Unusual Side Hustles: Weird & Wondeful!

When it comes to side hustles, it seems that everyone and their mother is walking dogs, driving for Uber, or selling handmade goods on Etsy these days.

But what about the intriguing, bold, or downright weird ways of making extra cash out there?

Believe it or not, in today’s bustling gig economy people are monetizing all sorts of wacky skills, niches, and passions to generate revenue streams while having fun doing it.

From renting out fancy ballgowns or strolling with alpacas to playing video games competitively or attending events for strangers, the opportunities for totally unconventional money-makers are out there…if you know where to look.

In this article, we dive into some of the most outrageously offbeat side hustles that entrepreneurial creatives around the world have leveraged with shockingly great success.

Whether you want to capitalize on a quirky talent, turn your love for exotic animals into cash, or just explore innovative ways to get paid for doing things no one else thought possible, you’ll find inspiration, actionable tips, and profiles of people killing it in the game of oddball side jobs.

Our list spans everything from the super niche, like becoming a professional bridesmaid, to more accessible but still outside-the-box options ideal for those looking to dip their toes into an unusual hustle without going overboard.

So read on to spark ideas about leveraging your distinct interests and skills in creative ways – you just might uncover a new passion project that pays the bills while making you smile too. The weirder the gig, the bigger difference you can make doing what you love most!

1. Pet Painter

A Pet Painter side hustle involves creating custom portraits and artwork of people’s beloved pets.

Some key advantages of starting this type of unusual side hustle include:

Skills Needed

• Artistic ability
• Experience with painting/drawing
• Attention to detail
• Photography (taking reference shots of pets)

Start Up Costs

• $50-$300 for art supplies
• Website hosting fees if selling online

Difficulty

• Easy to moderate to get started
• Practice required to improve artistic pet rendering

Income Range

• $20-$100+ per artwork initially -$500 – $5,000+ per month long term

Pet portrait pricing varies greatly based on factors like size, medium, detail level, and turnaround time. Butcustom art is in demand, allowing brand building and income growth over time.

Let me know if you need any other details! A Pet Painter side hustle allows you to tap into the nearly $70 billion dollar pet industry.

2. Voice Actor

Here is an overview of the pros and opportunities of running a Voice Actor side hustle:

Skills Needed:

• Clear and quality voice recording
• Acting/vocal versatility
• Audio editing
• Foreign accent imitation skills

A Voice Actor side hustle lets you potentially leverage interests like performing, public speaking, and languages into income opportunities. Key skills include a clear voice, acting talent, and audio tech abilities. You can even specialize in niche areas like celebrity sound-alikes.

Start Up Costs:

• $100+ for basic recording equipment
• $25+ for digital audio editor software
• Possible studio rental fees

The cost to get started is reasonable – a microphone, pop filter, editing software and a quiet place to record. Easy to scale over time by upgrading equipment and access to pro studios.

Difficulty:

• Easy to Moderate
• Memorization and speed takes practice

The barrier to entry is getting set up with tech then continually working on vocal versatility through different voice over gigs. Plan to put consistent time into honing skills.

Income Range:

• $20 – $100+ per small project
• $100s – $1,000s+ per month long term

Pricing is very fluid based on factors like project length, use case and experience level. But a large range of remote voice over work is available spanning industries like advertising, entertainment and corporate eLearning.

3. Friend for Hire

Here’s an overview of the pros and opportunities around starting an unusual “Friend for Hire” side hustle:

Skills Needed:

• Excellent social & listening skills
• High empathy & emotional intelligence
• Responsibility & reliability
• Flexible schedule

A Friend for Hire provides companionship to clients for activities like events, errands, travel and more. Key skills relate to being able to connect easily with a range of client personalities and situations.

Start Up Costs:

• $0 – $100s depending on offered services
• Possible fees for background checks
• Travel expenses

Overhead is variable based on services provided but generally low to get started. Mainly involves marketing yourself and screening potential clients carefully.

Difficulty:

• Easy to moderate
• Screening process requires diligence
• Maintaining boundaries can be challenging

Beginning is focused on customer acquisition tactics and defining policies. Ongoing work involves consistently assessing client suitability and upholding professional barriers.

Income Range:

• $25 – $50+ per hour based on services
• $1000s per month with regular clientele

Pricing can vary greatly based on specific friend duties, frequencies and lengths of interactions. But the personalized nature allows for significant income potential in the long run.

In summary, a Friend for Hire side hustle leverages emotional intelligence and friendliness into a scalable, flexible income stream.

4. Fancy Dress Rental

Here is an overview of the pros and appeal of an unusual Fancy Dress Rental side hustle:

Skills:

• Knowledge of fashion trends
• Alteration skills
• Marketing abilities
• Organization

Leverage interests in high-end fashion and styling into profits. Useful abilities include keeping up with current trends, basic alterations, digital promotion tactics, and cataloging inventory.

Start Up Costs:

• $500+ for initial dress inventory
• $50+ for basic supplies
• Website & ecommerce fees

Overhead consists primarily of acquiring an assortment of formal gowns and accessories to start. Easy to gradually expand catalog over time once established.

Difficulty:

• Moderate
• Managing inventory tracking
• Alteration expertise develops over time

Primary challenges tie to properly cataloging dresses and their accessories as well as managing inbound dry cleaning. Plan to continually expand alteration knowledge.

Income Range:

• $50 – $200 per multi-day rental
• $1000s in revenue with large inventory

Pricing rises based on the original dress value, rental duration, peak season demand. Strong earning upside exists long-term by carrying a wide variety of designer gown inventory.

In summary, a Fancy Dress Rental side hustle allows monetizing fashion expertise, leveraging existing dresses in the market, and serving time-constrained customers.