7 Best Side Hustles for Q4 2026 (That Earn $500 and up Monthly)
Most fall side hustle lists are just seasonal retail and package delivery — but there's much more. The fourth quarter has some major advantages in the side hustle category because there's demand for skills most people never think to sell. For example, you can play Santa to stand n line for someone else's gifts. (Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!)
These seven side hustles can each clear $500 a month during the holidays, and several pay much more.
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1. Play Santa or Mrs. Claus
Professional Santas earn about $60 an hour on average, according to ZipRecruiter data cited by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Plus, what could be more fun?
2. Get Paid To Wait in Line
Taskrabbit's average rate for waiting-in-line jobs is $27 an hour — one full-time tasker told NBC those jobs can make up as much as 35% of his total income during the holiday! Twenty hours in line over Black Friday and December toy drops would bring in about $540. That's good money to quite literally stand around.
3. Become a Loan Signing Agent
Mortgage closings need a notary who knows the paperwork. Loan signing agents typically earn $75 to $200 per signing, and adding the certification adds another $100 to $400 according to Blue Notary. Five $100 signings a month hits the $500 mark. (Of course, you'll need a notary commission first, and the rules vary by state.)
4. Wrap Gifts for Busy Families and Businesses
Wrapping services typically charge $3 to $10 per item according to JoinGerald. Wrapping 100 gifts at $5 apiece equals $500, and a single small business that orders client gifts could cover that in one job.
5. Clean Before and After Holiday Hosting
Hosts want spotless homes before guests arrive and after they leave. Holiday cleaning on Taskrabbit averages $48 an hour, per NBC. About 11 hours of work puts $500 in your pocket for bills or holiday gifts of your own.
6. Write Letters From Santa
Personalized letters from the North Pole are an easy sell to parents. One person told Side Hustle School she made $6,000 in a single month selling them. If you charge $10 a letter, 50 orders gets you to $500.
7. Hang Holiday Lights, Then Take Them Down
Installing lights pays $500 to $1,000 or more per home, according to GoBankingRates. Offer January takedown as a package deal, and every December client becomes a second paycheck.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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