Many business owners believe that making an extra $100,000 a year means working a lot more. But what if you could reach that number by setting up a side hustle once and letting it run on its own?
The truth is, small business owners who want to grow their income in a steady way don’t just work harder—they work smarter. They create side hustles that not only bring in more income but also increase the value of their business.
Extra Tip: If you want to find out how much your business is worth right now, you can try this independent business valuation tool.
If you’re a business owner looking to bring in more money from different sources, here are four side hustle ideas you can start alongside your main work. Each one has the potential to add another $100,000 or more to your yearly income.
4 Side Hustles That Can Help You Earn Over $100,000 a Year
This article will walk you through four side hustles that you can start without wearing yourself out, and that can help bring in over $100,000 a year:
- Digital Products
- Micro-Communities
- Affiliate Revenue
- Renting Out Items You Already Own
Side Hustle 1: Create and Sell Digital Products
Many successful business owners do more than just sell services. They take what they know, build it into a step-by-step system, and sell that system as a digital product. These can be templates, toolkits, planners, swipe files, online courses, or guides and books.
Why this works:
You create the product once and sell it over and over. You keep most of the money from each sale because there are very few costs after it’s made.
How to Get Started with Digital Products:
- Think about the process or method you use most often. This is your framework.
- Turn that framework into something useful—like a toolkit, a template, or a short course.
- Sell it through your own website or on sites like Udemy, Amazon, Kajabi, or Etsy.
- Promote it through emails, social media, or by partnering with others. You don’t need fancy ads.
Tip to Get Started:
Keep it simple in the beginning so you can launch quickly. Try to make $1,000 in sales before you worry about making it perfect.
Side Hustle 2: Build a Micro-Community with Monthly Income
You already give out advice or content for free, and your inbox is full of client questions. So why not create a small, private group where people pay to connect with you and your team?
A paid micro-community is a simple way to earn steady income. Whether you have 10 people or 1,000 in the group, the effort it takes to run it stays about the same.
Why this works:
You’re turning customer support into a business. You don’t need to be a big expert—just share the advice and help you already give every day. For example, 50 people paying $200 each month adds up to $10,000 a month.
Example:
Joey, who runs a web design studio, started a paid Discord group for freelancers who want to stop using sites like Upwork. He charged $49/month. After five months, he had 300 members and was making $176,400 per year. In the group, he shares pitch templates, client lessons, and helpful tips.
How to Get Started with a Micro-Community:
- Choose a problem you’ve already helped others solve.
- Offer access to your knowledge, templates, and time.
- Use platforms like Circle, Discord, Slack, WhatsApp, or Facebook Groups.
- Start with a low price, like $10 to $49/month, and grow from there.
Extra Benefit:
If you ever want to sell your business, buyers love seeing steady, repeat income like this.
Side Hustle 3: Earn Affiliate Income From Tools You Already Use
You likely already suggest tools, books, and software to your clients. Why not earn money when people take your advice?
Affiliate income is often overlooked by service-based business owners. You already have trust, and your clients ask for your recommendations. This trust can turn into money.
How to Start with Affiliate Revenue:
- Make a list of 10 tools or products you use every week.
- Check which ones have affiliate programs and sign up.
- Add your links to welcome emails, your website, and social posts.
- Create a page on your website called “Tools I Use to Run My Business.”
Change in Mindset:
You’re not being pushy. You’re just earning money by sharing things you already believe in.
Side Hustle 4: Rent Out Items You Already Have
Sometimes, the extra income you’re looking for is already sitting in your storage room. You don’t need to build or create something new—just use what you already own.
Example:
One of my clients, Tania, had some lighting equipment left over from her photography business. It was just sitting around. She started renting it to local creatives for $90 a day. It now rents out twice a week, earning her $720/month.
Other Things You Can Rent Out:
- Office space by the hour
- A podcast studio
- Unused land or a parking space
Why this works:
You don’t have to build or create anything new. You’re simply making money from something you already have.
Action Step:
Walk through your workspace, garage, or storage area. Ask yourself, “What haven’t I used in the last 90 days that someone else might want to pay to use?”
Final Thoughts on Earning $100,000+ Through Side Hustles
One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is waiting for everything to be perfect before starting. But success doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from getting started, even if things are a bit messy at first. You don’t need to work longer hours. You just need to build one solid stream of income.
Pick the idea that feels the most interesting to you. Start small. Test it. Improve it later. With time, you could have a side hustle that brings in $100,000 or more each year—without filling up your calendar.
