Joint side hustles provide a great opportunity to earn extra cash and extra time with your boo. After all, there’s nothing more romantic than playing off each other’s strengths to convert your spare time into cash! (Well, there is, but we’re not here to talk about that.)
Your newfound slush fund can boost your retirement, wipe away pesky debts, or prop you up on a rainy day. Who knows, you may even turn one of these side hustles for couples into “Ev’ry day I’m hustlin’”! Cue the dance music.
The couple that thinks together, side hustles together
Before you start hustlin’ together for side income, it’s important to note two things.
1. Business and pleasure don’t always mix
Starting a joint venture requires time, effort, communication, and often startup capital to succeed. Even the strongest relationships can crumble when adding working together to the “Live, Laugh, Love” equation.
On the other hand, collaborating to boost your joint income can be a powerful bonding experience that increases mutual respect. Learning to divide tasks efficiently, improve your joint technical skills, connecting with your local community – each of these are tools that will serve you well long-term. And turbocharge your side hustles!
Not to mention the potentially powerful impacts of hustling your way to achieving your financial goals!
2. It’s in the name: A side hustle for couples might not replace your day job
When you start out, it’s unlikely your side hustle for couples will become your primary source of income. (Especially if you’re already in a higher income bracket.) But a few hundred to a few thousand a month extra is nothing to sneeze at. Doubly so when you’re facing debts, new bills – for instance, future childcare costs – or a recent layoff.
A rewarding side hustle also gives you a chance to explore your creativity, learn and leverage new skills, or self-fund your passion project. And who knows: your “what if we…” could turn into a bigger business later! Or you could make a living off multiple side hustles.
For families that possess the determination and startup capital, the following side hustles for couples may spark your fire.
(Note: We’ve included the annual income ranges reported by ZipRecruiter. While these figures typically represent full-time earnings, they’re useful benchmarks for scaling based on your predicted time commitment.)
Flipping, renovation, and resale
Flip houses
Annual income range: $36,000-$119,000 ($17-$57/hour)
Many couples learn quickly that it’s helpful to have a partner in both financial resources and sweat equity. Flipping houses is one example of a joint venture that flourishes on complementary skills and tag-teamed work.
For example, one partner may excel at property research (apps like Homesnap and Redfin come in handy) and meeting with realtors, inspectors, and prospective buyers. Tools like Property Fixer or Property Evaluator can help estimate their costs and potential returns. The other may have an eye for interior design and/or the know-how to complete or manage cost-effective renovations.
Real estate flipping requires a lot of startup capital, so it’s not right for every couple. Still, it’s hard to beat a practical side hustle for couples with such massive tax-free income potential. Couples who do the “live-in flip” and stay in their properties for at least two years can snag up to $500,000 in untouchable income! (Of course, you could also try the rental real estate market, but that's another article.)
Home renovation and repair
Annual income range: $49,000-$79,500 ($23-$38/hour)
If you’re a handy couple lacking the desire or capital to flip property, put your skills to good use in home repair or renovation. You can divide tasks based on the skillsets needed to succeed: project planning, materials sourcing, customer relations, and of course, carpentry and interior design.
You can also tap a plethora of home renovation apps to aid your side hustle, like:
- Houzz and Thumbtack to connect renovators with potential clients
- Homestyler and Room Planner’s digital planning tools to visualize the finished space
- Schumacher’s fabric and wallpaper archives for inspiration (or place orders yourself!)
- Morpholio Board’s extensive project management toolbox to keep yourself on track
Of course, home renovations can be huge, time-consuming, deadline-driven projects, so part-timers will probably want to start small. Start with cabinet-making, small bathroom renos, plumbing, electrical, or painting and see where life takes you!
Furniture renovation or restoration
Annual income range: $21,000-$52,000 ($10-$25/hour)
Prefer less-involved side hustles? Restoring, refurbishing, and flipping old furniture may suit you better. One partner can focus on acquiring inventory, market research, and sales. The other can tackle the more physically arduous tasks of sanding, staining, painting, and reupholstering as needed.
Furniture refurbishment requires time, tools, and a well-ventilated space. But if you’ve already got those, you may enjoy more downtime than flipping or fixing houses allows. Plus, it has relatively low capital requirements: source cheap – or free! – projects from yard sales, thrift stores, and flea markets.
Modern tech can even boost your sales. Use Bristles AI to design and visualize your finished projects, and Chairish or 1stDibs to get better prices on vintage pieces.
Resell secondhand furniture
Annual income range: $32,500-$176,500 ($15-$85/hour)
You know all those bulky couches and mattresses that boast money-back guarantees? As it turns out, a sizeable percentage of those items get returned – to warehouses that would rather not deal with them.
So, some warehouses partner with companies like Sharetown, a “reverse logistics” firm that hires local reps to pick up, clean, and resell unwanted furniture. Freelance resellers only pay for inventory when it sells, and profits can hit $250 per return.
Work only the hours you want with the person you love, no upfront capital, and minimal storage requirements? Sounds like a side hustle dream to me!
Content creation
The “usual suspects”
Content creation is often overhyped in these lists. Not everyone can be the next unboxing, blogging, podcasting, profitable side hustle sensation who somehow has a million free hours to live their best life. Most people are trying to tap into a global audience online to make passive income. But if your dynamic duo has the skills, insights, and creative chops to conquer content creation, consider:
Podcasting
Annual income range: $16,000-$129,000 ($8-$62/hour)
Podcasting has a lot of moving parts. There’s the brainstorming, researching, interviewing, scripting, recording, editing, publishing – all of which requires scheduling, organizing, multitasking, monetizing…
It’s a lot. And that’s after you find a winning topic and marketable approach to voicing your thoughts, opinions, or stories.
With two people tackling these tasks, you might find it’s easier to snag success in the crowded audio space. Once you’re ready to dive into this side hustle, it’s time to find a good microphone and a hosting platform like Podbean, Libsyn, or Spotify.
With the right partner, you can leverage podcasting’s popularity to connect with listeners, share your story, and generate extra income.
YouTubing
Annual income range: $16,000-$118,600 ($8-$57/hour)
Couples with at least one person who enjoys being in front of the camera may enjoy running their own YouTube channel. (Or at the least, one person who enjoys video creation, and one who enjoys marketing and monetization.)
You can start a YouTube channel on just about anything, from financial advice to paleontology to landscaping. Perhaps you want to show off your garden and partner with the fertilizer brands that make your azaleas the talk of the town. Maybe you’re just really, really good at making papier-mâché parade floats.
Whatever motors your boat, if you have the desire and on-camera personality to draw an audience, this side hustle for couples can be as relaxed or time-intensive as you want to make it.
Blogging
Annual income range: $33,000-$127,000 ($16-$61/hour)
Blogging offers a creative excuse to spend financially-compensated time with your partner doing what you love. For some couples, the promise of building your own brand through a fulfilling side hustle is too good to pass up, even in today's saturated market.
You can tackle content creation and brand partnerships, while your partner taps apps like Ahrefs or SurferSEO to optimize your way to success. Someone will probably have to start social media marketing to churn Facebook likes into dollars, too.
Even competitive, highly-saturated markets boast some income potential for couples who have solid product, a unique spin, or personable approach. (Or all three.) Still, you’ll have to stay flexible and think long-term to take your blog from drag to dragnet.
Selling online courses
Annual income range: $32,000-$83,000 ($15-$40/hour)
Subject matter experts may find more success in their side hustle teaching the next generation of quantum physicists or paleontologists. Students and pros alike will pay for online courses that lead to impressive skillsets and fatter paychecks of their own. Marry that with your partner’s digital, organizational, or marketing skills, and you may stumble on a winning formula.
You don’t have to start completely from scratch, either. Platforms like Udemy, Thinkific, Skillshare, Teachable, and Kajabi provide various tools and supports to develop, launch, market, and grade your online course curriculum. Still, expect to do some heavy lifting: it takes time, effort, and financial investment to craft high-quality, well-reviewed content and sell online courses.
But once you’ve built a solid library, you may find yourself kicking back as that passive income stream rolls in.
Self-publish on the side
Annual income range: $39,500-$88,500 ($19-$43/hour)
Self-publishing is av side hustle that you can do completely on your own terms and timeline. If one of you has a story to share, wisdom to distill, or a backlog of yet-unheard jokes, the other’s editing, formatting, or illustrative abilities may make the perfect pairing.
Leverage AI tools like ChatGPT and Google BARD to flesh out ideas and characters and enhance your research. Then, take your pick of publishing options: Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes & Noble Press, Apple Books, Google Play Books, IngramSpark, and Dreame make self-publication a (relative) piece of cake.
With the right product and some luck, you may find substantial profit potential awaits. Hit the right niche and you may even move into new monetization options, from public speaking to training sessions.
Join the entertainment industry
Become a voiceover acting duo
Annual income range: $16,000-$160,000 ($8-$77/hour)
Voice acting is often pursued individually, but the right dynamic duo can play off each other to make it a family business. This relatively low-cost side hustle for couples is as flexible or demanding on your time as you make it. Plus, you have tons of options to explore. Everyone from radio stations to commercials to audiobooks need human voices (often more than one!) to connect with their audience.
After sourcing a quality microphone and sound setup, you can start whenever you’re ready. Freelance through gig sites like Fiverr or the Upwork marketplace to test your range and rack up good reviews. Specialty sites like Voices.com or Voice123 connect artists with pickier clients, though you may encounter more competition.
Get big enough, and you might even employ your own talent agent to do the ground work for you!
Put your camera to good use
Annual income range: $19,000-$148,500 ($9-$72/hour)
Working in the visual space doesn’t have to doom you to solo-dom. Couples with a knack for capturing special moments can turn a videography or photography business into a lucrative team hustle.
Weddings, corporate events, commercial products, and special family memories all require someone behind the camera. You can collaborate on large affairs that require multiple angles, or divide and conquer wardrobe, filming, editing, and communication. One partner may even take up aerial drones to capture those unique angles that put other dream teams to shame!
Of course, you’ll want to consider any startup costs for this side hustle, like cameras, accessories, editing tools, and marketing.
Capitalize on hidden talents
Annual income range: Varies by medium
Are you and your partner the life of the party? Can you make anyone cry laughing at a joke, or weep with jealousy at your musical talent? Do you enjoy painting children’s smiling faces into lions, tigers, and bears, oh my?
Talented couples like yourself may find a booming side hustle in the entertainment niche. Children’s parties, anniversaries, weddings, corporate events, and night clubs all hire entertainers to keep those smiles wide. Many of them source the fun from platforms like GigSalad, JobMonkey, or The Bash.
Whether you prefer clowning around or dramatic bows, dancing a jig or mystifying with magic, there’s an event out there for your skills.
Online retail
Start an online store
Annual income range: $17,500-$86,000 ($8-$42/hour)
Online stores require a bit of commitment – not to mention your own product, whether you build it yourself or contract a supplier.
The upside: You can sell virtually anything, from household goods to crafts to holiday decorations.
The downside: You’ll need to keep a consistent presence, stay flexible with changing tastes, and factor in a host of regulatory and operating fees. This is one side hustle that can quickly take up more of your time than intended if you're not careful!
Fortunately, selling as a unit can make things easier. Divide tasks like product design and sourcing, customer interactions, sales, marketing, boxing, and shipping. Take turns posting your products on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Amazon, or your Pinterest or Etsy shop. (Or start your own website!)
At the end of the day, your four hands may prove better than two at making your online business a success.
Dropshipping
Annual income range: $19,000-$54,000 ($9-$26/hour)
Dropshipping provides an easier route to building a successful online store, though your profit margins may prove less enticing. With dropshipping, you simply pair with suppliers like AliExpress, Alibaba, or Salehoo to select, manufacture, and ship your products. Then, you and your partner can focus on marketing and customer service.
It’s possible to dropship literally anything a supplier will make for you, from pet supplies to emoji-shaped lamps. Sites like Amazon and Shopify simplify the process further, allowing you to scale your sales and profits on your terms.
That said, dropshipping isn’t guaranteed extra money. Revenues and profits depend on inventory costs, pricing strategies, market niche, and competition. Plus, your reliance on third-party suppliers make it harder to manage quality control and limit returns.
Build a print-on-demand empire
Annual income range: $19,000-$118,600 ($9-$57/hour)
Like dropshipping, print-on-demand services offer the ability to design and sell custom merch without managing your own inventory. Anything that can be sold, will be sold: T-shirts, mugs, bookmarks, greeting cards, wall art…
Divvying tasks by skillset makes it even easier. The creative partner can design and upload printable creations using Canva, while the practical one handles marketing, customer service, and order fulfillment through Amazon, Shopify, or Printify.
Print-on-demand also makes a good first side hustle thanks to its relatively low barriers to entry and scalable profits. But again, competition can be stiff, and tight profit margins probably won’t make you rich anytime soon.
Start a small business with growth potential
Sprout a backyard nursery
Annual income range: $27,000-$143,000 ($13-$69/hour)
If your green thumb is the envy of all your neighbors, consider starting a backyard nursery or setting up shop at your local farmer’s market. This side hustle for couples doesn’t just connect you to your partner; it also brings you back to nature.
Together, you and your partner can grow and sell fresh produce, baked goods, and unique food items like specialty honeys or jams. The USDA Farmers Market Directory and LocalHarvest can help connect you with community markets.
Or, focus on those in-demand or hard-to-grow plants and contract with local nurseries to sprout seedlings year after year. Your costs can be as low or high as you can stand based on your climate, crops, and commitment to growing organic. Working with your partner also cuts your work in half as you split gardening and selling duties.
Buy a vending machine (or five)
Annual income range: $25,000-$42,000 ($12-$20/hour)
Starting a vending machine side hustle requires a lot of moving parts, but if you’re willing to trade off early morning refills, it can be a relatively lucrative side hustle. Before you dive in, be sure to do your research:
- Where can you put your machines?
- How much will it cost to partner with local businesses?
- What will sell best to that area’s customer base?
- How much will you spend on product refills?
Answer these questions, and the next step is to buy a machine through sites like Vending.com, eVending.com, and even Sam’s Club. (Note: You’ll also need a way to transport machines to their drop spots. Some vendors also rely on state-of-the-art tech to inform them of low inventory and calculate their profits, which incurs additional costs.)
Flip digital real estate: buy and sell online businesses
Annual income range: Varies by domain selection and holding time
Buying and selling website domains can prove quite a lucrative side hustle for couples.
Think of it like the digital version of flipping a house. You purchase a site with potential, spruce it up with cosmetic fixes and essential renovations, market its potential, and sell to the highest bidder. (Thereby offloading long-term management and maintenance and walking away with your profit.)
While you’ll need to research your chosen niche carefully, you and your partner can tag-team using sites like Empire Flippers or Quiet Light Brokerage.
Ev’ry day we’re hustlin’, too
If you’re ready to commit to your boo, these side hustles for couples are a great way to say, “I do!…want to go into business together.”
Of course, business, like family and finances, is an adventure – but you don’t have to journey alone. Whether you need a map, a compass, or a tour guide, Family Money Map is here to take that next step with you.