2023 is the perfect time for women to start a side hustle. It is a well-known fact that equality is still a far-fetched dream for women and the gender pay gap is a reality even now. Sexism exists in workplaces, and though things are changing, albeit slowly, the truth is that most management positions go to men. And even in other roles, where men and women are at the same designation, men tend to be paid more by virtue of being, well, men.

Life, as it is, doesn’t come easy for women, so financial independence is imperative. A side hustle is the best way to earn some extra income for women to ensure a safety net for themselves. Here are some side hustles for women that you can get started on right away.

1. Content Writing

In today’s content-driven world, content writing is one field where talent is always in demand. So, if you have a flair for writing, content writing is something you can try. Contrary to popular perception, content writing is not just about writing a blog. Content writing is a wider umbrella under which you can explore various industries. Copywriting, technical writing, SEO writing, ghostwriting, editing, and proofreading are some of the finer branches under content that you can explore, depending on your interest.

Websites like Pepper Content, Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer are some portals where you can access content writing gigs.

2. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is an independent contractor who remotely offers administrative services to a client or company. They can choose their own niche job. It could be bookkeeping, event management, scheduling, filing and document organisation, making travel arrangements, or all of the above. A virtual assistant can charge either by the hour or by the service that they provide. Given the rise in work-from-home jobs due to the pandemic, the requirement for virtual assistants will only grow in the future, making it one of the best side hustles for women in the future.

You can find openings for virtual assistants on websites like Upwork.

3. Dropshipping

In the simplest terms, dropshipping is a business model where a seller accepts orders from a customer but doesn’t keep any inventory on hand. It’s a great entrepreneurial model for beginners as it doesn’t require a lot of investment. You don’t have to worry about stocking up on inventory or leasing a place to set everything up. You can work from the comfort of your home, establish your store, reach out to customers, and have the merchant ship the products directly to the customer. The focus can be on the advertising and marketing aspect of the business and growing your business as opposed to building stock.

You can easily build a website using platforms like Wix or WordPress.

4. Airbnb Host

Renting out property is always an easy way to earn some passive income, and hosting with Airbnb is one of the best side hustles for women in 2023. If you have an extra room at home or an unused property, rent it out on Airbnb and earn some income from it. The kind of money you make will also depend on the location of your property and its type. All you have to do is to ensure you provide quality service and basic amenities and maintain cleanliness and hygiene.

5. Language Trainer

Knowing a foreign language is a great asset in this globalised world. One universal language spoken across almost all countries is English. So, becoming an English language trainer is a very profitable side hustle you can look into in 2023. Asian countries as well as European countries often look for English language trainers, so anybody who has a good grasp of the language can be a trainer.

Similarly, if you are fluent in any foreign language, you can teach it online as well. Websites like Bitclass and Skillshare allow you to recruit students and conduct classes online in any subject. So, use your language skills for the greater good and earn a little extra money while imparting some knowledge.

Related: Choosing Humanities In School? Here Are 6 Career Opportunities Waiting For You

6. Small Business

In the past few years, especially during the pandemic, you might have seen an upsurge in small businesses on social media. That’s because people have found a way to channel their hobbies or interests into a business model. You too can convert your hobby into a small business, and your options are unlimited. Art, baking, jewellery, handmade soaps, knitwear, online nursery–there’s absolutely no dearth of things you can do.

All you need is to find what you are good at, be consistent, invest your time and some equipment, and start a social media page. Start small and slowly grow your page. There is no pressure on you to turn your small business into a million-dollar empire overnight. So, take baby steps and spread your wings.

7. In-person Services

In today’s world of artificial intelligence, everyone is worried about being replaced by machines. So, ladies, find a side hustle that only a human can do. Provide in-person services like babysitting, pet-sitting, dog-walking, or house-sitting which can’t be done by AI…yet. These services are highly sought after and hence handsomely paid. So, if you are someone who enjoys spending time with kids and looking after them, you can offer your services as a babysitter. Parents who go to work, or are unable to look after their kids at some point in the day, can leave them with you. Similarly, if you are a dog-lover, and enjoy taking them on walks every day, offer your services as a dog walker. The people who are unable to walk their dogs because of their busy schedules or health conditions can avail of your services.

8. Mystery Shopper

Mystery shopping is a type of market research that allows a business to test a product or service. A mystery shopper tests for the quality of services and user experiences from end to end to give an insight into what a product or service entails and how it works. A company usually selects a group of customers to test its services. The shoppers are required to pose as customers and evaluate the entire service without identifying themselves. The secret shopping is done to ensure the employees are adhering to the rules of the organisation, customers are treated properly, and the business is performing up to the mark in terms of customer satisfaction.

Mystery shopping is an upcoming side hustle for women to watch out for in 2023 in India. Some of the platforms where you can register as a mystery shopper are Ipsos Mystery Shopper and FloorWalk.

9. YouTube Channel

In today’s digital age, YouTube is a great medium to be on. If you can find a niche for yourself, creating content and disseminating it on YouTube can be a great money-making business. Without YouTube though, you won’t be able to make money immediately. The platform pays you based on your views, so the more views you have on your videos, the higher your pay. And in order to get that viewership, you need to consistently put out quality content in a way it has never been done before. Topics like beauty, fashion, and reviews have been done to death, but the challenge lies in doing it in an unconventional way.

Related: 10 Must-Have Tools For Content Creators To Lend An Edge To Your Work

10. Print-on-demand Merchandise

Print-on-demand merchandise is the perfect side hustle for anyone with an eye for design, and even for someone who is looking to earn some passive income. The best part about print-on-demand is that once your design is ready, you don’t really have to worry about anything. You don’t even have to fret about having excess inventory on hand, because you only need to print them when an order comes in. You can use free software like Canva to make your design if you are a beginner, and if you are a seasoned designer, spend some time on Adobe Illustrator or Procreate to come up with your own design. If you have a witty quote in mind, you save yourself the trouble of designing as well.

You can print your designs on a t-shirt, cap, mug, notebook, postcard, or any other merchandise that you wish to sell. With print-on-demand, the trouble of printing and shipping is undertaken by the supplier and you only need to make the payment once the order has been fulfilled. This reduces any risk factors that you may have.

11. Influencer

Open your social media and you know influencers are a dime a dozen today, and that’s because they are a big deal. Influencers hold the biggest, well, influence, over the audience in this digital age. They are relatable and can get across the brand’s message in engaging ways. To become an influencer, you need to figure out your niche and draw out a content plan and how your content can align with a brand’s message. You also need to strategise how to incorporate the brand message in your content without making it look like a blatant ad. There’s a whole lot of media at your disposal to do this – Instagram, YouTube, podcasts, or even blogs. Find your medium and niche and get started today!

Related: 6 Sex-Positive Influencers Who Are Breaking Taboos Every Day On Instagram

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