Looking for realistic ways to earn extra income in Singapore without quitting your full-time job? You’re not alone.
As living costs continue to rise and flexible work becomes the norm, side hustle ideas in Singapore are no longer just a trend—they’re a smart financial strategy. Whether you’re a student, working professional, freelancer, or aspiring entrepreneur, the right side hustle can help you build income, skills, and even long-term independence.
This guide explores the 15 best side hustles in Singapore for 2026, with locally relevant insights, practical earning tips, and long-tail SEO questions designed to help you discover opportunities others are not yet talking about. If your goal is to make extra income in Singapore, this article is built for you.
What Is a Side Hustle?
A side hustle is an additional income stream alongside your main job. It could be a part-time business you manage during your free time, an occasional gig, or anything in between. When it comes to starting a side hustle in Singapore, your creativity knows no bounds. What defines a side hustle is simply that it offers you a supplementary source of income, regardless of its scale.
Why Side Hustles Are Booming in Singapore (2026 Insights)
Singapore’s digital-first economy, strong infrastructure, and global connectivity make it one of the best places in Asia to start a side hustle.
Key drivers behind the rise of Singapore side hustles in 2026:
Hybrid and remote work culture
Strong gig economy platforms
High smartphone and digital payment adoption
Growing demand for localised services and content
Government support for upskilling and entrepreneurship
The result? More people are searching for best side hustles in Singapore that fit around busy schedules and offer scalable income.
What is the best way to start a side hustle in Singapore? Here is a Step-by-step Guide to Getting started.
Embarking on a side hustle in Singapore can be a fulfilling path to boost your earnings and advance your career. Follow these steps to kickstart your journey:
Step 1: Identifying Your Skillset
Begin by assessing your skills, interests, and hobbies. Determine what you excel at and enjoy, whether it’s digital skills like web design or more traditional talents like baking. Next, evaluate the market demand for these skills. For instance, if you’re skilled in graphic design, investigate if there’s a need for such services among Singapore’s small businesses. If your skills don’t match current market needs, consider acquiring new ones through online platforms like Udemy, Teachable, or Skillshare.
Step 2: Conducting Market Research
Study the local market using resources like the Singapore Department of Statistics or industry reports to understand trends and demands. Identify your target audience; for tutoring services, this might include students or parents. Analyze your competition to find a unique angle for your side hustle.
Step 3: Legal and Financial Planning
Research the legal requirements for your side hustle, such as permits or licenses, using resources like the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) website. Understand the tax implications and set up financial tracking to monitor expenses and income.
Step 4: Managing Your Time
Create a schedule that allows you to balance your main job and side hustle. Set realistic goals and prioritize tasks that align with your objectives. Seek support through automation tools or part-time help when needed.
By following these steps, you can launch and manage a successful side hustle in Singapore, enhancing your income and personal growth. Remember to align your side hustle with your strengths and market needs while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
This is a list of 15 side hustle ideas that you should pursue!
The 15 Best Side Hustle Ideas for Singapore!
A new sense of opportunity has emerged post-pandemic, shifting attitudes toward the traditional nine-to-five work model. Employers are increasingly open to their employees pursuing side hustles. Juggling a full-time job with a side hustle can enhance one’s creativity, discipline, and work-life skills.
Consider offering a unique service or tapping into an existing demand, such as house cleaning or creating Instagram posts for local establishments.
If you’re struggling for time or ideas, explore these 15 Top Best side hustle ideas in Singapore to kickstart your journey to earning extra income.
(1) Start a dropshipping business
With the rise of e-commerce, embarking on a dropshipping venture presents a promising opportunity. This business model boasts low risks and minimal startup costs, as you can sell products online without the need to manage inventory.
In dropshipping, your primary responsibilities include marketing the products and managing customer service. If you possess a background in copywriting, this can be advantageous, as your writing skills can help you craft compelling product descriptions that set your offerings apart from competitors.
Dropshipping allows you to explore a wide array of sellable products and establish your e-commerce brand. Your earnings will be derived from the markup you add to the wholesaler’s price, making dropshipping a game of volume.
(2) Be an E-commerce Store Owner
The growth of e-commerce has created a wealth of opportunities for aspiring online store owners. This business model is enticing due to its low-risk nature and minimal startup costs, enabling you to sell products without the need to stock inventory.
As an e-commerce store owner, your primary tasks will revolve around marketing the products and providing excellent customer service. If you have a background in copywriting, this can be especially beneficial, as your ability to craft engaging product descriptions can help differentiate your store from competitors.
(3) Do Freelance Writing
Copywriting can be an excellent side hustle for those with the right skills and knowledge. It’s crucial to recognize the distinction between copywriting, marketing writing, and content writing. Knowing your niche is important before starting to provide writing services.
(4) Be a Content Creator
Creativity is not just limited to content for the internet, such as blog posts, videos, images, and eBooks. It extends to various other forms. For example, you can design new clothing and sell it through online marketplaces, create courses to share your skills, or even prepare and sell innovative meals.
The rise of platforms and online tools has significantly contributed to making these creative endeavors viable. In this post, we explore several creator platforms that you can leverage to develop, promote, and sell your creations.
(5) Offer Tutoring Services
Tutoring can earn quite decent money. How much you make depends on the type of tutoring and your qualifications. Generally, tutors with more experience and better qualifications make more money when tutoring on the side.
(6) Commit to Food Delivery
Typically, food delivery drivers can make between $20 to $40 per hour, several factors can influence earnings. Timing is crucial; peak hours, weekends, and evenings usually result in higher earnings due to more orders. Providing excellent service can lead to better tips, boosting your income. Weather and seasonal changes can also affect order volumes and earnings, requiring you to adjust your strategy accordingly.
(7) Be a Personal Trainer
Fitness facilities have transformed significantly over time, offering a variety of options. Traditional gyms have been joined by modern online training platforms, making fitness more inclusive and accessible. Whether you prefer group fitness classes for the sense of community or online personal training for flexibility, there’s a fitness option to suit everyone.
(8) Offer Photography Services
Transform your creative passion into a profitable business by starting a photography side hustle. With the accessibility of digital tools, abundant online resources, and a rising demand for high-quality visual content in various industries, launching a photography side hustle in is more achievable than ever before.
(9) Be a Handmade Goods Seller
If you’re crafty and skilled with your hands, consider creating and selling crafts on platforms like Etsy or through your Instagram/Facebook page. Design items such as pouches, earrings, and headbands. The amount you earn from this side hustle will depend on how you price your products.
(10) Stock Trading or Investing
Investing in stocks offers several advantages, such as the potential for growth, particularly in well-established companies whose stock value may increase over time, resulting in a solid return on investment. Additionally, it serves as a form of protection against inflation. If you’re new to investing, here’s a beginner’s guide to help you get started.
(11) Be a Home-Based Baker
Capitalizing on Singaporean’s preference for celebrating various festivals and events can be an effective strategy to promote your products from your home bakery and generate income. Crafting limited-edition baking products for major events like Chinese New Year, Deepavali, and Hari Raya can help your home business stand out among competitors.
(12) AI-Assisted Content Editor & Checker
AI + human editing = premium value
Businesses want fast content—but they also want quality. Offering AI-assisted writing with human refinement is a blue-ocean opportunity that’s growing fast in Singapore.
You can specialise in:
Blog content for Singapore brands
Website copywriting
LinkedIn ghostwriting for executives
This is one of the best side hustle ideas in Singapore that requires low capital and high skill leverage.
(13) Promote other Brands as Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate Marketing offers a speedy path to begin selling and earning. You can promote your affiliate’s products and start earning commissions without the need to manage your inventory. There’s no need to worry about upfront investments or the complexities of warehousing and managing workers to meet supply and demand.
Well-known e-commerce platforms like Shopee and Lazada offer affiliate programs, while lesser-known platforms like Commission Factory, InvolveAsia, and Accesstrade act as intermediaries between businesses and affiliates.
(14) Sell your Photos online
Wouldn’t it be lovely to have beautiful things to adorn your home or unique wallpapers for your phone or computer? If you’re passionate about photography and have a knack for artistry, consider selling your photos online. Platforms like Shutterstock offer an excellent opportunity to showcase and sell your images. You can set your prices and offer your photos in different resolutions to cater to your buyers’ preferences.
You could also take this opportunity to enhance your photography skills with advanced software, including AI tools. Learn to integrate graphics, text, logos, and images into photographs to create stunning impact through photography online courses.
(15) Provide Home Cleaning Services
The cleaning service industry plays a vital role in maintaining clean and habitable environments. With the increased focus on hygiene post-pandemic, there is a growing demand for cleaning services in Singapore. With a ready market, entering this industry can be a rewarding opportunity.
In Singapore’s dynamic and competitive environment, having a side hustle can be a strategic step to broaden your skills, grow your network, secure financial stability, and adapt to evolving career trends.
Side hustles are more than just a trend; they’re a crucial part of a modern career strategy. For those aiming to boost their careers in Singapore, starting a side hustle can be a fulfilling and impactful journey.
People are also searching online:
What is the best side hustle in Singapore for beginners?
Freelancing, tutoring, and reselling are among the best side hustles in Singapore for beginners due to low startup costs and fast learning curves.
How can I make extra income in Singapore without quitting my job?
Choose flexible options like digital freelancing, online tutoring, or virtual assistant work. These allow you to make extra income in Singapore alongside full-time employment.
Are side hustles legal in Singapore?
Yes, most side hustles are legal, but you should ensure compliance with tax and employment regulations where applicable.
Which Singapore side hustle is most future-proof for 2026?
AI-related services, digital content creation, and education-based side hustles are expected to remain strong Singapore side hustles in 2026.
How much can I earn from a side hustle in Singapore?
Earnings vary widely—from a few hundred dollars monthly to several thousand—depending on skill, time invested, and demand.
Choosing the Right Side Hustle in Singapore
The best side hustle ideas in Singapore are not about chasing trends—they’re about matching your skills, local demand, and future opportunities.
Whether your goal is to:
Pay off expenses
Build a safety net
Test a business idea
Or simply make extra income in Singapore
There has never been a better time to start.
Choose one idea, take consistent action, and let your side hustle grow with you. Singapore’s ecosystem is ready—you just need to begin.
(Credits: Pexels, Apartment Therapy, Shopee)
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