One of your main goals as a couple should be to manage your money. Whether you have a joint account or separate accounts, making money together can help you improve your finances.
Imagine the possibilities of creating a side business as a couple – one that generates extra income and brings you two closer together. The best part? You don’t need loads of experience or a hefty investment to get started. And most of them you can do from home (or the beach, or a remote cabin in the woods, anywhere really!).
Here we unveil a collection of side hustle ideas tailor-made for couples like you.
1. Take Pictures
If you want to do something fun, why not offer photography services for events like birthdays and weddings? Picture one of you capturing the perfect shots while the other arranges props and tools, creating an enchanting visual experience.
This collaborative approach reduces the stress that often accompanies solo photography gigs. Sharing the workload makes the entire experience more enjoyable and not complete chaos. Plus, your combined efforts will result in exceptional photographs and happy clients.
Or, spend your weekends together exploring and taking pictures. But instead of posting them on Instagram, sell them on stock photo sites.
2. Dog Walking or Pet Sitting
Yes, you can get paid to take care of other people’s adorable furry friends. Pet owners often require assistance when they’re out of town for work or tied up with busy schedules, leaving their furry pals in need of some TLC until they return. You and your partner can turn these into fun dates, stroll through the park, play fetch, and provide love and care to these adorable companions.
3. House-Sit
Sometimes, those petting-sitting gigs include house-sitting, too. As a couple, you get paid to look after other people’s homes (which may include pets and plants), and you can treat it as a little vacation. In a way, it’s like you’re getting paid to stay in an Airbnb and keep it clean rather than being charged extra fees for not folding the laundry right.
A friend of mine house-sat with his wife for a full year. They got paid to live in a mansion—plus they didn’t have to pay rent. Although most house-sitting jobs won’t be this profitable, you can make good money with smaller jobs, too. All you have to do is keep the home in shape.
4. Open a Food Truck
If you have the start-up money, hit the road with your very own food truck! This exciting business opportunity allows couples to serve up mouthwatering and innovative creations, ranging from gourmet burgers to artisanal ice cream and fusion cuisine. As a couple, you can unleash your creativity and collaborate on developing a menu that truly reflects your culinary vision, all while building a successful business.
Catering events is also a potential avenue to earn some money with your kitchen on wheels.
5. Sell Cakes and Pastries
Some of us were lucky enough to learn how to bake from our parents or even grandparents when we were kids. If you or your partner know how to make tasty cakes, pies, or pastries, you could make money as a couple by selling them. No expensive food truck is required.
As long as you have the basic tools and follow local health, safety, and licensing regulations, you can run a bakery out of your kitchen. You can sell your treats to your neighbors and coworkers or online to people in your community.
6. Get Into Real Estate
You don’t need a million dollars to invest in real estate. You can make money by investing in a “real estate investment trust.” This lets you buy shares in a group of properties, which helps you make money passively as the value of the properties goes up.
Owning an Airbnb or two and monetizing short-term rentals is another option. By transforming your properties into inviting accommodations, you can earn income from travelers looking for a place to stay.
7. Help Out Homeowners
If owning real estate is out of reach or not a venture you’re interested in, work for homeowners and investors instead. Many people want to hire someone to plant and take care of their gardens, mow lawns, clean, fix things, or do odd jobs around their homes. If you know how to do the job well and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, start by helping with friends and family. Once you start getting good reviews, you’ll get more clients.
8. Get a Truck
How many times have you wished you knew someone with a truck to help you move or bring your old junk to a donation center or the dump? You and your partner can become the reliable and dependable friends with a truck you’ve always wished for!
When you own your own truck, you’re in the driver’s seat of your earning potential and the master of your operation. Just remember to consider operating costs like fuel, maintenance, insurance, and any licenses or permits you might need.
Running a hauling business requires top-notch time management and organization skills. Plan your jobs strategically, so you can maximize your earnings while still enjoying your personal time.
9. Flip Furniture
One of the best side jobs for handy couples is flipping furniture. You can buy a piece of furniture from a neighbor or thrift store, fix it up or change it into something else, and then sell it for a good price. Refinishing, reupholstering, repainting, or repurposing – the goal is to breathe new life into the furniture and create a unique and desirable piece.
Working together as a team, you can leverage each other’s strengths, such as one person focusing on repairs while the other handles the creative aspects, streamlining the process and maximizing efficiency. If you know what you are doing, this can be a very good way to make money.
10. Become Resellers
Flipping furniture isn’t the only way to make good money reselling. If you have things at home that you no longer need, fix them up and put a price tag on them. Spend your weekends browsing flea markets and garage sales for resellable items that are in good shape.
Try selling your stuff on popular websites like Craigslist or eBay. Most people go to these sites to find used things for a fair price.
11. Sell on Amazon
Amazon has made it so much easier to reach hundreds of thousands of customers all over the world. Once you have a product that people want to buy, you could make a lot of money selling it from your home (since the entire transaction takes place online).
You don’t need a lot of money to start a business selling things on Amazon, which is a plus. The trick is finding something that people want. As long as you have an in-demand item, you will always have customers.
According to Jungle Scout, 48% of Amazon sellers make at least $1,000 in sales per month, with 11% making more than $25,000.
12. Print-On-Demand
By creating and designing products such as T-shirts, pants, and socks, you can leverage online platforms like Etsy or Shopify to reach a wide customer base and sell these designs.
The beauty of a print-on-demand business is that you focus on the creative process and building your brand while the printing company handles the production, printing, and shipping logistics. This allows you to invest time and energy in designing unique and appealing products without worrying about inventory management or fulfillment.
When a customer purchases an item from your online store, the printing company deducts their costs from the sale price. For example, if your T-shirt is priced at $10 and printing and shipping costs $5.50, you would earn a profit of $4.50 per T-shirt sold.
13. Open a Shop on Etsy
If you and your partner are crafty and know how to make things like candles, face masks, spice mixes, or wine koozies, you can sell them on Etsy and make money. Tens of thousands of successful shops sell different things on the platform (both physical and digital products).
Once you sign up for free on the platform, build your store and add photos of your products. If a customer likes a certain item, they can buy it right away. Yes, that means you can make sales even when you’re asleep. Etsy makes the whole thing easy and has a large, established customer base.
If you have kids, get them in on this initiative, too, and make it a family activity.
14. Open a Personalized Gift Shop
Selling your work isn’t limited to Etsy. Create with your partner and offer customized gift items like engraved jewelry, hand-etched glassware, monogrammed accessories, or personalized home décor. You can sell them on Etsy or your own website or hit up vendor markets and set up a table.
Together you can channel your artistic talents into crafting one-of-a-kind gifts that leave a lasting impression. From birthdays to anniversaries and special occasions, you’ll help customers express their love and appreciation through thoughtful items made just for them.
15. Be a Camp Counselor
Embrace the great outdoors and become the ultimate campground hosts! If you two love nature, becoming camp counselors is an exciting opportunity. You and your partner can divide responsibilities and take turns being in charge, making it a flexible and enjoyable experience. You’ll both have time to soak in the serene surroundings and savor the campsite lifestyle away from all the noise.
While the job is seasonal, you’ll help your camper make new friends and create lifelong memories amidst nature’s beauty.
16. Tutor Together
Working with students of all ages and helping them learn something new is rewarding in itself, but it can also pay well. Especially if you can double up. Offer group tutoring sessions together (online or offline) or tutor siblings separately in their homes. What you teach can be anything from learning the piano or guitar to test preparation or learning a new language.
17. Sell Courses Online
Turn your shared knowledge into an online course and sell it to thousands of people. People all over the world are willing to pay for good education and online courses.
Almost anything can be turned into a course. For example, you can take your love for adventure and create an exhilarating course on outdoor survival skills. Or, you can invite the world into your kitchen and teach aspiring chefs how to create mouthwatering dishes inspired by different cuisines.
Once you’ve made your course, host and sell it on popular sites like Udemy, Teachable, and Thinkific.
18. Start Blogging
Similarly, you and your partner can start a blog together where you write about your favorite things. Blogs are a great way to make money because you can monetize your site and your content in so many different ways. From ads, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing to selling digital products or offering consulting services, the potential for financial success is as vast as your imagination.
I know lots of couples who blog together full-time and part-time. One writes while the other edits or one person handles the tech issues while the other manages your email.
19. Start a Channel on YouTube
Making videos for YouTube is a dynamic and captivating way to share your ideas, just like writing a blog. In fact, you can turn your blog posts into videos, expanding the monetization potential of your blog in yet another way.
But you have to be able to make content that is interesting or useful if you want more people to watch it and subscribe to your channel. You make more money the more views and subscribers you get.
As a couple, you have the unique advantage of showcasing your shared experiences and perspectives, providing viewers with authentic and relatable content that resonates.
20. Make Content for Social Media Sites
YouTube is not the only platform where the two of you can make money from your videos or live streams. Many couples make funny videos of themselves doing everyday things and post them online using Instagram and TikTok.
If you aren’t shy, why not try it? When one of your videos goes viral, or your page gets popular, you can start making a lot of money by advertising and promoting brands. Brands will be eager to collaborate with you, offering sponsored partnerships, product promotions, and endorsements. And if it doesn’t, you have hilarious “home-movies” of your time together.
Tie it in with your blog and YouTube channel, and you have a powerful and multi-faceted online presence!
21. Start a Podcast
Podcasting presents yet another avenue for you and your partner to monetize your shared interests and perspectives. Start an engaging podcast about your relationship, discuss topics that hold significance for both of you or (once again) repurpose your existing blog posts into podcast episodes; this medium offers a unique and intimate way to connect with your audience.
Just like with a blog or a YouTube video, by incorporating strategic ad placements within your podcast episodes, you can earn revenue based on the number of listeners and the reach of your show.
22. Social Media Management
For shy couples looking to make money online, give social media management some thought. You can make up to $25 per hour by helping small business owners run their social media pages, and you don’t have to be in front of the camera dancing.
All you have to do is make content (posts on social media), upload them, interact with the people who follow you, and maybe answer potential clients. This can be a lot easier if you and your partner work together. The more creative person can be in charge of making posts, and the more detail-oriented one can be in charge of publishing them.
23. Design Websites
Another great side hustle for couples with similar interests but different skill sets is web design. The creative partner can make the site and its branding look great, while the more technical partner can code and customize the site so it runs perfectly.
Earn Additional Income Together
From starting a food truck to offering personalized gifts, the key to success is to find a side job that resonates with both your interests and skills. From there, you can learn from each other, support each other, and grow closer as a couple, all while earning some extra money. So, find something that excites you, take the leap, and enjoy building a thriving side business that lays the foundation for a wealthy future together.
300 Side Hustle and Small Business Ideas
Can’t find the right side hustle for you and your partner? This massive list of over 300 side hustle ideas will surely inspire you! Whatever small business idea you decide to pursue, I hope the extra income is exactly what you need to improve your finances together.
How to Decide What Side Hustle to Start?
There are literally hundreds of ways to make extra money. You could start a blog, babysit, or sell unused household items at a garage sale. But the best side hustle or business for you to start is one that fits your lifestyle and is something you can commit to without sacrificing your other priorities. How you answer these 15 questions will help you decide which side hustle is the best one for you (and your family).
Amanda Kay, the founder of My Life, I Guess, provides valuable career advice and support for anyone striving to make a living and, more importantly, make a life. Whether it's navigating job searches, learning new skills, overcoming unemployment, or dealing with debt, My Life, I Guess has been a go-to resource for career guidance and financial stability since 2013. Amanda's expertise and relatable approach have been featured in trusted publications such as MSN, Credit.com, Yahoo! Finance, the Ladders and Fairygodboss.