Best side hustles UK 2026: 12 ideas ranked, with tax built in
A practical, UK-specific shortlist of side hustles that real people are starting in 2026, with start-up cost, time to first £, demand and tax simplicity for each — plus the side hustle tax calculator so you can model take-home before you commit.
Tax year: 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27
Last verified against GOV.UK rates: 7 May 2026.
Methodology: this calculator uses the main Income Tax rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the standard Personal Allowance, and self-employed Class 4 National Insurance rates. It does not cover Scottish Income Tax bands, student loans, pension contributions, VAT, benefits, tailored reliefs, or personal tax advice.
Important: Income tax bands are different if you live in Scotland.
Tax Calculation Results
| Main Income: | £ |
| Side Hustle Income: | £ |
| Side Hustle Expenses: | £ |
| Side Hustle Profit: | £ |
| Estimated Additional Income Tax: | ~£ |
| Estimated National Insurance Contributions: | ~£ |
| Estimated Total Additional Tax (Income Tax + NI): | ~£ |
| Estimated Effective Tax Rate (Income Tax + NI): | % |
Based on this gross side hustle income, Making Tax Digital may apply from . Check HMRC guidance because digital records and quarterly updates may be required.
Previous Calculations
| Main Income: | £ |
| Side Hustle Income: | £ |
| Side Hustle Expenses: | £ |
| Side Hustle Profit: | £ |
| Estimated Additional Income Tax: | ~£ |
| Estimated National Insurance Contributions: | ~£ |
| Estimated Total Additional Tax (Income Tax + NI): | ~£ |
| Estimated Effective Tax Rate (Income Tax + NI): | % |
How we ranked the best UK side hustles for 2026
Side hustle searches in the UK are climbing again into 2026 as households look for flexible second incomes. We compared dozens of ideas across four practical filters: start-up cost, time to first payout, current UK demand and tax simplicity. The shortlist below favours legitimate, low-risk options where the rules are well established.
Use this page as a starting point, then jump into the UK side hustle tax calculator at the top of the page to estimate Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance on your projected profit alongside PAYE salary.
This guide is general information, not personal financial or tax advice. Some ideas (lodger income, capital gains on resold assets, content sponsorship) have edge cases that the calculator does not cover \u2014 always check GOV.UK or speak to a qualified adviser for borderline cases.
Best side hustles UK 2026 at a glance
| # | Side hustle | Start-up cost | Time to first £ | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reselling on Vinted, eBay and Depop | £0–£200 | Days | High |
| 2 | Freelance writing, design or development | £0–£100 | 1–4 weeks | High |
| 3 | Private tutoring and coaching | £0–£150 | 1–2 weeks | High |
| 4 | Delivery driving and rider work | £0–£500 | 1–3 weeks | High |
| 5 | Etsy shop or print-on-demand | £20–£300 | 2–6 weeks | Medium–High |
| 6 | Content creation (YouTube, TikTok, newsletter) | £0–£500 | 3–12 months | Medium |
| 7 | Virtual assistant and admin services | £0–£100 | 2–6 weeks | Medium–High |
| 8 | Pet sitting, dog walking and house sitting | £0–£100 | 1–3 weeks | Medium |
| 9 | Photography, videography and stock content | £200–£2,000 | 1–3 months | Medium |
| 10 | Renting out a room, parking space or driveway | £0 | 1–4 weeks | Medium |
| 11 | Handyperson, gardening and odd jobs | £100–£1,000 | 1–4 weeks | High |
| 12 | Selling digital products and templates | £0–£200 | 1–6 months | Medium |
The 12 best side hustles UK 2026 in detail
1. Reselling on Vinted, eBay and Depop
Sourcing clothing, footwear, accessories or homeware to resell on Vinted, eBay, Depop or Facebook Marketplace.
Start-up cost: £0–£200 · Time to first £: Days · UK demand: High
Tax notes: Often taxable trading once you buy stock to resell. Personal possessions usually are not. See the Vinted, eBay and Etsy guide. See the dedicated Reselling on Vinted, eBay and Depop tax calculator.
2. Freelance writing, design or development
Selling your skills directly or via Upwork, Fiverr, Contra or word-of-mouth referrals.
Start-up cost: £0–£100 · Time to first £: 1–4 weeks · UK demand: High
Tax notes: Self-employed trading income. Track invoices, platform fees and software subscriptions as allowable expenses. See the dedicated Freelance writing, design or development tax calculator.
3. Private tutoring and coaching
Online or in-person tutoring for GCSE, A-Level, university entrance or skill-based coaching.
Start-up cost: £0–£150 · Time to first £: 1–2 weeks · UK demand: High
Tax notes: Trading income unless paid via PAYE. Materials, platform fees and home-office costs may be allowable. See the dedicated Private tutoring and coaching tax calculator.
4. Delivery driving and rider work
Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Just Eat, Amazon Flex or local courier work, mostly evenings and weekends.
Start-up cost: £0–£500 · Time to first £: 1–3 weeks · UK demand: High
Tax notes: Self-employed in most cases. Mileage and vehicle costs are often the largest allowable expense. See the dedicated Delivery driving and rider work tax calculator.
5. Etsy shop or print-on-demand
Selling handmade goods, digital downloads, printables or print-on-demand products.
Start-up cost: £20–£300 · Time to first £: 2–6 weeks · UK demand: Medium–High
Tax notes: Profit-seeking activity is normally trading income. Listing fees, materials and POD costs are usually allowable. See the dedicated Etsy shop or print-on-demand tax calculator.
6. Content creation (YouTube, TikTok, newsletter)
Building an audience and monetising via ad revenue, sponsorships, affiliate links or paid newsletters.
Start-up cost: £0–£500 · Time to first £: 3–12 months · UK demand: Medium
Tax notes: Sponsorship, AdSense and affiliate income are taxable trading income once activity is regular and profit-seeking.
7. Virtual assistant and admin services
Inbox management, scheduling, light bookkeeping and project support for small UK businesses.
Start-up cost: £0–£100 · Time to first £: 2–6 weeks · UK demand: Medium–High
Tax notes: Self-employed trading. Software subscriptions and a share of broadband or phone may be allowable. See the dedicated Virtual assistant and admin services tax calculator.
8. Pet sitting, dog walking and house sitting
Local dog walking, drop-in pet visits and overnight house sitting via Rover, Tailster or word-of-mouth.
Start-up cost: £0–£100 · Time to first £: 1–3 weeks · UK demand: Medium
Tax notes: Trading income. Travel between clients, insurance and any equipment may be allowable.
9. Photography, videography and stock content
Weddings, events, family shoots, product photography or stock photo and video sales.
Start-up cost: £200–£2,000 · Time to first £: 1–3 months · UK demand: Medium
Tax notes: Self-employed. Camera gear may need capital allowances; software, travel and props are usually allowable.
10. Renting out a room, parking space or driveway
Lodger income under the Rent a Room scheme, plus driveway rental via JustPark or YourParkingSpace.
Start-up cost: £0 · Time to first £: 1–4 weeks · UK demand: Medium
Tax notes: Rent a Room (£7,500) and the £1,000 property allowance follow different rules to trading income. Check GOV.UK before assuming a calculator estimate.
11. Handyperson, gardening and odd jobs
Local trade work picked up via Checkatrade, Rated People, Nextdoor or community Facebook groups.
Start-up cost: £100–£1,000 · Time to first £: 1–4 weeks · UK demand: High
Tax notes: Self-employed trading. Tools, vehicle costs and public liability insurance are usually allowable.
12. Selling digital products and templates
Notion templates, Excel models, design assets, ebooks and small SaaS-style tools sold on Gumroad, Etsy or your own site.
Start-up cost: £0–£200 · Time to first £: 1–6 months · UK demand: Medium
Tax notes: Trading income once selling regularly. Hosting, design tools and ad spend are typical allowable costs.
UK side hustle tax basics for 2025/26 and 2026/27
Whichever side hustle you choose, the same UK tax framework applies to taxable trading income.
- £1,000 trading allowance: if gross trading income is £1,000 or less in a tax year it may be covered, although a return may still be required for other reasons. See how much tax you pay on the trading allowance for worked examples and the allowance-vs-expenses choice that drives tax simplicity for most of the hustles above.
- Self Assessment: register by 5 October after the tax year if gross trading income is over £1,000 and you are not already registered.
- Income Tax and Class 4 NI: profit is added to PAYE salary and other income; the marginal rate depends on your combined taxable income.
- Allowable expenses: you can usually choose between the £1,000 trading allowance or deducting actual allowable expenses, but not both for the same trade.
- Making Tax Digital: begins 6 April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with qualifying gross income over £50,000 (then £30,000 in 2027 and £20,000 in 2028).
Use the calculator above for a planning estimate. For Scotland, use the Scottish side hustle tax calculator.
FAQs: best side hustles UK 2026
What is the best side hustle to start in the UK in 2026?
There is no single best side hustle. The right choice depends on your skills, hours, start-up budget and how quickly you need cash. Reselling, freelancing, tutoring and delivery driving are the four most accessible because they have low start-up cost, high demand and can pay out within weeks.
Do I have to tell HMRC about a UK side hustle?
If your gross trading income from side hustles is more than £1,000 in a tax year, you normally need to register for Self Assessment. Below £1,000 the trading allowance may cover it, but you should still keep records. Selling personal possessions is usually not trading income.
How much can I earn from a side hustle before paying tax in the UK?
The £1,000 trading allowance is a gross-income threshold, not a profit threshold. Above it, side hustle profit is added to your PAYE salary and other income, and Income Tax plus Class 4 National Insurance can apply on the profit.
Which side hustles have the simplest tax?
Side hustles with few expenses and no stock — like tutoring, freelance writing or virtual assistant work — are usually the simplest because you can often choose between deducting actual expenses or claiming the £1,000 trading allowance.
Can I do a side hustle while employed full-time in the UK?
Yes, in most cases. Check your employment contract for any restrictions, then declare side hustle profit alongside PAYE income via Self Assessment. The calculator on this site combines PAYE salary and side hustle profit so you can see the marginal tax impact.
Are side hustle earnings affected by Making Tax Digital?
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax starts from 6 April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000, expanding to £30,000 in 2027 and £20,000 in 2028. Qualifying income is gross income before expenses.
Side hustle calculators by type
Once you have picked a side hustle, model it with the matching calculator:
Official sources
- GOV.UK Income Tax rates
- GOV.UK self-employed National Insurance
- GOV.UK trading allowance
- GOV.UK Self Assessment registration
- GOV.UK online platform income
- GOV.UK Rent a Room scheme
Important: This calculator provides estimates based on current UK tax rates. For accurate advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified tax professional or HMRC.