Here are 10 side hustles you can start this year that actually make money

1. AI Prompt Engineering for Small Businesses

Every small business wants to use ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity, but most don’t know how. If you understand prompt frameworks, chatbot training, or how to automate workflows, you can offer your services to solopreneurs, agencies, or local shops. Package your work through Gumroad or Fiverr, or sell directly.

Earning potential: $25–$150/hr, depending on complexity.

2. Newsletter-as-a-Service

Brands are hungry for audience attention but often lack time or know-how. Start a niche newsletter in a space you know, like remote DevOps or indie ecommerce. Build a following, then monetize through sponsorships or offer ghostwriting services for founders and execs.

Earning potential: $500–$10,000/month depending on niche and audience size.

3. Local Lead Generation via SEO & Google Maps

Local service businesses still struggle to rank on Google. You can build a simple one-page website for a niche like pressure washing or pet grooming, rank it on Google Maps, and rent the leads to a local provider. Once it’s running, it’s nearly passive.

Earning potential: $300–$2,000/month per site.

4. Micro-AI SaaS

Thanks to no-code tools like Bubble and Make, you can build a mini SaaS around a hyper-specific problem, think AI summary tools for insurance adjusters or content rewriting tools for Amazon sellers. Keep it simple, price it low, and let SEO or niche communities drive users.

Earning potential: $1,000–$10,000/month with the right audience fit.

5. TikTok UGC Creator for B2B

B2B brands finally see TikTok’s potential but lack in-house talent. If you can shoot short-form, educational, or humorous content that explains a product or trend, you can offer packages to SaaS, fintech, and HR tech companies as a UGC creator.

Earning potential: $250–$1,500/video.

6. Freelance CRM Setup for Solo Founders

Founders want better sales systems but dread setting up a CRM. Learn a few platforms like HubSpot, Pipedrive, or Go High Level and offer a flat-rate setup that includes automations, pipeline views, and onboarding. Bonus points if you can teach them how to use it after.

Earning potential: $300–$2,000/project.

7. Ghostwriting LinkedIn Thought Leadership

Executives want to build their personal brand but hate writing. If you know how to turn a founder’s thoughts into polished posts, offer monthly content packages—think team wins, lessons from building, or trend analysis. This is one of the easiest retainers to land.

Earning potential: $500–$4,000/month per client.

8. Digital Product Flipping

People build digital assets and abandon them - perfect for acquisition. Look on sites like Acquire.com, IndieMaker, or Flippa to buy small newsletters, templates, or tools. Improve the asset, rebuild the audience, and either resell or monetize it yourself.

Earning potential: 2x–10x ROI depending on flip.

9. Online Course Editor

Course creators record tons of raw content but often don’t know how to turn it into something polished. Offer editing services, design help, or curriculum structuring. If you can bundle in sales page design or Kajabi setup, you’ve got a full package.

Earning potential: $500–$5,000/course.

10. Community-as-a-Service Builder

Brands are obsessed with building community, but most don’t know how to create engagement. If you know Notion, Slack, Circle, or Discord, you can offer setup, engagement frameworks, and moderation services. Great for creators, indie brands, and early-stage SaaS startups.

Earning potential: $750–$3,500/month per client.

Final Thought

The best side hustle isn’t the flashiest; it’s the one that fits your skills, interests, and schedule. You don’t need permission, a big audience, or venture capital. Just one valuable skill, one hungry niche, and a willingness to start before you’re ready.

Entrepreneur Toolkit: Tools to Power Your Business

1. Durable

Durable uses AI to instantly generate websites for service businesses. Perfect for launching a local lead gen site or landing page for your side hustle in minutes. It’s ideal if you’re not technical but still want something clean, fast, and client-ready.

2. Tella

Tella makes recording and editing short-form videos incredibly easy, whether you’re building a TikTok UGC portfolio or explaining your SaaS product. You can record multiple takes, trim clips, and export polished content without ever opening Premiere Pro.

3. Beehiiv

Beehiiv is the go-to newsletter platform for creators looking to build, grow, and monetize an audience. With built-in referral tools, analytics, and ad network access, it’s ideal if you’re launching a niche newsletter-as-a-service or ghostwriting for execs.

Built Not Hired is built for the modern creator, freelancers, solopreneurs, and builders who want freedom and ownership. If that’s you, pick one idea and run with it.