A Simple Framework for Picking Your Next Side Hustle

When you first start thinking about a side hustle, ideas can feel like they're coming from everywhere. But how do you sort through the noise and land on the one that’s actually right for you? It helps to have a system, something that lets you compare your options without getting overwhelmed.

Take Meredith Floyd-Preston, a Waldorf teacher in Oregon. The Waldorf method is unique; it focuses on imagination and creativity, and teachers are expected to design their own curriculum instead of using standard textbooks. Meredith was passionate about it and became a go-to resource for new teachers who found the approach challenging. She noticed a major pain point: creating custom lessons from scratch was incredibly time-consuming. This was a problem she knew how to solve, and she was looking to .

As someone who enjoyed knitting and web design in her spare time, Meredith was used to juggling projects. She saw an opportunity to help not only her fellow teachers but also the growing number of homeschooling parents using the Waldorf method, who often had even fewer resources. She just needed to figure out the best way to deliver that help.

Weighing the Different Types of Side Hustles

Meredith brainstormed a few possibilities for her . She could offer one-on-one consulting or coaching, but that didn't feel right. Teachers are busy, and so was she. Trading her limited time for money didn't seem sustainable. Next, she considered a live workshop, which would let her reach more people at once. Still, the profit potential was capped—she could only be in one place at a time. The idea of meant she needed something more flexible.

Her third option was the most compelling: creating downloadable curriculum guides. The price per guide would be low, but the potential for sales was nearly unlimited. These were the kind of that could eventually become one of the because the work was front-loaded. Once the guides were created and uploaded, any income she earned would be almost pure profit. She decided to go for it.

Meredith compiled her guides into simple PDFs and quietly put them up for sale. The initial response was great, confirming she was on the right track. She had found a project that was feasible, profitable, and genuinely helpful.

A Better Way to Find Your Match

Think of choosing a side gig like using a dating app. The goal isn't to get an endless stream of random profiles; it's to get a curated list of people you might actually connect with. You quickly swipe past most, consider a few, and then test the waters with the most promising option. The same logic applies to your .

Instead of getting stuck with too many ideas, you need a simple algorithm to find your ideal match. Here’s a way to rank and compare your ideas to see which one stands out.

The 5-Point Side Hustle Selector

When you're , you need to evaluate your ideas against a consistent set of criteria. Here are five key qualities to consider:

• How realistically can you get this idea off the ground in a short amount of time?
• What is the potential to make money from this, also in the near future?
• Is this a good idea ? Is there a clear and current need for it?
• How quickly can you execute the core tasks of this hustle?
• On a personal level, how excited are you about this particular idea?

Time and motivation are huge factors. Because you're likely , you need an idea that’s efficient. You also need something that you genuinely look forward to working on, not another chore to dread.

To use this framework, simply rank each of your ideas as High, Medium, or Low for each of the five qualities. You might have to make some educated guesses, and that’s fine. The goal is to see if a clear winner emerges from the comparison.

If we apply this to Meredith's options, the choice becomes obvious. In-person coaching would have ranked Low on feasibility, profitability, and efficiency due to the major time commitment. The curriculum guides, however, were a different story. They ranked High on feasibility, profitability, and efficiency. They were far more and a much better fit for someone with a demanding day job.

What to Do If You're Still Undecided

It’s easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis. If you're having trouble choosing between your , keep these three things in mind:

1. You're just picking the right idea for right now. You can always come back to your other ideas later.
2. Use this framework to identify your strongest concept and run with it. Lead with your winner.
3. Action is almost always better than inaction. Even if you change course later, you’ll gain valuable experience along the way.

Before you move forward, do one final check. Can you explain your idea simply? Is it feasible, profitable, and persuasive? Is the path to making money clear? And does thinking about it make you excited? If you can answer yes to most of these, it’s time to stop thinking and .