In 2024, the landscape of work continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with side hustles emerging as a dominant trend for individuals seeking financial flexibility and creative fulfillment. The rise of digital platforms, remote work opportunities, and the gig economy has empowered people to explore diverse income streams beyond the traditional 9-to-5 job. Whether it’s a passion project turned profitable venture or a strategic move to boost financial security, side hustles have become an integral part of modern life. This article delves into the latest trends, opportunities, and challenges of side hustles in 2024, offering insights into how you can leverage this dynamic environment to your advantage. We asked 8 industry experts where they saw the biggest growth in the side hustle economy:
Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is a growing opportunity, and with 15+ years of experience creating marketing content, I can help businesses in various niches. The time commitment is flexible, requiring 5-20 hours a week, and the only investment needed is a laptop. I’ve had success earning an extra $1,500-3,000/month from freelance writing on the side of my full-time job.
Another side hustle on the rise is consulting for small businesses looking to improve their digital marketing. With expertise in areas like social media ads, email marketing, and SEO, I can provide valuable insights and recommendations to help companies boost brand awareness and sales. The time commitment would be around 5-10 hours a week, at a rate of $75-150/hour. I know peers in marketing consultancy pulling in $3,000-7,500/month through this side hustle.”
-Ronak Kothari Rubcorp
Dropshipping
“Dropshipping is a low-risk option to generate income without inventory. It requires finding trending products, setting up an online store, and connecting with suppliers to ship directly to customers. The time commitment is 10-15 hours a week and you only need a website. I know people earning $2,000-5,000/month dropshipping electronics and kitchenware. Tutoring students online in areas like marketing and technology is appealing. It takes 5-10 hours a week to start and pays $20-50/hour. The challenges are finding students and building reputation, but potential to earn $1,000-3,000/month. I have experience developing curriculum and teaching business programs.”
Steve Pogson FirstPier
Digital Estate ManagementÂ
“In my experience, managing others’ digital property is an emerging opportunity. As more and more of our lives are found online, people need help making sure their digital footprint is organized and secure. The best way to get started is to have a strong understanding of cybersecurity and organizational tools. You can offer password management, online account organization, or digital legacy planning, among other services. The initial investment is minimal—just your time and maybe a few courses or certifications that establish your credibility.”
Matthew Wilson, Lawn Care Expert and CEO of handygardeners.com
White Collar and Service Based Side HustlesÂ
“The best side hustles are white collar service based businesses. The less obvious the better and the more specific the better. Financial modelling. Gigs will often pay $30-$100/hr on Upwork for a financial modelling / analyst expert. Building custom dashboards in Looker Studio or Power BI. Every business has some form dashboard, most of them aren’t very good or they’re using an expensive out the box solutions. I paid $3k to build a simple custom Looker Studio dashboard that wouldn’t have taken more than a day or two. I would pay the $3k over and over again.
Analytics expert. Setting up tracking, conversions and reporting is highly valuable to business owners. Again, a niche skill that very few companies offer and anyone who is truly good at it can charge $50-$100/hr. Every company has a website.”
Daniel Thomspon Co-Owner Saltwaterdigital.comÂ
New Side Hustles: Old hustles New Technology
“In 2024, I envision that side hustles will continue to grow, incorporating both established areas such as freelancing, and emergent trends like various tech-centric roles. Initiating a side hustle requires a unique depth of understanding in the chosen field, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to adapt to evolving trends — attributes I take pride in possessing as a legal and financial expert with entrepreneurial roots. In terms of emerging trends, I see a rise in opportunities within the blockchain ecosystem and AI-related tasks, such as smart contract creation for blockchain companies or AI data labelling. These jobs require a familiarity with the respective tech, but many platforms offer learning resources, making these side hustles quite accessible.”
Jonathan Feniak General Counsel at LLC Attorney
Side Hustle Advice: Stay Serious, keep your eye on the money
As someone who advises people on their finances, I’ve seen firsthand that the secret to a successful and sustainable side hustle in 2024 is all about keeping your options open. Think of it like this: instead of putting all your eggs in one basket, it’s smarter to have a few different baskets. This way, if one doesn’t work out, you’ve still got others to fall back on.
Let’s say you’re freelancing as a writer. Rather than just focusing on one platform or type of writing, why not branch out? You could try offering editing services, dive into content strategy, or even create an online course teaching others how to write. Not only does this help you make money from different sources, but it also keeps things interesting and helps you learn new skills.
It’s also really important to keep an eye on the money side of things. Track what you’re earning and spending, know what taxes you’ll owe, and have a game plan for growing your hustle if it’s going well. I’ve seen a lot of side hustles fizzle out because people didn’t treat them with the same seriousness as a regular job. So, by diversifying your side hustle and staying on top of your finances, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success.”
Lissa Poirot Joywallet.com
Artificial Intelligence and Block Chain Hustles
“AI-Based Tasks: With the development of new AI tools as in the case of GPT, the tasks available range from content generation by AI to offering consultancy and advisory services to various companies on how best they can application AI by various industries. This is a high and expandable business for the people who make the effort to learn the technology. Blockchain and Web3 Gigs: Jobs as a smart contract developer, NFT creator, and in consulting on decentralized finance (DeFi) are growing rapidly along with the mass adoption of blockchain technology.”
Kenan Acikelli Owner of Workhy
ECommerce and Fintech
“As an experienced financial consultant and a successful entrepreneur myself, I’ve witnessed first-hand the remarkable potential that side hustles have to bolster one’s income. Among the top side hustles for 2024, e-commerce continues to stand out as a lucrative field. More non-traditional opportunities, like managing investment portfolios for high-net-worth clients, are also increasingly accessible and profitable with the continued development of FinTech. ”
Kunal Madan of AmarraÂ
As we navigate through 2024, the side hustle phenomenon continues to reshape how we approach work, income, and personal fulfillment. With a multitude of opportunities at our fingertips, from freelancing in niche markets to launching online businesses, the potential to diversify income and pursue passions has never been greater. However, with these opportunities come challenges, including the need for time management, strategic planning, and balancing multiple responsibilities.
Ultimately, the key to success in the side hustle world lies in adaptability, perseverance, and the willingness to continuously learn and evolve. Whether you’re looking to supplement your income, explore a new career path, or simply turn a hobby into something more, the side hustle landscape in 2024 offers endless possibilities. Embrace the journey, and you may find that your side hustle becomes more than just an extra income stream—it could be the gateway to a new chapter in your professional and personal life.