6 Side Gigs You Can Start Today With No Upfront Investment

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Starting a side gig without any upfront investments could change your financial future, as it will provide you with additional income with minimal risks. Gig economies have grown exponentially in the last couple of years due to technological growth and a shift in perception towards work-life balance. 

In the U.S. alone, about 54% of adults have side gigs, according to MarketWatch Guides, making an average of $688 per month, as reported by Self Financial — that’s approximately $247,680 over 30 years. 

The estimated worth of the gig economy worldwide is to reach $455.2 billion by 2025, according to Statista, which puts into perspective many opportunities for someone willing to put in their time and energy to better position their finances.

Below are side gigs you can start today with practically zero upfront investment.

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Freelance Writing and Editing

As companies increasingly outsource content creation, writing has gained a lot of demand. It could be anything from blog content, copywriting for marketing, creating technical guidelines or editing and proofreading. 

There are dozens of freelance platforms like  Upwork, Fiverr and Problogger where you can find these gigs.

According to data by We Are Indy, pay can range from $30 to $300 per article, depending on experience and field of expertise. Editors charge between $10 and $50 hourly, depending on experience and location.

This is a highly-scalable gig since your earning potential grows with the growth of your portfolio. According to one report by Statista, freelancing will make up 50% of the workforce in the U.S. alone by 2027.

Online Tutoring

E-learning is a growing market set to grow as high as $374 billion by 2026, according to GlobeNewswire. Facilitated through online tutoring services like VIPKid and Tutor.com, anyone who has learned and passed a particular subject well could help other students do the same. There is a niche for every tutor, whether in math, science, language or history.

According to Indeed, Tutors are paid anywhere from $14 to $44 per hour, depending on the subject and location.

Online tutors are in demand, especially if you have relevant educational qualifications like a degree in the field. Or if you don’t, you can even teach non-academic things, like playing a musical instrument or coding. 

With this gig, you can enjoy teaching and get paid well while making a difference in someone’s life.

Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants or VAs, support businesses by handling administrative tasks like emailing, scheduling, managing social media and data entry. 

This field is growing, considering the workforce is opening up more to remote work. Many firms need virtual assistants to do their jobs without the necessary interest of full-time workers.

According to Upwork, virtual assistants’ salaries vary from $10 to 20 per hour for beginners, with the potential for $30 or more per hour for an established assistant.

You only need a computer with an internet connection and some know-how with tools like Workspace and project management software like Trello. 

According to a report by Grand View Research, the virtual assistant market will reach $14.1 billion by 2030, representing massive growth in the upcoming years. 

Affiliate Marketing 

In affiliate marketing, the salesman earns a commission for every sale made of specific products or services promoted. With their relatively easy subscription options through Amazon Associates, ShareASale and ClickBank, they will only require your blog or social media. 

In return, you are not required to maintain inventory or provide customer support. You also earn money on every click and purchase via affiliate links.

The real value of the affiliate marketing industry in the U.S. in 2024 is $17 billion (according to AuthorityHacker) and it is expected to grow to $27.78 billion, showing that affiliate marketing is a big industry with big potential. 

Affiliate marketers use SEO and social media marketing and, if executed properly, can earn between $100 and $1,000 per month.

Content Creator on YouTube or TikTok

YouTube and TikTok let people earn from ad revenue, sponsorships and affiliate marketing on their accounts. Whether you’re cooking, reviewing technology or making people laugh, there’s an audience waiting to watch your videos.

You can earn anywhere from $100 to $1,000 monthly if you post content consistently, while established creators earn up to six figures.

Success requires only one thing: consistency. You could build a following with your smartphone and free editing tools. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, YouTube pays around $18 for every 1,000 ad views and can create passive income over time.

Selling Handmade Products in Etsy

Artists could monetize their work by selling products on the Etsy marketplace. It has over 90 million active customers, according to its website. Custom jewelry, candles, art and stationery are the most in-demand items.

This is great because it has a low barrier to entry. Etsy charges a low listing fee of 20 cents and no minimum on how much they have to produce. Many vendors use Etsy to scale their projects into full-on businesses, leveraging social media to drive traffic back to their stores. Just recently, Etsy released an annual report stating that in 2024, sellers generated $13.2 billion in revenue, proof that it could reach a broad market.

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