How To Make Money In A Small Town – 20+ Side Hustle Ideas
If you live in a small town or rural area, you might feel like your income-generating opportunities are limited.
This can be incredibly frustrating if you're trying to start a new side hustle. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact, there are plenty of realistic ways to earn money without relying on gigs that are just available in big cities. And many of these ideas can be done at home or in-person depending on your preferences.
So in this post, I'm covering some of the best small town side hustles you can use to make quick cash.
Let's get to it!
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The Best Small Town Side Hustles
Some of the ideas in this post involve making money online. In contrast, other ideas involve starting your own side business or using various gig apps to make money.
Think about your skills and the types of work you want to do. Then, you're ready to get your hustle on and make some extra money!
1. Blogger
Blogging is one of the most popular online side hustles, and for good reasons.
For starters, anyone can start a blog, the startup costs are minimal, and it allows you to build a legit online business with unlimited income potential.
Blogging is also the perfect small town side hustle since you just need a computer and internet connection to get started. I actually started WebMonkey in my small college town, and it's since grown from a small side gig into my full-time income source.
In 2022, WebMonkey made $272,000 between affiliate income and Mediavine advertisements. Blogging has changed my life and let me travel the world, making all of my income online.
A profitable blog is also a valuable asset you can sell when you're ready to move on. Based on current valuations, most established blogs and websites are worth about 3-4x their annual profit, which can lead to a big payday when you sell.
Of course, there are some drawbacks to blogging as well.
The biggest downside is that building a successful blog takes a lot of time and patience. Most blogs generate little or no money for the first 6-12 months, sometimes longer. You must keep putting in the work before you start to see the results.
But you can start your own blog without spending a fortune. I suggest using affordable hosts like SiteGround, which is the host I used to scale WebMonkey for its first three years.
2. Airbnb Host
Many small towns and rural areas don't have many hotels nearby. This presents an excellent opportunity to earn passive income by renting out a spare room or unit in your home or another property you own.
By becoming an Airbnb host, you can provide travelers with a comfortable and convenient place to stay while also making some money. And although you need to clean rooms or units between visitors, you can outsource this work if cleaning doesn't fit into your schedule.
If your rural town and area has events like festivals or sporting events, you could also see a surge in tourists once in a while and then upcharge for accommodations during busy periods.
3. Dog Walking & Pet Sitting
Are you an animal lover? If so, one fun side hustle you can try is to offer dog walking and pet sitting services to people in your area.
Pet owners always need some form of assistance if they're going away on vacation or are busy with work. So, this is a year-round opportunity, and you can earn decent side income with just a few walking or sitting clients.
Plus, gig economy apps like Rover make it easy to find your first clients. This gig app connects pet owners with qualified sitters and walkers, and you get to set your availability and the rates you charge.
Rover also lets you select the types of animals you work with. Overall, it's a useful app for starting your own pet sitting business, and it can still work in a small town and rural area.
4. Survey Taker
Another simple small town side hustle you can try out is to answer survey for money.
I've been using instant cash surveys to make money ever since college. And while this gig doesn't pay a lot, it's an easy way to make a bit of pocket money in your spare time while watching TV or lounging around the house.
Several survey sites I use and recommend include:
- Branded Surveys: My favorite survey site with PayPal and free gift card prizes.
- Survey Junkie: Another leading site with a low $5 cash out minimum.
- Swagbucks: This gpt website pays you for completing surveys, shopping online, playing trivia, surfing the web, and more.
- InboxDollars: A U.S. rewards website with a nice $5 bonus when you sign up.
- Kashkick: A fun site that lets you complete surveys and play games for PayPal cash.
My video covers even more survey sites I suggest checking out. Although Branded Surveys and Survey Junkie are the two sites I use the most right now.
5. Handyman
Working as a handyman or handywoman is another excellent side hustle idea that can work in any town or city.
Many homeowners are willing to pay large amounts of cash for some handyman help. This could involve things like furniture assembly, TV mounting, deck repair, or any similar task that requires some tools and know-how.
In a small town, word of mouth can probably land you a few gigs if people know you're skilled with things like plumbing, electrical, or woodworking.
You can also try out gig apps like Taskrabbit and Handy to find nearby clients. However, you might have to drive to nearby towns if you find clients since these apps aren't as effective in rural areas.
6. Online Freelancer
Selling your skills online as a freelancer is another excellent way to make money, even if you live in a remote area.
Freelancing is also how I make a lot of my income now. And all you need to start is a laptop, internet connection, and the willingness to put yourself out there.
Some popular freelancing industries include:
- Accounting
- Coding
- Digital marketing
- Graphic design
- SEO
- Social media management
- Transcription
- Website design
- Writing
- Video editing
- Voice over actor
In my experience, you can find your first clients on marketplaces like Upwork or Fiverr. Using your own network is also an option.
You can also check out remote job boards like FlexJobs. This helps you find flexible, remote freelancing and full-time job opportunities, and it's an excellent resource for new and experienced freelancers alike.
7. Etsy Seller
Do you have a knack for making handmade goods? Or are you a bit of a DIY-craft expert? If the answer is yes, one small town side hustle you can try is to sell stuff on Etsy.
Etsy is a massive marketplace that's popular for anything vintage or DIY. And I like it since setting up your shop is free, so it's a low-cost side hustle.
This is also one side hustle I tried back in college. I sold meme mugs with an Etsy print on demand store, working with a manufacturing partner to sell my merchandise.
However, mugs are just one example of things you can sell. Some other popular Etsy products include:
- Artwork
- Business cards
- Clothing
- Crafts
- Decorations
- Printables (like meal plans, planners, budget sheets, organizers, and checklists)
- Seasonal merchandise
- Stickers
Selling digital downloads like printables is ideal since you don't have to worry about shipping. But even physical products are viable, and you can sell them to a global audience while living in a small town.
8. Furniture Flipper
Furniture flipping involves finding old pieces that can be restored and improved and reselling them for a profit.
This hustle takes some DIY skill, and you often have to sand, paint, stain, or reupholster pieces to make them ready for resale. However, old furniture is one of the most popular things to flip and can have great margins.
Chances are, people also throw away old furniture at your local junkyard. And you can sometimes find pieces for free on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.
Pick up these pieces, refurbish them, and then relist them for sale to turn a nice profit.
9. YouTuber
YouTubers make money through ads, sponsorships, affiliate programs, and by creating and selling products. And this is another great way to make money in rural areas since you just need a camera and internet connection to get started.
It's not just the top-earning YouTubers making money either. Even a small channel can turn into a nice passive side hustle that makes money everyday as people view your videos.
For example, I began my channel in 2020. Since then, it's passed 24,000 subscribers, and it now makes $1,500 a month in passive advertisement income.
However, just like blogging, growing a YouTube channel requires a lot of time and effort. But thanks to the viral nature of online videos, it's possible for new YouTube channels to skip the grind and grow quickly.
10. Photographer
People in towns and cities of all sizes need photographers. So, this is a natural small town business you can start if you have an eye for photography.
You can take portraits of families and kids, photograph weddings and events, take professional shots for businesses, and more.
Real estate photography is another excellent opportunity. You could specialize in photographing homes and properties for sale (having a drone for aerial shots helps) and contact local realtors to offer your services.
11. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants, or VAs, help online business owners and entrepreneurs manage elements of their businesses.
This is a legit online job that's a good fit if you have a high-level of attention to detail and can stay organized. Examples of VA tasks you can get paid to complete include:
- Administrative tasks
- Customer service requests
- Emailing clients
- Moderating blog and social media comments
- Scheduling appointments
- Travel organization
This video from virtual assistant coach Erin Booth shares tips for how you can launch your own VA side hustle and find clients.
You can also use microtask websites like Fancy Hands to find clients. And word of mouth is a great way to expand your business as you gain experience.
12. Transcriptionist
Transcription involves listening to audio files and converting them into text. If you're a fast and accurate typist, a transcription side hustle is an excellent way to make money from home in your spare time.
Transcriptionists often work on things like transcribing YouTube videos, podcasts, interviews, and even courtroom sessions.
You can look for work on various freelance job boards like Fiverr. Alternatively, you can apply to companies like Rev.com and freelance on its transcription marketplace.
13. Grocery Delivery Driver
Rideshare driving with Uber or Lyft is a popular side hustle in major cities, but most small towns don't offer the same possibilities.
However, working as a grocery delivery driver is an excellent alternative. And food delivery gigs like Instacart and Shipt are gradually expanding into more rural areas.
Some local grocery delivery stores also hire their own in-store delivery drivers. So, you can potentially land a side job with them and deliver within your local town or the surrounding areas.
Driving gigs like DoorDash and Uber Eats might also be available. But again, these gigs are often slow in rural areas and don't pay as much as in cities.
Extra Reading – How Much Do Instacart Shoppers Make A Week?
14. Mowing & Yard Work
Lawn mowing and yard work services can be done anywhere. All you need to get started is a lawn mower or riding mower, weed trimmer, and a vehicle to transport your equipment to clients.
You can start by checking with people in your neighborhood to see if they need your services. You can go door-to-do and hand out flyers, post ads on bulletin boards at local businesses and organizations, or create a post on Craigslist.
If you have other equipment like a riding mower, leaf blower, and trimmer, you can offer additional services or work on bigger yards, but that's not 100% necessary to start.
15. Sell Produce
If you have a garden or farm, selling produce is an excellent way to make extra money in a small town.
You can start by selling to people you know. To grow and make more money, you could set up a farmstand or take your produce to a farmers market.
A few people in my small town do this and sell fresh eggs and vegetables with stands by the side of the road. And a few even sell at the weekend farmer's market. Selling small goods and more speciality-goods at flea markets and events can also be quite lucrative.
Extra Reading – The Best Weekend Side Hustles.
16. Pressure Washing
Pressure washing is a niche side hustle idea that's also viable in small towns.
You can clean sidewalks, patios, decks, outdoor furniture, and houses with an inexpensive pressure washer. You may already own a pressure washer. If not, you can buy one for as little as a few hundred dollars.
Pressure washing is an ideal service because almost every homeowner is a potential client. Many people don't own a pressure washer. And even those that do own one may not have time to do the work.
17. Painting
Painting is an excellent service to offer in just about any town. Small towns may provide fewer potential clients, but you're also likely to face less competition.
You can paint interior rooms, house exteriors, decks, barns, and more. And you can also branch into side hustles like interior design and decorating if you have an eye for design.
18. Fishing Guide
If you have a lot of experience fishing in your local area, you can offer services as a guide.
This small town side hustle requires that you live near nature and good fishing country. You're essentially starting a tour-guide business, and clients may include travelers, people who are new to the area, and people who are just learning to fish or getting familiar with the local spots.
This side hustle may not offer the same unlimited income potential as some others, but it can be a fun way to earn extra money with a hobby you love.
You could also branch into other forms of local tour guiding, like hiking or historical tours, depending on what your small town is known for.
Extra Reading – The Best Side Hustles For Couples.
19. Pool Cleaning
If you want to make extra money in the summer, consider pool cleaning services. Your small town may not have many pool cleaning services, so the competition can be relatively light.
This is a good opportunity if you have your own pool or if you already have experience with basic pool cleaning and maintenance. You can offer your services throughout the summer and even provide pool opening and closing services.
This is also an excellent college side hustle if you're a student and are looking for some ways to make money over summer break.
20. Gutter Cleaning
If you're still wondering how to make money in a small town, you can always offer manual labor gigs like gutter cleaning to people in your town.
Cleaning gutters is a simple task that can be done with a few basic tools. If you're okay with heights and being on roofs, plenty of people will hire you rather than trying to do the work themselves.
This is a service that some homeowners need every year or maybe every couple of years. So, if you're looking to build a long-term business, you'll likely get repeat clients if you do an excellent job for them.
You can also branch into similar hustles like window washing and cleaning if you're already doing gutter cleaning.
21. Personal Trainer
If you're a fitness fan and enjoy training other people, one rural side hustle you can try is personal training.
A few of my friends make money as personal trainers by offering group coaching at at-home private sessions. This is a fun way to get paid to workout, and you also get a sense of accomplishment as you see your clients improve.
If your small town has a gym, you can also work there as a trainer. But offering at-home training sessions or even park workouts is an easy way to start this side gig.
22. Home Cleaning
Another small town hustle you can consider is cleaning homes for money.
House cleaners are necessary in cities and towns of all sizes. Busy professionals, senior citizens, and plenty of groups need cleaners to help them keep their homes tidy and organized.
In addition to houses, you can also offer services to clean businesses or offices. Repeat clients are common, regardless of whether you clean homes or businesses.
Extra Reading – How To Make $5,000 Dollars Fast.
Tips For Getting Started
If you're itching to get started, here are a few tips you can keep in mind to increase your odds of success:
- Set An Income Goal: Do you want to make some side cash, $3,000 a month, or 10k a month or more? Different hustles have different levels of earning potential, so pick one that suits your goals.
- Stick To What You Know: I stick to blogging, freelance writing, and YouTube since it plays on my existing skills. Think about your own talents and interests and play to your advantage.
- Focus On Customer Service: In small towns, word of mouth is everything. Offer stellar customer service if you have a service-based business so you can get repeat clients.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this guide helps you make money in a small town with an online or in-person hustle that you enjoy.
At the end of the day, you can always test out a few of these ideas with your own side hustle stack to find what works for you. And who knows; if you stick with a hustle or business long enough, you might be able to go full-time or seriously scale your income.
Best of luck, and thanks for reading!
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