Part-time workers put a significant amount of extra money into their wallets in 2024. They earned an average of $891 per month, according to a June 2024 Bankrate survey of 2,332 U.S. adults. Some brought in between $1,000 and $2,000 a month.
If you’re one of the many people looking to create another source of income in 2025, there are a few things you can do first to be successful, says Angelique Rewers, CEO of small business consulting firm BoldHaus.
Here’s what she recommends.
Organize the tools for your hustle
“First, make sure you’re organized,” says Rewers.
“You should have your own bank account,” she says. “You should have your own credit card. You should make sure your accountant knows what you’re doing.” You can create Excel spreadsheets to keep records of your clients – whatever it takes to keep your outside money-making activities in order.
If your gig is successful and you haven’t developed the tools to do it, “you lose control of the side hustle,” she says.
Make sure you keep track of your time.
Second, be aware of the commitment you are making. “Make sure you’re not only keeping track of your spending, but also your time,” says Rewers.
It’s easy to underestimate the number of hours you spend on your hustle and work overtime without getting paid for it. Maybe you told a client that a project would take five hours and then charged them for those five hours when, for example, it actually took ten hours.
But “a side hustle of something that’s really great can lead to a lot of resentment and no longer be worth the time,” says Rewers. So be realistic about how long it will take and charge accordingly.
“Pick up the phone and text people.”
Finally, make sure you let the people in your life know about your new gig.
For those in your personal life, like your family and friends, “pick up the phone, text people, send them voice notes, and let them know what you’re doing,” says Rewers. They could help you find clients or even hire you themselves.
Additionally, create posts or profiles on apps and platforms like “Nextdoor, Facebook Groups, Upwork, Fiverr, Reddit,” she says, to target your outside network and people you don’t know. She adds, “As long as it doesn’t compete with your full-time job, you can certainly talk about it on LinkedIn.”
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