Many people face challenges trying to make ends meet. Side hustles for men can help provide opportunities for men to complement their earnings from their regular jobs. Many side hustles are a viable way to earn a secondary income and the possibilities of side hustle reach much further than just taking online surveys or using some sort of cash back app.
This article will address all you need to know about side hustles, including what a side hustle is, the best side hustle ideas for men, tips on starting a side hustle, and the best apps for side hustles. If you are a man who is ready to earn an extra income, this article is for you.
What Is a Side Hustle?
A side hustle is a type of job people do in addition to their full-time job to make extra money. Most side hustles are freelance jobs. For many people, side hustles involve utilizing one of their passions to create a source of extra income during their spare time. A side hustle should, however, not be confused with a part-time job as they are different.
A part-time job involves a boss who calls the shots regarding work hours and pay rates. With a side hustle, you call the shots on how much work you want to do and how much you earn. Side hustles can be a great source of income for people who are looking for extra money to pay bills. It is also a great option for people who are looking to test their entrepreneurial skills.
How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Side Hustle
Many people have found a way to make money from a hobby they enjoy doing. This makes the idea of a side hustle fun. When this is the case, it does not become like a routine “nine to five job”, which many take out of financial necessity even if they lack passion for the work. A side hustle that doubles as a hobby is a brilliant way to make a secondary income while having fun.
You should consider turning your hobby into a side hustle. Reflect on which of your hobbies could generate an income. Then, depending on the type of side hustle, you can create a brand name and a marketing strategy. You should research permits or licenses you need to obtain to run your business. Create a brand logo and marketing materials, create a website, and get started.
How to Side Hustle From Home
Many people have figured out brilliant ways to earn some extra cash from tasks that they can carry out while at home. It is also a good way to build your resume and cut back on work-related stress. If you have some talents or special skills, you may be able to make money easily from the comfort of your home.
Do research on the needs of the market and then decide on what you have to offer. Some side hustles you carry out from the comfort of your home include writing, blogging, producing music for people, graphic and logo design, podcasting, licensing your pictures, and photo editing.
How to Start a Side Hustle as a Man
Starting a side hustle can have so many benefits and it is a good step to take towards achieving financial flexibility and liberation. If you want to start a side hustle and don’t know where to start, here are five important steps to help you.
Research Your Market
After getting an idea you want to work on, do your research on the market for the side hustle. Doing your research will enable you to understand what potential customers are looking for and who your competition is. Understanding the customers and market sets you up in a good position for success.
Set Goals and Make a Plan
Setting goals will keep the flames of your ambition burning. Without goals, you may get lost or lose motivation for your side hustle. An entrepreneur who seeks success must set goals and stick to them until results are achieved. A business plan can help you in this regard, as it will serve as a roadmap to the results you desire.
Test the Waters
Begin by carrying out small projects to test out your ideas and skills. This will give you an idea of whether your plan will work or not and save you from any future stress. You can also spot potential issues that can be fixed and address them accordingly.
Create a Schedule
Since you will be doing your side hustle in addition to your full-time job, you’ll need a feasible schedule to adhere to. Depending on your motivation and availability, you will only be able to spend limited hours on your side hustle during workdays. Creating a schedule will hold you accountable and ensure that you maintain consistent hours for both your main job and your side gig.
Be Realistic
Don’t just make short-term plans. Plan for the long long-term and keep your goals realistic. Long-term planning can help you figure out if you can achieve your goals and the amount of time you will need. Never lose focus on your end goals as they will help you stick to your plan. You can always make adjustments to your plan and schedule when necessary.
Best Side Hustles for Men
Side hustles for men can cut across a wide range of fields. If you enjoy music, writing, driving, designing, or even data entry, a lot of opportunities are available no matter what you have an interest in. Below are a few of the best side hustles for men.
Podcasting
If you love talking and can hold interesting conversations on hot topics, hosting a podcast is the best idea for you. Podcasting is fun and you can talk about things that interest you and your listeners. However, it might take time to get a large following and opportunities for sponsorship. Podomatic, SoundCloud, and Spreaker are sites that allow you to host your podcast for free.
Licensing Your Photos
Are you good with photography? Do you already own a camera? If yes, then licensing your photos can be a great side hustle. Take great pictures and try selling them to sites that deal with stock photos, such as iStockPhoto and Shutterstock.
Blogging
Blogging is a great option if you can write well, have an excellent command of grammar, and have good storytelling skills. A good first step is learning how to become a great writer. You can also join annual blogging conferences such as Blogher to learn how to become a good blogger if you do not know where to begin.
Working as a Rideshare Driver
Becoming a driver with ridesharing companies is a great side hustle. You control your work hours and will meet a lot of new people. Ridesharing jobs that pay well are perfect for work-life balance and can be a fool-proof way to make more money.
You will need to understand the road networks in your city and have a valid driver’s license. In addition, you will need a car that meets the respective ridesharing platform’s standards. According to Glassdoor, an Uber driver makes an average salary of $39,989 annually.
Working in Carpentry
If you are good with your hands and woodworking, you can start a side hustle as a carpenter. Depending on your skills, you could take on simple carpentry projects or make custom furniture. Since you will be working as a carpenter outside of your full-time job, you can advertise yourself as an after-hours carpenter and fill a hole in the market.
Creating YouTube Content
You can make additional income by creating engaging YouTube videos while also exploring your interests. You can make informational videos about anything from tech gadgets to events in history, or you can create a channel about your own life and adventures.
Wherever your interests lie, there is certainly a YouTube audience for it. However, it may take some time and effort before you are able to build your channel enough to make a secondary income and attract sponsorships.
Renting Out Your Car
Anytime you are not using your car, you could be getting passive income from it through companies such as Getaround and Turo. You could decide to rent out your car through these companies for either a few days or more. This is just like Airbnb, but for cars.
Online Teaching and Courses
If you are an expert in a field or are very knowledgeable on a subject, you can share your knowledge by teaching. Many accountants, photographers, and other experts make money by teaching online courses. In addition, platforms such as Udemy allow you to create courses on a variety of topics and sell them.
Social Media Influencing
If you have a large following on social media, you can make money off it. Having many followers on Instagram is a plus as it can enable you to work with brands as an influencer. Shoutcart and Fohr, both influencer marketplaces, can help you locate available brands to work with. You can make money by posting affiliate links for popular brands and earning a sales commission
Doing Voice-Overs
You can get paid to read scripts for advertisements, videos, and other audio works from the comfort of your home. You can work as a freelance voice-over artist on a site like Fiverr if you have a great voice.
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Side Hustle Apps You Can Use to Earn Extra Cash
As remote work gets more popular these days, all you need to earn money is your smartphone or a laptop, a useful skill, and maybe a car. Check out some top side hustle apps that you can use to earn extra cash.
- Uber. You can earn money through this app by becoming a ridesharing driver.
- Mistplay. This app, available in the Google Play Store, rewards users for downloading games on it and playing the games. Rewards are either cash or gift cards.
- Fiverr. This app is a top favorite among freelancers as it offers opportunities for a variety of job interests.
- Rover. Pet owners use this app to locate pet sitters to look after their animals when they’re not available to do so.
- Swagbucks. This is a reward app that offers points for tasks like taking online surveys, watching videos, playing games, and more. Points can be converted to gift cards or real cash.
What Is the Best Side Hustle for Men?
One of the highest paying side hustles for men is working with a ridesharing company as a driver. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that passenger vehicle drivers earn $34,670 annually. Drivers are in total control of their time and can decide what hours they want to work. They have a very good work-life balance as a result of this flexibility.
Podcasting is also a very good option as a top side hustle for men. Podcasting is a great way to explore your interests and having guests of your show will allow you to make many new connections. You will have to work hard to earn sponsorships, but you may have more success if you start with smaller, local businesses.
Side Hustles for Men FAQ
Yes, side hustles are worth it, and very popular in the gig economy. A side hustle is perfect for creating a secondary income. Side hustles serve to supplement your earnings from your regular job. However, not all side hustles are lucrative, and not every opportunity will work out.
Some side hustles that often do not turn out well for individuals include multi-level marketing, Ponzi schemes, and envelope stuffing. Multi-level marketing, for example, will often include a high initial investment and offers a low payout in return.
Some jobs that you can do without having work experience include working as a virtual assistant, pet sitting, freelance writing, blogging, and working as a customer service representative. Another good side hustle is to learn affiliate marketing.
A good side hustle should be scalable and flexible. It should also pay reasonably well. In addition, it should allow you to maintain a good work-life balance and help you explore interests outside of your regular job.
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