How to Start a Side Hustle With No Money (and Earn Your First £100)

It’s a normal weekday evening. The kettle’s boiled, your phone’s in your hand, and the to-do list is already laughing at you. Bills don’t care that you’re tired, and neither does the weekly shop.

The good news is you can start a side hustle with no money. The catch is simple: you’ll pay with time, focus, and showing up when you can’t be bothered. If you can do that, you can earn your first £100 without paid ads, fancy tools, or buying “starter kits”.

This is a grounded plan for UK life, whether you’re balancing childcare, shifts, or a packed commute.

Pick a no-money side hustle that fits your life (not your fantasy)

The best side hustle isn’t the one that sounds impressive. It’s the one you can stick with for 30 days. Think of it like choosing running shoes. The prettiest pair won’t help if they pinch after ten minutes.

Start by choosing one of these zero-cost categories:

• Skill-based: you sell what you can do (writing, tutoring, editing, admin).
• Time-based: you sell help (dog-walking, cleaning, errands, babysitting).
• Audience-based: you build attention, then monetise (content, affiliate links, digital products).

Do a quick self-check before you pick:

• Hours per week: can you give 3, 5, or 10?
• Energy level: evenings might suit quiet work, weekends might suit local jobs.
• People preference: do you like chatting, or would you rather work in peace?

If you’re not sure what’s possible, skim a UK-specific list like Skint Dad’s roundup of side hustles you can start in 2026 and circle three that feel realistic.

Photo by Karola G

Fast-start options that need only your phone or laptop

These are built for quick cash and low fuss. Prices vary by area, but these ranges are a sensible starting point for many UK towns and cities:

• Tutoring (GCSE, A-level, languages): roughly £20 to £45 per hour to start, more with results and reviews.
• Freelance writing or editing: £40 to £150 per piece for simple blogs and proofing, depending on length and topic.
• Basic video editing for short-form clips: £15 to £60 per video for trims, captions, and simple pacing.
• Social media help for local trades: £80 to £250 per month for a light package (posts, replies, basic content).
• Transcription and user testing: small jobs that can stack, often £10 to £30 per task.
• Pet-sitting and dog-walking: around £10 to £20 per hour, with repeat clients if you’re reliable.
• House cleaning: often £12 to £20 per hour, depending on the work and location.
• Babysitting: varies a lot, but many start around £10 to £15 per hour.
• Running errands: shopping runs, queueing, returns, basic admin help.

Start in 48 hours options (simple, local, quick yeses):

• Dog-walking: write a short post, print nothing, just share in local groups.
• Cleaning: message neighbours, offer a two-hour slot, take payment by bank transfer.
• Tutoring: offer a first session as a paid “assessment lesson” at a fair starter rate.

Slow-burn options that can pay more later

Slow-burn doesn’t mean slow effort. It means the first cash might take longer, but the income isn’t tied to every hour you work.

Three strong options:

Digital products: simple templates, revision packs, checklists, meal plans, CV formats. Create once, sell many times.

Affiliate content: you write or film honest reviews and guides, then earn a commission when someone buys through your link. Shopify has a broad primer on side hustle ideas and common ways people monetise online.

A niche TikTok or Instagram account: pick one tight theme (budget meals for families, GCSE maths tips, DIY home fixes in rentals). Keep it small and useful.

A content schedule you can actually keep:

• 3 short posts a week
• for 8 weeks
• with one clear topic and one clear audience

Set up your side hustle for free in one evening

You don’t need branding. You need clarity. Tonight, set up a simple base so people can understand you and book you.

A free one-evening checklist:

• Write down what you do and who it’s for.
• Set one clear starter price (don’t overthink it).
• Create a single place to send people (a Google Doc, a Notion page, or a simple social profile).
• Decide how people book you (DM, WhatsApp, email).
• Make a tiny “proof kit” (more on that next).

Free tools that do the job:

• Google Docs for your offer and pricing
• Google Drive for samples and before-and-after screenshots
• Canva (free) for a clean one-page price sheet
• Notion (free) for a simple portfolio page
• WhatsApp Business for quick replies and a tidy profile

Write a one-sentence offer people understand in five seconds

If your offer is fuzzy, people hesitate. If it’s clear, they reply.

Use this formula:

“I help [type of person] get [result] in [timeframe] without [pain].”

Ready-to-use examples:

• Tutoring: “I help GCSE students raise their maths grades in 8 weeks without worksheets that make no sense.”
• Editing: “I help jobseekers tighten their CV in 48 hours without sounding like a robot.”
• Dog-walking: “I help busy owners keep their dogs exercised on weekdays without rushing home at lunch.”
• Social media: “I help local trades get more calls in 30 days without posting every day.”
• Cleaning: “I help families get a reset home in one afternoon without losing the whole weekend.”

A quick warning: avoid “I do everything.” It sounds helpful, but it reads like “I don’t specialise”.

Build a tiny proof kit (so strangers trust you)

No clients yet? That’s normal. You can still build proof without lying.

Create one of these:

• A sample (one edited CV page, one short blog, three social posts for a pretend plumber).
• A before-and-after (rewrite a messy paragraph into something sharp).
• A short demo video (60 seconds showing how you organise an inbox or edit a clip).
• A mock project (a mini content plan for a local café).

Get your first 3 testimonials ethically:

• Ask friends, neighbours, or a local small business for a small, real task.
• Offer a lower starter price in exchange for honest feedback.

What to ask them to write (keep it short):

• The result they got
• How fast you were
• What you were like to work with (reliable, calm, clear)

Get your first customers without spending a penny

Likes don’t pay. Customers do. Your goal this week is simple: 20 messages, 5 replies, 1 paid job.

Track outreach in your notes app or a free spreadsheet. Treat it like a mini experiment, not a personality test.

Where to find buyers this week (local and online)

Good places to post and message:

• Facebook community groups and local pages
• Nextdoor
• LinkedIn (especially for writing, admin, social help)
• Local WhatsApp groups
• School parent groups
• Community noticeboards (shops, libraries)
• Gumtree Services
• PeoplePerHour and Upwork (free profiles)
• University boards
• Clubs, places of worship, sports groups

If you want fresh ideas beyond the obvious, The Independent sometimes highlights unexpected side hustles that suit UK schedules.

Safety for local jobs: meet new clients in public first when you can, tell someone where you’re going, and trust your gut.

A simple message script that doesn’t sound spammy

Warm contact (friend, neighbour, colleague):
“Hey! I’m doing [service] on evenings/weekends to bring in extra cash. If you or someone you know needs help with [specific result], I’ve got two slots this week. Want me to message you the details?”

Cold outreach (local business):
“Hi [Name], I’m local and noticed your [Facebook/Google profile/website]. I can help with [specific task] so you get more [calls/bookings/enquiries]. If I send a quick 3-point idea list, would that be useful?”

Soft close options:

• “Want me to send prices?”
• “Do you prefer a quick call, Tuesday at 7 or Thursday at 7?”
• “What’s your biggest headache with this right now?”

48-hour follow-up:
“Just checking this didn’t get buried. Still happy to send that quick idea list if you want it.”

Turn your first £100 into steady income (without burning out)

Your first £100 is proof. Now you build a simple system so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every week.

Work backwards from a goal. If you want £500 a month and you have 5 hours a week, you need about £25 an hour. If your work is priced per job, aim for the same maths.

A mini plan for weeks 1 to 4:

• Week 1: pick one offer, set a starter price, build proof.
• Week 2: send 20 messages, do one paid job, get a testimonial.
• Week 3: repeat what worked, tighten your offer, raise price slightly.
• Week 4: package your service, aim for two repeat clients.

Price in a way that rewards you, even at the start

Hourly is simple when the task is open-ended (cleaning, dog-walking, babysitting). Fixed price is better when the job has a clear finish (editing a CV, cutting a video, tutoring a 60-minute lesson).

A sensible starter ladder:

• First 3 jobs: entry rate to earn reviews
• Next 5 jobs: standard rate
• Then: add a package (for example, “4 tutoring sessions per month”)

Don’t race to the bottom. Cheap clients often cost the most time.

Avoid the common ‘no money’ traps that waste time

Watch for these time thieves:

• Paying for “training” before you’ve sold anything
• Buying gear too early (a new laptop won’t find customers)
• Chasing every idea, then finishing none
• Relying on surveys for real income (fine for small extras, not a plan)
• Working with clients who dodge payment or argue every penny

A simple rule: if it needs payment to access the job, walk away.

Conclusion

Starting a side hustle with no money is less about inspiration and more about repetition. Choose one option you can stick with, set up a clear offer tonight, send 20 messages this week, then do an excellent first job. That’s how your first £100 turns into momentum.

Pick one hustle and commit for 30 days. What skill can you sell by the weekend, and what will your first message say?