I have a soft spot for making money with the sharing economy. It was the first sort of side hustle I had.
The rise of the sharing economy has made it easier than ever before to make extra money in your spare time. Whether you’re driving people around, delivering orders, or doing a series of tasks, there are lots of ways to make money with the sharing economy.
Whether it’s for paying off debt, saving for a big purchase, or building up an emergency fund, it’s always nice to make some extra money in your free time.
When I was deep in the process of paying off my debt, I knew the income from my full-time job wouldn’t be enough if I wanted to pay off my debt faster. So I turned to the sharing economy and starting making extra money via one-off gigs here and there.
I worked catering events, brand ambassador campaigns, and even mowed lawns. The flexibility of being able to pick up jobs when I had the extra time was great perk.
The biggest positive about the sharing economy is the variety of services you can do. When most people think of the sharing economy they think of driving people around through Uber, but there are plenty of ways to make money regardless of your skill set or interests.
Because of it’s popularity, we’ll kick off the list with Uber and then move on to other options.
1) Drive With Uber
Uber is one of the most well-known ways to make extra money. If you have a knack for striking up conversation with people and like seeing different parts of your city, then driving with Uber could be a great option.
If you’re not already aware, Uber is a rideshare app that allows you to use your own car to drive passengers to their destinations. You can choose when you want to work by turning on or off the ability to receive ride requests.
There are a few things to know if you want to drive with Uber. You must be 21 years old or older, pass a background check and driving record check, and have access to a 4-door car year 2007 or newer (model year of car varies in some places).
2) Rent Out a Room With Airbnb
If you live in a major city and have a spare room available, you could rent it out on Airbnb. Airbnb is a hospitality service where you can rent short-term accommodation including for vacations, apartment rentals, homestays or hostel beds.
There are lots of people who rent out spare bedrooms in their house or their entire place to guests. Another hosting option many people don’t know about with Airbnb is that it allows people to host experiences in their area.
So even if you don’t have a spare room to rent out, you can still be a host by providing an experience for visitors. Experiences could include going on hikes, doing a city tour, cooking classes, taking photos, and more.
Before you get started hosting on Airbnb, remember to consider things like rules and regulations for short-term rentals in your area, the time commitment, having the proper insurance, and the amenities you may have to provide for guests to be competitive in your area.
3) Sell Services With Fiverr
Fiverr is an online marketplace where tasks and services are centered around the starting price of $5. The service is popular with services like design, web service, music and audio, and writing and editing.
A cool thing I’ve noticed about Fiverr is just how niched down some of the services are. I read a story of a guy who build a profitable business doing Snapchat geofilters. Another example is a woman who was able to generate a five-figure per month revenue by doing voiceover work in a British accent.
Start by looking at the website and seeing what people are offering. Look at how top rated sellers package their services. Test things out and adjust over time.
One other thing to keep in mind is you can sell in multiples of $5. Every service does not have to be $5, otherwise the site would be a lot smaller than it currently is.
4) Do Errands With TaskRabbit
I used to think TaskRabbit was just for people to offer cleaning services. I quickly learned that it caters to a lot more than just cleaning. TaskRabbit allows people to find help with errands and tasks like moving, delivery, assembly, handyman, and yard work.
When you sign up to be a tasker, you get notified of potential jobs in your area, select the ones you want, discuss the details with the client, and complete the task.
To get started, you complete an online registration form, attend an orientation in-person, and then you’re able to start accepting tasks.
5) Watch Dogs with Rover
So many people have pets and when they go on vacation or away, they would rather not leave their pet with a kennel service. Rover is an alternative to traditional kennels. Rover is a pet-sitting and dog-walking service that allows people to leave their pets with a person while they are away.
Often described as the “Airbnb for dogs”, Rover allows pet owners to find local sitters in their area to watch their pets. People who want to watch people’s dogs and pets can create profiles and set their own rates.
A big part of Rover is dog-walking, and for obvious reasons: people who work 9-5s don’t always have flexible schedules. It’s not uncommon for people to be away 10-12 hours a day. If they are away that long but still want to have a dog, they typically pay someone to walk them. That’s where you can step in – if your schedule allows it.
6) Deliver with Postmates
Have a knack for delivery and want to get in some physical activity? Consider working with Postmates, a delivery service that has a network of couriers who deliver goods.
A great thing about Postmates is that you don’t necessarily need a car to do deliveries. You can use a bike, scooter or even walk. You get to do deliveries, make extra money, and get in some physical activity all at the same time.
To get started with Postmates, you sign up and create an account, pass a background check, and receive a welcome kit to activate your Postmates prepaid card, and then you’re able to start making deliveries.
A good alternative to Postmates is UberEATS, which also allows you to deliver via car, bike, or scooter. Plus they are really looking to add delivery people right now, so it’s a great time to apply.
7) Do Various Jobs With Craigslist
A veteran of the sharing economy, Craigslist is a place where you can find short-term and on-off jobs via their ‘gigs’ section. Craigslist has somewhat of a reputation for being filled with scams and sketchy listings, but if you practice caution and use your best judgement, it can still be a good way to make extra money.
While I was in debt, I used Craigslist a lot to find short-term jobs I could do to make extra money. Most of the work I did involved being at events, handing out things, and doing yard work. I found that many people still think of Craigslist first when it comes to listing short-term jobs and things they need help with.
Use your best judgement when it comes to choosing which listings to take on. Avoid listings that seem to good to be true or don’t appear to be a good fit.
8) Sell Your Creations With Etsy
Etsy is more than just a place to sell handmade jewelry and crafts. Lots of people are selling all sorts of things on the platform like digital downloads, logo design, WordPress themes, stationary and more. There are even some people selling spreadsheets on the site!
You can get started by creating an account, setting up your shop name, and creating your listings.
Related: 50+ Legitimate Ways to Make Extra Money at Home
5 Side Hustles That Make at Least $500 a Month
6 Skills That Can Be Turned Into a Side Hustle
What ideas do you have for making money with the sharing economy?
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REally interesting ways to earn extra income thanks for sharing!