15 Easy Ways To Make Extra Money In Atlanta

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Updated: August 31st, 2022

Looking to make easy money or start a business in Atlanta?

Atlanta is a great place to launch a business or start a side hustle. According to Wikipedia, the Atlanta metropolitan area is home to more than 75% of Fortune 1000 companies and around 1,250 multinational corporations.

Additionally, statistics from YCharts show that Atlanta's unemployment rate has dropped to 2.8% which is a sign of development. Due to this improved economy, there are many new business openings and side hustles that can be started by simple advertising on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.

What is the average cost of living and income in Atlanta anyway?

Cost of living: $2,384 per month for a single person, $5,427 for a family of four
Average income: $74,000 per year

Considering this, it makes sense if you want to make some extra money.

In this post, we provide you with 15 side hustle ideas and ways to make money in Atlanta.

1. Become A Secret Shopper

Mystery shoppers are people who are paid by an outside company to visit stores and businesses and report on their experiences. Think of mystery shoppers as undercover customers sent in to observe, interact, and report on other customers and store employees. Mystery shoppers or secret shoppers are typically employed by a third party rather than the store or company itself.

A mystery shopper, also known as a secret shopper, is a great way to make easy money in Atlanta. It's a simple way to make extra cash by evaluating customer service at different businesses in your area.

Earning Potential: Up to $45/hour

Requirements: A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Own reliable transportation. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Ability to memorize quickly and accurately. Organized and flexible with an attention to detail. Ability to conduct duties discreetly and impartially. Must have access to a smartphone or computer with internet access.

Investment needed: $0 investment needed

How To Get Started: You can find secret shopper and other relevant jobs on Indeed.com.

2. Do Odd Jobs for People in Your Community

Performing odd jobs for people in your community is a great way to make some extra cash. No matter where you live in the United States, you can get started with this side hustle or business idea. Plenty of people need assistance with odd jobs, such as yard work, cleaning, moving, running errands, and so on.

One of the best ways to make money is to offer your services to people in your local community or neighborhood. You can charge a fair price for those services, which will earn you a profit. In addition, this is a great way to get your name out there and build up a client base.

Earning Potential: Up to $30/hour

Requirements: No specific educational qualification is needed for this job but having a high school diploma will help you in the way. Other than that having good communication skills, computer literacy, and familiarity with job-specific tools. Most importantly must be friendly in nature, trustworthy, and responsible.

Investment needed: $0 investment needed

How To Get Started: Networking at social and community organizations can lead to prospects for part-time work as a handyman. Contact clients directly to discuss their needs and negotiate a price.

You can find odd jobs along with other relevant jobs on Indeed.com.

3. Start a Meal-Prep Business

The meal prep business is a growing industry. People want to eat healthily, but they don't always have the time or energy to do it. This can be especially true for parents who are already trying to juggle work, family, and other obligations.

If you have some basic chopping & cooking skills you can start your meal-prep business right away with a little help from the internet and cookbooks. Go for simple, easy-to-cook, and healthy dishes such as salads, wraps, sandwiches, entrees, and meals from jar options. Maintain a clean and orderly kitchen by washing dishes, sanitizing surfaces, taking out the trash, etc.

Earning Potential: Up to $50/hour

Requirements: Need basic cooking skills and a functioning kitchen containing basic cooking tools and ingredients used to prepare meals. No specific educational qualification is required, however, if you have a degree from a culinary school it can be beneficial for you.

Investment needed: $0 investment needed if you already have a well-functioning kitchen and all the required tools.

How To Get Started: To get started, you will need to find a full or semi-commercial kitchen space to prepare your meals, create a menu that offers healthy & affordable meal options, market your business to students and busy professionals, and finally start cooking!

You can find meal prep and other relevant jobs on Indeed.com.

4. Drive For Uber Or Lyft

If you've got a car and time on a Saturday, you could be making some cash driving people around. Instead of wasting your time sitting through traffic when you sign off from work, you can drive an Uber or Lyft and earn some extra cash in Atlanta by the time you reach home!

Ridesharing apps are one of the most lucrative ways to make extra cash. Not just because of the flexible schedule, but the revenue you generate!

Earning Potential: Up to $26/hour

Requirements: Meet the minimum age to drive in your city, have at least one year of driving experience, and clear a background check. See all requirements

Investment needed: $0 upfront if you already have a car!

How To Get Started: Apply to be a driver at Uber here, or Lyft driver here.

Don't have a car? Rent a car for ridesharing or deliveries with HyreCar.

5. List Your Spare Bedroom On Airbnb

If you have space available, you can rent it out on sites like Airbnb and Home Away for some extra cash!

Whether it’s a room, floor, or house - somebody out there will likely give you money to use it. You’ll have a steady stream of people who want your space - tourists and locals alike!

It also works on your availability; if you’re not comfortable with renting out your space that month - then don’t! If you’re going on holiday, rent out your room and enjoy some extra cash to splurge!

Earning Potential: Average $924 annually

Requirements: You will need a spare room that’s in good condition with proper electricity & water connection. It would be better if the space is close to a prime location like an airport or some public attraction.

How To Get Started: You can start by registering your room/house or even couch on sites like Airbnb.

Learn how this couple makes over $250k/month with their vacation rentals business

6. Deliver Food For Postmates

Postmates' drivers earn a living by making deliveries of food, alcohol, and grocery items to clients on behalf of the company. Most of the time, customer service representatives place delivery orders through the company's website or mobile app. The driver's responsibility is to pick up and deliver items. It is also his or her responsibility to make necessary purchases in order to execute successful deliveries.

The best part about delivering food for Postmates is that you can work your own hours - choose to work during the day, evening, or weekend, whichever works best for you. And since Postmates is available 24/7, you can work whenever you want, on weekends, after your office, and so on.

Earning Potential: Average $19/hour

Requirements: To become a Postmates courier, you must be at least 18 years of age. You must also have a valid driver's license and access to an insured vehicle (or bicycle), smartphone, and an internet connection to accept orders. You should also pass a background check performed by Postmates when you apply for the position.

Investment needed: $0 investment needed if you already have a vehicle & smartphone.

How To Get Started: To become a Postmates delivery person, you must first create an account on the company's website. Once you're registered, download the Postmates app to begin accepting delivery jobs. Once you've been accepted for a job, pick up the food from the restaurant and deliver it to the customer's house.

7. Offer Pet-Sitting Services

If you love pets then pet sitting can be a rewarding & fulfilling business choice for you. Pet sitters provide daily care to pets while their owners are away. They often stay in the homes of the pet owners so that the pets can remain in familiar territory. In addition to caring for pets, they may also provide basic services for the owners, such as collecting mail and vacuuming pet hair.

Pet-sitting services are a popular way to make money in Atlanta because they can be easily started and there is a lot of demand for them. For most people interested in offering their services, all they need is some basic equipment and a well-written ad. They can also offer additional services like walking pets or grooming them.

Earning Potential: Up to $17/hour

Requirements: A high school diploma or GED, a proven track record as a pet sitter, familiarity with animal behavior, and excellent organizational skills are required for this position.

Investment needed: $0 investment needed

How To Get Started: To start a pet-sitting business, create an online presence by setting up a profile on a pet-sitting website such as Rover or Care.com, and network with friends and family members who may know people looking for sitters. You can also put up flyers in your neighborhood or post about your services on social media.

8. Provide Home Cleaning Services

Offering home cleaning services is another good option for a side hustle. As a home cleaning service provider, you will be responsible for cleaning the client's home using professional cleaning equipment and methods. Your job will require you to vacuum rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, and/or draperies, plus clean the kitchen area as well as the toilets. You'll also need to empty wastebaskets and transport other trash & waste to disposal areas.

Earning Potential: Up to $90/hour

Requirements: For a cleaning business, the types of licenses you need depend on where you are operating. Most states require that you obtain a vendor's license to operate within their borders. Some states also require that you register your business as a DBA (doing business as) entity to conduct business.

Investment needed: You'll need to invest in cleaning materials such as a mop, scrubber, cleaning liquid, gloves, cleaning cloth, etc which can cost you around $100 at max.

How To Get Started: To get started as a home cleaner, create a profile on a site like Craigslist or Care.com and include your experience and qualifications. Once you have a few clients, keep their contact information so that you can continue to service them in the future.

9. Start Tutoring On The Side

Creating an online tutoring business is a convenient way to earn some money on the side, and one that can be very lucrative in the long run. You'll be able to make your own hours and work from home and you won't need a lot of startup capital to get started.

So, if you have a specialized skill, there are many ways to monetize it. From guitar instruction to French lessons to maths coaching or personal training, there are many opportunities for monetizing your knowledge in a variety of settings.

Earning Potential: Up to $25/hour

Requirements: You'll require specific skills or in-depth knowledge about the subject you'll teach, a laptop, mic, and high-speed internet

Investment needed: 0 investment if you already have a laptop

How To Get Started: You can register yourself as an online tutor on an online teaching platform like Preply or Teachable

10. Make Money Renting Out Your Car

Are you using your car for a short time and it just sits idle for the rest of the day? Or do you own more than one car and want to use the extra one to earn some additional income on the side. Renting your car out on an hourly basis can be a good source of side income for you to have while you are working a regular job.

Earning Potential: Up to $10/hour

Requirements: You will need to have an extra car that's in good running condition and also car insurance. You should yourself check or ask the agent to check if the person you are renting your car to has a valid driver's license, a government-approved photo ID, and no criminal background.

Investment needed: $0 upfront cost if you have insured the vehicle beforehand.

How To Get Started: List your car on HyreCar or Turo and let your car earn for you while you rest.

11. Take Online Surveys

Although these aren't the favorite side hustle of almost everyone, they are convenient and easy ways to do so. While you can doze off when watching a movie, why not click some buttons and do some work to make the money you want?

Several survey sites allow you to get paid while you share your opinion. You can fill in your opinions for endless surveys and earn extra bucks for filling up the survey forms. Some platforms even offer a bonus for completing the first five rounds of the survey.

Potential: If you’re smart, you can earn up to $10 per survey!

Benefit: You can do these surveys anywhere, anytime, and however you’d like!

How To Get Started: You can start filling out surveys at Inboxdollars, Survey Junkie and many more.

12. Participate in Paid Focus Groups or Surveys

If you're looking for a fun and easy way to make some extra money, participating in paid focus groups or surveys is a great option. There are numerous companies that conduct these types of studies, so you're sure to find one that's a good fit for you. Plus, it's a great way to meet new people and learn about new products and services.

Earning Potential: $30-$150/hour on an average

Requirements: Anyone who is 18 or over and a USA resident can apply to take part in market research. Most companies limit the number of focus groups you can attend with them, and you may not get selected immediately. But registering with lots of companies at once is easy and quick to do. Registering with Generation Z-focused companies will let you share your insight on fashion, trends, and tech. Start by finding out what you’re interested in talking about!

Investment needed: $0 investment needed

How To Get Started: Find paid market research studies at FocusPointe.com. Sign up, fill out an application and complete an intake survey to be considered for the market research studies available in your area. Upon approval, you will have the opportunity to earn money by sharing your opinion.

13. Become A Movie Extra

Becoming a movie extra can be a great part-time career option if you are a student or retired or have a flexible work schedule in your day job. The term background actor or extra is used to refer to a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera, or ballet production who appears in a nonspeaking or nonsinging (silent) capacity and usually in the background.

Earning Potential: $50/hour on an average

Requirements: There's rarely a condition for being an extra, one reason is that it doesn't involve much acting. You may have to 'do' something in the background that makes you look like you're acting normal.

Investment needed: $0 investment needed

How To Get Started: To become a movie extra, begin by finding a reputable casting agency. Many such agencies operate in the city, and most of these agencies have websites where you can apply online. Once you have applied to an agency, be sure to stay active and keep your resume up-to-date. There are agencies that hold open casting calls throughout the year, so check websites regularly for updates.

14. Sell Your Arts & Crafts

If you're looking for a creative way to make some extra money, why not sell your arts and crafts? Making and selling crafts is a great side hustle to earn extra cash. Crafts business will cost less to start as you can use locally available materials to create unique art pieces.

There are different crafts you can make. Examples include necklaces, pottery, mats, headbands, flower vases, velvet pillows, palette clocks, and lace bowls.

Earning Potential: Around $12-$20/hour (labor costs depending on the kind of products you are selling)

Requirements: You will need to be creative, and be able to create unique products that people will be interested to buy. Having done a course in jewelry making, or handmade craft items can be useful for you in opening an art & craft business.

Investment needed: It will depend on the kind of art & craft items you want to sell.

How To Get Started: To get started with selling your arts and crafts, you'll need to first find a place to sell them. There are a number of places that sell arts and crafts in the city, including craft shows, art galleries, as well as online marketplaces. Start by doing some research to find the best option for you. Once you've found a place to sell your work, start crafting and marketing your products.

15. Charge Scooters For Uber, Bird, or Lime

You can make some extra money by charging scooters for companies such as Uber, Bird, and Lime. This is a great way to make money because it's a very easy job that doesn't require much work. In addition, it's a very profitable way to make money.

Earning Potential: Up to $30/hour

Requirements: You must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver's license and a helmet for riding a scooter. You must also own or have access to a smartphone.

Investment needed: You will need to invest in a high-quality scooter charger if you do not already have one.

How To Get Started: To become an electric scooter charger for Uber, Bird, and Lime, locate the company's distribution centers. Once you've found one of these facilities, contact the company and let them know you're interested in becoming a charger. They will provide you with all of the necessary information, including a list of nearby scooter locations.

Not looking for extra income, but rather a better job? Find a new job in Atlanta:

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meet the author

Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

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