3 Side Hustles Worth Starting in 2026, According to Codie Sanchez - AOL

Caitlyn Moorhead

Updated Aug 24, 2026

Codie Sanchez/Contrarian Thinking · Other

Yes, everyone is now aware that to make ends meet, or simply eat, you probably need more than one income stream. However, if you’re tired of the same old side hustle advice, then it might be time to consider the take of finance expert Codie Sanchez in her YouTube video, "Side Hustles You Should Start (And AVOID!)".

As more Americans are looking for ways to boost their paycheck(s) and hopefully build some wealth outside of a traditional 9-to-5, side gigs have become one of the most popular ways to generate extra cash -- and Sanchez has the inside track. If you're looking for great options, she suggests to start with these -- and take a few off the to-do list.

1. Trash Can Washing

Yep, this side hustle is what it sounds like. Recommended for teens or any intrepid entrepreneur to earn money in the summers, the idea is that someone would offer their services washing out neighborhood trash cans, charging $15 each. If you wash 20 cans a day, that would add up to $2,100 per week.

Maybe Avoid: Donating Your Plasma

While one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, body parts are a different category. Donating plasma is not the kind of thing you can do often or easily enough to make that money worthwhile. As Sanchez said, "Donating parts of my body to make money is not at the top of my list of side hustles that I think we should participate in."

2. Mobile Ice Cream Cart

A fun passion project that turned into a lucrative side hustle had Sanchez virtually clapping for a woman who started an ice cream cart that she hooked up to a bicycle, and had a ton of fun doing it.

The woman started her side hustle for less than $8,000 while working a full-time job, and within three months had tripled her initial investment. What really sold Sanchez was that the woman described herself as being "head over heels in love with what she was creating," which made the time she put into it worthwhile.

"Obsession is often a good indicator of somebody who is telling you the truth," Sanchez said. She also felt that the woman was transparent about the costs, the time it took and the work involved.

Maybe Avoid: Reselling Used Medications

Though everyone screams for ice cream, Sanchez had a good giggle at a video of a man dressed up in green calling himself "the Therapy Gecko." She advised a caller that no, she could not resell medications like Adderall and Xanax that the pharmacy she works for no longer has use for. She made it very clear that this is an illegal activity. She called it a "verified scam."

3. House Painting

After writing off one video of a man purporting to be a handyman with dubious skills, Sanchez rubber-stamped another independent home-painting business, in which the man claimed to earn around $4,000 per house painting over three to four days. Of course, Sanchez had questions, such as whether that profit figure was inclusive of labor, marketing and other costs.

She said it fulfilled the "Five Rs" which are: real estate agents, referral sources, repeat business, reviews and relationships. Sanchez called the idea "cute" and doable, but suggested it will likely work best in affluent neighborhoods, and probably only as a part-time concept. She recommended tying the service to trash collection or some other service, such as power-washing houses.

While she called the amount of money possible to earn "a little aggressive," she said it's a great idea for a young person with free time.

Maybe Avoid: Making Your Own Coloring Books

The self-publishing revolution has certainly made it possible for people to earn money publishing their own work. One self-proclaimed entrepreneur purported to make "a minimum of $20,000" by creating children's coloring books in Canva and earning 60% royalties on the sales.

Sanchez said she wanted to like this idea because the designs were adorable, but the problem is that earning money through publishing is all about marketing. Sanchez suggested the likelihood of anyone really selling the thousands of coloring books necessary to earn that kind of money is slim, aka, "a glorified PowerPoint for kids."

Jordan Rosenfeld contributed to the reporting for this article.

4. Tutoring

Through websites like Tutor.com, Wyzant or Varsity Tutors, you can teach subjects such as math, English, test prep and even college coursework.

The best part is that getting started is incredibly simple. Set up a profile on the platform you want to use and choose the subject you’re most comfortable with. You get to choose your own hours and rates.

5. Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

If you love animals, a great way to make some extra cash is pet sitting or dog walking. Apps like Rover and Wag let you take care of other people's animals when they’re at work or on vacation.

All you need to do is create your profile, add photos, describe your experience with animals, and set your rates. As you start caring for people's pets, you’ll accumulate reviews that will help you gain more business.

6. Food Delivery Driver

Becoming a food delivery driver is one of the easiest side hustles to start. All you need is a smartphone and a car (in many large cities, you can even deliver using just a bike).

To get started, you’ll need to sign up through delivery apps like UberEats or DoorDash, meet the age and vehicle requirements and pass a background check. Once that’s done, you can start accepting orders and work when your schedule allows.

7. Virtual Assistant

Small businesses and entrepreneurs have a lot of tasks on their to-do list each week. Most of them are looking for assistants to help with tasks like email management, data entry, scheduling, and other responsibilities.

Start by identifying which administrative tasks you’re good at and enjoy. Then create an account on Fiverr or Upwork, set up your profile to highlight this expertise, and start reaching out to small business owners through the platform.

8. Handyman Services

If you enjoy handling projects around the house, such as yard work, mounting TVs, furniture assembly and more, you could start offering handyman services through platforms like TaskRabbit. Pick tasks that aren’t overly complicated but that most people don’t want to do on their own.

The Bottom Line

The right side hustle can help you stay engaged, earn real money and maintain complete control over your schedule. Pick one that aligns with your skills and temperament, then watch your bank account thank you for the extra effort.