Featured image: My Recommended Side Gigs – tested and legit opportunities personally reviewed by Sidegig Scout

My Recommended Side Gigs (Tested & Legit)

Not everything online is a scam—but you wouldn’t know that from the search results.

I’ve tested dozens of side hustles over the past few years. Most were… meh. A few were downright shady. But some actually worked—and I’m sharing the best of them here.

If you’re short on time, energy, or patience for BS, start with these.

💻 Affiliate Marketing (via Niche Sites or Blogs)

Best for: Introverts, writers, researchers
Start-up cost: Low
Time required: Medium to high
Earning potential: Long-term, scalable income

This is my personal favorite because it can grow quietly in the background once you set it up right. You create content that helps people solve a problem, recommend tools/products you trust, and earn a commission when they buy through your link.

💡 I made $22.67 over 5 years doing it the wrong way. Now I’ve learned what actually works.

Sites Like:

Allow you to promote their services while learning within their platform.

👉 Start a blog or niche site from scratch

✍️ Freelance Writing

Best for: Writers, editors, storytellers
Start-up cost: Free
Time required: Immediate income
Earning potential: Steady side income (or full-time, if scaled)

Freelancing was one of my earliest “this is actually legit” wins. If you can write blog posts, edit content, or even do basic copywriting, there’s demand.

Start with:

✨ Pro tip: Don’t undersell yourself. Start with short, easy gigs to build confidence—then raise your rates.

🛍️ Print-on-Demand (T-Shirts, Mugs, Journals)

Best for: Creatives, crafters, Canva fans
Start-up cost: Free or minimal
Time required: Front-loaded
Earning potential: Small but steady trickle (passive)

Sites like:

Let you create custom designs that only get printed when someone orders. I’ve had designs make sales months after publishing with no effort on my part.

🎨 A great low-stress passive stream.

🌐 User Testing / Paid Feedback Sites

Best for: Tech-curious folks with 10–20 mins to spare
Start-up cost: Free
Time required: Low
Earning potential: $10–$60 per test (side cash, not full income)

You test websites/apps and give feedback while recording your screen. It’s weirdly satisfying.

Try:

🎧 Digital Products (Ebooks, Templates, Printables)

Best for: Organizers, teachers, idea people
Start-up cost: Low to moderate
Time required: Medium
Earning potential: Moderate to high (scales over time)

Think:

  • Printable planners
  • Budget templates
  • Canva ebooks
  • Digital checklists (like “How to Spot a Scam” or “Side Gig Planner”)

Once created, they can sell forever on platforms like Etsy or Gumroad.

❌ What Didn’t Work for Me

Because full transparency matters:

  • Survey sites that paid pennies
  • MLMs disguised as “coaching programs”
  • “Done-for-you” businesses with no transparency
  • Anything that required constant DMs, cold pitches, or bugging family

👎 If you’ve tried these too—no shame. You learn, you pivot, you move on.

🧭 What’s Next?

If one of these jumped out at you, awesome! Here’s what I suggest:

🧠 Choose your next step:

Let’s build something real—not just hype.

—Kris
& Scout 🧭