15 Best Side Hustles in South Africa

Updated on 22 July 2024

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15 Best Side Hustles in South Africa | SME South Africa

There are plenty of ways that you can make some extra cash without too much effort. If you’re tired of relying on your job alone for your income, then starting a side hustle can be incredibly rewarding.

Here are 15 of the best side hustle ideas that you can start in South Africa. You can start all of these business ideas without having to quit your job.

1. Laundry Services

If you’ve got the space and equipment, starting a laundry business can be pretty simple. Set this up where there is enough demand, and running your own laundry service can be a relatively easy way to make an extra income from home. How to run a laundry business 

2. Car Wash

Washing cars has always been a popular way to make some extra cash. All you need is a bucket, a sponge, water, and some car soap. Here’s a guide to launching a car wash business 

3. Babysitting

Babysitting is an easy side hustle if you’re good with children. Once you get enough clients, it can be a profitable venture. Even if you are not into a full-time babysitting business, this is just one side hustle in South Africa where there is always a need.

4. House Sitting

People are always going on holiday and looking for someone to take care of their homes and pets. Build up a good reputation as a house sitter, and you can make a decent stream of extra income doing minimal work.

5. Hair and Beauty

If you have hairstyling skills, you can use them to start your own side hustle. Run a hair styling business from home, or visit your clients’ houses. You could also add extra services, like doing make-up, nails, or waxing. Here’s a guide to opening a hair salon 

6. Airbnb

One of the easiest side hustles for property owners is to rent out a room (or their whole property) on Airbnb. How Airbnb Experiences Can Help Grow Your Business 

SEE ALSO: TOWNSHIP BUSINESSES IN SOUTH AFRICA

7. Personal Trainer

All you need is a passion and understanding of exercise, and you can take on a few clients as a personal trainer. Plenty of people are looking to get fit, so there’s always a demand for personal training.

8. Catering and Baking

If you love to cook, then starting a catering or baking side hustle is a great idea. You can run this from your home kitchen, and scale up as your business grows. It’s a good idea to focus on a specific niche, like wedding cakes or corporate catering, to help you find the right customers.

9. Crafts

There are all kinds of crafty side hustles you could start, such as starting a candle-making business or making creative greeting cards. If you have a knack for arts and crafts, then this can be a fun way to make some extra money.

10. Tutoring

Tutoring has always been a popular side hustle for students. You can either tutor school or university students and can do this online or in person. Of course, you have to be proficient in the subject you tutor.

11. Blogging and Content Writing

You could start a blog and monetise it, or offer freelance content writing services for other companies. If you have a way with words, this is a fun side hustle. Blogging and content writing is also great because you can easily do it online from home.

12. Video Creator

Many people are able to make good money running a YouTube channel. If you have basic video skills and equipment, you could create a video channel based on your interests. If you get enough subscribers, it could result in a lucrative side hustle.

13. Online Surveys

This is one of the easiest ways to make extra money from home. You can sign up for programs that pay you to take simple surveys. The more surveys you are able to complete, the more you earn. South Africans can sign up to The Panel Station and receive vouchers from partners such as Takealot ant Vodacom.

14. Driver

If you have a car and some spare time, you could join Uber or Bolt and make some extra money as a driver. This is a great way to work on your own schedule.

15. Buying and Selling

Find a gem, buy it cheap and resell it for a profit. You could visit thrift stores, garage sales, and second-hand marketplaces to do this. Or, you could buy a new product at wholesale prices, and sell it. Just make sure to find a product and niche with enough demand.

If you want to make some extra money, there are plenty of great opportunities to do this. Many of these side hustles in South Africa require barely any investment to get started, and they can help you make some good money. Consider what skills and interests you have, and look for a way to turn them into a side hustle. Who knows, it might even become your new career path!

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