The gig economy is expanding faster than ever.
Most people can launch a new business using just their laptops.
Although the abundance of gigs makes it easy to start side hustles, not every opportunity yields results.
Youll also come across shady, high-risk ventures.
Paid Freelancing Platforms and Gigs
Newbies tend to struggle with prospecting.
Most find themselves lost on where to find clients or stuck with low-paying gigs.
And the longer theyre unemployed, the more desperate they get.
Although you might feel compelled to jump at the first offer that comes your way, hey exercise caution.
Stay away from anything unusual.
Legitimate job offers will never require upfront investments, several days of unpaid sample work, or confidential data.
As a general rule, stick tolegit freelancing sites.
There are thousands of freelance opportunities online.
Searching for the keyword blog on Upwork will already show 7,700+ gigs.
Youll likely find millions of other listings on similar well-known freelancing websites and platforms.
Dropshipping
Anyone who has shown even the slightest interest in e-commerce has likely heard of dropshipping.
The concept became a trend in the past decade.
In theory, sellers could list thousands without ever keeping stock.
Although dropshipping is a legit business model, many newbies underestimate its complexity.
Starting a successful store takes years.
Think about dropshipping from your customers' point of view.
The answer: probably not.
You need severalskills to succeed in e-commerce, including copywriting, marketing, graphic designing, and accounting.
Product sourcing alone wont create a profitable store.
Paid Surveys
Answering paid surveys is widely recommended as a side hustle.
It has low barriers to entry.
Yes, legit Get-Paid-To apps pay users for answering surveys, but the earnings wont amount to much.
Try signing up for them.
Even the most widely known sites only pay around $0.50 to $1.00 per 15- to 30-minute survey.
Also, you’re able to only answer a limited number of surveys.
Spend your time on another more lucrative, worthwhile side hustle.
Nows a great time to position yourself in the market.
With that said, buying crypto without proper research yields negligible results.
The industry is brimming with scammers and cybercriminals.
Becoming an Instacart Shopper
At a glance, becoming an Instacart shopper might seem like a good deal.
Despite these advantages, we dont think you should blindly sign up for the app.
Its shoppers likely dont make much.
Theres more work to go around their drivers.
It takes much more time to deliver groceries than food.
We suggest exploring other options.
See if you qualify for any of thetop-paying food delivery appson the market.
Forex Trading
Most foreign exchange (Forex) markets are deregulated.
Although central banks monitor their countries' respective markets, no centralized institution controls global transactions.
Securities and exchange commissions worldwide have limited jurisdiction.
However, making a profit isnt as easy as most gurus claim.
The forex market displays volatile prices that show exponential fluctuations daily.
Just one bad trade could drain your entire investment.
As a profession, forex trading isnt illicit.
Only trust verified brokers.
Legit companies will never sell you baseless forex signals, offer to make your trades, or guarantee profits.
Airbnb Rental Arbitrage
Airbnb rental arbitrage involves listing subleased units on Airbnb.
You could probably start with just a few hundred bucks.
Although the barriers to entry are low, Airbnb rental arbitrage has several dangerous risks.
Most gurus oversimplify the process.
Lets say you have a two-year sublease agreement.
Your credit rating will plummet if your venture fails, and you default on your monthly dues.
In the worst case, you cant rent properties for a while.
Find Legit, Proven Freelancing Gigs and Business Ventures
Again, these side hustles arent necessarily fraudulent.
you’re free to still explore them if you want.
Just manage your expectations and prepare multiple exit strategies in case things go south.
If you want a more stable monthly income, we suggest building a freelance career around your skill set.
Focus on your strengths.
Once you know which services youll offer, look into different prospecting methods to land clients within your niche.
Maintain at least a months worth of gigs in your pipeline.
