Weekend side hustles: 12 ways to make money on Saturdays and Sundays

Weekends are when everybody else needs help. People travel and need their dogs walked. They throw parties that need staff. They move house, clear garages and finally tackle the jobs they've put off all week. That makes weekends the best time of the week for side income, especially if your weekdays are taken.

Here are twelve weekend side hustles, split into ones that get you out of the house and ones you can do from your sofa, with what they realistically pay and how to land your first booking.

Weekend side hustles at a glance

Side hustle	Where	Typical pay	Pays how fast
Event staffing	Out	Hourly, varies by city	Days to weeks
Pet sitting and dog walking	Out	You set your price	Days
Moving and junk removal help	Out	Hourly, often higher for heavy work	Same day
Cleaning and organising	Out	Hourly or per job	Same day
Event and portrait photography	Out	Per session	Days
Market stall	Out	Depends on what you sell	Same day
Flipping furniture and tools	Out	Profit per item	When it sells
Babysitting	Out	Hourly	Same day
User testing	Home	Per test	1 to 2 weeks
Freelance projects	Home	You set your rate	Per project
Online tutoring	Home	Per session	Days
Selling online	Home	What your items are worth	When it sells

Weekend side hustles out of the house

1. Event staffing

Weddings, concerts, sports games and festivals all need servers, ushers, setup crews and parking attendants. Staffing agencies and venues hire for single shifts, and experience in hospitality helps but isn't always required.

2. Pet sitting and dog walking

Weekends and holidays are when owners travel. Pet-care apps let you set your own prices; NerdWallet compares the two biggest in Rover vs Wag. Start with neighbours and friends to earn your first reviews.

3. Moving and junk removal help

If you're strong and reliable, helping people move or clear out garages pays well, and word of mouth spreads fast. A truck or van lets you charge more.

4. Cleaning and organising

Deep cleans, move-out cleans and closet organising are often booked for weekends. Before and after photos are your best advertising.

5. Photography

Family portraits, birthday parties and small events are weekend work. A decent camera, good editing and a small portfolio (practise on friends) are enough to start.

6. A market stall

Farmers markets and craft fairs are ideal for baked goods, crafts, plants and vintage finds. Check local rules and permits, especially for food.

Markets, events and moves all peak at the weekend, and so does demand for help. Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash.

7. Flipping furniture and tools

Saturday morning garage sales plus Sunday listings is the classic weekend flip. Our guide on how to flip items on Facebook Marketplace walks through it step by step.

8. Babysitting

Parents need date nights and weekend help. Trusted babysitters get booked again and again, and references matter more than anything.

Weekend side hustles from home

9. User testing sessions

Check for tests on Saturday morning and do several in a row. See how to make money testing apps and websites.

10. Freelance projects

Writing, design, editing or bookkeeping projects with weekly deadlines fit neatly into a weekend block.

11. Online tutoring

Weekend sessions are popular with students before exams and with families whose weekdays are packed.

12. Selling online

Clear a cupboard, photograph everything on Saturday, and answer buyers on Sunday. It's the easiest start of all.

What to charge

Look at what others in your area charge on local apps and community groups, then start slightly below the average until you have reviews. Raise your price once you're booked out most weekends. For physical jobs, price by the job rather than the hour when you can: clients like knowing the total, and you earn more as you get faster.

Staying safe at in-person gigs

• Tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back.
• Agree the price and scope in writing before you start.
• Get paid on completion, or take a deposit for bigger jobs.
• Walk away from anything that feels off, whatever the pay.

How to get your first weekend booking

1. Tell ten people you know what you're offering and when you're available.
2. Post in local community groups with a clear offer and price.
3. Do one job brilliantly and ask for a review or referral.
4. Keep your weekends consistent, so regulars know when to book you.

Protect one weekend day

Weekend work is great money, but burnout is real. Most people do best working one weekend day and keeping the other free. If you already work weekdays, our guide to making money on the side with a full time job helps you set sensible limits. And remember side income is usually taxable: in the US, self-employment tax applies once net earnings reach $400 a year, as the IRS self-employed tax center explains.