12 Side Hustle Ideas (and AI Tools That Can Help)

Richard Harroch
Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:01:56 +0000
Ai-content-enhancement, Side-business, Side-hustle-ideas, Side-hustle-tips, Side-hustles, Starting-a-business, Starting-a-microbusiness, Starting-your-business, Side-hustle

By Dominique A. Harroch and Richard D. Harroch

Starting a side hustle can boost your financial future, whether you're looking to supplement your income, explore a passion, or eventually transition into full-time self-employment. The best side hustle ideas align with your skills, interests, and available time. If you're trying to come up with your own ideas, start by asking yourself a few key questions: What are you good at? What do people need? What problems can you solve? And, most importantly, what excites you enough to keep at it even when it gets tough?

A great side hustle should be low-risk, flexible, and have the potential to grow. Some people thrive with service-based businesses, while others prefer online ventures that generate passive income. Whatever path you take, the key is to start small, test your idea, and refine it as you go. Below are twelve creative side hustle ideas, each with real potential to bring in extra cash and possibly become something bigger. We have compiled this list with research assistance and insights from AI.

Creative Side Hustle Ideas

1. Virtual Event Planning and Production

The world of events has evolved dramatically post-pandemic, creating opportunities for creative organizers who can craft engaging digital as well as in-person experiences. With companies embracing hybrid work and families spread globally, there's growing demand for polished virtual gatherings that go beyond basic video calls.

Core services: Virtual conferences and workshops

Team building: Online team-building events

Special events: Digital wedding celebrations

Corporate events: Virtual award ceremonies

Hybrid solutions: Hybrid corporate meetings

AI tools: Use Claude AI or ChatGPT for event planning templates, Midjourney for event graphics, and Synthesia for pre-recorded welcome videos

2. Tech Setup Service for Seniors

Bridge the digital divide by helping older adults navigate modern technology with patience and clarity. This service combines technical knowledge with teaching skills to help seniors stay connected to their friends, loved ones, and news.

Device setup: Smartphone, desktop and tablet configuration

Establishing WiFi: Implementing WiFi in the home

Home tech: Smart home device installation

Safety first: Basic cybersecurity training

Custom learning: Personalized tutorial creation

Maintenance: Ongoing tech support services

AI tools: Use Canva AI for custom tutorial graphics, Descript for tutorial videos, and ChatGPT for simplified tech explanations

3. Personal Brand Photography

Help professionals and businesses tell their stories through compelling visual content. Modern personal branding needs regular, high-quality visual content to stay relevant and engaging.

Professional shots: Headshot photography sessions

Content creation: Social media content packages

Business support: Product photography services

Location work: Lifestyle photoshoots

Video content: Personal branding video production

AI tools: Use Lightroom AI for photo editing, Stable Diffusion for concept visualization, and Claude AI for shot list creation

4. Specialty Food Creator and Marketer

Turn your grandma’s favorite pasta sauce or incredible chocolate cake into a profitable business by creating unique food products and getting them into customers' hands. Start by offering your creations to friends and family at reduced prices or even as gifts—this builds confidence, gives you an opportunity to get honest feedback, and creates word-of-mouth marketing.

Product development: Create unique food items

Initial testing: Friends and family feedback sessions

Market entry: Introductory pricing strategies

Local presence: Farmers market and food fair sales

Business partners: Local cafe and store placement

AI tools: Use ChatGPT for recipe scaling, Canva AI for label design, and Claude AI for marketing copy

5. Pet Services

Start with basic pet care services and grow into a comprehensive pet wellness coaching business. Pet owners know there are never enough qualified dog sitters around and the best ones are in high demand. Begin by offering dog walking and pet sitting to build trust and relationships with pet owners.

Basic services: Dog walking and pet sitting

Health plans: Custom pet nutrition guidance

Exercise programs: Pet fitness routines

Behavior work: Training and enrichment activities

Photography: Take photos of the beloved pets—their owners will love it!

Community: Pet social events and playgroups

AI tools: Use pet care apps for scheduling, ChatGPT for care guides, and Canva AI for pet progress reports

6. Local Experience Curator

Do you know your city or state inside and out? Create unique, authentic experiences that showcase the best of your area to both visitors and locals looking to explore their own backyard differently.

Food culture: Local food and drink tours

Visual arts: Photography walk experiences

Local history: Historical adventure tours

Maker focus: Artisan workshop visits

Discovery: Hidden gem exploration trips

AI tools: Use ChatGPT for tour script writing, Canva AI for promotional materials, and mapping tools for route planning

7. Sustainable Fashion Consultant

Help people build eco-friendly wardrobes that look great and minimize environmental impact. This combines style expertise with environmental consciousness.

Assessment: Wardrobe audit services

Sourcing: Sustainable brand recommendations

Organization: Capsule wardrobe creation

Education: Clothing repair workshops

Community: Clothing swap organization

AI tools: Use Style AI apps for outfit planning, ChatGPT for sustainable fashion guides, and Canva AI for lookbooks

8. Digital Product Creator

Turn your knowledge and skills into downloadable products that can generate passive income. Start by creating one high-quality item and use customer feedback to improve and expand your offerings.

Educational content: Templates and planners

Design assets: Digital art and printables

Business tools: Productivity spreadsheets

Knowledge products: Specialized guides and ebooks

Online learning: Courses and workshops

Videos: For TikTok and Instagram and other social media sites

AI tools: Use ChatGPT for content creation, Midjourney for graphics, and Claude AI for product descriptions

9. Tech Decluttering Specialist

Help people organize their digital lives and reduce the stress of digital overwhelm.

Organization: Digital file cleanup services

Security: Backup system creation

Efficiency: App ecosystem streamlining

Maintenance: Device performance optimization

Systems: Digital organization planning

AI tools: Use AI file organizers, ChatGPT for documentation, and automation tools for workflow creation

10. Virtual Fitness Coach

Focus on two often-overlooked aspects of fitness success: accountability and consistency.

Program design: Custom workout planning

Support: Daily check-ins and motivation

Monitoring: Progress tracking systems

Community: Virtual group challenges

Nutrition: Dietary accountability support

AI tools: Use AI workout planners, nutrition tracking apps, and ChatGPT for motivation messages

11. AI Content Enhancement Service

Help businesses leverage AI tools while maintaining their unique voice and brand identity.

Content creation: AI-enhanced marketing materials

Visual content: AI-powered video and image editing

Customer service: Custom chatbot development

Automation: Business process streamlining

Analytics: AI-enhanced data analysis

AI tools: Use Claude AI and ChatGPT for content, Midjourney for visuals, and specialized AI tools for specific industries

12. Mindfulness and Meditation Coach

Help people develop practical mindfulness skills for both personal and professional growth.

Programs: Custom meditation planning

Practice: Virtual breathing sessions

Techniques: Stress-reduction training

Corporate: Workplace mindfulness programs

Support: One-on-one coaching sessions

AI tools: Use meditation apps with AI features, ChatGPT for session planning, and Synthesia for guided meditation videos

Experiment to Find the Right Side Hustle

Finding the right side hustle means matching your skills, passion, and interests with what people need. Start small, test your ideas, and be ready to adapt based on feedback. Remember that many of these ideas can be combined or modified to create your unique offering. Be creative and be yourself, as these will prove to be the biggest drivers of your success.

The most successful side hustles often come from spotting gaps in the market and creating helpful solutions. Whether you choose one of these ideas or use them as inspiration to come up with your own, the important thing is to take that first step and start building your additional income stream today.

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About the Authors:

Richard D. Harroch is a Senior Advisor to CEOs, management teams, and Boards of Directors. He is an expert on M&A, venture capital, startups, and business contracts. He was the Managing Director and Global Head of M&A at VantagePoint Capital Partners, a venture capital fund in the San Francisco area. His focus is on internet, digital media, AI and technology companies. He was the founder of several Internet companies. His articles have appeared online in Forbes, Fortune, MSN, Yahoo, Fox Business and AllBusiness.com. Richard is the author of several books on startups and entrepreneurship as well as the co-author of Poker for Dummies and a Wall Street Journal-bestselling book on small business. He is the co-author of a 1,500-page book published by Bloomberg on mergers and acquisitions of privately held companies. He was also a corporate and M&A partner at the international law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. He has been involved in over 200 M&A transactions and 250 startup financings. He can be reached through LinkedIn.

Dominique Harroch is the Chief of Staff at AllBusiness.com. She has acted as a Chief of Staff or Operations Leader for multiple companies where she leveraged her extensive experience in operations management, strategic planning, and team leadership to drive organizational success. With a background that spans over two decades in operations leadership, event planning at her own start-up and marketing at various financial and retail companies, Dominique is known for her ability to optimize processes, manage complex projects and lead high-performing teams. She holds a BA in English and Psychology from U.C. Berkeley and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. She can be reached via LinkedIn.

Copyright (c) by Richard D. Harroch. All Rights Reserved.