17 Ways To Make Extra Money In Chicago, Illinois [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: February 22nd, 2024

17 Ways To Make Extra Money In Chicago, Illinois [2024]

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

Chicago, also known as the Windy City, is a hub of commerce and culture, making it a great place for those looking to make easy money or start a new business. With its diverse economy and vibrant atmosphere, the city offers a wide range of opportunities for entrepreneurs and those seeking to supplement their income. Whether you're a creative individual, an expert in a particular field, or simply looking for a flexible and lucrative way to earn extra cash, there are options available for you in Chicago.

Whether you're trying to make ends meet or just looking for some extra cash to splurge on your hobbies, these opportunities offer a flexible and convenient way to earn money in Chicago. You can choose a job that aligns with your skills and interests, and work around your sche

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

Cost of living: $2,903 per month for a single person, $5,287 for a family of four
Average income: $76,000 per year

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

In this post, we provide you with 17 side hustle ideas and ways to make money in Chicago.

Here they are:

1. Become a Dog Walker

If you have a couple of hours and need an exercise buddy, consider taking a stranger's dog for a walk. There are tons of people in the area that can't walk their dogs and will pay you to have a fun hour or two with their bundle of fur. Can it get any better?

Apps like Wag let you work on a flexible schedule and choose when you want to work. However, if you're open to doggy sitting/boarding - you're on call 24/7. Still, you're doing a service to your neighborhood and getting paid handsomely for it!

Earning Potential: up to $25/hour

Benefits: You get to play with a furball, get some exercise and explore the area!

How To Get Started: You can apply to be a dog walker through apps like Rover, Walkatxpets, Wag.

Dog walking can bring in some serious money. Learn how Melodi makes $54k/month walking dogs.

2. 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 Chicago 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.

3. Make Money Renting Out Your Sporting Equipment

If you own bicycles, skis, or hockey sticks, Spinlister gives you the chance to earn extra money by renting out your used sporting goods for a fee.

Renting out your equipment while you're not using it will earn you some extra money in Chicago.

Earning Potential: Up to $13/hour

Requirements: If you have any sports equipment simply post it on the rental website or app. You don't need to think about anything else besides that.

Investment needed: You have to pay minimal fees for using the platform to rent your sports equipment. There is no need to make an investment if you already own sporting goods.

How To Get Started: Visit websites like Spinlister and list your sporting goods for rent.

4. Make Money Renting Out Your Camera

If you are a photographer or videographer with a variety of camera accessories gathering dust, you can make good money by simply renting that equipment. because there is a sizable market and rising demand for renting out equipment in Chicago.

You can rent out your cameras or equipment on the Sharegrid platform. It is a fantastic way to earn some extra cash and save your camera from getting nonfunctioning.

Earning Potential: Up to $60/day

Requirements: Simply post images of your old equipment or camera on the rental website or app and wait till your ad reaches your potential customers. You don't need to consider anything else besides that.

Investment needed: You don't have to pay anything to list your items on rental websites because they are all free. If you already own a camera and other photography equipment there is no investment necessary.

How To Get Started: Visit websites like sharegrid.com and list your camera for rent.

5. Start A Blog

There's no reason that your blog can't become a source of income. You can easily use it as a platform for e-commerce purposes. Whether you sell e-books, courses, or physical e-commerce products, it has the potential to provide passive income!

Additionally, if you consider a monetization strategy for your blog, it can prove to be powerful for content marketing and accelerating your business. As a result, you can earn big sums of money from your business.

Potential: It depends, but some bloggers are making as much as $2M/year.

Benefit: You can call yourself an entrepreneur!

How To Get Started: You can start your blog for free today on Wix, Blogger, WordPress.

Learn how Michelle makes $100K per month writing about her favorite topic.

6. Help People Move

Do you own a truck or a trailer, have some extra hours, and want to put it to use then you can start a moving service. It will take some manual labor and good driving skills, but it can help you make a good amount of money on the weekends and on your free weekly hours.

People always require assistance moving furniture or shifting apartments, or just picking up a washing machine. If you have extra skills like putting together pieces of furniture or packing stuff, that could get you more extra cash.

Earning Potential: Up to $50/hour

Requirements: Meet the minimum age to drive in your city, should have a driving license, and be physically strong to be able to pick up or move heavy stuff.

Investment needed: You will need to invest in a few basic items like moving dollies, moving pads, moving boxes, rope, and furniture belts which can cost around $1,000-$2,000 at max.

How To Get Started: You can start with posting ads on your local newspaper and cable networks to get the words out about your business. Approach the houses in your neighborhood with printed pamphlets letting them know about your business.

Don't have a car for moving? Rent a car or truck with HyreCar.

7. Make Money Renting Out Your Pool

Do you have a private swimming pool on your property? You can rent it out for some extra cash. Offer your poolside property to event companies or someone looking for space by the pool to host an event or party and make a handsome income from it by each hour.

Earning Potential: Up to $60/hour

Requirements: You will need a pool that’s in good condition with all the basic facilities and cleaning equipment. The next thing you require is insurance to protect your property from damage. Also, you should set rules & expectations and be clear about it from the start, as it is your personal residential property.

Investment needed: You'll need to pay for insurance if you don't already have one. The insurance cost will depend on the state you are living in, plus there will be some cleaning and maintenance costs which can be around $130 per month on average.

How To Get Started: Visit websites like Swimply and list yourself as a host.

8. 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 Chicago 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. Start Babysitting

If you love spending time with babies then the babysitting business can be a fulfilling and rewarding business for you to venture into. This is a very well-paid job in Chicago and plus it's quite flexible since you can choose your working hours and work independently.

Earning Potential: Up to $23/hour

Requirements: You should be responsible & reliable, should be punctual, creative & playful, must possess a lot of patience, have good manners, and should not have any criminal background. It will be a bonus if you have a driving license and have done a basic babysitting course.

Investment needed: $0 investment needed

How To Get Started: Network and let your family, friends, and neighbors know that you are interested in working as a babysitter. Look for mom's groups on social media platforms, and contact your local kindergarten or junior schools. You can also sign up with apps that connect parents with babysitters such as UrbanSitter, Bambino, or bubble.

12. Rent Out Your Attic Or Garage

Do you have an attic or a garage space that you do not use anymore? Then put it on rent to make some extra cash.

You can rent it to local people or businesses that are looking for space to run their operations and can function in the limited space of a garage or attic. A lot of small business owners look for this kind of space in the initial stage of their journey so you won't have a hard time finding a customer/client.

Earning Potential: Up to $100/month (depending on the size of your space and which city or state you are residing in)

Requirements: You will need an extra garage or attic that is habitable with basic facilities like electricity and ventilation.

Investment needed: $0 investment needed if the place is already in good condition.

How To Get Started: You can list your space and set your own price on websites like Airbnb, Apartments.com, LoopNet, Neighbor and more.

13. Start A Food Delivery Service

With the rising demand for food delivery options, starting a food delivery business can make a great side hustle. You can start your own delivery service in Chicago by partnering with your local cafes, restaurants, or pubs, or you can also join an established food delivery service in your city and deliver for them. Most food delivery companies will provide higher commissions if you move higher volumes.

Therefore, with food delivery being your side hustle, you can earn a good income, work as per your time, and be independent.

Earning Potential: $5-$20/hour

Requirements: No educational qualification is necessary, but having a high school degree can be of help. You must be 18 or above, and having a car or motorbike with a valid driver's license, and a mobile with an internet connection is required. Also, having previous experience working as a delivery guy will make you more eligible, plus good communication skills and friendly behavior are important in any customer service job.

Investment needed: $0 investment needed

How To Get Started

Find a food delivery service available in your city, obtain whatever documents they require, and work on establishing a strong delivery network.

14. Make Money Doing Tasks With TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit enables you to access a market of people looking for local household assistance like handyman services, delivery services, cleaning, home repairs, and more. If you have free time and a passion for helping others then take it into consideration as a side hustle option to make money in Chicago.

The tasks aren’t always easy and you will get requirements for all kinds of tasks, big and small. Larger tasks like home renovations are also available on this platform.

Earning Potential: Up to $60/hour

Requirements: You must have a smartphone, be at least 18 years old, and have a U.S. Social Security number in order to apply on this platform. See all requirements

Investment needed: You will need to a pay non-refundable fee of $25 for using the platform.

How To Get Started: Visit websites TaskRabbit and list yourself.

15. Start A Consulting Business

It is kind of like tutoring, but a bit different. So, if you possess a specific set of skills, then there are plenty of opportunities to use those skills to have some side income. If you have experience running a business for several years then you can offer business consulting services if you are a lawyer you can share legal advice, or if you are a dietician you can provide a diet chart for losing or gaining weight, and so on.

Earning Potential: Up to $44/hour

Requirements: You will need a specific set of skills, a problem-solving mindset, good communication skills, and a smartphone or a laptop with good internet speed.

Investment needed: $0 investment needed if you have a smartphone or a laptop

How To Get Started: You can visit consulting marketplaces like Catalant](https://services.gocatalant.com/) or Zintro to find clients for your business. For more info click here.

16. Become A Delivery Driver

Delivery drivers are responsible for delivering items from one location to another. Delivery drivers may need to deliver various goods like food, furniture, other household goods, etc, plus they are also responsible for loading & unloading.

Becoming a delivery driver is a good side hustle in Chicago as there are a lot of businesses that hire delivery drivers. You can earn a good income, work as per your time, and be independent.

Earning Potential: Up to $21/hour

Requirements: To become a successful delivery driver, you must have a valid driving license and your own car. Though no basic education is compulsory but still having a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate will be helpful. You also need to be physically fit as your job will include some heavy loading and unloading.

Investment needed: $0 investment needed

How To Get Started

You can find some delivery driver jobs here or here. Provide whatever documents they require, and work on establishing a strong delivery network.

17. Become A Part-Time Photographer

Have you had a passion for photography? Are you the designated photographer for your friend group? You can put those photography skills to use by working as a part-time photographer. Start by clicking pictures at events & ceremonies hosted in your close circle or neighborhood and then once you have a portfolio to show you can expand that business further and even make it a full-time job.

Earning Potential: As a freelance part-time photographer you can earn up to $23/hour

Requirements: There's no minimum education required, but having a high school diploma would help. You have to have knowledge of photography, have an eye for detail, have an understanding of different angles & lenses, and be tech-savvy and know the use of basic photography tools. As for the equipment you'll need - a camera with a good quality lens, tripod, flashlight, and editing software.

Investment needed: Depends on the camera & lens quality but you can get started at around less than $1000.

How To Get Started: You can start with spreading the word in your close group and on all your social media pages to land your first clients. Other than that, you can use platforms like SimlyHired or Indeed to search for freelance photography jobs in your area.

FAQ

How Making Extra Money Can Be Beneficial?

Making extra money can be beneficial in several ways:

Increased financial security: Having a source of extra income can provide a cushion during unexpected expenses or financial emergencies.
Improved quality of life: Having more money can allow you to enjoy life's little luxuries, travel, and engage in hobbies you enjoy.
Reduced debt: Making extra money can help you pay off debt faster, reducing the amount of interest you pay and helping you become financially secure.
Increased savings: Having extra income allows you to put more money into savings and retirement accounts, helping you build a more secure financial future.
Improved financial literacy: Engaging in money-making activities can increase your financial literacy and help you develop better financial habits.
Opportunity for entrepreneurship: Making extra money can give you the opportunity to start a small business, which can lead to greater financial independence and growth.

Endnotes

Chicago offers a wide range of flexible and convenient opportunities for individuals looking to make extra money. Whether you're interested in becoming a dog walker, a driver for Uber or Lyft, renting out your sporting equipment or camera or starting a blog, there are many options available to match your skills and interests.

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

Resources:

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Pat Walls