Who said making money always has to be through a job? People often think hobbies are something fun to do in their free time but don’t realize that this could also be a source of additional money.
While you likely didn’t get into a hobby to monetize it, there’s no reason you can’t turn it into a profitable side hustle. Depending on your talent and the amount of time invested in your hobby, you could make it anywhere from some extra spending money to a full-time income.
1. Illustrating
If you’re constantly sketching, it might be time to turn your hobby from doodles in your notebook to money in your bank account. According to Glassdoor, illustrators make an average of $79,824 every year. You could enjoy a share of that by monetizing your hobby.
There are several ways you could monetize your illustrations–by selling them as stock images, creating custom illustrations for clients on sites like Upwork or Fiverr, or selling your art on t-shirts and mugs through a print-on-demand store.
2. Music Producer
If making music is your passion, you don’t have to become a full-time music producer or musician to monetize your music. One of the best ways musical artists make money as a side hustle is by creating beats and samples.
Websites like Airbit, BeatStars, and SoundOracle are some popular platforms used to sell music. In 2022, the founder of BeatStars announced that they had paid $200 million to their creators. So, if you enjoy producing music in your free time, don’t just leave it on your computer.
3. Photography
All you need is a high-quality camera and an eye for stunning visuals to monetize your photography hobby. While freelance photography might be highly competitive, there are other ways you could earn money from your photos.
You could sell photos on stock image sites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Depositphotos. Shutterstock boasts of paying over $1 billion to its contributors over the last fifteen years. If you love taking photos, don’t just keep them to yourself.
4. Candle Making
Do you love candles? If you’ve never dabbled in candle making, now might be the best time. While this figure will vary depending on whether you’re self-employed or working through a company, according to Glassdoor, the average candle maker earns $62,920 per year.
People love handmade goods. You could create and sell your own scented candles through Etsy, social media, your own website, or through local stores.
5. Graphic Design
Are you the person all your friends go to when they need a flyer or birthday card designed? You might want to consider turning your graphic design hobby into an additional source of income. According to Glassdoor, the average graphic designer earns $66,039 annually.
But if working directly with clients isn’t your thing, there are other ways to monetize your hobby. Printables are digital products you design, and customers can purchase, download, and print at home. In recent years, printables have become an increasingly profitable side hustle for many people.
6. Gaming
Gaming might not seem like a money-making hobby, but you’d be surprised how easy it could be to monetize your gameplay. On platforms like YouTube and Twitch, several viewers tune in to watch their favorite streamers.
According to StreamYard, small Twitch streamers can earn between $50 to $1,500 per month, while mi-tier streamers can earn between $5,000 to $30,000. So, if you already enjoy spending a few hours a week gaming, why not turn on the camera and earn money doing it?
7. Traveling
Traveling might seem like a way to spend money rather than earn it. But if you love traveling, there are several ways to monetize your passion.
You could share your tips and experiences through a travel blog, a YouTube channel, or social media. By partnering with different brands and posting sponsored content, you could make a substantial side hustle with your traveling hobby.
8. Blogging
If you’re constantly writing but not sharing it with the world, you’re missing out on a lucrative side hustle. Content creation is a popular way to make money, including your writing. According to Glassdoor, the average blogger has a total annual pay range between $46,000 and $86,000.
If you have a story or an opinion to share, you can easily start a blog at little to no cost. While it does take a while to generate income from a blog, it’s a hobby with a high potential for long-term passive income.
9. Gardening
Do you have a green thumb? Do you love spending time outdoors? Most people don’t think of gardening as a monetizable hobby. Still, you could turn your love of gardening into a side hustle.
You could sell seedlings, seeds, vegetables, flowers, or dried herbs straight from your garden. You could also offer gardening lessons both online and in person. Another popular way to monetize your gardening is to film yourself gardening and post the videos on social media or YouTube.
10. Knitting and Crocheting
Knitting and crocheting have made a massive comeback in recent years as more young people are interested in these hobbies. If you enjoy working with yarn, there are several ways to make money in this industry.
You could sell your finished products on Etsy or at craft shows or sell your patterns for your products. You could also teach others how to knit or crochet by selling a course online or creating a YouTube channel.
11. Book Reviewing
Are you an avid reader? Getting paid to read books might sound like something out of fantasy, but you can earn money from reading. You can choose to be an independent reviewer through your own website and social media. By creating engaging and fun book-related content and building a following, you could begin charging for book reviews or receiving free books from publishers.
Another way to make money from reviewing books is to sign up for a book review platform. Websites like Online Book Club, Kirkus, and Reedsy Discovery are great platforms for monetizing your love for books.
12. Social Media
Are you the friend who’s constantly making funny videos? Are you excited about every new TikTok dance trend? Social media is a very lucrative hobby.
According to Deloitte, 46% of Americans prefer watching user-generated content on social media than movies or series on streaming platforms. So, if you love creating content for social media, consider branching out onto a larger scale.
13. Movie Reviewing
Are you someone who loves sharing their ideas and opinions on movies and TV shows after watching them? Have you ever suggested a show to a friend so you’d have someone to talk to about it? You might want to consider making reviewing movies your side hustle.
Movie reviews are extremely popular, both as video and written content. You could create a website to share your thoughts on different movies and make money through affiliates or ads, or you could start a YouTube video.
14. Jewelry Making
People worldwide are constantly hoping to find beautiful and unique jewelry. If you have the artistic ability to create handmade jewelry, this could be a great hobby that brings in extra money.
You could market your pieces on social media and sell them through platforms like Etsy or your website. You could even sell them directly to customers at local flea markets and craft shows.
15. YouTuber
Have you ever been told you know how to tell a good story? YouTube is an excellent way to make money for anyone comfortable sitting in front of a camera and sharing their thoughts on topics they love. It helps you to connect with and build an audience, and that’s a valuable commodity.
While revenue from YouTube depends on the number of subscribers, views, and sponsorships you receive, according to Glassdoor, the average Youtuber earns between $62,000 and $114,000 yearly. Considering it’s completely free to begin uploading videos on YouTube, what’s stopping you?
16. Cooking
Decades ago, the only way you could share your love of cooking was by making a dish and sharing it with your family, friends, and neighbors. But today, you could have thousands of people in your kitchen with you through the internet.
If you’re constantly in the kitchen working on new dishes and recipes, why not monetize your hobby? You could share videos of the dishes you create through social media and YouTube, create a recipe book, or start a food blog. According to RankIQ, the food niche has the highest monthly income of the major blogging niches.
