.
At press time, Wonolo was rated 4.4-stars in the Google Play store, with over 1M downloads.
8. NextDoor
Local social network NextDoor helps you connect with potential clients (i.e. your neighbors) nearby. This platform can be very effective for in-person or local services, such as:
- child care
- pet sitting / dog walking
- pet waste removal
- personal training
- house cleaning
- pressure washing
- painting
- event planning
- and more
Just like on Facebook, keep a pulse on the conversations that are happening in your community, and offer to help wherever you can. Don’t be shy about letting people know what you do in your profile.
Suggested Playlist: Local Business Ideas
Money is already flowing through your city, town, and neighborhood. Here are some actionable ways to get it flowing to YOU!
9. Hired
Hired.com helps designers, engineers, data scientists, and managers by connecting them with prospective clients. Using artificial intelligence, Hired matches clients with candidates from their deep pool of talents with the results emailed out in just a few hours.
Unlike other recruitment services, Hired helps its talents by coaching and guiding them through the entire recruitment process.
One thing that’s cool about Hired is they also help you get the best offer by letting companies compete for your services instead of having you get into a bidding war with other workers.
The company caters to people looking for full-time, part-time, and freelance gigs.
In summary:
- Tech-focused
- Free to join
- Many opportunities are for full-time traditional jobs, but you can find remote or part-time gigs
- Earn top dollar
Click here to learn more and create your free Hired profile.
10. Toptal
Toptal.com is one of the leading freelance marketplaces but only caters to developers, designers, and finance experts.
With its strict and extensive screening process, clients are assured that they are only getting the top 3% of applicants in the given field. (Toptal stands for “top talent”.)
Toptal contractors do mostly remote work (you can pass on the jobs that don’t fit your schedule) and are paid very well. If you’re confident in your abilities and want to work with fast-growing startups and name-brand clients on challenging projects, this is the platform for you.
In summary:
- Tech-focused
- Free to apply
- Earn great pay (think hundreds of dollars a week, even for part-time)
Click here to learn more and apply today.
11. Craigslist Gigs
Did you know that buried in the corner of Craigslist is a section specifically for side hustle opportunities? It’s called “gigs” and inside you’ll find everything from manual labor projects like moving or landscaping to graphic design to brand ambassador gigs for local events.
In just a few minutes of browsing I saw posts for writers, photographers, models, house cleaners, and tutors. Naturally, avoid any gigs that sound too good to be true and do your due diligence before meeting any strangers.
In summary:
- Great for selling yourself locally
- Good for one-off gigs or easy part-time jobs to earn extra cash
- You have to sort through some scams to find legit gigs
12. TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is perhaps a more organized and legit-feeling version of Craigslist Gigs. The company specializes in matching individuals and companies in need of short-term help with “taskers” (you).
Most of the gigs are local and in-person, but you can find some virtual opportunities as well. I used the platform as a customer to find a local handyman, and he told me he usually does 3-4 jobs a day and makes a good living on it.
My handyman charged $75 an hour, but other workers on TaskRabbit might start around $15-25 an hour. As your reputation and performance on TaskRabbit grows, you can increase your rates.
In summary:
- Good for legit, local gigs and odd jobs
- Revenue can grow as you do more jobs
- Free to join
Click here to learn more and apply today.
13. Upwork
Upwork is perhaps the world’s largest freelance marketplace, which means it can be intensely competitive. Still, I’ve heard from several members that this is where their side hustle found its start.
Chris Misterek, a freelance web designer, gave the advice to think about your ideal client, and go above-and-beyond in your bids to those clients. Meanwhile, you can safely ignore all the other job posts.
As your profile and portfolio grow, Upwork will start to feature you more to prospective clients.
14. GigSalad
If you’re a musician, comedian, magician, DJ, photographer, bartender, or other entertainment pro, you should know about GigSalad. This popular marketplace helps connect you with customers hosting parties, weddings, or corporate events.
To join the site and create your profile, it costs $140-170 per quarter.
15. LinkedIn
On The Side Hustle Show, Helen Pritchard called LinkedIn “the only platform on the planet where you can handpick your audience.”
Her strategy involved crafting your profile so that it’s irresistible to your target client. That often means niching down to a very specific type of service, like “helping bankers lose weight,” or “PR for female entrepreneurs.”
Then, she’ll proactively send connection requests to those target prospects. (She advised to send 10 a day, every day of the week, to slowly build up your LinkedIn audience.)
At the same time, publish content on LinkedIn that will appeal to this target audience. Every so often, include a call-to-action to let your connections know you’re open for business.
16. Peopleperhour
Peopleperhour.com is another popular freelancing platform that helps you find jobs that you can do remotely. The site seems to have more traction in Europe, and gigs are mostly about graphic design, writing, SEO, and coding among others.
As a freelancer, you can bid on the jobs already posted, or create your own “hourlie” — a little package of what you’ll deliver for a fixed price. Rates are still competitive here, but often higher than similar packages on Fiverr.
In summary:
- Great for virtual work
- Bid on jobs or create your own service listing
- Free to join
17. Oppizi
Oppizi is a cool app for local brand ambassador and flyer delivery gigs. You can earn $23 an hour, plus bonuses when people sign up for the services you’re promoting.
(Oppizi partners with brands like Uber, DoorDash, Classpass, and Uniqlo to help them reach more customers.)
If you don’t mind getting outside and interacting with others, Oppizi is a pretty easy way to get paid to take a walk.
18. Specialty Marketplaces
If you have a specific skill or service in mind, odds are there’s a specialty marketplace just for that. For example, you might consider:
19. Your Own Website
A website isn’t necessary for a lot of side hustlers starting out, but it can be an important element to your business to showcase your expertise, highlight your portfolio, and share testimonials from past clients.
In time, your content might be indexed by the search engines and potential customers can find you through Google local searches.
Here’s my free guide on the fastest and cheapest way to set up a website for your service business.
Your Turn
Marketing 101 says to get in front of your customers where they already are, and in this post I’ve tried to outline some common places your customers might be hanging out.
What do you think? What have you found as the most effective place to find side hustle gigs?
Let me know in the comments below!
Looking for More Side Hustle Help?
- Start Your Free $500 Challenge. My free 5-day email course shows you how to add $500 to your bottom line.
- Join the free Side Hustle Nation Community. The free Facebook group is the best place to connect with other side hustlers and get your questions answered.
- Download The Side Hustle Show. My free podcast shares how to make extra money with actionable weekly episodes.
The award-winning Side Hustle Show is a
Top 10 Entrepreneurship podcast
with over 1,200 5-star ratings!
Listen in your favorite podcast app or directly in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find side gigs near me?
To find side jobs near you, look at Craigslist, local Facebook community groups, NextDoor, or apps like Steady. These platforms have a steady stream of new side gig opportunities.
How can I find a side job that pays?
As freelancing and side hustling both become more mainstream, it’s quite common to have a side job these days. Through job sites and local networks, you can find gigs online and locally. Check out the full list of recommended side gig sites at Side Hustle Nation for more.
What are the most common side gigs?
Freelancing, brand ambassadorship, photography, and tutoring are among the most common side gigs. Handyman work and tapping into the gig economy through apps like Doordash and Instacart are popular as well.
Great list, Nick.
I can vouch for Cragistlist. Got some real gems of the clients who showed their confidence on me in spite of the fact that we’re thousands of miles apart. Some of them became long term clients. You need to sift through the noise, but it is quite possible to hit gold with CL.
Hi Nick,
Longtime subscriber/follower, first time commenter here. Just want to say you rock! Every time I want to give up and return to the soul-crushing rat race, *poof* your email appears in my inbox and I am renewed. I know I can be successful and fulfilled by continuing to freelance and side hustle. Thank you!
Keep fighting the good fight Chi! Appreciate the comment and keep me posted :)
I wouldn’t recommend using Taskrabbit as I had a lot of trouble with people trying to hire me for things I put in my description that I would not do and then I got penalized for it.
For example, under “Personal Assistant” I listed a specific list of skills and tasks that I would do for $18 an hour. People would then hire me to help them move. Besides the fact that moving is a separately category (that starts at least twice the price), I put in my profile that I am physically incapable of doing moving tasks. So even though I reported the tasks as unfillable by me because they were the wrong category or because the client didn’t read my profile, my account was disabled for not accepting tasks.
If you decide to use Taskrabbit, I would suggest you not use the availability feature as this is what I believe I ran afoul of.
Good insight — thanks for sharing Jeffrey!
I appreciate what you,ve shared. I’m someone who needs to focus, health has never been more important. You provided insight to both. Health and Hustle. I like it. Thanks again.
I tried out TaskRabbit last year. It is free to join but you need to pay a fee for a background check. Supposedly you get it back as a bonus once you’ve completed your first gig. I also noticed they do not show any third party verification emblems (like McAfee or Better Business Bureau).
I emailed them to follow up, as I had not heard from them. The response I got was:
“Due to a large amount of registrants, we can not process every prospective Tasker at this time. We will be in contact with you when the needs in your city change. I apologize that I cannot provide a more concrete timeframe.”
That was 13 months ago.
Good to know. Thanks Allison!
My intro to freelancing was via Upwork (formerly Odesk I believe) as a hiring manager, but am curious about it as a manager (hirer) and freelancer. Based on its absence from this list, I’m assuming it doesn’t compare well. Any insight from the group?
Upwork is definitely a viable option, but I’ve heard from a few people recently they haven’t been allowed to join. Upwork gives the reason “we already have too many people with your skills,” or something like that!
That is correct. I have been using Upwork for two years now and make decent money at it, so my wife signed up to see if she could get something going as well. At first, the answer was a solid “no”, for the reason cited above, and then once they did let her join, Upwork keeps her profile set to private since she has had no work history. But she doesn’t get any looks since her profile is private and hence has not gotten any work, which is the only way to go from ‘private’ to ‘public’. It’s a real Catch-22.
Have you tried Guru.com? I’m thinking about giving it a try because my former radio talent coach recommended it to me but I also heard they charge. Also, any good suggestions for people who want to do freelance voice over work or copywriting? I’ve been writing, editing, and recording audio commercials for years at a radio station but I want to branch out into freelance voice over work and writing copy for commercials and other scripts.
Good stuff Nick!
Getting this little guides to people for them to start their hustle will increasingly boost professional mindsets to migrate in a more definitive way to the freelancing world. There are so many opportunities to make smart money within these digital micro-communities that it is certainly time for the wider internet spectrum to realize it, and start planning now to get on the wave. Multiple digital or face to face gigs are the way of the future. Saving space and resource, and optimizing deliverance is all a distributed system being develop right now.
We just launched our site a few months to expand our business outside of the NYC area. Our budget is NOT a bottomless pit and most of our customers have come to us through word-of-mouth…..So we decided to place ads in Craigslist and other places basically looking for individuals that would promote our website in exchange for a 10% commission on orders. We provided, free of charge, as many postcards as they needed. Each postcard had a unique discount code for tracking purposes. We thought for sure this would be a hit but it wasn’t. It just seemed as though many people were coming on board but ALL of them lacked the drive to, well, hustle. So for all of you folks out there….if you’e looking for a side hustle then be prepared to hustle…At the end of the day, work is work.
JD Benisi
FreeDeliveryPrinting.com
Taking surveys online isn’t a work from home job, it’s just a side hustle (Something to do in order to make money on the side.) If you’re looking for a regular work at home job with hourly pay then I would suggest checking into the following companies:
West At Home (Customer Service)
Amazon (Virtual Contact Center)
Live Ops (Home Based Agent)
U-haul (E-sales & Reservation)
Apple (At Home Advisor)
Cox Communications (Telework Customer Care Representative)
Starwood Hotel & Resorts (Virtual Reservation Sales Associate)
If you’re interested in taking online surveys, then I would suggest joining Mindfield Online, Pinecone Research, and 20/20 Research because they offer cash rewards for each completed survey. I wanna write about this at my blog, check it https://ericasessayblog.wikidot.com/
Nick thanks so much for adding value with a great article! A lot of great freelancing options in one place, Thanks for taking the time to put this together!
Good review, second that. In my experience as a freelance designer, new platforms have oftentimes an edge over existing ones because I guess they have to try harder. I recently switched to Insolvo which gives me almost half of my clients and totally loved it.
Thanks for all your advice and hard work researching this for us. It is much appreciated by me. Aloha ♂️