Originally posted on our sister site, Side Hustle Moms.
No one goes into teaching for the money, but that doesn’t mean teachers like just scraping by, right? As many as 1 in 5 teachers work 2nd jobs, but more and more teachers who want to make money outside the classroom are starting their own businesses rather than working for another boss. There’s more freedom and the sense of autonomy gained from being your own boss is definitely appealing.
How do you know that running your own business is a good option for you?
Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, but it’s a great option for those who want more control over the hours you work, the people you work with, and the type of work that you do. Of course, there are lots of ways to use your education background to start your own side hustle. Tutoring, teaching evening classes… you get the idea.
So I’ve come up with a list of side hustles for teachers that don’t necessarily require an education degree.
Web Designer. For those with some technical knowledge and creativity, designing websites is a fantastic option. You can work on customer sites anywhere there’s an internet connection, and you can transition to managing sites once you’ve designed them.
Event Photographer. Since most major events like weddings, anniversary parties, bar- and bat-mitzvahs and the like take place in evenings and on weekends, this is a very doable side hustle for teachers. Attend the events when you’re off, and edit after school hours while watching Netflix.
Homeschool Consultant. The closest item on this list to education, there are many homeschool parents who want to make sure they’re “getting it right”. Also, many states require families who choose to homeschool to work with an approved consultant to ensure the kids are getting a solid education.
Home Stager. If you’re a creative person and love home design, home staging could be for you. Staging can be done on weekend or in the evening, or once you get a team working with you, you can act as manager without lifting a finger.
Pub Trivia Host. Put your useless knowledge to use! Work with local restaurants and pubs to offer trivia nights to entice more folks in the door. You can negotiate a cut of the entry fees, or a flat rate for hosting and get paid for having a night out!
Affiliate Marketing. Use your research skills to find products that people love, set up a website with links to purchase that products through an online vendor (like Amazon), and earn a commission for each product bought through your link.
Virtual Assistant. Many entrepreneurs, especially online, need help to run their businesses, but aren’t ready to bring on a full-time employee, so they hire virtual assistants. A virtual assistant can help with any task, from answering emails, to scheduling appointments, to… you name it!
Podcast/ Video Editing. You’ve heard of YouTube, right? Well, the people who are on YouTube, or who host podcasts, often record raw audio or visual that needs to be edited. You will need a knowledge of editing software, but the flexibility and creativity in this gig make it a great side hustle for teachers.
Tour Guide. You might think this side hustle is best for those in big cities, but you’d be wrong! Every town, city, and region have their own unique histories and specialties. You can run tours that are related to history, haunted places, breweries, or basically anything interesting in your area.
Party Host. Being a teacher doesn’t always allow you to do as many fun things in the classroom as you may have thought. If you’ve got the energy and drive, you can help stressed parents throw birthday parties by running the games and activities.
You can do this through local companies that offer kid’s party packages, or go off on your own and go wherever the kids are!
