As temps rise and pool parties take flight, many are seizing the opportunity to earn some summer cash. After all, who doesn’t love a good side hustle? Yet, not all side hustles are created equal. While some earn a couple extra hundred dollars here and there, others can earn $5,000 a week!
But no one just stumbles into those earnings. The key to really killing it? Planning and preparing way before the start of summer. That way, as soon as summer rolls around, you can hit the ground running.
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Here are four side hustles where you can earn $5,000 a week during the summer months, if you prepare properly.
Lawn Mowing or Landscaping
Landscaping is in high demand all summer and has low side gig startup costs. So power up that mower, hand out business cards and get cracking. According to Gene Caballero, co-founder at GreenPal, individuals can earn $50 to $75 per lawn. And, to pull in even more money, they can upsell services like cleanups, mulching, aerating and trimming.
“You will have to have good route density, a lot of recurring customers and long days, but $5,000 a week is doable,” Caballero said.
Digital Services
If you’re more of an indoors-y type, Sheraz Ali, founder at HARO Links Builder, suggested offering digital services like SEO, link building, digital PR or conversion copywriting. When you’re just starting, you may have to charge by the hour — but, as you gain experience and reviews, you can charge per project or receive a retainer. Per Ali, two or three clients on retainer may be all you need to get you to $5,000 a week.
This side hustle doesn’t involve inventing anything new, but it does involve specializing in one skill and putting in the requisite time and effort to prove your competence and good name.
Selling digital services “involves months of building skill and portfolio and outreach to potential customers,” Ali explained. Earnings don’t happen overnight. They accrue as a result of adequate effort, time and clients.
Event Planning
Summer is peak wedding and event season so demand for planners is high. Milos Eric, co-founder and general manager at OysterLink, a job platform, said weddings, corporate events and exclusive parties pay anywhere from $3,000 to $25,000 per event, depending on location, scale and experience.
While you don’t need official credentials to get hired, you likely aren’t going to get bookings without a portfolio. Eric recommended side hustlers getting some experience and connections assisting more established event planners for a few months. Or organize a couple events for your friends and family (for free) to gain experience and build your portfolio.
Vertical Video Virality
Joden Clash Newman, founder and CEO at Clash Creation, has generated quite a profit getting his videos to go viral on Facebook and TikTok. However, millions of views are required for substantial, financial success. And, before being able to monetize videos, these platforms require creators to accrue 10,000 followers and 600,000 viewership minutes — so you’ll need to hustle hard in order to meet the prerequisites.
According to Newman, the platform splits the revenue generated from advertisements it plays around your content. Additional revenue comes through brand sponsorships and affiliate marketing.
In order to achieve virality, Newman advised focusing on pre-validated formats (like greenscreen news updates) that people already recognize and understand. Then focus on achieving lots of engagement which is calculated by two metrics: comments and shares. (Sadly, quality cannot be quantified and won’t generate income in and of itself.) Engagement generally comes from creating a polarizing discussion or getting people to share content that resonates with them.
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This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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