Start a print-on-demand business today
Want to earn money on your terms without quitting your full-time job? Maybe you’re itching to test new business models or technologies, or want the extra money – either way, side business ideas offer a flexible track to financial growth.
With options for low startup costs, minimal risk, and the potential for scalable income, modern side businesses don’t need investment or a degree – just a good plan, strategy, and patience.
In this guide, we’ll cover 9 of the best side business ideas to start today. From Print on Demand to affiliate marketing and beyond, options that work around your needs and schedule.
Create and sell custom products with Print on Demand
- No inventory or upfront investment
- Low startup costs
- Huge market with customizable products
- Flexible, scalable, and risk-free
Print on Demand (POD) is a business model in which you create designs for products like graphic t-shirts, custom mugs, or printed posters, but only produce them when a customer places an order.
There’s no need to buy inventory upfront or manage warehousing. Instead, your POD provider (like Printify) automatically prints and ships each item on your behalf.
You only pay for the product after you’ve made a sale, making the model both low-risk and cost-effective. It’s ideal for entrepreneurs who want to sell online with minimal overhead and maximum flexibility.
How to start:
- Choose your sales platform: Set up an online store on Etsy, Shopify, or your own site.
- Create a free Printify account: Sign up at Printify, then connect it to your store.
- Design your products: Use the Printify Product Creator to upload or create custom designs for white-label items like t-shirts, mugs, and posters.
- Publish your listings: Add product titles, descriptions, and pricing, and sync your designed products to your store through the Printify app.
- Start selling: Once a customer orders, Printify automatically handles printing, packing, and shipping.
- Earn profit: You get paid the difference between the retail price and product cost, without ever managing inventory.
Check out our beginner’s guide to Print on Demand for more tips.
Get started with Printify for free
Get paid to write with freelance writing
- Requires little to no startup costs
- Flexible hours and remote work
- In-demand across industries like tech, health, and finance
Freelance writing is ideal if you want to start a small business from home with just a laptop. Brands, agencies, and publications all need skilled writers to produce blog posts, website content, and marketing copy. With just a few hours a day, you can net a solid side income.
With little more than a niche and a portfolio, you can land paid gigs. Start with small jobs, build a reputation, and specialize in a niche to stand out from the crowd. If you don’t have a portfolio yet, create samples showing off your skills: blogs, emails, landing pages, and other popular copy.
How to start:
- Choose a niche: Focus on a specific subject, such as finance, health, or lifestyle, to attract better-paying clients.
- Build a portfolio: Write sample articles or contribute to blogs like Medium to showcase your skills.
- Sign up for freelancing platforms: Create profiles on Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer.
- Start pitching: Apply for gigs, send cold emails, or reach out on LinkedIn.
- Deliver quality work: Meet deadlines, follow briefs, and communicate professionally to build long-term relationships.
Teach what you know with online tutoring
- Work flexible hours
- No physical location needed
- Scalable as a full business with recurring clients
If you’re knowledgeable in subjects like math, science, or languages, online tutoring is a powerful way to earn money while helping others learn.
Teach school kids, college students, or adults learning new skills – all from home. It’s one of the easiest ways to start a side business with just a computer, internet access, and subject-matter expertise.
How to start:
- Pick your subject: Choose a topic you’re proficient in – something you can explain clearly and confidently.
- Choose your platform: Start with Chegg, Tutor.com, Wyzant, or create your own website or YouTube channel.
- Set your rates: Research what other tutors charge and price yourself competitively.
- Build a profile: Highlight your qualifications, tutoring experience, and what students can expect.
- Start teaching: Prepare lessons and materials, schedule sessions around your availability, and build a reputation through reviews.
Promote and profit through affiliate marketing
- Very low startup costs
- Scalable and passive
- Pairs seamlessly with content creation or blogging
Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular and scalable ways to make passive income. You promote other companies’ products using a unique affiliate link – and earn a commission when someone buys through it.
You don’t need to handle inventory, shipping, or customer service. Just focus on creating useful content that helps your audience make informed buying decisions on your blog, YouTube channel, or other platform.
If you have a loyal audience and the patience to research and cover trending topics, it’s a smart business idea that requires minimal upfront costs and functions alongside your 9-to-5. Once your content ranks or gains views, affiliate income will scale without extra effort.
How to start:
- Choose a niche: Select a topic you’re passionate about, like tech, wellness, or entrepreneurship.
- Pick affiliate programs: Sign up for programs like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or the Printify Affiliate Program.
- Create a content platform: Start a blog, YouTube channel, or Instagram page where you’ll share reviews or how-to content.
- Add your affiliate links: Include links in blog posts, bios, or video descriptions.
- Track your results and optimize: Use analytics to see which content performs best and improve from there. Update headlines, improve CTAs, or create spin-off content based on top performers.
Sell without inventory with dropshipping
- Minimal upfront investment
- Easy to automate
- No storage or shipping hassles
Like POD, dropshipping is an eCommerce model where you sell products through your own online store, but the supplier handles the inventory and shipping.
You don’t need to manage stock or customize products. Just focus on choosing a niche, marketing, and taking orders. This model offers flexibility, low risk, and scalable growth without upfront investment in stock.
How to start:
- Choose a niche: Focus on a product category with demand and manageable competition, like pet accessories, home goods, or gadgets.
- Pick a platform: Join eCommerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce to build your store quickly.
- Find suppliers: Use tools like DSers, Spocket, or AliExpress to connect with reliable vendors.
- Build your site: Customize your store with branding, product pages, and payment options.
- Market your store: Use social media, email marketing, and Google Ads to drive traffic.
Learn more in our guide on how to start a dropshipping business.
Become a virtual assistant
- Work remotely on your own schedule
- Offer services in admin, tech, or creative roles
- Start small and scale up as demand grows
Virtual assistants (VAs) provide remote support to entrepreneurs, executives, and business owners. Tasks range from scheduling and email management to social media or bookkeeping.
This is one of the best side business ideas to start with little to no startup costs, especially if you’re already juggling a full-time job and need flexibility.
If you’re organized, responsive, and good with digital tools, you can start offering services in just a few hours a week. Over time, many VAs build long-term client relationships and grow into full-time businesses.
How to start:
- Identify your skills: Common VA tasks include email handling, scheduling, data entry, and social media management.
- Set your rates: Research what other VAs charge and adjust your own rates based on your experience and services.
- Choose a platform: Sign up on sites like Belay, Time Etc, or Fiverr to find clients.
- Create your profile: Highlight your expertise, work ethic, and reliability.
- Apply or pitch: Respond to job listings or contact small business owners via LinkedIn or email.
Sell on Etsy
- Great for small business beginners
- Tap into Etsy’s massive audience
- Minimal overhead, easy to scale
Selling on Etsy is ideal for creative entrepreneurs looking for side business ideas from home. Digital downloads are especially easy to sell because there’s no physical inventory to manage.
You don’t need to be a professional designer, as many sellers use beginner-friendly tools like Canva to create templates and artwork. Popular niches include wedding templates, digital art, business planners, resume designs, and kids’ activity sheets.
Once you’ve got a product, sell it an unlimited number of times without additional work or shipping costs. With low startup expenses and passive income potential, digital downloads on Etsy are one of the most scalable and efficient ways to make money on the side.
How to start:
- Pick a niche: Focus on what’s in demand – wedding decor, printable planners, or custom art.
- Create an Etsy account: Open a shop and set your preferences (language, country, currency).
- Connect to Printify: If you want to sell physical products, use Printify’s Etsy integration to sync POD items.
- Design products: Create your digital downloads or design physical products.
- Upload listings: Add clear visuals, compelling descriptions, and optimized tags.
- Promote your shop: Share on social media or invest in Etsy Ads to drive traffic.
Interested in earning passive income through digital products? Check our full guide on how to sell digital downloads on Etsy.
Participate in the gig economy
- Low barrier to entry
- Quick way to earn without a long-term commitment
- Ideal for people with a day job or changing schedules
If you’re looking for flexible side business ideas that require just a few hours a week and minimal commitment, the gig economy offers fast, low-barrier options. From delivering food to assembling furniture or walking dogs, these gigs help you make extra money quickly and on your terms.
With gigs, you don’t need to build a brand or business infrastructure – you can start the moment you sign up.
How to start:
- Pick your gig: Choose from platforms like DoorDash, Uber, TaskRabbit, Instacart, or Rover.
- Create an account: Sign up and complete the verification steps (this can include background checks).
- Set your availability: Work when it suits your schedule – weekends, evenings, or lunch breaks.
- Start small: Take on a few gigs to learn the platform and build confidence.
- Aim for efficiency: Stick to your local area, optimize routes, bundle tasks, or focus on high-demand time slots for better earnings.
Looking for other ways to make money online? Check out our list of websites to make money for more ideas to turn a profit in your spare time.
Monetize your own social media channels
- Turn a hobby into a profitable business
- Multiple income streams: sponsorships, affiliate links, digital products
- Low startup costs with high earning potential
If you’ve grown an audience on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or other social media platforms, it’s time to turn those followers into revenue. From sponsorships to affiliate links, there are multiple ways to monetize without selling physical products.
This is one of the most accessible small business ideas for digital natives who already post regularly. With a consistent content strategy, your social media presence can become a sustainable full-time gig or passive income stream.
How to start:
- Choose your niche: Focus on a subject your followers care about (e.g., fitness, fashion, art).
- Pick monetization paths: Try affiliate marketing, product sales, or brand partnerships.
- Optimize your profile: Add links to your shop, contact info, and call-to-actions.
- Create value-driven content: Share useful tips, tutorials, or entertainment regularly.
- Engage and scale: Respond to comments, collaborate with others, and track growth.
FAQ
That depends on your interests, skills, and availability. For creative entrepreneurs, Print on Demand is a great side business idea. It allows you to start your own business and develop branding and merchandise with minimal startup costs.
Affiliate marketing or becoming a virtual assistant offers more flexibility if you prefer service-based or content-driven work. If you’re comfortable with eCommerce logistics, starting a dropshipping business is another strong option.
It varies. Side businesses can generate anything from a few hundred dollars a day to consistently reaching several thousand per month. Successful side business owners earn good money by scaling a successful print-on-demand business or growing a loyal affiliate following. The more time, effort, and strategy you invest, the higher your chances of making money consistently.
Yes – most of these side hustle ideas are designed to fit around a day job. Whether you have a few hours in the evening or a free weekend, these easy side business ideas let you build momentum without quitting your full-time gig.
The more consistent you are, the more opportunities you’ll unlock. Very often, part-time side businesses evolve into main sources of income.
Conclusion
Starting a side business doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Whether you want to earn extra income, test a business idea, or work on your own terms, there’s a path that fits your schedule.
With print-on-demand tools like Printify or small side business ideas like working for delivery services or freelance writing on off-days, you can go from idea to income faster than ever.
Explore Printify’s tools and start building your business online today. The sooner you begin, the faster you’ll make money doing something you enjoy.
