5 Legit Side Hustles That Are NOT MLMs
by Gabriela Garcia
We’ve all been there, especially this year.
That moment when your bank account and expenses don’t meet eye-to-eye. Whether it’s mounting student loans, tiny humans to feed, job furloughs, or your nine-to-five isn’t quite cutting it, we can all benefit from extra income each month.
Taking on a side hustle is a great way to cover growing expenses, but finding reputable ways to earn this extra money can result in a deep dive into scamville.
Too many companies, like Multi-Level Marketing companies (MLMs), promise thousands of dollars each month in return for money paid up front. Some of them charge large fees or entry costs to get started with them. Most people who work for MLMs don’t earn salaries, but work solely on commission.
And those commissions are earned by tirelessly recruiting family, friends, and acquaintances into buying what you’re selling and convincing them to join in on the MLM bandwagon as well. In case this sounds like another type of well-known scam, you are correct.
Here’s a visual representation for reference!
You should never have to pay anything up front for a potential side hustle. A side hustle should be paying you, not the other way around. And let’s not forget about the tough interpersonal consequences of partaking in an MLM— the risk of alienating family and friends who may tire of your requests to “just try out one sample – no pressure.”
So how do you know that a side hustle is worth looking into?
How can you find a good side hustle that allows for flexibility, the ability to set your own hours and rates, and most importantly, doesn't ask you for any money up front?
Here are our favorite side hustles that work for a variety of talents and skills.
1. Online tutoring.
Online learning has become the new pandemic norm and is in full demand.
If you love teaching and have experience in a specialized subject, then this side hustle is for you. In addition to being a fairly high paying gig, it can be rewarding to pass down your knowledge to kids, college students, or adults. Many online tutors don’t even need prior teaching experience, but the more qualifications you have (such as knowing multiple languages), the more jobs you qualify for.
Check out these sites: VIPKID, Brain Fuse, Tutor.com, Skooli.
2. Freelance write.
Do you have a knack for prose? Do you appreciate writing that’s beautifully crafted? If so, then working as a freelance writer can be a pretty solid side hustle.
And because you’re already doing what you’re good at, this gig can fit seamlessly into your life. There are tonnnnns of companies and entrepreneurs [editor’s note: like The Candidly!] who are looking for good writers to help with content like blog posts, email newsletters, resumes, catalogue descriptions, and much more. Take on as much or as little work as you want all at a schedule that fits your needs.
Check out these site: Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, Contenta.
3. Become a virtual assistant.
If you have a Monica-Geller-type personality and enjoy organization, working as a virtual assistant can be a great fit for you. Many mid-sized to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and companies alike hire virtual assistants to help with tasks like email management, customer service, content writing, editing, event organizing, and blog management.
Upload a resume into the platform of your choice, set your own rates and schedule, and start looking for gigs that fit your skills and available timeframe.
Check out these sites: BELAY, Va Va Virtual Assistants, Delegate Solutions.
4. Sell your photos online.
Do you love taking photos and have a knack for capturing stunning, bold images? Sell your carefully curated photos online to be used as stock photos.
There is a high demand for quality stock photos, especially ones that highlight diversity. And they’re used for websites, blog articles, posters, flyers, book jackets, company reports, newsletters and so much more. The main image for this article? A stock photo! Photos can be sold over and over again, allowing you to earn a residual income and earn decent dollars for your work.
Check out these sites: iStockPhoto, Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Bigstockphoto.
5. Teach a skill.
We all possess some type of skill. Yes, even you.
Perhaps you play an instrument, know how to cook, love sewing, or are keen at giving advice. Whatever your unique skill is, leverage it by creating an online course.
You can create a course for free via Wordpress or YouTube, or you can create one via platforms like Udemy, Teachable, Kajabi. You don’t even need to learn a new skill because you’re just sharing what you already know.
While it’s exciting to start seeing that extra cash in your bank account each month, be aware that there are a lot of scams out there. Do your research on any potential company or platform, and be mindful of anything that sounds “too good to be true.” Because it probably is.
You got this.
