10 Side Hustles You Can Start While Working Full Time (From Someone Who’s Tried Most of Them)

Key takeaway: The best side hustle isn’t necessarily the one that earns the most money. It’s the one you’ll still be building a year from now because it fits your life, your goals and your personality.

If someone asked me when I started my first side hustle, they might expect me to say it was in my twenties.

The truth is, I was about ten years old.

I’d go to car boot sales with my mum and dad.

While they were selling, I’d wander around looking for bargains.

If I spotted something I thought I could sell for more, I’d negotiate the price down, buy it, then put it straight onto our own stall to sell again.

At the time, I didn’t realise I was learning some of the most important lessons about business.

Buy well.

Create value.

Help someone find something they wanted.

Make a small profit.

Looking back, that little car boot sale was probably where my interest in earning extra income first began.

Since then I’ve tried all sorts of side hustles.

Gardening.

Piano teaching.

T-shirt printing.

Selling on eBay.

Betterware.

Investing.

Utility Warehouse.

Blogging.

Some worked brilliantly.

Some didn’t.

Some taught me expensive lessons.

All of them taught me something valuable.

So rather than giving you another generic list of fifty side hustles copied from around the internet, I wanted to share the opportunities I’ve genuinely experienced, together with a few I’d seriously consider if I were starting again today.

My Side Hustle Journey

• Age 10: Buying and selling at car boot sales.
• Age 12: Gardening.
• Age 18: Piano teaching and beginning to invest.
• Age 25: T-shirt printing.
• Age 28: Selling on eBay.
• Early 30s: Betterware.
• 30s: First became a Utility Warehouse Partner.
• Late 40s: Returned to Utility Warehouse with a completely different mindset.
• Late 40s: Started blogging and building Freedom Blogger.
• Today: Continuing to invest for the long term while building additional income streams.

Looking back, I don’t regret trying any of them.

Even the ones that didn’t work taught me lessons I still use today.

There Are Hundreds of Side Hustles

Before we dive into my top ten, it’s worth saying there are many other excellent side hustles available.

People build successful businesses through photography, dog walking, pet sitting, window cleaning, pressure washing, tutoring, virtual assistance, graphic design, Etsy, Amazon KDP, freelancing, content creation and many more.

This isn’t a list of every opportunity.

It’s simply a list of the ones I know well enough to give an honest opinion on.

I’d much rather recommend ten opportunities I genuinely understand than a hundred I’ve never tried.

1. Utility Warehouse

For me, this sits comfortably at number one.

Not because I’m a Utility Warehouse Partner.

Because I’ve lived it.

I’ve made mistakes.

I’ve quit too early in the past.

I’ve come back.

And looking back, I wish I’d simply stayed consistent from the beginning.

What I love most is that you’re genuinely helping people.

You’re helping households review everyday services they already use.

There is no stock to buy.

No garage full of products.

No packing boxes.

No trips to the Post Office.

The startup cost today is also much lower than when I first joined many years ago. £10 at the time of posting this blog!

The training is excellent.

The back-office systems are excellent.

The support from mentors is excellent.

Most importantly, the recurring income means you’re building something that can continue to grow over time rather than constantly starting again every month.

Best for:

• Professionals
• Families
• Homeowners
• Retired people
• Anyone who enjoys helping others

Biggest mistake people make:

Giving up before the business reaches its tipping point.

Paul’s Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If I were starting again tomorrow, this would still be my number one recommendation.

Not because it’s easy.

Because it’s simple, affordable to start, genuinely helps people and creates the opportunity to build recurring income over time.

2. Blogging

Blogging is one of my newest adventures.

Freedom Blogger is the perfect example.

I don’t expect blogging to make me rich overnight.

That’s not why I started.

I enjoy writing.

I enjoy helping people.

I enjoy sharing lessons I’ve learned throughout my career and life.

Over time, blogging also creates opportunities through advertising, affiliate partnerships and recommending products or services you genuinely use.

Unlike many side hustles, a blog can continue working long after you’ve published an article.

One article today might still be helping readers several years from now.

Best for:

• People who enjoy writing
• Teachers
• Professionals
• Subject experts
• Anyone willing to be patient

Biggest mistake people make:

Being inconsistent.

Publishing three articles one week and then disappearing for three months.

Paul’s Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blogging isn’t a sprint.

It’s a long-term project.

If you enjoy creating helpful content and are prepared to stay consistent, it can become one of the most rewarding side hustles you’ll ever build.

3. YouTube

Unlike many of the side hustles in this article, I haven’t personally built a YouTube channel.

However, I know people who have.

I’ve watched them steadily grow audiences, earn advertising income and recommend products they genuinely believe in through affiliate marketing.

Like blogging, YouTube isn’t a quick win.

The people who succeed tend to publish consistently over a long period of time.

If you enjoy being on camera, teaching, reviewing products or sharing your experiences, it could be a fantastic option.

Best for:

• Confident communicators
• Teachers
• Hobby enthusiasts
• Reviewers
• Creators

Biggest mistake people make:

Expecting viral success instead of focusing on consistency.

Paul’s Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If I had more time available today, this would probably be the next platform I’d seriously explore because video content continues to grow and complements blogging incredibly well.

4. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing allows you to recommend products or services you genuinely use and receive a commission if someone makes a qualifying purchase through your referral link.

It works particularly well alongside a blog, YouTube channel or website.

The biggest challenge isn’t joining affiliate programmes.

It’s building trust first.

People buy recommendations from people they trust.

Not strangers.

That’s why I believe helping people should always come before trying to earn from them.

Paul’s Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Done honestly, affiliate marketing can become a valuable additional income stream.

Focus on products you genuinely use and would happily recommend even if there were no commission involved.

5. Investing

I first started investing when I was around eighteen.

Over the years I’ve had investments that performed very well.

I’ve also made mistakes and lost money.

If I’m honest, some of my successes were probably luck rather than judgement.

That’s taught me to stay humble.

I don’t really see investing as a traditional side hustle.

But I do see it as an important way of gradually building long-term wealth.

Start small.

Stay consistent.

Think in years rather than weeks.

And never invest money you can’t afford to leave invested.

Paul’s Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Investing won’t suit everyone, and values can go down as well as up.

But over the long term, small regular investments can become a powerful part of building financial freedom.

6. Selling on eBay

There was a time when I genuinely thought eBay was going to become one of my biggest side hustles.

And to be fair, I did make money.

But I also learned some expensive lessons.

The biggest challenge wasn’t selling products.

It was everything that came afterwards.

Buying stock upfront.

Finding somewhere to store it.

Watching competitors undercut prices.

Packing orders.

Posting parcels.

Dealing with returns.

Answering customer messages.

Eventually I realised I was spending as much time managing the business as I was actually growing it.

That doesn’t mean eBay is a bad side hustle.

Far from it.

Many people build fantastic businesses through it.

It simply wasn’t the right fit for me.

Best For

• People who enjoy buying and selling
• Those with storage space
• People prepared to manage stock
• Anyone happy dealing with customers and returns

Biggest Mistake People Make

Buying too much stock before proving there’s demand.

Start small.

Test products first.

Then grow.

Paul’s Verdict ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

I learned a huge amount through eBay and I’m glad I tried it.

Would I do it again?

Probably not.

Personally, I prefer side hustles that don’t require stock or constant administration.

7. Print on Demand

Print on Demand appealed to me because I liked the idea of creating products without holding stock.

I gave it a go.

Unfortunately, I never really made it work.

Looking back, I think I underestimated just how competitive the market had become.

Creating products is only half the challenge.

Marketing them is where the real work begins.

Best For

• Creative people
• Designers
• People interested in online stores
• Those prepared to learn marketing

Biggest Mistake People Make

Thinking good designs automatically lead to sales.

Without an audience or marketing strategy, even great products can go unnoticed.

Paul’s Verdict ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

I’d still consider Print on Demand over holding physical stock, but I’d go into it knowing that success usually comes from consistent marketing rather than simply uploading designs.

8. Betterware

Betterware taught me another valuable lesson.

Sometimes a business can look simpler than it really is.

Delivering catalogues.

Collecting orders.

Sorting products.

Delivering again.

Handling returns.

Managing customers.

There was nothing wrong with the business itself.

It just involved far more logistics than I personally enjoyed.

Best For

• People who enjoy face-to-face customer service
• Those who like working within their local community

Biggest Mistake People Make

Underestimating how much time is spent delivering, organising and dealing with administration.

Paul’s Verdict ⭐⭐☆☆☆

It wasn’t the right fit for me, but it helped me realise I much prefer businesses that are simpler to run and easier to scale.

9. Gardening

Gardening was one of the earliest ways I earned money.

I enjoyed it.

There was something satisfying about arriving at someone’s garden, working hard and seeing a real transformation by the end of the day.

It also taught me that doing a good job often leads to repeat customers and recommendations.

That’s a lesson that’s stayed with me throughout my career.

Best For

• People who enjoy working outdoors
• Those who don’t mind physical work
• Anyone wanting to start with relatively simple equipment

Biggest Mistake People Make

Trying to take on too much too quickly.

Build a reputation first.

The recommendations will often follow.

Paul’s Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Simple.

Honest.

Rewarding.

It won’t suit everyone, but if you enjoy physical work and being outdoors, it’s a great way to earn extra money.

10. Piano Teaching

Teaching piano showed me something important.

Your skills are often more valuable than you realise.

If you’ve spent years learning something, there’s a good chance someone else would happily pay to learn from you.

That doesn’t just apply to music.

It could be languages.

Photography.

Cooking.

Sport.

Computers.

Almost any skill can become an opportunity to help someone else while earning an additional income.

Best For

• Qualified musicians
• Teachers
• Coaches
• Anyone with specialist knowledge

Biggest Mistake People Make

Undervaluing their own experience.

You don’t have to know everything.

You simply need to know more than the person you’re teaching.

Paul’s Verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Teaching is incredibly rewarding because you’re not just earning money.

You’re helping someone else grow.

The Biggest Lessons I’ve Learned

After trying side hustles for more than forty years, these are the lessons that stand out most.

Start before you feel ready.

You’ll never know everything before you begin.

Don’t expect overnight success.

Most worthwhile side hustles take time to grow.

Be consistent.

Small, regular effort beats occasional bursts of enthusiasm every time.

Choose something you enjoy.

If you dread working on it, you’re unlikely to stick with it.

Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.

Everyone starts somewhere.

Give it time.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people giving up far too soon.

I often think of the message from The Slight Edge.

The biggest results are often invisible in the early days.

Keep showing up.

Keep improving.

Keep learning.

Momentum has a habit of arriving quietly.

The One-Year Rule

One idea that’s helped shape my thinking is what I call The One-Year Rule.

Before you give up on a genuine side hustle, ask yourself:

“Have I really given this a fair chance for twelve months?”

Not every idea deserves a year.

Some clearly aren’t right.

But many people quit just before things begin to gain momentum.

Don’t judge your progress after a few difficult weeks.

Give yourself enough time to learn, improve and build confidence.

If I Had to Pick Just Three

Knowing everything I know today, these are the three side hustles I’d choose.

🥇 Utility Warehouse

My number one.

Low startup costs.

Fantastic support.

Recurring income.

No stock.

Helping people every day.

🥈 Blogging

It’s rewarding, enjoyable and gives me the opportunity to help people while building something that can continue to grow for years.

🥉 YouTube

Although I haven’t built a channel myself, I’ve seen what can be achieved through consistency, useful content and patience.

Combined with a blog, I think it’s a powerful long-term opportunity.

Final Thoughts

There are hundreds of side hustles available today.

I’ve only shared the ones I genuinely know well enough to talk about honestly.

Your perfect side hustle might not even be on this list.

And that’s absolutely fine.

The important thing isn’t choosing the “perfect” opportunity.

It’s choosing one that fits your life, your personality and your goals.

Then giving yourself enough time to see what you’re capable of.

Before You Go

If you’re thinking about starting a side hustle, don’t spend another six months researching.

Choose one idea.

Commit to it.

Block out two hours a week.

Stay consistent.

Review your progress after a year, not after a month.

You might surprise yourself with what you’ve built.

Freedom Check

If you started one side hustle this month and stayed consistent for the next twelve months, where could it take you?

If You’d Like to Chat

If you’re exploring side hustles and would like another opinion, feel free to get in touch using the contact form.

Whether you’re curious about blogging, becoming a Utility Warehouse Partner, building an additional income or simply deciding where to begin, I’m always happy to share what’s worked for me, what I’d do differently and the lessons I’ve learned over the years.

No pressure.

No sales pitch.

Just a friendly conversation.

Join the Journey

If you’d like more practical ideas on side hustles, financial freedom, careers, time freedom and creating more choice in your life, I’d love you to subscribe to the Freedom Blogger newsletter.

Every week I’ll share honest experiences, practical advice and simple ideas that have helped me, in the hope they’ll help you too.

Have I Missed One?

There are hundreds of side hustles out there, and new opportunities appear all the time.

If you’ve built a successful side hustle that isn’t on my list, I’d genuinely love to hear about it.

Feel free to get in touch through the contact form.

Who knows, it might even inspire a future Freedom Blogger article.

A Thought to Leave You With

— Paul Schofield, Freedom Blogger

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