I Tried 5 Side Hustles in 2025 — Here’s What Actually Made Money
To test realistic ways to earn beyond a nine-to-five, I ran five side hustles over several years and tracked what they paid, how hard they were to land, and whether they could scale. Below is a clean breakdown of what worked, what disappointed, and what I’d do again if starting from zero.
How I Grouped and Graded Each Hustle
I scored each side hustle on a simple five-point scale for overall quality of results and effort required to earn. Earnings are real numbers from 2022–2025 to show momentum and volatility. Totals are revenue, not profit.
Results by Side Hustle
1) Software Training — Online Courses
I produced an online course teaching a construction-focused software tool and hosted it on a learning platform.
- Earnings: 2022 — 225; 2023 — 348; 2024 — 350; 2025 projected — about 300
- Outcome: Underwhelming without an existing audience or top-tier production
- Rating: 1/5
2) Software Training — In-Person Workshops
Live, company trainings on the same software performed far better than the online course.
- Earnings: 2022 — 0; 2023 — 0; 2024 — 10,720; 2025 projected — 9,800 (5,000 collected so far)
- What worked: Niche skill, employer demand, and direct networking
- Tradeoffs: Requires weekday availability and confident presenting
- Rating: 4/5
3) Consulting and Freelancing in My Domain
Project work migrating businesses between productivity suites and untangling email and account infrastructure.
- Earnings: 2023 — 17,180; 2024 — 6,815; 2025 — 7,400
- What worked: Direct problem solving for businesses with urgent needs
- Tradeoffs: Technical, high-stakes work; easier with a trusted collaborator
- Rating: 4/5
4) Public Speaking
Talks for conferences and company events on productivity and goal setting.
- Earnings: 2022 — 0; 2023 — 0; 2024 — 850; 2025 — 1,000
- What worked: Warm leads from training clients
- Tradeoffs: Heavy prep time, many events prefer unpaid speakers
- Rating: 1/5
5) Creator Revenue — YouTube, Sponsors, Affiliates
YouTube ad revenue grows slowly, then compounds as the library builds. Sponsorships and affiliates add incremental income once an audience exists.
- Sponsorships: 2022 — 0; 2023 — 1,350; 2024 — 750; 2025 projected — 3,500 (1,000 collected)
- Affiliates: 2022 — 10,882; 2023 — 19,799; 2024 — 6,548; 2025 projected — 7,200 (5,875 collected)
- What worked: Recommending tools I actually use
- Tradeoffs: Unpredictable, requires audience trust and consistency
- Rating: 3/5
Year-by-Year Totals (All Side Hustles)
- 2022: 11,107
- 2023: 39,382
- 2024: 29,181
- 2025 projected: 32,200 (22,478 collected so far)
Key Lessons and What I’d Repeat
High Earners Without an Audience
In-person software training and niche consulting produced the strongest, fastest wins. Businesses pay for specific outcomes, and warm referrals compound.
Audience-Dependent and Variable
Online courses and creator monetization are viable but slower and volatile. They pay best after credibility and demand are established.
Good, But Not Primary
Public speaking is worth doing selectively when it directly leads to higher-value work, but it is rarely the top earner on its own.
How to Choose Your First Move
If you need income quickly
- Leverage a skill you already use at work for consulting or live training
- Start with one paying client, then ask for referrals
If you’re building for the long term
- Publish consistent, helpful content in one niche
- Add sponsors and affiliates only for products you genuinely use
If you want balance
- Anchor on consulting or training for dependable cash
- Invest spare time into audience and content for future scale
Final Thoughts
The most reliable side-income came from solving specific, valuable problems for businesses through in-person trainings and domain consulting. Creator revenue and online courses can win later, but they require patience and consistent publishing. If you’re starting now, begin with one paid, real-world offer that aligns with your day-job strengths, then use that breathing room to build assets that compound over time.