Side Hustle Services to Start in 2025

Pet Care Services

Pet care is booming in the UK, with more households than ever welcoming furry, feathery, and scaly friends. Over 13 million homes now own pets, according to recent surveys. But as life gets busier, many pet owners struggle to keep up with daily responsibilities like walking their dogs or finding someone to care for their pets during holidays.

Enter pet care side hustles – if you love furry friends, why not get paid to hang out with them? With millions of pet owners in the UK, there’s always someone who needs a hand with their pets. Pet care is perfect for getting some fresh air and steps in, while pet sitting gives you a chance to cuddle adorable animals while their owners are away.

Dog Walking

Dog walking is a perfect side hustle if you love getting outside and don’t mind a bit of exercise (hello, free workout!). Dogs need regular walks to stay healthy and happy, but many owners don’t have the time or energy to give them the attention they need.

What You’ll Do: Take one or more dogs for daily or occasional walks. This might involve leashing them up, navigating local parks, and sometimes handling energetic or excitable pups.

What You’ll Earn: £10-£15 per hour, with higher rates in cities like London. Many walkers can increase earnings by taking multiple dogs at once (if you’re confident in handling them!).

How to Start: Advertise in your local area (community boards, Facebook groups, or pet shops). Join platforms like Tailster or Rover, which connect walkers with pet owners.

Why do it: It’s low-cost to start, gives you time outdoors, and lets you build connections with both pets and their owners. Plus, who doesn’t want an adorable walking buddy?

Pet Sitting

Pet sitting offers a more personal way to care for animals, especially when owners go on holiday or need to be away overnight.

What You’ll Do: Stay with pets in their own homes or invite them to stay with you. Responsibilities might include feeding, cleaning litter trays, administering medication, and, of course, providing plenty of love and attention.

What You’ll Earn: £25-£75 per night, depending on the number and type of pets. Longer-term stays or premium care (e.g., for elderly pets) can bring in even more.

How to Start: Build trust by starting with friends, family, or neighbours. Use trusted websites like Rover or Tailster to find clients and collect reviews.

Why do it: You get to enjoy spending time with animals without the full-time commitment of owning one. It’s also an ideal option if you have flexibility in your schedule for overnight stays.

Home Help Services

With busy work schedules, elderly homeowners, and an increasing number of renters moving frequently, home help services have become a lifeline for many. People often don’t have the time, skills, or equipment to tackle basic household tasks. Whether it’s painting a room, mowing the lawn, or fixing a leaky tap, reliable help is always needed.

For those who enjoy hands-on work and solving practical problems, home help side hustles offer flexibility and consistent demand. Plus, you get the satisfaction of completing a job well done—something not every desk job can deliver!

Not afraid of a bit of elbow grease? Home help services are always in demand, whether it’s assembling flat-pack furniture, clearing out a loft, or tidying up someone’s garden. You don’t need to be a DIY expert—just handy, reliable, and willing to pitch in.

Furniture Removal

What You’ll Do: You’ll help clients transport furniture or other bulky items. This can range from delivering a new wardrobe purchased online to helping someone move house. Jobs might also include loading and unloading, dismantling furniture for transport, and ensuring items are safely handled.

What You’ll Earn: £50-£150 per job, depending on the distance, number of items, and complexity of the task.

How to Start: If you have access to a van, you’re already ahead! If not, consider teaming up with someone who does.

• Join platforms like AnyVan, Shiply, or Airtasker to connect with clients.
• Offer fixed prices for common tasks, such as single-item deliveries or moving small flats.

Painting & Decorating

Painting and decorating services are always in demand, particularly as people refresh their homes or prepare properties for sale or rent.

What You’ll Do: Typical jobs include painting walls, ceilings, and skirting boards, wallpapering, and minor repairs like filling cracks or holes. Larger projects might involve preparing rental properties for new tenants or working on commercial spaces.

What You’ll Earn: £12-£30 per hour or £100-£500 per room, depending on the size and complexity of the job.

How to Start: Begin with smaller jobs for friends or family to build experience. Invest in quality tools and supplies for a professional finish.

Why do it: Painting and decorating require minimal start-up costs but can bring in substantial earnings. Plus, the visual results of your work are instant and rewarding.

Gardening

Gardening is one of the most sought-after home help services, particularly during the spring and summer months when outdoor spaces need the most care.

What You’ll Do: Tasks can range from mowing lawns and trimming hedges to planting flowers, removing weeds, and general garden tidying. Some clients may also need advice on maintaining plants or redesigning their garden layout.

What You’ll Earn: £10-£25 per hour, depending on your location and the complexity of the job. Larger or more specialised jobs can earn more.

How to Start: Advertise locally in Facebook groups, neighbourhood noticeboards, or Nextdoor. Offer seasonal discounts to attract new clients (e.g., spring garden clean-ups).

Why do it: Gardening doesn’t require heavy investment—basic tools and a willingness to work outdoors will get you started. Plus, many clients become repeat customers if they’re satisfied with your work.

Handyman

For those who are naturally good at fixing things or enjoy working with tools, handyman services are a fantastic side hustle option.

What You’ll Do: Handyman tasks can include fixing leaky taps, repairing broken furniture, hanging shelves or curtains, installing light fixtures, or tackling minor household repairs. You can also take on more advanced jobs like tiling or light carpentry if you have the skills.

What You’ll Earn: £15-£40 per hour, with more specialised work commanding higher rates.

How to Start: Use platforms like TaskRabbit or MyBuilder to find clients. Offer package deals for common tasks to encourage repeat bookings.

Why do it: There’s consistent demand for small repair jobs, and clients are often happy to pay a premium for reliable, skilled help. You’ll also have the chance to build long-term relationships with repeat customers.

Cleaning Services

Cleaning is another highly sought-after home help service, with clients ranging from busy professionals and families to landlords and small businesses.

What You’ll Do: Provide regular cleaning services for homes or offices, one-off deep cleans, or even specialised tasks like end-of-tenancy cleaning or decluttering.

What You’ll Earn: £12-£25 per hour, with higher rates for deep cleaning or larger properties.

How to Start: Advertise locally or join cleaning platforms such as Housekeep or Task Rabbit. Invest in reliable cleaning supplies and equipment for a professional finish.

Why do it: Cleaning services are relatively easy to start and often lead to steady, repeat work. Plus, there’s satisfaction in transforming spaces into sparkling, tidy havens.

Event Services

Event services are in constant demand as people celebrate life’s milestones, from birthdays and weddings to anniversaries and corporate functions. The UK loves a good get-together, and while many enjoy hosting events, few have the time or expertise to handle all the logistics.

From catering and décor to entertainment and setup, event services offer plenty of opportunities for side hustlers who are creative, organised, or simply love being part of memorable occasions. With more people opting for personalised and stress-free experiences, reliable event services have become an essential part of any successful celebration.

Catering

If you’re a dab hand in the kitchen, catering is a brilliant way to turn your culinary skills into cash. From finger foods to full buffets, there’s a constant need for delicious and well-presented food.

What You’ll Do: Prepare and deliver food for events such as birthday parties, corporate meetings, or family gatherings. Tasks might include menu planning, sourcing ingredients, and presenting dishes.

What You’ll Earn: £50-£150 per event for smaller gatherings, with the potential to earn more for larger-scale functions.

How to Start: Start small with friends and family to build a portfolio.

• Ensure you have a valid food hygiene certificate, which is required for catering in the UK.
• Advertise your services on local platforms and attend community events to network.

Why do it: You get to express your creativity, and word-of-mouth referrals can quickly lead to regular bookings. Plus, catering is highly scalable—start small, then expand to larger events as you gain experience.

Market Stalls

Selling goods at markets is a fun and flexible way to share your creativity while earning extra income. From crafts to baked goods, market stalls let you turn your hobbies into profit.

What You’ll Do: Rent a stall at local markets or fairs to sell your products. This could include handmade items like jewellery, candles, or baked goods, as well as second-hand treasures or seasonal products.

What You’ll Earn: £50-£300 per market day, depending on the location, event size, and demand for your goods.

How to Start: Research market opportunities in your area (many councils have dedicated websites for traders).

• Focus on seasonal events such as Christmas fairs or summer fetes for higher traffic.
• Display your products attractively to stand out from the crowd.

Why do it: Market stalls are a low-risk way to test business ideas, and they offer a great opportunity to meet new people and showcase your skills.

Speakers/Talks

If you’re knowledgeable or passionate about a particular topic, you can get paid to share your expertise. From motivational talks to practical workshops, speaking at events is a rewarding side hustle that lets you inspire others.

What You’ll Do: Deliver talks, run workshops, or host storytelling sessions on topics such as skill development, health and wellness, or personal finance. Tasks might include preparing presentations and interacting with audiences.

What You’ll Earn: £50-£200 per session, depending on your topic and audience.

How to Start: Begin by offering free or low-cost sessions at local community centres, libraries, or schools.

• Use platforms like Eventbrite to promote your sessions.
• Collect testimonials and build a portfolio to establish your credibility.

Why do it: You’ll gain confidence in public speaking, meet interesting people, and have the chance to make a meaningful impact on your audience.

Other points to consider before starting a side hustle

Start-Up Costs

Some side hustles need a bit of investment upfront, whether it’s cleaning supplies, tools, or transport. But the good news? Most of these gigs have low costs to get started.

Insurance

When running a side hustle, it’s important to consider insurance to protect yourself and your business. Depending on the nature of your venture, you may need specific cover beyond your personal insurance policies.

Additionally, if you work from home, your standard home insurance may not cover business-related equipment or liabilities, so a home business policy could be necessary. Evaluating your risks and seeking advice from an insurance professional can help you identify the right cover to avoid financial losses and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

Licensing or Permits

• Catering: You’ll need a food hygiene certificate for preparing food.
• Market Stalls: Check with your local council for a trader’s licence.

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date.