The cost of living crisis has led more people than ever to work towards an extra stream of income, with one in five Brits starting a side hustle since the first COVID lockdown in March 2020. Whether you choose freelancing, trading, or running a small business, success comes from learning how to make your skills and spare hours work for you. In a time where every pound counts, ‘side hustle’ has become more than just a buzzword – it’s a lifeline for many who struggle to stretch their salary to the end of the month.
So, what are the most popular side hustles, and how do you choose the right one for you?
Side hustles help you in a number of ways, whether it’s supplementing your income or helping you learn new skills. They’re often the first step to refining a small business idea and could include freelancing, tutoring, crafting, or even trading. It’s important that you find a side hustle that fits your lifestyle, your amount of free time, and your interests outside of your main career.
In this blog, we’ll take a deeper look into what’s fuelling the rise of side hustles in the UK, break down some of the most popular options, and help you figure out which ones might suit you.
Why Are Side Hustles On The Rise?
The UK has seen a notable rise in the number of people seeking out side hustles in recent years, whether it’s a second job or a business idea alongside your main job.
According to LinkedIn, approximately 39% of Brits have a side hustle as of 2025, earning an average of £914 per month. Several factors have contributed to this rise, including:
- Financial Necessity: The recent rise in the cost of living has led many people to look for additional sources of income, with a number of Brits turning to side hustles to counter challenging living costs.
- Technological Advancements: Digital platforms, like Fiverr, are becoming more popular and have made it easier to start and manage a side hustle like freelancing.
- Flexibility Goals: Side hustles are the perfect choice for those who want more control over their schedules. Research from Adobe Express shows that 22% of those interested in side hustles are looking for more flexible working hours.
- Financial Security: Those who experienced the furlough scheme through COVID lockdowns know more than ever how quickly their income can fall. Multiple streams of income are more common now, as people rely on side hustles for upskilling and a more sustainable paycheck.
Top 10 Most Popular Hustles In The UK Right Now
It’s clear that more and more people across the UK are turning to side hustles for a number of reasons: to supplement income, gain financial independence, or explore possible new career paths. We’ve put together a list of some of the most popular and accessible and popular side hustles right now to give you some inspiration.
Investing and Trading
Whether it’s trading stocks, forex, or cryptocurrencies, investing can be an extremely rewarding side hustle. It comes with risk, but with the right technical and mindset training, like the swing trading courses offered here at STARTrading, you can develop effective strategies even as a beginner.
With the STARTrading method you can get started using only 30 minutes out of your day, allowing you to have the flexibility that so many look for with a side hustle.
Freelance Copywriting Or Graphic Design
If your day job or hobby gives you the skills to write blog posts, edit written content, or even design graphics for social media, it’s likely you’ll be able to find businesses that are looking to hire freelancers for these jobs. There are a number of platforms that can connect with clients worldwide, and you can earn that extra income from skills you already have.
Selling Handmade Items
If you’re crafty or creative, you can use platforms like Etsy to sell handmade goods or personalised gifts and turn your hobby into profit. Show off your creations on social media, and you might just start to build an audience who’d like to own your paintings, sculptures, and even digital resources.
Online Tutoring
COVID lockdowns not only brought about the rise of side hustles, but also introduced the need for online learning. There’s a consistent demand for tutors in key school subjects like English, Maths, or Science, with the past few years making it an even more accessible career. A lot of platforms don’t even require formal teaching qualifications, just a proven level of knowledge and excellent communication skills.
Delivery Services
Both our economy and lifestyle lean towards the idea of convenience, made even easier by food delivery apps and sites with next-day delivery. Many people are signing up for services like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, or Amazon and using their vehicles to earn a flexible income. Often referred to as the ‘gig economy’, this is one of the popular side hustles as it gives you much more autonomy and control over how you earn in your spare time.
Social Media Management
As businesses start to recognise the importance of their online presence, the demand for skilled social media managers has drastically risen. You’ll create content, manage accounts, engage with followers and keep an eye on the performance of your company’s social media. This is ideal for those who stay up to date on trends, have a knack for communication, and enjoy staying connected in the digital world.
Content Creation
If you have a niche interest, start up a passion project that has the potential to earn you money in the future. Start a blog, set up a YouTube channel, or even record a podcast with a friend. You’ll start earning extra cash when you build a large enough audience and attract advertisers.
Renting Out Extra Space
Whether it’s making money with your spare room or earning cash with a parking space in a busy city, UK homeowners have a lot of options for passive income. This is the perfect opportunity to generate steady income with little effort, using platforms like Airbnb or JustPark.
Virtual Assistance
Those looking for extra income can also take advantage of others who have started small businesses or entrepreneurial ventures. Those involved often need help with admin tasks, email management, customer service, or even planning and scheduling. Take advantage of your organisational skills and start this remote, flexible side hustle.
Pet Sitting Or Dog Walking
This popular side hustle is a perfect choice for pet lovers, especially if you love the company of animals but don’t have the ability to have one yourself. Walk your neighbour’s dog on your lunch break while they’re in the office or look after a friend’s cat while they’re on holiday. It’s a low-stress option and is often a more enjoyable way to make money outside of your 9-to-5.
Skills You Can Monetise Immediately
You might not realise, but it’s likely that you already have skills that can help you to start generating income as a side hustle. You don’t have to learn an entirely new skill to start up a side hustle – the key is to identify what you can bring to the table and find a sector that matches up.
Writing And Communications
Freelance writing, copy editing, or even social media management, could be a perfect fit for you if you have a natural way with words. Businesses of all types are constantly looking for clear and engaging content, often outsourcing this work to freelancers.
Technical And Digital Skills
If you can build websites, create graphics, or manage advertisements, you have highly sought-after skills that small businesses often outsource. Even basic skills in Canva or WordPress can bring you quick wins on a number of freelancing platforms.
Organisation And Admin Skills
You don’t need to be an expert or have professional qualifications to take advantage of your organisational skills. A detail-oriented mindset allows you to offer inbox management, scheduling or spreadsheet work for other busy professionals or entrepreneurs.
Creative And DIY Talents
Skills like crafting, painting, baking, or photography are perfect for a side hustle. Sell your items, take painting commissions, or offer food services in your local area and turn your handmade work into extra income.
Popular Side Hustles You Can Start With No Money
The idea that you need to spend money to make money can often stop people from venturing into the world of side hustles. The truth is that many successful side hustles start with no investment at all, just time, skills, and a willingness to take control of your own income.
Here are just a few options that you can start without spending a thing:
Reselling
Kill two birds with one stone and make money on the things you no longer need around the house. Clear out a wardrobe, whittle down your book collection, or make some space in the garage, and sell them on eBay, Vinted or Facebook Marketplace. You don’t need stock to start, just your unused items.
Surveys And User Testing
While they’re not often the foundation for long-term side hustles, certain platforms can offer you some quick wins for sharing your opinion or testing websites. It won’t be as lucrative as other options, but it’s a great starting point.
Print-On-Demand
If you’re good at creating designs or funny slogans, you can create and sell products using print-on-demand services like RedBubble. There’s no inventory needed, just upload your designs and start selling products like t-shirts, mugs, or posters.
How To Choose the Right Side Hustle For You
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of side hustles available to you. Don’t fall into the trap of chasing trends, find something that suits your goals, skills, and lifestyle.
Goals
Are you trying to:
- Cover bills or debt?
- Save for a holiday or a house?
- Increase your income in the long term?
If your goals are short-term, try quick-return options like reselling or delivery services. Long-term goals are more likely to require more scalable options, like content creation or financial trading.
Skills
It’s clear that you don’t need new qualifications to start a side hustle, just take a look at what you’re already good at:
- Good communication? Try tutoring or copywriting.
- Organised? Start a side hustle as a virtual assistant.
- Creative? Look at social media management or content creation.
Picking something that aligns with the skills and interests you already have can make it easier to stay consistent.
Lifestyle
Your side hustle should fit into your life as it is. Before choosing, think about your existing commitments, your energy levels after a day at your 9-to-5, and your personal priorities.
- Busy family life? Choose something flexible that you can do from home, like reselling or freelance writing.
- 9-to-5 with long hours? Look for options with low time pressure or things you can pick up when you have enough energy. For example, delivery services or copy editing.
- Love travelling? Pick a remote side hustle, like graphic design or content creation, that you can do wherever you can take a laptop or camera.
- Craving work-life balance? Stay away from the side hustles that require daily customer communication or rigid deadlines.
Time vs Money: Finding A Side Hustle That Fits Your Schedule
It’s likely that you’ll face a common challenge when you start a side hustle: managing time. Whether you’re working full-time, studying, parenting, or even juggling all three, your schedule will shape what kind of side hustle is realistic for you. Some choices require daily effort, whilst others let you dip in and out when you like. It’s important to strike the right balance between time and earning potential to really build something sustainable.
Understanding The Time-Income Trade Off
There’s a general rule to keep in mind when it comes to side hustles: if it requires less time, it often pays less, at least at first. If a side hustle has the potential to bring in a high income, it typically demands more time upfront.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Do you need money quickly? Choose a hustle that pays immediately, like delivering or freelancing.
- Can you invest time now for a bigger return later? Consider choosing to build an audience on a blog or YouTube channel over time.
You’ll need to understand where each side hustle falls on the time-money spectrum to help you choose something that meets both short-term needs and long-term goals.
Factor In Your Schedule And Energy Levels
Choosing the right side hustle for you isn’t just about how many hours you have free, but when you have them and your energy levels during these times:
- Only have evenings free? Tutoring, freelancing, and virtual assistant work can often be done in the hours after your 9-to-5.
- Have time on the weekend? Let your neighbours enjoy a day out while you get paid for pet sitting or dog walking.
- Low mental energy after work? Choose something that is low-pressure and involves repetitive tasks, like admin-based freelance work.
It’s important that you find something that fits well into your week, as you’re much more likely to stick to it if you don’t feel overwhelmed.
Scale Your Side Hustle Alongside Your Time
Some side hustle options grow as you put more time into them, meaning you can start small and increase your effort as your schedule frees up. These could include:
- Building a freelance business.
- Growing a social media presence.
- Running a small eCommerce shop.
- STARTrading’s Masterclass
Other choices are a bit more fixed, meaning you can earn per hour or per task, but growth is limited by how much time you can give:
- Tutoring
- Pet sitting or dog walking
- Deliveries or other gig work
If you want to evolve your side hustle into a full-time income, start with the scalable options like in the first list. If you simply want extra cash without any added pressure, low-maintenance examples like the second list are more ideal.
Be Realistic, Avoid Burnout
It’s tempting to jump in headfirst when you start something new, but you need to remember that consistency will always trump intensity. There’s no point giving every hour to a side hustle if you’re exhausted at the end of it.
Here are some steps to help avoid burnout:
- Set clear time limits – e.g. five hours a week.
- Use productivity techniques like time-blocking or the Pomodoro Technique.
- Be sure to put aside time for rest and non-work activities.
A successful and sustainable side hustle will support your lifestyle without draining you personally. You’ll only achieve long-term success by balancing effort with rest.
Start Earning Extra With STARTrading
Ready to take control of your money on your own terms? The right side hustle can help supplement your income, save for a future goal, or eventually become your own boss. Here at STARTrading, we empower aspiring traders with the mindset, skills, and strategies to grow their wealth confidently. If you’re serious about turning your time into profit, our expert-led trading mentorship is here to guide you through it.
Start your side hustle journey with STARTrading today and take the first step towards financial freedom.
