THE side gig industry is still thriving, but not all side gigs are created equal and not everyone who does them makes enough money to justify the time and effort involved. According to SelfJust under 20% of gig workers earn more than $1,000 per month, while nearly 46% report earning less than $250. That’s quite a range, even considering the average hustler works five to ten hours a week.

If you are considering starting a side gig in 2025, Here are some to avoid.

Check: 5 Side Hustles That Can Earn You an Extra $1,000 Before 2025

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Carpooling and other driving services

Average salary: $19 per hour

There are many ridesharing and driving opportunities available, such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash. Although it is generally easy to access, especially if you have a reliable car and impeccable driving recordPotential earnings vary greatly depending on where and when you drive.

Additionally, you also need to consider factors like wear and tear on your vehicle, taxes, cleaning, maintenance, and fuel costs. And of course, you’ll have to pay taxes as a self-employed person (something to consider when starting a side hustle in general). Some days you might drive a lot. In others, you might find yourself waiting for the next client for hours before finding one with a decent salary.

See more: I’m a Self-Made Millionaire: Here’s How I Use ChatGPT to Make Big Money

Online surveys

Average salary: Varied

Taking online surveys for a bit of money isn’t new, but it doesn’t pay much either. So if you’re thinking about starting a side hustle in 2025, you might want to take this one off your list.

Here is an example. A popular online survey siteSwagbucks pays its members between $1 and $5 per day. Some deals pay between $50 and $250, but these tend to be more intensive and longer. Unless you like filling out surveys, this one isn’t worth it.

Etsy Shop Owner

Average salary: $537 (median)

Whether or not you should avoid opening an Etsy store depends on many factors. Ask yourself what interests you, how much time you’re willing to dedicate to the profession, what you can charge, and whether or not it’s worth it.

Some people make a lot of money on Etsy, but most make well under a thousand dollars. A person on the Etsy subreddit said their store was open for three months and they only made $12.

But profitability is not the only factor. You may also face significant upfront costs, not to mention self-employment taxes. And then there are the fees Etsy charges on each sale.

Stock Photographer

Average salary: Varied

Many people will take photos and post them photo websites sell. Individuals and businesses can purchase these photos to use for their own personal projects or interests.

Even though professional photography is still very much alive and well by 2025, it can be difficult to stand out and make decent money this way. If you want to get into photography, you might be better off creating your own professional brand, portfolio, and website, and building an audience instead.

House flipping

Average return on investment: $73,492

If you’re looking for a true side hustle, something you don’t need to dedicate as much time and energy to, house flipping may not be for you. Although homeowners can make a lot of money from their projects, they also usually have to spend a lot of money up front for things like renovations, financing, and insurance. The projects themselves can easily take months or years to complete, so this is not a “make money quick” type of program.

Rover Pet Sitter

Average salary: A few hundred dollars or so per month

If you love animals, you’ve probably considered offering your services to people with pets, such as as a pet sitter, dog walker, or groomer. Even though you can earn a few hundred dollars or more per month doing this, there are a few things you need to think about before you take the plunge in 2025.

Take Rover for example. The platform charges its side workers a fee for each job. If a customer cancels on you, you won’t get paid.

That said, the math works for some but not for others. According to a sourcesome people make around $1,000 a month while others make as little as $580. This does not take into account income taxes or other fees.

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This article was originally published on GOBankingRates.com: 6 side gigs to avoid in 2025