Side Hustle Ideas — 12 Unusual Ways People Make Money
We all know of people who work regular jobs. We all know of designers, web developers and the local barista. But what about the unusual jobs and businesses that make bank?
It became my hobby to find jobs and businesses like this. I’ve talked to people who ran businesses that brought in a lot of money. Businesses you didn’t know worked this way. I decided to list the ways people make money. It inspires me to keep going since you never know where success is hiding.
If you want to make it a habit of finding ideas like these yourself. Check my article 10 Side Hustle Hacks to Start Your Own Business for the resources and methods I use.
Here are 12 unusual Side Hustle Ideas to consider.
1. Faceless YouTube channel
(But the way it was built is very clever, and also not really ethical IMO)
So this one time I saw a business for sale. It was in the faceless YouTube niche. The particular business focussed on dropping “satisfying videos”. Basically, it created 2–3 hour-long videos with kinds of weird but satisfying videos. Slime, cutting aloe vera, production of goods. As long as it was nice to look at.
There was a big database of content available. He basically recycled all his content into different videos. So a 3-hour video could be cut into three 1-hour videos. Making the total “uploadable” videos 4 pieces.
This business brought in over 100k in the last quarter of the year alone. Doing about 200k a year!!!!!
I’ve seen a similar approach recently, from someone dropping videos with background music. He bought ambient music without copyright and made 10–12 hour-long videos of it. Suckers like me who like some music while working just put on a playlist like this. Video view hours go through the roof this way. This particular account earned around 25k a month!!!
Now comes the unethical part of the first business. IMO.
What the owner had done, was look for videos in the same niche that performed really good. He then went through them to find videos in which the name of the creator was mentioned. For example, some factories dropped videos on their social media showing the process of manufacturing. They add a tag from their social account on the video.
He then went and contacted the factory asking to buy the rights solely for YouTube. So they could do. with it whatever they wanted, he could post them only on YouTube. Most factories have no idea so they are fine with receiving some extra money.
He then reported a case of copyright infringement to YouTube which basically meant that from now on, he got all the revenue from that particular video. He then contacted the channel owner offering a deal in which he kept 20–30% of the revenue and they got the remaining 80–70%. This was basically some form of bribe. If they would delete the video they would end up with 0. Now they still got a big piece of the passive income. So they went with it.
Not very nice if you ask me. But that’s the downside of the online world. So if you ever go with. it, make. sure you own the rights to the videos you create.
Anyway, there’s no guarantee that this will make you rich, of course. It’s a very competitive industry, and you’ll need to work hard to make a name for yourself. But if you’re willing to put in the effort and time, there’s no reason why you can’t earn a living from a faceless YouTube channel.
If you want to learn more about the ways YouTube channels make money check out this article I wrote.
2. 35M From Selling Dog Ramps 🤯
So I could write a lot or I’ll link to the video where I found this crazy business. Enjoy!
3. Flipping Digital Assets (Like Instagram Pages)
Did you know that there is a whole online community that flips digital assets? Stuff like:
- Domain names
- Instagram Pages
- ENS domain names
- Facebook pages
- Twitter accounts
- and much much more.
I know of a guy who owns somewhat around 100 Instagram pages. He just reaches out to people who are looking to sell and then flips them on online platforms like Flippa and Swapd.
The same goes for people who just buy a bunch of domain names or handles on social media.
This isn’t the easiest way to earn money, and it definitely isn’t the most straightforward. But it’s a fun way to make some extra cash if you’re already a bit of a social media or domain name buff. You just need to keep an eye out for new and upcoming trends and keep track of the companies that are interested in buying these domains.
Crazy business.
Want to read more on this topic? Check out:
- 11 Ways To Make Money On Instagram
- 1 Million Followers On Instagram — How I Got There And How I’m Making Money
4. Become a Drone Pilot
If you’re looking for a cool and unusual job that will pay well, it’s definitely worth considering becoming a drone pilot. Drones have become incredibly popular in recent years, with people using them for all sorts of different things. And the industry is growing all the time!
Drones are often used for photography, mapping, and search and rescue. But they’re also used for things like farming and real estate.
If you’re interested in becoming a drone pilot, you’ll need to start by getting the relevant certification and training.
As far as pay goes, it’s likely that you can negotiate a salary when you start working for a particular company. Drone pilots often earn a good wage, but the exact amount you can expect to earn will vary.
5. Become A Licensed Scuba Diving Instructor
Two times a year I travel to Tenerife. For the good weather and to do some undisturbed deep work on my businesses. In the little village where I am staying is a diving school. I’ve asked around and it turns out that they train people who are interested in becoming licensed divers.
So if you’re an experienced scuba diver and you’re looking for a new challenge, you could become a scuba diving instructor. Scuba instructors are able to share their passion for the sport and help others get in on the action too. Becoming a scuba diving instructor can be very lucrative; dive instructors can earn as much as $100 an hour!
If you’re interested in this career, you’ll need to have at least 20 dives under your belt, be a certified scuba diver and have a great deal of patience. You’ll also need to be able to show that you can teach others what you know, and have the right certification. If you meet the requirements, you can start teaching scuba diving by contacting dive schools in your area.
6. Work As A Tattoo Artist Or Tattoo Apprentice
One of my closest friends is a Tattoo artist. He is actually a very good one. Charging 1k for a day. He is fully booked for the next 12 months. Just saying.
Not to confuse the previous chapter with the ease of making this kind of money tho. He worked 16 years to get there.
But he also states that the pay is crazy still. In his own words; I can teach a monkey to do this.
So if you have a real passion for tattooing, or drawing in general, you could consider working as a tattoo artist or tattoo apprentice.
Becoming a tattoo artist is a long and difficult process and is usually restricted by law. Before you can start tattooing, sometimes you’ll need to get your state’s approval and license as a tattoo artist.
You’ll need to be highly skilled in your craft, as well as patient and creative. You should also have a strong understanding of hygiene and health and safety laws.
If this career path isn’t for you, you could try becoming a tattoo apprentice instead. This is a great way to learn the ropes in a supervised environment and can often lead to employment as a tattoo artist later on. Just visit a local store, show them your drawings and see if they are willing to teach you.
7. Cartoonist
If you’re passionate about drawing but not about drawing on people, you can still make a good living from your skill. You could consider becoming a cartoonist.
Cartoonists create and publish their own comics and are often hired by magazines, newspapers and websites. Becoming a cartoonist requires patience and years of hard work, but it can be very rewarding.
You’ll need to develop your artistic skills and also learn to write stories. You’ll also need to build up your portfolio by creating your own comics and submitting them to magazines.
Becoming a cartoonist can be both challenging and rewarding. It can also be very lucrative if you’re successful. But remember that this is a highly competitive field, and it may take you a long time to break through.
I’ve hired cartoonists several times. And one thing I learned is that they are really busy. The last order I placed took 30 days to complete. Not because they took this long, but solely because they were covered in work. Another benefit of this work, you can do it anywhere in the world.
8. Work As An Interpreter Or Language Instructor
If you’re bilingual or multilingual, you could become an interpreter or language instructor. If you’re an interpreter, you’ll use your bilingual skills to translate between two people who aren’t able to communicate in the same language.
This is necessary in a variety of situations, such as in medical settings and legal cases. But I also had to make use of one’s services recently when I was looking to buy property in Spain.
Interpreters are usually employed by medical institutions or the government. Becoming an interpreter is a lengthy process; you’ll need to be fluent in two languages and pass a tough certification process.
Interpreting is a very rewarding and specialized career. However, it’s also one that’s fairly rare, and therefore difficult to break into. It could however be a great hustle if you are planning to learn a new language anyway.
9. Become An Athletic Trainer Or Rehabilitation Counselor
If you’re passionate about sports and want to help athletes get back in the game, you could consider becoming an athletic trainer or rehabilitation counsellor. Athletic trainers are responsible for assessing and treating injuries and helping athletes prepare for and recover from competitions.
Becoming an athletic trainer will require you to have a great deal of knowledge about the human body, including the best ways to handle and treat injuries. You’ll also need strong communication skills; you’ll need to be able to explain your treatments to injured athletes.
Becoming a rehabilitation counsellor is another great way to combine your love of sports with your interest in helping others.
This is a relatively new field, and there are still a lot of career opportunities available. To break into this field, you’ll need to have a strong understanding of the law and sports medicine.
10. Work As A Video Game Tester
If you’re a gamer and you’re interested in testing video games, you could become a video game tester. Some companies hire gamers to test newly released games, so they can iron out any bugs before they’re released.
Becoming a video game tester is easier than you might think. You can get your foot in the door by applying for online testing positions. You can also apply for positions at companies like Electronic Arts and Activision.
It won’t make you rich, but it can be a great way to make some extra cash while testing out new video games.
You’ll need to be patient, as this is a very competitive field. You’ll also need to be tech-savvy and be able to work under pressure.
11. Prosthetic Technician
Becoming a prosthetic technician is a great way to use your creativity while helping others. Prosthetic technicians are responsible for creating and fitting artificial limbs.
This is a specialized job, and you’ll need to be skilled in a variety of areas, such as engineering, design and health and safety. It can also be difficult and time-consuming, but rewarding.
There are many different routes you could take to break into this field, such as studying engineering or health and safety. You could also consider working as an apprentice in this field. Each option will take several years, but it’s worth it when you can help others to live more comfortably and freely.
12. Be A Travel Guide
If you’ve travelled a lot, you may have considered becoming a travel guide. Travel guides lead small groups or individuals on tours and excursions to foreign destinations, and introduce them to the culture, food, people and sights of the place they’re visiting.
This can be a rewarding and lucrative career, but it’s also one that’s very competitive. Most travel guides work for tour companies and earn a salary. However, if you go it alone you’ll probably have to charge a fee for your services.
If you want to become a travel guide, you’ll need at least five years’ experience in travelling and/or working in a related field, such as journalism. You’ll also need to be passionate about sharing your knowledge and experience with others.
Conclusion
These jobs may not be the most common, but each one is pretty cool in its own way. If you’re looking for something different and want to stand out from the crowd, these weird jobs may be just what you’re looking for. They pay well and are rewarding. If you’re interested in any of these careers, you’ll need to be prepared to work hard, but in return, you’ll get to do what you love and make a good living from it.
If these side hustles are not for you, you could always check out the best 20 Side Hustles of 2022. Maybe you’ll find a match there. Good luck 💪
