The ultimate side hustle guide

What is a side hustle?

A side hustle is a way to earn extra money outside your main job. It could be selling things online, offering a service or turning a hobby into income.

These days, side hustles are more popular than ever. Earnings can range from a few hundred pound a year, to the same amount per month... or more depending on the time you invest or what you sell.

If you’re thinking of starting a side hustle too, we can help with that. Post Office makes it easy to send what you’ve sold online with a choice of couriers to use for convenience. Plus, you can even bank your takings with us, if you sell locally for cash.

Why start a side hustle?

People start side hustles for lots of different reasons. Here are some of the most common:

• To boost your current income to save for future goals and emergencies
• To have multiple streams of income, reducing the reliance on your full-time job
• To cover rising household costs, like if you have a new baby on the way
• To bring more in without having to invest in extensive training
• To test a business idea before going full-time
• To pursue a passion or learn new skills
• To gain more control over your work schedule and time

You don’t need to quit your job to start. You can simply build something for the future, at your own pace without deadlines. Depending on how it goes, you can either keep it as a side interest or turn it into your main job over time.

Who does a side hustle suit?

Side hustles can suit almost anyone. They’re especially good for:

• People who want to earn extra money without leaving their main job
• Those with a hobby or skill they’d like to turn into income
• Parents, carers or people studying who need flexible work
• Anyone looking to try out a business idea with low risk

If you’re self-motivated, organised and willing to learn, a side hustle could be a great fit. It’s also ideal if you want to test the waters before making a big career change.

Ways to make money on the side

There are many ways to start a side hustle. You might want to reignite a childhood passion, try something on your bucket list or do something around your current skillset. Here are some of the most popular and practical options you can dabble in.

Selling online

Selling online is one of the easiest and most flexible ways to make extra money without needing to initially spend lots of money. You can start small, selling things you no longer need and decluttering your home. Or you could build a business selling handmade creations, vintage or sourced products.

Popular platforms to sell on include:

• eBay: Great for decluttering and selling both new and used items. Selling on eBay allows you to reach a vast customer base, use the auction selling function and sell in a safe space with its seller protection programmes
• Amazon Marketplace: Selling on Amazon Marketplace is ideal for large-scale selling and reaching a global audience. With a good brand reputation and advanced customer service along with popular prime next day delivery, it’s a strong platform
• Depop or Vinted: These seller platforms specialise mainly in second-hand clothes and accessories. They are easy to use and contribute to a sustainable fashion industry with a community of customers appreciating pre-loved items. Selling on Vinted is free, as the platform makes money by charging buyers
• Etsy: Has a niche market known for its handmade, vintage or unique products. It gives you access to a large customer base and is easy to set up your shop with built in marketing and payment processing tools
• TikTok Shop: TikTok Shop is one of the fastest growing platforms for selling all types of products. It has integrated shop features so users can buy directly on the app without you needing an external website. There are also no set up or product listing fees when you sell on TikTok Shop
• Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree: These are useful for local sales where you can sell locally but still reach a large audience without relying on having a website to run or spending money on advertising. Both platforms are also easy to use so perfect if you’re planning on selling a large amount of items

You might also want to start a subscription box business, which is a great way to get repeat business from a growing number of subscribers each month.

You don’t need a big budget to start. Many online sellers start small and grow as demand increases.

How to start your side hustle

Choose what suits you

Pick something that fits your skills, interests and available time. If you enjoy it, you’re more likely to stick with it and thrive doing it.

Do your research

Check if there’s demand for what you want to offer. Look at competitors, pricing and what customers are looking for. But be careful that you don’t do something in a market that is already oversaturated.

Set clear goals

Decide what you want from your side hustle: extra cash, a creative outlet or a future business. This will help you stay focused and enjoy doing the work.

Start small and test

Don’t overcommit at first by spending lots of money. Test your idea, learn what works and scale up as you gain confidence. Remember, you won’t know how your side hustle will perform until you start. It might take off straight away or it could take time.

Keep track of your earnings

Open a separate account for your side hustle income and expenses. Remember, you may need to pay tax if you earn over £1,000 a year from side hustles. Check the latest HMRC guidelines to be sure.

Selling online: practical tips

Picking the right platform

Choose a platform that matches what you’re selling and the time you have to dedicate to selling. We covered earlier in the article how Vinted is good for selling second-hand clothes, Etsy suits selling handmade goods and arty things, while TikTok Shop helps if you don’t have time to manage a website. Consider what’s right for you.

Pricing what you sell

• Research similar listings to set a competitive price
• Consider the cost that went into buying or making the product you’re selling
• Remember to account for posting items and selling fees when pricing your items

Making your listings stand out from the crowd

• Take clear, high-quality photos and write honest, detailed descriptions
• Highlight unique features or what makes your item special to attract buyers
• Use keywords potential buyers are likely to search for, so your listing appears in search results

Read our guide to getting found online so, you can attract and reach potential customers.

Getting found and responding to customers

• Promote your listings through online channels including social channels or websites
• Use social media for paid ads to your target customers and reach a wider audience
• Respond promptly to questions and feedback to build trust and encourage sales

For more tips, read our helpful guide on how to get started selling online.

Read how Jade, started her own wax melts side hustle, Smell-A-Licious

Sending items you’ve sold online

Once you’ve made a sale, getting your item to the customer quickly and safely is a key aspect of running your side hustle successfully. This will help with positive reviews and repeat customers. Here’s how to make it easy.

Package your items professionally

Use sturdy packaging and enough padding inside the box to protect your item against damage in the post. If you’re being sustainable and reusing boxes, make sure old labels are covered.

Adding a personalised note will add an extra touch and will delight your customer. If you’re handwriting the address, make sure it’s clear.

Read more about why your packaging matters and how to pack items securely.

Choose the right postage

Pick a service that matches your budget and delivery speed. Services with tracking and proof of delivery will help give you and your customers peace of mind.

Shipping what you sell: We can help with that

At Post Office, we offer a range of services to help online sellers run their side hustles.

• A range of courier services: Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide services are available in all our branches. DPD and Evri options are available in a growing number of branches too. Browse all our posting services and use our branch finder to check those available near you
• Drop & Go: A fast-drop service perfect for regular senders. With Drop & Go you just leave your parcels with us and go. We process them the same day and charge your prepaid account. It’s free to sign up
• Parcels Online: Prefer to pay upfront? Buy postage online for DPD, Evri or Royal Mail services. Print labels at home or in branch. You can automatically create shipping labels by connecting your marketplace accounts. Then drop items off at any participating branch for a smooth process
• Delivery with tracking: Choose from Royal Mail, Parcelforce Worldwide, DPD or Evri for services with tracking and proof of delivery. Read about why parcel tracking matters

Read more about choosing the right courier service for your needs.

Convenient banking for your side hustle

If your side hustle involves being paid in cash or cheques, by an employer or directly from customers, or you need access to cash for your business, we can help with that too.

You can pay in money and withdraw cash at thousands of Post Office branches that offer everyday banking services. We accept cheque deposits too. So, it’s easy to keep up the cashflow from your side hustle, perhaps while posting parcels or stocking up on supplies in branch too.