Starting a side hustle doesn’t always require a big investment. In fact, you can start under $100 in a lot of successful ventures. You can start a business that fits your plan and way of life if you have the right attitude, are creative, and work hard. If you want to start your own business without spending a lot of money, these side jobs are perfect for you. You can do them while working, selling goods, or providing services.
The best part is, you don’t need a lot of money to start. All you need is the determination to jump in and learn as you go.
1. Content Creation
If you love writing or making content, professional writing can be a great side job that doesn’t take a lot of money up front. In today’s digital world, people are always looking for good material, whether it’s blog posts, social media comments, or website copy.
Cost to start up: $0 to $50 (An easy showcase website, spelling checkers like Grammarly, and free writing sites are all good places to start.)
How to Begin:
- You can show off your writing skills by making a free blog on sites like WordPress or blogger.
- There are websites like Upwork and Fiverr where people who want to hire freelance writers can find you.
- Get in touch with companies, blogs, or online magazines that need material and offer your services. Make emails that are special to them and show how your writing can help them with their problems.
Your image and rates will simply go up as you build a collection and get more experience. It will be easier and faster for you to meet client needs with high-quality content if you write something every day.
2. Virtual Assistant
Lots of businesses, startups, and even busy workers are always looking for help with office work like managing emails, making schedules, helping customers, and more. There are many things you can do as a virtual helper, and you can do them all from home.
Cost to start up: Start Under $100 (Buying tools like Trello to keep track of your tasks or Canva to make easy images can help you stay professional and organized.)
How to Begin:
- Make a good resume on job sites like Upwork or Fiverr to find people who need your help.
- Talk to small business owners directly on LinkedIn or join networking groups in your area where entrepreneurs may need your help.
- You can get people to hire you by promoting your services on your own social media pages and talking about your skills and experiences.
As the need for virtual helpers grows, it’s easy to make a steady income if you know how to use a computer and keep things organized. You’ll be able to raise your prices and grow your business over time as you get more clients and learn new skills.
3. Social Media Management
People with a lot of followers and small businesses often need help running their social media accounts. If you already know how to use Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, you might enjoy working as a social media manager as a side job. This job gives you a lot of freedom and pays well as you learn new skills and meet client needs.
Cost to start up: $0 to $50 (You start under $100 with free design tools like Canva and social media scheduling tools.) To improve your skills, you might also want to look into cheap online classes.
How to Begin:
- Learn the best ways to use social media and how to make the most of it. Blogs, YouTube feeds, and classes are just a few of the free tools that can help you get started.
- Local companies, blogs, or new businesses that need help managing their social media should hire you. Start out small and put together a sample of your work to show possible clients.
- Promote your services on LinkedIn, Instagram, and other social media sites, and meet with people who might be interested in hiring you. Share case studies or examples of projects you’ve run that went well.
You are more likely to get paid clients who value your skills if you run more ads successfully. You can raise your prices and get more clients as you gain knowledge and reputation.
4. Online Tutoring
If you are good at a field like math, English, or science, you can teach others online and make money at the same time. You can help kids get better grades or learn new skills from anywhere in the world as long as you have a computer, an internet connection, and a desire to teach.
Cost to start up: $0 to $30 (A good microphone or camera can make your meetings better, but there are a lot of free ways to connect with students on different platforms. If you teach certain classes, you might also want to buy apps or tools for teaching.
How to Begin:
- Sign up for popular teaching sites like VIPKid, Chegg, or Tutor.com. These sites match students who need help with teachers.
- Use social media, neighborhood family groups, or online education sites where parents and students are looking for teachers to get the word out about your business.
- Focus on running regular, high-quality lessons that get benefits that can be measured. Your name will grow quickly if people give you good reviews and tell their friends about you.
You can make this side job even more profitable by raising your rates and taking on more students as you gain experience and become an expert in areas like test prep or language teaching.
5. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking
If you love animals, pet sitting and dog walking can be a fun and relaxed side job that doesn’t cost much to get started. Whether you’re watching pets while you go on vacation over the weekend or taking dogs for daily walks, this side job gives you a lot of freedom and can fit right into your plan. It’s also a fun way to make money while doing something you like.
Cost to start up: $0 to $25 (You could make a page on a pet-sitting site like Rover or print handouts to advertise your services in your area.)
How to start:
- When people need someone to watch their pet, you can use a famous app like Rover or Wag! To find them.
- Use social media to get the word out about your pet care services, or hand out flyers in your neighborhood, at pet shops, and at dog parks.
- To show possible clients that you can be trusted and that you care, offer free appointments or opening visits.
You can pick how much work you want to do when you pet sit or walk dogs. As time goes on, and you get more good reviews and leads, your client base will grow, and you can then raise your prices to reflect that.
Conclusion
It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to start a side business. You can start under $100 and build a successful business that fits your skills and way of life. There are many ways to make money with little or no effort, such as writing, internet help, managing social media, teaching, or taking care of pets.
To build your image, you need to start small and keep going. Your side job can turn into a steady source of income if you work hard at it and come up with new ideas. Why wait then? Start under $100 today by diving in!
