44 million Americans have a side hustle, a way to make extra cash outside of their regular income. Younger adults between 18 and 26 years old are the most likely to have a side hustle (28% of them do). Their side hustles earn a median of $200 a month.
Some side hustles are just an extra part-time job. The ‘sharing’ or ‘gig’ economy of ride sharing apps, delivery apps, and freelance sites offers a new way to rake in a bit of extra income with a flexible schedule.
While the ‘sharing’ economy is a good for raising extra cash quickly, from a business point of view it has its limitations. Selling your own labor, especially low skilled labor, can be hard work for low pay, with little chance of advancement. Starting a side hustle business, in contrast, offers the possibility of creating something more valuable over time.
Where digital entrepreneurship can help is by making the side hustle business easier to start. No matter which type of digital business you begin with, any online side hustle that can attract a couple of hundred or thousand visitors a month has revenue generating potential.
Easy to start, the online side hustle offers an opportunity to learn more about customers and their needs, improve the business, and ultimately build a following and a brand that will have value on its own. A much worthier use of millennial time than delivering the next avocado toast!