7 Side Hustles That Could Replace a 9-to-5 Job in a Year

Most Americans dream of becoming entrepreneurs; more than 60 percent would like to be their own boss, according to a Gallup poll last year. The 9-to-5 job might pay the bills and provide great benefits, but it lacks the freedom of working for yourself and being completely in charge of your own destiny. That, perhaps, is what draws some to take on side hustles outside of the office.

Your success or failure is determined, in large part, by your skills and abilities. Not every side hustle can turn into a full-time job, but with a little extra work, there are several that can. It takes dedication, talent, and persistence, but if you’re willing to put in the work, here are several part-time side hustles that could transition to lucrative full-time careers.

Tour Guide

Tourist-town residents are the best people to show visitors around. The trick is coming up with an angle that professional tour companies aren’t already covering. If you’re passionate about parts of your city and know more than the average local, you can use platforms like Facebook, Upwork, and Viator to market yourself. Some guides say they average between $100 and $300 per tour, often earning much more. Don’t live in a town tourists flock to? You can still guide locals in everything from ghost tours to off-roading, depending on the area you live. 

Alternatively, if you have an area that you return to again and again, consider hosting a group trip via a site such as TourHero. You could also be a travel adviser, helping people book trips all over the world. (Many people specialize in areas or activities they love, such as cruises or Disney using services like Fora or TheMouseExperts.)

AI Services

Artificial intelligence is a wide-open field these days. There’s demand for side hustles tied to it – and demand for full-time workers. If you know your way around ChatGPT or similar tools, you can use that knowledge to your advantage. That could revolve around creating custom GPTs that automate labor-intense (and boring) professional tasks, which can be hosted privately. It might mean using AI tools like Veed.IO or Runway to assist with video editing, trimming and color correcting videos, rearranging scenes, and more in a fraction of the time required for a manual edit. Or it might be used to speed up the web design process, helping you create sites that engage visitors, and then taking on the heavy lifting of writing the necessary code.

Online Courses

If you’ve already had a fair bit of business success, there’s bound to be interest from younger founders in learning how you overcame obstacles. Consider putting together an online course to sell on Etsy, Skillshare, or Udemy. Had success in non-business fields? There’s definitely demand for courses tied to hobbies and miscellaneous skills as well. If you connect with buyers, word can spread, generating passive income and giving you a following for subsequent courses.

Medical Coding

You’ll need some medical know-how for this particular gig, but if you’re properly certified and know how to review records for accuracy and assist with data entry, this can be a lucrative income stream that becomes a full-time job. Scan sites like LinkedIn, Fiverr, and Indeed for companies looking for assistance. It’s also a good idea to network at your local health care system.

Fashion Designer

Apparel and jewelry are always in demand. And if you’re a would-be designer whose styles spark something with shoppers, it can quickly become a lucrative income stream. There are several brands that began as side hustles. Gia Mezz launched Leau in 2020 and saw revenue hit $10,000 within a month. Within six months, she had quit her full-time job to focus on Leau full-time. It’s projected to hit $10 million in lifetime sales this year. Pink Lily’s Tori Gerbig started selling clothes on eBay. Today, her Kentucky-based company employs 300 people. And Kate Sullivan, founder of the Sage Vintage, launched the handmade jewelry company as a side hustle, but last year it brought in over $500,000 in revenue. 

Freelance Copywriting

There are thousands of listings for copywriters on sites like Indeed and LinkedIn. Companies need someone to help them connect with their customers, through landing pages, social media, video scripts, and more. If you can turn around high-quality writing in a short period of time, you’ll quickly find demand for your services. AI is a threat, yes, but brands still need humans to help them create a brand voice and persuasive messaging. The top niche areas for writers, as of last year, are digital marketing, SaaS/eCommerce, and health/lifestyle.

Graphic Design

Artists are regularly in demand for everything from creating templates to illustrating book covers and packaging. If you know your way around tools like Canva or Photoshop, try sites including PeoplePerHour and 99designs to find your client base. As you build a portfolio and establish a reputation with those clients, you’re more likely to get repeat assignments, which can be the foundation of a business.