10 Side Hustle Ideas for 2024

1. Personal Shopping or Wardrobe Consulting Services
2. Renting Out Your Driveway or Parking Space
3. Creating and Selling Custom Meal Plans or Dietary Guides
4. Mobile Car Detailing or Car Cleaning Services
5. Mystery Shopping for Companies or Restaurants
6. Drone Photography or Videography for Events or Real Estate
7. Renting Out Your Camera Gear or Other Specialized Equipment
8. Offering Guided Local Tours or Experiences for Tourists or Newcomers
9. Creating and Selling Custom Digital Illustrations or Portraits
10. Offer Themed Airbnb Room Rentals With Unique Amenities

Personal Shopping or Wardrobe Consulting Services

If you love fashion and enjoy helping others improve their style, consider making it your side hustle as a personal shopper or wardrobe consultant. This opportunity isn't only for those dreaming of styling celebrities but for anyone interested in aiding a variety of clients. Whether it's professionals wanting to enhance their appearance, individuals undergoing significant life changes, or someone wanting to update their wardrobe, there's a market for you.

The earning potential in personal shopping and wardrobe consulting looks good. Top professionals can make up to $30,000 a month, but the average annual income is around $29,889, with the chance to earn an extra $4,800 in commissions. Your earnings will depend on your hourly rate, which can range from $18.02 to $62.92, influenced by your experience, location, and the types of services you provide.

The demand for personal stylists is growing, with an expected 11% job market increase from 2018 to 2028. This growth points to an increased need for personalized fashion advice and branding. The broader personal services sector, including wardrobe consulting, is valued at about $14 billion in the U.S., indicating strong opportunities in this area.
For those interested in freelance work, platforms like Upwork confirm a steady demand for wardrobe styling experts, offering flexibility in your working hours and conditions. While not required, earning a certification in image consulting or personal styling can enhance your reputation and possibly your income.

If fashion is your passion, you enjoy helping people look their best, and you're searching for a flexible side hustle with decent financial prospects, offering personal shopping or wardrobe consulting services could be an excellent move for your 2024 plans.

Renting Out Your Driveway or Parking Space

If you've got extra driveway space or an unused parking spot, you might be sitting on a goldmine for extra income. Parking is always in demand, especially if you live close to busy areas like city centers, airports, or big event venues. This need puts you in a prime position to make some money.

How much money are we talking about? It varies a lot. You might earn between $50 to $300 a month for your driveway, and single parking spots can go for up to $4,200 a year. In places like New York City or Boston, where parking is like finding a needle in a haystack, you could earn even more.

Your earnings will depend on where your parking spot is and how much demand there is for it. While some people report making an average of $200 a month, others make between $50 to $1,000. This shows how crucial it is to understand your local market to set a competitive price.

Before diving in, think about taxes. In some areas, like the U.K., you won't have to pay taxes on this income up to a certain point. This makes renting out your parking space both profitable and tax-smart. It's also important to check out platforms like Neighbor or Spacer to manage your rentals, each with their own commission rates and features.

Don't forget about insurance and liability. Some services, like Spacer, offer insurance to cover damages, but make sure you know what coverage you have and what your responsibilities are.
Beyond making extra money, renting out your parking space can help your community by offering more affordable parking options and possibly easing traffic congestion. With demand for parking changing throughout the year, this side hustle offers a flexible way to boost your income.

Creating and Selling Custom Meal Plans or Dietary Guides

The global market for personalized meal services is expected to hit over $16 billion by 2030, with a steady growth rate. This signals a strong demand for tailored nutrition advice and custom meal solutions. If you're mulling over pricing, digital products like recipe books often sell for $8 to $90, and meal plans range from $20 to $97. These prices depend on several factors, including the depth of customization and the specific audience you're targeting.

When it comes to what you might charge for more direct services, the field varies. Health professionals, depending on their qualifications and the comprehensiveness of their offerings, might ask for $100 to $130 for their meal planning services. This can include everything from the initial consultation to follow-ups and the meal plans themselves.

Running a business focused on personalized diet plans can be quite lucrative. In the U.S., monthly earnings for owners range between $3,000 and $8,000. Remember, the profitability of your side hustle will depend on your business model, how you price your services, and how well you retain customers. On average, the profit margin for a meal plan service hovers around 10-15%.
Why is this market booming? Customized meal planning has shown to boost client satisfaction and retention by 40%. People are clearly looking for nutrition that's tailored to their individual needs and lifestyles.

Leveraging technology can also give you an edge. Meal planning software, such as That Clean Life, is a game-changer, allowing you to craft professional and branded meal plans more efficiently. With subscriptions starting around $60 a month, it's an investment that can save time and elevate the quality of your service.

Mobile Car Detailing or Car Cleaning Services

You'd need an initial investment of about $400 to $600 for essential gear like a vacuum, pressure washer, and cleaning supplies.
So, what's the earning potential? If you're flying solo and manage to take on three jobs a day, five days a week, at an average of $120 each, you could be looking at up to $90,000 a year. However, your actual earnings will depend on your pricing, workload, and the variety of services you offer.

The car wash industry is on an upward trajectory, valued at over $30 billion globally and expected to hit $41.1 billion by 2025. This boom highlights an increasing interest in vehicle upkeep and a customer preference for convenient services, making it a prime time for mobile detailing ventures.

Why go mobile? Beyond the lower startup costs, this approach delivers services right to the customer's doorstep, combining convenience with flexibility, which can translate into higher demand and profits. For pricing, you can charge $100 to $150 for thorough interior and exterior detailing, with the chance to earn more by adding extra services.

Considering the costs, the average monthly expenses for a mobile car detailing business sit around $1,530. Keeping an eye on these costs versus your earnings is crucial for profitability. Mobile car detailing emerges as a promising, flexible, and profitable side hustle, responding to the steady demand for convenient, top-notch vehicle maintenance.

Mystery Shopping for Companies or Restaurants

The Mystery Shopping Providers Association highlights that this field contributes significantly to the economy, with $600 million annually in the U.S. and a global sales figure of around $1.5 billion. In the U.S. alone, over 8 million mystery shopping trips are carried out each year.

When it comes to what you can earn, pay rates for mystery shoppers range from $15.20 to $24 per hour, based on data from Indeed and ZipRecruiter. Keep in mind earnings can vary greatly depending on your experience, who you're working for, and whether you're doing this as an occasional gig or more full-time.

A wide variety of businesses utilize mystery shopping, from restaurants to grocery stores, gas stations, health facilities, and hotels. Assignments generally involve assessing customer service, the quality of dining experiences, or other services, including performing specific tasks such as making purchases or asking questions, followed by a detailed report of the experience.

For anyone interested in getting into mystery shopping, the field is open to adults of all backgrounds. Payments for assignments typically include reimbursement for any required purchases (up to a specified limit) plus a fee for the time spent on the visit and compiling the report. Payment methods can differ, with some companies opting for checks and others for electronic payments.
To increase the number of assignments you might get, signing up with several mystery shopping companies is advisable. Being in or near a big city also helps to boost your chances of getting more work. This side hustle is not only a way to earn extra cash but also provides a peek into customer service practices across various sectors.

Drone Photography or Videography for Events or Real Estate

The drone photography sector has seen significant growth, reaching a market size of $4.4 billion in 2018, with predictions pointing towards a robust annual growth of 22.8% up until 2025. This growth trajectory is notably driven by the real estate and event planning industries, which increasingly rely on drone imagery to enhance their offerings.

In real estate, an overwhelming 83% of home sellers favor agents that use drone photography, linking it to a faster sale rate of properties—68% quicker, to be precise—compared to those without drone imagery. Similarly, the event sector, especially weddings, has embraced drone technology, with service rates ranging between $150 to $500 per hour.

Drone photographers, on average, earn about $50,000 yearly. Event-focused professionals typically bring home between $23,000 and $41,000 annually, though there's potential for higher earnings with advanced skills and creativity. The real estate market, which accounts for about 30% of drone purchases, also shows strong demand, with photographers earning an average of $42,000 per year.

The cost for drone photography services starts at around $150 for basic real estate packages but can exceed $500 for more comprehensive offerings that include videos and advanced editing. Freelancers venturing into specialized niches such as aerial thermal imagery have the potential to earn six-figure incomes.
Legally operating a drone for commercial photography in the U.S. requires obtaining a Part 107 license from the FAA. This ensures adherence to commercial drone use regulations. Moreover, investing in liability insurance is common among drone photographers to protect their business, with premiums varying based on the level of coverage and services offered.
Starting a drone photography or videography side hustle necessitates an initial investment of $1,000 to $4,000 for a professional-grade drone, in addition to costs for accessories, ongoing maintenance, and editing software. Despite these upfront costs, drone photography and videography, particularly in events and real estate, offer lucrative and growing opportunities for side hustles in 2024.

Renting Out Your Camera Gear or Other Specialized Equipment

The camera rental industry mirrors the broader rental business sector, where profitability, especially in niches like party equipment rental, boasts margins between 40-50%. While these figures stem from the party rental market, the analogy draws attention to the potential profitability of renting out camera equipment, particularly high-end or specialized gear, which commands a premium due to its value and demand among professionals.

Consumers are increasingly seeking out top-notch camera technology and are willing to pay for the privilege of using premium equipment. Rental platforms offer a wide array of gear, from simple accessories at a few dollars a day to sophisticated cameras and lenses costing hundreds for the same period. This variance in rental rates underscores the earning potential based on the equipment you own.

Moreover, considering the usage rates of personal assets like R.V.s—which see action only a few weeks annually—a parallel can be drawn to camera gear, especially the specialized types not used on a daily basis. Renting out such gear during its downtime can transform a seldom-used asset into a profitable venture.

In essence, if you own camera gear or specialized equipment that's collecting dust, 2024 presents a ripe opportunity to tap into the rental market. Not only could this move bolster your income, but it also aligns with the market's shift towards flexible, cost-effective solutions for accessing high-quality equipment.

Offering Guided Local Tours or Experiences for Tourists or Newcomers

The earning potential for those offering guided tours varies, with full-time tour guides in the U.S. earning around $48,000 on average. Yet, those who venture into their own guided tour businesses can see annual revenues ranging greatly from $100,000 to $500,000. This vast range underscores the lucrative opportunity that lies in tailoring tours to cater to the growing demand for unique, local experiences. Travelers are increasingly drawn to authentic interactions that offer a deep dive into the local culture, history, and activities, a trend platforms like Airbnb Experiences have capitalized on.

Tour guides can specialize in a variety of offerings, such as city tours, historical narratives, museum insights, park explorations, nature treks, and adventure guiding. Each category appeals to different audiences, from history enthusiasts to thrill-seekers, thereby broadening the market base. Key to success in this field are excellent communication skills, deep knowledge of the tour area, and efficient organizational capabilities. Fluency in multiple languages can also dramatically increase your appeal to a wider audience.

Starting a tour guide side hustle generally requires minimal initial investment, especially for those focusing on walking tours or leveraging resources already at their disposal. However, potential guides should consider costs associated with marketing, any necessary licenses or permits, and insurance.

The market for specialized tourism experiences is expanding, evidenced by projections for the global water adventure tourism market to hit $1.06 trillion by 2034. This growth signifies a robust interest in unique and adventurous experiences.

For effective marketing, tour guides should establish a strong online presence, harness word of mouth, engage in networking, and consider offering promotions. Collaborations with local businesses and active social media engagement can also serve as powerful tools to attract both tourists and newcomers looking for an immersive experience in a new city.

Creating and Selling Custom Digital Illustrations or Portraits

The digital art space offers artists a wide range of earnings, with some drawing in anywhere from $50 to six-figure incomes. Niches like real estate visualization highlight the breadth of this range, offering average pay rates from $300 to over $3,000 per project. With the U.S. art market valued at $13.3 billion and the global print-on-demand market expected to balloon from $5.397 billion in 2022 to $39.035 billion by 2031, the opportunity for growth and profitability in selling custom digital illustrations is substantial.
Print-on-demand ventures, a popular outlet for digital artists, generally enjoy profit margins of 15-20%. This industry's rapid expansion, projected at a 26.2% compound annual growth rate, underscores the rising demand for custom digital artwork on a variety of products, from apparel to home decor.

However, artists navigating this market must account for platform fees, which can consume 10% to 40% of each sale. This makes choosing the right platform and pricing strategy crucial. Pricing should reflect not only production costs and desired profit margins but also competitive positioning and consumer spending behavior. Remarkably, 20% of customers are willing to pay a premium of up to 20% for personalized products, including digital illustrations.

The popularity of side hustles has surged, with 40% of Americans engaging in such endeavors in 2022, up from 34% in 2020. With around 65% of side hustlers incorporating automation into their operations, artists selling digital illustrations can leverage technology for efficiency, from marketing to order fulfillment.

Offer Themed Airbnb Room Rentals With Unique Amenities

Airbnb hosts raked in nearly $1 billion from distinctive stays, highlighting the lucrative potential of offering unique lodging experiences. The occupancy rate for these properties varies by location, with a desirable booking rate falling between 2% and 2.5%. Hosts can significantly increase their earnings by focusing on standout amenities and fine-tuning their listings for maximum appeal.
The average nightly cost for renting an entire home is $185, whereas private or shared rooms fetch $79 and $60, respectively. Implementing dynamic pricing strategies has been shown to boost Airbnb income by an average of 40%, showcasing the value of flexible pricing based on demand and seasonality. For example, in 2022, a 4-bedroom property in Los Angeles commanded the highest daily rate in the U.S. Airbnb market at $482 per night.

The most sought-after amenities by Airbnb users include pools, Wifi, kitchens, free parking, and jacuzzis. Tailoring your Airbnb offering with themed room rentals that incorporate these popular features can set your listing apart. Whether it's a movie-inspired décor, a vintage style, or a luxury spa-like experience, creating a distinctive theme that includes one or more of these top amenities can enhance your listing's attractiveness and occupancy rates.

Given the competition and the evolving preferences of travelers, offering themed Airbnb room rentals with unique amenities could be a profitable side hustle in 2024. This approach not only taps into the growing desire for personalized and memorable travel experiences but also leverages current market trends to maximize earnings potential.

Conclusion

Adopting a side hustle can offer a buffer against these financial pressures, providing more than just supplemental income. It represents an opportunity to diversify one's income sources, which is increasingly becoming a prudent approach in an unpredictable economy. Whether it's to offset the rising cost of groceries, manage rent increases, or save towards future financial goals, the benefits of additional revenue streams are clear.

Given these economic conditions, a side hustle stands out as a practical step for many. It's a response to a landscape where living costs outpace income growth, where traditional employment may no longer suffice to cover escalating expenses. In 2024, exploring and investing in a side hustle could be one of the most logical decisions for ensuring financial stability and independence.