Side Hustles to Start This Weekend: 15 Easy Ideas
- Elisha Bearam
- Oct 15
- 8 min read
Disclosure: I may earn a small commission for purchases made through affiliate links in this post at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly believe in. Thank you for supporting my site!
Does your to-do list never end, but your budget feels like it does? What if you could use just a few hours this weekend to change that? You don't need a fancy degree or a huge time commitment to start earning extra money.
You just need the right plan. This list of side hustles to start this weekend is specially curated for beginners.
These are low-stress, high-impact easy side hustles that fit around your existing schedule. Let's find your perfect match.
What Makes a Great "Weekend" Side Hustle?
Not all side gigs are created equal, especially when you're busy. The best weekend side jobs share three key traits:
Low Startup Cost: You shouldn't have to invest hundreds of dollars to get started. The best options use skills or items you already have.
Minimal Learning Curve: You can learn the basics in an afternoon, not a month.
Quick Income Potential: The goal is to see some cash flow quickly, which builds momentum and confidence.
Think of it like planting seeds in a garden. You want fast-sprouting varieties that don't need constant attention. These quick side hustles are designed to do just that.
15 Beginner-Friendly Side Hustles to Launch Now
We've broken this list into categories to help you find your perfect fit. Scan through and see what sparks your interest.
Online & Freelance Gigs
1. Freelance Writing (Micro-Projects)
If you can write a clear email or a social media post, you can get paid to write. You don't have to land a huge client right away.
Start with small projects like 500-word blog posts or product descriptions.
2. Virtual Assistant Tasks
Business owners are drowning in administrative work. You can be their lifesaver by offering specific services like email management, social media scheduling, or data entry.
Offer the skills you use every day to manage your own life!
How to Start This Weekend: List 3-5 tasks you're good at (e.g., "I can organize your Google Drive" or "I can schedule your Pinterest pins"). Join a few Facebook groups for entrepreneurs and politely introduce your services.
3. Online Tutoring or Coaching
What knowledge are you sitting on? Maybe you speak a second language, play the piano, are a whiz at algebra, or make incredible sourdough bread. People will pay to learn from you.
How to Start This Weekend: Make a simple one-page website using a free tool like Carrd. List what you teach and your availability. Tell your network and offer a discounted first session to build confidence.
4. Selling Stock Photos & Videos
Your smartphone is a powerful camera. If you have an eye for composition, you can sell your photos to websites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock. Every time someone downloads your image, you earn a royalty.
How to Start This Weekend: Look through your phone's camera roll for high-quality, well-composed images. Sign up for a stock site, upload 5-10 of your best shots, and use relevant keywords in your descriptions.
Selling & Flipping
5. Reselling Thrifted Finds
Turn a trip to the thrift store into a profitable treasure hunt. Look for high-quality brand-name clothing, vintage items, or unique home decor that you can clean up and resell for a profit on platforms like Poshmark or Facebook Marketplace.
How to Start This Weekend: Go to your local thrift store and look for one or two items you know have value (e.g., a like-new J.Crew sweater, Levis jeans, or a unique piece of pottery). Take clear, well-lit photos and list them for sale.
6. Selling Handmade Crafts
If you love to knit, make jewelry, or create beautiful candles, Etsy is your playground. It connects you directly with buyers who appreciate handmade goods.
How to Start This Weekend: Don't overthink it. Create one single product. Take 5-10 great photos of it against a clean background. Write a clear description and open your Etsy shop. Your first sale is the most important milestone.
7. Selling Digital Printables
This is one of the best side income ideas for passive earnings. You create a digital file—like a budget planner, a meal prep template, or a piece of wall art—once, and you can sell it an infinite number of times. There's no inventory or shipping.
How to Start This Weekend: Use a free tool like Canva to design a simple PDF, like a weekly to-do list or habit tracker. For a deeper dive, our guide on creating digital products can walk you through the entire process from idea to sale.
Local & In-Person Gigs
8. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking
If you’re an animal lover, get paid to spend time with furry friends. Apps like Rover make it easy to connect with pet owners in your neighborhood who need reliable care.
How to Start This Weekend: Download the Rover app and create a detailed, friendly profile. Ask a friend if you can take a cute photo with their pet to add to your profile. Set your availability for the coming week.
9. House Sitting
Getting paid to live in someone else's home? It's a real thing! Homeowners need responsible people to water plants, collect mail, and maintain their property while they're away.
How to Start This Weekend: Let your network know you're available. You can also sign up for a site like TrustedHousesitters. Offer to house-sit for a friend or family member first to get a testimonial.
10. Local Tour Guide
You are an expert on your own city. What hidden gems do you know about? You could create a unique tour focused on historic architecture, the best coffee shops, or street art.
How to Start This Weekend: Outline a 90-minute walking route. Practice it yourself. Create a simple listing on a site like Airbnb Experiences or just promote it in local community groups.
Gig Economy & Quick Tasks
11. Food & Grocery Delivery
When you want ultimate flexibility, delivery apps are the answer. You can turn on an app like DoorDash, Instacart, or Uber Eats whenever you have a free hour and complete a few deliveries for instant quick cash.
12. Task-Based Apps
Platforms like TaskRabbit connect you with people who need help with small jobs—assembling furniture, mounting a TV, helping with moving, or doing minor home repairs.
How to Start This Weekend: Download a relevant app and complete your profile, highlighting any physical or organizational skills you have. Browse available tasks in your area to see what's in demand.
Creative & Knowledge-Based Hustles
13. Proofreading & Editing
A sharp eye for grammar and typos is a marketable skill. Small businesses, students, and non-native writers often need a second pair of eyes on their documents.
How to Start This Weekend: Offer to proofread a friend's resume or important email for free in exchange for a testimonial. Then, join a freelance platform and use that testimonial to land your first paid client.
14. Selling Canva Templates
Many small business owners know they need graphics for social media but don't have the time or skill to create them. You can design pre-made, customizable templates in Canva and sell them on Etsy or your own website.
How to Start This Weekend: Design a simple "Welcome" graphic for Instagram or a "Sale" banner. Package 3-5 related graphics as a mini-bundle and list it for sale.
15. User Testing
Companies will pay you for your opinion. Websites like UserTesting.com pay you to visit a website or app and talk through your experience as you use it, helping them find flaws and improve their design.
How to Start This Weekend: Sign up for UserTesting.com. You'll need a computer microphone. Complete your profile and apply for your first test. It’s a simple way to earn for sharing your thoughts.
How to Choose the Right Side Hustle for You
With so many options, how do you pick? Ask yourself these two questions:
What are my skills and interests? Make a quick list. Are you super organized? A great writer? Do you love being outdoors? Match your hustle to your natural talents and passions. It will feel less like work. If you're juggling family life, we also have a list of side hustles specifically for busy moms.
How much time do I have, and what is my goal? Be realistic. Can you commit 5 hours or 10 hours this weekend? Do you need to make $100 for a specific bill or are you building long-term income? Your answers will point you toward either quick-task gigs or slower-burn projects.
Your 3-Step Plan to Launch Before Sunday Night
Overwhelm is the dream killer. Let's break this down into three simple steps. Your only job is to follow them.
Step 1: Pick ONE Idea & Do 1 Hour of Research
Stop scrolling. Right now, choose the one idea from the list that excites you the most. Then, spend one hour learning the basics.
Watch a YouTube tutorial, read a blog post, or explore the platform (like Etsy or Upwork) to see how others are doing it.
Step 2: Set Up Your "Storefront"
This is your foundation. It might be creating a seller profile on Etsy, a gig on Fiverr, or a profile on Rover. You don't need it to be perfect.
You just need it to exist. A simple, clear bio and a friendly photo are all you need to start.
Step 3: Make Your First Offer or Listing
This is the most important step. You must take action. List one digital printable for sale. Apply for one proofreading job. Post on Facebook that you're available for pet sitting.
As our foundational beginner's guide explains, this first action transforms you from a dreamer into an earner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money can I realistically make in one weekend?
It depends entirely on the hustle. With gig economy apps, you could earn $50-$150 over a weekend. With selling items or freelance services, your first weekend might be about making the first sale, which could be $10-$50.
The goal is to start the flow of income.
I'm not tech-savvy. Which hustles are best for me?
Stick to local, in-person gigs like pet sitting, house sitting, or dog walking. The apps for these are very simple to use, and the work itself is straightforward and doesn't require technical skills.
What if I don't have any special skills?
Everyone has skills! You are organized, reliable, and have a good eye? That's perfect for reselling, pet sitting, or user testing. Don't undervalue your everyday abilities.
Do I need to pay taxes on side hustle income?
Yes. Any income you earn from a side hustle is taxable. It's a good practice to set aside 20-30% of your earnings for taxes. Keep a simple record of what you make.
What's the easiest side hustle to start with?
Selling items you already own on Facebook Marketplace or offering a service like dog walking to your immediate network are the easiest. There's no learning curve—you can start in under an hour.
Conclusion: Your Extra Income Journey Starts Now
You have the ideas and a simple, proven plan. The only thing standing between you and extra cash is a decision. This isn't about building a massive empire overnight.
It's about taking one small step this weekend to prove to yourself that you can do it.
Look back at the list. Which idea made you nod your head or feel a flicker of excitement? That's your one.
Your mission is simple: Commit to Step 1 of the 3-step plan. Pick your hustle and do one hour of research. By Sunday night, you could have your first listing live or your first client inquiry. Your weekend project for extra cash awaits.
Comments