Top 23 creative side hustles to make extra money

When I first started freelance writing between classes at college, I had no idea it would transform from a side hustle into a thriving career. This journey showed me that creative side hustles have incredible potential for anyone with even a hint of talent.

Whether you’re a wordsmith, visual artist, crafting enthusiast, or you have a special skill set, there’s a creative side hustle out there waiting for you to explore.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through 23 creative side hustles. I’ve carefully categorized these opportunities based on core skills – from writing and design to hands-on crafting and unique creative pursuits – making it easy to find the perfect match for your talents.

Ready to transform your creativity into cash? Let’s dive in.

Writing side hustles

If you’ve got a way with words and love crafting content, these writing side hustles are perfect for you.

1. Become a freelance writer

Freelance writing is what started it all for me. It’s a classic creative side hustle that offers flexibility and the potential for high earnings. 

I scored my first clients on Upwork, and it’s still a great place to get work. You can also explore Freelancer, Fiverr, and other reputable freelance websites to connect with clients. 

Successful freelance writers can earn upwards of $1000/month as a side hustle, depending on experience, clients, and niche. 

To stand out, choose a writing niche based on your knowledge and interests, and create a portfolio website to showcase your work.

2. Start a blog

Starting a blog is an excellent way to express your creativity and share your passion. 

Whether you want to start a travel blog, create a fitness community, or share your culinary adventures, blogging lets you connect with like-minded enthusiasts. 

I find inspiration by scrolling through food blogs that make cooking feel approachable and exciting. Blogs like Cabbages.world do this perfectly by sharing delicious, easy-to-follow recipes that make me want to run straight to the kitchen.

Sesame soup dumplings, anyone?

Plus, there are numerous ways to monetize your blog. Cabbages.world sells their own cookbook and wine, but you can also earn money through affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and selling digital products.

3. Start a newsletter

An extension of writing a blog is starting a newsletter. The main difference is you send your content directly to subscriber emails. 

Platforms like Substack, beehiiv, and Kit make it easy to create and monetize your newsletter through paid subscriptions, advertising, and affiliate marketing.

To succeed with newsletters, focus on providing unique insights around a specific niche, engaging storytelling, and consistent value to your readers.

For example, Be-Mag started as a simple newsletter. After overcoming various challenges, they became a popular rollerblading magazine loved by fans worldwide.

4. Write Kindle eBooks

Self-publishing through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is another popular creative side hustle for writers. 

By publishing eBooks in genres like children’s literature, romance, short stories, or history, you can tap into a vast audience of readers and earn royalties on every sale. 

The key to success is to write compelling stories, design eye-catching covers, and market your books effectively. 

If writing your own eBooks isn’t your creative calling, you can still turn your passion for words into money by selling books online. 

5. Enter writing contests

I’ve never excelled at writing fiction, but for people who do, entering poetry and short story contests can be a lucrative side hustle. 

Many organizations offer prizes ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars for outstanding poems. 

Poets and Writers maintains a comprehensive list of contests, grants, and awards where you can submit your work and earn generous cash prizes. 

For example, the Virginia Woolf Award for Short Fiction offers an annual prize of $2500 for winning short stories. 

Before submitting your work, carefully review the guidelines and choose contests that align with your style and interests. This is a great way to earn recognition and money for your creative prowess.

6. Submit guest posts

Another great way to monetize your writing skills is to submit your articles, essays, or opinions to various websites and publications that pay for content. 

For example, Listverse pays $100 for listicle-style articles, while Metro Parent offers up to $200 for inspiring parenting content. 

To find more opportunities, here are 38 websites that pay writers up to $700 per post.

You have to put some work in upfront to understand each site’s guidelines and to write a pitch. But if you have a unique perspective or experiences, then this is a creative side hustle worth pursuing.

Design side hustles

Moving from words to visuals, let’s explore how you can use your design skills with these creative side hustles.

7. Sell print-on-demand products

Starting a print-on-demand business is an excellent creative side hustle for artists and designers. 

You can create custom designs for a wide range of products, such as t-shirts, mugs, hoodies, and more, without holding any inventory. 

Simply sign up for services like Printify, Printful, and Gelato to place your designs on selected products.

When a customer orders a product on your store, the print-on-demand service handles the printing, and shipping, allowing you to focus on creating new designs. 

8. Sell your artwork

If you’re an artist at heart, you can sell art online through platforms like Etsy, Society6, or even your own website. 

You can offer anything from prints, originals, and commissioned work. 

Many artists, such as Sam Edwards, have built successful careers through a combination of these strategies. 

I love how he uses Etsy to build his brand with prints and then uses his personal website to sell paintings at premium prices. 

9. Offer web design services

If you prefer digital design, then creating websites for businesses might be the way to go.

One inspiring example is Brandemic, a web design and branding agency started by two college students that has completed over 300 projects and won numerous awards. 

You don’t even need extensive design or coding skills to do this. Simply use Hostinger Website Builder to create modern, responsive websites with the help of AI. 

To attract clients, sign up for Hostinger Website Builder and create a strong graphic design portfolio. Then, network with local businesses and offer competitive pricing. 

10. Participate in design competitions

If you’re competitive, in addition to being creative, participating in design competitions can be an exciting side hustle. 

Websites like 99designs and DesignCrowd host contests where businesses want designs for logos, websites, packaging, and more. 

By submitting your best work, you have the chance to win cash prizes and gain exposure for your design skills. 

For example, I see a contest on 99designs currently where you can earn $2949 to help an electrical contractor design a new website. 

There is a lot of competition though, so to increase your chances of success, study the brief carefully, create designs that stand out, and communicate effectively with the contest holder. 

11. Sell templates

Creating and selling templates is a surprisingly lucrative side hustle that helps people save time and money.

You can sell templates for social media posts, websites, presentation decks, and much more. 

The key is to find common pain points in your niche, and then create easy-to-use templates.

Templates can be sold through marketplaces like Creative Market and Etsy or through your own website. In fact, the last option would allow you to keep a larger share of the profits and have more control over your branding. 

Don’t just stop at selling templates. You can expand by helping people customize their templates. 

Craft side hustles

For those who prefer hands-on creativity, a craft side hustle offers a rewarding way to transform your skills into income.

12. Sell crochet items

From cozy blankets and trendy clothing to adorable amigurumi dolls, there’s a wide range of crochet items you can make and sell online. 

To get started, I recommend deciding on the type of products you want to create, and focus on unique designs that help you stand out. 

Once you have a selection of items ready, set up your own crochet website, like Constellation Crochet did with Hostinger Website Builder.

If you want to start a crochet business, Hostinger Website Builder makes it easy. Simply describe the website you want, and AI will help bring your vision to life.

13. Sell candles

Candle-making is a fun and rewarding way to express your creativity through unique scent combinations and eye-catching designs. 

Getting started requires basic supplies like wax, wicks, fragrance oils, and containers. Play around to perfect your techniques and develop a candle niche that stands out in the marketplace. 

For example, Little Karma Co. makes eco-friendly candles with earth-friendly packaging, while others create fancy candles with crystals that look beautiful in your home.

When you start a candle business, take clear photos of your products and list them on platforms like Etsy and on your own website. 

14. Sell personalized jewelry

Love crafting unique pieces of jewelry? Turn your artistic passion into a steady side income.

Focus on developing and perfecting your signature style. This could be unique wire-wrapping patterns, special gemstone combinations, or innovative mixed-metal designs that set your work apart.

For example, I’m a fan of how Inoubliable Jewelry’s pieces fit together.

And I love how SWT Handmade Jewelry focuses on handmade indigenous jewelry.

You can sell jewelry online through marketplaces like Etsy, sharing your pieces on social media, or through your own website. 

15. Sell other handmade products

In addition to personalized jewelry, there are many other handmade skills that make great creative side hustles. 

You can create unique leather goods, eye-catching pottery, or stunning wood carvings that customers love.

The key to success is to develop your own special style, make high-quality pieces, and share your story with your audience.

For example, Touchwood Decor specializes in unique wooden home decor, kitchenware, and giftware.

Thunder Hoof Pottery creates one-of-a-kind works of art with raw materials.

While Leather and Spice Custom Chaps focuses on helping horse riders protect their legs while riding with custom chaps.

16. Sell homemade cookies

I’m more of a cookie eater than a cookie creator, but if you’re the type who loves perfecting baking recipes, then selling cookies online could be a great side hustle for you.

To succeed in the online cookie market, try to develop something unique. This could be a family recipe, innovative flavors, or specialty options like gluten-free or vegan cookies.

Then create an attractive cookie website with mouth-watering photos, clear pricing, and a simple ordering system.

Or, branch out into other food niches like cakes or, my favorite, banana bread. 

17. Sell 3D-printed products

Now this is a unique creative side hustle. 3D printing is growing in popularity, both as a hobby and as a way to earn an income. 

To monetize 3D printing skills, you can sell custom products or offer your design services to clients.

A popular niche is creating 3D-printed accessories and props for cosplay enthusiasts. This lets you tap into a passionate and growing community of cosplayers willing to pay premium prices for unique, one-of-a-kind items. 

Another option is to focus on creating unique variations of everyday items like Impress 3D Art does with their stunning 3D printed vases.

Creative services side hustles

While writing, design, and crafts are fantastic ways to earn extra income, creative talent comes in all shapes and sizes. Let’s explore how you can turn your unique creative skills into profitable side hustles.

18. Start a podcast

Podcasting offers a creative and potentially lucrative side hustle that requires minimal equipment. 

All you need to start a podcast is a good USB microphone, free editing software like Audacity, and a hosting platform like Anchor. 

An emerging trend to consider is the “micro-learning” format. Create 5-10 minute focused episodes that teach one specific skill, perfect for busy people who want quick, actionable knowledge. 

List your podcast on platforms like Spotify and promote it through social media. 

You can monetize your podcast in different ways including sponsorships, affiliate marketing, courses, or services like coaching.

19. Plan events

Event planning can be a perfect way to earn extra money while using your creative and organizing skills. 

By starting with smaller celebrations, such as birthday parties or baby showers, you can build your portfolio and gain experience at the same time.

Then expand into more lucrative markets like corporate events or intimate weddings, where your unique creative visions and organizational skills can bring in higher rates.

You can impress your clients by creating an eye-catching event website for them that shows off all the special touches and makes it easy for people to RSVP.

I like FOD’s event website. It’s a folk music and dance festival for young people, and they have great photos and descriptions that highlight how much fun their events are.

20. Sell photos online

If you enjoy photography, then you can earn an extra income by selling photos online.

To start out, take high-quality photos of subjects that are always in demand, like nature scenes, city life, or food, and sell them on popular websites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Getty Images. 

As you build your portfolio and learn what sells best, start experimenting with your style. 

For example, try capturing famous landmarks from unique angles or waiting for interesting lighting conditions that make your images different. 

Showcase your best work with your own website. Here’s a collection of great photography websites made with Hostinger Website Builder to give you some inspiration.

21. Offer video services

Getting into freelance video work can be a great way to make extra money, especially if you focus on something specific that makes you stand out. 

For example, you could become known for creating videos in a specific niche. 

This is what Scanned 3D does. I love how they combine creativity with the latest technology to create stunning virtual tours for real estate agents. 

You can do something similar in your area, or focus on other industries like travel or hospitality.

22. Create and monetize music

There are multiple ways to turn your musical talents into a profitable side income. 

You can create background music, jingles, or instrumental tracks and sell them as royalty-free music on popular platforms like AudioJungle, PremiumBeat, or Pond5. 

Offer personalized music creation for podcasts and YouTube channels through platforms like Fiverr or Upwork.

Share your musical expertise by teaching students through online platforms like Lessonface or LiveMusic Tutor. Stand out by focusing on a specific skill like jazz, guitar, or songwriting techniques.

Guitar Academy UK does a great job of this by offering guitar lessons both online and in-person.

23. Be a personal fashion stylist

If you’re a fashion lover and enjoy helping others look their best, becoming a personal fashion stylist might be a great creative side gig for you. 

This is what Tereza Tichá does by helping people look great, believing your wardrobe should reflect your personality.

While you can offer your services to a wide range of clients, specializing in a specific niche like men’s fashion can help you stand out in a competitive market. 

You can also expand your services to include hair styling, makeup advice, and complete makeover packages. 

Next steps

Now that you’ve seen all these creative ways to make extra money, let’s talk about how to get started. Here’s a simple game plan:

Pick what excites you

Look through the ideas we’ve covered and notice which ones make you think, “I could do that.” 

Do some quick research on 2-3 of your favorites. Check out other creators doing similar work on the platforms mentioned and see if you can add something unique.

Test it out

The best way to know if a side hustle is right for you is by testing it out. 

Hostinger Website Builder makes this easy. Want to try freelancing? Set up a quick portfolio. Thinking about selling your creations? Create a simple online store. 

In fact, all the side hustle websites you’ve seen throughout this article were built with Hostinger Website Builder, showing just how versatile and powerful it can be.

Remember, every successful side hustler started exactly where you are now. Take that first step today!

Creative side hustles FAQ