From freelancing to delivery driving, there’s a side hustle for almost everyone.Since high school, I’ve tried over 20 different ways to earn another income stream. Some side gigs were duds, like when I did online surveys and spent hours making a measly $20. Others paid well, like when I earned $100 an hour as a freelance web developer. Over time, my side hustles have helped me pay off $40,000 in debt. Fast-forward to today. I’m a full-time technical writer, freelance writer, content manager and blog owner. Even though I’m still juggling different side hustles, I’m focused on one area of expertise, which helps me simplify my schedule. After much trial and error, I’ve found out what works and what doesn’t when it comes to making the most money. Here’s what I recommend based on my own experience. Choose a side hustle that fits Your lifestyle is the most important factor when choosing a side gig. If you prefer to work from home, you might choose something similar to your remote job.For example, while working as a web engineer by day, I also worked as a freelance web developer at night and on the weekends. I was essentially doing the same thing but for different clients, and I could still work remotely as long as I met deadlines and client expectations.On the other hand, if you have a lifestyle where you’re always on the move, you might take on extra work delivering groceries, takeout or packages. It pays to have a side hustle that seamlessly fits into your day-to-day life without becoming a burden. Look for longterm clients One of the biggest impacts on my side hustle income was seeking out longterm clients who needed my services for ongoing projects and retainer work. If you package your services correctly, these tend to pay better than one-off gigs. For example, I could write one basic blog article for $300, or I could put together a content management package for $3,000 a month that includes three monthly articles, images, references, keyword optimization and regular content updates. I’ve found that one-off gigs can be tough to negotiate for a higher amount. However, single-project assignments may still be helpful for making extra cash quickly and boosting your experience. Raise your rates when the time is rightI was paid $25 for my first freelance article. The blog offered a small amount for guest posts, but I didn’t know I could negotiate that rate. Once I realized how long projects took me and the market rate, I looked up common verbiage that would help me raise my rates, like freelancer negotiation scripts and example emails. Slowly, I increased my rate with each new client until I got more comfortable negotiating.With existing clients, however, it’s not a good idea to spring a new rate on them out of the blue. Be ready to discuss your financial needs thoughtfully when there’s a new cycle or year, or when the workload or scope changes.Be mindful of your client’s budget and terms in your contract. For example, are you allowed to reque
Ven. Feb 7th, 2025
