The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the US economy upside down. The lockdown led to high unemployment, many businesses had to close, and many were left without pay. Today, side hustles have become the elixir of life for the majority of American workers.
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According to a 2024 MarketWatch survey, more than half (or 54%) of Americans say they have taken on a side job in the past 12 months to supplement their primary source of income. Broken down by generation, 71% of Generation Z, followed by 68% of Millennials and about 33% of Baby Boomers say they have taken on a side job.
No matter your age, there is an opportunity to start a particular side hustle if you are already busy with it. Fortunately, there are many simple service businesses you can start today that can be quite profitable depending on demand and location.
Here are five side hustles that you can easily turn into a profitable service business, according to Entrepreneur and Tim Richard:
Earning passive income doesn’t have to be difficult. You can start this week.
1. Pet care and dog walking
If you’re a pet lover or owner yourself and have some time to spare, you may want to consider becoming a pet sitter or dog walker. You can sign up as a contractor on platforms like Rover and Wag to connect with people in your area who are looking for a caregiver for their furry friend. If you really want to jump in and build your own business, look for clients in your community through Facebook groups or Craigslist. Working directly with pet owners and building your client base will allow you to keep more of what you earn and avoid fees that app-based platforms take from their contractors.
Learn more: How to make $750 a week in passive income
2. Mobile car wash and detailing
If you love cars and have an eye for detail, it might be worth starting a local mobile car wash and detailing service. With your own vehicle, you can drive to customers with supplies and offer your services where they leave their vehicles. At a minimum, you will need a generator, vacuum cleaner, pressure washer, soap, brushes and waxing supplies. Consider approaching car dealerships or companies with large fleets that may need hands-on car wash and detailing services on a regular basis.
3. Tutoring
If you are a professional or expert in a particular field, tutoring can be a lucrative venture. You can help students excel in subjects like math, history, reading, writing, or a specific language. Tutors offer their services both online and in person. One tip for finding clients is to reach out to local mom groups to offer your tutoring services. Once you have one or two clients, word-of-mouth referrals can be very powerful in getting more consistent business effortlessly.
4. Translator
Online translation tools cannot compare to the quality of a native speaker or a studied language expert. If you are a polyglot or a language lover, working as a translator can be a lucrative business. Try to target immigration authorities and international business organizations in areas with a significant multicultural population.
5. Helper on garbage day
Whether people are traveling or are temporarily away from home, they always need to put the garbage cans out at the curb once or twice a week. This is a simple task that you can turn into a service business. It’s smart to target landlords and property management companies who are responsible for multiple properties and may not have anyone to handle this specific task. This is typically a low-competition business type, which could mean you can find and keep clients more easily without competing for a client’s business.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Effortlessly Profitable Service Businesses You Can Start Right Now
