ith the economy in turmoil and the freelance economy so strong right now, there's never been a better time to create some additional income streams for yourself. To give you some inspiration, we've researched and compiled what we believe to be the most beginner-friendly side hustles for women in 2022.
Women, in particular, stand to benefit a lot from side hustling. For a single mother, it can mean additional income for paying bills. For a bored stay-at-home parent, it can mean a more productive use of her idle time. And, for a college student, it’s a valuable income source to pay for tuition and textbooks.
And, the great thing about these side hustles for women is that many of them can be started with little to no money.
Let's dive in!
Choosing A Side Hustle
When starting a side hustle, one must always come from a place of passion or choose something that makes use of your skills and talents.
Then, you have to consider how much effort, money, and time you can afford to invest in it. But, if it doesn't interest you, then you likely won't stick with it long enough to make any money.
In this list, we’ve selected some of the coolest side hustles for women we could find. They don’t require much capital investment, but they can still be very profitable especially if you've developed a good work ethic and a positive, entrepreneurial spirit.
7 Beginner-Friendly Side Hustles For Women
1. Selling Digital Downloads Online
Digital downloads are basically any content that can be sold online and downloaded to your desktop, mobile, or laptop. This includes products such as digital artwork, spreadsheet templates, graphic design templates, filter pre-sets, and printables.
The reason this tops our list of side hustles for women is that selling digital downloads involves a lot of creativity, but can provide you with passive income for years to come. That's because once you upload your products to a platform like Etsy, nothing is required on your part once you make a sale. Etsy sends them the product automatically, allowing you to use your time to focus on making the next products.
Start-Up Costs: Minimal. This is probably one of the most convenient side hustles for women because making digital downloads can be relatively easy. You don't even have to pay for an editing tool, since there are a ton of programs like Canva that you can use to get started for free.
Same with Etsy — it's free to open an account, and listing a new product only costs $0.20.
Potential Profits: As a general rule, digital downloads sell at higher margins than physical products. And, because you don’t have to spend additional money to make more inventory, your margins will improve as you continue to sell the product. That’s why, if you’re looking to generate some passive income, this is one of the better side hustles for women on this list.
Your results will certainly depend on what you put into it. But, there are many people making over $100,000 a year from selling digital products. But, even if you're not ready to scale that high, a few hundred dollars a week can make a big difference.
2. Start A Dropshipping Store
A dropshipping store is a store that sells products online, but only purchases its inventory once it has found a customer and sold it. It’s one of the easiest ways to start an eCommerce store because you don't have to invest in inventory that you aren't sure will sell.
A dropshipper is basically a middle-man. They advertise products online, sell them, and then partner with third-party suppliers to have the orders filled. It's perfectly legal, and if you do a lot of online shopping them you've likely already purchased a product from a dropshipping store. If it's built right, the customer won't be able to tell.
This is one of the top side hustles for women because it allows you to create a real business that can develop and release its own products further down the line. But, to get started, you'll want to use a dropshipping platform like DropCommerce since it can reliably source products from North-American suppliers. Sell products online, make money while you sleep, and build a brand. If your store is successful, you can scale it up to thousands of dollars in sales a day using social media ads.
Start-Up Costs: Vary. While it's possible to start dropshipping with as little as ~$200, the best results usually come with you have more money to experiment with ads, and enough credit to fulfill orders. The slower you need to move, the more difficult it will be to get things off the ground. The ideal budget would be closer to $1000-$3000.
This budget range will allow you to set up your store, invest in a DropCommerce subscription, and test a variety of products to see what consumers respond best to. Or, you could even purchase a prebuilt store so that you can minimize your start-up time and jump right into marketing.
Potential Profits: Out of all the side hustles for women on this list, dropshipping is likely the most scalable. Finding a winning product or ad can allow you to scale the business very quickly. Since you're not worrying about inventory or order fulfillment, you can focus all of your efforts on marketing.
It's very possible to pull in >$100,000 in sales during your first year of dropshipping. Naturally, your profit margin will likely only be ~30% of that, but because you're building an asset, you can also sell your successful dropshipping stores should you want to. It's a very profitable option on today's list of side hustles for women, but your results will hinge on your ability to acquire qualified traffic for cheap. So, start learning how to make TikTok and Pinterest content!
3. Sell Jewelry Online
Jewelry is one of the most popular things for people to buy online, and people don't care if you're a small business. In many cases, they prefer that because it means their jewelry will be unique and different. As far as side hustles for women go, creating and selling jewelry online is almost guaranteed to bring in some profits.
You can focus on a certain type of jewelry, like resin jewelry. Not only is this niche currently trending on most eCommerce platforms, but the materials are also inexpensive and easy to get started with.
Start-Up Costs: Depending on the type of jewelry you want to focus on, starting an online jewelry business can cost as little as $100-$200 if you're willing to get scrappy. Of course, it never hurts to start with a higher budget, but you can overcome financial constraints by taking pre-orders, borrowing your equipment from family or friends, and using reclaimed materials (like metal) where you can.
If you're operating with a strict budget, then stick to platforms like Etsy or eBay, and focus on making sales.
If you don’t know anything about designing jewelry, you can still make this work for you. There are an endless amount of free tutorials available on Youtube, covering everything you need to know. You can also use images of other people's products to get an idea of what people are willing to purchase before you invest in making your own.
Potential Profits: Your income is primarily going to depend on how many customers you're able to get, what price point you're able to justify, and how many pieces you can create. Start small, and scale up each one of those factors where you can. You'll likely only make a few hundred dollars per month to start, but if you continue to grow your business, you should be able to sell a few thousand dollars per month in your first year. Especially if your social media presence is on-point.
4. Become a Social Media Manager
A social media manager curates a client’s social media account, creates content, and manages social campaigns to increase the account’s number of followers and its rate of engagement.
This is one of those cool side hustles for women because it taps into our collective obsession with social media. If you enjoy spending time on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc., then you might even have fun doing this side hustle.
Freelancing as a social media manager offers an easy method to transition toward remote work without a lot of experience. You might not start off working with brands you're passionate about, but once you have some results, it will become easier to convince cool brands to take a chance on you.
Start-Up Costs: Very minimal. With all of the free tools (and free trials) available, you can likely find everything you need to get started for close to $0. As your business begins to grow, you'll want to start investing in tools that will move the needle. You don't need to have a college degree, a million followers (although that would definitely help), or a ton of experience — a laptop, smartphone, and youthful enthusiasm are enough to get started for most people.
When you're ready to level up your skills, there are a ton of Youtube videos you can watch or free courses you can take. You might want to learn more about video editing, copywriting, analytics, or whatever else your clients have a need for.
Potential Profits: You can charge by the hour or get retained by a client. Depending on the scope of work and regional rates, hourly rates can range from $20 to $100. Monthly freelancer retainers are likely closer to $1000-$5000 depending on the client and the size of the accounts they need to be managed.
Not bad, huh? Well, before you fall in love, let's see what other side hustles for women we have in store for you.
5. Host Creative Workshops Online
Creativity workshops are basically live classes that teach you a fun, creative skill. Want to get paid to inspire people and nurture their creativity? Well, then this might be what you've been looking for. As a creative instructor, you'll help people learn something new. You could host a class on how to paint with watercolors, make dazzling homemade jewelry, or whatever else there's a demand for.
While you'll sell to a lot of individuals, you'll also encounter a fair bit of companies that want to offer these workshops to their employees. That's because creative workshops can lead employees to feel inspired, fulfilled, and can give them fresh insights on what they can improve in the business. Plus, it's a fun way to bring your remote teams together.
Start-Up Costs: Minimal. You can expect participants to purchase their own tools and supplies, just make sure that you let them know what they need to get in advance.
Using Zoom or other communication apps, you can set up a virtual workshop easily. You can purchase a paid Zoom plan if you want a premium video calling experience, or you can get started for free on a platform like Google Meets.
And, if you are organizing an arts and crafts workshop, you can work towards partnerships with companies that sell the supplies. In exchange for bringing them new customers, they may be willing to offer you free shipping, discounts, or even commissions on the products you help them sell. There's also an opportunity to have a company sponsor your workshops, allowing you to diversify your income with some advertising.
Potential Profits: You'll earn income by charging admission fees for every participant. This can include everything (including the supplies each participant will need), or just include admission to the online workshop. According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly pay for art workshop facilitators in the US is $24.44.
Overall, this may be one of the best options on our list of side hustles for women if you've already got some creative skills, and you'd like to find a way to monetize them.
6. Become a Freelance Tarot Card Reader
Tarot reading is a centuries-old practice of foretelling the future through a Tarot card deck. Tarot card readers interpret the card’s meaning using astrology, numerology, symbolism, and other esoteric methods to gain insight into decisions or predict future events.
These days, consultations are often done online through Zoom or Facetime. Some might be quick to label this as a scam, but professional tarot readers insist that their practice is harmless since their card readings are just tapping into the subconscious insights of a client, much like therapy.
Start-Up Costs: Minimal. All you need is a laptop, a wi-fi connection, and a method of acquiring new clients. Of course, you also need to know how to read Tarot cards, and to have the qualities to make it an interesting, stimulating experience.
Potential Profits: Tarot readings are very popular now, especially after the pandemic, because they’re being used as a tool for self-care and guidance. Given that they don't require any investment, it can be very profitable. Tarot reading sessions typically cost anywhere from $30-$100, and can last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Some tarot readers charge an initial consultation fee before a reading, so that clients have a better idea of what to expect.
You can also diversify your income stream by offering private classes or group workshops teaching clients how to read Tarot cards. You can list your services on freelancing platforms like Fiverr, Facebook groups, or grow through word of mouth.
7. Make & Sell Homemade Soaps Online
Selling homemade soaps online has been one of the most reliable side hustles for women through the years, largely because there will always be consumer demand for soap. In fact, according to DropCommerce, personal hygiene products are one of the best dropshipping niches for beginners. The demand has increased so much that many entrepreneurs have been able to start it off as a side hustle and turn it into a full-time business.
One quick search on Etsy and you'll see that many people prefer to buy handmade, artisanal, or unique soaps over the typical stuff you'll find at a grocery store.
Start-Up Costs: As with many home-based businesses, your first batch will be among your most expensive as you're not yet taking advantage of economies of scale. That being said, you can expect to spend a couple hundred dollars on the equipment and supplies to get started. It's also a good idea to set up an LLC sooner rather than later to protect yourself from the possibility that someone's delicate skin doesn't appreciate your ingredients.
Of course, it is entirely possible to start with way lower investment costs, especially if you're just selling to family and friends. You can take pre-orders, sell on local marketplaces, and move to Etsy when you're ready.
Potential Profits: Depending on the price point you're targeting, you can expect to sell your soaps for $4-$15. Some extremely unique soaps even retail for $20+, but that generally applies to artistic, niche designs.
You can also diversify your income stream by expanding your product line by adding complementary products like accessories, candles, or catering to events like weddings. You could also earn a profit by making an online course on how to sell soap and sell it to others looking for unique side hustles for women.
Want More Ideas?
Other than earning extra cash, starting an online side hustle will allow you to develop new skills and add other income sources to your life.
Ultimately, whether you choose to go full-time with one of these side hustles for women or keep it part-time, the goal is to create a location-independent income stream that can grow with you through the years. Women deserve to have the independence and freedom to do work that they enjoy — from wherever they want to do it.
Now, if you’re looking for other side hustles for women, make sure to check out HustleDirectory.com. There are over 175 online side hustles, and each one of them comes with explanations, guides to get started, and more.
And, if dropshipping is your thing, check out DropCommerce's pre-built Shopify stores. They'll allow you to start dropshipping faster than you could on your own, since you don't have to build your own store.
Either way, get started! Procrastinators don't get paid!
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