10 Best Side Hustles for Gen Z to Make Money in 2025

Have you noticed how everyone seems to have a side hustle these days?

Whether turning a hobby into cash or working a few extra hours, people are getting creative about making money outside their regular 9-to-5. For young adults, side hustles are more than a trend—they’re a smart way to keep up with rising costs, hit financial goals, and even explore new passions.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the best side hustles for Gen Z. But before diving into the list, let’s take a moment to understand what they are all about and why you might want to start one yourself.

What is a Side Hustle?

A side hustle is any gig you take on to earn extra cash outside your regular job. In fact, 36% of adults in the U.S. have one, using it to supplement their income, explore passions, or achieve financial goals.

For Gen Z, it’s more than just a way to make ends meet—it’s an opportunity to pay off student loans, save for a house, or simply have some extra spending money.

Some side hustlers keep it simple, like picking up part-time shifts at local businesses. Others take bigger risks with entrepreneurial ventures, like selling handmade crafts online or starting freelance work. The path you choose depends on your lifestyle and goals.

A part-time job might be the way to go if you need stability. However, diving into a passion project or online hustle could lead to bigger rewards if you’re free to take risks.

10 Best Side Hustles for Gen Z

No matter which style of side hustle makes the most sense for you, there are plenty of options to explore.

Here are ten of the best side hustles from home and outside of the house for Gen Z.

1. Sell handmade arts and crafts

Potential earnings: $200–$1,000+ per month, depending on demand and pricing

Difficulty: Moderate – requires creativity, time, and marketing effort

If you are artistic or crafty, consider selling your handmaid creations online. Whether you paint, knit, 3D print, Cricut, etch or embroider, there may be a market for what you offer.

Some popular types of arts and crafts you could sell include:

• Custom apparel (T-shirts, sweatshirts, and more)
• Holiday and home decor
• Novelty items
• Custom gifts

Platforms like Etsy and Amazon Handmade are great marketplaces for those who are just getting started and don’t yet have the customer base to go direct-to-consumer.

However, remember that these platforms charge listing and transaction fees, so you’ll need to factor those costs into your pricing to ensure you’re making a profit.

2. Tap into affiliate marketing

Potential earnings: Varies widely; beginners may earn up to $1,000 per month, while more experienced marketers can earn $10,000 or more monthly.

Difficulty: Moderate to High – requires strategic planning, consistent content creation, and audience engagement.

Affiliate marketing is a versatile way to earn commissions by promoting products or services across various industries. Simply put, you partner with a company, share their products or services through unique affiliate links, and earn a percentage whenever someone purchases through your link.

Here’s how to get started:

• Choose a niche: Focus on an area you’re passionate about or have expertise in.
• Join affiliate programs: Sign up for programs that align with your niche.
• Select products to promote: Choose products or services that offer value to your target audience.
• Create marketing content: Develop engaging resources tailored to your audience’s interests.
• Automate with tools: Use WordPress, Moosend, HubSpot, or WooCommerce to streamline your marketing efforts.

For example, if you’re passionate about travel, you could become an affiliate for tourism-related services like hotels, restaurants, or guided tours.

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You can earn a commission whenever someone makes a booking through your referral by sharing affiliate links through your blog, emails, newsletters, or social media posts.

Email marketing is a great way to directly reach your audience and effectively promote your affiliate links, helping you build trust and drive consistent earnings.

Affiliate marketing success requires dedication, planning, and ongoing effort to build and maintain an engaged audience.

Additional resources:

• How to Promote Affiliate Links: 10 Must-Try Methods
• 40+ Best Affiliate Programs With High Commission
• High Ticket Affiliate Marketing Programs
• Best Ecommerce Affiliate Marketing Programs
• Best Affiliate Email Marketing Programs

3. Monetize YouTube content

Potential earnings: $500–$10,000+ per month, depending on views and engagement

Difficulty: Moderate to High – requires consistency, creativity, and time to grow an audience

If you like creating visual content and have something valuable to share, consider creating and monetizing YouTube videos.

Some ways to monetize YouTube Videos include:

• ad revenue
• channel memberships
• merchandise sales
• sponsored content partnerships

With YouTube’s analytics, you can optimize your content to connect better with your target audience. Increasing your viewership and engagement is crucial as it boosts your revenue.

The possibilities are endless, whether you’re making explainer videos, tutorials, or lighthearted, just-for-fun content. Pick a niche you’re genuinely passionate about—like men’s fashion or tech reviews—and post consistently to build an audience that keeps coming back for more.

For example, Sartorial Styles, a men’s fashion channel, shares tips on men’s clothing and style. Once it built a steady following, it joined YouTube’s monetization program and earned income through ads.

Additionally, they secured paid promotions, such as sponsorship from StudioSuits, which featured a detailed review of their custom men’s suits.

This dual income stream of ad revenue and sponsorships allows creators to monetize their content, providing a stable income while pursuing what they love.

4. Offer babysitting services

Potential earnings: About $22.50 per hour, depending on hours worked and location.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate – requires responsibility, trustworthiness, and experience with children.

If you have experience caring for children—professionally or for family and friends—babysitting could be your perfect side hustle. This gig is ideal for those who enjoy working with kids and possess essential caretaking skills like responsibility, communication, and safety awareness.

Babysitting offers flexibility to fit any work schedule since families have different needs. For instance, you could work daytime hours as a nanny or take on evening and weekend roles as a date-night sitter.

Remember that babysitting is a serious responsibility that involves building trust with children and their parents. A fun activity or story time can help you bond with the kids while showing parents that their little ones are in capable hands. Being trusted with someone’s most precious asset—their children—is a role that should always be taken seriously.

To get started, sign up on platforms like Care.com and Sittercity or even explore local community groups on social media.

These platforms help connect you with families looking for reliable sitters and make showcasing your experience and availability easy.

5. Provide pet-sitting services

Potential earnings: Depending on the services provided and the location, potential earnings are about $25 per 30-minute visit, $20–$30 per day, or $45–$75 per overnight stay.

Difficulty: Easy – requires trustworthiness, reliability, and experience in animal care.

If babysitting isn’t quite your thing but you’re still interested in caregiving, pet sitting could be the perfect alternative—especially if you’d rather care for four-legged friends than little ones. Pet sitting gigs range from walking dogs during the day while their owners are at work to overnight stays when families are out of town.

Just like babysitting, this role requires trustworthiness and reliability, but you’ll also need to be attuned to animals’ unique needs. Experience with feeding, walking, and general pet care is essential to ensure you can handle the job confidently.

While many successful pet sitters build their business through repeat clients and referrals, you can start by creating profiles on platforms like Rover or even leveraging social media networks like Facebook to connect with pet owners in your area.

Babysitting and pet sitting are rewarding side hustles for those who enjoy caregiving. It depends on whether you enjoy kids or pets.

6. Become a tutor

Potential earnings: About $25.31 per hour based on hours worked and subject expertise.

Difficulty: Moderate – requires subject matter expertise, communication skills, and the ability to adapt to different learning styles.

Tutoring could be an excellent side hustle if you know a specific subject. You could tutor students at various levels, from grade school to college, depending on your strengths.

Specializing in a particular subject—like math, science, or language arts—can make you more appealing to potential clients, especially if you don’t have teaching experience.

One of the perks of tutoring as a side hustle is the control it gives you over your earnings and workload, compared to working at a tutoring center.

Platforms like Wyzant, TutorMe, and Preply are great options for marketing your services. These platforms allow you to set your own rates and schedule while connecting with many students seeking help.

Exploring local networks, schools, or community groups can help you find in-person tutoring opportunities.

7. Shoot stock photography

Potential earnings: Some contributors report earning approximately $0.05 per image per month, while more successful photographers can earn up to $3 per image annually.

Difficulty: Moderate – requires photography skills, consistency, and understanding of market demand.

While AI-generated content has increased, many businesses still prefer authentic visuals, leading to a sustained demand for stock photography. If you have a knack for photography and access to quality equipment, you can monetize your skills by contributing to stock platforms.

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Here’s how to get started:

• Capture high-quality images: Focus on diverse subjects in demand, such as business settings, lifestyle scenes, or nature.
• Choose reputable platforms: Upload your photos to stock websites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Alamy.
• Optimize metadata: Use relevant keywords and descriptions to increase the visibility of your images.
• Expand your portfolio: Regularly add new photos to enhance your earning potential.

Also, if you have the necessary equipment and skills, consider diversifying into stock videos or drone footage, as these formats are also in demand.

Keep in mind that building a substantial income from stock photography requires time and persistence. Success often depends on the quality and volume of your portfolio and staying attuned to current market trends.

8. Explore content writing and leverage AI

Potential earnings: Freelance writers in the U.S. earn an average of $23 per hour, with annual earnings ranging from $42,500 to $65,500, depending on experience and workload.

Difficulty: Moderate – needs strong writing skills, adaptability, and the ability to meet deadlines.

If you have a knack for writing, content creation can be a lucrative side hustle for Gez that you can do from home. Opportunities include crafting blog posts, landing pages, press releases, and marketing materials.

Consider leveraging AI-powered tools like Grammarly, ProWritingAid, or Jasper AI to enhance efficiency and output. These tools can help you identify grammar, spelling, and style errors, ensuring a polished final product.

Integrating AI into your workflow allows you to take on more projects while maintaining high-quality standards, making it an ideal approach to scale your side hustle efficiently.

Here are some popular platforms to get started:

• Upwork: Find freelance writing gigs in various niches.
• Fiverr: Create a profile and offer writing or editing services.
• Freelancer: Browse and bid on content writing projects.
• LinkedIn ProFinder: Connect with clients looking for professional writers.

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Additional resources

• Email Copywriting: The Complete Guide For Beginners
• How To Write A Blog Post: The Ultimate Guide
• How To Write Amazing Landing Page Copy

9. Offer web design services

Potential earnings: Freelance web designers can earn between $30 to $200 per hour

Difficulty: Moderate – requires an eye for design, understanding of user experience, and familiarity with web design tools.

Web design is a popular side hustle that can be done easily from home. It’s a great opportunity for those with an eye for design and an interest in branding. Many businesses and individuals need simple, professional-looking websites, which makes this a profitable option even for beginners.

You don’t need extensive technical skills to get started. The demand for clean and functional websites means you can focus on creating visually appealing designs that align with your client’s goals. This side hustle also allows you to work flexibly, taking on projects that fit your schedule.

If you’re new to web design, drag-and-drop website builders like Wix, Squarespace, WordPress, or One are excellent tools. These platforms offer pre-built templates and customizable features, making creating websites quickly and efficiently easy without coding experience.

Additional resources

• The Best Free Website Builders
• Best Landing Page Builder Tools
• Ecommerce Website Design: Best Practices

10. Become a musician for hire

Potential earnings: $22.97/hour on average

Difficulty: Moderate to High – Requires musical skill, strong networking, and consistent self-promotion in a competitive industry.

If you’re a musician, whether formally trained or naturally gifted, offering your musical services can be a rewarding side hustle.

These services could range from live performances at special events like weddings and parties to producing beats or tracks for other artists and creators.

This is a fantastic opportunity to build a career in music while expanding your connections in the industry.

To stand out and grow your client base, consider these ways to promote your music:

• Leverage social media: Share your performances, beats, or original music on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to showcase your talent and attract potential clients.
• Network locally: Partner with event planners, wedding coordinators, and local venues to find performance opportunities.
• List your services online: Sign up on platforms like Fiverr, GigSalad, or SoundBetter to connect with clients who are looking for musicians to hire.
• Collaborate with other artists: Producing beats or collaborating on tracks can help you build industry connections while earning income.
• Build a website or portfolio: Create a professional site or portfolio where potential clients can listen to your music samples and learn about your services.

By combining your musical skills with a strategic approach to promotion, you can turn your talent into a thriving side hustle and gain valuable experience in the music industry.

5 Side Hustle Mistakes to Avoid

With a better idea of some of the best side hustles for Gen Z, let’s review a few mistakes to avoid when pursuing a side hustle.

1. Joining MLM/Pyramid schemes

Multi-level marketing, also known as MLMs, network marketing, or pyramid schemes, is a business structure that many companies use to make their customers their salespeople. When sellers sign additional sellers under them, they make more money, hence the incentive to perpetuate the pyramid structure.

MLM companies often encourage representatives to sell products to their personal networks and offer enticing incentives such as free trips, cars, and products.

However, the financial outcomes for participants are frequently modest, with only a small portion earning significant money. While these incentives may seem appealing, they often mask the reality that achieving substantial financial success in an MLM is uncommon.

Some examples of popular MLMs are PartyLite, MaryKay, Herbalife, and BODi (formerly known as Beachbody).

2. Not handling the legalities

Sometimes, contractors or gig workers face legal issues. That’s why many side hustlers operate as sole proprietors or under an LLC. It adds legitimacy to their hustles and keeps things cohesive when they apply for licensures to avoid fines.

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a limited liability company (LLC) is a separate business structure that protects its owners from the business’s liabilities and debts. If the business fails or faces legal action, the owners are off the hook, and the LLC assumes liability.

LLCs have many other advantages, too, including tax and flexibility. That’s why you must choose between the best LLC formation services to ensure you follow the right path when forming your business entity.

3. Not saving for taxes

When you’re self-employed, you’re responsible for your own income taxes. That means you need to set aside money to pay quarterly. Check the details early on or hire an accountant to do the paperwork to avoid falling behind when tax time rolls around.

Managing your taxes can feel overwhelming when you’re running a side hustle, but it doesn’t have to be. Asset protection planning can help you leverage tax strategies to stay on top of your financial obligations.

With asset protection planning, you can avoid surprises during tax season by organizing your finances and setting aside the right tax amount. Plus, this planning helps you fulfill your tax obligations while protecting your assets so you can focus on growing your hustle without unnecessary stress.

4. Over-investing

Starting a new business can be exciting, but getting in over your head can also be easy. A side hustle is meant to give you an additional source of income, so make sure you’re not overspending when you’re getting started.

It’s easy to get carried away buying a state-of-the-art drone or stocking up on fun crafting supplies. Keep track of expenses, and make sure you don’t end up in the red. Also, pay attention to what’s deductible and what’s not. Not everything is a write-off.

5. Burnout

Making extra money can be exciting, but pushing yourself too far and becoming exhausted is easy. For Gen Zers juggling multiple gigs or side hustles, managing your time is key to avoiding burnout.

One simple time-management hack is to use a planner. Whether it’s a physical one or a digital app like Notion or Google Calendar, a planner is a great way to visualize your schedule and stay on top of your commitments.

It’s also important to set boundaries and know when to say “no.” As a gig worker, your energy is your biggest resource, and you don’t owe anyone more than you’ve already committed to. Protect your time, and don’t be too thin when you’re already at capacity.

Remember, side hustles are meant to complement your life, not take over it. Balance is everything!

The Best Side Hustles for Gen Success

Side hustles are the perfect way to explore your passions, build new skills, and make money on your terms.

Whether you’re ready to dive into an entrepreneurial adventure or prefer the stability of a part-time gig, there’s no shortage of opportunities to fit your lifestyle.