5 Side Hustle Ideas

Submitted by Lacie Martin

Extra cash sometimes enables you to buy a little peace of mind

Working parents who want to earn money on the side may want to consider these five ways to make bank.

1. Sell Old Clothes
   One of the easiest ways to earn extra money is to clean out your closets. Later you can expand your activities to include others' old clothes you find in thrift stores and garage and tag sales. There are a variety of websites designed specifically for men and women looking to ditch their gently used threads for some cold, hard cash.
   Three of the most popular are:
   -- Poshmark
   -- ThredUp
   -- eBay
   
   Don’t forget about your kids’ used clothes, too, unless you’re planning to hand down your little one’s gear to siblings, cousins or friends, Zeroish recommends selling those garments online, too. Just be careful not to start buying as you sell; those tiny T-shirts are adorable and addictive.
   
   
2. Sell Old Tech Products
   If you have outdated tech products that are gathering dust or piling up in a drawer, Reader’s Digest points out there are a variety of ways to unload it and make a profit.
   
   “Old tech” doesn’t just mean a bulky Blackberry, either. Sites such as the following may be interested in everything from your old iPad to that PlayStation 2 you thought you’d fire up once in a while but haven’t touched since 2006:
   -- Amazon
   -- Swappa
   -- Gazelle
   -- eBay
   
   
3. Find Freelance Work
   If you think writers are the only crowd who can score freelance gigs, think again. The web is filled with freelance marketplaces such as Fiverr and FlexJobs that are designed to link talented individuals with freelance jobs in an assortment of fields:
   -- Programming
   -- Graphic design
   -- Editing and proofreading
   -- Data entry
   -- Translation
   -- Marketing
   
   Before you accept a gig, do your research and make sure that the compensation is fair and in keeping with the national average. The “free” in freelancer should refer to your ability to choose projects, not your rate. Your time is valuable, and keeping your priorities in check as both a parent and person with his or her own needs is important.
   
   
4. Start an Online Store
   Can you draw or paint? Are you a whiz in the woodshop or the queen of cross-stitch? Consider starting an e-commerce store to sell your creations. For those new to this type of entrepreneurship, Etsy is the most common jumping-off point for making sales and growing a customer base.
   
   
5. Become a Tutor
   ​If you’re fluent in a foreign language or have a college degree that’s been gathering cobwebs, you can parlay those skills into tutoring opportunities. There are a variety of websites such as Tutor.com and Wyzant that connect students of all education levels and needs with qualified tutors.

 
Establish a Firm Foundation
Whatever direction you choose, starting out properly ensures you don’t get into any trouble with your new venture, and prepares you for future growth. Begin by verifying that your location and vocation don’t require any special permits. Some areas limit where businesses can be established, and some industries require certifications.
 
Along those same lines, you should also consider forming a limited liability company for your business. In addition to protecting your personal income from your store’s income and liability, starting an LLC can also result in tax advantages and less paperwork. The rules and regulations covering LLCs vary from state to state, although this part is simplified by partnering with a formation service.
 
And while it might feel like something only a bigger company would require, take the time to draw up a business plan. It’ll help you frame your goals with logical steps, and if you need any seed money, it’ll help to impress lenders.
 
Working and parenting is a challenge and a little extra cash sometimes enables you to purchase a little peace of mind. Why not look to the Internet for a bank account boost?

Lacie Martin is a working parent. She believes that love is the key ingredient for raising happy, well-adjusted kids. She and a friend strive to inspire parents to raise their children well on their Raise Them Well blog where they suggest prioritizing love over everything else. They believe that all moms and dads raising kids who know they are loved and cared for are successful parents.