Freelancing

Hands down, freelancing is the one of the fastest ways to begin making extra money on the side.

You don’t need to build a website, create a product, or even come up with some killer business idea. All you need is to dig into your inventory of current skills, and find ONE client you can solve a problem for.

What kind of problems could you solve? In the archives here, you’ll find people freelancing their skills in:

For more, here are some of the most in-demand freelance skills.

No, it’s not as sexy as “passive income,” but it’s not as speculative either. You can start getting paid right away, and if your goal is to replace your day job income, there’s probably no faster way.

The Best Freelancing Podcast

I compiled a binge-worthy selection of freelancing and service business podcast episodes from The Side Hustle Show into this playlist. I think you’ll like it!

Dive into the archives here to figure out what you can sell as a freelancer and how to get it done.

$70k on the Side in 6 Months with Aura Photography

January 28, 2026November 13, 2025

What if you could earn $5,000 in a single weekend taking rainbow-colored portraits that help people feel seen and valued?

Summer Ray built exactly that kind of business with aura photography, creating portraits that visualize someone’s energy field and command $44 per session.

From somalumin.com, Summer has earned $70,000 in just six months while keeping her full-time job.

If you’ve never heard of aura photography before, that’s totally fine. But whether you believe in energy fields or not, Summer’s strategic approach to building this business offers valuable lessons for any event-based side hustle.

How to Start a Commercial Cleaning Business on the Side: $100k in 9 Months

January 16, 2026November 3, 2025

This week’s guest booked $100k worth of work in their first 9 months of a new side hustle they had no experience with.

Haley Gallagher and her husband are serial side hustlers and were specifically looking for a side hustle they could do after hours.

Seeing an opportunity at a bar he was working security for, Haley’s husband asked if they could take on the cleaning contract.

How to Become a Bookkeeper and Make $70 an Hour from Home

January 14, 2026October 3, 2025

Side Hustle Show listener Kate Johnson started her bookkeeping business in 2017, and now serves several recurring clients. She targets an effective rate of $70 an hour, and is able to work from home.

With her youngest starting preschool, Kate found herself with an extra 9 hours a week. “I wanted to be a good steward of that time,” she explained.

25 Blue Collar Business Ideas: $20-100/hour Starting Today

October 31, 2025October 2, 2025

If you’ve been searching the Internet for different businesses to start, chances are you’ve found thousands of ways to make money online.

But there may be an equal or greater opportunity to make money right in your own hometown with a good old-fashioned “blue collar” business idea.

How to Start a Hot Tub Rental Business: Zero to $1000s per Month

September 25, 2025September 25, 2025

You’ve heard of Hot Tub Time Machine, but how does Hot Tub Cash Machine sound?

That’s effectively the business model this week’s guest Steve Nadramia of LIHotTubRentals.com has.

Steve is a high school history and economics teacher in New York, and a listener of the show.

How to Become a Wedding Officiant: Make Up to $300 an Hour on the Weekend

January 16, 2026September 6, 2025

Officiating a wedding for close friends is a special honor, but it can also be a fun weekend side hustle.

After all, there are 2.5 million weddings in the US every year, with an average cost of $28,000! That spells a great opportunity to help families celebrate love and make some money at the same time.

In this guide, we’ll look at what wedding officiants do, the legal requirements to become one, and the potential income. We’ll also look how to market your wedding officiant business and get customers.

29 Odd Job Apps To Make Extra Money In Your Spare Time: Up to $100/hr

September 15, 2025August 20, 2025

Looking to make some extra money with odd jobs?

The good news is there are lots of odd job apps that can help you earn money on a flexible schedule.

9 Legit Ways to Get Paid To Be An Online Friend: Up to $50 an Hour From Home

September 15, 2025August 15, 2025

Yes, you really can get paid to be an online friend.

I’d seen sites like RentaFriend show up in lists of ways to make money online for years, and was always curious to learn more.

$500 Per Client Per Month: Building a Six-Figure Local SEO Side Hustle

July 17, 2025

What if you could help local businesses get more customers while building a six-figure recurring revenue business from anywhere in the world?

Eric Dingler from EricDingler.com runs a successful digital agency, In Transit Studios, while traveling with his family across 20+ countries. But if he was starting over today, he’d focus on one simple service: local SEO.

While traditional SEO gets eaten alive by AI and Reddit, local search remains a goldmine. When someone searches “barber near me” or “pizza delivery,” Google still shows real local businesses — not AI-generated answers.

10 Reasons to Buy a Laundromat Business as Your Next Side Hustle

July 3, 2025July 3, 2025

Are laundromats “the ultimate side hustle,” like my guest Jordan Berry described?

These simple, local, cash-flowing businesses have been around forever, but surprisingly this is the first time discussing them in detail on the show.

Usually Hustling, Occasionally Social