15 Profitable Side Business Ideas for 2022

It's become common these days for people to have not only a primary occupation but also a job or two on the side. That might not sound enticing to you, but give it some thought -- because there are probably some side hustles that you'd actually enjoy. Better still, significant extra income can help you achieve financial goals sooner -- maybe even allowing you to retire early!

Even a modest side gig generating $15 per hour for 10 hours per week will get you close to $8,000 annually, pre-tax. If you can generate $300 extra per week, that's more than $15,000 annually, pre-tax. Sock away just $12,000 in the stock market for 20 years, and if it grows at an annual average rate of 8%, you'll end up with nearly $56,000 -- a very handy sum in retirement.

Here are 15 moneymaking ideas to consider. There are gobs more, of course.

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Virtual assistants serve their bosses from a distance, making this a great side gig to perform from anywhere. In this capacity, you could work part-time, doing tasks such as scheduling, preparing computer presentations, making travel arrangements, billing, and/or managing social media accounts, among other things. One estimate has virtual assistants earning anywhere from $15,000 to $130,000 or more annually, and averaging around $67,000.

Transcribing has become a widespread business, encompassing not only the medical realm (where you might transcribe doctors' notes) but also the financial (where you might transcribe a company's conference call) and legal (court proceedings, depositions, etc.). The folks at ZipRecruiter estimate that the average income for an at-home transcriptionist is around $58,000, though some can earn much more -- or less.

Your main job can be the one providing benefits such as health insurance, while a side gig can simply generate extra income. Millions of Americans are working as freelance or contract-based writers, editors, proofreaders, bookkeepers, translators, and more. Think about where your skills lie and what services you might offer. You'll find many businesses seeking freelance services online at Upwork, Freelancer.com, Fiverr, Guru.com, and even Craigslist -- among many others.

ALSO READ: Is Fiverr a Great Stock to Buy as More Workers Go Remote?

If you enjoy spending time behind the wheel, you might get involved in the new driver economy, driving people around for a service such as Uber or Lyft, or perhaps simply delivering meals for services such as DoorDash or Uber Eats.

Those who know their way around a camera can earn extra income in a variety of ways. You might upload lots of photographs to one or more stock photography site, where those who need photos can find and buy them. (Of course, it's not necessarily that simple -- for best results, read up on what kind of photos and strategies work best.) You might launch a side business shooting weddings or other events, perhaps starting by photographing a wedding or two for free, in order to build a portfolio to show potential clients. There are many other possibilities -- such as photographing real estate for listings or taking family or corporate portraits.

5 Stocks Under $49
Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor
We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

Another potential moneymaking opportunity for you is renting out part of your home or your entire home for short or long periods, such as via a service like Airbnb. How much you can make will depend on how desirable or convenient your home's location is, along with what it has to offer in terms of space and amenities, among other factors.

ALSO READ: Could Airbnb Help You Become a Millionaire by 2030?

The services of good handypeople are always in demand, because there are always dripping faucets, malfunctioning toilets, garbage disposals that need to be replaced, and ceiling fans that need to be installed. If you're able to do plumbing or electrical jobs, or various household repairs, you may be able to earn some significant income on the side. Do a little digging first to find out if your state requires you to register or carry insurance.

There's also a lot of money to be made if you buy good pieces of old furniture online (or happen upon them available for free) and then spruce them up in order to resell them. Some armchairs may simply need a little time with a steam cleaner, while a table may need its top sanded and refinished. Check out online markets to see what kinds of prices are being charged for what kinds of pieces. You may be able to resell good pieces of clothing that you find in your closet or at thrift stores, too.

If you can knit sweaters, create jewelry, make candles, craft perfumes, or make art that can be printed on cards or mugs (among many other things), you may be able to sell them online -- at the Etsy marketplace or elsewhere. If you have some local craft fairs or farmers' markets, you might be able to sell your wares there as well.

ALSO READ: Here's Why You Should Buy Etsy Stock and Hold for the Next Decade

There's a good chance you know some things that others will pay you to teach. For example, you might give language or music lessons to kids and/or adults. Or you might become a tutor for kids -- helping them in math, science, writing, or more. There are multiple sites online connecting tutors and tutees, and many tutors earn between $10 and $40 per hour.

5 Stocks Under $49
Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor
We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

You might want to try to build a side business via dropshipping -- which means you'd set up an online store without having to stock inventory, because you'll have any items you sell shipped directly to your customers from the manufacturer or other supplier. There are many ways to go about this -- Shopify, for example, touts how it can make dropshipping easy, and sites such as Amazon.com, eBay, and Meta Platforms' Facebook also welcome dropshipper businesses. You'll need to come up with an idea of items you might successfully sell and figure out how to drive traffic to your store, of course. This is not an easy route, but it could work out well.

ALSO READ: If You'd Invested $1,000 in Shopify in 2015, This Is How Much You Would Have Today

If you enjoy fitness-related activities and are knowledgeable about them, you might like to earn money on the side by being a fitness instructor. You may need to complete some formal training before launching this side career, but once you do, you can bring in extra dollars while helping others exercise and get fit. According to Salary.com, fitness trainers typically earn between $30,000 and $60,000 annually. If you work at it part-time, even generating an extra $20,000 per year might make a big difference in your financial health and future.

Artsy folks can make extra money on the side in a variety of ways. You might sell designs to greeting card companies, for example, or sell paintings online. At sites such as Etsy, you could sell art or designs in PDF format, for customers to use as they need, or you could have them printed on a variety of items, such as T-shirts, mugs, and stickers. You might list your services on freelancing sites, too, where an author might need a book cover design or a company might need some art or design for its website.

Pets are more popular than ever, with pandemic-driven lockdowns and more people working from home spurring more adoption of pets in recent years. These pets all need care, and with many people returning to workplaces away from home, or simply taking off on occasional trips, there's a need for pet-sitting and/or dog-walking services. This can be an especially pleasant kind of side gig for animal lovers. Try websites such as Rover, where pet owners and service providers can connect.

ALSO READ: Why the Pet Industry Is Recession-Proof

Finally, you might take on a side gig with the hope of striking it rich -- via a successful blog, podcast, or channel on Alphabet's YouTube. Some folks on YouTube are raking in more than a million dollars annually, while some popular podcasts are generating more than $50,000 per month. This can be a fun way to try to strike it rich, but understand that the odds are against you: Most YouTubers do not make big bucks, and most podcasts do not have thousands of listeners. Still, with a lot of effort, skill, and luck, you might just succeed.

5 Stocks Under $49
Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor
We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Amazon or Netflix when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!" It's true, but we think these 5 other stocks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $49 a share! Click here to learn how you can grab a copy of “5 Growth Stocks Under $49” for FREE for a limited time only.

Whether you try making money on the side via one of these 15 ideas or another one, it can be well worth your time. Generating a little or a lot of extra income can vastly improve your financial health, helping you pay off debts, save for your kids' educations or a down payment, or invest for a more comfortable retirement.

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Selena Maranjian owns Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, Fiverr International, and Meta Platforms, Inc. The Motley Fool owns and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon, DoorDash, Inc., Etsy, Fiverr International, Meta Platforms, Inc., and Shopify. The Motley Fool recommends Uber Technologies, Upwork, and eBay and recommends the following options: long January 2022 $1,920 calls on Amazon, long January 2023 $1,140 calls on Shopify, short January 2022 $1,940 calls on Amazon, short January 2022 $82.50 calls on eBay, and short January 2023 $1,160 calls on Shopify. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.