5 Best Side Hustles To Rustle Up This Fall
If your autumnal to-do list includes making some extra bank, a side hustle can be a good way to boost your holiday savings account or prepare for the pricey months ahead. Special events throughout the season offer lots of opportunities to earn extra cash. Or you can go out on your own and start a seasonal micro-business.
“The fastest fall side hustles are the ones where somebody is already standing in their yard looking at the problem, wishing somebody would knock on the door,” said Ralph Estep Jr., LPA and host of the podcast Becoming Financially Confident.
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Here are five expert-backed side gigs to financially thrive in the spooky season.
1. Seasonal Outdoor Work
Even people who don't hire landscapers and instead mow their own lawns during the summer may want some help when it comes to fall yard cleanup. According to Estep, gigs revolving around gutters, leaf removal and holiday light installation are the money makers.
“[These] jobs run $200 to $600, and light installs go $500 to $1,500. Equipment costs $500 to $2,000. The window is October through mid-December and then it closes, which is exactly why it pays well,” he said.
2. Small Business Bookkeeping
For budding entrepreneurs and budding small business owners alike, the fourth quarter can be the season to panic. That’s where you step in.
“Every small business owner who ignored their books all year starts looking for help in October. Realistic pay is $300 to $1,200 a month per client, and startup cost is under $500 for software and a laptop you already own. If you can reconcile a bank account and answer an email the same day, you can fill this calendar,” said Estep.
3. AI Clean Up Tasks for Businesses
Doing the AI work small businesses won't do themselves is a great way to make some extra cash to splurge on all the pumpkin-spiced lattes you can handle.
“Try setting up automations, cleaning up customer data, writing the standard procedures. This bills at $50 to $100 an hour with essentially no startup cost. The businesses buying it are not tech companies. They are dentists, contractors and restaurants,” said Estep.
4. Work at a Haunted Attraction or Holiday Light Show
Theme parks that host special Halloween events, standalone haunted houses or haunted hay rides, and December holiday light shows typically need people to work evenings and weekends. If you like working with the public, these seasonal side gigs can be a great way to get in the holiday spirit.
Most "scare actor" positions in haunted houses and at theme parks pay between $7 and $15 per hour (typically, minimum wage for the state), based on figures from ZipRecruiter.com. After venues pack up their pumpkins, you may be able to continue your side gig helping out at a holiday light show. If you fit a specific demographic, you might even make money as Santa Claus or one of his elves.
5. Work at the Election Polls
This side gig only lasts a few weeks, at most, but you can earn extra cash just in time for the holidays as an election poll worker. Rates vary by state and region, but ZipRecruiter.com reports the average hourly pay, nationwide, is $23.60.
Most poll workers are paid per day and for training sessions, as well. For instance, workers in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, earn between $225 and $350 per day. Poll workers can expect long days but rewarding work.
Final Take: Don’t Forget the Taxes of It All
Remember that you'll have to pay taxes on any 1099 income received from seasonal gig work. It's a good idea to speak with a tax expert so you don't get blindsided by a large tax bill next April.
“Set aside 25% to 30% of every dollar the moment it hits your account and open a separate account to hold it. Your third quarter estimated payment is due September 15, and the fourth-quarter payment is due January 15, 2027, said Estep. "Keep a mileage log from day one, because it is the deduction most side hustlers lose for lack of records. And note that the 1099-K reporting threshold went back to $20,000 and 200 transactions. That changes what gets reported to the IRS, not what you owe. The income is taxable either way."
Dawn Allcot contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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