12 Creative Ways To Set Up A Side Hustle For Extra Income Now

9. Become a Virtual Assistant

If you’re organized, detail-loving, and decent at juggling calendars or emails, consider becoming a virtual assistant (VA) for small business owners or busy entrepreneurs. The work varies a ton—think inbox management, travel booking, social media updates, or light research. Plenty of people get started through word of mouth or job boards like Upwork, finding remote gigs that fit around their main job. Most VAs make $18 to $40 an hour, with more for those who learn high-value skills (Shopify 2024). Start simple: offer a handful of services, outline your availability, and be proactive about communication. Biggest hurdles? Unclear expectations, “scope creep” (clients who keep adding tasks), and dry weeks without steady gigs. But if you like variety, VA work lets you earn extra on your own schedule, mostly from the comfort of your couch. Bonus if you’re a whiz with apps or customer service—those get you hired faster.