Side Hustles for Women: The Complete Guide

Whether you work a full-time job or have something part-time to pay the bills, there's not a person out there who doesn't want to earn some extra money. Whether your side hustle idea is to be a freelance writer, a food delivery driver, to cut lawns or start a wedding photography business, there really is no reason not to use your spare time to make a few bucks here and there. 

And while most or all of the side hustles on this list can be done by both males and females, we're dedicating this article to side hustles for women. Why? Because even in 2021, the gender pay gap still exists. 

No matter what skills you possess or how much extra time you have on your hands, this list of side hustles for women has something that'll fit every woman's needs and skill set. Ready to start making more money? Let’s go!

How to find the right side hustle 

For many women, determining what kind of side hustle to look for can be the hardest part of the process. There may be many side passions you're interested in exploring – but you're not sure how to leverage that side hustle idea into extra income. 

Or maybe you know exactly what type of side hustle would suit your needs – but you can't seem to find anyone who's hiring, or know where to look to get started. If you're seeking clarity on the best side hustles for women that fit your own individual needs, skills and interests, here are some questions to ask yourself before you get started supplementing your full time income on your own schedule.

How much time do you have for your side hustle?

Knowing how many hours per week you can dedicate to your side gig is a significant first step. While it's called a side hustle for a reason, some do require more time upfront spent signing up for a particular platform or learning a new skill that the side job may require. 

For this reason, it's wise to break out not only how many hours per week you'll have once you start your side hustle but also how much spare time you'll have when you're first starting. Remember, the first few weeks (or even months) of your side hustle might call for some additional time spent getting started. 

Making extra money: what daily or weekly tasks do you enjoy? 

When it comes to choosing side hustle ideas, you might be surprised at how many people will pay to have specific tasks completed for them regularly. Think about the chores you do daily, weekly and monthly. 

Do you love organizing your monthly calendar? Maybe you look forward to your weekly trip to the grocery store or your turn to drive the carpool.

Make a list of tasks you enjoy most -- it'll come in handy when zeroing in on the right side business ideas for you.  

What do people come to you for?

Are you the friend in the group who always gets asked to read over a resume or cover letter? Do the parents in your kid's classes ask where you got your child's clothes from or the recipe for those birthday cupcakes you made? 

Pay attention to what the people in your life ask you about most often -- this can help guide you toward the right side hustle and help earn you extra money for it. If you have a skill that others covet and appreciate, you might even consider building and selling online courses to teach others.

What skills can you leverage outside of work for extra cash?

With so many opportunities to make money online, knowing what skills from your current job translate to other side hustles is essential. For example, have you taught online classes or seminars? Does your current role involve online marketing or writing? 

Make a list of tangible skills you'd be able to employ at a part-time job -- this will help you identify the right business idea to pursue. 

7 easy side hustles for women

You've determined how much time you have, what you enjoy doing, what people come to you for and the transferrable skills you possess. Now, all that's left to do is find the right side hustle for you! 

If you're looking for a side hustle that'll be a breeze, here are a few side hustles for women that you can do without any prior experience.

1. Grocery shopping

This one is an especially easy side hustle for women who find themselves at the grocery store often. While you're picking up groceries on your list, why not get paid to shop for someone else at the same time? 

Companies like Postmates and Instacart offer flexible hours and competitive rates – plus, you'll earn tips. This is the perfect side hustle for women who know their local grocery store like the back of their hand -- the more orders you're able to fulfill, the more you'll earn. 

2. Consumer research

Did you know you can get paid to answer questions about your experiences and product usage? Participating in online surveys and focus groups can pay anywhere between $50-200 dollars an hour, depending on the topic. 

To get started, sign up with sites like User Interviews or Respondent. No prior experience is required; select which surveys/studies apply to you!

3. Rideshare driver

Love to drive? Know all the shortcuts in your neighborhood? Driving for rideshare apps like Uber or Lyft is a great side hustle for women who are always on the go – but have time to spare between carpools or commuting. As long as you have a vehicle and pass a background check, you can get started in no time. Drivers can earn between $90-$140 per day in their spare time!

4. Cleaning service

It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

Signing up with a cleaning company or through sites like housekeeper.com makes this an easy side hustle for women who find cleaning a breeze and know the tricks of the trade for getting even the most challenging surfaces clean. 

5. Pet sitting

Love animals? Get paid to hang out with them. Whether you are a cat or dog lover, sites like Rover and Meowtel make this side hustle for women simple to sign up for and start. While these sites may require background and reference checks, once you've been approved, this side hustle is not only fun but flexible. 

6. Standing in lines

Yes, you read that right. A great side hustle for women with lots of patience, being a line sitter at the DMV, for a new video game release or even for the latest and greatest restaurant in your area can earn you around $15 an hour. If you were already planning to snag that new Playstation or meal, why not get paid to do it for someone else, too, while you're there? 

7. Making money online doing surveys

Have some spare time? Survey-taking can be a great side hustle for making extra money in just a few extra minutes. All you'll need to do is watch a short video and answer a few questions to start earning extra money. 

8 high paying side hustles for women

For many women, time is money. If you're looking for the most bang for your buck, these side hustles for women will help you earn so much extra money. They just might become your main hustle.

1. Virtual assistant

Virtual assistant roles are a lucrative side hustle for women. Many detail-oriented and organized women have succeeded in part-time virtual assistant roles, earning extra income that can total up to $32 per hour. 

What do virtual assistants do? 

Some virtual assistants help small businesses with tasks like social media management, data entry or communicating with clients. Some individuals may hire a virtual assistant to keep track of their appointments, arrange travel reservations and respond to emails. You don't need prior experience to become a virtual assistant – just a skill set that's task-oriented.   

2. Online teaching

You don't have to have a degree in education to teach an online course and start earning extra money. In fact, teaching an online course is a great side hustle for women who have a unique skill or topic that they can educate others on. 

For example, sites like Teachable or Udemy allow users to create their own online classes, then earn money by charging others to take them. Think about what you can teach others, then make your online course. For example, do you have a knack for doing taxes? Can you teach simple coding or online marketing to the masses? 

3. Resume writing

Do your friends often come to you for help with their resumes? Do you often get interview requests after applying for a job?

Or maybe you've worked as a hiring manager at some point. Resume writing is a lucrative side hustle for women, with many resume writers reporting an income of $100 per resume. If you're just starting out, freelance sites like Upwork are a great place to start. 

4. Freelance writing

Love to write? If so, there are so many ways to make money online as a writer. If you like to write for fun, setting up a blog and subscribing to Google Adsense allows you to earn extra cash each time a reader clicks on an ad that appears on your site. 

Depending on your following, you can also offer sponsored posts from brands that want a more dedicated presence on your page. If you're not interested in writing a blog but want to leverage your writing skills, sites like Fiverr and Upwork connect writers with clients on an as-needed project basis. Sign up to write articles, tweets, email newsletters and more. 

5. Get paid to proofread

Proofreading is a great side hustle for women who have an eagle eye for proper grammar and spelling. As long as you have spare time and a computer, you can start making money proofreading everything from white papers to novels, court reports and legal documents. 

Part-time proofreading jobs can be found on many online job boards, and many are on a project basis, so you'll be able to apply to whichever opportunities fit best with your schedule.

6. Flip furniture

If you're creative and handy, flipping used furniture can be a lucrative side hustle. Thanks to local Facebook groups and online marketplaces, there's no shortage of free or nearly free furniture that people are eager to give away – which can easily be turned into something new and trendy with just a few coats of paint, some new hardware and time. 

Furniture flippers can bring in thousands of dollars a month by selling their furniture flips at flea markets or online. 

7. Local tour guide

Does your neighborhood have something exciting to offer? Hosting a local food tour or nature excursion in your area for visitors and tourists is fun and easy – not to mention a lucrative side hustle for women. 

Offer your tour through local Facebook groups, or for more exposure, partner with Airbnb Experiences to sell your unique tour to the visitors who are already visiting their platform. Tour guides offering local experiences report making around $50 per person -- which can really add up depending on how many people attend!

8. Become a reseller

Did you know you can sell old books, electronics, clothes and even vintage toys online? Many women have earned extra cash simply by cleaning out their closets. Have a ton of textbooks left over from your kid's high school days? Sites like BookScouter will connect you with buyers who are in need of a copy. 

If your wardrobe is overflowing, selling used clothing on sites like Poshmark can be an easy side hustle for some extra income. Still haven't parted ways with your old cell phones? Download the Gazelle app to exchange them for cash. 

How to balance a side hustle with everyday life

Many women have successfully earned extra money through side hustles. But adding more to your to-do list with a side job or part-time job can be a tough transition to make. 

Once you've found the right side hustle for your needs from our list of side hustles for women, it's time to figure out how to best fit this new income stream into your schedule. Here are a few tips for managing your side hustle to make more money. 

Work in time blocks

So many of the side hustles on this list can be lucrative for those who spend just a few hours of their spare time on them per day – or even per week. To ensure you're able to bring your side hustle idea to life, evaluate where in your workday you'd have a solid hour of time or more to sit down and dedicate to your side hustle. 

Set weekly side hustle goals

Many women who have successfully earned money online through side hustles didn't have success overnight. While there are many options on this list of side hustles for women that can start making you money instantly, most require time spent creating an account, as well as some online marketing of yourself and your services before the big bucks start rolling in. 

Set weekly goals and milestones you want to hit to stay on track and earn the extra income you're after. Maybe your first few weeks involve learning more about the side hustle you want to pursue. Or, your first few weeks might be creating accounts and signing up for the platforms where you'll earn extra money online. Some of the most lucrative side hustles are a marathon, not a sprint, so pace yourself accordingly.

Celebrate small wins

What goals do you have for your side hustle? Maybe you're saving money for an upcoming trip or working on a side hustle to help you pay off debt. Or maybe there's a particular item you're hoping to splurge on when your side hustle starts earning you more money. 

While working toward a big goal like a trip or shopping spree can be motivating, taking time to treat yourself along the way can help keep you motivated to continue your side hustle and keep you focused on building it further to increase the amount of money you make online. 

Consider setting small milestones for your side hustle idea, then treating yourself in a small way with the money you've made. This can be as simple as having dinner out at a restaurant or a trip to your local ice cream store with the family. 

Lean on others for support

Many women who have started their side hustles have sought out support – both from the people in their network and the online community. So many side hustlers have come before us and paved the way. 

So whether your interests lie in becoming a part-time virtual assistant, proofreader, writer or shopper, chances are there's an online community or local Facebook group that can help get you started. 

Summary

Many women have been able to use side hustles as a way to earn more money. Though many side hustle options do take time and require at least a little bit of learning about the industry and demand, making extra money with a side hustle doesn't have to require lots of time or effort. 

As remote work and online jobs evolve, there are sure to be many more side hustles for women and everyone available for the taking. Stay up-to-date on what's happening in your industry and areas of interest to get your foot in the door early. 

And don’t forget, it’s not all about you! If you want to help your kids find some work and develop the kind of habits that will benefit them in the long run, don’t hesitate to check out our blog detailing online jobs for teens!