33 Summer Side Hustles: How to Make Money Over the Summer

Summer is the perfect time to explore new opportunities and boost your income. With longer days and warmer weather, there’s more time to pursue side hustles or try out a new career to make some extra cash. Whether you’re a student looking to pad your wallet or save for college, or a professional who wants to build a new income stream, the possibilities are endless.

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Why get a summer side hustle?

Summer gigs offer numerous benefits beyond just extra cash in your pocket. It can help you pay off debt, save for a big purchase, or even boost your resume with valuable experience – especially if you’re a student. While students and teachers are some of the most common groups who decide to get a summer job, anyone can benefit from building a new income stream.

A side hustle allows you to explore new interests, meet new people, and develop transferable skills that can benefit your future career. The warm weather makes it easier to be outside in much of the country, but you can benefit from longer daylight hours and possibly increased motivation. 

33 Best summer side hustles

Good summer side hustles can be a way to pursue your passions, try new careers, and earn more. Whether you’re looking for a temporary seasonal job or a flexible side gig, there’s something for everyone. Take this list as a starting point to let your creativity flow. Here are some of the best summer side hustles to consider:

1. Lawn mowing and yard maintenance

With the warm weather, many homeowners will need lawn care services. Offering lawn mowing, gardening, or landscaping services can be a lucrative side hustle during summer. If you build a reputation in your community, it could become an annual side hustle. 

2. House sitting or pet sitting

Many families take vacations during the summer, and they’ll need someone to care for their homes and furry friends. House-sitting or pet-sitting can be a great way to earn extra cash while providing a valuable service. It could also be an opportunity to travel over the summer. Check out trusted house sitters and Rover.

3. Travel and vacation planner

With summer being a popular vacation time, you could offer your travel or vacation planning services. You can help others plan their dream getaways while earning a commission. As you build your business, this could become a year-round side hustle or full-time business. 

4. Graphic design 

As a graphic designer, you can take on freelance projects creating logos, branding materials, or digital designs for businesses or individuals. Consider listing your services on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, and other professional sites. 

5. Virtual assistant work

Virtual assistants provide administrative support to busy professionals or businesses. Tasks can include scheduling, data entry, research, and more – all from the comfort of your home. Look for jobs on FlexJobs, Upwork, or other job listing sites. 

6. Online reselling 

You can turn your thrifting skills into a profitable side hustle by reselling items you find at thrift stores, garage sales, or online marketplaces. Often called thrift store flipping, as you build insight into profitable products and your following, this could become a long-term side hustle or you can even build an online store. Consider re-selling on eBay, Etsy, or other online sites. 

7. Food delivery 

Like rideshare driving, you can earn money by delivering food orders for services like DoorDash or GrubHub. Look for local offers, and then set your hours. This can give you the flexibility to fill in extra income when needed. 

8. Selling handmade crafts 

If you’re a creative soul or want to explore your creative side, consider selling your handmade crafts, art, or products on platforms like Etsy or local markets. This can be an opportunity to showcase your talents and build a network. You can also consider collaborating with other artists to expand your reach. 

9. Painting houses or fences

Summertime is the perfect time to get big painting projects done. Consider offering your painting services to homeowners looking to refresh their exterior or interior spaces during summer. As you build experience and a reputation, you can create a painting business with online reviews to get more clients each year. 

10. Babysitting or nanny services

With school out for the summer, many parents will need reliable childcare. Offer your babysitting or nanny services to families in your area. UrbanSitter is an excellent resource for finding babysitting jobs. You can also post listings online, in city Facebook groups, and on local bulletin boards. 

11. Moving helper

The summer months are a popular time for people to relocate. Assist with moving services by helping load and unload moving trucks or offering packing assistance. You can list your services on sites like Upwork and spread the word with contacts like friends, family, and colleagues.   

12. Washing cars 

Car washes are always a popular summertime activity. You can set up a mobile car washing service or offer to wash cars in your neighborhood for a fee. By going to your clients, you offer them the ultimate convenience. Be sure to research the best car-washing techniques and materials before you get started!

13. Renting out a room or space

If you have an extra room or space in your home, consider renting it out to travelers or locals needing temporary accommodation. You can list rooms on Airbnb. If you have extra garage space, consider sites like StoreAtMyHouse or Neighbor.com to list your space and start earning. 

14. Selling homemade products 

If you have a baking, cooking, or crafting talent, consider selling your homemade products at local farmer’s markets or online. Jams, jellies, and other specialty products that last more than a day can also be shipped nationwide. Consider local specialty products, from blackberry jam or rose petal jam to cinnamon rolls and croissants. 

15. Seasonal retail work

Many retailers and businesses need extra hands during the summer months. Look for temporary or part-time retail positions in your area. You can find these on job listing sites, city-specific Facebook groups, or even in the newspaper.

16. Freelance photography or videography

Pursuing your love of photography can become a side hustle or full-time career. You can capture special moments and events by offering your freelance photography or videography services. You can start by providing low-cost photography or videography sessions to family or friends to build your portfolio and showcase your work. 

17. Personal training 

With the warmer weather, many people are motivated to get in shape. Offer your services as a personal trainer or fitness instructor. If you don’t work for a gym, consider starting fitness classes in local parks or offer at-home courses for a group of friends. If you choose parks, check with the municipality about any necessary permits.

18. Landscaping or gardening services

Summer is the prime gardening season. It can also be a lot of work, as maintenance is often labor-heavy and tedious. You can help homeowners maintain their outdoor spaces by offering landscaping, gardening, or lawn care services. 

19. Event planning 

The wedding season often peaks in the summer. If you have strong organization and design skills, consider offering event planning services, where you’ll help coordinate and execute special events, including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. 

20. Cleaning services

Cleaning is needed year-round, but many families do a deep cleaning in the spring or summer. You can provide residential or commercial cleaning services for homes, offices, or other spaces needing a deep clean. Likewise, offering window-washing services in your neighborhood is an excellent way to start building a cleaning business. 

21. Handyman 

Summer is also when many homeowners think of renovations, repairs, and improvements. From fixing gutters to building raised beds, this is a great time to help local homeowners get the necessary repairs while building your reputation. If you’re skilled in minor home repairs or maintenance tasks, offer your handyperson services to local homeowners or businesses.

22. Running errands 

Become a personal assistant or errand runner for busy individuals or families needing help with grocery shopping, dry cleaning pick-up, or other errands. Likewise, you could market your services to senior citizens, busy families, or local businesses. Consider combining this with yardwork to offer a comprehensive home-care package. 

23. Affiliate marketing

If you have a blog or social media following, explore affiliate marketing opportunities by promoting products or services and earning a commission on sales. Even with a modest social media following, consider reaching out to local businesses to advertise specials or products within your area. This can be an opportunity that starts slow, but with time, you could gain full-time passive income. 

24. Participating in online surveys 

While not a substantial income source, participating in online surveys can provide a little extra cash in your spare time. You can take surveys while you wait for kids, ride public transport, or instead of scrolling through your phone. Even a hundred dollars a month could make a difference in your budget. 

25. Host a garage sale

Summertime is prime garage sale season. You can declutter your home and make money by hosting a garage sale or selling items online. You can also host a neighborhood garage sale or offer to sell your friends’ items for a small commission. 

26. Teach classes or lessons 

Share your expertise by teaching classes or lessons in areas like art, music, coding, or other skills. There are many online platforms to do this, but you can also offer summer camps or classes locally. You can advertise at community centers, schools, libraries, or other community bulletin boards. 

27. Tour guide or local experience host

If you’re knowledgeable about your city or area, consider offering guided tours or local experiences for visitors. You could offer free walking tours for tips or advertise paid tours. Likewise, you could take visitors to local favorites or off-the-beaten-track locations, like favorite restaurants, hiking trails, waterfalls, or historical sites. 

28. Bartending 

If you have your bartender’s license or meet local requirements, summertime is the perfect time to pick up extra bartending gigs. With events and parties happening during the summer, consider weddings, anniversaries, 4th of July parties, end-of-summer parties, and other events. Bartending can be a lucrative side gig for those with the necessary skills and certifications.

29. Lifeguarding or swimming instructor

If you have your lifeguard certification, consider working as a lifeguard or swimming instructor. Many pools and recreational facilities need lifeguards and swimming instructors during summer. You can find opportunities at beaches, lakes, pools, private clubs, and other recreational facilities. 

30. Camp counselor 

Summer camp is a long-term favorite summer pastime. Just because you’re too old to attend summer camp doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy returning as a counselor! Consider working as a camp counselor at a day camp or overnight camp for children or teenagers. Or, start your own local summer camp around a subject of expertise, like an art camp, coding camp, sewing camp, horse camp, dog training camp, sports camp or other activities. 

31. Flipping or reselling furniture

Furniture flipping is growing in popularity. You can scour garage sales, thrift stores, or online marketplaces for furniture pieces you can refurbish and resell for a profit. While it will take some time to build refurbishing skills, this could become a long-term hobby turned income stream. 

32. Tutoring

If you excel in specific academic subjects, music, sports, or other skills, consider offering tutoring services. Parents often seek educational support for their children during the summer break. 

Check out sites like Wyzant, Chegg, ClubZ, eTutorWorld, Preply, Smarthinking, Varsity Tutors, VIPKID, and Khan Academy for teaching opportunities over the summer or year-round. You can also check out summer student jobs if you are a student or live near a university. 

33. Rideshare driving

If you have a reliable vehicle and enjoy meeting new people, consider signing up to drive for rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. You can set your hours and earn around other jobs or activities you have for the summer. You could also offer independent airport transfers and build a business around longer rides if you have a comfortable car for this type of transfer. 

Maximize side hustles for summer

Summer is the perfect time to explore new opportunities and boost your income through a side hustle. With so many options available, there’s something for everyone – whether you’re looking for a temporary gig or a more long-term flexible side job. You can embrace the warmer weather and longer days to pursue a summer side hustle that aligns with your interests and skills or start building a new business. 

With creativity and focus, you can watch your earning potential soar. Need other ideas? Find 33 weekend side hustles and side hustles for women, or learn how to make an extra $500 a week. 

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