Everyone wants more cash, especially when a full-time minimum salary is not enough to make ends meet.
Statistics show that due to the increase in household expenditure, 30% of adults in the UK are planning to start a business or side hustle to increase their income. Planning your financial life can become a nightmare, especially if you survive on your paycheck alone without any savings, hoping not to have to take out a payday loan.
A wisely chosen side hustle can generate the additional income you need, going together with your day job. Side hustlers come from various domains as more online platforms and streams of income diversify money generation sources.
In 2025, if your goal is to earn more passive income remotely or transform your hobby into a profitable side hustle, then browse this list of top-earning side hustles for inspiration.
Disclaimer: Our recommendations are ranked according to the estimated earnings from higher to lower. The information provided here was correct at the date of publication but may be subject to change.
1. Online Tutor
With the Covid-19 pandemic’s outbreak, online teaching has increased in demand due to restricted movement. According to Statista, the revenue from the online education market in the UK has reached $10.60 billion in 2024.
Therefore, It is expected that online teaching will become an integral part in the coming years due to its flexibility and increasing demand for expertise in specific fields. It will allow individuals to share their knowledge globally and earn additional income. Different e-learning platforms hire subject matter experts nowadays, therefore, if you excel in a particular area, like mathematics, literature, or science, you might become an invaluable asset to a learner who requires additional learning support.
With the advancement and accessibility of online learning platforms, tutoring has become a lucrative and rewarding side hustle because one of the main advantages of online teaching is that you set your schedules at your convenience.
Start-up requirements:
To start with online tutoring you need a laptop, a strong internet connection and other online teaching materials and equipment.
Potential Earnings:
Online tutors’ incomes may vary based on multiple factors such as education qualifications, previous experience, subject expertise as well as which grade or year is selected. The average salary of online tutors in the UK is £30k-£62k per year. Subjects like mathematics and science generally command a higher rate.
2. Digital Marketer
The growth of online businesses has created a rapid demand for digital marketing services. It follows different types of online marketing services to boost their online presence, sales and lead generation. The services include SEO, pay-per-click, email marketing, social media marketing and so on.
Nowadays, many companies hire in-house digital marketing experts to promote their brands, products or services to the targeted audiences and they are paid by the hour or project basis. Therefore, if you’re a digital marketing expert, you can avail such opportunities as a side hustle.
Start-up requirements:
To start in digital marketing you need a computer, a strong internet connection, and digital marketing tools and software including social media management, analytics and SEO management tools.
Potential Earnings:
The average salary of a digital marketer ranges between £23.5k and £60k per year.
3. Graphic Designer
Emerging online platforms have accentuated the demand for graphic designers. Graphic design is an excellent side hustle genre that can be achieved with only a few hours of work. It may provide you flexibility as a side gig than full-time work.
Graphic design has huge potential to generate side income. Businesses and startups will always require a logo, and creating logos and branding materials will always stay in demand. Also, designing templates for digital products in different organisations has become one of the most popular ways of generating passive income. With an investment of your time and effort in creating a template design for any small or large-scale organisation, you can earn a lucrative amount of money.
Start-up requirements:
To start a graphic design side hustle you need to have a high-quality computer and equipment, a strong internet connection and graphic design software such as Adobe Creative Suite.
Potential Earnings:
The average salary of a freelance graphic designer ranges between £18k-£55k per year.
4. Freelance or AI Writer
Every day you probably visit several websites to learn about a service or product, read news, learn more about a particular health condition, or purchase something. Every content you find on the web is written or crafted by a writer using tools like AI. Although some of the bigger companies employ full-time writers, most web content gets written by freelance copywriters who serve several clients.
You don’t need writing experience or a mass media communication degree to become a freelance web content writer, especially in the age of AI. In today’s digital age, the demand for quality content is booming as businesses, websites, and bloggers seek engaging articles, blog posts, web and ad copy and product descriptions. With 60% of freelance writers working part-time (around 10 hours a week), there’s a lucrative opportunity to turn your writing passion into a side hustle. From startups to large corporations, organisations of all sizes require skilled writers to convey their message and enhance their online presence across a wide range of internet channels. Freelance and AI writing is needed in all industries and therefore offers a dynamic work and learning environment.
Start-up requirements:
To start with freelance or AI writing all you need is a high-speed internet connection, a laptop and some professional software like Grammarly, Turnitin, ChatGPT etc.
Potential Earnings:
Initially, the more you work, the more you get paid, but with increased experience and expertise, the price increases. The average salary of a freelance or AI writer ranges from £21k- £50k per annum. The hourly rate varies based on various factors. The average hourly earning is £20.37 Freelance writers generally get paid per hour, per word or project and additional pay includes bonus and commission payments, tips or profit sharing.
5. Blogger
Blogging is one of the most lucrative side hustles to do from home or any location in the world. Although blogging is not an instant income-generating opportunity, it can help you earn extra cash from marketing, guest posting, and affiliate revenue. Writing blogs for small to large organisations and in a field you understand enables you to reach a broad audience with the same interests as you. Business, beauty, fitness, and cars are among the popular areas for running a blog and you should check how some of the most influential UK bloggers and German bloggers do it.
If you’re talented at blogging about a wider variety of topics, you will get the opportunity to work with renowned organisations or build your own blog empire.
Whether you want to increase your income, add stability to your uncertain job, or start building your next online career, consider starting a side hustle as a blogger. Once you get started, don’t look back. Most people have built successful careers from what began as a side hustle and you can find examples when looking at websites like “money-saving experts” that make millions.
Start-up requirements:
To start blogging you need a laptop, an internet connection and a domain with a hosting or blogging platform.
Potential Earnings:
The income results from the revenue the blog generates and how many blogs one runs. The average earnings of an established blogger range between £21k- £48k per annum. Experienced and some celebrity bloggers can make even six to seven figures. Blogging can establish your brand and open additional revenue opportunities.
6. Real Estate Agent
In the realm of 2025 side hustles, diving into property investment emerges as a strategic move for long-term financial growth, even with a modest budget. This avenue opens doors to potential gains and taps into attractive tax benefits, catering to anyone eager to bolster their income. Furthermore, real estate investment has the potential to generate generational wealth offering a lasting legacy for future generations. Information and knowledge about the dynamic market are key traits to evolve in this field.
From exploring real estate crowdfunding to adopting accessible options like house hacking, where living in one part of a multifamily property generates income, or delving into the fixer-upper market with DIY efforts, there are diverse entry points for those starting small. The key lies in gradual learning and scaling as you grow in your role making real estate an inclusive path to career advancement. You can join as a part-time real estate agent to help clients navigate the home buying and selling process and search for properties.
Start-up requirements:
To start a real estate agent job, you will need to have a computer and smartphone to manage client communication and real estate sales and rentals.
Potential Earnings:
The average salary of a real estate agent ranges between £20k-£40k. The additional commission may vary as per the price, area and location of the properties and you should research where real estate offers the highest yields.
P.S.: you can also consider how to get on the property ladder with a web property!
7. Videographer
Freelance videography and video editing can be turned into a successful career. Videographers and editors are required in multiple areas, from short films, commercial videos, and corporate videos to music videos. Developing skills and staying up-to-date with technologies are the keys to succeeding in this market.
The pandemic has changed the course of work, business meetings have moved online and companies often require the videos to be edited for safety. Working as a freelance videographer and editor can generate a consistent income with the right projects. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube have huge audiences hence there is a growing for videographers and editors. You can make it your side gig working for a content creator or an influencer or even become one yourself.
Start-up requirements:
The videographer and editor role is a lucrative venture, but it requires high-quality equipment such as cameras, tripods, microphones etc. and a good computer with expert editing tools and software.
Potential Earnings:
The average salary of a part-time video editor ranges from £27k-£38k per annum. The video editing industry has grown at the rate of 10% in the last ten years and is far from reaching its saturation. Choosing and developing video editing skills for the generation of a passive income or to launch it into a full-time gig holds very high potential.
8. Virtual Assistant
The working landscape has experienced a massive change due to the pandemic. Remote jobs are preferred on a large scale, business and companies are also leaning toward hiring freelancers and independent contractors rather than hiring permanent employees. This shift has profoundly increased the demand for virtual assistants.
A virtual assistant is a company or client’s administrative and creative assistant, assisting with their requirements from home. It may involve various responsibilities, from answering phones, providing business planning, and desktop publishing to bookkeeping. Your skills will set the earning bar as a virtual assistant. The more skilled you are, the more you can charge. Additionally, you can work flexible hours from your home comfort.
Start-up requirements:
You just need a computer with the required official applications, a solid internet connection, and separate phone and office appliances to set foot in this industry.
Total Earning:
You can comfortably earn over £133 per day. A virtual assistant can earn an average annual salary of under £31k.
9. Website Designer
Stepping out of the generic list of side hustles, web designing is a lucrative side hustle to generate extra money. Unlike web developers, you don’t need to acquire knowledge of coding to be a web designer. You can easily build and design a web page from scratch with the use of certain websites and applications available online.
Huge demand for websites promotes the demand for web designers, turning it into a profitable job.
Businesses are in absolute need of websites to maintain their online presence. Moreover, e-commerce websites constantly need web designers to design product cards with descriptions and professional photos to make it easy for potential customers to navigate through their website and cart. Your creativity will play a great role in generating passive income while learning new skills as technology evolves.
Start-up requirements:
To start with website designing you need to have at least one computer with the right software and tools and a strong internet connection.
Potential Earnings:
Web design is a flexible side hustle to earn extra money. The average salary of a web designer with medium experience ranges between £27.5k-£29k per annum. The growing importance of websites, apps and digital technologies boosts the demand for web designers and opportunities to make a good career out of it.
10. Transcriber
A transcriber translates an audio recording into a typed document. Transcribers need excellent listening skills, a good command of the language and the ability to type quickly and accurately. There are transcriber roles in media and entertainment, medicine, the legal sector and the business and corporate sector. A transcriber should be able to type at a minimum of 70 WPM (Words Per Minute) with attention to detail and minimal errors.
Many organisations or transcription services appoint transcribers as full-time or part-time employees. Since most of the transcription work can be done remotely, and the flexible working hours allow you to work whenever you want, making it easy to manage your primary job.
Startup requirements:
For a transcription job, you need a computer and internet access, high-quality headphones, and transcription software like Descript, Sonix and Scribie.
Potential Earning:
The average salary of a transcriber is £24k per annum.
11. Call Centre Representative
Call centre representatives answer incoming customer calls about billing issues, product-related queries, and general client enquiries. The representatives should have good communication and computer skills and the ability to handle difficult client conversations with understanding. With this communication skill, they turn frustrated clients into repeat customers.
Since many organisations provide WFH opportunities and due to flexible scheduling, employees can choose between morning, daytime or nighttime and weekend shifts.
Startup requirements:
As a call centre representative, you need a computer with access to CRM software, access to a phone system, a good quality headset, internet connection and call recording software such as Talkdesk.
Potential Earning:
The average salary of a call centre representative is £22k per year.
What Side Hustle will you start in the new year?
Digital advancement has created platforms that are beaming with opportunities to earn extra money. Explore some of the popular side hustle genres listed above and find what works best for you to reach your financial and career goals. Apart from earning some extra bucks, side hustles are a way to learn valuable skills and grow professionally.
If you want us to add a suggestion here based on your experience, please get in touch with us!
