As summer approaches, you might be wondering how to make extra money.
With nearly 70% of Americans having less than $1,000 saved in case of an emergency, having a side hustle can be a great way to build your savings, pay off debts, or save for retirement.
Whether you're in a cash crunch or just want some extra money to enjoy the weather – finding a side hustle you enjoy can make all of the different.
That's why I put together this list of summer side hustles you can do to make money on the side. I've personally tested many of these side gigs and now earn a full-time income from some of them so I know which you should do and which to avoid. Let's get started!
- Starting a delivery side hustle like Doordash
- Starting a digital side hustle like blogging
- Working as a lifeguard
- Taking online surveys with Rakuten Insight
Best Side Hustles for Summer
1. Deliver Food with Doordash
Looking for a summer side hustle that you can do on your own schedule?
There are plenty of food delivery apps like Doordash you can use to make extra cash in your free time.
What I love most about these delivery side hustles is that you can make your own schedule so you aren't locked into a set schedule. This means if the weather is gloomy, why not make a few deliveries and earn some extra cash?
Additionally, the pay can be better than you think.
Many drivers can earn over $20 an hour after tips – which is a pretty solid income for most people.
Ready to get started? Sign up below to become a driver today! You can also check out these best times to Doordash and these Doordash hacks if you want to make more money.
2. Car Detailing
Car detailing is one of the best summer side hustle ideas if you want to make extra money and don't mind working in the heat.
With this side hustle, you'll get paid to clean and wash vehicles inside and out. You can charge by the hour or by the job, whichever you prefer. When you detail cars, you'll need to pay close attention to detail to ensure the highest quality services so you can get repeat customers.
The average hourly rates for car detailing range from $25 to $50, while the average project cost can exceed $100.
So, if you can get a few clients, you can easily make an extra $200 or more per week.
You'll need some supplies and equipment to get started with this summer side hustle that will cost less than $500.
For example, you'll want to pick up a vacuum, hoses, interior cleaners, and exterior washes and waxes.
To find clients, you can post your services on social media or ask friends and family to share your info. Depending on the size of your business, you can also consider passing out flyers and creating a company website to market your services.
I know several people who have a car detailing side hustle and they make tremendous money. It's totally worth your time if you're willing to work hard.
Starting a car detailing business can be an excellent way to make money if you put in the work. Check out the video below for more help with car detailing!
3. Take Online Surveys
Taking paid surveys is a simple way to earn extra cash whenever you have a few minutes.
I've taken dozens of paid surveys over the years and while the pay is nothing crazy – it's all about finding quick money that doesn't take a ton of effort.
By using sites like Swagbucks, InboxDollars, or Rakuten Insight you can earn over $20 per survey you complete depending on the platform. Surveys can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes to complete and you can finish them whenever you have time.
As a bonus, many survey sites will offer free money just for creating a new account, so why not give them a try?
Some of the best welcome bonuses include:
- InboxDollars – free $5
- Swagbucks – free $5
- MyPoints – free $10
Again, you're not going to become rich overnight by taking surveys, but it's an easy way to make a few bucks here and there.
👉 Rakuten Insights - Cash out directly to PayPal!
👉 OpinionOutpost - Earn up to $25 per survey!
👉 Survey Junkie - Make $150 for select focus groups you complete!
👉 Swagbucks - Get a $5 bonus instantly!
👉 InboxDollars - Get a $5 bonus when you register today!
👉 Pinecone Research - Earn fast money taking surveys
👉 Survey Voices - Make money taking online surveys
4. Complete Paid Focus Groups
Just like taking surveys, completing focus groups is another great way to earn money in the summer months without having to do actual work. You'll get paid to answer basic questions about products and services that companies will use to make their products and services better.
the best platform is Survey Junkie. You can earn up to $150 per focus group you complete which is pretty solid. These do require more time, but they pay more so it's hard to complain.
Be sure to confirm your email after signing up so you don't miss the highest paying focus groups. They fill up fast so you'll want to confirm your email quickly.
5. Deliver Groceries with Instacart
If you own a vehicle and have some spare time, consider delivering groceries with Instacart to make money.
You can deliver groceries year-round but the winter and summer months tend to be the most popular for deliveries because people want to avoid the cold and hot weather.
This is very similar to Doordash in that you can work the hours that you want, which I love. It's easy to get started and most drivers can earn over $25 an hour for their time. Create your account below to get started!
6. Lifeguarding
Want to get some sun and make money at the same time?
Consider lifeguarding!
As a lifeguard, you can expect to make around $12 to $16 per hour which isn't a crazy amount of money – but many people like this job because you don't have to do much.
Lifeguards are in high demand so finding a job won't be too difficult. You'll need to become certified before you can start working but this usually costs less than $300.
7. Pet Sitting
If you love animals, I've got the side hustle for you!
Pet sitting is a great way to make money in the summer because many families will go on a vacation and they'll need someone to look over their animals while they're away.
I consider pet sitting a passive side hustle because it doesn't require much active work to make money.
You'll get paid to watch someone's pet for a few hours per day and in some cases you can keep the pet at your house making it even easier.
The amount of money you can make will depend on your area and the number of days you're needed. It's possible to make a few hundred dollars each week when pet sitting, which is a decent side income.
To find work, I recommend using a platform like Rover to easily find people in need of pet sitters.
8. Blogging
Blogging is a perfect side hustle for any season, including summer.
The cost to start a blog is low, making it attractive to many people looking for a side hustle you can start with little money. To get started, you'll need to first decide on a topic or niche for your blog. This can be anything you're interested in. For example, some people might choose cooking or traveling. I chose personal finance, because it's what I'm most passionate about.
Next, you'll want to purchase your domain name. It's best to purchase an option that ends with .com, although some people will choose other options. You can use Namecheap to purchase your domain name. They are among the most affordable domain registrars out there and they have great service.
After purchasing your domain name, you'll need to obtain hosting for your files. My favorite host is SiteGround. They offer reliable hosting with some of the fastest speeds available for an affordable price. Hosting with SiteGround costs around $10 per month.
Once you've purchased hosting, you'll want to install WordPress (or another CMS) to upload files and posts to your blog. WordPress is completely free and my favorite CMS to work with. You'll then need to select a theme for your blog to get the look and feel you want. There are plenty of free themes but you can also purchase a premium theme if you want. (I recommend a free option for beginners)
Finally, it's time to start creating content and promoting your blog. This can be the most time-consuming part of blogging, but it's also the most important.
You'll need to construct a plan to get visitors to your blog. For most bloggers, search engines and social media marketing tends to be the go-to platforms for traffic.
Once you gain traffic to your blog, it's time to start thinking about how you will make money. The most popular methods include display advertising, affiliate marketing, and selling digital products or courses.
Many other bloggers will also offer freelance work and additional services to make even more money, but that's completely up to you.
So how much can you make from your website or blog?
I currently make over $10k a month from my digital real estate – which has now become my full-time job.
Blogging is not a get rich quick scheme, it will require months (or years!) of hard work before you start making money. But in the end, it's totally worth it.
9. Sell Crafts Online
Selling crafts online is a great way to make some extra money during the summer.
While I wouldn't consider this an easy side hustle, it can be super profitable.
Need proof? Check out these wood wedding centerpieces being sold on Etsy. With over 87,000 sales, it's safe to say this seller has made over $1 million from this side hustle!
There are many online marketplaces that allow you to sell your crafts, like Etsy, eBay, and others.
To get started, you'll need to decide what crafts to make and sell and crate listings for them. This will include photos of your products, a description, and pricing.
The most challenging part is putting together a plan to market your products. There are many different ways, but some of the best include paid advertising and organic search.
Making and selling crafts is no easy side hustle, but if you love crafting – why not get paid to do it!?
Check out the video below to learn about some of the most profitable crafts.
10. Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is another way to make money online in the summer. As with any freelancing job, you'll get paid for the work you complete so the more efficient you can work, the more money you can make.
When it comes to freelance writing, the amount of money you can make will depend on your experience and the type of writing you're doing.
For skilled writers, it's possible to earn over $1 per word written. This means a 750-word article could net you $750. For beginner writers, it's more common to charge anywhere between $.05 to $.25 per word.
Some writers also charge an hourly rate. Check out some of these freelance writers I've found on Upwork. They charge $100 an hour for their work!
Working as a freelance writer is a great way to start making money on the side during the summer because of how flexible it is.
And you might be thinking to yourself that you don't have any experience. That's okay! You can start your own blog first and start expanding your clients beyond that to get the ball rolling.
11. Start a YouTube Channel
YouTube can be a gold mine for content creators looking to earn extra income from their skills if you're willing to put your face in front of the camera.
While you might think you need fancy equipment, strong video editing skills, and the perfect setup to shoot your videos, this isn't always the case. Sure, it will help you upgrade the quality of your videos, but that doesn't mean you can't be successful without them!
In fact, there are some ways to make money on YouTube without making videos at all.
Over the past few years, YouTube has gained popularity giving content creators even more of an opportunity to make money.
For example, check out Kevin's YouTube Channel, Epic Gardening. Here's amassed a following of over 2 million people today and makes a great income from his channel.
There are plenty of ways to get paid from your channel. For example, being accepted into the YouTube monetization features will allow you to display ads to make extra money. You can also use affiliate marketing to earn money.
Some YouTubers are capable of making 7-figures from their platform, making it a very lucrative summer side hustle.
12. Start a Podcast
Podcasting is another form of content creation that can be one of the premier summer side hustles for many.
Starting and growing a podcast can take some time, but once it's up and running you can start making a solid income from your efforts.
You'll need to first decide on a format for your podcast. Some podcasts will interview others while others will be solo episodes.
The amount of money you can make podcasting can be lucrative. Some podcasts make over 6-figures each month from this digital side hustle.
Check out the video below to learn some tips when starting a podcast!
13. Drive for Uber or Lyft
Driving for ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft can be a great summer job to make extra cash whenever you have free time.
These driving app allow you to make your own schedule, which is great for most people.
Depending on your city, you can make over $25 an hour which is a good income!
Now, this side hustle requires that you have a vehicle, and you'll have to pass a background check to get started, but if you meet these requirements you can start making money whenever you have some down time.
14. Donate Plasma
If you don't mind a little prick, donating blood can be an easy summer side hustle to make extra income.
The amount of money you can make donating plasma will vary depending on the donation center you use but it's generally around $25 to $50 per donation.
It's possible to donate a few times per month making it an easy way to make an extra $200 a month. Not bad!
16. Start a Lawn Care Business
Lawn care is another summer side hustle that you can do to make money all summer long.
With this summer job, you'll need to be comfortable with manual labor and working in the sun, but if it can pay well for your time.
To start a landscaping or lawn care business, you'll need some equipment like a lawnmower, trimmer, and blower. You can find these items used on sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for cheap and usually less than a couple of thousand dollars.
It's common to charge around $35 to $50 per weekly mowing, which can take less than an hour to complete.
If your work becomes too much to handle, you can hire friends to make even more money.
This side hustle is an awesome way to make $300 a day or more if you stay committed.
Lawn care was one of my first side hustles, so I might be somewhat biased, but I know people who earn a living with this job so I totally recommend it!
17. Stream Video Games
Did you know it's possible to get paid to play video games? That's right, by streaming your gameplay you can make extra cash on the side while having some fun.
Some of the most popular video game streamers can make millions of dollars each year from their gameplay. Talk about a fun way to make money!
Take a look at some of the top earning video game streamers according to InfluencerMarketingHub.
Now, this isn't an easy side hustle because it can take years to build your following, but if you can manage to grow your audience you can make a fortune.
18. Start a Flipping Side Gig
Flipping is one of my favorite summer side hustles for those willing to put in the work.
There are many different kinds of flipping. For example, when flipping furniture you'll need to find distressed pieces of furniture that you can refurbish and sell for a profit.
Other kinds of flipping can be easier. For example, when thrift store flipping you'll just need to purchase items at a discount and sell them on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.
This side hustle is all about effort, which is why I like it so much. Those who are willing to put in the work can make a great income.
19. Start a Pressure Washing Side Hustle
Pressure washing is a great way to make money in the summer because there's always a need for it and it pays well.
Between driveways, fences, and home exteriors there are plenty of surfaces that might need to be pressure washed.
The amount of money you can make with this side gig can be very lucrative. Depending on the size of the job, it's possible to make a few hundred dollars for a smaller job or over $1,000 for larger jobs.
To start this side hustle, you'll need some equipment that can cost around $1,000. But considering this money can be recouped possibly with just one job, it makes it a strong investment.
To find clients, I recommend posting your services on social media or sites like NextDoor.
20. Rent Out Your Car
Renting out your vehicle is another easy way to earn passive income in the summer if you have a car you aren't using.
There are many platforms like Turo and Getaround that allow you to do this and they make it super easy to get started.
All you need to do is list your car on the platform and they'll take care of the rest for you.
When your car is rented, you'll receive a portion of the rental fee which can be a nice income.
The amount you can earn will vary depending on your vehicle and the city you live in. Most cars will rent for under $100 a day, but some higher end vehicles can rent for over $200 a day!
For example, in my area you can rent a Honda Pilot for around $60 to $75 a day.
That would add up to around $1,500 a month if you can have it rented every day. Not too bad!
Final Thoughts on Summer Side Hustles
There are plenty of summer side hustles you can do to earn money in your free time.
Some of these side hustles can pay well, too. For example, starting a blog, delivering food with Doordash, or starting a lawn care side hustle are all great options to make some extra cash during the summer.
So what are you waiting for? Start your side hustle today!
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