Tips on how to start a successful side hustle in 2025, according to an expert

In 2024, side hustlers put a significant amount of extra money into their wallets. According to Bank rate survey for June 2024 of 2,332 US adults. Some brought in $1,000 to $2,000 a month.

If you are one of the many people who want to add another revenue stream in 2025there are a few steps you can take first to set yourself up for success, says Angelique Revers, CEO of a small business consulting firm BoldHaus.

Here’s what she recommends.

First, “make sure you organized“, says Revers.

“You have to have a special bank account,” she says. “You have to have a special credit card. You have to make sure yours tax accountant knows what you’re doing.” You can create Excel spreadsheets to keep track of your clients—everything you need to keep your outside money-making business organized.

If your gig starts and you haven’t built the tools for it, “you lose control of the side hustle,” she says.

Second, be mindful of the commitments you are making. “Make sure you’re not only tracking your expenses, but also your time,” says Revers.

It’s easy to underestimate the number of hours you spend hustling and working overtime without getting paid for it. Maybe you said the customer a project took five hours and then billed for those five hours even though it actually took 10, for example.

But “that’s how a side hustle can turn from something that’s really great to do into a lot of resentment, and it’s not worth your time,” says Revers. So be realistic about how long it will take and charge accordingly.

Finally, make sure you let the people in your life know about your new gig.

For those in your personal life, like your family and friends, “pick up the phone, text people, send them voice notes, let them know what you’re doing,” Revers says. They can help you find clients or even hire you themselves.

Also, create posts or profiles on applications and platforms like Nextdoor, Facebook Groups, Upwork, FiverrReddit,” she says, to tap into your external network and people you don’t know. She adds that, “if it’s not going to compete with your full-time job, you can certainly talk about it on LinkedIn as well.”

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