• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

U.S. says deals with Iran for safe Hormuz transit are prohibited

2

Surging Treasury yields expose a brutal truth: America has no margin for error on its $39 trillion debt

3

After a judge ordered Trump's name be removed from the Kennedy Center, president says it will 'soon be closed, probably never to open again'

1

U.S. says deals with Iran for safe Hormuz transit are prohibited

2

Surging Treasury yields expose a brutal truth: America has no margin for error on its $39 trillion debt

3

After a judge ordered Trump's name be removed from the Kennedy Center, president says it will 'soon be closed, probably never to open again'
SuccessSide Hustle

These are the top side hustles people are researching as inflation soars—from paid surveys to virtual assisting

Orianna Rosa Royle
By
Orianna Rosa Royle
Orianna Rosa Royle
Associate Editor, Success
Down Arrow Button Icon
Orianna Rosa Royle
By
Orianna Rosa Royle
Orianna Rosa Royle
Associate Editor, Success
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 31, 2023, 6:47 AM ET
African-American vlogger recording content for her social networks with a mobile phone in city park.
With over 1 billion active users on the app, "how to make money on TikTok" generates 2,600 Google searches per month.Xavier Lorenzo—Getty Images

As inflation rises, paychecks just aren’t stretching as far as they used to.

In Britain, people are facing the biggest drop in spending power in 70 years as the cost of living spirals. Meanwhile, in the United States, where interest rates are already at their highest in 15 years, economists are predicting the Fed will hike rates once more. 

As a result, workers around the world are feeling the strain on their pockets and resorting to alternative revenue streams to supplement their main income.

Indeed, research has shown that a third of workers are holding down three or more jobs. 

Instead of grueling multiple commutes, these “polyworkers” are taking advantage of working from home and logging into their third or fourth shift of the day online.

In fact, around 24,000 people a month in the U.K. alone are going to Google to research “how to make money online,” according to domain and hosting provider Fasthosts, which used the Ahrefs keyword tool to gather the data.

On that note, the Fasthosts have outlined the side hustles that are generating the most buzz online.

The 5 most-searched-for side hustles

1. ‘Paid surveys’

The most popular way workers are looking to make money at home is through paid surveys, where workers can fill out questionnaires to their heart’s desire—even while the TV is blaring in the background. According to Fasthosts, the term is searched for 5,200 times a month on average in the U.K.—which it says is almost a 50% jump since December 2021.

2. ‘Sell clothes online’

As shopping for secondhand goods on the likes of eBay experiences a resurgence spearheaded by Gen Z, it’s no surprise that people are taking to Google to find out how to make spare cash from their unwanted clothes. Since December 2021, the term has seen a 72% increase in searches to roughly 3,300 per month. 

3. ‘How to make money on TikTok’

With 1 billion active users and counting on the app, making money on TikTok is looking increasingly viable—so long as the platform doesn’t get banned.  That may explain why “how to make money on TikTok” has experienced a 24% increase in searches since December 2021, to 2,600 per month.

There are a number of ways to cash in with TikTok, with Fasthosts recommending wannabe side hustlers join the social media platform’s Creator Fund, sell merchandise to followers, go live and collect gifts, or partner with brands for collaborations. “Of course, you’ll need a significant following to do the majority of these,” the hosting provider adds.

4. ‘How to sell feet pics’

Around 2,100 people a month are researching how to make money from their showing off their feet.

As adult content apps like OnlyFans are increasingly making the headlines for turning everyday people into successful “models” from the comfort of their own homes, it’s no surprise that more and more people want in. There’s been a 96% rise in people searching for “how to sell feet pics online” since December 2021.

5. ‘How to become a virtual assistant’

According to Fasthosts, virtual assistants carry out administrative duties, like appointment scheduling and diary management for clients and executives. It’s the side hustle that has seen the highest increase in searches in the past year with a whopping 170% rise in workers wanting to find how to become the remote equivalent of a PA—to 1,200 monthly searches.

Subscribe to Well Adjusted, our newsletter full of simple strategies to work smarter and live better, from the Fortune Well team. Sign up today.
About the Author
Orianna Rosa Royle
By Orianna Rosa RoyleAssociate Editor, Success
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Orianna Rosa Royle is the Success associate editor at Fortune, overseeing careers, leadership, and company culture coverage. She was previously the senior reporter at Management Today, Britain's longest-running publication for CEOs. 

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Success

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Success

Workday CEO Carl Eschenbach
SuccessCareers
Ex-Workday CEO says his career took off after he changed his attitude—and Amazon boss Andy Jassy swears by the same mindset hack
By Preston ForeMay 31, 2026
3 hours ago
ms
Arts & Entertainmentbaby boomers
Why the economy forces boomers to work longer, then vilifies them for it
By Lee Ann Rawlins Williams and The ConversationMay 31, 2026
6 hours ago
Allison Danielsen is CEO, Tallo.
CommentaryCareers
My wrist injury derailed my college plans. It’s why I’m a CEO today
By Allison DanielsenMay 31, 2026
7 hours ago
treble
CommentaryElections
I built a startup from scratch and still nearly died because of a broken healthcare system. That’s why I’m running for Congress
By Jonathan TrebleMay 31, 2026
7 hours ago
emily durham
SuccessGen Z
This viral recruiter says Gen Z isn’t lazy. Corporate America is just mad they’re harder to manipulate
By Jake AngeloMay 31, 2026
8 hours ago
bn
CommentaryEducation
Bill Nye: Companies say there’s a skills gap. They’re wrong — and students can prove it
By Bill NyeMay 31, 2026
8 hours ago

Most Popular

U.S. says deals with Iran for safe Hormuz transit are prohibited
Politics
U.S. says deals with Iran for safe Hormuz transit are prohibited
By Jack Wittels and BloombergMay 30, 2026
1 day ago
Surging Treasury yields expose a brutal truth: America has no margin for error on its $39 trillion debt
Economy
Surging Treasury yields expose a brutal truth: America has no margin for error on its $39 trillion debt
By Shawn TullyMay 30, 2026
2 days ago
After a judge ordered Trump's name be removed from the Kennedy Center, president says it will 'soon be closed, probably never to open again'
Law
After a judge ordered Trump's name be removed from the Kennedy Center, president says it will 'soon be closed, probably never to open again'
By Collin Binkley and The Associated PressMay 30, 2026
23 hours ago
After Blue Origin rocket explosion, NASA's entire moon exploration program depends on SpaceX for now as Musk eyes blockbuster IPO soon
Innovation
After Blue Origin rocket explosion, NASA's entire moon exploration program depends on SpaceX for now as Musk eyes blockbuster IPO soon
By Jason MaMay 30, 2026
24 hours ago
Damn the torpedoes — More ships are quietly slipping through the Strait of Hormuz as helicopters scare off Iran's fast-attack boats
Energy
Damn the torpedoes — More ships are quietly slipping through the Strait of Hormuz as helicopters scare off Iran's fast-attack boats
By Jason MaMay 30, 2026
1 day ago
Meet the Black women on Fortune's Most Powerful Women list shaping business leadership
MPW
Meet the Black women on Fortune's Most Powerful Women list shaping business leadership
By Cheyann HarrisMay 29, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.