By day, Canadians work at their full-time jobs, while by night, they start side gigs as a creative outlet, to pursue their passion, or just to make ends meet.

In fact, the rising cost of living and high interest rates are making it challenging for Canadians to get by. Side hustles have become a common way to earn extra income to cover daily expenses.

And more Canadians are pursuing side hustles than ever before. According to a 2024 survey conducted by H&R Block Canada, 28% or nearly 9 million Canadians said they've taken on a side hustle (up from 13% in 2022).

Here, we’ll explore how Canadians are making side hustles work for them. We’ll also share side hustle ideas that may inspire you to start your own business. 

Reasons to start a side hustle

People start side hustles for various reasons. One of the main reasons why Canadians are turning to side hustles is the ability to earn extra money and passive income to achieve financial stability. According to a study by Preply, mechanics, plumbers, and personal trainers are the top three highest paid side hustles in Canada.

Yet, beneath the surface, there are most likely other motivations. For instance, some individuals have an innate desire to help other people, while others are driven to be their own boss and set their own schedule. Starting a side hustle may also provide a creative outlet or an opportunity to learn new skills.

Whatever the reason, it’s a good idea to reflect on why you want to pursue a side hustle and decide if it will fit your lifestyle.

How to choose a side hustle

To determine which side hustle is a good match for you, figure out what you’re good at and how you can turn that talent into a business. You can also create a side hustle that offers a unique solution to a common problem. 

You’ll want to research how much it will cost you to start and maintain your side gig. Some business ideas have low barriers to entry, while others may have significant startup costs. 

The time commitment will play a big role in how much you can balance, especially if you’re adding a side hustle on top of a full-time job. Consider how many hours you’d be willing to put in to create your product or service and the amount of time you’d need to spend on marketing your business.

Remember to research your competitors to see what’s already out there and find a way to stand out from the crowd. Staying up to date with industry trends and attending events to grow your network is also beneficial. 

Lastly, run your business idea by a trusted friend or family member to get their feedback. Having an outsider’s perspective can help you identify areas of your business to focus on and new ideas you may not have considered. 

Side hustle ideas 

Ready to start brainstorming? Here are some popular side hustle ideas:

Catering: If you love cooking up a storm in the kitchen, you may want to launch a catering business. Caterers tend to specialize in corporate events, social gatherings, weddings, or birthday parties. 

Coaching or tutoring: If you’re knowledgeable about a certain topic, you can teach students in a small group setting or provide one-on-one sessions, either in person or online.

Consulting: Companies seek out professional business consultants to provide expertise for short- and long-term projects.

Content creation: You can leverage social media platforms to create educational content and grow an online community. This can open doors to affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and brand partnerships.

Digital products: Creating and selling digital downloads such as ebooks, templates, or stickers is a creative way to earn money online without producing physical products.

Drop-shipping: This is ideal for individuals who want an e-commerce business without having physical inventory. You’ll choose a product to sell through an online platform. When a customer places an order, you’ll order it through your supplier, who will ship it directly to your customer.

Freelancing: This can include all types of gigs, from video editing to social media marketing and even becoming a virtual assistant. There are several online platforms where you can find freelancing gig work. 

Furniture assembly: If you have a knack for building furniture, you could lend your skills to customers who would be happy to have an expert assemble their furniture for them.

Graphic design: As a graphic designer, you can create marketing materials such as company brochures, invitations, flyers, posters, and logos. 

Jewelry design: Crafting custom jewelry can be a great way to turn a hobby into a side hustle. You can sell items online or at local markets. 

Makeup artistry: With some training and lots of practice, you can help people look their best on their wedding day, during photo shoots, or on TV shows.

Pet sitting or dog walking: If you love taking care of furry friends, you may enjoy earning money from pet sitting or providing a dog walking service in your neighbourhood. 

Property management: Whether you operate a short-term rental unit or help manage someone’s property, you can assist in a variety of duties, such as housekeeping and repairs, so guests can enjoy their stay.

Real estate agent: If you enjoy interacting with people and want to help them buy and sell their homes, becoming a realtor can be a rewarding side gig.

Ride-sharing or delivery driving: You can choose to drive passengers to various destinations or to deliver food and groceries to customers. This type of side hustle offers a lot of flexibility.

These are a few samples to get your creative juices flowing. Looking for more? Check out these 25 small business ideas.

The arts & crafts side hustle 

Name: Sandy Yu

Day job: Graphic designer for HVAC BAS

Side hustle: Owner and creator at Of Sticks and Yarn. She creates handmade crochet pals, with a focus on silly animals and foods, to bring smiles to people of all ages.

What inspired Sandy to start her business

It began as a hobby, but Sandy soon discovered that people loved her crafts and were willing to pay for them. Her side hustle became a way to pursue her passion and recoup the cost of materials. 

Her tip for success

“Find something you love, find your style, and go from there! When you're passionate about what you do, it'll flourish into something you'll be so proud of, and people will recognize it,” shares Sandy.

In addition, time is valuable since she’s raising two young kids. Sandy prioritizes time for her business at night as a way to unwind. She also tracks how much time she’s spending and the amount of income she’s earning.

When you’re trying to balance work life and personal life, it’s easy for the lines to become blurred. Use QuickBooks time tracking, which offers time management features, to stay on top of your billable hours.

The property management side hustle 

Name: Martin Dasko

Day job: Personal finance content creator at Studenomics

Side hustle: Airbnb property manager who takes care of a short-term rental property for a homeowner.

What inspired Martin to start his business

When Airbnb became popular around 2016, Martin was impressed by the service he experienced and wanted to try hosting. He began by renting his own condo. It became a profitable side hustle — until his building banned short-term rentals. 

Fast forward to 2022, when Martin decided he could use his skills to offer property management services. Inspired by the fact that travel was returning during the pandemic, he started managing a unit for someone in his social network.

Plus, in a big city like Toronto, he realized that this industry offered many opportunities to make money.

His tip for success

Martin recommends staying as a guest in your Airbnb before hosting it. That way, you'll know what to look out for.

“You'll discover what makes someone a five-star Airbnb host and why some struggle to find guests. Once you go through the process, you'll see what it takes to become an excellent host,” he explains.

If you’re a property manager, use QuickBooks expense tracker to keep track of your expenses, from toiletries to housekeeping.

The financial literacy side hustle 

Name: Beverly Wilks

Day job: Senior marketing manager at a telecommunications company 

Side hustle: Blogger and financial literacy advocate at Bacon & Heels. She educates women on how to save, invest, slay debt, and gain financial independence.

What inspired Beverly to start her business

Beverly believes that financial literacy is an essential life skill. Growing up, discussions about money and personal finance were common around the dining room table. Her family talked about budgeting, investing, and saving. 

“As I grew older, I realized that many of my female friends did not have the same opportunities for these conversations, and financial literacy is often not taught in schools," she explains.

To bridge this gap, she started Bacon & Heels. Her mission is to provide women with the knowledge and resources they need to take control of their money for today and tomorrow. She provides practical advice through blogging, speaking at events, and sharing financial tools.

Her tip for success

Beverly keeps her side hustle organized by scheduling meetings and planning content ahead of time. She also sets up automatic alerts for new meetings and upcoming posts. For her, staying organized is key to keeping her work on track.

Travelling between home, work, and events can be fuel-intensive for educators, trainers, and coaches. Use QuickBooks mileage tracker to keep tabs on the fuel you use for work.

The creative outlet side hustle 

Name: Chloe Lamarche 

Day job: Server at The Keg 

Side hustle: Owner/artist at Chloe Lamarche Art. She creates colourful and modern home decor by painting used and thrifty items with her abstract style.

What inspired Chloe to start her business

Chloe began painting at a young age. As an adult, she rekindled her passion for painting for personal reasons. When people started asking to buy her work, it naturally turned into a business.

“It had always been my dream since childhood to be a full-time artist, so it felt serendipitous,” she shares.

Her tip for success

Chloe emphasizes the value of staying organized. For example, she makes sure to keep all aspects of her business up to date, from expenses to product shots, and to categorize pieces she’s been working on. 

Staying organized has proved beneficial for Chloe, helping her reduce stress and look more professional to potential clients. Plus, she makes sure to schedule all her work on her to-do list. She practices this sage advice she received a long time ago: “What’s scheduled, gets done.”

If you have an artistic side hustle, you can track your payments for art supplies, fabric, and postage using QuickBooks payment tools.

Turning your side hustle idea into reality 

Becoming your own boss can be an exciting and nerve-racking time. You get to set your own schedule and make your own decisions. Plus, you have unlimited earning potential while making your customers happy.

Ready to kick-start your own side hustle? Be sure to start off on the right foot by registering your business. 

If you’re considering starting your own side hustle, QuickBooks provides many tools to help you manage your business finances efficiently. Get started with QuickBooks today.

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