If you and your partner share similar skills and interests, as partners often do, why not use those skills and interests to make some money on the side while still spending time together?
Here are some ideas for side hustles for couples. See which option suits you best, and start making some money on the side together!
1. Look Into Car Washing/Detailing 🚘
Many people like to keep their cars in perfect shape but don’t have time to bring them to a car wash. That opens an opportunity.
If you and your partner go into car washing, you won’t need to make any significant investments to get started. All you need is access to water, a good vacuum cleaner, and a few supplies, such as car wash liquid, sponges, microfiber towels, and the like. You can attract clients by offering washing services to your neighbors and marketing yourself on social media.
If you go into car detailing, you’ll need a bit more experience and a few more supplies. Detailing, as the name implies, requires more attention to detail. You’d be cleaning every minute nook and cranny of cars, making them look almost brand new when you’re done.
💰 Earnings potential: Full- or part-time auto detailers in the U.S. commonly make around $16–$25 per hour.
2. Try House Cleaning 🧹️
For some people, cleaning is a headache-inducing chore. For others, it’s an opportunity to relax. If you and your significant other are closer to the second category of people, you might want to consider making some extra cash by offering house cleaning services.
You don’t have to become a full-time maid. You can still keep your regular jobs and offer cleaning services as a side hustle on the weekends or during the holidays.
Provide general house-cleaning services such as washing windows and deep-cleaning carpets and furniture, or become more specialized if you like. You can help clean houses when the residents move, offer cleaning services after a catastrophe such as flooding, and more.
💰 Earnings potential: On average, house cleaners charge between $20–$50 per hour, depending on the size and condition of the home.
3. Gardening/Landscaping 👩🌾
Spending more time outside is always good, especially when you can earn more money in the process. Gardening or landscaping is one of the best ways to make money while enjoying your time out in nature.
As gardeners, you’d be responsible for tasks such as mowing lawns and raking the leaves. You’d also need to maintain existing plants. As landscapers, you’d have a more physically demanding job, but you’d be more involved with planning out gardens and creating more aesthetically pleasing environments.
💰 Earnings potential: While the pay for gardeners isn’t always the greatest, averaging $14–$17 per hour, it can help you and your significant other add a few hundred a month to your budget.
4. Organize in-Person Classes 👨🏫
Of course, not everything has to be internet-based. You and your significant other could give in-person classes a try.
You could organize casual one-time art or pottery classes for adults, arts and crafts courses for kids, or commit to longer programming courses with pre-set curriculums and more. After-school tutoring for kids in your neighborhood is another option. Whatever subject or topic you know well enough to teach, you can teach in in-person classes.
💰 Earnings potential: As a private tutor with enough experience, you could earn over $100 an hour. As a casual instructor, your earnings will vary based on your chosen rates and the number of students you and your partner attract[8].
5. Sign up as Hosts on Airbnb 🏡
If you and your partner have a home large enough for hosting, consider signing up as a host on Airbnb or similar platforms. It’s one of the easiest ways to earn some money on the side without investing too much time and effort into a second job.
If your property isn’t large enough for you and your potential guests, you could only list your home when you know you’ll be away while you’re visiting family or traveling.
💰 Earnings potential: Depending on your home’s condition, size, and location, you could easily earn over $200 a night renting out your property[10].
6. Flip Furniture
You’ve likely seen countless before-and-after images of restored furniture online. Some people just know how to breathe new life into old items, and it’s not necessarily complicated. If you and your significant other are interested in refurbishing old furniture, this could be the perfect opportunity for you to make some extra cash.
Flipping furniture can be a fulfilling and lucrative endeavor. You need just a few basic tools, some of which you probably already have around the house, like screwdrivers and paintbrushes, sander, sandpaper, furniture cleaner, etc.
💰 Earnings potential: You and your significant other can find cheap furniture at thrift stores, play around with it, then sell it on platforms like Facebook Marketplace. Depending on the items you find and the quality of your work, you could make over $1,000 a month.
👩 Real people, real stories: I started furniture flipping as a pandemic hobby and turned it into a flourishing business. Here’s how I make $1000+/month flipping furniture.
7. Start a Photography Side Hustle 📸
Photography is perhaps the most popular choice for a couple’s side hustle. As long as you have a decent camera and some talent, you and your partner could offer photography services for profit.
You could start with simple portraits or senior pictures. Once you’ve gotten some experience, you could become an event photography duo, offering your services at birthday parties, weddings, gender reveals, and more.
Besides, you could always make some extra cash by selling your photos on stock photo marketplaces like Shutterstock, Pixabay, etc. You won’t earn excessive amounts of money from this alone, but you could get decent commissions when someone buys your photos.
💰 Earnings potential: Entry-level photography gigs often pay in the $25–$50/hour range.
8. Offer Event Planning Services 🥂
If you’re both well organized, you and your partner might find the most luck offering event planning services.
If you’ve ever planned even a small party, you’ll know it’s not easy. You need to find caterers, book a good band, find decorations, schedule a venue, and pay attention to every last detail that will affect the entire event. That’s why many people prefer hiring event organizers rather than bothering with it themselves.
You could offer services for birthday parties, weddings, business team-building activities, and so much more.
💰 Earnings potential: Freelance event planners often charge $30–$50+ per hour, or bill by project (10–20% of event budget).
9. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking 🐶
If you and your partner love animals, pet sitting or dog walking can be a fun way to earn extra money together. Many pet owners need reliable people to take care of their furry friends when they’re at work or traveling. You can offer regular daily walks, weekend pet sitting, or even overnight stays.
You don’t need major investments to get started, just a love for animals and some spare time. Platforms like Rover or Wag! can help you find clients quickly, or you can advertise locally through social media and community boards.
💰 Earnings potential: Dog walkers and pet sitters can charge $15–$30 per walk or $25–$75 per day for sitting, depending on the area and services offered.
10. Babysitting or Childcare 👶
If you and your partner enjoy spending time with kids, offering babysitting or childcare services can be a great side hustle. You can watch children in your own home, travel to clients’ homes, or even specialize in date-night babysitting for parents in your neighborhood.
This is one of the most flexible side hustles. You can take on clients when your schedules allow and scale up or down depending on your availability. If you have CPR or first aid certifications, you can also market yourself as a more professional and trustworthy option.
💰 Earnings potential: Babysitters typically earn around $18–$25 per hour in the U.S., with higher rates in big cities or for multiple children.
11. Baking or Catering Small Events 🧁
If you both enjoy cooking or baking, you can turn your kitchen skills into a money-making side hustle. Couples often do well running small catering services for birthdays, showers, and family gatherings, or selling baked goods at local markets.
You don’t need to launch a full catering business. Start with cupcakes, cookies, or simple party platters. Once you have happy clients, word-of-mouth can quickly bring in more orders.
💰 Earnings potential: Home bakers typically earn $200–$1,000+ per month depending on the number of orders and size of events catered.
12. Thrift Shopping & Reselling 🛍️
If you and your partner love hunting for bargains, try reselling thrifted items. Visit garage sales, thrift shops, or flea markets and look for clothes, antiques, or collectibles you can resell online. Platforms like eBay, Poshmark, or Mercari make it easy to reach a large audience.
This side hustle is perfect for couples since one partner can handle sourcing while the other focuses on listing and shipping. It can also be combined with furniture flipping if you enjoy refurbishing larger items.
💰 Earnings potential: Many resellers make $500–$2,000 per month, depending on how much time they put in and how savvy they are at finding deals.
13. Seasonal/Weekend Market Stalls 🎪
Do you and your partner enjoy crafts, food, or unique products? Setting up a booth at local farmers markets, craft fairs, or flea markets can be a fun way to earn together. You can sell handmade items, baked goods, home décor, or even plants you’ve grown.
This is especially ideal for couples since one can interact with customers while the other manages setup and sales. The social element makes it enjoyable while still bringing in extra income.
💰 Earnings potential: Market vendors often make anywhere from $200 to $1,000+ in a weekend, depending on location, demand, and product type.
14. Start an Etsy Shop 🛒
If you and your partner are creative, consider opening an Etsy shop to sell your handmade or digital products. Couples often do well dividing the workload. One can focus on creating items while the other manages listings, photography, and customer service.
You could sell anything from handmade jewelry and candles to printables, planners, or digital art. Best of all, once your shop is set up, it can keep earning even when you’re not actively working.
💰 Earnings potential: Many sellers make $100–$1,000+ per month in the beginning, while successful shops can bring in several thousand per month once established.
15. Print-on-Demand Products 👕
If you and your partner enjoy design but don’t want to deal with shipping or inventory, print-on-demand (POD) is a great option. You can create custom designs for T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, or posters and sell them through platforms like Redbubble, Teespring, or Printify integrated with Etsy or Shopify.
This hustle lets you combine creativity with minimal overhead since the platform handles printing and fulfillment. Couples can brainstorm design ideas together, making it fun as well as profitable.
💰 Earnings potential: POD income varies widely, but beginners often earn $50–$300/month, while popular designs can generate $1,000+ per month in royalties.
16. Social Media Management 📱
If you and your partner already spend a lot of time on social media, why not get paid for it? Many small businesses need help managing their online presence: posting content, responding to comments, and running promotions.
As a couple, you can split tasks. One partner can handle graphics and scheduling, while the other engages with followers and analyzes performance. This division of labor makes social media management easier and more efficient.
💰 Earnings potential: Freelance social media managers typically charge $25–$75 per hour or $500–$1,500 per month per client, depending on scope and experience.
Final Thoughts
From cleaning cars to creating online courses, getting into baking, and trying your luck as event planners, there are plenty of opportunities for making some money on the side as a couple. Talk to your partner, look at your shared interests, and see how you can combine your skills and passions and start earning more!
