Introverts unite! But maybe from a distance. The world is all kinds of crazy right now, and many people are looking for a side hustle. Whether you are looking for some extra cash to make ends meet or just to save a little money, side hustles are definitely more popular than ever.
But so many side hustles require a bit too much expense of emotional energy. If you’re like me, you love spending time with other people but prefer to do it on your terms. Let’s take a look at ten awesome side hustles that are a perfect fit for introverts looking to make some extra cash.
1. Blogging
If you’re passionate about a topic or just want to share your life in a creative way, consider starting a blog. Blogs are incredibly popular and, when marketed well, can develop a big following over time. Bloggers make money through the traffic they attract. Thus, your side hustle will pay off with ad revenue as well as affiliate links when you refer readers to different products. Blogging can also be a great stress relief for lots of people. Niche blogs from running to scuba diving to fashion and everything in between can gain a core following. Not sure where to start? There are tons of resources out there to get you going in the right direction!
2. House Cleaning
If you have a knack for keeping things tidy or even specialize in cleaning up big messes, house cleaning can be a very lucrative side hustle. There are great benefits to this job. First, there is a very low startup cost as all you really need are basic cleaning supplies. Secondly, it is typically very high in demand. The average hourly rate is $55 per hour and even higher in large cities although you can set your rates lower to begin to get into the market.
3. Drop-Shipping
Drop Shipping has been around for a while, but many people are still unfamiliar with the term. Essentially, it allows you to start an online business without purchasing inventory. Drop shippers sell products online and fulfill the orders from third party vendors, shipping directly to the customer. You pocket the difference between what you pay the third party and what you charge the customer. The key to succeeding in drop shipping is finding a place where you can cheaply source a product that will sell well. It requires some online research to get going but can be profitable with effort.
4. Freelance Graphic Design / Art
Aspiring graphic designers and artists should know that their skills are highly in demand. In particular, there is a significant niche market for logos and art for small businesses, podcasts, and many other areas. Consider building a portfolio by offering to cut a deal to new local businesses. Sites like Upwork and Fiverr are also excellent ways to begin connecting with customers. Graphic designers average $24 per hour, but per project pay for an established artist can range from several hundred to over a thousand dollars.
5. Food Delivery
Have you thought about doing Uber or Lyft but really don’t want to deal with conversing with random strangers? Food delivery might be a good choice for you. If you have a vehicle, you can earn $2 to $10 per order (depending on time and distance). Additionally, working with companies like DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats is even easier during pandemic life due to contactless delivery policies. Just pick up the food, drop it at the customer’s door, and take a photo for the app.
You certainly won’t get rich delivering food, but if you’re in a pinch and need a quick $50, food delivery can be a life saver.
6. Dog Walker / Dog sitter
If you’re like me, some days you prefer dogs to people. Ok, if we’re being honest, every day dogs win out. Want to spend some extra time pampering pooches without owning one yourself. Working as a dog walker or dog sitter will let you help care for someone else’s animal or get them some exercise while also bringing in some extra cash. Sites like Rover.com are excellent to advertise on and help ensure safe transactions. Dog walkers tend to have rates of $20-30 per half hour walk while dog sitters make around $75 for an overnight.
7. Newspaper Delivery
Keeping with the delivery trend, one job a lot of people forget about is delivering newspapers. There are still many people that subscribe to newspaper delivery, particularly in mid-sized towns. Most newspapers are frequently in need of delivery drivers because the hours are typically very early in the morning. If you have a vehicle and don’t mind getting up before the sunrise, you can actually earn a few hundred dollars a week for a couple hours of work each morning, adding up to a decent extra bit of cash. Contact your local newspaper for openings.
8. Course Creator
The internet has proven to be an excellent platform for many things from cat videos to sharing unique knowledge. Take advantage of the latter of these trends by creating a course and selling it online. Websites like Udemy and Skillshare allow you to sell your course to anyone on the internet. If you are very knowledgeable about a topic, consider creating a course. Top courses include computer programming, Excel, web design, and drawing but can include varied other subjects like dog training, photography, or nutrition. If you have a topic, you’ll likely find an audience. Creating a course is a lot of upfront work but can result in a stream of passive income.
9. Editing
If you aren’t interested in writing but enjoy reading and critiquing the words of others, editing can be a lucrative side hustle. You would be surprised the variety of content people want edited. Anything from self-published books and blogs to letters of recommendation and business proposals is available. There are many great sites to peddle your editing skill such as Fiverr, FlexJobs, and Guru. You can also sometimes build a steady workload simply from personal referrals. Beginning editors typically charge around $20 per hour.
10. TaskRabbit
How can you not love a website called TaskRabbit? A bit of a necessary disclaimer is that not all jobs here will be ideal for introverts; however, there are plenty that are. This website allows you to complete work that people need done. This can include things like shopping, running errands, putting together furniture, gardening, painting, hanging pictures, and other tasks. If you are the jack or jill of all trades type, you may be able to turn TaskRabbit into quite a lucrative side hustle. Most projects seem to pay between $50 and $120.
Final Thoughts
There are many options out there for introverts who want to make a little extra money in their spare time. The rise of gig jobs and the increasing transition to a service-based economy mean that there are plenty of options available for part-time work on your own schedule. When deciding upon a side hustle, think about your natural talents or things you enjoy as well as what is in demand in your particular area. Finding a side hustle that you enjoy is even better because you’ll get to explore a passion while simultaneously getting paid for it.
