Stage 2
Services and routines built on a skill or a modest setup: freelancing, local services, small agencies, reselling as a habit. Takes one to three months to become dependable.
Places you can sign up today, with typical pay and what to watch for.
AI training work
Remote freelance contributors write prompts, build grading rubrics, and rate or rank AI model responses on projects matched to their expertise. Work is paid per task-hour at a project rate shown before you start, settled weekly.
AI training work
Contractors evaluate chatbot responses, compare AI outputs, write and review code, or do domain-specific STEM/professional work to train AI models. Work is paid hourly by project track, and earnings are withdrawn to PayPal.
AI training work
Alignerr (Labelbox) contracts experts and generalists to rate AI outputs, annotate documents and evaluate code remotely. Work is paid hourly per project, with rates shown on each job listing and payouts made weekly.
AI training work
Mercor is a talent marketplace that matches professionals (doctors, lawyers, engineers, consultants) to hourly AI-training and evaluation contracts for AI labs. Contractors track hours and are paid weekly in USD.
AI training work
Handshake AI's fellowship (including the MOVE 'Model Validation Experts' track for master's/PhD holders) pays students and degree holders to evaluate and improve AI models in their discipline. Work is remote, part-time and paid hourly at a rate shown before you commit to a project.
AI training work
Invisible Technologies recruits freelance AI trainers through Meridial, its expert contractor marketplace, for projects writing, evaluating and correcting AI model output. Each project states its scope and rate in a Statement of Work, and contractors are typically paid hourly about twice a month.
| Business idea | Category | Videos | Sources | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2B prospecting gifts Send personalized gifts to B2B prospects on behalf of sales teams, billed per shipment. | Agency Services | 6 videos · 64 channels | 4 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| Car auctions / wholesale car business Source used or salvage cars at wholesale auctions and resell to dealers or retail buyers for a margin. | Ecommerce & Products | 6 videos · 63 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| Copywriting service business A solo or small-team freelancer that writes marketing copy, sales pages, emails and web content for business clients, charging per project… | Agency Services | 6 videos · 62 channels | 2 channelsStarter Story, Side Hustle School | |
| Corporate gifting service Curate and ship corporate gifts for clients, employees, and events, billed per gift plus management fee. | Ecommerce & Products | 6 videos · 63 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| Custom pet gifts / merch Sell personalized pet-themed gifts (portraits, collars, tags) shipped direct to consumers. | Ecommerce & Products | 6 videos · 62 channels | 2 channelsThe Koerner Office, Side Hustle School | |
| Franchise junk-hauling business Open a franchise junk-hauling location (1-800-GOT-JUNK-style) with brand, marketing, and ops support from the franchisor. | Local Services | 6 videos · 63 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million, Codie Sanchez | |
| Government / storage auction flipping Buy pallets or lots at government and storage auctions and resell the contents online at a margin. | Ecommerce & Products | 6 videos · 63 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million | |
| Government surplus auctions business Source and resell items from government surplus auctions online or at retail. | Ecommerce & Products | 6 videos · 63 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation | |
| Novelty fan apparel manufacturing Design and manufacture quirky fan-inspired apparel items (e.g., baseball sweaters) and sell them to sports fans and gift buyers online. | Ecommerce & Products | 6 videos · 61 channels | 1 channelSide Hustle School | |
| Pallet flipping / wholesale liquidation Buy wholesale pallets of mixed merchandise and resell the contents online or at flea markets. | Ecommerce & Products | 6 videos · 61 channels | 1 channelThe Koerner Office | |
| Photo booth rental business Own and rent out photo booths (classic, 360, mirror) for weddings and events at a per-event price. | Local Services | 6 videos · 64 channels | 4 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million, Side Hustle Nation, Side Hustle School | |
| UGC content engine / agency Source UGC creators and produce on-brand short-form videos for brands to run as paid ads, billed monthly per creator. | Agency Services | 6 videos · 63 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, Greg Isenberg, My First Million | |
| Double-escrow / assignment real estate Use simultaneous closings or wholesale assignments to flip real estate contracts without holding title. | Real Estate | 5 videos · 52 channels | 2 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million | |
| Event sponsorship sales Sell sponsorships to brands for events you operate, on flat fees or rev-share per attendee. | Agency Services | 5 videos · 53 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million, Indie Hackers | |
| Fiverr voiceover freelancing Offer short voiceover recordings for ads, phone systems, and audio messages on freelance marketplaces like Fiverr, using a basic home… | Agency Services | 5 videos · 51 channels | 1 channelSide Hustle School | |
| Freelance web development side hustle A solo freelance practice building custom websites for clients, started by a software developer looking to escape the corporate grind. | Agency Services | 5 videos · 52 channels | 2 channelsSide Hustle School, Indie Hackers | |
| Handmade candle self-taught side business A self-started candle making business, learned from YouTube, that sells scented candles direct to consumers online. | Ecommerce & Products | 5 videos · 51 channels | 1 channelSide Hustle School | |
| Phone call support / dispatch service Provide phone-based customer support or dispatch for SMBs and creators on a per-call or per-hour retainer. | Agency Services | 5 videos · 52 channels | 2 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million | |
| Photographer art licensing and commissions License and commission original photography art to retailers and interior brands (like Pottery Barn) for use in prints, products, and decor. | Ecommerce & Products | 5 videos · 51 channels | 1 channelSide Hustle School | |
| Pool cleaning / maintenance service Run a residential pool cleaning and maintenance route, monetized via monthly recurring contracts. | Local Services | 5 videos · 53 channels | 3 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story, My First Million | |
| TikTok merch sellers community Aggregate or train TikTok creators to sell merch via TikTok Shop, monetized via fees or training. | Agency Services | 5 videos · 52 channels | 2 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million | |
| Carpet / upholstery cleaning business Run a local carpet, rug, and upholstery cleaning service marketed to homeowners and property managers. | Local Services | 4 videos · 42 channels | 2 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million | |
| Catering marketplace Build a marketplace that connects office and event buyers with local caterers, monetized via take-rate on orders. | Marketplaces & Communities | 4 videos · 42 channels | 2 channelsThe Koerner Office, My First Million | |
| Cleaning franchise or remote-run cleaning company A house cleaning operator builds a brand and system to scale a cleaning service while remaining remote from day-to-day jobs. | Local Services | 4 videos · 41 channels | 1 channelSide Hustle School | |
| Computer vision for SMBs Build computer-vision tools (defect detection, counting, safety) for SMBs in specific industries on subscription. | AI & Automation | 4 videos · 42 channels | 2 channelsStarter Story, Greg Isenberg | |
| Endurance / marathon / obstacle events Run endurance events (5K, Spartan, Tough Mudder-style) on a local or regional basis, monetized via entry fees. | Local Services | 4 videos · 42 channels | 2 channelsMy First Million, Side Hustle School | |
| Firewood business Source, season, and deliver firewood to homes and businesses, monetized per cord or subscription. | Local Services | 4 videos · 41 channels | 1 channelThe Koerner Office | |
| Herbal remedy / botanical wellness brand A formulator creates and sells small-batch herbal remedies, tinctures or teas as a wellness product line, often with educational content. | Ecommerce & Products | 4 videos · 41 channels | 1 channelSide Hustle School | |
| In-person music lessons side hustle Teach private music lessons (e.g., guitar) to local students, advertised through Craigslist and similar channels, charging hourly rates. | Local Services | 4 videos · 41 channels | 1 channelSide Hustle School | |
| Lead generation agency Run an agency that builds and runs lead-gen funnels for SMBs, monetized via per-lead or retainer. | Agency Services | 4 videos · 42 channels | 2 channelsThe Koerner Office, Starter Story |
