The side-gig industry is still booming, but not all side gigs are created equal and not all people doing them make enough money to justify the time and effort involved. According to Self, just under 20% of side-gig workers earn over $1,000 a month, while nearly 46% said they earn less than $250. That’s quite a range, even considering the average side hustler works five to 10 hours a week.
If you’re considering starting a side gig in 2025, here are some to avoid.
Check Out: 5 Side Hustles That Can Earn You an Extra $1,000 Before 2025
Read Next: 5 Unusual Ways To Make Extra Money That Actually Work
Ridesharing and Other Driving Gigs
Average pay: $19 an hour
There are many ridesharing and driving opportunities out there, such as Uber, Lyft and DoorDash. While these are generally easy to get into, especially if you have a reliable car and clean driving record, the potential earnings vary massively based on where and when you drive.
Not only that, but you have to account for things like wear and tear on your vehicle, taxes, cleaning, maintenance and fuel costs. And of course, you’ll need to pay taxes as a freelancer (something to consider when starting a side gig in general). Some days, you might drive a lot. Others, you might find yourself waiting for the next customer for hours before finding one with decent pay.
See More: I’m a Self-Made Millionaire: Here’s How I Use ChatGPT To Make a Lot of Money
Online Surveys
Average pay: Varies
Taking online surveys for a bit of cash isn’t new, but it also doesn’t pay a lot. So, if you’re thinking about starting up a side gig in 2025, you might want to take this one off your list.
Here’s an example. A popular online survey site, Swagbucks, pays its members anywhere from $1 to $5 daily. Some offers do pay $50 to $250, but these tend to be more intensive and time-consuming. Unless you love filling out surveys, this one isn’t worth the effort.
Etsy Shop Owner
Average pay: $537 (median)
Whether or not you should avoid opening an Etsy shop is dependent on many factors. Ask yourself what you’re interested in, how much time you’re willing to dedicate to the craft, what you can charge, and whether or not it’s worth it.
Some people make serious money on Etsy, but most make well under a thousand dollars. One person on the Etsy subreddit said they had their shop open for three months and only made $12.
But profitability isn’t the only factor. You may also have significant upfront costs to deal with, not to mention those self-employment taxes. And then there are the fees Etsy charges on every sale.
Stock Photographer
Average pay: Varies
Many people will take photos and put them up on stock photo websites to sell. Individuals and businesses can purchase these photos to use for their own projects or personal interests.
While professional photography is very much still alive and well heading into 2025, it can be hard to stand out and make decent money this way. If you want to get into photography, you may be better off starting your own professional brand, portfolio and website, and building an audience instead.
House Flipping
Average return on investment: $73,492
If you’re looking for a true side gig, something you don’t need to dedicate that much time and energy to, house flipping might not be for you. While house flippers can make some serious money on their projects, they also typically need to spend a lot of cash upfront on things like renovations, financing and insurance. The projects themselves can easily take months or years to complete, so this isn’t a “make money quick” kind of scheme.
Rover Pet Sitter
Average pay: A few hundred dollars or so a month
If you love animals, you’ve probably considered offering your services to people with pets in some capacity, perhaps as a pet sitter, dog walker or groomer. While you can make a few hundred dollars or more a month doing this, there are a few things you’ll want to think about before getting started in 2025.
Take Rover for example. The platform charges its side-gig workers a fee for every job. If a customer cancels on you, you won’t get paid.
That said, the math does work for some but not others. According to one source, some people earn about $1,000 in a month while others barely make $580. That’s not accounting for income taxes or other fees.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Side Gigs To Avoid in 2025
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