5 Smart Side Hustles and 5 to Avoid in 2025

Side hustles are more than a supplemental income source — they’re catalysts for career advancement and personal fulfillment. However, these gigs aren’t equal. People looking for these opportunities should wisely scout their opportunities before investing resources.

This guide outlines how to make more money without wasting time.

The 5 Best Side Hustles to Start in 2025

Entrepreneurial-minded people should focus on jobs with a realistic path to earnings and long-term growth. Here are five gigs worth focusing on in 2025.

1. Freelance Tech Service

Businesses worldwide are leaning into technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality. However, some high-level employees might not know how to troubleshoot issues or handle cybersecurity threats. These professionals solve their problems by hiring tech experts who work full-time or do side gigs.

Those skilled in AI, coding and cybersecurity should consider this side hustle, especially if they can work remotely. The work can be lucrative, depending on how an entrepreneur runs their business. For example, freelance web developers charge $30 to $200 per hour based on their specialization and experience.

2. Affiliate Marketing

The abundance of products on the market means companies need people to sell them. Traditional advertising tactics are falling in favor of internet-centered strategies, such as affiliate marketing. This method lets people get paid for selling somebody else’s product and driving traffic.

People can get into this marketing gig by growing an audience on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Content creators can join affiliate programs like Amazon Associates, CJ Affiliate or ShareASale. Those interested in this side hustle should pick a niche and build their reputation as a trusted authority. Analysts say it has an $18.5 billion market volume, so it’s worth considering.

3. Lifestyle Coaching

Everyone wants to live healthier lives. According to a 2024 McKinsey report, 82% of Americans prioritize wellness. Still, some need direction when developing fitness routines or cementing their career goals. Lifestyle coaches fill the gap by steering clients toward specific paths.

Coaching is a worthwhile side hustle if an entrepreneur enjoys giving advice and improving people’s lives. In addition to or instead of face-to-face conversations, coaches can offer virtual sessions, online workshops and digital resources for more income opportunities.

4. Lawn Care Service

Living in rural areas or the outskirts of an urban center can make finding side hustles and part-time jobs more challenging. Despite having less access to office buildings and networking events, business-minded people can capitalize on living near residential areas by starting a lawn care service.

Homeowners who take pride in having a well-kept yard may be willing to pay for help trimming hedges or mowing the lawn. There may be learning curves, such as determining yard drainage or researching safe ways to eliminate weeds. However, it’s a worthwhile venture with the proper equipment.

5. Coin Laundry Business

Passive income opportunities are excellent side hustles because business owners can focus on additional gigs. Considering its earning potential, owning a coin laundromat is among the best entrepreneurial ventures. Analysis suggests that laundromats have a 95% success rate and a 20% to 35% ROI, thus making them more enticing.

Various options can influence how hands-off the business is. For instance, a self-service model doesn’t need full-time employees because patrons handle everything themselves. However, depending on demand, a fully staffed store can broaden services and revenue streams.

The 5 Side Hustles to Avoid in 2025

Side gigs vary significantly in payoff. These five may offer limited results and demand more effort than they’re worth.

1. Dropshipping

Dropshipping has gained popularity for its scalability and low barrier to entry. Instead of managing inventory, sellers are intermediaries, sourcing products directly from suppliers. But generating reliable income has become increasingly challenging due to market saturation.

While the model appears simple, success often involves advertising, procurement and shipping expenses, which erode profit margins. International suppliers can further complicate logistics, leading to delays and difficult returns.

2. Data Entry

Automated side hustles often fall short as viable opportunities. Manual labor is becoming obsolete as AI takes over data entry, document scanning and similar repetitive tasks. Prospective side hustlers may find better options in high-demand fields with transferable skills.

As automation advances, fewer positions may remain for humans, making low-paying or unsatisfying gigs less practical. It’s also wise to be wary of scams, as some listings may be illegitimate and request personal information.

3. Taking Online Surveys

Focus groups pay people for their opinions on products and services, and online surveys can be a scaled-down version of them. However, the earnings potential is relatively low and might not be worthwhile. According to a CBS News report, participants only earn an average of $1 to $5 daily, depending on their level.

Completing surveys may suit side hustlers who work full-time and want a flexible way to earn extra income. However, this gig has limited scalability because the earning potential hinges on completed surveys. Participants won’t build valuable or transferable skills that are worthy of mentioning on a resume.

4. Stock Photo Selling

Passive income opportunities can be lucrative when searching in the correct places. However, selling stock photos likely isn’t worthwhile because the market is so saturated. Experts project the internet has over 1 billion stock images, so it’s hard for an entrepreneur to stand out. Meaningful income may require significant downloads.

Photographers should consider the skill and equipment barriers preventing them from earning money. Online platforms may only accept high-quality images from professionals with expensive cameras and editing software. Instead, people with these skills should try freelance photography and other high-value side hustles.

5. Network Marketing

Network marketing is a synonym for pyramid scheme, a fraudulent structure. These ventures involve selling products directly to consumers — often friends and family members. However, network marketers must constantly sign up other sellers to have a chance at earning decent money.

The Federal Trade Commission has warned against multilevel marketing companies because earnings depend on recruitment, not sales volume. Participants may have to purchase products regularly to remain active or meet quotas, even if they have unsold inventory. While many side hustles require an initial investment, these strategies usually disproportionately benefit the people at the top of the pyramid.

Spend Time Wisely to Earn Extra Money

Choosing a side hustle can improve financial security and personal development. Entrepreneurs should prioritize enjoyable jobs that lead to a respectable income. If a gig seems like a poor use of time, it might not be worth the gamble.