These 7 jobs are perfect for a side gig!

So, you want to start a side hustle? Good for you! Taking on a second job is a popular way to boost your income or explore new career opportunities in your spare time, without having to quit your main job. There is plenty of work out there for anyone who’s motivated enough and who can access the right tools, but the key is to find the right kind of gig that fits with your skills, your schedule, and your values.

Starting a side hustle in addition to your regular occupation or on top of another line of freelance work can take a bit of time and effort, but once you get going, you can work as much or as little as you like, and bring in some extra money when you need it.

Take a look below at our tips on finding the right side gig for you, as well as a list of seven great ideas for possible side hustles.

Tips for finding the right side gig 

Take inspiration from your situation and ask yourself, “what can I do?”, “what could I do?”, and “what would I like to do?”.

What you can do — the skills you have

Think broadly about all the skills you’ve developed through your life so far. Remember that short course you did while you were in-between jobs? Or that field you dabbled in at university but didn’t pursue as your major? What about any supplementary workplace training? There are plenty of skills we develop through experience in other areas, so give yourself some time to really think about it and see what ideas come up that you may not have considered before. 

What you could do — skills you could learn

While it’s good to take stock of the skills you do have, try not to be so bold and brazen that you don’t recognise where you could spend a little extra time improving. Attitude is great, but taking the time to brush up on your skills first can make all the difference to the impression you make when you first get started. Levelling up can also be a good way to give you ideas for what to do.

Think of what you’d be willing to train and study for. Perhaps there’s something in the back of your mind you’ve always thought about doing, but your primary career has taken priority, or you’ve simply not had the time or energy to give it a go.

There are so many affordable and credible online and short courses available — take a look and see what both excites you and seems like it could prove to be useful.

What you would like to do — hobbies, interests, passions

Monetising an existing hobby is another very popular approach to start a side hustle. If you’re already a keen photographer, why not start looking for a few gigs to book? Choosing something you already enjoy makes the hustle that much more fun. 

It does pay to step back and consider whether you might need to hone your skills a bit first though — almost everybody believes they can write, but if you plan to start a freelance copywriting career, you may wish to brush up on your grammar and take a short course before you dive in.

7 great ideas for a side gig

Any one of these jobs could be perfect as a side hustle — which one jumps out at you?

1. Pet sitting/Dog walking

Pet sitting or dog walking can be a great way to make some extra cash, so long as you’re comfortable and confident with animals — and free of allergies! To get started, let your friends and neighbours know you’re on the lookout for your first pet sitting or dog walking job, join a Facebook group in your local area, or sign up on an app like Pawshake. The benefit to using a third party such as Pawshake is that they take care of things like insurance and make sure there are emergency protocols in place. If you go solo, you’ll need to consider these things yourself.

2. Rideshare or delivery driving

Check your local area for popular rideshare apps, such as Lyft, or delivery driving services, such as Lieferando or Wolt. If you’ve got a reliable car, bike, or scooter, and you can find your way around without too much trouble, this could be a great side gig for you. You can work to your own schedule, as much or as little as you like. Again, make sure to consider things like insurance, and safety. Find out if and how you’re covered, and weigh up whether it’s right for you.

3. Tutoring students

Tutoring, or “Nachhilfe”, is quite popular in Germany, with many parents looking for ways for their children to get some extra help with their studies. By offering your services as a tutor, you can help students to better understand or apply what they’re learning in school, assist with homework or study, and help them to gain confidence. Choose an area of study that you know well and get the word out via online and offline listings and communities. With online learning now so mainstream, you may wish to offer your services via video call, which allows you to work outside the limits of your local city or neighbourhood, opening up a much bigger pool of potential clients, as well as minimising the hurdle if you don’t speak German.

4. Handy helper

Ride the wave of the gig economy and make yourself available as a general handyperson. People outsource all kinds of small jobs and tasks for all kinds of reasons. If you’re a practical and reliable person, fit and able to do a range of odd jobs, why not sign up to a platform like Fiverr or Gigwork and offer your services when and wherever suits you. You can choose how much you want to work and which tasks you take on, and you may find that in time you’re able to develop your own network of regular clients, listing your services locally. By helping someone out for a quick buck, you’ll also get the bonus of feeling good about making someone’s day that bit easier.

5. Building websites

Have you got programming or web design skills, or would you be willing to learn? Web design and website development can be a very lucrative, flexible job, and has great potential to become a blossoming career. Many companies outsource web projects to external contractors, and it’s also the kind of job you can do from the comfort of your own home. To get started, you may want to build your own website, or offer to build one for a friend, relative or local small business.

6. Writing and proofreading

Are you that person everyone goes to to quickly proofread an important email or social media post? Are you passionate about the differences between there, their, and they’re? As well as being a smarty-pants, you could be well suited to a bit of proofreading or writing on the side! While it would be awkward to start charging your friends or coworkers, you could certainly make some money by offering your services proofreading essays and CVs. Beyond proofreading, you may want to look into freelance writing. You could start by publishing a blog, or helping someone write their CV, depending on your area of expertise and interest. 

7. Streaming and influencer marketing

A surprising number of people will pay to watch other people play video games online. It may sound absurd, but it’s true! People find it very entertaining. And if you’re good at providing interesting banter or you’re a particularly good player, you can use a platform such as Twitch to stream your own games, build a subscriber base and generate an income through paid subscriptions, affiliate programs and ad revenue.

Similarly, other social platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok can turn into a side job if you’ve got a point of difference that’s interesting or entertaining enough to build a substantial following. Even with a fan base in the thousands, you can generate small amounts of income through paid promotions and posts. 

While streaming and influencer marketing are among the least direct ways to generate money in your pocket, as there are a number of middle-men that take a cut along the way, it can be possible, and it could be a path for you to consider.

Are you artistic? Get creative!

If none of the above jobs really jump out at you, chances are you’re a creative type with a much more niche area of expertise. Are you an avid photographer? Have you got a knack for helping people find their style? Or perhaps you’re a talented seamstress? Take that creative skill to the next level by turning a hobby into a hustle. Any number of artistic talents can be turned into a side job that generates a bit of income. You may find that in time, your love of textiles and fashion turns into a lucrative personal shopping or styling career. Or that those songs you write alone in your bedroom could be turned into an album that you sell online. Set up an Etsy shop and sell those little crochet toys you love to make! Artistic and creative pursuits can be perfect as side jobs.

Did someone say… tax?

While you may not want to hear it, if you’re going to start a side gig, you need to know what your tax obligations are. In short: any kind of income you generate needs to be reported to the tax office as taxable income, and any kind of freelance activity you do needs to be correctly registered with your local German tax office or “Finanzamt”. You’ll need to invoice your clients, keep track of important dates, and pay VAT (Umsatzsteuer) and income tax.

💡Tip from Accountable: Make sure to include all the necessary information to create a legally compliant invoice.

The good news is that you may also be able to claim some expenses against your VAT or taxable income. Check what expenses you can claim using our handy expenses calculator.

We can help!

Download Accountable now to keep track of all your deadlines, expenses, invoices, and for help with tax returns. We’ve got your back so you can keep on hustlin’.