💰💰💰 Should You Start a Side Hustle? (Spoiler: Probably Yes)

Why a Side Gig Could Be Your Best Move 

 Summer is coming soon — the sun’s out, the kids are off, and your calendar suddenly has a lot more white space. Which begs the question: Should you start a side gig to make some extra cash? Spoiler alert: The answer might just be yes.

Or, do you dream of starting your own small business (either or the side or instead of what you do today)?

Let’s be honest. Whether you’re an educator with a break ahead or someone whose workload lightens up during the summer, the idea of kicking back sounds great … for about a week. Then the itch to do something productive (and profitable) starts creeping in. Why not channel that energy into a fun side hustle?

According to an EducationWeek article entitled “Side Hustles and Second Jobs: Teachers Still Feel Pressure to Earn More Money,” most of us can use the extra cash and yearn for a little less financial pressure during the school year.

Good news: side gigs don’t have to be draining. In fact, they can be downright enjoyable. Love to teach but want a change of scenery? Try online tutoring or creating educational content. Got a crafty side? Open an Etsy shop or sell digital downloads. More into words than glue sticks? Freelance writing or blogging could be your jam.

Summer side hustles also come with built-in perks. There’s flexibility — you choose when and how much you work. There’s variety — one day you’re making lesson plans for Teachers Pay Teachers, the next day you’re dog-sitting for your neighbor’s golden retriever (who, frankly, is less demanding than a classroom of fourth graders). And, yes, there’s that sweet extra income that can fund anything from beach trips to a nicer back-to-school wardrobe.

Plus, starting a side gig now could lay the groundwork for year-round passive income. Who doesn’t love making money while binge-watching Netflix in the fall?

Even better: it could be something you do year-round. You can be an entrepreneur with a small business while still working your day job (or not).

And here’s the best part: A side hustle can refresh your creativity and give you a new sense of purpose. That spark you feel when trying something new? It’s real. And it’s a fantastic antidote to summer boredom.

So if you’re wondering whether to start a side gig this summer, the real question is: Why not?

Pick something that excites you, start small, and see where it goes. Worst case? You learn something new and make a few extra bucks. Best case? You stumble into a passion project that keeps paying dividends long after summer’s over.

Grab that iced coffee, fire up your laptop (or glue gun), and let’s make this summer the season of side hustle success!

Coming Soon:  Great Ideas for Promising Startups and How to Get Them Launched (and Stay Successful)

Click here to learn more with Ron Neary’s Your Small Business Blueprint: An Entrepreneur's Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Successful Startup from the Ground Up. 

Read More

• Neary, Ron. 2025. Your Small Business Blueprint: An Entrepreneur's Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Successful Startup from the Ground Up. Times 10 Publications.
• Heubeck, Elizabeth. 2022. “Side Hustles and Second Jobs: Teachers Still Feel Pressure to Earn More Money.” Education Week, March 30, 2022.

Resources

• Post image of woman herding geese by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay.
• Dream Big quote image by quotefancy.
• Girl in the grass image by Pexels from Pixabay.