Free skills and practical education

Side Hustles: Explore Skills, Services and Small Business Ideas

Explore 200 side-hustle learning topics across 20 areas, with free practical lessons to help you choose an idea, practice a skill and test a small offer.

Choose a small starting point

A side project can be a way to develop a skill, help someone and explore an extra source of income. Begin with what you can deliver well and the time you actually have.

Browse the areas below and choose one idea to investigate. The 200 topics are starting points for learning and practice; they are not 200 completed video courses or a promise that an idea will earn money. The free lessons linked here are ready to use now.

Write down who might need the work, what a small first result would look like and what you would need to learn. Compare the time, equipment and complete costs before committing to a larger project. Check any qualifications and local requirements relevant to the work you choose.

Try one small experiment

Original SelfGrowthVideos exercise: choose one idea, make a sample using fictional or appropriately reusable material, and ask a potential user what is useful or unclear. For a hands-on service, practice within your skills and document a clearly defined task.

Record the time and materials you used. Separate feedback you actually received from demand you hope exists. At your next check-in, decide whether to improve the sample, learn a missing skill, try a smaller offer or set the idea aside.

Learn from the original creators

Use the current lessons and creator video libraries below. Each creator’s profile links to the original publisher. An editorial listing does not mean a creator participates in or endorses SelfGrowthVideos.

For business tasks involving AI, explore AI for Business & Agency and AI Agents & Automation. For a broader foundation, browse Entrepreneurship and Productivity.

Practice with a free lesson

Develop a skill you can apply to a small project.

Free practiceLiam Ottley: Write a One-Page Business Context BriefWhat does an AI assistant need to know about a business before drafting for it?Free practiceNick Saraev: Count the Upkeep Before AutomatingHow can I compare the work an automation removes with the work it creates?Free practiceSabrina Ramonov: Review AI Social Copy Against Its SourceHow can I tell whether AI-generated social copy still says what its source actually supports?Free practiceAllie K. Miller: Show the Evidence for Your AI SkillsWhat can I show, rather than assume, about my ability to use AI at work?Free practiceNathaniel Whittemore: Name Your AI Agent Deal-BreakerWhich requirement must an AI agent meet before I spend time trying it?Free practiceMarie Forleo: Turn “I’m Stuck” Into a Learnable QuestionDescribe the desired result in one sentence.Free practiceSeth Godin: Finish a Small Creative ContributionChoose one recipient and write a plain sentence describing their need.

Explore 20 learning areas

Each area has ten specific topics. Choose a topic, then use its starting question and small practice to investigate it.

20 learning areas

AI Services & Business Workflows

Help a business with one bounded, reviewable task. Start with fictional inputs and a clear check of the result.

Start with a question: Which repeated task could I demonstrate accurately before offering help?

Browse all 10 topics in AI Services & Business Workflows

AI-assisted business descriptions
Customer FAQ draft review
Meeting decisions and action summaries
AI research brief source checking
Reusable business context briefs
AI social post fact checking
Workflow mapping before automation
Automation maintenance estimates
Document classification prototypes
AI assistant evaluation examples

Your small practice: Make a fictional input, define the expected result, complete one sample and record what needs human review.

Websites & Small Apps

Build small tools and useful pages around a real reader task.

Start with a question: What is the smallest useful thing I could build and test with a person?

Browse all 10 topics in Websites & Small Apps

One-page service websites
Portfolio website setup
Small-business landing pages
Appointment request prototypes
Website content updates
Website accessibility reviews
No-code directory prototypes
Simple inventory tracker prototypes
Website handoff documentation
Broken-link and page-content checks

Your small practice: Create one fictional page or screen, write its acceptance check and ask a peer to complete the intended task.

Writing, Editing & Translation

Practice clear writing for a specific audience, with a review process and an honest description of your language skills.

Start with a question: What reader problem could a clear piece of writing solve?

Browse all 10 topics in Writing, Editing & Translation

Newsletter editing
Product description writing
Website proofreading
Podcast show notes
Plain-language instruction sheets
Resume wording workshops
Interview article drafting
Case-study writing with approved facts
Bilingual content review
Subtitles and translation review

Your small practice: Use a fictional brief to make a before-and-after sample and explain each meaningful edit.

Video & Audio Production

Turn editing and storytelling skills into a clearly scoped production task.

Start with a question: Can I show the difference my edit makes using material I may reuse?

Browse all 10 topics in Video & Audio Production

Short-form video editing
Podcast audio cleanup
Interview clip selection
Caption correction
Video introduction editing
Screen-recorded tutorials
Product demonstration videos
Podcast episode assembly
Video library organization
Audio and video file handoffs

Your small practice: Make a short sample from your own or appropriately licensed media, retaining a list of its sources.

Design & Visual Services

Make a visual asset that fits a brief and is usable by its intended audience.

Start with a question: What information should this design help someone understand?

Browse all 10 topics in Design & Visual Services

Presentation slide cleanup
Event poster design
Social graphic templates
YouTube thumbnail design
Menu layout design
Infographic design
Document layout services
Product mockup creation
Brand asset organization
Accessible graphic alternatives

Your small practice: Design one fictional asset in two sizes, check readability and document the image and font sources.

Content & Digital Marketing

Connect a message with a reader need and a way to review whether it is useful.

Start with a question: Who is this message for, and what should they be able to do next?

Browse all 10 topics in Content & Digital Marketing

Editorial calendar planning
Local business content updates
Search-friendly article outlines
Email newsletter assembly
Social content repurposing
Content inventory reviews
Customer story editing
Event announcement campaigns
Website analytics explanations
Community discussion planning

Your small practice: Write a fictional audience brief, create one sample and compare it with the original facts and purpose.

Virtual Assistance & Administration

Organize repeated work with a clear scope, handoff and permission boundary.

Start with a question: Which small administrative task can I complete reliably?

Browse all 10 topics in Virtual Assistance & Administration

Calendar coordination
Inbox categorization plans
Spreadsheet cleanup
Contact list organization
Travel research summaries
Meeting agenda preparation
Document formatting
Invoice record organization
Customer request tracking
Standard operating procedure drafts

Your small practice: Use fictional records to create a clear input-to-output checklist and a handoff another person can follow.

Tutoring & Learning Support

Teach a skill you can demonstrate, and make the learner's next practice clear.

Start with a question: What can I help a learner practice and check for themselves?

Browse all 10 topics in Tutoring & Learning Support

Language conversation practice
Beginner spreadsheet tutoring
Writing feedback sessions
Study planning support
Instrument practice coaching
Beginner coding tutoring
Digital literacy lessons
Presentation practice sessions
Drawing skill workshops
Job interview practice

Your small practice: Plan one small lesson, give an example and write a check that shows whether the learner understood it.

Everyday Technology Help

Explain and organize ordinary technology tasks without promising results you cannot verify.

Start with a question: Which task can I demonstrate and hand back clearly?

Browse all 10 topics in Everyday Technology Help

Device setup walkthroughs
Digital photo organization
File and folder organization
Backup planning explanations
Video call setup support
Software onboarding guides
Printer setup help
Home office equipment comparison
Password manager learning sessions
Small-team software documentation

Your small practice: Use your own device or fictional account information to write a step-by-step guide and test the instructions.

Home Help & Organization

Explore defined local services that match your practical skills, time and available equipment.

Start with a question: Can I describe the task, its boundaries and what completion looks like?

Browse all 10 topics in Home Help & Organization

Home organizing sessions
Move preparation checklists
Decluttering support
Packing and unpacking help
Furniture assembly planning
Window cleaning service planning
House cleaning scope design
Garage organization projects
Home inventory documentation
Seasonal decoration setup

Your small practice: Write a sample scope, list the equipment and time it needs, and document a practice result in your own space.

Garden & Outdoor Services

Start with a modest outdoor task and understand the equipment, conditions and repeat work it needs.

Start with a question: What outdoor task could I complete within a clear scope?

Browse all 10 topics in Garden & Outdoor Services

Lawn care route planning
Garden bed maintenance
Container garden setup
Leaf cleanup planning
Plant watering visits
Outdoor space organization
Patio furniture cleaning
Compost setup education
Seasonal garden checklists
Garden photo progress reports

Your small practice: Document a small project on your own property, including preparation, materials and a completion checklist.

Pet Services

Explore services that depend on trust, clear instructions and honest experience with animals.

Start with a question: What care instructions and boundaries would this service need?

Browse all 10 topics in Pet Services

Dog walking route planning
Pet sitting intake forms
Pet visit updates
Pet supply delivery planning
Pet photography sessions
Pet travel preparation checklists
Pet record organization
Dog enrichment activity guides
Lost-pet poster design
Pet service scheduling systems

Your small practice: Draft a fictional intake and handoff sheet, identifying questions you would need answered before accepting work.

Photography

Develop a repeatable way to plan, capture, edit and deliver a useful set of images.

Start with a question: What would a client need from this particular photo session?

Browse all 10 topics in Photography

Product photography
Portrait session planning
Real estate photo preparation
Event photography shot lists
Food photography practice
Team headshot coordination
Photo retouching workflows
Photo scanning and restoration
Image catalog organization
Photo delivery galleries

Your small practice: Make a small collection from a subject you have permission to photograph and explain your selection and delivery process.

Events & Hospitality Support

Help an event run clearly by defining responsibilities and preparing the small details.

Start with a question: Which part of an event could I support with a dependable checklist?

Browse all 10 topics in Events & Hospitality Support

Event registration coordination
Vendor contact organization
Event program design
Guest communication plans
Workshop logistics
Venue research comparisons
Small-event decoration planning
Event equipment inventories
Virtual event moderation
Post-event feedback summaries

Your small practice: Choose a fictional event and prepare a scope, timeline and handoff for one role.

Making, Crafts & Custom Work

Develop a useful handmade item and document the materials, effort and customer choices involved.

Start with a question: What can I make consistently enough to show a reliable sample?

Browse all 10 topics in Making, Crafts & Custom Work

Custom stationery
Handmade gift packaging
Sewing alterations practice
Personalized fabric items
Woodcraft prototypes
Jewelry design samples
Knitted and crocheted items
Custom illustrations
Ceramic gift designs
Craft workshop planning

Your small practice: Make one prototype, record materials and time, and ask for feedback before producing a batch.

Resale, Repair & Reuse

Learn to inspect, describe and improve an item before deciding whether an offer makes sense.

Start with a question: Can I document the item's condition, effort and complete costs?

Browse all 10 topics in Resale, Repair & Reuse

Secondhand book reselling
Used furniture listing preparation
Vintage clothing condition checks
Bicycle maintenance learning
Furniture refinishing samples
Clothing repair services
Used camera equipment research
Collectible item cataloging
Consignment inventory records
Secondhand listing photography

Your small practice: Use an item you own to record condition, compare listings and write an accurate description without assuming a sale.

Digital Products & Resources

Create a small reusable resource that solves a specific problem and is easy to understand.

Start with a question: What repeated task would my resource make clearer?

Browse all 10 topics in Digital Products & Resources

Spreadsheet templates
Printable planning sheets
Digital workshop worksheets
Website component templates
Presentation templates
Original icon collections
Study flashcard resources
Project checklist packs
Editable event invitations
Simple budget worksheet design

Your small practice: Build one sample, test it with a peer and write plain instructions; use your own or appropriately licensed material.

Creator Businesses & Communities

Develop useful publishing and community skills around a clear audience need.

Start with a question: Why would a specific person return to this work?

Browse all 10 topics in Creator Businesses & Communities

Niche newsletter concepts
Educational video series
Podcast pilot planning
Resource directory curation
Reader-supported publishing
Small-group learning communities
Community moderation services
Creator collaboration planning
Workshop series design
Audience feedback interviews

Your small practice: Define a narrow audience, create one useful sample and collect feedback before building a larger offering.

Research & Information Services

Deliver a useful summary whose reader can trace important statements back to their sources.

Start with a question: What decision or task will this research help someone understand?

Browse all 10 topics in Research & Information Services

Public-source market research
Supplier research summaries
Product comparison briefs
Competitor content inventories
Local resource directories
Grant opportunity research
Industry news summaries
Podcast guest research
Public data cleanup
Source and citation checks

Your small practice: Research a fictional brief from public sources, date the findings and separate verified facts from unanswered questions.

Starting & Managing the Work

Learn the practical foundations shared by many side projects before expanding your commitments.

Start with a question: What evidence do I need before committing more time or money?

Browse all 10 topics in Starting & Managing the Work

Choosing an idea that fits your schedule
Customer discovery conversations
Defining a small first offer
Writing a scope of work
Tracking all project costs
Estimating time and capacity
Preparing a simple portfolio
Explaining a service clearly
Reviewing customer feedback
Deciding whether to continue or stop

Your small practice: Choose one idea, write a small test and record your time, costs, feedback and next decision without assuming future earnings.

Explore creator video libraries

Original publisher videos and companion lessons on useful business skills. These are editorial learning links, not earnings guarantees.

Creator and videosLiam OttleyLiam Ottley is an AI business builder and creator. He publishes business workflow examples through his video channel and Liam's Levers, a newsletter about practical ideas from his own work and client projects.Creator and videosNick SaraevNick Saraev is a developer and educator who publishes AI and automation resources. His website includes original writing on agency work, business processes and learning alongside links to his teaching channel.Creator and videosSabrina RamonovSabrina Ramonov creates public lessons on AI prompts, agents and automation. Her written tutorials explain content workflows and connect readers with templates and original videos.Creator and videosAllie K. MillerAllie K. Miller teaches and advises on AI in business. Her website and AI with ALLIE newsletter bring together practical learning resources, ideas about organizational readiness and ways to use AI at work.Creator and videosNathaniel WhittemoreNathaniel Whittemore, known as NLW, hosts The AI Daily Brief and founded Superintelligent. His work combines AI news analysis with questions about useful applications, organizational adoption and the way people choose and use AI tools.