10 Best Side Hustles For Couples To Make An Extra $1,000

Boost your income with these profitable income streams

If you're pursuing joint financial independence, the best side hustles for couples include a wide variety of potential businesses and industries.

There are many good reasons for a couple to launch a business together, especially if it's outside their regular 9 to 5 jobs.

The top business ideas for couples in 2024 range from making quick cash in your spare time to launching a legitimate small business.

10 Best Side Hustles For Couples To Make An Extra $1,000

By combining resources, such as supplies, equipment, and materials, you possibly make double as much as you would on your own with lower startup costs.

Most importantly, by working weekends and evenings together, you get to spend time together without sacrificing your life for extra money.

Before getting started, speak to a financial advisor who can help you with small business accounting tips to maximize your earnings.

The following ten side hustle ideas make sense to pursue as a couple, regardless of whether you're doing this with your husband, girlfriend, or boyfriend.

10. Graphic Design

Due to the increasing need for graphic designers, starting a graphics business makes sense, especially if you already have some of the needed skills.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in graphic design will grow by 3% between 2022 and 2032, creating around 22,800 new job opportunities.

This translates into a steady stream of prospective jobs and clientele for a new business, giving you an excellent chance of doing well.

By working together on projects, you and your partner can combine your talent and imagination to provide a wide variety of design services.

It also allows you to discover precisely what area of the business you enjoy working in and splitting responsibilities accordingly.

You can use gig economy platforms like 99designs, Fiverr, or Upwork to locate freelance graphic design jobs or offer specific design packages for businesses.

In terms of prospective earnings, graphic designers in the U.S. typically make $103,931 per year, but your earnings will vary based on your marketing efforts.

To make a success of your design business, you need to ensure that you have a constant flow of new work, especially when first starting out.

Once you get busy, you can hire virtual assistants to help complete the work and eventually scale the business into a full-time income.

9. Pet Sitting/Dog Walking

Pet sitters and dog walkers care for pets while their owners are away, providing feeding, exercise, and companionship services for a set fee.

You can earn between $5 and $15 per hour, depending on how active you are and the type of work you choose.

If you enjoy caring for animals and can win their trust quickly, then pet sitting or dog walking is an ideal side hustle.

But it would help if you decided beforehand what area you want to focus on, as there are various avenues you can take.

There are many gig economy pros and cons, and one of the main pros of dog walking is picking up clients locally via social media.

Walking dogs is great if you enjoy walking or running and would like something a little more active instead of just staying home.

Some owners prefer that you keep their pets within their property, reducing the time you must devote to the animals.

You may find that your services are required for animals other than cats and dogs, including birds, snakes, rabbits, and even spiders.

Insurance is essential for your business as you might have to pay for any mishaps out of your own pocket if you don't have coverage.

A gig economy insurance policy might shield you from possible legal action if a pet is harmed or causes damage while pet-sitting.

Dogs might leap up and damage a pricey object that belongs to their owner while you're watching them, which might lead to a lawsuit.

Alternatively, when out for a stroll, one of the dogs' leashes may come loose, causing the animal to run off.

Rover is an excellent gig app for finding new customers, and it doesn't take long to become certified and create a profile.

Aim to build a recurring private clientele as your long-term objective because most apps deduct fees from your revenue, reducing your income.

8. Gardening Services

Providing gardening services such as lawn care, landscaping, or garden maintenance for residential or commercial properties is a lucrative side hustle.

Annual earnings range between $20,000 and $40,000 per year but can be quite a bit more depending on the hours you put in.

A recent trend is to go around to poorer areas where people can't afford to keep their yards neat and do the job for free.

The operators then video the whole process, load the footage onto their YouTube channel, and get tens of thousands of views.

This can result in thousands of dollars in revenue from the YouTube Partner Program as well as bring in new business.

What sets a gardening side hustle apart from other gig economy jobs are its unique qualities, as these can affect the clientele, services you offer, and your earnings.

The gig requires a lot of work, with heavy lifting, digging, pruning, bending, and several hours of daily exposure to the weather.

Although there may be health benefits, there may also be physical hardship, which you must consider, especially if you have health issues.

Gardening is seasonal, so demand for gardening services is highest in summer and tails off in winter following real estate market trends.

In the slower winter months, you must keep an eye on your cash flow or develop other gigs to keep extra money flowing in.

But it is fantastic for couples who may need to earn money to top up their savings but do not want a year-round business.

7. Tutoring

Tutors provide academic assistance to students in various subjects, either in person or online, to help them achieve their educational goals.

On average, pay ranges between $20 and $60+ per hour, depending on the subject matter and your experience level.

You don't need much to start; just a computer, internet access (for online tutoring), educational materials, and a desk to work on.

If you want to tutor in person, you can go to your students or have them come to you, especially if it's like piano instruction.

The gig economy offers couples the ability to provide students with subject-matter expertise, especially academic subjects like math and languages across the world.

Couples should consider it because they can teach a greater variety of subjects to larger age groups and even lead group sessions.

Two benefits of tutoring are a reliable source of money and the fulfillment of assisting others in their educational journey.

Using gig platforms like Chegg and TutorMe is a convenient option because of the schedule flexibility and remote session options.

It's crucial to conduct research before beginning customer recruitment so you can lay the groundwork for your success and avoid wasting time and money.

Identifying your target market helps you to customize your offerings and market them in a way that will attract customers.

Starting a successful tutoring business requires extensive market research and figuring out who you will be working with and what they can pay.

6. Online Courses

Creating and selling online courses on platforms like Udemy or Teachable on a variety of topics such as business, technology, or hobbies depends on your skills.

If you have knowledge and experience that others want to learn, you can quickly and easily create a lucrative side hustle.

Remember, your side hustle can qualify you for gig worker tax deductions, so the benefits extend beyond the additional monthly income.

To sell online courses, you should focus on a subject you are already well-versed in or are prepared to dedicate significant time and effort to mastering.

In either case, you must have a strong interest in the topic and consider your areas of expertise and the things that draw people to you for guidance.

Those subjects typically result in the most popular online courses, but an alternative is to consider what you'd like to learn more about.

By creating a course out of the material you're learning, you'll be able to educate others about it effectively and become an expert in it.

To get ideas or review your skills, you may also look through some of the online courses available at Teachable and Skool.

Before spending time putting your course together, validate the idea by promoting it on Twitter or Facebook and observing the response.

If there's excitement and interest, you know the idea is worth pursuing, but if nobody shows interest, keep looking for ideas.

Once you've found an idea and created your course, you'll need to market it so potential customers can find you.

Here are a few of the most popular and successful strategies for promoting courses online:

• Email marketing - Launch email marketing campaigns with discounts and early-bird offers. 
• Social media - Use appropriate forums and social media platforms to advertise your course (since people are already in a professional mentality, LinkedIn can be a great place to start).
• Emails - Create an email campaign and send it to your current contacts
• Run sponsored advertisements - Make use of banner ads and Google Search Ads.
• YouTube channel and promotional videos - Create a YouTube channel and post videos promoting your training.

Depending on your skills, you should generally budget between a few hundred and several thousand dollars when developing your online course.

To cut down on costs, you can hire virtual assistants who can reduce the time it takes to complete the work.

Some of these costs include content writing, graphic design, video production, and tools and software for creating and delivering courses.

Unless you decide to use online resources like Teachable to deliver your content, you'll need to register a domain and pay for website hosting.

You'll also need to spend some money on marketing and advertising, but using an existing following helps minimize these costs.

5. Photography

Photographers capture images that tell a story or convey a message, often working at events, weddings, or in commercial settings.

You can expect to earn between $5,000 and $55,000 per year from your photography side hustle, depending on the time you commit.

To start, you'll need to find your niche, as there are dozens of ways to make money from your photographic skills.

Weddings are a popular photographic option as they happen year-round, and there's no shortage of couples getting married.

Depending on what the client wants, you can also focus on taking portrait photographs, either in a studio or outside in more natural surroundings.

If you have the connections, marketing product shots can be a lucrative side hustle, but professional photographers generally do these.

Outline your goals, target market, the projected income you expect, and expenses, and research local photography businesses to understand pricing and competition.

Invest in a quality camera and lenses suited to your niche, as well as editing software and backups, depending on what your budget allows.

You'll also need lighting equipment for studio or outdoor setups, but you can hire equipment if you don't have the budget for them upfront.

Build your portfolio so that you can showcase your best work using a personal website or utilize online portfolios like SmugMug or Behance.

It goes without saying that you should include high-quality images that represent your style and what your target clientele wants.

Network with local businesses, event planners, or potential clients who might need your services, and also build your social media presence.

Develop clear contracts outlining your services, deliverables, and cancellation policies, researching photography rates in your area to establish competitive pricing packages.

Photography is one of the most popular side hustles for couples, as it allows them to work together while bringing in a substantial extra income.

4. Social Media Management

Managing social media accounts for businesses or individuals, creating content, engaging with followers, and analyzing performance metrics can be very lucrative.

You can expect to earn $15 to $50 per hour or charge a monthly retainer to businesses of $500 to $2,000 for your services.

To understand the type of business you want to work with, consider factors like industry, size, and social media goals.

This will help you tailor your services and attract the best-fit clients for the type of social media content you plan to provide.

Define the specific social media services you wish to offer, such as content creation, scheduling, community management, or advertising, depending on your skills and experience.

Plan your packages so that they cater to different client needs and budgets as well as to the amount of time you have available.

You must actively follow gig economy trends, platform updates, and best practices and showcase your expertise by managing your social media profiles effectively.

The best way to market yourself is to compile case studies highlighting past successes with previous clients (with their permission).

Make sure that you provide evidence of increased engagement, follower growth, or campaign results so potential clients know what you can do for them.

You can connect with potential clients through online communities or business groups or use the best gig platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Linkedin.

Create an engaging pitch that highlights your value to their social media presence, backed up by real-world results and reviews.

If you're planning on a team effort with a sweet payoff then social media management is one of the best side hustles for couples.

3. Freelance Writing

Freelance writers create written content for various clients or publications on a freelance basis, earning between $500 and $5,000 per month.

Just like photography, freelance writing benefits from specialization, so identify your writing strengths (web content, technical writing, creative copy) and preferred topics.

Your freelance portfolio should reveal your best work, so take your time to create a list of at least three writing samples, preferably published online.

Freelance marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr or even personal websites can be used to display writing samples relevant to your niche.

Writing is one of the best Fiverr gigs, but it is very competitive and you need to work hard to stand out on the website.

Continuous learning is critical, so take online courses, attend workshops, and read industry blogs to stay updated on writing trends and SEO best practices.

Learn to write compelling pitches that highlight your expertise and value proposition, tailoring each pitch to the specific publication or client's needs.

Avoid spamming editors or potential clients with cut-and-paste pitches, as they are easy to identify and damage your reputation in the long run.

Research freelance writing rates in your niche and experience level, but don't undervalue your skills - negotiate based on project scope and complexity.

Meeting deadlines consistently and exceeding client expectations are crucial, as well as providing well-researched, clear, and engaging content that adheres to style guides and instructions.

Positive client reviews and testimonials are gold, so go the extra mile to deliver exceptional service and build long-term relationships with your clients.

2. Home Renovation

Home renovation involves improving, repairing, or remodeling residential properties to enhance their aesthetic or functional appeal and is an ideal side hustle for couples.

Earnings vary widely depending on your location and expertise and range from a few thousand dollars per project to $20,000 and potentially more.

The home renovation landscape is broad, including specializing in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, or general handyman services, allowing you to focus your expertise.

Research and obtain the necessary permits and licenses required for renovation work in your area, as well as general liability and worker's compensation insurance.

Take high-quality photos of completed renovations, highlighting your craftsmanship and ability to transform spaces, and create a website to display your portfolio.

Establish a transparent system for estimating project costs, factoring in labor, materials, permits, and unexpected issues, and presenting clients with detailed bids.

Your quotes should outline the scope of work, timeline, final cost, and any specific conditions or instructions that the clients requested.

To find clients, connect with local realtors, contractors, or building supply stores, building relationships that can lead to referrals.

You can also utilize online platforms like Facebook to advertise your work in local groups and attract potential clients in your area.

Prioritize clear communication with clients by being upfront about potential delays or unforeseen costs and always maintaining a clean and safe worksite.

Positive testimonials and online reviews are powerful tools, so encourage satisfied clients to leave feedback on your work ethic and results.

As your business grows, consider partnering with reliable subcontractors for specialized tasks like plumbing or electrical work, ensuring they are properly licensed and insured.

This is one of the most lucrative side hustles for couples as the time and effort needed to complete a job is usually small compared to the payoff. 

1. Airbnb Hosting

Airbnb hosts rent out their properties or spare rooms to guests, providing accommodation and hospitality services for short and medium-term stays.

You can make a few thousand dollars or go all in and rent your property on a full-time basis, earning tens of thousands per year.

Remember that your extra income is taxable and must be declared with the IRS, so you must know how to file taxes correctly.

Not every property is ideal for Airbnb, so consider factors like location, amenities, and guest privacy and research successful Airbnb listings in your area.

Once you understand what works, investigate local laws regarding short-term rentals, as they can vary quite a bit in terms of zoning.

High-quality photos are essential, so get a photographer who can highlight the best features of your space with bright, clear images.

Write a detailed and engaging description that highlights the amenities, attractions nearby, and any guest benefits, as well as special conditions.

Research nightly rates for similar properties in your area, considering factors like seasonality, weekdays vs. weekends, and adjust pricing accordingly.

Airbnb rewards outstanding hosts with Superhost status, so maintain a high response rate, prioritize cleanliness, and offer exceptional guest experiences.

Provide essential supplies like linens, towels, toiletries, and basic kitchenware and include additional amenities like coffee, tea, or local snacks to enhance the guest's visit.

Maintain clear communication with guests before, during, and after their stay, respond promptly to inquiries, and be available to address any concerns.

You'll need to get your logistics and client relations spot on if you want to maintain a high positive rating on Airbnb.

Leave a personalized welcome note, offer local recommendations, and provide a clean and comfortable space for a memorable guest stay.

When looking for perfect side hustles for couples, it's hard to beat Airbnb hosting as it combines a couple's talents perfectly.

Industry Trends And Scalability Opportunities

A staggering 34% of Americans are juggling a side gig alongside their primary job, with the gig economy trend not driven solely by financial necessity. 

Nearly half or almost 50% of side hustler couples are motivated by passion and purpose, turning hobbies into income streams. 

However, financial security plays a role, too, with one-third needing to supplement their primary income to make ends meet each month.

The beauty of the side hustle is its flexibility, with many hustlers dedicating a manageable 5 to 10 hours per week.

This allows them to balance their side gig with their primary job and personal life, something that is particularly attractive to younger generations.

Approximately 70% of Gen Zs and 50% of millennials actively pursue side hustles, which have an undeniable impact on the economy.

The U.S. side hustle market is valued at over $2.58 trillion, and the future of work seems to be leaning towards gig-based economies.

But beyond the numbers, there's a clear love for the side hustle life as a surprising three-quarters of side hustlers report enjoying their ventures.

Whether it's pursuing a passion project or securing financial stability, the side hustle movement is creating a win-win situation for millions of Americans.

There are a lot of benefits to starting a part-time business with your partner that go beyond just making money.

It strengthens your bond as a couple, and collaborating with your partner enables you to utilize each other's abilities and capabilities successfully.

For example, if one partner is good at product innovation and the other is good at marketing, you can handle different facets of your business.

This side hustle for couples strengthens your relationship while also increasing the likelihood that your business will succeed, which can positively affect the rest of your relationship.

Helpful Guide on Picking a Side Hustle for Couples

With so many different gigs to choose from, how do you pick the right one, especially as a side hustle for couples? 

The key to starting a successful side hustle lies in understanding your strengths and passions together as a couple and individually.

Here's a quick checklist to get you started:

• What do you both enjoy doing in your free time?
• Are there hobbies you could turn into a business, such as crafting or photography?
• Are you good at writing, data analysis, or home improvement?
• Can you combine your skills to offer a unique service in social media management for local businesses, for instance?
• How much time can you realistically dedicate to your side hustle each week?
• Consider options that fit your schedule and workload, such as online tutoring vs. flipping furniture.
• Is there a need for the service or product you'd like to offer?
• Research local trends and online platforms to see what's selling.

Don't be afraid to get creative, as a side hustle can fuel your passions, utilize your skills, and bring you closer as a couple.

Other side hustles for couples include starting a food truck, investing in the best gig economy stocks, opening Etsy shops, or creating your own website.

Both a food truck and stock market investment require upfront capital and opening an Etsy shop may not be for everyone.

How Much Extra Money Can Couples Earn From Side Hustles

Earnings from side hustles vary with a wide range for location-based gigs (e.g., dog walking: $10-30/walk) compared to online work (e.g., freelance writing: $15-50/hour). 

Experience can boost income, with established freelancers earning more than beginners, but this is not always the case, especially if you have the right qualifications.

Part-time hustles might bring $100-$500 monthly for a few hours of effort each day, while more dedicated effort can equate to $1,000+ depending on the job.

You can join some of the biggest gig economy companies, like Fiverr or Uber, and earn a substantial part-time income.

Summary

Learning new skills to earn side hustle money frequently entails spending large amounts of time away from the people you care about.

However, if you and your significant other work on a side project together, it may not even feel like work, particularly if it's profitable.

You can achieve financial independence, save for a growing family, or buy a house if you learn how to make money together.

You can earn the extra cash needed to satisfy your other financial objectives - but think about using budgeting techniques to cut your spending, too.