Last Updated on July 30, 2025 by Jan Barley
Side hustles for creative people are one of the easiest subjects to write about. Firstly, I am a creative person. Secondly, I have tried multiple side hustles.
Some creative side jobs from home still make me a small monthly passive income. Other side hustles for creative people are becoming my primary source of income.
If you’re a creative person, it’s absolutely possible to create an income from a side hustle. You’re happiest when creating, and you can make money from creativity.
Don’t worry. You aren’t limited to Etsy. I have plenty of side hustle ideas for you so you can learn how to monetise creativity.
1. Freelance Graphic Design
One of the best side hustles for creative people from home is graphic design.
You no longer need to invest in expensive software like Adobe. Canva is one of the most uncomplicated graphic design platforms to master.
Canva is great for artistic side hustles, and it’s low cost. If you’re new to Canva, I recommend following Created by Wayne on YouTube. His tutorials are easy to follow and implement.
2. Print on Demand
I started a print-on-demand shop in 2023. It’s a great digital art side hustle. I uploaded over 230 designs to my Redbubble shop, which is dog-themed. I created every single image with Leonardo AI.
Oh boy. I had so much fun.
You don’t have to use an AI image generator, but it’s quick and easy, and I found Leonardo to be the cheapest and easiest to use.
I make a small monthly income from sales and intend to start uploading images again soon.
3. Blogging
This website is my blog, and I bloody love it!
Whatever creative interest you have, you can write many articles about it. A blog is a great way to build your brand, get subscribers to your newsletter, add affiliate offers, and sell digital or physical products.
The objective is to write content that gets ranked and monetise your blog without being in the face of your readers.
Always provide value content. Read my article on 7 types of blog content Google loves.
After getting approved for ad revenue with Journey by Mediavine, I intended to publish more blog content, but I couldn’t keep up with juggling my commitments.
I thoroughly tested KoalaWriter, which is one of the best AI writers I have ever used. Most of the ones I tried, spit out utter garbage. KoalaWriter produces and outline and first draft in minutes. I estimate it has saved me 4+ hours for each blog post and there is minimum editing.
Read my review of KoalaWriter.
These Fascinating Side Hustles Get Away From The Typical Etsy Pursuits & Make Far More Money
4. Pinterest Pin Design
If you’re looking for side hustles for creative people, you can make money with Pinterest.
If you love colour and creativity, creating Pinterest pins is a dream, and you can get paid around £500/month per client.
I’d advise learning Pinterest SEO and watching Kristin’s free pin design workshop.
After watching the free pin design workshop, I bought Kristin’s course, which is worth every penny and has dozens of gorgeous templates to help you speed up your design process.
I am on the way to making a decent side hustle income from my Pinterest skills.
5. Web Design Templates
If you’re good with Squarespace, there’s a high demand for Squarespace website templates. Have a quick look at Etsy, and you will get an idea of how much money you can make with this side hustle for creative people.
Even more exciting is to create Canva website templates. They are surprisingly good, and people are happy to pay around £97.
Considering it would cost £3k+ for a purpose-built website, this is a great side hustle for beginners that helps people who can’t afford a web designer.
6. Social Media Management for Creatives
Many creatives are fantastic at their art but not good at marketing and maintaining a social media presence.
As a social media manager, your job is to create and manage posts, monitor analytics and create a long-term strategy for growth.
Rather than focusing on multiple social media platforms, it’s best to provide a niche service, such as Instagram, Pinterest or TikTok.
Knuckle down and become an expert with one particular platform and find the clients whose customers hang out on that channel.
7. Video Creation
Creating video content is addictive for creatives. Most businesses don’t know how to create impactful video content and pay handsomely for someone who does.You don’t need a video camera if you create faceless content. I use the Capcut software for editing, which is fairly intutive to use for beginners.
8. Photography
Photography is a great side hustle for creators. The secret to success is to choose a niche. My friend photographs wildlife. She is an introvert and makes a good side hustle income. Choose a niche you love, and you can make a side hustle income you will enjoy.
I’d advise taking a course and learning about lighting techniques, such as using filters and the best cameras. You may also find a photography group in your local area.
9. Writing
I’ve been a freelance SEO writer since early 2021 and made a good income working part-time hours. There are many ways to approach a writing side hustle:-
- Copywriting
- Creative writing
- SEO writing
- Ghostwriting – helping someone to write their book
- Creating e-books
- Creating books for Amazon – Kindle, paperback or hardback
Whatever you choose to do, pick a niche. Become a specialist in that niche and earn a handsome side hustle income. I make $50 – $100 per month from this side hustle.
10. Create a Course
Whether you have a gift for crafts, photography, writing, video content or something else, you can create a course and make passive income from this side hustle.
Here’s a story I heard recently. A woman created a recipe, put it online for $3 and made $250k from that product.
You can create your course on Canva or capture it on your screen with Loom. After that, register for a free account with Systeme. You can host one course entirely for free. You can also create a capture page, website, sales page and email campaign to market your product.
If you’re serious about building a side hustle, marketing is a priority.
11. Build Sales Funnels
There is a high demand for sales funnel builders. The exciting news is that Systeme is currently offering a free certificated course.
You can charge £1000+ per project or a day rate of £350+ per day. It is a super lucrative side hustle for creative people.
I’m currently working my way through the funnel-building course. It is super easy to follow.
12. Voice-Over Work
Have you got a silky smooth voice that makes people comment on how lovely it is? If so, voice-over work is the perfect side hustle for you.
You can get work as a voice-over artist for audiobooks, commercials, animation, documentaries or any project that needs a specific type of voice-over.
Do a quick search for “voice-over websites”, and you will find dozens of companies looking for voice-over artists.
I use ElevenLabs for voiceovers and recently cloned my voice. I uploaded two hours of audio so it could assess my voice and it uncannily sounds like me!
13. Animation
There’s a high demand for animators, especially with the growth of the metaverse. You need to be good at storytelling, be able to work with a team, and have a high level of proficiency with animation software.
Experienced animators can command upwards of £100 per hour, so this is a superb side hustle for creative people with animation skills.
There are plenty of courses available online to learn.
14. Event Planning
Are you super organised and creative, and do you have an eye for detail? If that’s the case, event planning could be a perfect side hustle for you.
This side hustle can earn you thousands of pounds for a big event or a few hundred for smaller events.
You don’t need qualifications. Decide what niche you’d like to work in and whether you’d prefer private or corporate events. The latter pays more but can be more demanding.
Get some experience and then start marketing your services.
15. Art Vlogging
YouTube has made it easy for artists to make an income online from a creative side hustle. There are multiple ways to get paid.
- Build up your YouTube channel and get monetised
- Get brand partnerships
- Start a membership – Buddy Boss is good for beginners
- Sell your work
- Create merchandise
You will need good lighting and a quiet background, but most art vloggers use their mobile phones to record.
Conclusion
If you’re creative, there is no excuse for being short of money. Most creatives I know can turn their hands to any creative venture.
I have built a Gabion stone wall, needle-felted dogs, revamped old furniture and done decoupage, pottery and many other creative things.
You could probably do any of these 15 side hustles for creative people, so let me know how you get on. Now go and start your side hustle and get more of the green stuff in the bank.
Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.
FAQs
What Is The Best Side Hustle For Creative People?
The best side hustle depends on your skills and interests, but top picks include freelance graphic design, selling digital products, or creating content on platforms like YouTube or Etsy. These options let you express your creativity and earn well.
Do Creative Side Hustles Really Pay Well?
Yes! Many creative side hustles can become full-time incomes. For example, graphic designers, content creators, and course creators earn thousands monthly once they build an audience or client base.
How Can I Start A Creative Side Hustle With No Experience?
Start by identifying your strengths and interests. Then, choose a side hustle that aligns with them, learn the basics through free or affordable resources (like YouTube or Skillshare), and practise consistently. Many platforms allow beginners to get started quickly.
What Equipment Or Tools Do I Need To Begin?
It depends on the side hustle. For digital art, you may need a drawing tablet. A laptop, microphone, and design software can help with YouTube or digital products. Start with what you have and upgrade as you grow.
How Much Time Should I Dedicate To A Side Hustle?
Even just 5–10 hours a week can be enough to make progress. When I am busy with client work, I set aside one hour in the evening. That’s enough to get me started, and then I typically spend 1-2 hours working on my side hustle projects.
My current side hustle workload focuses on creating YouTube videos and writing blog content to drive ad revenue.
Consistency matters more than time. Many creative people grow their side hustle in the evenings or weekends alongside a full-time job. Switch off Netflix and get started!
Can I Turn My Creative Side Hustle Into A Full-Time Business?
Absolutely. Many successful entrepreneurs started with a side hustle. With patience, strategy, and persistence, you can scale your side hustle into a profitable full-time career doing what you love.
