The PrimeTimePapa Side Gig Guide
Money, money money. Always an issue. And it often takes more than one source to make those ever widening ends meet, so here’s a comprehensive list of side gigs, virtual jobs and other ways to bring home more bacon.
A word of warning. Do your own research and if it seems too good to be true, c’mon, you know where this is going.
Some of the items below are very passive, some require a sizable bit of effort but the return/reward is there for each if you put your mind (or back) into it.
Tutoring - If you have skills in a subject, be it math, reading, etc, tutoring is a great way to earn some extra income and can be performed remotely. There are services online that can assist you in booking appointments (be wary of who you use and if they ask for money up front, run). There are plenty of busy parents with disposable income that could happily use the assistance if you’ve got the skills
Handyman - The proverbial Jack of All Trades. While contracting requires a license in many locations, handyman services are an excellent way to grab income while performing relatively simple tasks that many of us do at home anyway. A lot of the skills required to perform even the simplest tasks elude a lot of the population or they don’t have the time to complete them personally. You can sign up for services like Handy, TaskRabbit, Craigslist or Thumbtack just be aware they take a portion of every quote. You can also advertise through Facebook or other online platforms for free. Everyone needs a handyman. Mount TVs, fix leaks, be creative. If you’re handy with tools, great, most aren’t.
Moving/Delivery (Items) - If you have a truck and a few good muscles, services like Dolly and Bungii are great ways to make items, especially in metropolitan areas where trucks are in short supply.
Delivery (Grocery) - Of course, there is UberEats, DoorDash, GrubHub and some others. While experiences vary, there is money to be made. This could be an entire post in itself, but if you’re smart and work the system well, you can make some extra cash. Better still, the money is available immediately so if you’re really strapped for dollars this is a great way to alleviate some immediate pain
Vehicle Maintenance - Oil changes, bulb changes etc are beyond most people. While I am not suggesting that you go into full service maintenance, you can earn extra cash by doing simple tasks others cannot do for rates less than a professional shop would charge. Tire rotations, simple quick fixes, and the above names items are a few things that cost people more than they’re willing to pay in a commercial location, but are within the realm of possibility when you can do it in five or ten minutes.
Plasma Donation - You can make hundreds per month donating plasma. It’s in demand and available nationwide. Quick and easy and a lot of locations/companies are offering bonuses at this time to increase donations
Car Detailing - If you have the space, car detailing is a great way to make some extra cash and there are plenty of people willing to pay, especially if you’re a service minded person with a great attitude. Attention to detail is a must. While you will have to invest in some basic items, there is decent money to be made cleaning people’s messes and this is another one you can begin simply by word of mouth or on Facebook.
Yard Maintenance - Grass cutting, weed pulling and basic yard work are time consuming and it’s hot. If you can work a lawn mower and a weed whacker, pick up debris and perform basic yard tasks you’re qualified. Likely you’ve been doing it since you were a teenager anyway. Might as well get paid.
Social Media Positions - You can make several thousand a year simply performing basic social media tasks on your phone/laptop/tablet. Look locally, solicit local sports venues and teams. You need not create anything as most of the items are sent to you. Your job is simply to get word out. If you’re more talented Upwork is a good place to start making some extra cash off your talents.
Bank/Credit Card Churning - While CC churning means meeting a credit threshold, bank churning does not. You can earn thousands a year with this. Minimal effort and a good reward if you’re smart with it. Banks have been using us for years. Get some payback.
Small Engine/Tools - We live in a disposable economy and most people throw away perfectly good items. I’ve found chainsaws that needed only cleaning and plugs, lawnmowers that just needed maintenance and other items that worked fine when serviced, but thrown out. You can advertise on FB or other to pick up unwanted items and the most serious only needed a carb cleaning. Clean it and put it on marketplace and voila, a couple hundred bucks for nothing.
Virtual Assistant - Upwork is a great place to find gigwork. Based on your experience and what you can do, you can make some decent scratch doing admin work for companies.
Pet Services - Providing pet services via platforms like Rover or Wag is another way is a great way to bundle exercise, time spent with the kids and making some extra cash.
Transcription - A decent and fairly simple way to earn income by converting audio or video recordings into written text using platforms like Rev and TranscribeMe.
Sell old items online - Got a garage full of junk? Like shopping? Turn trash into treasure (though not wealth). Many people do this every day, finding items in thrift shops, yard sales and whatnot and flipping them on eBay or other online platforms. Buy lightly damaged furniture and repair it and flip it. Refinish out of date items and sell them for a profit. This one takes effort but it also pays fairly well if you’re smart about it. We’ve made anywhere from several hundred to a couple thousand off furniture refinishing/updating in a month.
More Gig Work - Fiverr is another forum that offers you the ability to sell services like writing, translation, modeling, recording a video, recording audio, and more. While rates begin at $5 you can charge as appropriate. Worth a look
mTurk - Mechanical Turk (or mTurk) is an Amazon platform where you can earn money by doing small (and sometimes repetitive) tasks. This one is hit and miss and work isn’t steady but income potential is average $100-200 per week.
Focus Groups and Surveys - They exist but the rewards are seldom worth the effort. Promises of big pay for surveys and sitting on focus groups is, at best, a hit and miss proposition. I’d recommend spending my time and effort elsewhere.
Consulting/Personal Trainer - I’m all about building your own brand. And if you’re passionate about something, then train someone else who is and doesn’t know how. Knowledge is the most valuable commodity in our world. Create meal plans for those that don’t know how, help train someone in the gym if you’re into fitness or running. If you’re a marketing wiz or sales guru, sell your talent and secrets. People will pay.
Housesitting - Not the easiest for a new parent, or parent period, but there are opportunities out there and it pays, for doing virtually nothing. Rover, TrustedHouseSitters and others are out there. Hey, a vacation from home and paid. Maybe even score a pool if you’re lucky
Proofreading - There are a lot of businesses that hire out proofreading work for important documents, articles, and proposals. Turn to Upwork and Fiverr for these gigs.
Affiliate Marketing - Affiliate Marketing gets a bad rep, but it’s a solid hustle and can get you some extra scratch if you’re into it. Amazon and a lot of other companies utilize affiliate marketing. Though it’s not for everyone, there is money to be made. Just be honest about it.
Data Entry - Remoteok and Flexjobs are sites to find remote data entry jobs. Remoteok is by far the preferred. I’d be more skeptical when searching Flexjobs. SimplyHired is another good source
Retail Arbitrage - Retail arbitrage can be extremely profitable but it can be a drain too, so you do your own research and be careful. This is when you buy items from one location (like Walmart) and then sell them for a higher price elsewhere. Amazon is a good example. Likely you’ve seen scams involving this or the ‘get rich quick’ ads on FB and Instagram from people that will ‘teach’ you this trick to make money. It isn’t a trick, it’s just being smart and finding deals that can earn a couple bucks more elsewhere. This one takes some work and planning so if you’re looking for more passive income this isn’t it.
Mock Juror - eJury ($5-10), OnlineVerdict ($30-$700), JuryTest ($5-$50), VirtualJury (unk), ResolutionResearch ($5-$400), JurySolutions ($20 per hour) are all sites that hire mock jurors. Working as a mock juror is a great way to make some extra money, often without leaving the comforts of home. Mock jurors help shape legal cases and provide research companies with valuable information. Many market research and legal companies provide mock juror jobs, and application usually comprises making an online profile.
Laundry Service - You’re already doing it right? Why not get paid
Data Annotation and Labeling - Requires focus and attention to detail, but pays decently well. Companies like Labelbox and ScaleAI are hiring for this now. You can read more about it on their sites.
Virtual Event Planning - With the increasing popularity of virtual gatherings and conferences, the demand for professionals skilled in coordinating and executing online events is on the rise. Virtual event planners manage tasks like scheduling, logistics, and technical setup to create smooth and engaging experiences for attendees. The flexibility of remote work enables these planners to manage their schedules and work from any location.
Travel Planning - Travel planners help clients book accommodations, transportation, activities, and excursions customized to their preferences and budgets. This side hustle provides the flexibility to work remotely and set your own schedule, making it ideal for those with busy lifestyles. Takes some research but if you’re at home and have a computer, it’s easy enough
Podcasting - Takes time to build an audience but can provide a decent income and you already have all the tools required. There are billions of people on earth though, and many of them share your interests.
Virtual Errands - FancyHands is another virtual assistant avenue. Get paid to do virtual tasks for others.
Freelance Editorial Work - Many media, corporate, and nonprofit websites seek freelancers to write, edit, or produce content. Payment varies, with some paying by word, others by the hour, and some per project.
For instance, by registering for free with Textbroker and submitting a writing sample, you receive a rating based on your content quality. You can then select projects that match your rating and earn between 0.7 cents to 5 cents per word, or more. FreelanceWriting offers a comprehensive list of freelance writing opportunities from top sites, with many recent listings offering hourly rates of $25 or more.
