The Best Side Hustle ideas: 7 Smart Side Hustles to Earn $1,000 or More Per Month

So you are thinking about starting a side hustle!

We all could use some extra money in our pockets each month. But for many, the 9-5 grind makes it challenging to get ahead financially.

The good news? There are countless smart side hustle opportunities out there that allow you to control your income and boost your bottom line.

Whether you want to pay off debt, build savings, or earn funds for a major purchase, a side gig that brings in $1,000 or more per month can get you there faster.

Compared to popular side hustles like ridesharing and food delivery, these savvy income ideas have greater earnings potential for less effort.

In this article, we’ll uncover 7 of the best side hustles ideally suited for part-time work but with impressive profit potential.

Spanning options like consulting, freelancing, selling products online, and more, these handpicked ideas can readily net $1,000+ each month if pursued strategically.

We’ll overview how each smart side hustle works, provide tips to maximize your earnings, and outline typical hourly rates and income expectations.

We’ll also reveal the upfront costs and time investment required, so you can decide which ideas align best with your skills, interests, and lifestyle.

Whether you devote after-work hours or weekends, these 20 smart strategies can elevate your income significantly.

So read on to discover new pathways to make at least $1,000 per month and take control of your finances!

1. Bookkeeper

Bookkeeping is an in-demand, stable side hustle for the analytically-minded. Have a look at the overview:

Skills Needed:

• Accounting knowledge
• Attention to detail
• Organization
• Excel/accounting software skills
• Analytical thinking

Start Up Costs:

• $0 – $500 (computer, software, certification)

Difficulty:

• Moderate

Income Range:

• $500 – $4,000 per month

Why It’s a Good Side Hustle:

• Specialized skill – Bookkeepers are always in demand
• Flexible – Balance as a side gig along with your schedule
• Scalable earnings – Take on more clients to increase pay
• Variety – Work with small businesses, ecommerce shops, entrepreneurs
• Professional growth – Gain cross-industry financial experience
• Semi-passive income – Many tasks are routine, recurring
• Mobile friendly – Much of the work can be done remotely
• Expand over time – Start small and grow your client base

With some accounting fundamentals and experience, this profitable, flexible side business can be operated part-time from your laptop. If you enjoy working with numbers and organizing financial data, bookkeeping is a stable, constantly in-demand path to generate extra earnings.

2: Dog Walking

Dog walking is an easy, enjoyable side hustle for canine lovers. Here’s an overview:

Skills Needed:

• Dog handling experience
• Physical fitness
• Time management abilities

Start Up Costs:

$50 – $200 (leashes, waste bags, treats)

Difficulty:

Easy

Income Potential:

$1,000 – $4,000 per month

Why It’s a Good Side Hustle:

• Very flexible schedule
• Mix of recurring and one-off clients
• Mobile – go where demand is
• Scales easily from part-time upwards
• Combines exercise with earning
• Year-round demand for services
• Can specialize by size of dogs

Requiring just basic gear and a fondness of canines, dog walking offers easy, reputable income with unlimited client expansion possibilities as you choose to grow. You’ll also enjoy plenty of fresh air and furry friends!

3: Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is an excellent side hustle to consider due to its flexibility, high earning potential, and relatively low barrier to entry. Here’s an overview:

Skills Needed:

• Strong writing abilities
• Good research skills
• Ability to write in different styles and for different audiences
• Time management and self-motivation

Start Up Costs:

• $0 – $100 (computer, internet access)

Difficulty:

• Easy to moderate

Income Range:

• $500 – $5,000+ per month

Why It’s a Good Side Hustle:

• Flexible – You can write on your own schedule, part-time from home
• Scalable – Take on as much or as little work as fits your schedule
• Variety – Choose from many genres like marketing, creative writing, journalism
• Lucrative – Experienced writers can charge $50 – $200+ per hour
• Low barriers – No advanced degrees required to get started
• Autonomous – Choose your clients and projects
• Build a portfolio – Grow your skills and samples for bigger pay days

If you enjoy writing and have some background in crafting different styles of content, freelance writing is an accessible, potentially lucrative side hustle. The ability to work at your own pace while earning supplemental or even full-time income makes this a smart choice for many.

4. Pet Sitting

Pet sitting is an enjoyable, highly flexible side hustle for animal lovers. Here’s an overview:

Skills Needed:

• Animal care & handling
• Reliability/time management
• Customer service abilities

Start-Up Costs:

$0 – $200 (basic gear)

Difficulty:

Easy to Medium

Income Potential:

$1,000 – $5,000+ per month

Why It’s a Good Side Hustle:

• Alignment with personal interests
• Very flexible schedule
• Minimal start up costs
• Unlimited potential client base
• Mix of recurring and one-off clients
• Awesome tax deductions related to business
• Ability to operate year-round

Pet sitting provides convenience for animal owners while granting you supplemental income on your terms.

Representing a virtually untapped market, it scales to your desired level of commitment while letting you indulge your love for our furry friends!

5. Uber Eats

Driving for Uber Eats is an easy, fast-earning gig economy side hustle.

Here’s an overview:

Skills Needed:

• Valid driver’s license & insurance
• Reliable vehicle
• Smartphone & data plan

Start Up Costs:

$0 beyond personal car & phone

Difficulty:

Easy

Income Potential:

$300 – $2,000+ per month

Why It’s a Good Side Hustle:

• Extremely fast onboarding
• No resume or interview
• Instant payouts after each shift
• Flexible schedule
• No boss or oversight
• Scales earning to hours worked
• Cash tips on top of base

Offering income literally on demand, Uber Eats lets you capitalize quickly on downtime through meal deliveries with almost no barriers to entry.

By driving when you want, it handily beats minimum wage while keeping you in the driver’s seat.

6. Window Washer

Window washing is a great side hustle that is agile, and low-barrier with flexible earnings.

If you are physical then you should consider other manual labour side hustles that can bring in extra income.

Here is an overview:

Skills Needed:

• Cleaning abilities
• Physical fitness for climbing/reaching
• Time management skills

Start-Up Costs:

$500 – $2,000 (equipment, supplies, transport)

Difficulty:

Medium

Income Potential:

$2,000 – $5,000 per month

Why It’s a Good Side Hustle:

• Very flexible schedule
• Mobile – go where demand is
• Low startup costs
• Unlimited client potential
• Residual repeat business
• Leverage specialized gear/skills
• Environmentally friendly offering

Requiring modest gear investment and the willingness to work at heights, a window washing operation can quickly begin earning through servicing both commercial and residential buildings in your local area.

Representing considerable untapped consumer demand, it scales easily according to your available time without extensive marketing.

7. Virtual Assistant

Working as a virtual assistant is a fantastic side hustle option for those with administrative skills who want to enjoy location flexibility and excellent earning potential. Here’s an overview:

Skills Needed:

• Administrative (scheduling, email, documents)
• Customer service
• Communication skills
• Tech savvy with various tools
• Organizational skills

Start Up Costs:

• $0 – $500 (computer/software)

Difficulty:

• Moderate

Income Range:

• $1,000 – $4,000+ per month

Why It’s a Good Side Hustle:

• Location independent – Work remotely so you can live anywhere
• Flexible Schedule – Set your own hours that work for you
• Scalable – Take on as many or as few clients as wanted
• Professional growth – Gain experience with different industries
• Varied tasks – Assist with admin work, social media, customer service and more
• Lucrative – Experienced VAs can charge $25 – $50 per hour
• Low overhead – No need for extensive qualifications or degrees
• Build expertise – Expand your skills over time

With minimal startup costs, administrative talents, strong communication abilities, and some tech skills, virtual assisting can make for a rewarding and highly profitable side business. The flexibility combined with a professional workload without needing an office makes this a coveted gig for many entreprene