10 Side Hustles to Avoid in 2025

Think all side hustles are good side hustles? Not so fast.

Some gigs that were money-makers just a year or two ago are already on life support.

AI is getting better, competition is getting fiercer, and the internet never stops moving.

If you’re trying to make extra money in 2025, you’ve got to be smart about where you invest your time.

In this guide, we’re breaking down 10 side hustles that are fizzling out—and what you should focus on instead to stay ahead of the game (and actually make some money).

Let’s get into it!

1. Basic Freelance Writing

AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude can whip out blog posts, product descriptions, and basic email copy in seconds.

So it’s no surprise that companies are cutting costs and skipping freelance writers for generic work.

But here’s the upside: generic writing is easy to replace—great writing isn’t.

Focus on storytelling, niche expertise, or personal experience.

You can also position yourself as an editor or strategist who works with AI instead of competing against it.

Originality, voice, and lived experience are the new premium.

Here, we go a bit more into how to create AI-powered content and how to work as a copywriter for hire using AI.

2. Data Entry Jobs

Let’s be honest—data entry has never been glamorous.

But it used to be a reliable way to make a few bucks from home. Not anymore.

AI-powered tools and optical character recognition (OCR) now handle this type of repetitive work way more efficiently (and cheaply).

The move here? Go from data entry to data analysis.

Learn tools like Excel or Google Data Studio.

Businesses need help interpreting all the data they collect—and they’ll pay well for it.

Average salaries for analysts? Over $90k a year!

In fact, being a data analyst is part of our list of 21 in-demand freelance skills.

Check it out to learn where you can pick up this skill.

3. Simple Graphic Design

AI-powered design tools like Canva’s Magic Design and Adobe Firefly let anyone create logos, social posts, or YouTube thumbnails in seconds.

These tools are great—but they’re also crowding out entry-level freelance designers.

Instead, niche down into custom branding, UI/UX, or motion graphics.

These areas still require a human touch and strategic thinking.

If you’ve got an eye for design and a feel for what a brand should look like, there’s still big money to be made.

Know how to harness AI to create truly unique designs? Here’s where you can get remote graphic design jobs fast.

4. Low Effort Drop Shipping

The dream: run a store with no inventory, sell products, and let someone else do the shipping.

The reality: hundreds of people are selling the exact same stuff from the same suppliers—usually at the same price… or lower.

A better path? Create your own product.

It takes more upfront work, sure, but it gives you control over branding, quality, and price.

Look at what’s already selling, find a way to improve it, and market it to a specific audience.

Want inspiration? Check out Frontline Optics, a sunglasses brand for first responders that started as a side hustle.

If you already have a solid idea for a digital product, you can learn how to market and sell it here.

5. Basic Transcription Services

Transcription used to be an easy go-to: listen, type, get paid.

But now, AI can transcribe an hour-long audio file in minutes—accurately.

Unless there’s something tricky about the audio, humans aren’t needed as much.

That said, specialized transcription still pays.

Legal, medical, or thick-accented content needs more accuracy than AI can handle.

If you want to stick with transcription, niche into one of those lanes.

6. Simple Voiceover Work

Voice AI tools like ElevenLabs and Descript are getting scary good.

A lot of businesses are replacing voice actors with AI-generated voices—especially for short, throwaway content.

But that doesn’t mean voiceover is dead.

Focus on character work, audiobooks, or brand voiceovers where human nuance still matters.

Personality and emotion still beat robots in most storytelling roles—and that’s where you’ll still win.

Want to make a career out of it? It’s still possible. Learn how to become a legit voiceover artist here.

7. Selling Generic Print-on-Demand Designs

We still love POD (print on demand) for its passive income potential.

But let’s be real—uploading generic t-shirt designs and hoping for the best doesn’t cut it anymore.

AI can generate a design faster than you can open Photoshop.

To stand out, go niche.

Make hand-drawn art, sell hyper-local merch, or tell a story people can connect with.

If people want to buy from you specifically—because they follow your work or love your mission—that’s your moat.

Without that? It’s just a race to the bottom.

If you’ve got a real artistic streak and want to monetize that, you have to check out our list of side hustles for creatives!

8. AI Prompt Selling

Selling ChatGPT prompts was a cool hustle in early 2023.

But now? There are entire free libraries online, and AI has gotten better at prompting itself.

If you’re great at prompting, don’t just sell the prompt—sell the result.

Turn it into a productized service, or solve a problem for a specific type of client using your AI skills. Help YouTubers write scripts.

Help businesses turn prompts into products.

One great example? This creator turned AI prompts into a $30k/month digital product business.

The value’s in the outcome, not the command.

9. Low-Quality YouTube Automation Channels

We’ve seen a surge of faceless channels, AI-generated videos, and soul-less scripts flooding YouTube.

But YouTube still has massive potential.

The channels that win now lean into personality, storytelling, and content with actual value.

If you’ve got a niche and a helpful or entertaining take, you don’t need a million subscribers to make real money.

Forget the faceless spam—lean into what only you can make.

If you still feel iffy about showing your face on camera, it’s still possible to succeed on YouTube as long as your content offers real value.

One tool I like is Pictory, which brings in dozens of (mostly) relevant stock footage based on your script.

10. Basic Resume Writing

People can now use AI to spit out a decent-looking resume in about 30 seconds.

So, basic resume-writing gigs are on the decline.

Here’s the move: sell career results, not just resumes.

Shift into LinkedIn profile makeovers, job interview coaching, recruiter outreach, or premium executive resume packages.

People say they want a better resume—but what they really want is a better job.

Give them both, and you can charge way more.

Final Thoughts

Starting any of these outdated hustles in 2025 is like trying to fix a sinking ship with duct tape.

But every one of them has a smarter, more future-proof version you can lean into.

Want to kickstart your extra income this year? Take the free 5-day $500 challenge.

It’ll walk you through how to start earning fast—with side hustles that still work in 2025.

And hey—if you found this helpful, share it with a fellow hustler. Let’s build smarter, not just busier.

Looking for More Side Hustle Ideas?

• Download The Side Hustle Show. My free podcast shares hundreds of side hustle ideas to make extra money.
• Start Your Free $500 Challenge. My free 5-day email course shows you how to add $500 to your bottom line.
• Join the free Side Hustle Nation Community. The free Facebook group is the best place to connect with other side hustlers and get your questions answered.