Few things are as difficult to navigate as a sudden decline in income. Whether you’ve recently been laid off, had your hours cut, or are underemployed, finding ways to replace your lost income might be essential. While you could certainly search for a new full-time position, it’s also possible to make extra money on the side, giving you more flexibility.

Currently, around 34 percent of Americans have some kind of side job. If you want to join them, finding the best side hustle for your situation is a must. If you aren’t sure where to begin, My Income Trek shares some information that can help.

The World of Side Gigs

One of the easiest ways to start figuring out what kind of side job might be a great fit is to learn more about your options. By seeing what sort of paths are available, you can determine if any pique your interest or align with your skills.

Here is just a quick list of some of the side hustle opportunities that may be worth exploring:

• Business Consultant
• Car Detailer
• Craft Seller
• Delivery Driver
• Digital Content Creator
• Online Course Designer
• Pet Sitter
• Substitute Teacher
• Transcriptionist
• Virtual Assistant
• Website Designer
• Writer

Finding Your Talents

In some cases, the only thing that holds someone back from launching a side hustle is assuming they don’t have marketable skills. In reality, essentially everyone has something to offer.

For example, most administrative skills – like data entry, research, and report creation – can be the basis for a side gig. The same goes for many artistic or craft-related capabilities and many tech-based skills.

Since you want a side job that aligns with your abilities and interests, take a moment to reflect on what you’re good at doing. Look at your professional and personal life, ensuring you don’t overlook a potential talent. Then, as you identify possible options, see if they align with a side gig, giving you a way to see if various options might fit.

Locating Opportunities

There are several ways to find side gigs to get your money-making venture off of the ground. First, freelancing platforms like Fiverr and Upwork can be excellent options for anything you can do remotely online. Places like Rover and Care.com are better for caregiver opportunities in your local area, while Craigslist can be both a place to find positions and a spot to advertise your services.

You can also head to social media for opportunities. Along with looking for ads seeking people with specific capabilities, you can market what you have to offer.

Launching Your Own Business

In many cases, a side job can quickly turn into something more. As a result, it isn’t a bad idea to treat it like a full-fledged business opportunity relatively early on in the process.

Launching your own company isn’t as challenging as it may seem. In fact, forming an LLC is incredibly simple more often than not. Plus, it gives you access to a range of benefits, including:

• Reduced Liability
• Less Paperwork
• More Flexibility
• Tax Advantages

If you’re worried that registering your new LLC is more work than you’d like to take on, you’re in luck. By using a formation service, you can get expert help quickly. Additionally, formation services cost far less than hiring an attorney, allowing you to get the process handled without breaking the bank.