This blog is for those who are looking for ideas to start a freelancing gig, a side hustle, that can build up to an online business, and maybe help you quit your job.
I have listed for you some of the quickest and easiest freelancing opportunities you can start now, and I have tried *almost* all of them myself.
Whether you are looking to become a full-time entrepreneur or just to start a side hustle for extra income, your product or service should help a specific customer, or solve a problem they have. Now these are 10 high-demand ideas, with minimal or $0 startup costs, that you can actually start today.
1. Virtual assistant
This is how I started. You can basically monetise your time, by helping someone in any field that you choose. Maybe you have great organizational skills, or task management abilities? You can definitely put those skills to good use by becoming a virtual assistant. VA-s typically provide administrative tasks, like entering data, making appointments, sending emails, and answering phone calls. Previous experience in this field is not required. Amazing, right?
Platforms like Fiver and Upwork make it easy for any VA to find jobs. They allow you to create an online profile and sign up for tasks you want to complete –apply to open job posts – and begin building a clientele.
2. Social media manager
This was my next step. You might already have Marketing experience, or maybe have worked a few years as a Social Media Assistant … So why not offer a service that helps other businesses with their social media?
You will have bigger chances if you focus on one niche, or one aspect of social media.
For example, I started to learn about digital marketing, I took a few online courses, but soon fell in love with Instagram, so I decided to offer Instagram Management services.
3. Online Coaching
Many people that are looking for one-on-one help might want something more than books, or just lessons. There are many-many people who need help , for example, advancing in their careers, improving their nutrition or finding more meaning in their lives, and they could benefit from your coaching through video chat, like Zoom or Skype.
Rather than giving exercises and grades, as an online-coach, your goal is to offer advice, guidelines and support for your clients.
If you run a blog for your business or post often on Facebook, or LinkedIn about the topics in which you’re coaching, you’ll start to have more credibility, you can really show your knowledge and attract interested people.
4. Digital courses
Similar to coaching, but with less one-on-one time. You can package your knowledge and offer it to anyone interested in the topic. This can easily earn you money 💰
Also, platforms like Udemy , and SKILLSHARE, make it super easy for you, as they are a Marketplace of Courses, with their own database of students looking to learn there. You will not need to spend anything to publish or market your course. These platforms are doing it all for you and it’s an amazing way to validate your concept, and try out the experience of publishing your first course.
But also platforms like Teachable, where you can publish your first course completely for FREE!
BONUS 👉 Take a look at my first Online Course and get 1 FREE month
5. YouTuber / Influencer
Seems like everyone wants to be an influencer, or start a youtube, right?
Being an influencer on any platform is a lot of work. But it is something you can start while you have a full time job, and wait until it’s grown to the point you can afford to actually make it your main business.
I honestly think being a part-time youtuber or influencer is a great way to start because you can take your time to see what you enjoy creating content about, and you can actually see if you like it or not.
Whatever goal you have, from all the options I’ve mentioned so far, I believe this one is going to take you the longest, unless you just go viral on Tiktok with the first video you post. I have seen that happen.
I would recommend you start by offering an online service, like coaching, consulting, VA or social media management.
RELATED VIDEO YOU SHOULD WATCH 👇
7 Best Side-Hustles that will Help you QUIT YOUR JOB
6. Blogging
Now, blogging may seem like an outdated strategy, since almost everybody already has one, but the competition should not stop you from starting with this journey. If you love writing or have important information to share, blogging may be a profitable choice for you.
Starting a blog as a business is very simple with website builders like WordPress and Elementor, but the key to success is consistency and quality. Now, to get continuous traffic, you must continually write and create high-quality content that provides value to your readers. Content that educates, informs or entertains your readers will give them a reason to keep coming back to your blogs and website.
Once you start getting better and faster at the creation of consistent content, you can make money through your blog by selling products like online courses, digital coaching, e-books or webinars. You can also sell ad space or sponsored posts.
7. Affiliate marketer
I would also call this “Word-of-mouth advertising”,, so many businesses are willing to share a portion of their profits with individuals who will promote their products to the public.
All of the big companies,, can basically give you a special link, that only you use to promote their products,, and give you a commission based on the sales.
This might be as easy as just sharing and reviewing a few products that you already use, like and enjoy.
This works very well for bloggers and youtubers, where you can mention some products you’re using yourself and attach your affiliate links.
You can just describe or talk about your favorite products and recommend what you especially love about those.
If you like promoting, you can definitely try this, and keep in mind, you don’t need any investment, at least no monetary investment, but nevertheless you will be putting down your time. All you need as a start, is to register on one of the platforms, like Amazon Affiliates, or Share A Sale, get your affiliate links, promote them in original ways and get your commission for every sale that you make.
Pro Tip: Having product review blogs, or youtube videos, will bring you double the profits. Because the viewer/ reader gets you more income from Ads, plus gets you the affiliate commissions.
Of course I had people asking me if I also offered Facebook, Pinterest or TikTok services, and depending on the client, if I knew I could help with that , I would accept, BUT always being honest that my main focus and experience was with Instagram.
So instead of attracting clients that wanted help with just everything social media, or maybe LinkedIn, that I don’t know anything about, I attracted clients that needed help mainly with Instagram. That also had me seen as an expert, and thus, I could charge more for my services.
8. Podcast network
The past several years have seen an explosion in podcast listeners, and you can “ride that wave” by starting your own podcast. You can share on the network any podcasts you record, but if you give other people – whether friends or strangers from the internet – opportunities to contribute their own podcasts, your network will likely grow more quickly. As your network grows, you can increase the price per podcast download.
9. Technical writer
The internet is full of copywriters for hire, but only a few of these copywriters have the technical or professional background to properly write an instruction manual, or an article on finance, on marketing, or other fields. If you have a background in art, marketing, science, and can write about it, you can start an online business through which people can hire your writing services. Advertise yourself on LinkedIn, Fiverr and other platforms to attract more interested people and customers.
10. Startup Advisor (or Business consultant)
As a startup advisor, or business consultant you can be the adviser of new companies.
You can use any expertise you have in finance, marketing, software development and other important fields to provide new businesses with the knowledge they need to succeed.
If you already have a full time job, you can dedicate your extra time to your consultant services. And as these startups succeed, so will your business, up to the point that you can make this your main business.
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sooo happy to be a blogger🥰
i’m so proud to be a blogger
Yes, everything is digital now. Thanks for the ideas!
These are really some great ideas. I’ve been thinking of starting a Youtube channel for a while now, maybe I will! Thank you for sharing.
These are such fab online business ideas! I like the sound of a virtual assistant.
Lots of good ideas! I have a blog that I am growing but I’m also looking into some form of freelance writing 🙂
Being a blogger has been one of the best things I have done for myself career-wise. It has opened so many doors for me and allowed me to wear many hats so I will never stop learning.