Side Hustle Ideas for Women: How to Earn Some Extra Cash in 2022

According to Forbes, as of October 2020, over two million Americans have pursued careers as freelancers, primarily because of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Companies across the US laid off their staff due to growing economic uncertainties, leaving many Americans financially stranded. For this reason, many people turned to other means of working and earning, commonly known as side hustles. 

It’s essential for everyone to be financially savvy and pursue a stable income, especially women. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), women earn 82 percent of men’s annual earnings. The resounding gender pay gap is even more prevalent amongst women of color. In this guide, we examine the best side hustles for women, helping women earn some extra income in their spare time.

What Is a Side Hustle?

A side hustle is a job one takes as a means to generate more earnings in addition to their main part-time or full-time job. There are multiple reasons to seek a side hustle, and these reasons vary from one person to the next. Side hustles are generally taken up during the evening or weekends and offer the flexibility a standard nine-to-five job wouldn’t. 

Side hustle opportunities are prevalent because people are seeking financial freedom. They also provide a chance to pursue a dream job without compromising on your finances. Another reason to start a side hustle is job security. Due to COVID-19, a lot of people have lost their jobs. Therefore, it’s essential to have a job that you can fall on in case of emergency. 

How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Side Hustle

Turning your hobby into a lucrative side hustle is not as challenging as you may think. You should check if there is a need in the market for the product or service you are offering. According to BLS, on average, 45 percent of businesses fail during their first five years. It’s therefore important to check the viability of your side hustle or business idea. 

In order to turn your business ideas into profitable ventures, you will need to follow a few steps. The first step is to make a list of your passions and hobbies. It would also be in your best interest to find side hustles that generate passive income. Doing so will save you a lot of time and effort without compromising your full-time income. 

How to Side Hustle From Home

You can easily start a profitable side hustle from home once you establish your area of expertise. You should start by evaluating how much spare time you have. Afterward, evaluate your skills before selecting the type of side hustle that you will pursue. Your skills will inform you whether to choose an online or in-person side hustle. 

Once you have enough information from your market research, you should develop a business plan. Your business plan will help you run your side hustle smoothly. If you don’t want to become an entrepreneur, you can opt to become a freelancer. There are plenty of freelancing jobs offering flexible side hustles that only require your portfolio. With proof of your skills, you can receive plenty of invites to different job opportunities. 

How to Start a Side Hustle as a Woman

You can start your side hustle as a woman if you are passionate and disciplined. Many women have side hustles to supplement their main income. This is because of the existing gender pay gap across all industries. If you’re a woman looking for additional income, follow these steps to generate multiple income streams from side hustles. 

Make a List of Skills

Often, professionals build side hustles based on their own skills. The point of a side hustle is to build from already existing skills or knowledge. It should be a convenient opportunity where you can gain money. Therefore, you should go for a side hustle that aligns with your existing skillset. However, you can also enroll in a course to build your skills before proceeding to any side jobs. 

Conduct Research

Once you have established your set of skills, you should conduct extensive research. It’s important to check whether your side hustle idea is viable. You should also establish your time investment and the income stream you expect from the side hustle. This will determine both your commitment level and the success of your side hustle. 

Create a Working Structure

The most important aspect of a side hustle is structure. You may want to escape the nine-to-five routine, but it’s challenging to manage a side hustle without a proper structure. You should establish a convenient working schedule, solidify your tools of the trade, and set proper goals. 

Develop Relationships 

It can be a bit challenging to branch out of your normal work scene. Therefore, look into forging relationships with mentors or accountability partners. These people will offer you the support and advice you need to succeed. Connect with people who are in the industry you want to join. 

Check Requirements 

Often, side hustles feature minimal requirements, but this doesn’t mean you should overlook them. Reading the fine print will ease the process and help you avoid any unnecessary hurdles. Once you qualify for certain roles, you will easily receive job offers from clients. 

Best Side Hustles for Women

There are numerous ways for women to earn extra cash. Below, we feature the best side hustles for women that have minimal requirements and pay decently. These opportunities are excellent for women who like being their own bosses and curating their working schedules. 

Personal Shopper

Becoming a personal shopper is an excellent idea since you can get paid to shop for clients in your home area. Personal shoppers are in charge of their own schedules and often receive great tips when delivering goods on time. 

If you don’t want to interact with clients, you can choose to become a mystery shopper. Mystery shopping involves anonymously visiting a business as a “mystery shopper” and rating the customer service and quality of goods you receive.

Personal Trainer

Being a personal trainer may seem like a side hustle for men, but it’s highly lucrative for women looking to earn extra money. Female personal trainers are more popular today among men and women alike. You can choose to privately train clients over the weekends or evenings at your local gym, or you could run a fitness class. Personal trainer is a well-paying job position with great incentives. 

Freelance Writers

The freelance writing gig economy is currently booming and generating a lot of jobs, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. All you need to become a freelance writer is a good laptop with a connection to the Internet and decent writing skills. Additionally, English speakers will have an edge in this job market. 

Many business owners rely on freelance writers to help them meet their company goals and needs, particularly since the increased popularity of social media marketing. You can choose to work part-time as a freelance writer from home. 

Babysitting Services

Another popular side hustle for women is babysitting. Also known as child care services, babysitting is excellent for people who have a demanding schedule but are free over the weekends or evenings. You can choose to become a babysitter for your neighbors, which will be convenient and less demanding. 

Cleaning Service

According to BLS, maids and housekeeping cleaners earn an average salary of $26,220 per year. You can earn more or less depending on referrals and reviews. If you don’t want to work directly for clients, you can start a mini cleaning service company, letting you cater to different clients over the weekend. 

Ride-Sharing Service

One of the best side hustles is starting a ride-sharing service. Instead of driving to work alone, you can choose to offer drop-offs to people working in the same vicinity as you. This is a great way to cut fuel costs while increasing your cash flow.

Laundry Services

You can start your own mobile laundry service in your local area, utilizing a social media page to attract your neighbors and people in the vicinity to your business. Running a laundry business provides an extra source of income without being demanding. This type of side hustle can easily work with a busy schedule. 

Real Estate Agent

If you are good at marketing, you can choose to become a real estate agent part-time. This is an excellent side hustle for professionals with a keen interest in selling houses. You can also learn about real estate by simply enrolling in a free online course. Often, real estate agents are paid in commission. 

Affiliate Marketing

Online marketing is the perfect side hustle. For instance, with affiliate marketing, you get paid commissions by online businesses when people buy their products through your online avenues including social media like Instagram, blogs, websites, YouTube videos, and podcasts. 

However, you should know that affiliate marketing is very different from network marketing or multi-level marketing (MLM). The latter involves pyramid selling and, according to the Federal Trade Commission, less than one percent of MLM participants make a profit. Be careful when you look for affiliate marketing opportunities and make sure you’re not joining an MLM.

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Side Hustle Apps You Can Use to Earn Extra Cash

There are plenty of side hustle apps that can help you earn extra cash at your convenience. These mobile applications are reputable across the US amongst both men and women. If you are looking to boost your finances without stress, you should consider the top side hustle apps listed below. 

• Uber. This mobile taxi service connects Uber drivers to passengers. Passengers enjoy the convenience of easy transportation, and Uber drivers get to earn extra money. Becoming an Uber driver allows you to be your own boss by dictating the most convenient time to operate. All you need to become an Uber driver is a smartphone, a car, and a valid driving license. You also need a stellar driving record. 
• Instacart. This is another excellent side hustle application that you can use to earn extra cash. All you need to do is shop for clients in a certain area. You can sign up to become an Instacart driver and shopper if you are 18 years or older. It’s an excellent app if you have a car, mobile application, and can carry more than 50 pounds. 
• TaskRabbit. Through TaskRabbit, you will complete odd jobs within your area of choice. You will complete cleaning, errands, or delivery tasks. Once you complete the tasks, you can send your invoice. All you need for this job is a smartphone and transportation to get to clients. 
• OfferUp. This is a popular mobile application that can help you earn more money. You can use the mobile application to sell used goods and gain an extra income. Simply take a picture of the item and post it on the application for buyers. All you need for this job is a smartphone and items to sell. 
• Handy. Through Handy, you can land a job as a house cleaner or a handyperson. This is an excellent side hustle that provides convenience and good pay. To land a job, you will need a smartphone, tools, and a form of transportation. 

What Is the Best Side Hustle for Women?

The best side hustles for women include ridesharing, freelance writing, and affiliate marketing. Women’s best side hustle jobs offer convenience, decent pay, and reliability. These three factors determine which side hustle will positively impact a woman juggling two or more jobs. You should narrow down the list of the best side hustle given the options listed in this guide. 

Before settling for any side hustle job, it is important to take note of the challenges you may encounter. Some jobs attract huge pay but have a lot of downsides. You can establish the best side hustle by checking out online reviews. You can also rely on referrals from friends and family, which are the most reliable. 

Side Hustles for Women FAQ