12 Best Side Hustles in Singapore in 2024

With a competitive job market and core inflation in Singapore expected to stay elevated, many households are feeling the pressure on their budgets. As a result, more Singaporeans are turning to side gigs and part-time jobs to supplement their income and ease the financial burden.

Whether you're saving for a big purchase, building a financial cushion, or simply looking to earn extra cash for your next vacation, having another source of income besides your day job offers flexibility and security.

Furthermore, with today’s technology, it’s easier than ever to find flexible ways to earn extra income. In this article, we’ve highlighted 12 of the most accessible and potentially lucrative side hustles you can pick up this year. Read on to map out your strategy for extra cash flow.

Before starting a side job in Singapore, here are a few steps to help you pick the right one and improve your chances of success.

Identify Your Goals and Interests

Before you jump in, determine what motivates you. Whether you hustling to make extra money for rising costs or just explore a passion. Your goals determine the hustle you should choose.

If you need quick income, consider active options like pet sitting or tutoring, which can earn you money immediately. If you’re looking for passive income, look into ecommerce or affiliate marketing. If you want to turn a passion into a profit, consider ways to monetise that interest. For example, if you enjoy cooking, you could start a food blog or sell homemade goods.

It’s helpful to be clear about your financial goals. Without a specific amount in mind, it’s hard to focus. But if you’re aiming to earn SGD 500 a month, it’s easier to eliminate options that don’t fit.

Assess Your Current Skills and Knowledge

Evaluate your existing skills and experience, then identify how they align with the needs of people in Singapore. Doing what you excel at can help you earn the most because you’re likely to be more efficient, produce higher-quality work, and secure better rates. 

For instance, if you're skilled in graphic design, you could offer freelance design services or create digital assets to sell online. With IT skills, consider assisting small businesses in digitising their operations or creating websites. If you excel in math or science, you might offer tutoring. 

Identify Gaps in the Market

Look for niche opportunities where demand is growing and aligns with your skills or interests. For instance, if you notice a rising demand for eco-friendly products in your community, you might explore creating and selling sustainable lifestyle products.

For freelancing, platforms like Upwork or Fiverr can help you spot in-demand services and see how competitors position themselves. 

Explore Existing Communities and Platforms

Before choosing your side hustle, check out related communities and platforms. For example, if you’re considering driving for Grab, there are many Facebook groups where current drivers share their experiences. If you're considering a platform to sell goods or services, read reviews first. This research will give you insights into the job, potential earnings, and the advantages and disadvantages, helping you decide if it’s the right fit for you.

Manage Your Work/Life Balance

Prioritise your time effectively to ensure you can balance your side hustle with your full-time job and other commitments. Set realistic goals, establish boundaries, and allocate dedicated time for your side hustle to prevent burnout and maintain overall well-being.

Now that we've covered what to consider, let’s explore the side gigs available. There are plenty of opportunities across various sectors that cater to different skill sets and time commitments. 

Below is a list of side jobs that can help you earn extra income, along with details on potential earnings and popular platforms to get started.

The tuition industry in Singapore has always been large, but it has grown even more since the pandemic. If you have knowledge or expertise in specific subjects, tutoring is an excellent option, as there is always a strong demand, and it pays by the hour. You can tutor either in person or online, depending on what works best for you. 

Popular tutoring platforms in Singapore include:

• Snapask is an online tutoring platform that allows you to join them as a tutor and schedule flexible working hours. You will need to upload relevant certificates and complete a probation.
• TigerCampus is another tutoring platform open for registration. You can choose to teach online or in person with flexible hours, though there may be a minimum requirement of about 8 hours per week.
• Tutor City is Singapore's home tuition agency that matches tutors with students. 

It's best to narrow down the subjects you want to tutor. In Singapore, there is a high demand for tutoring in PSLE, O-Level, A-Level, IGCSE, IB, and more.

Ecommerce sales in Singapore are expected to reach SGD 19.6 billion by 2027. As retail shifts online, setting up an online shop has become increasingly accessible and attractive. 

One popular model for ecommerce start-ups is dropshipping. In this model, you collaborate with a third-party supplier who takes care of inventory and shipping. You list their products on your online store at a marked-up price, and the supplier ships the product directly to the customer when an order is placed.

What you need to do is research the market to identify products you want to sell, find dropshipping suppliers, set up your online store, and leverage social media platforms to promote your products to the target audience and drive traffic to your site.

The advantage of dropshipping is that you can start with little to no investment. However, the challenge lies in the intense competition, as many people are looking to enter this space.

The point-to-point (P2P) transport services sector supports an average of 606,000 daily trips in Singapore. Despite the modest 1% rise in demand this year, the number of active private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers increased by 8%, reflecting a clear attraction to the industry. Likewise, Singapore's online food delivery market is expanding, with expected revenues of USD 1.61 billion this year.

Earnings are moderate during regular hours and can spike during peak times. Drivers can make more by focusing on high-demand periods like rush hours and weekends. Understanding demand patterns and considering location and competition can help boost earnings.

Here’s a popular platform you can partner with to become a driver.

• Grab: For both food delivery and ride-hailing services. Instant cash-out to your bank account and access earning insights to maximise your income. For general information on being a Grab partner, visit Grab Partner Info. To explore the driver guide to earnings, check out Grab Driver Earnings.
• Gojek: Drive and earn rewards, including bonuses for new drivers. For general information about being a Gojek driver, visit Gojek Driver Info.
• TADA: The key selling point is that it takes 0% commission from drivers and allows them the freedom to choose which rides to accept. For more information, visit TADA Driver Info.

If you own a car, this can be a good option; however, if you need to rent a car, it may not be ideal. Consider platform commissions, petrol fees, and insurance costs. Most platforms offer petrol discounts but under different conditions.

The translation industry is vast and is projected to reach USD 46.22 billion by 2028, driven by the increasing demand to localise copies and content to the local language.

If you're fluent in multiple languages, offering translation services can be a great side hustle, offering both convenience and flexibility in scheduling. Platforms like Fiverr and Upwork are popular places to find translation opportunities.

Currently, a major challenge in the translation industry is the growing use of machine translation, with the market expected to exceed USD 1,500 million globally in 2024. Companies are increasingly using machine translation and hiring translators for post-editing (MTPE), which may pay less than traditional translation.

Are you a photographer or enjoy photography as a hobby? If so, selling high-quality photos online can be a rewarding side hustle. 

Websites like Adobe Stock, Shutterstock and Getty Images allow you to upload your photos and earn between 15% to 40% of the purchase price for each download, depending on the platform and your contributor level. 

One major benefit is that your photos can generate passive income over time. However, it's essential to research popular photo categories to improve your earning potential. Stock photo platforms have quality requirements, such as a 300 DPI resolution. They also have minimum payout thresholds before you can withdraw your earnings.

If you need a simple option, participating in online surveys can be the answer. These surveys require no specialised skills—all you have to do is answer questions and earn points, which can be exchanged for vouchers or cash rewards. 

Some popular platforms are:

• Rakuten Insight - 500 points for USD 5, each survey can earn you from 1 point to 70 or more points
• Milieu Application (available on both Apple and Google Play stores) - Users can redeem points for rewards, such as Grabfood vouchers or PayNow cash withdrawals.

However, be cautious when choosing online survey providers. Scams are prevalent, so ensure you’re signing up with legitimate sites that don’t require subscription fees to get started and that the survey does not ask for sensitive information that does not seem relevant such as your credit card details.

Web and app testing is another simple way to earn extra income, similar to taking online surveys but typically more involved and with a slightly higher pay. Businesses want feedback on the user-friendliness of their websites and apps, so they rely on testers like you to navigate their platforms and provide insights.

As a tester, you’ll be asked to browse through the site or app, interact with buttons and menus, and assess the overall functionality. To get started, you can explore platforms that connect you with businesses looking for testers. like:

• Userbrain: Record a video while completing tasks for 5 to 20 minutes. Earn USD 5 per test via PayPal.
• UserTesting: Share your thoughts through recorded tests or live conversations about products. Payment varies by test type and duration, and the amount is shown in your dashboard before you decide to take on a task. 
• Trymata: Record your screen and voice, plus complete a short survey, while using websites or apps. Earn USD 5 to USD 30 per test.

87% of Singapore travellers plan to take as many or more trips abroad as last year. This means those who are also pet owners may need trustworthy caregivers for their pets while they are away.

If you love animals, you might enjoy offering services such as pet sitting, dog walking, or pet boarding. You can choose home visits, where you check on and care for a pet once or twice a day, all-day care services, or boarding, where you stay with the pet for the duration that the pet owner is away.

To get started, you can explore platforms like Pawshake, which connects pet sitters and walkers with pet owners in need of services in Singapore. 

For those with a knack for art and crafting, you can turn your hobby into a profitable side hustle by crafting unique items to sell online. Platforms like Etsy or your own Instagram and Facebook pages are great places to showcase and sell your creations. 

From handmade pouches and earrings to stylish headbands, there's a market for a wide range of crafted goods. Your side income potential depends on how you price your products, so be sure to consider materials, labour, and market demand when setting prices. 

Digital products are items that exist entirely online in the form of files, such as eBooks, templates, fonts, and videos. They offer an excellent opportunity to monetise your skills. 

For instance, if you love cooking, you can sell online recipe collections. If you're a graphic designer, you could offer design elements like fonts or digital brand kits. If you're skilled at creating templates, you could design useful Excel or Notion templates. If you’re in tech, you can sell website themes or plugins. The possibilities are endless.

Marketplaces for these products include platforms like Etsy, Canva, Themeforest and Gumroad.

The key is to find a niche that aligns with your expertise and create valuable products that address your audience's needs. This approach can generate passive income over time.

The global affiliate marketing industry is valued at over USD 17 billion.

If you’re looking to create a source of passive income, affiliate marketing might be the way to go. By reviewing a product and posting a referral link, you earn a commission for every sale made through that link. 

This approach is ideal if you already have an online presence on platforms that allow linking, such as blogs, Instagram, TikTok, and other social media. If you don't yet have a strong presence, you can try creating one, whether it's a social media or website. Just keep in mind that building an online presence takes time.

Popular affiliate programs to explore in Singapore are Amazon Associates, Lazada and eBay.

While it takes active time and effort, freelancing and consulting can be among the most profitable sources of extra income. Identify your unique skills and know-how—whether you’re a web designer, graphic designer, digital marketer, accountant, or writer—and consider starting a freelance or consulting gig.

Common freelance opportunities include graphic design, content writing, copywriting, web development, and social media management.

Common consulting areas include management, accounting, social media marketing strategy, and IT solutions. Many businesses seek consultants to provide training on specific software, develop strategies, or address unique challenges they face.

Setting up a portfolio website or utilising platforms like Upwork can help showcase your skills and attract clients.

Side hustles in Singapore offer a practical way to boost your income and alleviate financial pressures. There are several options like tutoring, dropshipping, pet sitting, translating, freelancing and more. You can choose what fits your skills and schedule best.

Before starting, clarify your goals and assess your abilities to find the right fit. With careful planning and commitment, you can use your free time to create a new income stream.