The best side hustles in the UK for 2025 (ranked by profitability)

Looking for a side hustle in 2025 that actually pays off?

You’re not alone. With the rising cost of living, more people than ever are turning to side income — freelancing, flipping, creating, and consulting — to take control of their finances.

But not all side hustles are created equal.

Some sound great on paper…but pay less than minimum wage when you factor in your time and expenses.

So in this guide, we’re ranking the best side hustles in the UK for 2025 — based on one key metric:

Profitability per hour.

How we ranked these side hustles

We looked at three key criteria:

1. Realistic earning potential in the UK

2. Time investment required to earn

3. Upfront or ongoing costs

For each hustle, we estimate:

• Average monthly income

• Average hours required

• Effective hourly rate (earnings after tax & time)

Want to test these numbers with your own data?
👉 Try SideCalc — our free tool for calculating your true take-home pay.

1. Freelance services (design, writing, marketing, video editing)

Income potential: £500 – £2,500/month
Time required: 5–20 hours/week
Effective rate: £25–£60/hour

If you’ve got a digital skill — writing, design, SEO, coding, editing — freelancing remains one of the most profitable and flexible side hustles in 2024.

You set your own rates. Work remotely. Choose clients.

The key is packaging your service well and avoiding low-paying platforms like Fiverr.

Bonus tip: Track your actual work hours (including admin, revisions, etc.) in SideCalc to make sure you're not undercharging.

2. Tutoring (online or in-person)

Income potential: £400 – £1,500/month
Time required: 4–10 hours/week
Effective rate: £30–£50/hour

Tutoring is booming — especially in subjects like maths, English, science, and 11+ prep. Platforms like MyTutor, Superprof, or private Facebook groups make it easy to find clients.

If you enjoy teaching and already know the subject matter, this can be a low-stress, high-reward gig.

Many tutors make £40+/hour with minimal setup costs.

3. Reselling / flipping products

Income potential: £300 – £1,500/month
Time required: 5–15 hours/week
Effective rate: £20–£35/hour (after sourcing + fees)

Buy low, sell high. Whether it's thrifted clothes, electronics, books, or collectibles, reselling is still going strong in 2024 — especially on eBay, Vinted, and Depop.

The key is:

• Knowing your niche

• Understanding trends

• Minimising time spent sourcing + shipping

Watch out for hidden costs like postage, platform fees, packaging, and time spent listing items — SideCalc can help break this down.

4. Dropshipping / print-on-demand stores

Income potential: £200 – £1,000+/month (varies wildly)
Time required: 5–25 hours/week (setup-heavy)
Effective rate: £10–£25/hour (once running)

This one's popular on TikTok and YouTube — but the hype doesn't tell the full story.

Running an online store takes time, testing, and a lot of marketing. Most of the profit comes later, once you’ve figured out ads, product selection, and branding.

Still, it can scale quickly once it’s working.

Be careful not to count revenue as profit. SideCalc can help you figure out what you actually earn once ads, platform fees, and refunds are factored in.

5. Content creation (YouTube, TikTok, Blogging)

Income potential: £0 – £2,000+/month
Time required: 10–30+ hours/week
Effective rate: £5–£30/hour (highly variable)

Content creation has long-term potential — but it’s often a slow build.

You might make nothing for months while building an audience… then suddenly start earning through:

• YouTube AdSense

• Affiliate links

• Sponsorships

• Digital products

If you're passionate about a topic and play the long game, it can become a full-time business. But it's not a quick win.

Use SideCalc to track your time + monetisation milestones. You might be earning less than you think — or more than you expected.

Want to know what you would earn?

These numbers are averages — but your situation might be completely different.

That’s why we built SideCalc:
A simple tool to calculate your real take-home pay after:

• Expenses

• Taxes

• Time

Enter your numbers. See your true hourly rate. 👉 Try it here

Honourable mentions

These didn’t make the top 5 for profitability per hour, but might be great depending on your goals:

• Delivery driving (Uber Eats, Deliveroo) – Easy to start, lower hourly rates after fuel/wear

• Dog walking / pet sitting – Reliable, especially in cities; great if you love animals

• Virtual assistant – Competitive field, but solid for admin-minded people

• Photography gigs – Event or portrait work can pay well per job, but setup time is a factor

Final thought: Profit beats popularity

Just because a side hustle is trending on TikTok doesn’t mean it’s profitable.

The smartest hustlers focus on:

• Value over hype

• Efficiency over hours

• Take-home pay over top-line revenue

So before you dive into another side gig…

Run the numbers. Know your worth.
Choose the hustle that makes sense for you.

Use SideCalc now to figure it out in 30 seconds.

FAQs

What’s the most profitable side hustle in the UK?
Freelancing (design, writing, marketing) often has the highest hourly rate and flexibility, depending on your skill.

How can I find out if a side hustle is worth it?
Use SideCalc to calculate your hourly rate after tax, time, and expenses — so you know if it’s really paying off.

Are side hustles taxable in the UK?
Yes — once you earn over £1,000/year from self-employment, you need to register with HMRC and file a Self Assessment.