15 Profitable Side Hustles You Can Start in the UK in 2025 (Real Businesses, Real Money) Full Guide
Introduction: Why Side Hustles Matter More Than Ever
The cost of living in the UK isn't going down anytime soon. Energy bills, food costs, mortgage rates, in fact everything's climbing. But here's the good news: starting a side hustle has never been easier or more accessible.
We're not talking about selling feet pics on OnlyFans or filling out surveys for pennies. We're talking about real, legitimate businesses that can generate serious income, and potentially become your full-time career.
The best part? Most of these require minimal start-up costs, no formal qualifications, and can be run from home or locally in your area. And when tied together with our done for you website offer. You can be up and running in a couple of days.
In this guide, we'll cover:
Service-based side hustles you can start this weekend - How much you can realistically earn - What equipment or skills you need - How to get your first customers - Why having a website matters (even for a side hustle) -
Let's dive in.
The Service-Based Side Hustles (High Profit, Low Startup)
These are hands-on businesses where you're trading your time and skills for money. The beauty? People always need these services, and you can start immediately.
1. Handyman Services
What it is: General home repairs, flat-pack furniture assembly, hanging pictures, basic plumbing, electrical work (if qualified), odd jobs around the house.
Startup costs: £200-500 (basic tool kit if you don't already have one)
Potential earnings: £25-50/hour, £200-400/day
Why it's lucrative:
Homeowners are desperate for reliable handymen
Tradespeople are booked out for weeks
Most jobs take 1-3 hours but people will pay well for convenience
Repeat business is common once you prove you're reliable
How to start:
Tell everyone you know you're doing handyman work
Join local Facebook groups and offer services
List on MyBuilder, Checkatrade, Rated People
Print flyers for local letterbox drops
Get a simple website with a quote form
Pro tip: Specialise in one thing initially (like flat-pack assembly or TV mounting) to build reputation, then expand.
2. Pressure Washing / Jet Washing
What it is: Cleaning driveways, patios, decking, walls, commercial car parks using a pressure washer.
Startup costs: £300-800 (decent pressure washer, basic marketing)
Potential earnings: £150-300/day, £600-1,200/week part-time
Why it's lucrative:
Dramatic before/after results that sell themselves
High perceived value (people see the transformation)
Weather-dependent but very profitable in good months
Can be done evenings and weekends
Low ongoing costs once you have equipment
How to start:
Invest in a quality petrol pressure washer (£400-600)
Do your own driveway/patio first for portfolio photos
Offer to do neighbour's driveways at a discount for testimonials
Door-knock in areas with dirty driveways (seriously, this works)
Before/after photos on Facebook/Instagram are marketing gold
Pro tip: Winter is quieter, but advertising "spring clean specials" in February/March gets you booked solid for the busy season.
3. Domestic Cleaning Services
What it is: Regular house cleaning, deep cleans, end of tenancy cleans, Airbnb turnovers.
Startup costs: £100-200 (cleaning supplies, insurance)
Potential earnings: £15-25/hour, scale by adding cleaners
Why it's lucrative:
Recurring income (weekly/fortnightly cleans)
Always in demand
Can scale into a proper business by hiring staff
Low barrier to entry
Cash flow positive from day one
How to start:
Offer to clean for friends/family at reduced rates for reviews
Join local community Facebook groups
Word of mouth is HUGE in this industry
Professional liability insurance is essential (£100-200/year)
Consider specialising (end of tenancy, Airbnb, offices)
Pro tip: End of tenancy cleans are more profitable than regular cleans (£150-300 per clean vs £15-25/hour).
4. Window Cleaning
What it is: Residential and commercial window cleaning using traditional or water-fed pole systems.
Startup costs: £200-1,000 (traditional squeegee or water-fed pole system)
Potential earnings: £20-40/hour, £600-1,000/week part-time
Why it's lucrative:
Customers need it done every 4-8 weeks (recurring income)
Once you have a round, it's reliable money
Can be done early mornings/evenings
Commercial contracts can be very profitable
Overhead costs are minimal
How to start:
Start with traditional squeegee method (cheaper startup)
Canvass door-to-door in residential areas
Offer first clean discounts to build your round
Water-fed pole systems let you work faster and safer
Target commercial properties (shops, offices) for bigger contracts
Pro tip: Build a "round" where all your customers are in the same area to minimise travel time and maximise earnings per day.
5. Gardening & Grounds Maintenance
What it is: Lawn mowing, hedge trimming, garden clearances, weeding, general garden maintenance.
Startup costs: £300-800 (mower, strimmer, basic tools)
Potential earnings: £20-35/hour, £150-250/day
Why it's lucrative:
Regular work during growing season (March-October)
Elderly customers often need ongoing help
Commercial work (schools, businesses) provides reliable income
Physical work that many people can't or don't want to do themselves
Upsell opportunities (landscaping, fencing, decking)
How to start:
Buy reliable second-hand equipment to start
Target elderly homeowners (they need help most)
Leaflet drops in affluent areas work well
Price per job initially, not hourly (you'll get faster)
Winter work: offer garden clearances, fence repairs
Pro tip: Bundle services, "lawn mowing + hedge trimming" packages are easier to sell than individual services.
6. Dog Walking & Pet Services
What it is: Dog walking, pet sitting, doggy daycare from your home.
Startup costs: £50-200 (insurance, leads, waste bags, marketing)
Potential earnings: £10-15 per walk, £200-400/week part-time
Why it's lucrative:
Pet owners will pay well for reliability and trust
Regular weekly income (same dogs, same times)
Can walk multiple dogs at once (£30-45/hour)
Flexible hours (lunchtime, after work)
Low startup costs
How to start:
Get pet business insurance (essential)
Register on Rover, Tailster, or BorrowMyDoggy
Ask friends/family with dogs for referrals
Local Facebook groups and community boards
Build trust by offering meet-and-greets
Pro tip: Walking 3 dogs for one hour = £30-45. Do this twice a day, five days a week = £300-450/week for 10 hours of work.
7. Mobile Car Valeting
What it is: Car washing, interior cleaning, waxing, detailing - going to customers' homes or workplaces.
Startup costs: £300-600 (pressure washer, cleaning supplies, water tank)
Potential earnings: £20-40/car, £150-300/day
Why it's lucrative:
People hate cleaning their cars
You come to them (huge convenience factor)
Can be done evenings/weekends in customer driveways
Upsell detailing services for higher prices
Business customers (fleet cars) provide regular work
How to start:
Invest in a portable pressure washer and water tank
Detail your own car perfectly for photos
Target residential estates and business parks
Offer monthly packages for regular customers
Before/after photos are essential for marketing
Pro tip: Partner with local businesses to offer staff discounts—clean cars in their car park during lunch breaks.
8. Oven Cleaning
What it is: Deep cleaning domestic and commercial ovens using specialist equipment and chemicals.
Startup costs: £500-1,500 (equipment, chemicals, training course)
Potential earnings: £40-80/oven, £200-400/day
Why it's lucrative:
Everyone hates cleaning ovens
High perceived value for what looks like magic
Can charge premium prices
Most jobs take 1-2 hours
Low competition in many areas
Regular repeat business
How to start:
Take a training course (Ovenclean, The Oven Man offer franchises)
Or buy equipment and learn via YouTube
Target estate agents (end of tenancy cleans)
Leaflet residential areas
Before/after photos sell themselves
Pro tip: End of tenancy oven cleans can be booked in bulk through letting agents - one contact can give you 5-10 jobs a month.
9. Furniture Assembly Service
What it is: Assembling flat-pack furniture from IKEA, Argos, Amazon, etc.
Startup costs: £100-200 (tool kit, transport)
Potential earnings: £30-60/hour depending on complexity
Why it's lucrative:
Online furniture sales are booming
People HATE assembling flat-packs
Quick jobs that can be stacked same-day
Repeat customers when they buy more furniture
Low physical demands compared to other trades
How to start:
List on TaskRabbit, Airtasker, MyBuilder
Target removal companies (they often need assembly partners)
Partner with local furniture stores
Market to students, elderly, busy professionals
Time yourself to price accurately
Pro tip: IKEA PAX wardrobes are everywhere and take 2-3 hours to build. Charge £80-120 per wardrobe and do 2-3 a day.
10. Gutter Cleaning & Maintenance
What it is: Clearing blocked gutters, downpipes, and fascia cleaning.
Startup costs: £200-800 (ladder or gutter vacuum system)
Potential earnings: £50-100/house, £300-500/day
Why it's lucrative:
Essential maintenance that homeowners forget about
Can cause serious damage if not done (gives urgency)
Seasonal spikes (autumn) for leaf clearance
Can be combined with pressure washing
Older homeowners can't do it themselves
How to start:
Invest in a gutter vacuum system for safety (£400-600)
Traditional ladder method is cheaper but riskier
Target residential areas in autumn
Offer annual maintenance packages
Before photos showing blockages help sell the service
Pro tip: Knock doors after storms and heavy rain, people notice gutter problems then.
The Creative & Digital Side Hustles
If you prefer working from home or have creative skills, these are excellent options.
11. Social Media Management for Local Businesses
What it is: Managing Facebook, Instagram, TikTok accounts for small businesses.
Startup costs: £0-100 (just your time and skills)
Potential earnings: £200-500/month per client, retain 5-10 clients = £1,000-5,000/month
Why it's lucrative:
Small businesses know they need it but don't have time
Low overhead (work from home)
Recurring monthly income
Easy to upsell (ads, photography, content creation)
How to start:
Offer to manage social media for one local business for free initially
Build a portfolio of results
Reach out to businesses with poor/inactive social media
Create content packages (3 posts/week, £250/month)
12. Photography (Events, Products, Headshots)
What it is: Event photography (weddings, parties), product photography for small businesses, professional headshots.
Startup costs: £500-2,000 (camera, editing software)
Potential earnings: £200-500/event, £50-150/hour for products or headshots
Why it's lucrative:
Every business needs photos
Weddings are £500-2,000 per booking
Online sellers need product photography
LinkedIn boom = demand for professional headshots
13. Tutoring (In-Person or Online)
What it is: Academic tutoring for school subjects, music lessons, language teaching.
Startup costs: £0-50 (just your expertise)
Potential earnings: £20-60/hour depending on subject and level
Why it's lucrative:
Parents always invest in children's education
GCSE/A-Level tutoring pays premium rates
Can be done evenings and weekends
Online tutoring = no travel time
14. Video Editing for Businesses
What it is: Creating/editing videos for social media, YouTube, promotional content.
Startup costs: £20/month (software subscription)
Potential earnings: £50-200/video depending on complexity
Why it's lucrative:
Video content is exploding
Most businesses don't have in-house skills
Fast turnaround = repeat clients
Work from home
15. Virtual Assistant Services
What it is: Admin support, email management, scheduling, customer service for busy entrepreneurs.
Startup costs: £0 (just your organisational skills)
Potential earnings: £15-30/hour, retain multiple clients
Why it's lucrative:
Entrepreneurs need help but don't want full-time staff
Flexible hours
Work entirely remotely
Can specialise (bookkeeping VA, social media VA, etc.)
How to Choose the Right Side Hustle for You
Not every side hustle suits everyone. Here's how to decide:
Ask yourself:
How much startup capital do I have?
Low budget (under £200): Cleaning, dog walking, tutoring, VA
Medium budget (£200-800): Handyman, jet washing, gardening
Higher budget (£800+): Mobile valeting, oven cleaning
How physical do I want the work to be?
Physical: Jet washing, gardening, handyman
Light physical: Window cleaning, dog walking
Not physical: Social media management, VA, tutoring
Do I want ongoing clients or one-off jobs?
Recurring income: Cleaning, dog walking, window cleaning
Project-based: Handyman, jet washing, photography
Can I work evenings/weekends only?
Yes: Most of these! Handyman, gardening, cleaning, tutoring
Flexible: Window cleaning, jet washing (build your schedule)
Do I want to scale into a full business eventually?
Scalable: Cleaning (hire staff), jet washing (buy more equipment), social media (hire VAs)
Solo forever: Dog walking, tutoring, handyman
The Secret Weapon Every Side Hustle Needs: A Website
Here's something most side hustlers miss: A website makes you look like a real business, not just someone with a WhatsApp number.
Why you need a website even for a side hustle:
✅ Instant credibility - People Google you before they hire you ✅ 24/7 quote requests - Get leads while you sleep ✅ Looks professional - Compete with established businesses ✅ Shows up in Google searches - "handyman Maldon" searches find you ✅ Easier to refer you - "Just check out their website" ✅ Builds trust - Reviews, photos, services all in one place
"But I'm just starting out, I don't need a website yet..."
Wrong. Here's the truth:
If you're serious about your side hustle becoming real income (or even a full-time business), starting your website NOW means:
Google starts indexing you today - Not in 6 months when you're busier
Domain age builds - Older websites rank better
You look established - Even if you started yesterday
You can test and refine - Get feedback before you scale
And here's the kicker: Building a website doesn't have to cost thousands or take weeks.
At SMB Booster, we build professional websites for side hustles and small businesses for £25/month or £252/year - everything included. No setup fees, no contracts, no tech knowledge needed.
You focus on doing the work. We handle the website.
How to Get Your First Customers (The Real Talk)
Having a great service is one thing. Getting people to pay you is another. Here's what actually works:
1. Tell Everyone You Know - Seriously. Text your family WhatsApp group. Post in your personal Facebook. Tell your mates down the pub. Your first 5-10 customers will come from people who already know and trust you.
2. Join Local Facebook Groups - Every town has a "What's On In [Town]" or "[Town] Residents" Facebook group. Join them. Offer your services. Answer questions. Be helpful. Jobs will come.
3. Knock Doors (Yes, Really) - For services like jet washing, window cleaning, and gardening, door-knocking in residential areas STILL WORKS. Most people say no, but you only need a few yeses.
4. Leverage Before/After Photos - Take photos of every job. Post them on Facebook/Instagram with "Another happy customer in [area]!" People LOVE transformation photos.
5. Ask for Reviews Immediately - After every job, ask: "If you're happy with the work, would you mind leaving me a Google review?" Then send them the link. Reviews = trust = more customers.
6. Leaflet Drops - Old school but effective. Design a simple flyer, print 500 copies (£20-30), deliver them yourself in target areas. Include a "£10 off first job" offer.
7. Partner with Complementary Businesses - If you do jet washing, partner with gardeners. If you do cleaning, partner with estate agents for end-of-tenancy work. Referrals are gold.
8. List on Trade Directories - MyBuilder, Checkatrade, Rated People, Bark, TaskRabbit - all useful for getting leads when you're starting out. Yes, they take a cut, but they deliver customers.
The Money Talk: How Much Can You REALLY Earn?
Let's be realistic. You're not going to quit your job after one month. But here's what's genuinely achievable:
Month 1-3: £200-500/month
You're learning, building skills, getting your first customers, refining your offer.
Month 4-6: £500-1,500/month
You've got repeat customers, word of mouth is kicking in, you're getting more efficient.
Month 7-12: £1,000-3,000/month
You're established, you have a customer base, reviews are building, you're getting referrals.
Year 2+: £2,000-5,000/month part-time
You've built a proper side business. At this point, you're deciding: scale it or keep it manageable?
Real example:
Window cleaner working Saturdays only: 20 houses @ £15 each = £300/week = £1,200/month
Jet washing 2 Saturdays/month: 4 driveways @ £150 each = £600/month
Dog walker with 6 regular dogs, 5 days/week: £300-400/week = £1,200-1,600/month
These aren't get-rich-quick schemes. They're legitimate businesses that take effort. But the money is REAL.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Underpricing Your Services
Don't compete on price. Compete on quality and reliability. Charging £10/hour makes you look desperate, not competitive.
❌ Not Getting Proper Insurance
Public liability insurance costs £100-300/year and protects you from disasters. Get it.
❌ Ignoring Marketing
"If I do good work, people will find me" - NO. You need to actively market yourself constantly.
❌ Not Tracking Finances
Open a separate business bank account. Track every expense. HMRC will want to know your income.
❌ Giving Up Too Soon
Month one is SLOW. Month two is HARD. Month three things click. Most people quit in month two. Don't.
Tax & Legal Stuff (The Boring But Important Bit)
You need to register as self-employed with HMRC if:
You earn more than £1,000/year from your side hustle
You want to claim expenses against your income
Register here: gov.uk/set-up-sole-trader
How much tax will you pay?
First £12,570/year: 0% (personal allowance)
£12,571 - £50,270: 20% income tax + 9% National Insurance
Over £50,270: 40% income tax + 2% National Insurance
What expenses can you claim?
Equipment and tools
Vehicle costs (if using for business)
Marketing and advertising
Website costs
Insurance
Training and courses
Protective clothing
Pro tip: Use accounting software like FreeAgent or QuickBooks from day one. Makes tax returns infinitely easier.
Scaling Your Side Hustle Into a Full Business
Once you're earning £2,000-3,000/month consistently, you've got options:
Option 1: Keep it as a side hustle Manageable income, low stress, keep your day job security.
Option 2: Go full-time Quit the 9-5, focus entirely on growing your business, hire staff, scale up.
Option 3: Systematise and hire Keep your day job, hire someone to do the work, you manage the business (passive-ish income).
There's no right answer. It depends on your goals, risk tolerance, and circumstances.
Final Thoughts: Just Do it
The perfect time to start a side hustle doesn't exist. You'll never feel "ready." The economy will always be uncertain. There will always be an excuse.
But here's the truth:
Every successful business started as someone just trying something. Every established handyman was once doing their first job. Every six-figure cleaning company started with one house.
The only difference between them and you is they started.
So pick one idea from this list. Spend this weekend getting your first customer. Build from there.
And when you're ready to look like a proper business, not just a side hustle, get a website sorted.
Because your competitors are already online. Are you?
Ready to start your side hustle with a professional website?
At SMB Booster, we specialise in building websites for new businesses and side hustles across the UK.Please check out the best trades business to start in the UK.
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