If you’ve ever wanted to start a side hustle but felt like every idea demanded money you don’t have — this one’s for you. You don’t need thousands of dollars or fancy equipment to make money online. You just need the right idea, a bit of consistency, and maybe a hundred bucks or less to get started.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Truth is, 2025 is the best time to start lean. The internet’s full of low-cost tools, AI resources, and marketplaces that let you build real income streams from your laptop or even your phone.
I’ve tested plenty myself — some worked, some flopped — but these are the ones that can genuinely earn, even if you’re starting broke.
1. Print-on-Demand — Design Once, Earn Forever
Print-on-demand (POD) is one of those “quiet winners” most people ignore because they think it’s saturated. But here’s the reality — the market’s massive, and it’s constantly refreshing.
You design T-shirts, mugs, or tote bags. When someone buys, the company prints and ships it for you. You don’t handle inventory or packaging — your main job is creating cool, relatable designs that people actually want to wear.
Even with zero design experience, tools like Canva or Kittl can help you create high-quality prints.
You can start on Redbubble, Teespring, or Etsy for free. If you spend a small budget (under $100), put it into mockups and ads to test designs.
Where to Start:
Platforms: Redbubble, Etsy, Teespring
Tools: Canva, Kittl, Placeit (for product images)
Earning Potential:
$100–$1,000/month once you have a few viral designs.
2. Freelance Micro Services — Your Skills, Their Budget
If you’ve got a laptop and a bit of skill — writing, editing, designing, social media — freelancing is the easiest side hustle you can start under $100.
Start small. Offer quick, specific gigs like “Write your Instagram bio in 24 hours” or “Design a one-page resume.” These micro-services sell fast because clients don’t want big projects — they want quick help.
You can build momentum, get reviews, and later expand into bigger jobs. The best part? Your only investment is your time and maybe a good Fiverr Pro profile or a few tools for quality work.
Where to Start:
Platforms: Fiverr, Upwork, Contra
Tools: Grammarly, Canva, ChatGPT (for ideation, not writing)
Earning Potential:
$200–$2,000/month, depending on skill and effort.
3. Flip Thrift Finds or Digital Goods
Flipping isn’t just for sneakers and cars. You can start with almost nothing — even a $50 budget — and turn it into a steady stream.
Two routes work well:
- Physical flipping: thrift store finds, books, small electronics
- Digital flipping: domain names, Canva templates, or Notion dashboards
Physical flipping takes a little hustle — find deals on Facebook Marketplace, clean them up, resell on eBay or Poshmark.
Digital flipping takes more creativity — design a few templates, list them online, and sell them over and over.
Where to Start:
Physical: eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Depop
Digital: Etsy, Gumroad, Notion Market
Earning Potential:
$100–$1,500/month after a few consistent weeks.
4. Content Repurposing Services (Use Free AI Tools)
Businesses are posting on every platform but struggling to keep up. That’s your opportunity.
You can take a YouTube video or podcast and turn it into short clips, carousel posts, or blog summaries. It’s a simple service, but companies will gladly pay to save time.
Use free tools like CapCut, ChatGPT, and Canva to do most of the work. Your investment? Maybe $50 for a few premium assets or templates to speed things up.
If you’re good at storytelling and can follow a simple content system, this one can scale quickly — even to an agency level.
Where to Start:
Platforms: Fiverr, LinkedIn, Twitter outreach
Tools: CapCut, Canva, Notion, ChatGPT (as assistant)
Earning Potential:
$300–$2,000/month depending on client load.
5. Start a Small Affiliate Blog or Niche Page
Starting a blog sounds expensive — it isn’t. You can set one up for under $50 with hosting and a basic domain.
Pick a small niche you actually care about — something like “budget tech for remote workers” or “eco-friendly home ideas.”
Write helpful, simple articles that solve real problems and add affiliate links to recommended products.
It won’t earn on day one, but once traffic builds, affiliate income becomes a nice, hands-off reward for your effort.
Where to Start:
Platform: WordPress or Ghost
Tools: SiteGround hosting, RankMath, Google Analytics
Earning Potential:
$100–$1,000/month after consistent posting and SEO work.
6. Voiceover or Audio Services (Using Your Phone Mic)
If you’ve got a decent voice, you don’t need a studio. You just need quiet space and some confidence.
Many clients on Fiverr or Voices.com pay for short audio clips — intros, ads, or explainer videos. You can record clean audio with your phone and use a free app like Audacity or Lexis Audio Editor to polish it.
Spend $50 on a budget mic if you want better sound later.
Where to Start:
Platforms: Fiverr, Voices.com, Upwork
Tools: Audacity, Lexis Audio, CapCut for syncing video
Earning Potential:
$100–$1,500/month depending on volume and quality.
7. Start a Digital Reselling Store
If you’re comfortable online, you can resell pre-made digital products legally. Many creators offer resell rights — meaning you can sell their templates, eBooks, or guides and keep 100% profit.
This is one of the fastest side hustles to start under $100, especially if you’re good at marketing. You’ll need a Payhip or Shopify starter account and some promotion through Pinterest or TikTok.
The hard part isn’t setup — it’s choosing what sells. Focus on trending niches like productivity, AI tools, or personal growth.
Where to Start:
Platforms: Payhip, Shopify Starter, Etsy
Tools: Canva, Pinterest, TikTok
Earning Potential:
$200–$3,000/month once you build traffic.
8. Offer Pinterest or TikTok Management for Small Businesses
Most small business owners know they need social media — they just don’t have time. That’s where you step in.
You can offer to handle their Pinterest boards or TikTok content creation using free tools like Canva and scheduling apps. You’ll start small, maybe $50–$100 per client, but once you get results, you can scale fast.
Your only cost is your time and a bit of software — well under $100.
Where to Start:
Platforms: Fiverr, LinkedIn, or cold outreach
Tools: Canva, Later, Pinterest Business, TikTok Analytics
Earning Potential:
$300–$2,500/month with 3–5 clients.
9. Sell Notion or Excel Templates
If you love organizing things — this one’s gold. Notion and Excel templates are hot right now because people want ready-made systems for productivity, budgeting, or planning.
You can build simple ones using your own workflow, polish them up, and sell on Etsy or Gumroad. The setup is free; your time is the real investment.
Where to Start:
Platforms: Etsy, Gumroad, Notion Market
Tools: Notion, Excel, Canva for covers
Earning Potential:
$100–$1,200/month depending on design quality.
10. Curate & Sell Digital Bundles (Low Effort, High Reward)
Here’s a creative one — instead of creating everything from scratch, bundle digital freebies and products together. You can collaborate with other small creators, combine value, and sell the collection for a small price.
Think “Content Creator Starter Pack” or “AI Tools Bundle.” It’s quick, unique, and easy to scale.
Where to Start:
Tools: Canva, Google Drive, Payhip
Promotion: Pinterest, TikTok, Reddit
Earning Potential:
$200–$1,000/month depending on how viral it goes.
Final Thoughts — Small Start, Big Payoff
Starting with less than $100 isn’t a disadvantage — it’s a test. If you can build something from almost nothing, you’ve already proven you can build something bigger later.
Forget waiting for the perfect plan or huge budget. The people winning online right now are the ones who started with what they had — and learned as they went.
So pick one hustle, spend wisely, and start this week. You’ll be surprised how quickly small, consistent effort turns into something real.
Because the truth is — it’s not about the $100 you start with.
It’s about the momentum you build after.
