In recent years, side hustles have become an increasingly popular way to supplement your income while maintaining a full-time job. Canadians have varying reasons for starting a side hustle, ranging from combating rising living costs or saving for future goals to exploring a passion. Side hustles offer the opportunity to test new career paths without having to leave your current job and successful ventures have the potential to become full-time careers.
When starting a side hustle, Canadians need to consider how much time they are willing to dedicate to it, startup costs, and if you will need any licenses, for example, when starting a food-related side hustle. For anyone willing to put in the extra hours, there are side hustle opportunities in a wide range of industries from gig work to investing in real estate. This article explores the best ideas for side hustles in Canada in 2025.
Freelancing (Writing, Graphic Design, Programming, etc.)
Freelancing is one of the easiest side hustles to start in Canada since all you need is internet access and a laptop or desktop computer. Many companies require occasional help with, for example, content writing, graphic design, website design, video editing, or programming and look for freelancers instead of hiring permanent staff. This is more cost-effective for companies and provides opportunities for freelancers.
Most freelancers find work using online platforms such as Fiverr, Freelancer, and Upwork, but you can also offer your services to companies directly. The benefits of using a platform include reaching a wide, global client base and protection when engaging with new clients. However, they will take a cut of your pay so keep this in mind when working out your earning potential. Building out a freelance side hustle works best when you utilise your existing skills and experience.
| Pros | Cons |
| Flexible – freelancing allows you to work when it suits you and to choose projects that fit your interests and skills. | It can be slow to begin with as you build your credibility on freelancing platforms or contact clients directly. |
| Good earning potential, especially for those with highly specialised skills. | Income can be inconsistent with earnings fluctuating greatly from one month to the next. |
| Ability to work from anywhere as long as you have access to the internet. | Competition for projects can be high, especially on major platforms. |
Selling Online
Canadians can make an extra income by selling online through platforms such as Shopify or Etsy which make it easy to start your own online store. You can choose from a wide range of products, including handmade goods, jewellery, and digital downloads. Etsy is popular among sellers who do not want to build their own store, while Shopify is a fully customisable e-commerce platform.
One of the most hassle-free ways to make a passive income is to sell digital products, such as templates, printables, and stock photos. These items require no physical posting and packaging and the same item can be sold multiple times. Or you might be interested in dropshipping where sellers will not need to hold an inventory, instead orders are fulfilled through third-party suppliers. With minimal startup costs (more if you choose to create your own store and/or hold physical inventory) and the potential to reach customers worldwide, e-commerce is a scalable and flexible side hustle.
| Pros | Cons |
| Fully flexible, so easy to manage alongside your main job and grow it at your own pace. | Lots of competition, especially for certain products such as jewellery, so you will have to work hard to stand out. |
| Low startup costs, partially when selling digital prodcuts or dropshipping. | Platforms charge you fees that will eat into your profits. |
| Choose from a wide range of products to sell from art and books to handmade goods. | You need to spend time marketing your products and online store, for example, on social media. |
Teaching or Tutoring
If you have specialiced skills or teaching experience, you can become an online teacher, offering tailored support in a wide range of subjects such as maths, science, English, and coding. While a teaching background can be beneficial, especially if you were looking to tutor school children, it is not necessary. For example, if you are an expert in programming or graphic design, you can offer tutoring on those topics.
Canadians interested in teaching online, can find clients through various online platforms such as TutorMe. While one-to-one or small group live sessions are in increasing demand, you might also want to create online courses that learners can access when it suits them. This is an ideal option for those who do not wish to commit to regular live teaching sessions. And while online tutoring has become more popular, there is still demand for in-person support, for example, in teaching music. To find in-person clients, Canadians can advertise locally, for example in stores or local Facebook groups.
| Pros | Cons |
| Fully adjustable workload, you choose when and how often to teach. | Income can vary depending on the number of students, also seasonal variations with demand generally falling during school holidays. |
| High demand for teachers, especially in academic and skill-based subjects. | Time consuming, you will need to market your skills and prepare lessons, while lessons tend to be about an hour long. |
| No or very low costs to get started. For online tutoring all you need is a computer and a stable internet connection, while for in-person tutoring you may incur some travel costs. | Depending on your field, you may find there is a lot of competition, meaning you will need time and patience to stand out and build credibility. |
Rideshare or Food Delivery Driver
Many Canadian cities have seen rising demand for rideshare and food delivery services, which has opened up more options for Canadians looking to earn extra income. Companies such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Uber Eats, provide flexible opportunities with quick earning potential. Rideshare and delivery drivers can choose when and how much they want to work, whether they prefer to deliver food or transport passengers.
While this line of work offers good earning potential, there are drawbacks. For example, you will need your own vehicle and pay for gas, insurance, and maintenance, which will reduce your profits. However, if you enjoy being on the move and want to set your own hours, rideshare or food delivery driving can be a great option for a side hustle.
| Pros | Cons |
| You can choose when and how much you work. | Because you will be using your own vehicle, it will increase its wear and tear. |
| You get paid quickly, many rideshare and food delivery companies offer weekly and even daily payouts. | Your expenses, such as gas, maintenance, and insurance, will need to be accounted for when working out earning potential. |
| No special skills needed; as long as you have a vehicle and meet the driving requirements, you can start earning extra income. | Earnings can fluctuate depending on time; if you are not able to work during busy times such as weekend evenings, this will lower your earning potential. |
Investing
If you are up for taking the risk, you might consider investing in stocks, real estate, or Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as a side hustle. Careful investments can help you generate a passive income and even build long-term wealth. However, when investing your capital is always at risk, so your extra income is not guaranteed and you should take time to study the markets before investing.
Canadians interested in investing in stocks and exchange-traded funds have the potential to earn through capital gains and dividends. Investing in a rental property will provide you with monthly income and you have an asset you can sell. REITs are a good option for those who want to invest in real estate without owning a property and who prefer a hands-off approach.
| Pros | Cons |
| Potential to create passive income through dividends, rent, or asset appreciation. | Your capital is at risk as stock and real estates can lose value. |
| Investments can help you build long-term wealth and support your future financial security. | You need money to get started, a significant amount of it if you are investing in rental property. |
| Multiple options for investing, including stocks, ETFs, REITs, and rental properties. | Returns take time and your success depends on market trends and patience to sit through any dips in your investments. |
Renting Out Extra Space
If you have unused space, this is a great way to make extra money in Canada. You can rent out spare rooms for short or long-term lets, basements and attics for storage, or even parking spots, especially in busy urban neighbourhoods where parking is expensive and in high demand. The benefits of renting out space include regular income, although this can vary depending on demand and other factors. Consider long-term renting over short-term if you prefer to know what you will get each month.
Canadians interested in renting out their spare room or even an entire property for short term, can use platforms such as Airbnb to advertise their rentals. Alternatively, you can look for people needing a room, storage space, or parking on places such as local groups on Facebook or platforms like Neighbor, a Canadian company founded in Vancouver in 2011.
| Pros | Cons |
| Once set up, your spare spaces can generate regular income. | Rental income varies based on demand, location, and season, especially when renting out space for a short term. |
| You choose whether you want to rent your space out long or short term depending on your situation. | Maintenance and management of your property can be very time-consuming, especially with short-term room/property rentals. |
| Can be started with no initial monetary investment. | Depending on your property, short-term lets may not be allowed. |
Affiliate Marketing
If you write a blog, have a website, or social media accounts, you can get into affiliate marketing. This side hustle allows you to earn commissions when you promote products or services on your platform. You will place a link to the product or service on your platform and when someone places an order through the link, you get a commission.
While affiliate marketing can be a very profitable side hustle and even provide income you can live on, it takes time to get to that point. You will first need to drive enough traffic to your website, readers to your blog, or followers on social media to get enough clicks and, ultimately, purchases through your link. So if you are interested in affiliate marketing as side hustle, be patient as you grow your audience and build your extra income potential.
| Pros | Cons |
| Fully flexible; you choose when and where to work. | Slow to generate income, especially when starting out, requiring consistent effort to produce quality content. |
| By offering your readers/followers high-quality content, you can increase your sales and income over time. | Hard to predict how much you will make as your earnings depend on traffic and product conversions. |
| A creative side hustle; you can make money by posting and writing content that you are passionate about. | Requires ongoing maintenance, including content updates and SEO optimisation. |
Social Media Management
If you enjoy creating content for social media, you might try your hand at offering your services as social media manager. Many small businesses need help with posting content and ad campaigns on social media platforms to increase brand visibility and recognition. Social media managers generally offer services such as brand strategy development, post scheduling, and analytics tracking to support businesses in growing their online presence.
To make social media managing a successful side hustle, you need to keep up-to-date with the constantly changing algorithms on social media platforms. Since your clients pay you to help them reach as large an audience as possible, you need to know how algorithms work to gain maximum exposure. If you have no proven experience as a social media manager, your initial earnings are likely to be minimal, you may even need to offer some free work, as you build your reputation.
| Pros | Cons |
| High demand for services as many businesses need visibility on social media to stay competitive. | If you are new to the business, finding clients and building a reputation as a social media manager is likely to take time and patience. |
| You can choose when and how much you work and where you want to work. | Constant algorithm changes; you need to keep up-to-date with the changes and adapt your strategies accordingly. |
| Fulfilling; you can help small companies find their target audience and support them in building their brand. | Managing clients’ accounts can be time-consuming, so ensure you work out what you need to charge carefully to make it worth your time. |
Selling Items for Profit
Selling items, or flipping, involves finding products that you can buy cheaply and sell for a profit. The key to success with this side hustle is to know where to find undervalued items and spotting hidden gems that have resale potential. You can find items to flip online on places such as Facebook Marketplace and eBay or by visiting auctions, markets, and garage sales.
Flipping can become a lucrative and fun side hustle when you do your research so you know exactly what the items you are buying are worth. Sometimes, you may need to be prepared to do some work on the items before resale; they may require thorough cleaning or even repairing to attract the best possible price.
| Pros | Cons |
| You can work at your own pace when choosing which items to buy and sell. | You may have to spend a lot of time browsing through online or physical locations to find items worth flipping. |
| Flexible budget; you decide exactly how much you want to spend. | Your profits can be small and unpredictable, and you may make losses if the items do not sell for as much as you hoped. |
| Potential for growth; as you learn the best practices, you can grow your business and by purchasing items with bigger potential profits. | You will need a space to store the items you have bought until you find a buyer. |
Looking After Pets
Our last side hustle is perfect for animal lovers and can be both profitable and fun. While owning a pet is rewarding, not all pet owners have the time to take their dogs for walks or they might need someone to look after their pets when they go on holiday. With nearly 7.9 million dogs and 8.5 million cats in Canada, this side hustle has a lot of potential.
Anyone interested in pet sitting or dog walking can offer their services on platforms such as Rover or Pawshake or advertise directly within their local neighbourhoods or on social media groups. The downside of this side hustle is that once you have committed to take someone’s dog for a walk, you will have to do it whatever the weather to build your reputation as a reliable pet service provider.
| Pros | Cons |
| You can start with no monetary investments as long as you ask your clients to provide all the necessary equipment. | You are responsible for other people’s pets which can be stressful. |
| Potential for healthy income as pet owners are willing to pay a premium for people they can trust. | Should something happen to a pet in your care, you could be held responsible and sued, so if you do it regularly, consider getting insurance. |
| Flexibility; you can choose your clients and set your own hours. | Dog walking, especially if you are taking multiple dogs for a walk simultaneously, can be physically demanding. |
What to Consider Before Starting a Side Hustle in Canada
- Time commitment: while some side hustles require little effort, others require you to invest significant time to make them a success. Choose a side hustle that fits your lifestyle and schedule to avoid overwhelming yourself.
- Cost and budget: consider how much you can or are willing to invest to get off the ground. If you are not able to invest or can only invest very little, choose a side hustle such as freelancing or affiliate marketing which can be started with no initial monetary investment.
- Skills and experience: the surest way to succeed is to leverage your skills and prior experience. This will give you more confidence when approaching potential clients and help you deliver a high-quality service from the start.
- Legalities and taxes: if you are selling products or services you may need a business license or insurance, depending on the business sector and your location. Even when insurance is not required, you may want to get one if your side hustle involves, for example, renting out spare space or looking after people’s pets. You also need to report your earnings from the side hustle in your tax return.
- Market demand and competition: research the demand for your side hustle and analyse your competition. Certain side hustles, such as Airbnb or freelancing can be competitive so you need to find a way to stand out.
When choosing a side hustle in Canada, it is important to choose one that fits in with your skills, interests, and schedule. The key to success is being consistent and patient, whether you are freelancing, flipping items, or investing. Stay committed and keep learning about your craft and you may even find your side hustle turning into a full time profession.
Sources
- Indeed – https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/side-hustles-online
- Shopify – https://www.shopify.com/ca/blog/side-hustle
- Government of Canada: Taxes and Gig Economy – https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/programs/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/compliance/platform-economy/gig-economy.html
- Futurpreneur: Side Hustle Program – https://futurpreneur.ca/en/offering/side-hustle/
- Government of Canada: Self-Employed Income – https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed-income.html
- Fairstone – https://www.fairstone.ca/en/learn/budgeting-and-saving/should-i-start-a-side-hustle/
