Any successful entrepreneur can tell you that passion is the backbone of a good business. And what activities are you more passionate about than your hobbies? Follow that line of thinking a step further and you might just realize those "hobbies" could also be a pretty sweet source of income.
Whether it’s illustrating children’s books or training cats, there’s probably someone out who finds your hobby valuable enough to pay for it. And because anyone can set up an online store with platforms like Ecwid, it’s never been easier to give your passion project a try.
So what are some of the best activities to start earning a side income? Here are 10 money-making hobbies — you might already be doing — that could become your next side hustle.
Handmade Cards
There’s always a good reason to buy a greeting card. A birthday… a wedding… an anniversary… or even just to remind an old friend they’re still cool. Handing out personalized notes on fancy cardstock will never go out of style.
If you love to draw and write puns and have a fairly decent eye for design, creating handmade cards might just be for you. A trip to the local arts and crafts store should be all you need to get started.
As a visual medium, cards are a great candidate for selling on Instagram. With Shoppable Instagram posts, followers can easily purchase your products right from your posts by tapping a shopping tag. You don’t even need a website to get started.
Cookies
What’s better than a dozen homemade cookies? If you have a knack for baked goods, try selling a few batches online.
If you do decide to sell your famous double-chocolate chip cookies, some permits and special preparations may be required. And when your operation gets big enough, you might want to consider an industrial kitchen. But hey, that’s for later.
Decadence Delivered cookie shop
With a free e-commerce website optimized for small businesses, you can start accepting your first orders immediately. If you bake at home in your free time, use Ecwid’s In-store Pickup option to let customers pick up their orders right from your front door.
Prints
If you’ve got an eye for aesthetics and know your way around a graphic design program, printmaking could be for you. Create prints of your favorite quotes, artsy maps of your city, a doodle of a kangaroo — the skies the limit. Literally. You could make a print of the sky. And you know what? Someone would probably buy it!
Also check out: Build Your Business with Ecwid Starter Site: 17 Inspiring Niche Examples
And getting your prints on t-shirts, mugs, and posters has never been simpler with Ecwid and Printful. With Ecwid’s integrated print-on-demand model, you can create your design, upload it to Printful, give it a shout out, and let Printful take care of the rest.
When a customer places an order, their request is automatically sent to Printful where your product is then printed and shipped to the customer. No inventory. No packaging boxes. And little-to-no investment. Awesome.
Knitting and Embroidery
It’s no secret that knitting and embroidery are among some of the most popular hobbies. They’re low-impact, easy-to-learn, and at the end of it, you get fancy clothes. Custom-made knitwear like sweaters, scarves, and hats make great, practical gifts.
Embroidery may be a little trickier than knitting since it requires a bit more precision and practice, but if you get good enough, you could be handsomely rewarded. These clever DIY embroidered patches have been popular among the younger crowd for a few years and could make for an easy sale if you know what you’re doing.
Jewelry
It might take a few years to create a jewelry masterpiece, but that doesn’t mean you’ll need to wait years to make your first sale. Start by watching tutorial videos, buying the supplies, and collecting some good inspo on your Pinterest board. Practice, practice, practice. And when you’ve got something you like, give it a go!
In fact, several of Ecwid’s finest make and sell their own jewelry in their free time. Learn how they got started and what they do to keep the sales going.
Candles
Some shoppers look to candles as a way to relax. Others just want an easy way to make their homes smell nicer. But you might be surprised to learn that making scented candles is actually a fairly simple process.
What’s more, candle making supplies are fairly inexpensive and pretty easy to get online or in your local arts and crafts store.
Soap and Bath Bombs
Like with the candles, soaps and bath bombs are an easy, inexpensive hobby. And with an endless array of shapes, scents, and ingredients to experiment with, you can really let your creative juices flow.
Tip: check out our post on packaging ideas to deliver a unique, branded experience for your products.
Cooking
Imagine selling your grandma’s famous sauce or creating your own raw vegan energy bars. Put ’em in some pretty packaging, set up an online store, and before you know it, you’re in business. If you’ve got a
Even pets need some cooking done for them. That’s why more and more people have started selling fancy home-cooked treats.
Also read: Rules and Regulations for Selling Food Online
Vegetable Gardening
If you happen to live on a farm or just have a large backyard, try growing and selling vegetables and herbs. What’s more organic than veggies grown on a small local farm down your street? If you want to try something very contemporary, you might also set up a local organic vegetable subscription service, keeping your customers’ mailboxes filled with fresh fruits and veggies on a recurring basis.
Sell vegetables online, in-person at fairs and street markets, or both! With Ecwid, managing your inventory is simple as it stays synced automatically across all the available sales channels.
Floral Design
With nothing more than a class or two in floral design, you can make extra money decorating weddings and baby showers with beautiful flowers. You can even start a flower delivery service. You don’t need to be snobby about things — don’t shy away from using faux flowers as you get started. As your business grows, you may be able to sell your arrangements as home decor pieces.
If any of these hobbies seem appealing to you, don’t hesitate to look some tutorials up on YouTube, buy supplies, and start creating. When you’re ready, check out our article on how to make your first sale online.
And check out this story of one Ecwid solopreneur who sells handmade cosmetics both online and in-person for a little extra inspiration.
Good luck exploring your interests and seeing which of them can turn into a business!