Need extra cash? A side hustle might be your answer. In 2025, Canadians have more ways than ever to make money on their own terms.
This guide shows you real side hustles that work in Canada right now. We'll help you pick one that fits your life and tell you how to get started.
What is a side hustle?
A side hustle is work you do besides your main job. Unlike regular part-time jobs, you control when and how much you work.
People start side hustles to make extra money doing something they enjoy. It could be freelancing, selling stuff online, or sharing a skill you already have.
Most side hustles need time before they pay off. While you're building up clients or inventory, KOHO's Cash Advance can help cover upfront costs like supplies, which you can pay back when your first sales come in.
Why bother?
Side hustles make sense for a few reasons:
More money: Pay off debt, save up, or just live better
Work when you want: Fit it around your job and life
Learn new things: Pick up skills that help your career
Do what you like: Turn a hobby into something that pays
Safety net: Having money from different places helps if times get tough
Getting started isn't complicated. With some guidance from KOHO, you might turn your side project into something bigger - maybe even a full-time job someday.
Pay off debt, save up, or just live better. KOHO's high interest savings account makes it easy to put your side hustle cash toward what matters most.
01. RENT BABY GEAR TO TRAVELERS
When families travel, they can't bring everything with them. Use Babierge to connect with visitors who need strollers, car seats, and playpens. You keep the equipment, they pay to use it.
02. PUT YOUR ART ON PHONE CASES
Artists can earn money by uploading designs to Society6. They'll handle printing and shipping your art on phone cases. You get paid each time someone buys your design.
03. TEACH SMART DEVICE SKILLS
Many people own fancy tech they don't know how to use properly. Create online courses showing how to master iPhones, smart homes, or other devices. Once you make the videos, you earn money while you sleep.
04. RENT OUT YOUR CAR
List your car on Turo when you're not using it. Start with lower prices until you get good reviews, then raise your rates. Some owners make hundreds monthly from cars that would otherwise sit in driveways.
05. DOCUMENT YOUR OVERSEAS MOVE
Planning to live abroad? Record your experience finding housing, dealing with visas, and setting up banking. Others will pay for this information if you package it well.
06. CREATE YOUR OWN WINE LABEL
You don't need a vineyard to start a wine brand. Companies like Terravant can handle production while you focus on branding and sales. Design your label, pick your wine, and they'll do the rest.
07. MAKE A NOVELTY ITEM
That crazy idea you had with friends might actually sell. A group turned t-shirt pockets into puppy carriers and drink coolers. Think of something simple but unique that solves a problem.
08. SELL RESUME TEMPLATES
Good at making professional documents? Create resume and cover letter templates to sell on Creative Market. Offer basic templates for one price and coaching services for another.
09. BECOME A NICHE PHOTOGRAPHER
Don't try to photograph everything. Focus on one specialty like cosplay, pets, or sports events. Being known for a specific style makes you stand out and can command higher prices.
10. OFFICIATE WEDDINGS
Get ordained online and market yourself as a wedding officiant. Each ceremony pays around $300, and weddings often happen on weekends when you're free from your day job.
11. COMPLEMENT YOUR DAY JOB
Create a side hustle that works with your main career. A real estate consultant started curating art for properties she sold. Both businesses fed each other clients.
12. START A UNIQUE DELIVERY SERVICE
People love convenience. Start a late-night cookie delivery service or other specialized delivery business that fills a gap in your local market.
13. TUTOR PART-TIME
Share knowledge you already have by tutoring others. Use platforms like Wyzant to connect with students who need help with subjects you know well.
14. MONETIZE YOUTUBE VIDEOS
Create videos about topics you enjoy and earn money through ads. Focus on quality content that people search for, and you'll build an audience over time.
15. TRY DROP-SHIPPING
Sell products online without handling inventory. Suppliers store and ship the items while you manage marketing and customer service. One person makes $700 monthly selling crickets this way.
16. DESIGN T-SHIRTS
Create simple designs and use Merch by Amazon to print and ship t-shirts. Some designers make over $17,000 monthly with no upfront costs or inventory.
17. CREATE KEEPSAKES FOR PARENTS
Make clay imprints of baby hands or pet paws. Market directly to new parents or pet owners through vet offices, daycares or community centers.
18. START A MEMBERSHIP SITE
Share specialized knowledge through a membership site. Teachers can offer resources to other educators, charging monthly for premium content while offering some materials free.
19. WRITE FICTION BOOKS
Self-publish novels or short stories on Amazon. Focus on popular genres like romance, mystery or sci-fi. Amazon's self-publishing takes minutes to set up and pays up to 70% royalties.
20. CAPITALIZE ON POP CULTURE
Create products related to popular shows, books, or movies. Sell themed jewelry, merchandise, or write fan fiction. People love buying items connected to their favorite entertainment.
21. FREELANCE YOUR JOB SKILLS
Use the skills from your day job to consult on the side. Accountants, designers, and marketers can easily find clients who need help but can't afford full-time employees.
22. START A BLOG
Create a resource site about something you know well. Add online courses for deeper learning. While building an audience takes time, successful blogs can generate significant income.
23. CREATE LOCAL GUIDES
Make guides for tourists visiting your area. Include secret spots and best times to visit popular attractions. Sell digital guides online or printed versions in local shops.
24. BE A PROFESSIONAL WEDDING ATTENDANT
Offer your services as a hired bridesmaid or groomsman. Help with speeches, dress trains, and wedding day coordination for people who need extra support.
25. PLAN UPSCALE RETREATS
Organize special getaways for busy professionals. Handle all the details they don't have time to plan but want to experience.
26. RUN UNIQUE CITY TOURS
Start a walking tour focusing on history, food, or architecture in your city. Partner with Airbnb Experiences or local hotels to reach visitors.
27. JOIN AFFILIATE PROGRAMS
Recommend products you already use and earn commissions when people buy them through your links. Amazon Associates is easy to join and works with millions of products.
28. TEACH ADULTING SKILLS
Help young adults learn money management, home repairs, or other practical skills that schools don't teach. Offer workshops or one-on-one coaching.
29. OPEN AN ETSY SHOP
Sell handmade items on Etsy to reach millions of potential customers. Learn basic SEO to help your products stand out in searches.
30. SELL AT FARMERS MARKETS
Create jewelry, crafts, or food items to sell at weekend markets. This lets you meet customers face-to-face while keeping your weekdays free.
31. START WORM COMPOSTING
Help reduce waste by composting with worms. Sell the nutrient-rich soil to gardeners or partner with local food programs.
32. BECOME A CHOCOLATIER
Make specialty chocolates at home under cottage food laws. Start small with limited flavors and expand as demand grows.
33. TEACH UNIQUE FITNESS CLASSES
Rent unused time at local fitness studios to teach your own classes. Focus on fun, different workouts that stand out from standard offerings.
34. CREATE A DEAL-FINDING SITE
Research the best deals on travel, clothing, or electronics and share them with subscribers. Add premium tiers for first access to the best finds.
35. MAKE NATURAL PET TREATS
Create healthy pet foods or treats. Pet owners often spend more on their animals than themselves.
36. ORGANIZE A KARAOKE LEAGUE
Start a competitive karaoke league with teams and tournaments. Approach local businesses about sponsoring teams as employee bonding.
37. TURN YOUR BASEMENT INTO A STUDIO
Use extra space in your home for yoga classes, art lessons, or recording sessions.
38. START URBAN BEEKEEPING
Help save bees while producing honey. Offer hive maintenance for homeowners or businesses wanting bees on their property.
39. IMPROVE EXISTING PRODUCTS
Notice something that could work better? Make your improved version. Many successful products started as simple fixes to everyday problems.
40.MAKE AND SELL CANDLES
Learn candle making (it takes about an hour to master basics) and sell your creations online or at local shops. Seasonal scents can build repeat business.
41. LAUNCH A DIGITAL MAGAZINE
Create an online publication about your interests. Use Patreon to get subscribers who support your writing financially.
42. OFFER MEAL PREP SERVICES
Help busy people eat healthier by preparing weekly meals for them. Research popular diet trends to target specific customer groups.
43. PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL CUDDLING
Offer non-sexual cuddle sessions to help people combat loneliness. This growing service fills an emotional need in our disconnected world.
44. MONETIZE YOUR HOBBY
Turn something you already enjoy into income. A jewelry maker got her pieces featured in TV shows through industry connections.
45. GET CONTENT SPONSORSHIPS
Partner with companies willing to pay for content creation. One side hustler made $75,000 yearly creating sponsored content during his daily commute.
46. TEACH SPECIALIZED SKILLS
Share unique abilities like calligraphy, wood carving, or other crafts. Host workshops or create kits for beginners.
47. SELL TEACHING MATERIALS
Create lesson plans and classroom resources for teachers on TeachersPayTeachers.com. Some creators earn over $1,000 monthly from materials they create once.
48. LAUNCH A NICHE PODCAST
Start a podcast about something specific that isn't widely covered. Basic equipment costs about $200, and free editing software is available.
49. CREATE A SUBSCRIPTION BOX
Curate monthly boxes of specialty items. Use Cratejoy to handle logistics. The more specific your theme, the better.
50. RENT HOMES FOR EVENTS
Create a service matching homeowners with people needing event spaces. Focus on annual events that bring visitors to your area.
How to pick a side hustle that works for you
Stick with a side hustle long enough and it might become your main job. To find one that lasts, look at three things: what interests you, if it makes money, and whether it fits your life.
Match Your Interests
After working all day, you need extra energy for a side project. Pick something you actually care about.
Maybe you love gardening and could sell plants. Or perhaps making videos for social media sounds fun. Whatever it is, choose something that gets you off your phone and into action.
Check If It Makes Money
Most side hustles need time before they pay off. Focus first on finding customers who want what you're selling.
After you've been at it a while, take a good look at your profits. Are you making enough to justify the time you're putting in?
Fit It Into Your Life
With work, family and everything else, finding time can be hard. Choose a flexible business that lets you work in short bursts when you have free moments.
Hands-On or Hands-Off?
Some side hustles need constant attention. Others run mostly on their own after setup.
For example, building an affiliate website takes work upfront but needs less daily management than walking dogs.
Think about whether you want something that needs your attention every day or something you can work on in bursts.
Tips for side hustling while working full-time
Side hustles can earn you extra cash, but they need work to get going. If your idea doesn't fit your life, it'll quickly slide to the bottom of your to-do list.
Here's how to make it stick:
Work With Your Schedule, Not Against It
Find side hustles that fit into your free time. If evenings work best, try online jobs like writing or design.
Look for unused pockets in your day—maybe your lunch break or bus ride to work.
Make a Simple Plan
List what you need to get started. This might be setting up a workspace, buying tools, or finding your first customers.
Set Clear Goals
Instead of vague aims, try specific targets: "Get three clients by June" or "Make five YouTube videos this month."
Use Tools to Save Time
Find apps, software or helpers that can handle the boring stuff. The less time you spend on paperwork, the more you can focus on the actual work.
Decide If You Want to Grow
Think about whether you want this to stay a side job or become something bigger. This affects how much time and money you should put in.
Side hustles to avoid
Watch out for ads promising easy money. Here are some side hustles to skip:
Anything where you pay money to join
Multi-level marketing schemes where you mostly recruit others
Surveys that pay pennies for your time
Crafts that take hours but sell for little
Anything illegal or shady
High-risk trading with your savings
Unpaid internships (these are career moves, not side hustles)
Jobs with lots of travel (gas and hotels eat your profits)
Mind-numbing data entry jobs that pay poorly
Your next move
The perfect side hustle is out there waiting for you. With 50 options to choose from, you've got plenty of ways to earn extra cash. Starting small is perfectly fine. Pick something that fits your schedule, uses skills you already have, or lets you explore something new that interests you.
The best part? You don't have to figure everything out alone. Plenty of online communities exist where side hustlers share tips and support each other. Connect with others doing similar work to learn the shortcuts and avoid common mistakes.
The most important step is simply to begin. Pick one idea from this list that catches your interest, spend an hour researching how to start, and take that first small step today.
Your future self will thank you for it.