How to Start a Side Hustle: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re considering how to start a side hustle, you aren’t alone. According to a 2023 survey by Bankrate, 39% of U.S. adults already have a side hustle, and nearly half of Gen Z say they rely on one for regular income.¹

This guide breaks down the steps to help you launch a successful side hustle, including the steps needed to set up and manage a profitable side hustle.

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How to Start a Side Hustle: What to Know Before Getting Started

Before discussing how to start a side hustle, it’s essential to understand what a side hustle actually is.

What is a side hustle?

A side hustle is any project or job you take on in addition to your primary income source. With flexible hours and endless niches, side hustles have become a go-to path for people who want to turn their passions or skills into profit.

Side hustles have grown in popularity with many exploring how to start one in their 30s or while working full-time; the appeal is the same: autonomy, extra income, and the chance to test new ideas without quitting the security of a job.

Is a side hustle worth it?

With the rise of online platforms, it’s never been easier to start a small side hustle company online or experiment with how to start a side hustle from home.

When considering how to start a side hustle to increase your income, another question that arises is whether it's worth it.

The answer depends on your goals. A side hustle can help you:

• Pay off debt or build savings faster

• Explore a new career path without full commitment.

• Monetize a hobby you love

• Increase financial security amid job uncertainty.

How to Find the Right Side Hustle

Choosing the right side hustle is about finding something that fits your skill set and passions.

Whether you're wondering how to start a side hustle with no money or how to start a consulting side hustle, alignment with your strengths and availability is essential.

Assess Your Skills and Interests

The first step is identifying how to use your existing skills to start a side hustle.
If you’re great at writing, tutoring, design, or organization, there’s likely a side hustle that fits.

The best side hustles often tap into talents you already enjoy using, making it easier to stay motivated when your 9-to-5 already takes up considerable energy.

If you’re not sure where to begin, list your top five skills and passions and explore side hustles related to each.

Do Some Market Research

The difference between a hobby and a profitable side hustle often comes from demand.

Use Google Trends, Reddit threads (like how to start a side hustle reddit), or platforms like Etsy and Fiverr to get a sense of what the market is looking for, and what current supply and demand looks like.

Estimate the Time Commitment Needed

Understanding your available hours is one of the most overlooked steps in starting a side hustle. Some hustles require heavy upfront setup (like dropshipping or blogging), while others can start earning quickly with minimal time (like food delivery or freelance gigs).

Ask yourself whether you can consistently dedicate X hours a week and whether it would be sustainable with your current energy levels.

Steps to Start a Side Hustle

Once you’ve landed on the right idea, the next question is how to start a successful side hustle. Getting a side hustle off the ground begins with a structured approach, and these steps will help you get started confidently.

Create a Plan and Set Goals

You don’t need to start with a lot, but clarity will be required. So once you’ve thought about how to start a side hustle business, you’ll need to ask yourself:

• What are your short-term and long-term goals?

• What’s your revenue target for the first 3 months?

• What does success look like for you?

To stay focused, you can use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) as an initial framework.

Calculate Your Budget and Costs

If you're starting from scratch, one of the most important questions is how to start a side hustle without money.

You can start by identifying what’s essential (tools, platforms, materials) vs. what can wait. Many hustles can begin with free or low-cost tools, especially if you’re considering how to start a side hustle from home.

Build a Brand for Your Side Hustle

Branding makes your side hustle memorable, even if you’re just starting out.

This is critical if you're exploring how to start a side hustle online. Competition is fierce, and standing out builds trust.

A good brand includes an easy-to-remember name, a logo or visual identity (free tools like Looka or Canva can help), and a voice or tone that reflects your style.

Develop a Strategy for Marketing and Promotion of your Side Hustle

Developing a marketing strategy is where starting a side hustle becomes more tangible, because you have to tell people.

Choose 1–2 channels where your audience already is:

• TikTok or Instagram for creative products

• LinkedIn for consulting or freelance services

• Facebook Groups or Reddit if you're building niche communities

Then focus on value-first content. Think about how you can solve a problem, inspire, or even teach. The goal is not to be everywhere but to be consistent on the platform that makes the most sense based on what you’re offering.

What Are Some Good Side Hustle Ideas?

Whether you're wondering how to start a side hustle in your 30s, looking for low-cost ideas, or just want something flexible, the good news is: there's something for everyone.

Below are some of the best side hustle ideas based on skills, time, and startup cost.

Low-cost, high-flexibility side hustle ideas

• Freelance Writing or Editing: Use platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to start. This is best suited if you're looking for ways to use your existing skills to start a side hustle.

• Online Tutoring is an easy remote option if you’re good at math, languages, or test prep.

• Print-on-Demand or Dropshipping – No inventory needed. Just set up an online store and design your products.

• Virtual Assistant Work – Admin help, scheduling, or inbox management for busy founders.

Creative Hustles for those with artistic skills

• Etsy Shop (Crafts, Art, or Templates) – Ideal if you're wondering how to start a side hustle from home.

• Photography – Sell stock photos or offer local shoots.

• Voiceover Work or Audiobook Narration – This niche pays surprisingly well if you've got a great voice.

Tech-forward side hustles

• No-Code Website Builder – Use tools like Webflow or Carrd to build sites for local businesses.

• Content Creation - TikTok, YouTube, or even launching a book PDF series.

• Online Course Creation – Teach what you know, such as Excel tricks or cooking basics.

Consulting and Coaching

• Freelance Research or Strategy Consulting – Use your day job skills in a new context.

• Career Coaching or Resume Writing – Especially popular for those exploring how to start a consulting side hustle.

• Social Media Management – Small businesses are always searching for help here.

How Do I Start a Side Hustle With No Money?

Starting a side hustle doesn't have to incur significant costs.

Many of the most successful side hustles started with little more than time, effort, and a Wi-Fi connection.

If you’re wondering how to start a side hustle with no money, here’s how to get going:

1. Leverage Free Tools

Platforms like Canva (for design), Wix (for basic websites), and Google Workspace (for Docs, Sheets, and email) are completely free and super user-friendly. If you're launching a service-based business, you only need a professional-looking pitch deck or a simple portfolio.

2. Sell Skills You Already Have

Start with skills you already have. For example, offer blog content or newsletters if you’re good at writing. Virtual assistant side hustles may be best for you if you prefer organization and structure. You could try freelance translation or tutoring if you speak more than one language.

3. Use Free Marketplaces to Find Clients

Once you’ve established your offering, you can consider where to provide your side hustle. Sign up for relevant platforms, join local Facebook or Slack communities to pitch your services. Alternatively, use your personal LinkedIn to announce your availability and let potential clients know you can take on work.

Tips for Managing a Side Hustle

How Much Time Should I Dedicate to a Side Hustle?

Balancing a side hustle with a full-time job, family, or other commitments is one of the biggest challenges, especially if you're wondering how to start a side hustle while working full-time.

Start with 5–10 hours a week and track your energy levels and results. Early mornings, lunch breaks, or weekends can all be suitable hustle hours.

Tracking the Progress of Your Side Hustle

You’ll need to track what’s working to start a successful side hustle. Consider using simple tools like:

• Google Sheets or Notion for goals and revenue

• Time-tracking apps

• Basic accounting software such as Xero, Wave or Zoho to manage income/expenses

Scaling and Growth

Once you've validated your idea and gained a few clients or sales, it’s time to scale:

• Automate tasks using tools like Zapier or Buffer.

• Outsource what drains you—hire a VA or freelance support.

• Reinvest earnings into better tools, ads, or training.

• Expand by creating digital products, offering packages, or increasing prices.

How Can I Make My Side Hustle Successful?

Success depends on consistency and value. Here are some considerations when measuring success: Your side hustle should solve a real problem for a specific audience and provide excellent customer service to build trust.

You can further grow your side hustle by continuously learning from others, iterating your offer, and tracking numbers to ensure it is profitable.

Should You Start a Side Hustle?

Whether you're looking for flexibility, or just need extra income, a side hustle can be a powerful path toward financial independence.

It doesn’t have to be perfect or thoroughly planned from day one. Many successful entrepreneurs started with something small—writing resumes, walking dogs, or teaching online—and grew it into something bigger.

The main thing to consider is how much time is worth dedicating to your side hustle, in order to maintain a stable income without burning out.

Manage Your Side Hustle Finances with Wise

Managing your side hustle money wisely is key to long-term success. It's good practice to keep business and personal finances seperate, but opening a business account can be a hassle. With a Wise Business account, you can streamline your finances from day one, without the hassle of hidden fees or waiting for in-person appointments.

Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. The Wise Business account is designed with international business in mind, and makes it easy to send, hold, and manage business funds in 40+ currencies. You can get major currency account details for a one-off fee to receive overseas payments like a local. You can also send money to 140+ countries.

Open a Wise Business account online

Some key benefits of Wise Business include:

Major local account details to receive international payments with ease No monthly account fees just a simple one-off fee for account details Receive payments from e-commerce platforms such as Amazon or via Stripe. Free invoicing tool to generate and send invoices. Create invoices using the Wise invoice generator or invoice templates. Accounting integrations, including a QuickBooks Bill Pay connection. Bill payments will be synced, matched, and categorized in QuickBooks for simple reconciliation. Access to BatchTransfer. Fast payment of up to 1,000 people.

Read the guide on how to open a Wise Business account

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1. Survey: 39% Have A Side Hustle, and 44% Believe They’ll Always Need One | Bankrate