11 Side Hustles from Home and How to Get Started

A side hustle is a small business that a person pursues alongside another, usually more stable, job, often to earn additional income. For example, a teacher may work in a school during the day and offer tutoring services in the afternoon or evening. Other names for side hustles are side jobs or side gigs.

Generating income from multiple streams is common in India, where forty-one per cent of the population holds two or more jobs. Incidentally, this makes it the highest proportion out of any country, according to the ADP People at Work 2024: A Global Workforce View report [1].

Starting a side hustle doesn’t have to require transportation or a second workspace. In fact, you can find several side hustles that you can begin from the comfort of your own home. In this article, consider 11 side hustles from home, where to begin, and tips to start.

Get your side hustle going.

Strong business and marketing acumen can enable you to identify and pursue new opportunities to grow your business. Consider the following popular courses as you develop your side hustle:

- Learn the basics of starting a business with the State University of New York's Launch Your Online Business.

- Learn digital marketing and e-commerce techniques with the Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate.

- Learn how to promote your business on social media with the Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate.

At-home side hustle ideas

At-home side hustle ideas range from offering a service like online tutoring or virtual assistant help to selling products—both homemade and resale items. As you think about the business idea that feels right for you, consider different types of opportunities and how each fits into your interests and schedule. 

1. Dropshipping business

A dropshipping business looks like a regular online shop to the average customer, but behind the scenes, the company is a bit less traditional. With dropshipping, a retailer sells products housed and fulfilled by a third party, so the retailer is responsible for customer-facing communications, product curation, and marketing, while another company handles the inventory. This is an attractive option because it doesn’t require a high initial investment, and you can do it from anywhere with an internet connection.

Where to begin: Sites like Shopify, Baapstore, Wholesale Box, TradeIndia

2. Crafting/artist

Many people sell handmade items or original artwork online, either through an independent online shop or through sites like Etsy, Amazon Karigar, or AuthIndia. Listing your crafts on sites like this can bring you broader visibility than the local community you can reach in person, and allows you to conduct your business from anywhere. When deciding where to list, consider things such as listing or publishing fees, how much the site keeps from every sale and any registration or product requirements. 

Where to begin: Sites like Etsy, Amazon Karigar, or AuthIndia

3. Digital creative

If you have a specific creative expertise, you can explore different avenues to monetise your talent using only a computer. For example, if you’re skilled at video editing or graphic design, you may look for clients who will hire you to create business assets. Or, if you want to monetise your digital designs independently, you may look into posting videos on YouTube or putting your designs on merchandise with a print-on-demand business.

Where to begin: Sites like Fiverr, Upwork, YouTube, or Behance

4. Writing

Many companies hire freelance or contract writers to draft marketing materials, social media copy, SEO articles, editorials, and more without expecting their writers to be available full-time. This can be an exciting option with lots of avenues to explore, as you can branch out to different writing positions, specialise in a certain area, and even try your hand at different forms of content. 

Where to begin: Sites like Fiverr, Upwork, Pratilipi, Wattpad, or WordPress

5. Proofreading or copyediting

If you are more of an editor than a writer, you can get paid to proofread or copyedit marketing or editorial content for students, businesses, and professionals before their written work is finalised. You can develop a steady flow of side income by finding one or two anchor clients or clients you work with regularly.

Where to begin: Sites like Fiverr, Upwork, or Contra

6. Transcription service

Use your quick and accurate typing skills as a transcriptionist. Transcribing is the act of typing out audio. Some cases where a business might want their audio files transcribed might be to generate closed captions or to use quotes from a speech or interview in an editorial feature. This position involves close attention to detail, good listening skills, and a high proficiency in the language you are transcribing.  

Where to begin: Sites like Upwork, Rev, Scribie, or Speechpad

Lucrative side hustles you can do from home

You can find plenty of other work-from-home side hustles, especially as companies continue to implement remote work technologies. Some high-paying side hustles that you can do from home include web designer or developer, digital marketer, or bookkeeper.

7. Virtual assistant

Virtual assistants help businesses or individuals with administrative tasks such as managing inboxes or scheduling. You can search for companies and professionals seeking a virtual assistant on regular job sites to find a match for your skill set. When creating your profile, be sure to highlight your talents (such as copywriting, social media, e-commerce, or bookkeeping), as many companies or individuals may be looking for certain skills. ,

Where to begin: Sites like Upwork, Fiverr, or Hubstaff Talent

8. Affiliate marketing

If you have a website or social media presence, you can take advantage of affiliate marketing programmes. Through these programmes, you earn commission on products you recommend to your viewers if they take the next step and purchase the item or service themselves. This side hustle has a low start-up cost and can even drive traffic back to your platform. However, it’s worth noting that since that path requires building your viewership, it can take some upfront time and effort before you start making money.

Where to begin: Platforms like Amazon Associates, Flipkart Affiliates, vCommission

9. Hosting online workshops or classes

If you have a skill to share with others—for example, if you are a fitness instructor or a life coach—you may be able to host a live online class or workshop and charge people for access. You can choose several ways to set up this type of business model. One option could be to create a Zoom link and invite guests once you receive payment.

Where to begin: Video platforms like Zoom or Google Meet

10. Online tutoring

If you have strong skills in a particular area—whether it’s maths, science, computer programming, music, or another field—online tutoring can be a rewarding way to share your expertise while earning an income. Many students and parents seek skilled tutors who can offer tailored, one-on-one support with a flexible schedule and personalised learning plan. Typically, this position will occur after regular working or school hours, making it a great side hustle outside of your regular occupation.

Where to begin: Vedantu, Guru, Indeed, or Upwork 

11. Traveller host

If you have a private room, guest house, or entire property that you are not currently using, you may be able to rent your space out to travellers. You’ll need to be comfortable hosting guests in your home and able to provide clean-up services in between occupants, as well as be available should any urgent needs come up mid-stay, like a clogged sink.

Where to begin: Sites like Airbnb, Vrbo, or OYO

How to start your side hustle from home

Now that you have some ideas for possible side hustles from home, the next step is to decide which one might be the best fit for you.

Once you have identified your goals in starting a side hustle—or your “why”—it can be helpful to spend some time thinking about the skills you want to leverage in working on your side hustle, as well as the spatial needs that come with working from home. Having clarity on both can guide you toward success while maintaining a comfortable home environment.

1. Assess your skills.

Your side hustle doesn’t have to connect to your primary job—but it can if that feels right for you. For example, you may be an accountant by day and a bookkeeper by night. Both roles use similar maths and independent working skills. Alternatively, you may be a virtual piano teacher in your spare time, allowing you to also use your music and social skills.

Both side hustles have the same success potential; the difference is one option may be more enjoyable than the other, depending on your preferences.

Since you’ll be starting your side hustle on top of other employment, you may want to take some steps to choose the more enjoyable side hustle for you. This intentionality can help you avoid potential burnout and create a sustainable side business.

Three starting points for considering your skills may be:

• What skills do I already use regularly?

• Do I have the mental, emotional, and physical capacity to use those skills outside of my other responsibilities?

• What other skills would I enjoy using regularly?

Once you’ve assessed your skills, start thinking about turning those skills into a business that connects with your goals.

2. Consider your environment.

You may find that you can be more productive with certain tasks if you meet your spatial needs. Determining the best way for you to work from home, as well as recognising your limitations, can help you physically set yourself up for success. 

For example, if you decide to start an online jewellery business, you’ll need space for your inventory and supplies—like beads, wire, tools, and packaging—and an area to create your jewellery. Meanwhile, as a virtual assistant, you shouldn’t need an extensive production area; instead, you can do all your work online.

As you consider your environment, some things to think about are:

• What are the spatial needs for my side hustle?

• What space in my home can I dedicate to my side hustle?

• Do I have any limitations to work around?

If you live with other people, you may also want to consider how their presence can impact your ability to use your space. For example, there may be certain blocks of time when you’ll have to share your workspace or navigate varying noise levels.

Prepare to launch your side hustle

You can start an exciting and fulfilling side hustle from the comfort of your own home. Depending on your skills and interests, you can explore areas such as online tutoring, affiliate marketing, graphic design, content writing, virtual assisting, and even hosting your own courses.

Beyond the skills you’ll be using for your core offerings, you can set your side hustle up for success with some core marketing skills. Learn these skills (and others) with a Professional Certificate from industry leaders on Coursera. Consider taking Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate and Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate.