Side hustles have become a great way to earn extra income, explore new interests, and gain practical business experience. Whether you’re freelancing on a gig platform, launching an e-commerce shop, or building digital products, there’s always something to learn. We chatted with four side hustlers who’ve been there, done that, and maybe even bought the “I’m my own boss” coffee mug. They reveal the inspiration behind their hustles, the hurdles they faced, what they’d do differently, and when they knew it was time to stop (for some of them). Here’s what they had to say:

1. Cait – Crafting an Etsy Business

What was your side hustle and what platform did you use?

I opened an Etsy shop in 2018 to sell fiber arts like cross stitch, embroidery, macrame, and crochet. Etsy’s focus on handmade goods made it a natural choice.

What was the biggest challenge when starting, and how did you overcome it?

Setting up my shop was incredibly time-consuming. I had to create a description, set policies, take high-quality photos from multiple angles, write detailed product descriptions, and research competitive pricing and shipping strategies. Marketing was another challenge, though most of my sales came from friends and family. I did everything solo, which was tough but manageable. Outsourcing could have helped, but doing it myself kept it a true side hustle rather than feeling like a full-time business.

How did you balance your side hustle with other responsibilities?

I once found myself frantically finishing a custom embroidery piece during a friend's bachelorette weekend to meet a birthday deadline. I took the responsibility seriously, but balancing quality with today’s fast-paced expectations was tough. Good things take time, but the pressure to deliver quickly adds stress.

What’s the best way to market or promote a side hustle on a budget?

Social media and local markets are great for promoting handmade goods. Social media can bring sudden success but also unpredictable slumps, leading some businesses to overstock and struggle when demand drops. Markets, on the other hand, help build a loyal local customer base through word of mouth while reducing shipping hassles.

Did you ever stop working on your side hustle? If so, why?

Yes, I closed my Etsy shop a couple of years after starting it because monetizing my hobby took the joy out of it. Custom orders brought deadlines and pressure, making crafting feel like a chore rather than a passion. Eventually, I lost interest and stopped creating for personal enjoyment, realizing that turning my hobby into a business wasn’t the right fit for me. While selling my crafts was exciting, I never intended to turn it into a full-time venture, and the stress outweighed the benefits.

What would you do differently if you started again?

I wouldn’t offer custom orders—only finished pieces. That would let me follow my own creative flow and avoid the stress of deadlines.

Cait's Etsy business is no longer running, but you can check out her business Instagram here: @theoddknot

2. Radi – From Fiverr Freelancer to Full-Time Producer

What was your side hustle and what platform did you use?

It’s now become my full-time profession and that is video-production. I started out on Fiverr with spokesperson and voice-over offers that have now created opportunities to create large-scale productions for commercials and films.

What inspired you to start your side hustle?

As a graduate and trained actor, I was looking for something that incorporated elements of acting and allowed me to work from anywhere in the world. I wanted to be my own boss, free from following someone else’s stupid ideas, and focus solely on my own crazy ones.

How did you find your first customers or clients? What strategies worked best?

I had to learn how to make my offer on Fiverr stand out. I looked at other people’s profiles to see what worked for them and put my own personal spin on it, incorporating my unique trait—being a trained actor—that set me apart.

What was the biggest challenge when starting, and how did you overcome it?

I had a 60-hour-a-week day job, so growing the side hustle in my spare time was tough. It was slow at first, but with consistency and putting in the hours, it became my main thing.

What’s the best way to market or promote a side hustle on a budget?

You have to know whether there is a market for it and where that market is. If you offer something at the wrong place, they won’t purchase from you as it’s unexpected. Find out if people are looking for what you offer and where. Then start small. If you can start selling before you’ve invested anything in it - great - that’s the best results-based test

What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone starting now?

Start yesterday. Stay consistent and always look for ways to improve. Don’t focus on immediate results; learn to enjoy the work, and the success will follow.

You can check out Radi's video-production company at hxgnfilms.com and Fiverr services at @radevradostin.

Related Post: How to start your side hustle (take this as your sign)

3. Simon – Turning a Murder Mystery Party into a Product

What was your side hustle and what platform did you use?

A DIY murder mystery kit wherein I give customers all the information and direction they’d need to host their own game night. I used GoHighLevel for my website and Square for payments, and stored my downloadable materials on Google Drive.

What inspired you to start, and how did you decide on this idea?

Friends wanted me to host a murder mystery. I realized existing kits were just paying someone to be creative. Since I love to write, I made my own and then turned it into an e-commerce product.

What was the biggest challenge you faced?

It was more work than expected—tying together characters, creating evidence, and ensuring the mystery was solvable. My partner helped me simplify the story, and I iterated based on feedback.

What’s the best way to market or promote a side hustle on a budget?

I’ve come to respect and appreciate the power of Reddit for start-up marketing. Find the communities where people are into the kind of thing you’re building, then share information about it as much as you can. You’ll find yourself with a wealth of (brutally) honest feedback and early customers before long.

What mistakes did you make and what lessons did you learn?

I wasted money on ads before my site looked credible. Good design matters. I needed to invest in the website and sales page to reassure people the product wasn’t sketchy.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting their side hustle today?

Have fun and treat it like a learning experience, because it certainly is one. It won’t be perfect—in fact, it’ll barely even be good—before you launch, and it can’t get better until you get it out there and start testing. Oh, and don’t keep it a secret. I assure you, it isn’t as precious as you think it is.

Simon’s DIY murder mystery kit is currently unavailable, but he hopes to relaunch it in fall 2025 after updating the website.

4. Alan – The Ups and Downs of Selling on Amazon FBA

What was your side hustle and what platform did you use?

I started selling white-label products on Amazon FBA. I’d order small test quantities from China, see if there was demand, and scale up from there.

Did you need any special skills, certifications, or training to start?

None. I did a lot of research on YouTube, learning from people who had succeeded on Amazon FBA.

What mistakes did you make and what lessons did you learn?

I bought too many products before testing. I got stuck with inventory that didn’t sell. It’s better to pay a higher price per unit on a small run for testing rather than tie up money in unproven stock.

How did you balance your side hustle with other responsibilities?

I worked on nights and weekends. I also hired virtual assistants to handle as much of the repetitive work as possible. Scheduling consistent time to move things forward was key.

Why did you eventually stop working on your side hustle?

A product took off, but another seller had trademarked the brand name. I ended up with thousands of unsellable units. My original product also got too competitive. Frustration made me shift my focus to other lucrative projects.

Alan's white-label products are no longer available for sale. 

As these stories show, side hustles come in all shapes and sizes—from offering creative services online to selling physical products. Each founder discovered unique challenges: balancing time, testing markets, handling legal hiccups, and preserving personal passion. Their journeys highlight how embracing change, taking the first step, and looking at things from a fresh perspective can lead to unexpected opportunities. If you’re thinking of launching a side hustle, take their advice: start now, keep iterating, and remember why you began in the first place. The best “side” gigs often become so much more.

Some apps to help you get started with your side hustle

• Shopify: https://shift.com/apps/shopify/
  Etsy: https://shift.com/apps/etsy/
• Fiverr: https://shift.com/apps/fiverr/
• Amazon Seller Central: https://shift.com/apps/amazon-seller-central/
• Upwork: https://shift.com/apps/upwork/
• BigCommerce: https://shift.com/apps/bigcommerce/
• Airbnb: https://shift.com/apps/airbnb/