Updated January 2026
25+ proven ways to earn extra money in the UK. From delivery apps to freelancing, with realistic earnings in pounds and UK tax guidance.
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The side hustle economy in the UK continues to grow exponentially. With the cost of living remaining high and flexible work becoming the norm, over 4.5 million people in the UK now run side businesses alongside their main employment.
Whether you're looking to pay off debt, save for a house deposit, or simply have extra spending money, the opportunities have never been better. The gig economy has matured, platforms are more reliable, and the tax system has adapted with clearer guidance for side hustlers.
This guide covers the best side hustles specifically for UK residents in 2026, with realistic earnings in pounds, UK-specific platforms, and guidance on HMRC registration and tax obligations.
| Side Hustle | Hourly Rate | Startup Cost | Time to First £ | Skill Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deliveroo Driver | £10-20 | £0 (bike) - £200 (scooter gear) | Same day | Beginner |
| Freelance Writing | £15-50 | £0 | 1-2 weeks | Intermediate |
| Uber/Lyft Driving | £12-25 | £100-300 (licensing) | 1-2 weeks | Beginner |
| TaskRabbit Tasker | £15-35 | £50-200 (tools) | 3-7 days | Beginner |
| Airbnb Hosting | £300-1,500/mo | £200-500 | 2-4 weeks | Intermediate |
| Web Development | £40-100 | £0-50 | 2-4 weeks | Advanced |
| Online Tutoring | £20-50 | £0-100 | 1-2 weeks | Intermediate |
| Dog Walking (Rover) | £10-25 | £0-50 | 1-2 weeks | Beginner |
| Virtual Assistant | £12-30 | £0 | 2-4 weeks | Beginner |
| Amazon FBA Selling | £500-3,000/mo | £500-2,000 | 4-8 weeks | Intermediate |
Earnings: £10-20/hour (peak times can reach £25/hour)
Deliveroo is one of the most popular food delivery platforms in the UK. You can deliver by bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle. Peak hours (lunch and dinner) offer higher earnings with boosts and bonuses.
Best for: Students, flexible workers, fitness enthusiasts
Requirements: Age 18+, right to work in UK, smartphone, bike/scooter/car
Payment: Weekly via bank transfer
Earnings: £9-18/hour + tips
Similar to Deliveroo, Uber Eats lets you deliver food on your schedule. The app shows you expected earnings before accepting orders. Great flexibility with instant pay available.
Best for: Part-time workers, anyone wanting flexible hours
Requirements: Age 18+, right to work, valid ID, delivery vehicle
Payment: Weekly (instant cash-out available for small fee)
Earnings: £12-25/hour after expenses
Private hire driving in the UK requires a PCO licence (London) or private hire licence (other areas). Higher earning potential than food delivery, especially during peak times and weekends.
Best for: People with reliable cars, good driving records
Requirements: Age 21+, PCO/private hire licence, DBS check, appropriate insurance
Startup costs: £200-400 (licence, insurance, vehicle checks)
Earnings: £10-18/hour
Stuart focuses on package and parcel delivery for retailers. Less competition than food delivery, often delivering for major retailers. Good option for bicycle and scooter riders.
Best for: Cyclists, scooter riders, those wanting daytime work
Payment: Weekly direct deposit
Earnings: £13-17/hour
Deliver Amazon packages in set blocks (usually 2-4 hours). More structured than other delivery apps but guaranteed pay per block. You'll need a car for most routes.
Best for: Car owners, those wanting guaranteed pay rates
Requirements: Valid UK driving licence, car, smartphone, clean DBS check
Payment: Twice weekly via direct deposit
Earnings: £15-50/hour (£0.05-0.30 per word)
Content writing, copywriting, and journalism remain in high demand. UK businesses often prefer UK-based writers who understand local nuances. Start with platforms like PeoplePerHour, Upwork, or Contently.
Best for: Strong writers, journalists, English graduates
UK platforms: PeoplePerHour, Freelancer UK, Upwork
Potential monthly income: £500-3,000 part-time
Earnings: £40-100/hour
High demand for WordPress, Shopify, and custom website development. Even basic web development skills can earn £30-50/hour. Learn through free resources like freeCodeCamp or Codecademy.
Best for: Tech-savvy individuals, those willing to learn coding
Skills needed: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, WordPress, or Shopify
Potential monthly income: £1,500-5,000+ part-time
Earnings: £12-30/hour
Provide administrative support remotely - email management, scheduling, data entry, social media management. Low barrier to entry with opportunities for specialisation in areas like bookkeeping or social media.
Best for: Organised individuals, former office workers, parents
UK platforms: PeoplePerHour, Time etc, Virtalent
Potential monthly income: £400-2,000
Earnings: £20-50/hour
Tutoring is huge in the UK, especially for GCSEs and A-Levels. You can tutor academic subjects, music, languages, or test prep. Platforms like Tutorful and MyTutor make it easy to find students.
Best for: Teachers, graduates, subject matter experts
UK platforms: Tutorful, MyTutor, First Tutors, Superprof
Potential monthly income: £800-3,000
Earnings: £25-75/hour
Design logos, social media graphics, marketing materials, and more. With tools like Canva and Figma, you don't need expensive software. Build a portfolio and market yourself on UK platforms.
Best for: Creative individuals, design students, marketers
UK platforms: PeoplePerHour, 99designs, Fiverr, Upwork
Potential monthly income: £600-4,000
Earnings: £15-35/hour
TaskRabbit connects you with locals needing help with furniture assembly, moving, handyman work, cleaning, and more. Available in London, Manchester, Birmingham, and other major cities.
Best for: Handy individuals, physically capable workers
Popular tasks: Furniture assembly, mounting TVs, moving help, general handyman
Potential monthly income: £600-2,500
Earnings: £10-25/hour for walking, £25-50/night for sitting
Use Rover, Pawshake, or Tailster to find local pet owners. Dog walking is ideal for morning or evening side income, while pet sitting can earn more for overnight stays.
Best for: Animal lovers, students, flexible schedules
UK platforms: Rover, Pawshake, Tailster, BorrowMyDoggy
Potential monthly income: £300-1,500
Earnings: £12-20/hour
Consistent demand for reliable cleaners. Start with friends and family, then expand through Bark, Bidvine, or TaskRabbit. Build regular clients for steady income.
Best for: Detail-oriented, physically capable, trustworthy individuals
Startup costs: £50-150 for supplies and insurance
Potential monthly income: £500-2,000
Earnings: £15-35/hour
Lawn mowing, hedge trimming, and garden maintenance are always in demand. More lucrative in spring and summer. Market yourself locally through Nextdoor, Facebook groups, and local advertising.
Best for: Outdoors enthusiasts, physically active individuals
Startup costs: £200-500 for tools
Potential monthly income: £600-2,500 (seasonal)
Earnings: £20-50 per car (£15-30/hour)
Offer mobile car washing and valeting services. Travel to customers' homes or offices. Low startup costs with potential for high margins once established.
Best for: Detail-oriented, entrepreneurial individuals
Startup costs: £100-300 for equipment
Potential monthly income: £500-2,000
Earnings: £300-1,500/month
Rent out a spare room or your entire property while you're away. London hosts earn the most, but good earnings possible across the UK. Be aware of local regulations and the 90-day rule in London.
Best for: Homeowners with spare space, sociable hosts
Startup costs: £200-500 (quality bedding, keys, amenities)
Considerations: Council tax implications, 90-day limit in London
Earnings: £200-2,000/month
Sell handmade items, vintage goods, or digital products. UK sellers do well with printables, art prints, jewellery, and craft supplies. Build gradually with consistent listings.
Best for: Crafty individuals, artists, makers
Startup costs: £50-300 depending on products
Popular UK niches: Printables, wedding items, vintage finds, personalised gifts
Earnings: £500-3,000/month
Source products wholesale or from China, send to Amazon's UK warehouse, and they handle storage, packing, and shipping. Requires upfront investment but can scale significantly.
Best for: Entrepreneurial mindset, willing to invest
Startup costs: £500-2,000 for inventory
Time to profit: 2-4 months typically
Earnings: £200-1,500/month
Buy items at car boot sales, charity shops, or Facebook Marketplace and resell for profit on eBay. Low startup costs and you can start immediately. Learn what sells well in your niche.
Best for: Bargain hunters, negotiators, patient researchers
Startup costs: £50-200
Popular categories: Electronics, designer clothing, collectibles, vintage items
Earnings: £50-200/month
Not huge money, but genuinely easy. Prolific, Swagbucks UK, and YouGov pay for your opinions. User testing sites like UserTesting pay £8-10 for 15-20 minute tests.
Best for: Spare time filler, watching TV downtime
UK platforms: Prolific, Swagbucks UK, YouGov, Qmee, UserTesting
Realistic expectations: £2-5/hour, best as supplementary income
£20-60/hour
Manage social accounts for local businesses. High demand, low startup costs.
£40-150/hour
Events, portraits, real estate, or stock photography. Weekend work ideal.
£20-40/hour
Help small businesses with accounts using QuickBooks or Xero.
£15-50/hour
If you're bilingual, translate documents or provide interpretation services.
£20-60/hour
Personal training or online fitness coaching. REPs certification helpful but not always required.
£50-200 per episode
Edit audio for podcasters. Growing demand with relatively low competition.
Yes, if you earn more than £1,000 per year from self-employment (the Trading Allowance threshold), you must register as self-employed with HMRC. Registration is free and should be done by 5 October after the tax year you started.
Key points:
Your side hustle income is added to your employment income for tax purposes. You'll pay Income Tax and National Insurance on profits above your Personal Allowance (£12,570 for 2026/26).
Tax rates for 2026/26:
Example: If you earn £30,000 from employment + £10,000 from side hustle (£9,000 profit after expenses), you'd pay 20% Income Tax (£1,800) plus Class 4 NI (£810) on the side hustle profit = £2,610 total tax on side income.
You can deduct business expenses from your side hustle income to reduce your tax bill. Keep all receipts and records.
Common allowable expenses:
If you claim Universal Credit, you must report all self-employment income. Your benefit will be reduced by 55p for every £1 you earn above your work allowance, but you'll still be better off overall.
The DWP uses a Minimum Income Floor after 12 months of trading, assuming you earn at least the National Living Wage for expected hours. Consult a benefits adviser if this affects you.
Tip: Use accounting software like FreeAgent, QuickBooks, or Xero to track income and expenses throughout the year. It makes Self Assessment much easier and helps you claim all allowable expenses.
The best side hustles in the UK for 2026 include delivery driving with Deliveroo or Uber Eats (£10-20/hour), freelance work on PeoplePerHour or Upwork (£15-50/hour), and Airbnb hosting (£300-1,500/month). High-skill options like web development and consulting can earn £50-150/hour.
Yes, you must register as self-employed with HMRC if you earn more than £1,000 per year from self-employment. This includes most side hustles. You'll need to file a Self Assessment tax return each year and pay Income Tax and National Insurance on your earnings above the Personal Allowance.
The Trading Allowance lets you earn up to £1,000 per year tax-free from self-employment. If you earn more, you must register with HMRC and pay tax on earnings above your Personal Allowance (£12,570 for 2026/26). Remember to keep records of all income and expenses for proper tax calculations.
The fastest ways to start earning in the UK are delivery apps like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, or Stuart (same day), selling items on Vinted or eBay (within days), TaskRabbit for odd jobs (within days), and survey sites like Prolific or Swagbucks (immediate payouts). These require minimal setup and can generate income within 24-48 hours.
Yes, you can do a side hustle while claiming Universal Credit. You must report all self-employment income to the DWP. Your Universal Credit will be reduced by 55p for every £1 you earn above your work allowance. The earnings may actually increase your overall income. After 12 months of trading, a Minimum Income Floor may apply.
Most UK side hustlers earn £500-1,200 per month working 10-20 hours per week. Delivery drivers typically make £10-20/hour, freelancers £15-50/hour, and skilled professionals like web developers £40-100/hour. Your actual earnings depend on your skills, time invested, and the side hustle you choose.
For bicycle delivery, you need a working bike, smartphone, insulated delivery bag (often provided), and weather-appropriate clothing. For scooter/motorcycle delivery, add a valid CBT or full motorcycle licence, appropriate insurance, and safety equipment. For car delivery with Uber/Bolt, you need a PCO or private hire licence, appropriate insurance, and a vehicle that meets platform requirements.
Yes, legitimate business expenses are tax-deductible against your side hustle income. This includes mileage (45p per mile for first 10,000), equipment, software subscriptions, marketing costs, professional fees, and a proportion of home office costs. Keep all receipts and claim these expenses on your Self Assessment tax return to reduce your tax bill.
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Written by
Glen MeadeSide hustle expert who has personally tested 50+ platforms since 2019. Sharing real earnings data and honest assessments to help you find legitimate income opportunities.
Last updated: January 2026