If you’re serious about building financial independence, starting a side hustle could be your first step. According to a Bankrate poll from April 2023, nearly 39% of U.S. adults already have a side gig, and it’s easy to see why. A side hustle is more than just about earning extra cash. It’s about gaining skills, building your network, and opening doors to new opportunities.
The best part? You don’t need to have it all figured out. Even if you’re unsure of your strengths or where to start, there are plenty of side hustles you can dive into with zero experience. Here are three options that require nothing but your time and willingness to learn.
Content Creation
A lot of people assume that you need experience to break into any industry, but that’s not always true, especially with content creation. Many well-known creators today got their start in completely unrelated fields before finding their voice online. Whether it’s YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or blogging, you can begin building an audience and expressing your creativity with no formal background.
Your first step is choosing a platform, who you want to reach, and what kind of content you want to make. Are you aiming for Gen Z? Then, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are where you want to be. Trying to reach a more millennial crowd? Facebook might be a better fit. Your content’s format matters, too. Long-form video creators usually thrive on YouTube. If you prefer to share photographs or short videos, Instagram or TikTok would be where your work will shine.
For example, if you have a deep love for cooking and would love to teach beginners how things work, start by posting quick recipe videos on TikTok or Instagram. As your following grows, you might want to start uploading longer, more in-depth videos to YouTube. With time, you could transform your content creation gig into a full-time job as you earn through ads, sponsorships, and brand deals. Glassdoor reports that content creators typically make $43,000 to $78,000 per year, with a median income of around $57,000 annually.
What you can charge depends on the platform. According to Shopify, the going rate on Instagram is around $100 per 10,000 followers. For TikTok, nano-influencers (1,000 to 10,000 followers) typically charge $5 to $25 per post, and a sponsored TikTok video can bring in $2,700. YouTubers with 10,000 to 50,000 followers generally earn $20 to $200 per video.
Drop-Shipping
If you’ve ever thought about opening your own online store but don’t want to deal with the hassle of logistics and inventory, drop-shipping might be for you. This side hustle allows you to set one up without ever handling the products directly. Instead, you’ll be responsible for setting up the site, picking things to sell, and marketing them. Your partner, the supplier, will take care of everything else.
Here’s how it works: after teaming up with suppliers (often wholesalers or manufacturers), you list their products in your store. Once a customer places an order, the supplier ships the item straight to them. With no upfront investment in inventory, drop-shipping is a beginner-friendly way to start in e-commerce. Platforms like WooCommerce or Shopify make it easy to have your business up in no time at all, even if you’ve never done it before.
When it comes to earning potential, drop-shipping offers flexibility. Drop-shippers make anywhere between $20,500 and $53,500 annually, with an average salary of $40,970 per year. Profit margins typically fall between 10% and 15%, depending on product and supplier costs.
The beauty of drop-shipping is that it allows you to experiment and learn as you go. You can test different products, adjust pricing, and hone your marketing skills, all without worrying about inventory or warehousing costs. It’s an ideal way to step into e-commerce and gain hands-on business experience.
Virtual Assistant Services
You’ve probably heard about virtual assistants (VAs), but what exactly do they do? Virtual assistants provide remote administrative support, handling tasks like appointment scheduling, email management, itinerary preparation, social media management, and more. As remote work continues to grow, so does the demand for VAs, making it a perfect side hustle for anyone with good organization and communication skills.
Starting a virtual assistant business from scratch might seem like a huge leap of faith, but landing your first client only takes a few steps. First things first: do some research on the types of services VAs typically offer. Browse freelance platforms and job boards to understand the tasks clients are looking for. Then, create a list of your own skills that match up. Think about past work experiences, hobbies, or volunteer projects that developed skills such as time management, communication, or tech proficiency.
Don’t worry if you’re not an expert in everything right away. Start small, offering services you’re confident in, and as you gain experience, expand your skill set and offerings. The key is to be honest about what you can do and grow from there. And the payoff is substantial! VAs can earn anywhere between $50,301 and $128,710 per year, with an average income of $80,463, according to Indeed. As a beginner, you can charge $10 to $20 per hour on platforms like Upwork, and once you specialize, rates can increase significantly.
The world of side hustles offers limitless potential, even if you’re starting with zero experience. The key is to take that first step without waiting for everything to fall into place. Every expert started as a beginner, and your side hustle could be the foundation for something much bigger. The only thing standing between you and success is action, so start today and see where it takes you. You’ve got this!