14 Side Hustles That Can Grow Into a Full-Time Income

Do you want to start a side hustle with the potential of it turning into a full-time income?

I did this when I started making money with side hustles over ten years ago, and I haven’t looked back.

I’ve turned a few side hustles into full-time incomes at different times in the last ten years and found that the simplest ideas often end up turning into the most profitable.

In today’s article, I’m going over:

14 different side hustles that can turn into a full-time business How long it takes to turn a side hustle into a full-time job If you should quit your job to focus on your side hustle

And more!

14 Side Hustles That Can Grow Into a Full-Time Income

These are side hustles that you can keep small if you only want a little extra income each month, or you can grow them into something much bigger.

For example, you may decide to take on just one or two clients, work a few hours a week, and keep it simple. Or, you may choose to grow by taking on more clients, raising your rates, offering more services, hiring help, or building systems that let the business run more smoothly. That’s what I like about these ideas – they can fit different goals, schedules, and stages of life.

Here’s a list of the 14 best side hustles that can grow into a full-time income.

1. Blogging

Blogging started as a side hustle for me and eventually turned into my full-time income. The same happened to my sister as well!

You can make money blogging through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, selling your own digital products or services, and advertising.

I know plenty of people who do this as a side hustle and others who work full-time on their blogs.

Making money blogging can be quite slow at first, but over time, it can grow with consistency, such as by writing more blog posts, being more active on social media (like Pinterest, Facebook, or Instagram), and finding more ways to get new readers.

Recommended reading: How to Start Making Money With A Blog Free Course

2. Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping is a side hustle with strong potential to turn into a full-time job. Bonus: This side hustle can also be done from home.

Bookkeeping is a side hustle that involves tracking expenses, income, and financial records for all types of businesses.

I know people who do bookkeeping for just a couple of clients so that it is just part-time, and I also know others who are full-time bookkeepers with many regular clients. So, there is definitely room for growth!

Recommended reading: How To Become a Bookkeeper With No Experience (Step-by-Step Guide)

3. Virtual assisting

I’ve been a virtual assistant for almost as long as I have been blogging. A virtual assistant is someone who provides remote help in areas like administration, organization, or technical support to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

This side hustle can turn into a full-time job by working with multiple clients or by taking on more work.

I really enjoy virtual assisting because this work can be done anywhere and on almost any schedule, depending on the type of work you do. Demand for this type of work is strong because small businesses usually cannot or do not need to hire full-time staff.

Recommended reading: How To Start a Virtual Assistant Business (From Someone Who’s Done It)

4. Photography

Photography is a side hustle that can grow into a full-time job if that is what you are looking for.

As a photographer, you can take pictures for weddings, events, portraits, or even commercial work. You can even make money doing this by selling photos on stock photo websites online.

You can keep this side gig small if you’d like, or you can grow it by taking on larger projects and more clients and turning it into a full-time income.

Recommended reading: How I Made Over $1,000,000 in Photography Without Being a Pro

5. Cleaning homes

Cleaning homes is a side hustle I’ve seen grow into full-time work quickly.

This work involves providing residential cleaning services for clients. The key to turning this side hustle into a full-time gig is getting repeat clients on regular cleaning schedules, either weekly, biweekly, or monthly.

You can increase your rates as homes get larger. You may even decide to build a team that can eventually do the work for you, while you take care of the marketing and getting new clients. 

6. Dog walking and pet sitting

I used to be a part-time dog walker and pet sitter, and to no surprise, it was one of my favorite side hustles. This was by far the chillest, most enjoyable side hustle I’ve ever done, and I always recommend it to everyone looking to pick up a little extra cash.

A dog walking or pet sitting side hustle can turn into a full-time income by building a steady schedule of daily or weekly clients. You can also increase your income by walking multiple dogs at once, offering longer walks, or even pet training (if you have the skills for this, of course).

Marketing is important here if you want to build your base quickly and get repeat customers, but there are also really good dog walking apps out there like Rover, which I have used to find jobs. 

Recommended reading: How We Make $12,000 a Year Dog Sitting From Home

7. Writing ebooks

Did you know you can make money writing ebooks and selling them online? This side hustle can turn into a full-time income by creating multiple ebooks and selling them repeatedly.

You can publish your ebooks through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or by selling directly through your website or social media.

People write all sorts of ebooks and make money from them, ranging from self-help and fiction to how-to guides and niche expertise content.

Marketing is important here, as people need to find your books, so working on social media, email marketing, and SEO traffic is important. 

Recommended reading: 17 Best Side Hustles for Book Lovers

8. Mobile car detailing

Mobile car detailing is a side hustle where people clean vehicles. Services include interior cleaning, exterior washing, waxing, and deep cleaning.

This side hustle can turn into a full-time job by getting a steady base of repeat clients and contracts.

Marketing is huge when scaling this side hustle. Some people do such great work that word of mouth and social media are enough for them. 

9. Travel agent

Believe it or not, travel agents still exist, and many people believe they are making a comeback. My sister actually just booked a trip with a travel agent for her first time ever.

A travel agent is in charge of planning and booking trips for people, including flights, hotels, and excursions or activities.

This side hustle can turn into a full-time job by building a repeat client base and specializing in travel niches like luxury travel, adventure travel, cruises, honeymoons, wellness travel, family travel, and more.

10. Childcare

Childcare can be a part-time job or it can become a full-time gig. Childcare involves caring for children while parents or guardians are at work or busy doing something else.

This side hustle can turn into a full-time job through running a licensed daycare or childcare center, or by becoming a nanny. Demand is high because there are always families needing childcare. If you don’t want to run a daycare, you can work on your own and offer services like babysitting, after-school care, or full-day childcare. 

Working in childcare was my full-time job for a while. I was a nanny for a couple of children, and I also worked abroad as an au pair, taking care of children. I found my jobs through sites like Care.com and flyers posted on local bulletin boards. 

11. Renting out real estate (short-term or long-term)

Renting out real estate is when you lease property to tenants or guests (like an Airbnb). This side hustle can turn into a full-time gig by owning multiple properties.

Some real estate investors prefer long-term rentals because they get a steady monthly cash flow from tenants without as much of the work as short-term rentals. However, short-term rentals can generate higher nightly income (but require more management, such as arranging for cleaners and booking new guests). 

Startup costs for this are quite high compared to the other side hustles on the list since you need a down payment, maintenance, and possibly renovations on the real estate. 

Recommended reading: 23 Best Real Estate Side Hustles To Make Extra Money

12. Selling digital products

Selling digital products involves creating and selling items online, like printables, templates, or courses. Once you get enough items sold repeatedly, you may be able to turn this side hustle into a full-time income.

You can sell your digital items on platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, or even your own website, using social media and email marketing.

Income in this space can be super scalable since you can make a product once, usually right from your computer, and that product can be sold repeatedly over months or years. 

Recommended reading: How I Made $6,161 in Just 4 Months With a New Etsy Printables Shop

13. Pet waste removal

Pet waste removal might not be glamorous, but some people have managed to make it into a six-figure business.

Dog waste removal is a service where people clean up dog waste from yards, parks, or properties.

You can turn this side hustle into a full-time job by finding more clients who need recurring services.

Startup costs for this side hustle are low, since you only need basic cleaning supplies, scoops, and transportation to and from work locations. You can even scale this business by hiring a small team and serving multiple neighborhoods. 

Recommended reading: How To Make $100,000 A Year With A Pet Waste Removal Business

14. Flipping items for resale

You’ve probably heard of flipping items for resale – it’s quite popular on YouTube and TikTok, and for good reason.

People are getting rid of valuable items all the time, and these things are found at thrift stores, garage sales, and sometimes just sitting on people’s curbs waiting for the garbage truck to come by.

These items can then be sold for a profit on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, OfferUp, and Poshmark, just to name a few.

You can do this as a side hustle and sell items just every now and then, or you can turn this into a full-time income and sell a lot of stuff all the time.

Startup costs are low since you can start with small purchases or free items, but as you grow, you’ll need room for inventory. 

Recommended reading: How Melissa Made $40,000 In One Year Flipping Items

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about turning side hustles into a full-time income.

What is the best side hustle to turn into a full-time job? 

The best side hustle to turn into a full-time job is one that has consistent, long-term demand, where you can take on more clients or have regular clients (such as clients who need your service on a weekly or monthly basis). This includes side hustles like bookkeeping, cleaning homes, childcare, and pet waste removal.

How long does it take to turn a side hustle into a full-time income? 

Turning a side hustle into a full-time income does not happen overnight. For most people, this can take several months, even over a year, depending on how much time and effort you put into the side hustle. It depends on many factors, such as how long it will take you to find regular clients (for example, some people may be able to turn it into a full-time income fast by finding new clients quickly).

Can a side hustle really replace a full-time job? 

Yes, a side hustle really can replace a full-time job, especially if the side hustle is in demand and has room to grow. This usually means that you will need to consistently work on the side hustle and constantly learn, so your skills improve over time. I have turned many side hustles into full-time jobs, so I know this is possible!

Should I quit my job to focus on my side hustle?

For most people, quitting their day job to focus on their side hustle may not be possible if they can’t pay their bills just yet. Due to this, it is usually best to wait to quit your job to pursue your side hustle full-time only once your side hustle has replaced your day job income. This is also a very personal decision, as there are so many factors that may influence your decision – such as: Do you think your side hustle can be long-term? Would you even like doing your side hustle full-time? What will you do for health insurance? And more. I recommend getting out a piece of paper and making a pros and cons list.

How much money should I save before leaving my full-time job?

Before leaving your full-time job, I think it’s helpful to have 3-6 months of living expenses saved. This is a good buffer in case your side hustle has unexpected slow months. Once you have 3-6 months, you may want to lean toward 6-12 months for extra security since side hustles can sometimes be more unpredictable than traditional day jobs. 

14 Side Hustles That Can Grow Into a Full-Time Income – Summary

I hope you enjoyed this article on side hustles that can grow into a full-time income.

There are so many side hustles you can turn into a full-time income, depending on how much time you have. 

By choosing a side hustle that can possibly grow into the future, you get the chance to start small, learn as you go, and see where it takes you.

I have personally started a side hustle that grew into a full-time business, and I know plenty of other people who have as well (like my sister!). So, it is very real and very possible for you too.

What side hustle do you want to turn into a full-time income?

Recommended reading: 

17 Low Effort Side Hustles That Can Make You Extra Money How I Made My Side Hustle My Full-Time Dream Job I’ve Done Over 20 Side Hustles in My Life: Here’s What I Think of Each The Very Honest Truth About Going Full Time With My Side Hustle How To Quit Your Job And Become A Full-Time Blogger

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