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21 Side Hustles You Can Start with No Money (2024 Guide)

Don't Work Another Day is reader-supported. We may receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own.
  By Forrest McCall | Last Updated:  December 18, 2022

We all want to make some extra money, but not everyone has extra cash laying around to turn money into more money.

But that's okay!

By using a few side hustle apps – you can start making money with no upfront investment.  

Whether you want to make $2000 a month or just a few hundred bucks – give some of these side gigs a try to make extra money. 

In this post, I'll explore the best side hustles you can start with no money, how much money you can make, and much more. Let's get started!

Best Side Hustles You Can Start with No Money

Below are some of the best side hustle ideas you can start with little to no money. Some options are better suited for some people than others so find what works for you.

1. Take Online Surveys

Taking online surveys is one of the easiest side hustles you can start with no money.

With this side hustle you'll work with market research companies like InboxDollars or SurveyJunkie and answer questions about your experiences with brands or products.

There are many different survey sites you can use and many of them will offer you free money when you create a new account. Some of my favorites include:

By using some of these apps that give you free money, you can earn an extra few hundred dollars each month in your free time. Don't expect to make millions, but if you need quick money in a day – these are worth considering. 

With InboxDollars you can make money in your free time taking surveys, watching videos, and more. Plus, when you register with the link below – you'll get a free $5! So why not give it a try??
Register Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

2. Refer Friends to Apps

Another online side hustle that often goes under the radar is referring friends to apps.

Platforms like InboxDollars and Swagbucks offer lucrative referral bonuses that allow you to make money for each friend or family member that registers with your link.

For many sites you'll earn an instant bonus plus a commission for the money they make for signing up.

For example, with InboxDollars you'll earn $1 + 30% of your referrals earnings!

This is a great passive side hustle as it doesn't require much effort on your part and you can make a decent amount of money if you have a large network.

3. Pet Sitting

 

Pet sitting is a fun way to start making money without a ton of effort.

With this side hustle, you'll watch other people's pets while they're away from their home. 

You can use sites like Rover to find pet sitting jobs in your area pretty easily.

The pay will depend on the number of pets you're looking over and your location, but it's possible to make $100 a day or more in many locations.

Rover Salary

Some people even make pet sitting a full time gig. Register with Rover below to get started!

Start Pet Sitting!

4. Dog Walking

Hand in hand with pet sitting is dog walking. With dog walking, you'll go to peoples' houses and take their dog for a walk around the block to earn some extra cash.

If you love animals and are looking for ways to get your steps in, walking dogs is a great side hustle to consider.

The pay will depend on your location, but it's possible to make $30 to $50 per walk.

It's important to consider the amount of time it takes to get to the dog owners home and the amount of gas required to power your vehicle as this will cut into your profits.

5. Become a Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants have become extremely in demand over recent years as the world becomes more and more online.

With this remote side hustle, you'll work with businesses or individuals to complete a wide range of tasks.

Some common virtual assistant duties include:

  • Posting on social media
  • Updating website content
  • Sending and responding to emails
  • And much more

The pay for virtual assistants will all depend on your capabilities. Those who are capable of doing more advanced tasks will make more money than those who have a smaller skillset.

On average, you can expect to make anywhere from $12 to over $20 per hour as a virtual assistant but if you have more advanced skills you can make over $50 per hour!

Working as a virtual assistant is an excellent side hustle for introverts or anyone who wants to work alone because most of your job will be done online by yourself.

Ready to get started? Check out Carrie's Virtual Assistant Accelerator program to learn how you can make $5k+ per month as a VA!

6. Donate Blood Plasma

If you don't mind a small prick, donating plasma is an easy way to make extra money.

The process is quick and relatively painless, and you can donate twice a week through some private plasma donation companies.

It seems too easy… How much can you make?

It's possible to make around $50 to $75 per donation. This means you can make a few hundred dollars each month with this side gig. Not bad!

7. Become a Freelance Writer

If you're looking to start a side hustle to reach your financial goals, freelance writing is an excellent option that you might want to consider.

You don't need to be an English major or tremendous writer to make money with this side hustle, either.

As long as you have some decent writing experience and are able to submit engaging content – you can make good money with this freelance job

Food quality writers, this can be one of the highest paying side hustles you can start.

Some publishers shell out $1 per word written to quality writers. For example, a 1,000-word blog post could yield $1,000 for some writers.

While this isn't common for beginner writers, the pay is still lucrative.

For beginner writers, it's common to earn anywhere from $.15 to $.25 per word. This means the same 1,000-word article would pay you $150 to $250 and it might only take a couple hours to complete.

To find work, it's best to network with bloggers and online publishers who might need your services. You can also join Facebook groups or use freelance sites like Fiverr or Upwork, but these tend to pay less.

You can make great money with freelance writing, but it will take time and effort to build your portfolio and get to the point where you're making $1,000 or more per article.

If you don't have a portfolio of work, you'll need to spend some time writing for lower rates to build up your portfolio before you can expect higher paying gigs.

Check out the video below for more info!

Deliver Food with Doordash

Doordash Tips

There are many driving apps you can use to make money including Doordash.

Doordash is a food delivery platform that allows you to earn money by delivering food from restaurants to customers in your free time.

My favorite thing about this side hustle is that you can work your own schedule and deliver when it's convenient for you.

Some people make a living using Doordash, making it a viable option for people looking to boost their income.

To get started, you'll need to sign up and download the app. Once your account is approved, you can start picking up orders from restaurants and delivering them to make money.

The amount of money you can make will depend on your city and the times your drive, but it's possible to earn over $20 per hour when delivering during peak hours. Register below to get started!

With Doordash you can set your own schedule and work when you want. Earn over $20 per hour today!
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Deliver Groceries with Instacart

Instacart Shoppers App

Just like delivering food, delivering groceries with Instacart is another great side hustle to grow your income.

With Instacart, you can make grocery delivery orders for customers and earn some extra money in the process.

With this side gig you can make over $20 per hour in some cities by using these Instacart hacks. Sign up here to get started!

With Instacart you can work your own hours and get paid to deliver groceries!
Sign Up Now!
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Looking for jobs like Instacart? Check out these options.

Become a Mystery Shopper

Mystery shopping is a great way to get paid to go shopping.

As a mystery shopper, you will go into stores and restaurants and act as a typical customer and give your thoughts on your experience to the company that you're working with. 

There are plenty of platforms you can use like Sinclair Customer Metrics. The pay varies but it's possible to make $50 to $100 per trip.

Tutor Online

 

If you are knowledgable about a certain subject, you can make a good income by tutoring students online.

There are many platforms you can use like TutorMe and Chegg to connect with students who need help with a variety of subjects.

Best of all, you can set your own schedule and the pay can be lucrative depending on the subject you're tutoring.

For example, if you're tutoring advanced mathematics, you'll earn much more than tutoring basic English. 

Start a Podcast

Podcasting is one of the most fun side hustles you can start with no money.

If you enjoy talking and sharing your opinion, starting a podcast is a great way to make money on the side.

While it does take some effort to get started, you can make money through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and selling products.

To get started, you'll need to first decide on a topic for your show and create a format.

Next, you can choose the equipment you need. While this step isn't necessary, some podcasters will purchase a microphone or other equipment before getting started.

Then, you'll need some recording software. 

Starting a podcast can be an extremely profitable side hustle that can generate passive income over time but it won't be easy.

You'll need to spend time growing your audience and promoting your show if you want to make good money.

Check out the video below to learn more about starting a successful podcast!

Start a YouTube Channel

Just like podcasting, starting a YouTube channel can be another great side hustle idea if you have no money to get started.

With this side hustle, you'll make money by growing an audience on the video platform and monetizing them through a variety of methods.

YouTubers can make millions of dollars from their channels. 

For example, Kevin from Epic Gardening has amassed a following of over 1.9 million subscribers and makes a fortune from his channel

Epic Gardening YouTube Channel

Becoming a successful YouTuber will take a significant amount of time and effort, so don't expect to become rich overnight with this gig.

But if you're willing to do the work this is a great side hustle you can start with no money. 

Start a Blog

The cost to start a blog is extremely low, making it a great digital side hustle for anyone who wants to make money online.

With blogging, you'll make money by creating great content and sharing it with others. 

To get started, you'll need to choose a niche or topic and create a website. There are many types of blogs that make money – so your options are endless.

Whether you choose food or cooking or even a finance blog like this one – you can make a great income by blogging

To get your blog off the ground, you'll need to purchase a domain name (I recommend Namecheap) and hosting (I recommend SiteGround).

After that, you should be able to easily install WordPress so you can add and manage your content easily. 

Next, you can start writing content for your blog and promoting it through social media, SEO, and other channels.

Once you start a gain traffic you can begin to monetize your blog to start making money.

To do this, you can use display ads or affiliate marketing – both of which will make you money passively.

For example, one of my sites makes over $5k a month from display ads alone!

Adthrive Earnings

You can also opt to sell sponsored posts or digital products, but this will require more work on your part. 

Blogging can take some time to grow, so remember to be patient and don't give up.

SiteGround is my favorite hosting platform to easily start a blog. They have top-notch customer service and prices starting as low as $7 per month. Sign-up below!
Get Started!
Learn How to Start a Blog
Disclosure: This link is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Babysitting

Babysitting is an easy way to earn extra cash on your nights and weekends as long as you don't mind being around children.

This is the perfect side hustle for teens because it's easy, fun, and flexible – making it a great way to earn some extra money.

The amount of money you can make will depend on your city and the number of children you're looking over but it's possible to make over $100 per night. Who could say no to that!?

Teach English Online

If you're a native English speaker, one side hustle to consider is teaching English online.

There are many companies that will hire you to teach English to students from all over the world.

This is a great way to earn some money from home and you can work as many hours as you'd like.

You can use a platform like VIPKid to get started.

Get a Part Time Job

If you're looking for a fast way to make money, picking up a part time job is a great way to get started.

There are many options out there, so you should be able to find one that fits your schedule.

For example, retail jobs, restaurants, and grocery stores are always on the lookout for employees.

While the pay for this method isn't always the best, it can help you make enough money to pay your bills.

Become a Social Media Influencer

Social media is a goldmine of opportunity for some side hustlers.

Becoming a social media influencer can be a great way to make money online without paying anything and there are many social media platforms you can make money with.

With this side hustle, you'll need to build a following and then promote affiliate links to your audience to make money. You can also offer sponsored posts and work with brands to promote their products and services.

While this side hustle does require some time and effort to get started, it can be a great way to make money from home.

Rent Things Out

Renting things out is an excellent way to make $300 a day or more depending on the things you have.

There are many different things you can rent to make money including:

  • Garage space
  • Your car
  • Closet space
  • Equipment
  • And more

If you have some free storage space, I recommend using Neighbor.com to rent it out to make money. You can easily make an extra $500 from your space.

Complete Odd Jobs

There are plenty of odd jobs you can find online to make money helping others.

TaskRabbit and Craigslist are the most popular platforms that allow you to find work in your area.

You can complete odds jobs, like painting a room, cleaning out your gutters, or running errands for others to earn some extra cash whenever you have time.

This is a great way to make money in your spare time and it's flexible to work around your schedule.

Sell Digital Products

Digital products are a great way to earn passive income and make money on autopilot.

There are many different products you can sell including:

  • Budget binders
  • Woodworking plans
  • Photoshop filters
  • And more

You can create an Etsy shop to sell your products or use a platform like Gumroad to sell your products online.

The amount of money you can make can be extraordinary with this side hustle. It's possible to make over $500 a day selling digital products and online courses, so i't well worth your time.

Final Thoughts

There are many side hustles you can start with no money. From taking surveys online to renting out your closet space, making money has never been easier in the gig economy.

So what're you waiting for?

Check out some of these ways to make money!

Forrest is a personal finance, entrepreneurship, and investing expert dedicated to helping others obtain life long wealth. He has a Bachelor's degree in business and has been featured in many popular publications including Forbes, Business Insider, Bankrate, CNET Money, and many others. To learn more about Forrest, visit the About Us Page for more info.
Download My FREE Income Ideas Cheat Sheet!
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