USD
USD
The estimated earnings of 8,605 part-time freelancers who are currently selling their services:
$ 3,518,565
has been earned in OECD countries
$ 1,135,950
has been earned in the United States
$ 654,045
has been earned in the United Kingdom
$ 238,945
has been earned in Canada
$ 107,275
has been earned in Australia
Earnings are estimated according to the number of service reviews each freelancer in our analysis has received multiplied by the base price of their service. Our analysis included 8,605 active sellers for 50 popular jobs on Fiverr as of March 2021 who fitted our criteria of a side hustle freelancer.
Earnings
How much have side hustle-type services earned?
Based on the earnings of part-time freelancers, we calculated the top ten side hustles for making money. Worldwide, illustration jobs posted by side hustle sellers have netted more in sales than any other type of service. Proofreading and editing is also one of the most lucrative side hustle gigs.
Jobs
Which jobs can command the highest fees as a side hustler?
We analyzed the price range of jobs advertised by part-time freelancers to reveal which side hustle services can command the most money online. Worldwide, mobile app development gigs that fell into our criteria of a side hustle commanded up to $860 per job. That’s more than any other type of service.
Price range
Average price
Top 10 ranking of jobs
Based on the range of costs per service as of March 2021
Which jobs are most popular for side hustling timeframes?
Our analysis of OECD countries reveals which jobs are most popular among freelancers offering a service that could be completed in three days or fewer. We discovered that translation services were offered by more freelancers (16,169) than any other type of job within a side hustler’s timeframe.
Worldwide
In which countries can side hustle services earn the most?
Based on the earnings of active freelancers offering their services within a side hustle timeframe, we estimated the top ten highest-earning OECD countries for side hustles. US-based side hustlers top the ranking, having made the most from the online jobs included in our analysis.
Total earnings
Average earnings
Pre-lockdown vs lockdown
According to the International Labour Organization, the equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs were lost globally in 2020. This may partly explain why freelance job completions increased by 6.5% from before the pandemic-enforced lockdowns to during. We estimated this by comparing the number of completed jobs before and after March 2020 – the start of most global lockdowns.
Lockdown overall
Lockdown jobs
Lockdown saw completed jobs increase by 6.5%
Expert Tips
How to make your side hustle business stand out
Brought to you by Canva
1. Build your brand
However many hours you dedicate a week to your side hustle, it’s important to establish a strong, memorable, and positive brand that sets you apart from your competitors. Before you start, take the time to think about how you want to represent your services to the world. It’s particularly key to know your target market and research the best ways on how to appeal to them with your brand.
Even if your side hustle has gained enough traction on freelancer websites like Fiverr, it’s a good idea to build an independent website just for your business, with a simple and memorable business name and URL to match. Don’t worry – you don’t need to be an expert designer or coder to get started as there are lots of free and paid options online for building your website with templates and drag-and-drop features. Your logo and any other graphic design assets you need can be designed on Canva for free. Make sure everything flows and fits together and reflects the brand you want to show off.
Your website needs to be enjoyable for users to navigate and easy for them to find your contact details, check out your past work, and use your services. Featuring testimonials and ratings from past clients is one way to boost your trustworthiness online, as is keeping your website professional and working smoothly – which means no spelling mistakes, dead links, or unnecessary errors.
2. Plan your marketing strategy
Even if your side hustle mostly takes place offline, your business needs an online presence. It’s paramount that your business is represented in the right way and on the right social media platforms. As it’s by far the most popular social media platform in the world, start by setting up a Facebook page with lots of key information about your services for prospective clients. Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok are hugely popular with younger people and your competitors are likely already building their followings on those platforms – so make sure your business isn’t left behind.
If you have your own business website, try your hand at SEO (search engine optimization) strategies to get your page ranked higher on Google. With most users only ever visiting the first page of Google results, getting your business ranked highly is key. Fortunately, there are lots of free tools and resources on the web to help you analyze your website’s SEO performance and make the recommended improvements.
Your ultimate goal is to become known as the foremost authority in your area of business. You’ll want customers to associate your brand with high-quality service and content and want to share what you create. Producing insightful and shareable blog posts and newsletters to promote on your website and social media channels will reinforce your business’s authority in the industry.
3. Get customers raving
You can entice more people into using your services by providing excellent customer service wherever you can. Your goal is to create a strong, positive customer experience that compels users to leave fantastic reviews and ratings – prompting new users to trust you as well.
Sincerely empathizing and working on solutions with your customers is a surefire way to be remembered for providing excellent customer service. Make sure to always respond quickly to customer inquiries and feedback so they aren’t waiting too long and getting frustrated with you.
You might want to build customer relationships further with reward schemes for loyal customers and service guarantees for those who need extra peace of mind when ordering from you for the first time. Ultimately, whether you spend a few hours a week or most of your time on your new side hustle business, your customers will be the ones who can make or break it.