Simple and Easy Summer Side Hustle Ideas to Make Extra Money
Looking for simple ways to earn extra cash this summer? These five side hustles are perfect for warm-weather months and can make up to $500 per day. Most require little experience to start — just consistency, basic tools, and smart marketing. Let’s dive into five proven ideas that work in 2025.
1. Garbage Bin Cleaning Service
Every household produces trash, and with that comes dirty, smelly garbage bins. Starting a garbage can cleaning business is one of the most overlooked yet high-demand summer side hustles. Homeowners and apartment managers are willing to pay to get rid of the stench, grime, and bacterial buildup.
- Potential Earnings: $15–$45 per bin (up to $750/day cleaning 50 bins)
- Startup Tools: Pressure washer, soap sprayer, deodorizing cleaner, antibacterial spray
- Marketing: Local flyers, Facebook Ads, or social media targeting homeowners
This business has extremely low startup costs and can expand quickly once you build a customer base in your neighborhood or nearby communities.
2. Grocery Delivery Driving
Delivering groceries through platforms like Instacart, Shipt, or Amazon Fresh is a flexible and lucrative summer gig. Warm weather makes driving easier, and shoppers are willing to pay for convenience during vacation season.
- Potential Earnings: $150–$300 per day (average around $200)
- Apps: Instacart, Shipt, Postmates, DoorDash, Walmart Grocery
- Pro Tips:
- Accept only profitable orders after learning your local market.
- Avoid long-distance or low-paying batches.
- Track peak hours for better payouts.
You control your schedule — simply log in when you want to work. The more you deliver, the more you learn which orders maximize time and money.
3. Paid Focus Groups
If you’ve got opinions to share, turn them into cash by joining legitimate focus groups. Companies pay participants to give feedback on products, experiences, and marketing ideas.
- Potential Earnings: $50–$150 per session
- Platforms: Fieldwork Hub, Respondent.io
- Flexibility: High — do it whenever opportunities arise
This isn’t a full-time income source but a great supplement for extra spending money. Some sessions are even conducted online, so you can participate from home.
4. Selling Digital Products
Digital products are one of the fastest-growing online income streams — zero shipping, zero inventory, and full scalability. Once you create a product, it can sell repeatedly.
- Examples: Budget planners, digital notebooks, printable coloring pages, name templates, wall art
- Platform: Etsy
- Marketing Tip: Use email automation tools like OmniSend to reach customers, send promotions, and recover abandoned carts
Some Etsy sellers have earned over $2 million selling simple digital templates. You can start with Canva or hire affordable designers to help you create downloadable files.
5. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
As families travel during summer, demand for pet care skyrockets. Dog walking and pet sitting are ideal for animal lovers — and require minimal setup.
- Potential Earnings: $15–$50 per walk or visit
- Platforms: Rover, Wag!
- Startup Tip: Use local marketing like branded t-shirts, bumper stickers, or flyers to grow your reputation
Many successful sitters start on Rover to build reviews before launching their own private business. Some, like Kristen Morrison, have even scaled pet-sitting services into six-figure ventures, working only a few days per week.
Final Thoughts
These side hustles prove that making extra income this summer doesn’t require a huge investment or special skills. Whether you’re cleaning bins, walking dogs, delivering groceries, or selling digital files, the key is to start small and stay consistent.
Pick one idea that fits your lifestyle, set a goal, and start today. By the end of summer, you might have more than just extra cash — you could have a thriving side business.