Top 25 Side Hustles to Make Money During Summer 2023 While the weather is warm, there are numerous ways to earn additional income. It is even possible to make money year-round with many of these ideas. But, here are the top 25 side hustles to make money during the summer.
By John Rampton Edited by Mark Klekas
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
It's the perfect time of year to start a side hustle and earn extra money, especially if you're a student or teacher. So, which side hustle would be the best fit for you this summer?
While the weather is warm, there are numerous ways to earn additional income. It is even possible to make money year-round with many of these ideas. But here are the top 25 side hustles to make money during the summer. Not everything on the list will work with a typical 9 to 5 job, but there is enough variety on the list for everyone to find something to help them start earning extra cash today.
1. Transporting people.
Lyft and Uber are one of the biggest side hustler trends in recent years, according to Due writer Peter Daisyme. To get started, you only need a vehicle and insurance. Then you can work whenever you want — and maybe even meet some interesting people.
Related: 10 of the Most Profitable Side Hustles You Can Start With Little or No Money
Uber or Lyft drivers make around $38,102 a year, according to Salary.com. But this depends on a lot of factors, including how many hours a week you drive and where you live.
Eventually, you'll learn more customer service tricks to get more rides. Consider this: If you offer something special or unexpected, you'll get more tips. These could be phone chargers, water bottles, or even tissues. Your rideshare experience will be better if you put some thought into it.
2. Deliver groceries, food, and other stuff.
You can also deliver food, groceries, and other stuff for a summer job.
A variety of platforms are available for delivering meals and alcohol, such as Postmates, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats. The average hourly wage for food and grocery delivery drivers is $16, according to ZipRecruiter.
Your area's population and the number of orders you will receive will determine the frequency and amount of money you earn. Tips can also help you earn more but don't rely on them too much. You can even do this using your car, scooter or bike.
Related: A DoorDash Driver Was Caught Stealing Customers' Food On Camera
3. Car detailing.
If you don't mind working outside in the heat, this is a perfect way to make extra cash. You can earn money by cleaning and washing cars inside and out. If you prefer, you can charge by the hour or the job. Your attention to detail will ensure repeat customers throughout the summer.
A car detailing project can cost more than $100 on average, with average hourly rates between $25 and $50. In other words, you can easily make an extra $200 or more a week if you can get a few clients.
However, for this summer side hustle, you'll need supplies and equipment. A vacuum, hoses, interior cleaners, and exterior washes and waxes are some of the items you'll need to purchase. Additionally, you will need to spend some time finding clients, such as posting on social media or asking friends and family to share your information. To market your services, you can also pass out flyers and create a website based on the size of your business.
Related: How to Calculate 'Breakeven'
4. Housesitter.
Nearly 73% of Americans have summer travel plans, according to a survey conducted by ValuePenguin. As a result, house-sitting gigs should be plentiful.
A housesitter ensures the home is occupied while the owner is away. Occasionally, they turn on the lights to make it appear the homeowner is home. In addition to looking after pets and plants, they may also perform light maintenance.
5. Landscape or yard work.
Taking care of lawns, trimming bushes, installing sprinklers, building decks, or any other landscaping work is a great summer side hustle. Since this work involves so much labor, people are willing to pay top dollar. Landscapers earn on average, over $23 per hour but can go up to $37.93 an hour, according to an analysis done by Career Explorer.
If you don't mind sweating and getting dirty, you can earn thousands of dollars per month doing this summer side hustle.
6. Dog walker.
If you're an animal lover and want to make some money while enjoying the warm weather and sunshine, walking dogs might be a good side hustle for you.
Walking dogs might earn you $20 an hour or more, depending on how high demand is in your area. It's an excellent summer side hustle for college students, teens, or even tweens.
Related: These Dog Walkers Are Making $100,000 a Year
Dog walking services can be advertised locally or through a site like Rover. Using Rover, pet owners who don't have free time for walking their dogs are paired with dog walkers.
7. Become a lifeguard.
A lifeguard earns about $20 per hour. In addition, they get to spend the entire day outside. Lifeguards are hired on a seasonal basis, and if you are looking for a short time gig, this would be perfect for the next few months.
Swimming skills and certification classes are typically required to get hired. Find a program that accepts certification from all over the country, such as The Red Cross.
8. Swimming instructor.
You can work as a swimming instructor if you have the necessary qualifications and are a good swimmer. Summer is a popular time of year for parents to enroll their children in swimming classes.
In order to become a qualified swimming instructor, you may need specialized training and certification. To conduct your lessons safely, you'll need access to a pool. However, you need patience and empathy to teach someone how to swim effectively. As such, this may be a great summer job if you enjoy working with people and have teaching experience.
9. Pool cleaner.
There are millions of homes in the U.S. that have pools and they are always in need of a cleaning.
As well as being perfect for those who prefer to work outside, this is not that difficult to do. As well as cleaning the pool, pool cleaners change filters and maintain the PH in the water. A pool cleaner can earn over $17 per hour on average, according to ZipRecruiter.com.
10. Camp staff.
Getting a summer job at a camp is a great option if you enjoy working with children. To provide care and supervision to campers, counselors or nurses are usually needed.
Those with experience in health care or experience working with children, such as educators, will love this job. While helping others grow and learn, you'll spend your days outdoors. There are also afterschool or weekend camps if you can't interrupt your day job.
11. Parks and conservation area work.
Conservation areas are great summer jobs for anyone interested in conservation or wildlife management.
A park's maintenance is a very important part of its upkeep. And, this includes:
- Maintaining trails.
- Planning and organizing park activities.
- Taking care of parking lots and gates.
- On park grounds, serving food or providing guest services.
12. Rent out a room — or your entire home.
Earning a semi-passive income by renting out a spare room or house is extremely easy. This is especially true during the summer when people are on vacation. In fact, I have a friend listing his house while traveling in an RV this summer.
Related: Avoid These 3 Common Airbnb Mistakes
If you want to attract guests to your property, you should list it on Airbnb. As the site manages the entire rental process, you do not have to do any legwork. Your earnings are determined by where you live and the type of accommodations you provide.
13. RV and camper rentals.
Are you a camper or an RV owner? If so, do you use it during summer? If not, you can rent it out for extra income this summer.
Renting may be an option for people who do not own one or don't use it. It's an excellent way to earn money, and it's mostly passive income as well. The majority of your work involves cleaning the RV or camper between rentals.
Renting RVs and campers is made easy with RVshare, a platform for peer-to-peer rentals. You're in control of the rent and the dates, so it's an excellent side hustle.
14. Photography.
Is taking photos something you enjoy? There are many opportunities this summer to earn money by taking pictures for clients. There are plenty of ways to make extra cash, from weddings, BBQs, company picnics, and family reunions.
Also, an online marketplace like DepositPhotos is a great resource if you enjoy photographing landscapes and other settings. With it, you can sell your photos and earn passive income.
15. Officiate weddings.
During the summer, weddings are in full swing. On average, wedding officiants can make around $250 per ceremony, as reported by Loan Signing System.
You can become an ordained wedding officiant by researching your local wedding officiating requirements. You can then begin networking with other professional wedding vendors and venues to begin booking events.
16. Start a garden or greenhouse business.
Are you a retiree? If so, one of the best things about retiring is having more time to pursue interests and hobbies. Consider starting a garden if you're green-thumbed. It's therapeutic and fun to garden, but you can also sell your produce to local restaurants or farmers' markets.
Related: Retirees Are Earning Up to $20,000 Per Month With One Fully Remote Side Hustle
Container gardening can be a good option for those with limited space. It is possible to grow herbs, flowers, and vegetables in pots on your porch or balcony, or you can even start a community vegetable garden with other retirees.
17. Put up a roadside stand.
Shannon Houchin established a successful business selling roadside produce in just a decade, she told Side Hustle Nation. In a weekend, she claims you can flip $300 worth of peaches into $1000.
"Nothing puts a smile on a consumer's face quicker than a good peach," she said. In order to maximize visibility, she sets up at high-traffic locations like convenience store parking lots.
18. Work in a theme park or amusement park.
A theme or amusement park will likely be busy during the summer. As such, many of these parks have seasonal employment available.
There are many jobs in the food service industry, including ride operators, ticket sellers, security guards, and food servers. An extra income during summer can be made at an amusement park or theme park if you aren't afraid of crowds and hot weather.
19. Pressure washing.
Summer is a great time to earn money by pressure washing. Besides decks, driveways, sidewalks, patios, siding, and sidewalks, pressure washers can also clean many other surfaces.
In order to do this side hustle, you will need a pressure washer. But, you should be able to find one within your budget. If a new model is too expensive for you, you can also buy a used pressure washer on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
Since many homeowners need or want this type of service on a regular basis, finding customers is usually not difficult. Due to the lack of a pressure washer, many people hire someone to do the job.
20. Personal trainer.
There is nothing like swimsuit season to make people self-conscious about their bodies. As many as 42% of people say they feel pressure to achieve a "beach body" for summer, according to a survey conducted by ValuePenguin. At the same time, that also means that fitness professionals will be in high demand.
Your business might specialize in outdoor boot camps, group fitness classes, or personal training. You could even do more summer-centric activities like beach yoga.
21. Flea market flipping.
How does flea market flipping work? Basically, it involves purchasing products on the cheap and selling them for a higher price.
You can find great deals on antiques, electronics, and home appliances at flea markets and garage sales. Additionally, you can find sellable items at thrift stores, going out to business events, or online platforms such as Craigslist, eBay, OfferUp, and Facebook Market.
When it comes to finding the right items to flip, there is little technique involved. If you want to start selling things for money, look around your house and see what you can find.
If you want to learn more, you can enroll in Flipper University. The course is led by Rob and Melissa, a couple who have turned occasional flips into a six-figure income. The intro course is free for those who want to become flea market flippers this summer.
22. Host a local "experience."
An interesting side business idea is to host local tours or "experiences" if your town is a summer travel destination. Some examples include:
- Walking tours discussing the history, geography, wildlife, or architecture
- Classes unique to your area
- Guided meditation workshops
- Beer, wine, or spirits tasting tours
- Foodie tours
The best part? Rates and availability are set by you. To see what's available in your area, check out platforms like Airbnb Experiences. From there, brainstorm ways to make your experience more unique.
23. Work on a cruise.
Have you ever considered working aboard a cruise ship? If you want to travel for free this summer, you should check this out. On the ship, you can find jobs such as servers, bartenders, masseuses, cashiers, chefs, and more.
As a crew member, you'll get free food, accommodation, and other perks. Depending on the cruise line, you can even bring along a family member for a limited time.
Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruises offer more information if you are interested in working for them.
24. Freelance.
Working from home has made freelancing an attractive side hustle for many workers. In addition to working from home (or anywhere else, for that matter), freelancers can take on multiple clients and set their own hours. For example, if you and your family have rented out a beach house for a month, you could dedicate a couple of hours a day to this side hustle.
Related: The 9 Skills It Takes to Succeed as a Freelance Writer
Freelancing offers a wide range of opportunities. Whether you're looking for a simple job like data entry or an intricate job like accounting, there are plenty of options. There are even freelance data scientists, PHP developers, 3D modelers, translators, and legal researchers out there.
If you don't have a resume or portfolio, polish them and sign up for your preferred freelancing platform to find clients. What are the best places to sign up as a freelancer? Some suggestions include Fiverr, Upwork, FlexJobs, People Per Hour, and LinkedIn.
25. Find gigs in your area.
There are times when finding gig jobs can be the most difficult part. With Steady, you can start earning money right away, even if you're overwhelmed by job searching.
You can find local jobs with this free app. In the summer, you can find part-time jobs, seasonal, or short-term positions.
Depending on the skills you possess and the needs of businesses, you can find work. Overall, though, This app is great if you're looking for local gigs.
