Small business owners can benefit from a side hustle in a variety of ways while staying organized and focused. Depending on your skills, your needs, and your availability, there is a side hustle app out there that can help you make some extra cash, so we’ve rounded up the 11 best side hustle apps just for you.
Daily tasks might be draining at times, but many small business owners find that starting a side hustle can completely rejuvenate them by adding more excitement and motivation to what they do in their daily lives.
Best side hustle apps
According to My Millennial Guide, only about 34% of Americans consider themselves “extremely financially healthy.” This leaves two-thirds of Americans feeling like they could use a little extra cash. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make that happen. Making extra money can help pay the bills, indulge a hobby, or fund a great vacation getaway.
Here are some of the best apps to help you earn some extra income this year.
1. Uber
Becoming a driver with Uber can bring in plenty of extra cash, and you can make money on your own time, according to your own schedule. Whether you opt to drive folks around or make food deliveries (Uber Eats), you have the flexibility to pick up rides when it’s convenient for you.
Different cities have different needs and patterns, but there is almost always someone looking for a ride to or from somewhere. There is a huge range in income potential for Uber, depending on your local market and your own availability.
2. Instacart
The number of people opting to have their groceries delivered has increased significantly. With more folks staying at home and avoiding unnecessary contact, Instacart has exploded in popularity.
As a shopper with Instacart, you can get paid to shop for others and tipped to deliver their goods.
3. TaskRabbit
Put your skills to work with TaskRabbit. Once you create an account, you can specify your area of expertise (home repairs, furniture assembly, yard work, etc.) and get hired for jobs by nearby customers.
The best part? You get to keep all of the money you make, since the app charges the customer a fee instead.
4. Swagbucks
Don’t mind taking online surveys? Consider using a survey app like Swagbucks to get paid for your time. You could earn money for taking surveys, watching ads, playing games, and more! Plus, you can choose how you get paid, whether it’s through PayPal, a prepaid Visa, or something else.
This is a great way to spend your free time, especially if you like taking surveys and playing games anyway.
5. Handy
Handy connects handy people with those who need an extra hand. If you have skills that can be put to use around the house or yard, this app may help you find customers.
If you have some extra time on your hands and some useful skills, then you should easily find customers in need of your services. Use your skills to your advantage and make a few extra bucks on the side!
6. Neighbor
Have any extra space you’re not using? A storage unit? A large attic or garage? Perhaps you want to rent out a room in your home?
Neighbor is the place to go if you want to make some money off of the extra space in your home, garage, or storage unit.
Many people are finding it difficult to rent out space in a storage unit and are looking for options to store household goods, cars, boats, or just random things. With this huge demand, you may be able to make a few bucks every month by helping someone store their stuff.
7. Facebook Marketplace
You’d be surprised how much money you can make selling through Facebook Marketplace. Clear out the junk in your attic or garage, like sporting equipment, furniture, kitchen gadgets, and more, and get a couple extra bucks in your pocket.
Just about anything you have you can try to sell. Get the benefit of decluttering and cleaning out your house and making some extra money at the same time!
8. Turo
With so many people working from home these days, many are driving far less than usual. Is your car just sitting in your driveway? Rent it out through Turo and make some money!
Depending on where you live and what kind of car you have, you can make a nice side hustle by offering it as a rental. There are some safeguards in place that protect you and your vehicle from harm. And, you are able to keep between 65-90% of the rental fees for yourself. Not a bad way to use something that is just sitting around!
9. Amazon Mechanical Turk
Are you great on the computer? Able to solve problems and find information easily? Consider becoming an Amazon Mechanical Turk. Through crowdsourcing, Amazon Mechanical Turk connects companies with workers.
While computers can do a great job with many tasks, there are still “human” jobs that need to be filled. If you speak fluent English, have excellent computer skills, and some extra time, you could become a Mechanical Turk (called MTurk) and make a few extra bucks in your spare time.
Work on finding articles and images, develop spreadsheets, mine data, and more. Jobs vary from huge to very tiny, so pick and choose what fits for you!
10. Upside
Get paid to pump gas? Sounds crazy, but the Upside app will not only help you find the cheapest gas near you, you will get paid every time you go to the pump, the car wash, and the gas station convenience store.
You’ll save at least 25 cents on the posted gas prices, just to start. These days, cheap gas is a great find. With gas prices climbing rapidly, this gas cash back app is a great way to save money and earn a little, too!
11. Airbnb
Vacation rentals are incredibly hot right now. People tend to prefer renting a house or apartment, as opposed to booking a hotel room. Entire families want to vacation together, after months of being apart. Is your home in a great location?
When it comes to real estate, location is the biggest factor. If you live in a highly desired vacation locale, you may want to consider renting your home out and using AirBnB to make some money.
Consider working with a realtor who has experience with AirBnb and then take your own vacation while you rent out your home. You will have to do some work to make it vacation-worthy, but it can be well worth your time and effort to do so if you are able to start renting your home.
Best banks for side hustlers
For those who are trying to make some money by freelancing or having a side hustle, finding the right business bank is essential. There are a plethora of business banks to choose from, but finding one that actually works for you and caters to all your needs is the real task. You can begin by opening a business bank account here. Apply online in as little as three minutes to get started.
FAQs
How do side hustle apps work?
Are you looking to start a side hustle? Any of the apps discussed above are great ways to make a few extra bucks. You will need to create a profile on these apps and follow the rules about how to engage with customers and earn money, but most of them are pretty easy to get started with.
Know what you are good at and strongly consider what might be a good fit for your skills, your schedule, and your needs. Each of the apps mentioned has a unique niche, and one or more of them should allow you to explore what works best for you.
How much do side hustle apps cost?
Starting a side hustle with most of the apps discussed costs little to nothing. Some of these apps do take a percentage of your profits or require a membership fee, but if you are willing to put in the work and make the effort, you will find that your profits easily pay for any of the costs involved. Some take no fees from you, others may take up to 25-30% of your profits. But, in the long run, you will find that slow, easy work can lead to nice side income!
Is an app to start a side hustle worth the cost?
Using an app to start a side hustle is usually well worth the cost. You may pay a small up-front fee or a percentage of your profits, but these apps generally make it much easier for you to make money on a side hustle than it would be if you were to strike out on your own.
Take the time to explore the apps and figure out which one might be best for you. Unless you have the ability to create your own unique website, get it noticed on the internet, and make connections to customers, using these apps are a great way to go!
Conclusion
How much you make in your side hustle is entirely up to you! Multiple sources of income can provide you with not only some extra cash to spend, but also some additional financial security during these uncertain times.
Take the time to explore the ones that might be a good fit for you, and start enjoying additional financial freedom and the extra income that allows you to indulge yourself occasionally or pay off some pesky bills.
