Summer Side Hustles That Are Flexible & Fun
Summer is the best time to go to the beach, sit back, and relax. It’s also the best season to use your free time to make extra money.
Despite what most people think, there are multiple lucrative summer side hustles you can start. How? That’s what we’re here to cover.
- Summer side hustles offer flexible, lucrative opportunities to earn extra money.
- Top options include house sitting, lawn care, babysitting, and tutoring.
- Skills required range from basic maintenance to specialized teaching abilities.
- Success requires matching skills with demand and effective self-marketing.
Brett Helling is a gig economy expert who has been running his own small business for over 10 years.
Our Top Picks
Before we delve into details, we want to give you a short list of what we think are the best side hustles for the summer.
- House sitting: It’s the most convenient
- Lawn care: Doesn’t require experience
- Babysitting: You can easily find gigs
- Tutoring: It’s in high demand
- Photography: It’s a passionate artistic endeavor
- Lifeguarding: It’s an easy gig with low investment
- Airbnb: You don’t need any skills to do it
- Pet sitting: It’s enjoyable if you love animals
- Grocery delivery: You get to travel to various locations
- Blogging: Allows you to hone your writing
Getting Started With Summer Side Hustles
What Are Summer Side Hustles?
A summer side hustle is a business endeavor that people engage with during the summer months to make extra money.
These jobs are mostly associated with students.
That’s why some people think they’re just summer jobs for teens trying to cover their living and tuition fees.
That’s not true, though. Even full-time employees can dabble with side hustles in their spare time.
The nature of the job usually matches a set of skills the employee has. It could be anything: writing, teaching, delivery, etc.
Why Should You Consider a Summer Side Hustle?
The biggest advantage to starting a side hustle is freedom.
Unlike full-time jobs, you can choose how many hours you dedicate to a side hustle. That means you get to earn extra income while enjoying a flexible schedule.
Besides, exploring different side hustles is an excellent way to know what you excel at. Ultimately, it could be the first step towards finding your passion.
The Best Summer Side Hustles at a Glance
Now that we’ve covered the basics, we want to answer common questions people have about side hustles.
What Is the Best Summer Side Hustle?
The perfect side hustle is a gig that matches your skills, piques your interests, and suits your schedule.
Although it doesn’t bring as much money as full-time work, a side hustle is still somewhat of a job.
You want to choose an activity you can be good at and still make decent money doing.
How Much Money Can You Make With Side Hustles?
The amount of money you make depends on how much time you dedicate to your side hustle.
If you work as a courier, you can earn more if you make more deliveries.
Not all side hustles are task-based, though. You can also get paid at an hourly rate. In that case, the rates you set for yourself will determine your income.
The Best Summer Side Hustles
Now that you’re all set, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive list of side hustles to help you choose a suitable gig.
1. House Sitting
As the name suggests, house sitting is where you—sit inside a house. Mind-blowing, right?
We’re kidding. There’s more to it than that.
An Overview
House sitting is when someone asks you to take care of their home while they’re away on vacation or a business trip.
Depending on the deal you make with the homeowner, you might not need to stay in the house at all.
Sometimes, they only ask you to water their plants, collect their mail, feed their pets, and then leave.
Costs to Get Started
There aren’t any financial demands to start house sitting for people. It usually comes down to how well you can keep their property well-maintained.
That said, we recommend getting liability insurance.
Although not necessary, it can protect you from false property damage accusations.
General liability insurance costs $42 per month. That’s about $500 a year.
Where to Find House-Sitting Jobs?
In many cases, you can land house-sitting jobs by networking. Ask your friends, colleagues, or neighbors if they need your services.
If that doesn’t work, you can visit house-sitting websites like HouseSitSearch or Trusted House Sitters.
These platforms are built specifically for that job. They can connect you with hundreds of homeowners, and you get to choose the gigs that suit you.
2. Lawn Care
Lawn care is in high demand during the summer because the hot weather promotes grass growth. The best part? It doesn’t require experience.
Overview
As a lawn care professional, your job is to keep other people’s yards prospering.
That includes cutting grass, clearing snow, and applying fertilizers. You also water the garden to ensure it stays healthy and flourishing.
In some cases, clients can ask you to plant specific flowers or trees to enhance the look of the lawn.
Costs to Get Started
You can’t offer lawn care services without having proper lawn maintenance tools. Naturally, the first thing you want to consider is the mower.
That would cost you $115-3000, depending on its quality. You also want to invest in grass strimmers and brushcutters, which cost $90-270.
Where to Find Lawn Mowing Jobs?
The most traditional way to find lawn care jobs is to go around different neighborhoods, knock on people’s doors, and offer your services.
However, the gig economy platforms won’t let you down, either. You can find different lawn mowing jobs on websites like ZipRecruiter and Indeed.
3. Babysitting
Babysitting might be the oldest side hustle in the book. You probably know how it works, but we’ll explain it anyway.
Overview
Babysitting is where parents ask you to take care of their children when they’re not around.
These children’s ages vary from recently-born babies to 11-year-olds.
Your responsibilities include feeding them, keeping them safe, changing their diapers, etc.
You can also do basic household chores, like cleaning the dishes, retrieving mail, answering phones, so on.
Costs to Get Started
You don’t need more than proper interpersonal and management skills to babysit.
Some babysitters are required to take first aid and CPR courses, though.
You never know what could happen when you’re watching kids.
Having proper training will help you know what to do in case a kid is having a stroke or suffers an injury.
These courses cost $14-100, depending on where you take them.
Where to Find Babysitting Jobs?
You can always go the traditional route and ask your neighbors if they need a babysitter.
If your neighbors don’t have kids, though, you can offer babysitting services on websites like Babysits, Care, or UrbanSitter.
4. Tutoring
As the noblest endeavor in the world, it’s no wonder tutoring makes this list.
Overview
You help students with school subjects you have experience with. The nature of the job allows you to go one step above school, though.
Besides guiding pupils through their academic duties, you also help them develop an efficient learning process.
Over time, they’ll understand what works for them and become independent learners.
Costs to Get Started
Understanding the syllabus is the foundation of a proper tutoring experience.
Buying books that cover the curriculum you teach is a good first step.
Your expenses will also depend on whether you tutor your students online or on-site.
If online, investing in a proper router or Wi-Fi extenders will ensure you have a stable internet connection. These cost around $100-300.
Where to Find Tutoring Jobs?
You can offer your tutoring services on social media. You can also sign up for websites like Tutor, Chegg Tutors, or TutorHub.
These are big platforms that connect you with thousands of students worldwide.
You can earn as much as $20-40 an hour.
5. Photography
The increasing popularity of social media paved the way for photography to become a decent side hustle.
It’s especially popular in the summer season with natural light everywhere.
Overview
Photographers use their cameras to capture special moments in people’s lives.
These moments could be weddings, conferences, summer vacations, etc.
While the premise sounds simple, there’s more to photography than meets the eye.
It’s one of the few jobs that combine technical and artistic skills.
You need to have a complete understanding of lighting, perspective, and composition to make visually appealing frames.
Costs to Get Started
Naturally, you can’t start a photography hustle without a camera.
A good, affordable camera might go for $600-755. You also want to invest in a few photography courses.
These will teach you how to create an intriguing frame and use lighting to your advantage.
You can find affordable photography courses on Nikon School’s website for $20-40.
Where to Find Photography Jobs?
You can reach out to a photography studio and offer your services.
If that’s not a viable option, you can always find photography gigs online.
Websites like Upwork and Freelancer provide hundreds of photography jobs.
6. Lifeguarding
People don’t give lifeguards the credit they deserve. You’ll be a watchful guardian, a silent protector, a dark knight.
Overview
As a lifeguard, you work at beaches, water parks, or public pools, ensuring everyone is safe.
That includes removing dangerous items from the water, enforcing safety regulations, and saving drowning swimmers.
Some lifeguards can even give swimming lessons, which are the perfect opportunity to teach people about pool safety measures.
Costs to Get Started
If you don’t know how to swim, the first step towards becoming a lifeguard is taking swimming classes.
These cost $10-30 per lesson, depending on your location.
You also need CPR training in case a customer drowns, and you have to restore their breath and heartbeat. That would cost $14-100.
Where to Find Lifeguarding Jobs?
You can reach out to pools, beaches, or water parks near you and see if they’re hiring.
If there aren’t any, you can find lifeguard jobs on websites like Indeed or ZipRecruiter.
7. Airbnb
You probably saw this one coming. Besides being a lucrative business, starting an Airbnb hustle is a quick way to earn passive income.
Overview
Airbnb is a service that connects visitors looking to rent accommodations in a specific location with property owners in said area.
If you have an appealing apartment or cottage that you won’t use, it could bring you good money.
You don’t even have to rent the entire space. You can rent one room if you want.
Costs to Get Started
Temptation is the foundation of a profitable Airbnb hustle. You want to ensure your place looks the best it could be.
That includes fixing broken devices, cleaning the rented space, and buying items that might make the experience more comfortable.
Don’t forget about the Airbnb host fees. These differ depending on the cancellation fees, though, so do your research.
Where to Find Airbnb Jobs?
The most effective way to get potential tenants is to use the Airbnb website.
The listing is free, and the website connects you to millions of potential customers.
You can also promote your space through word of mouth.
Ask your friends and family members to tell their friends about your business.
8. Pet Sitting
If you’re more of an animal person than a people person, pet sitting is the perfect side hustle for you.
It’s also one of the few 11 and 12-year-old side hustles on the market.
Overview
As the name suggests, pet sitting is where you look after someone’s pet while they’re away.
You feed them, give them a bath, and play with them. If you’re watching a dog, you can even take them for a walk.
Costs to Get Started
Becoming a pet sitter comes down to how good you are with animals. Sometimes, pet owners ask potential sitters to have special training, though.
Investing in courses that cover animal psychology or common health problems can get you ahead of the competition.
Their prices vary depending on where you live, but you can find online courses that cost $200-900.
Where to Find Pet Sitting Jobs?
You can ask to look after your friends’ or neighbors’ pets. You can also promote your services on several Facebook groups.
The most efficient way to find clients, though, is to target pet care platforms.
Yes, those exist. Rover, Wag, and Fetch are popular websites that specialize in hosting pet-care jobs.
9. Grocery Delivery
After quarantine, there has been an increasing demand for food and grocery couriers—and there still is! That’s why this side hustle is easy to get into.
Overview
Grocery couriers deliver items that customers request from a supermarket or a store.
This job is different from the traditional food delivery gig, though.
You don’t just pick up a package and drop it off at customers’ houses.
You do the grocery shopping yourself, which changes the dynamics of the job.
As such, it requires more communication with the customers to ensure you get what they need.
Costs to Get Started
The first step towards becoming a courier is to invest in a vehicle.
It could be a car, a scooter, or a bike. A decent bicycle or a scooter usually costs $100-2000. A car costs around $800 per month.
It’s also worth noting that your vehicle won’t stay in top shape forever. You’ll pay for repairs, maintenance, and gas.
Where to Find Grocery Delivery Jobs?
The quickest way to get grocery delivery gigs is to join Uber Eats.
Sign up for the app, and you’ll be ready to take orders. You can also offer your services to grocery stores near you.
10. Freelance Writing
In the age of social media, freelance writing has become the most effective way to monetize digital communication.
Some can even go as far as making it their full-time job.
Overview
As a freelance writer, you offer your writing services to other individuals or entities.
Basically, you create written content for blogs, landing pages, marketing copies, and more.
You can choose a niche you’re interested in, like technology, cosmetics, or psychology, and only target companies that focus on that niche.
You can also be a generalist and use your research skills to write about any topic.
Costs to Get Started
If you don’t have a knack for writing, investing in a writing course can take you a long way.
A $32 Skillshare monthly subscription gives you access to various writing courses.
There’s more to freelance writing than developing a unique writing style, though.
Clients expect you to create content that would rank high on search engines and generate more traffic.
That means you need to learn search engine optimization (SEO). You can find multiple courses on Udemy, with prices ranging between $200-1000.
Where to Get Freelance Writing Jobs?
Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer offer countless writing gigs. However, the most efficient way to get high-paying customers is cold pitching.
That’s where you approach potential clients, offering your services and telling them why you’d make an excellent addition to their teams.
How to Start a Summer Side Hustle?
Now that we’ve covered different side hustle ideas, let’s see how you can actually start one.
Identify Your Skills
There’s nothing worse than putting time and effort into a side hustle only to realize it’s not right for you.
That’s why the first step you want to take is to identify your qualifications.
What can you do well? If you love driving, food or grocery delivery would be the perfect side hustle. If you love animals, start offering your pet-care services.
Make a Plan
Crafting a plan can help you reach your goals quicker. If you’re starting a blog, for example, do you have high-quality content to publish?
Do you know how to promote it or make it rank high on search engines? How will you stand out among the competition?
Addressing these points is the key to starting a successful side hustle.
Research the Legalities
Not all side hustles are created equal. If you’re babysitting or doing photography sessions, you don’t have to worry about legalities.
An Airbnb hustle, on the other hand, needs extensive research.
Does your lease allow you to do that? What kind of taxes will you have to pay? Do you need special permissions?
Find the answer to these questions to save time when you start your business.
Take Feedback
Chances are you won’t do so well when you start your hustle. Even if you’re good in the technical aspects, the business aspect might give you a hard time.
That’s why it’s crucial to take feedback. You’ll understand what your clients want and how you can provide it.
Evaluate Your Hustle
After engaging in the hustle for a while, evaluate whether it’s worth it or not.
Do the financial returns compensate for the time and effort you put into the business?
If not, try to figure out what you’re doing wrong. Maybe reevaluate your business strategies or redefine your target audience.
Wrapping Up
Engaging in summer side hustles is a great way to make extra money on the side.
If you’re looking for a gig that doesn’t require special skills, house sitting would be your best bet. Lawn mowing is the second-best option.
Choosing a suitable hustle involves a lot of self-reflection. Identify your core skills, interests, and resources, then match them with the gigs available on the market.
What do you think, though? Has this post answered any questions you have about side hustles?
If you still have questions, write them down in the comment section, and we’ll answer them when we can.
Similar Side Hustles to Check Out
Have you become interested in side hustles? If a quick summer side hustle isn’t an option, we can provide you with viable alternatives.
- Winter Side Hustles: A comprehensive post that guides you through the process of starting a side hustle in winter.
- Real Estate Side Hustles: Learn how to break into the real estate industry with clear instructions and different examples.
- Teacher Side Hustles: The guide covers different ways for teachers to make money on the side, from curriculum development to online courses and more.