According to Bankrate.com, 28% of millennials have a side hustle. A study by Bentley University also found that 67% of millennials said their career goals involved starting a business. We’re a generation of entrepreneurs, but while some of us hustle to eventually start their own business, many do it to make money to supplement their current income. Making good money from a side hustle takes time, but if you’re willing to put in the effort, the results could pay off in a big way. Read on for 10 ways a serious side hustler can make money.

If you’re looking for simple side hustles that may make you money more quickly, I have a separate post on that.

1. Create a blog, vlog or podcast

Possibly the most well-known side-hustle out there, blogging/vlogging/podcasting can be a great long-term money-making option, if you’ve got the time and patience to see it through. With relatively small financial investment, you could eventually make a full-time income from it. It’s not easy, but if you enjoy being creative and want to share your thoughts with the world (and improve your writing, editing and/or presentation skills), why not give it a go?

2. Take up freelance work

If jumping into creating your own brand seems terrifying, why not test the waters with some freelance work? You can find jobs on Fiverr, Airtasker and Upwork in everything from graphic design, writing, proofreading, marketing, and more! If you’ve got the skills, it’s a great way to earn a little money, while gaining experience and exposure.

3. Develop an app

Yes, it is  possible to create your own app! If you’ve got a winning idea and are willing to learn coding (or pay someone who can), you might just have a profitable side hustle on your hands. It can be costly to develop, but if you spot a niche and your app becomes a bestseller, you could be the next Michele Romanow. Oh, and don’t forget about the advantage of having coding skills on your CV!

4. Start a photography business

Ever heard of Jenna Kutcher? She famously began her photography business with a $300 Craigslist camera and now runs a seven-figure empire! If you own a camera (or are willing to invest in one), you could set up your own portrait, wedding, or stock photography business. Once you fine-tune your photography and editing skills and build up a portfolio, you’ll be able to get paid quite well.

5. Write an e-book or course

Got a specific set of skills… and knowledge? If you can deliver as much genuine value to those who want to learn from you as Liam Neeson can kick ass, then writing an e-book or online course could be an excellent option for you! An e-book could also open doors to a traditional publishing deal, if it sells well. You can publish your e-book to Kindle or create a course and sell it on Thinkific for free!

6. Become an Airbnb Host

If you’ve got a spare sofa, room, or home, becoming an Airbnb host is a practical way to make money from your space, and save travellers some money on expensive accommodation! Once you’ve set up a profile, you list your space, add some photos and details about the property, then set a price for your listing. Although you will have to clean your property between bookings and be contactable during guests’ stay, you do have to approve requests (so you choose who stays) and all money is transferred through the site beforehand (safe and secure).

7. Become an English tutor

You don’t have to have a teaching degree to be a teacher. There’s always demand for tutors, particularly teaching English to remote students, so if English is your first language and you like working one-on-one with others, why not look into this side hustle option? You can find tutoring jobs on Learn4Good, Remote.co and sometimes on your usual job sites.

8. Create something and patent it

Think you could be the next Thomas Edison? If you can create a competitively priced, affordable solution to a problem that will actually sell, you can theoretically patent your product and live off the profits. A word of warning: as with all business ideas, there needs to be an interest in/need for it, so it’s best to do your homework before jumping in too far with your idea.

9. Create and sell products at local fairs or markets

We all know about Etsy, but you can also sell food or handmade items at a real-life marketplace. Whether you’re passionate about pastry or nuts about knitting, there’s bound to be a fair or market for your product. An engineer friend of mine keeps bees, sells his honey at a local market and does quite well – don’t underestimate how much people love hand-made products!

10. Start a Virtual Assistant (VA) business

As entrepreneurs and influencers gain popularity, their need for assistance grows. If you can do a little bit of everything, you may like to consider starting a VA business. You can freelance your services on Upwork, Fiverr, or Airtasker to begin with, then if your side hustle takes off, you can create your own website with testimonials and have clients ready to go!

Whether you want to be a #girlboss or just make a little extra money every month, there are plenty of side hustle options out there to choose from. You could be an influencer, start freelancing, create an app, start a business, sell an e-book or course, host on Airbnb, teach English, patent an item, or even sell handmade items at local markets. With hard work, consistency and time, many of these side hustles have the potential to make you a lot of money. What are you waiting for? Start your side hustle today!

Do you have any more long-term side hustle ideas? Let me know in the comments below. For even more helpful advice, follow @empoweredmillennialgirl on Instagram or Pinterest. I hang out there every day.

Have a productive week!

Grace x