Side hustles are becoming standard for today’s workers. Statistics show that 36 percent of US adults now have a side job that supplements their primary income source, but many people who work a second job don’t have much to show for it.
According to a recent survey, 25 percent of people working a side hustle make only $50 or less per month, even though there is potential to earn more. The same survey found that 9 percent of people make over $2,000 a month from their side hustles.
Joseph Gonzalez, Founder and CEO of Level Up Insurance and Engage Media, encourages those investing their time in a side hustle to set their sights high. Rather than seeing side hustles primarily as a way to help with regular living expenses, as surveys show many hustlers do, Gonzalez says it should be seen as a way to expand your financial horizons.
“If you are searching for a side hustle, the main purpose should not be to make more money,” Gonzalez says. “You need something that can actually take you up the financial ladder. That means looking for an opportunity that has potential for growth, can generate real income, and has a prospect of developing further.”
Gonzalez is a businessman whose background is rooted in entrepreneurship, marketing, and insurance. He launched Level Up Insurance in 2020 and has since grown the agency to over 200 active agents specializing in health and life insurance. He has also founded a full-service marketing agency, a media company focused on personal branding, a successful credit repair company, and a business process outsourcing call center in Colombia.
The following are three side hustles that can be leveraged to achieve the type of financial growth Gonzalez encourages.
Life insurance sales
Selling life insurance as a side hustle offers a number of advantages. First, sales jobs in the life insurance industry are easy to find and easy to qualify for. Second, they pay well. Third, the income is recurring.
“In my life insurance agency, part-time earnings can exceed $42,000 per year,” Gonzalez shares. “Those who transition their side hustle into a full-time insurance sales job can earn over $100,000.”
Selling life insurance also offers the flexibility that makes for a great side hustle because it allows you to set your own schedule and work remotely. Because it is generally commission-based, salespeople can also work only as much as they feel is necessary to make the money they want.
Gonzalez highlights proper guidance as the key to making life insurance sales work. “I focus on assisting agents in obtaining the leads, branding, and training that will enable them to earn money,” he says.
High-ticket affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is a commission-based business that earns money through promoting other companies’ products. Promotions are tracked with unique links to determine the amount of sales being generated and the appropriate commission.
Anyone with a successful blog or social media following can use affiliate marketing to earn additional income. While over half of affiliate marketers make less than $1,000 per month, there is potential to earn five figures.
Gonzalez believes the key to success is promoting high-ticket products like software, financial services, or coaching resources. He says that focusing on those types of items can result in $500 to $2,000 per sale.
Affiliate marketing also provides the flexibility that side hustles typically require. It requires only content generation — no dealing with customers, shipping products, or supporting services. Once effective content is created to drive traffic and generate click-throughs, it becomes a source of passive income.
Digital products and online courses
Digital products and online courses are another side hustle that leverages the power of passive income. Once a video course or e-book is developed, unlimited units can be sold without any additional production efforts.
“Converting your expertise in business, fitness, art, or any hobby into an online course or e-book gives you the potential to earn thousands of dollars a month,” Gonzalez says. “These products tap into the desire people have to get quick results as they seek to gain new skills.”
Gonzalez highlights the need for effective marketing in any side hustle involving online courses or digital marketing. He says strong personal branding is critical for making marketing impactful and seeing sustained sales growth.
These side hustles stand out because they leverage flexibility, earning potential, and passive income models to fuel financial growth. When used to offer products that have high market demand, they can produce considerable income, even leading to opportunities for full-time work.