Image: DC Studio via Freepik
In the years after the Civil War, African Americans turned struggle into opportunity, conducting business through the sale of paper sachets filled with scented herbs and wooden handcrafted from artisanal baskets on street corners. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, itinerant and settled vendors in pre-colonial African markets exchanged spices and textiles. Today, the many digital products of the Black community in the U.S. and Africa make use of online platforms and worldwide engagement to generate income that mimics that same spirit. This article features seven innovative side hustles that are generating Black wealth in 2025, linking a heritage of side hustles or business for Black people in the past to today’s digital economy.
A Brief History of Black Side Hustles:
Antebellum & Reconstruction
During the antebellum era, free Black Americans faced severe legal barriers yet carved out niches in crafts and services such as barbers, shoemakers, and peddlers, despite owning only 10% of the free Black population. Following the Civil War, entrepreneurs established barber shops, funeral homes, and small retail stores to serve newly freed communities, laying foundations for African diaspora business ideas.
Jim Crow Era
Under segregation, Black‑owned businesses became bulwarks of communal solidarity. Barber drives, beauty salons, and mom‑and‑pop grocery stores provided safe spaces and supported the Civil Rights movement financially. Yet systemic racism, redlining, violent intimidation, constrained expansion and profitability, underscoring persistent inequities in access to capital.
Civil Rights & Beyond
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 paved the way for minority business support programs, but subsequent legal challenges and economic downturns thinly diluted federal funding. By the 1980s, Black small businesses were experiencing mixed growth: they spanned from local bookstores to construction firms, but still faced discriminatory lending practices. Today’s time, hosting 124,000 Black‑majority firms employing 1.6 million workers, echoes both progress and work yet to be done.
Modern Opportunities in the U.S.
Freelance Writing & Content Creation
Content writing remains one of the most popular freelancer occupations in the U.S., with writers averaging an annual income of $68,947, or about $33 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter data of 2024. The global freelance platform market itself was valued at $3.39 billion in 2021 and is projected to more than double by 2027, reflecting surging demand for digital content services.
Specialized niches such as wellness blogging, technical copywriting, and grant writing, enable Black freelancers to command premium rates by offering culturally nuanced perspectives and community‑focused expertise.
Social Media Management & Influencing
Social media has matured into a robust side gig: up to 48% of TikTok influencers earn less than $15,000 annually, but 11% make between $50,000 and $75,000 which illustrates significant upside for skilled creators. Brands now allocate upwards of 20% of marketing budgets to influencer partnerships, and micro‑influencers (10K–100K followers) often see higher engagement rates, creating opportunities for Black content creators to excel.
According to a 2024 survey, 59 million Americans,or 36% of the workforce,freelanced in some capacity, and social‑media roles (management, content strategy, paid ads) are among the fastest‑growing segments.
Affiliate Marketing & Digital Products
Affiliate marketing continues its ascent, with the average affiliate marketer earning $8,038 per month by promoting products to niche audiences.
Digital products such as Etsy‑hosted printables, e‑books, or Midjourney art downloads, offer near 100% profit margins once created, making them ideal passive income streams for Black entrepreneurs. In the U.S., top affiliates often combine email marketing, social channels, and SEO to generate $5,000–$10,000 monthly, underscoring the scalability of this Black entrepreneurship side gig model.
Graphic Design & Web Development
Web and graphic design are among the highest‑earning freelance categories: on Upwork, graphic designers can command up to $150 per hour, and web design ranks as the platform’s fastest‑growing service line. In April 2024 alone, Upwork listed 17,900 graphic‑design jobs with an average payout of $916 per project—totaling over $17 million in available work for designers that month. Black designers leveraging culturally resonant aesthetics and UX insights are in high demand, as brands seek to authentically connect with diverse audiences.
Image: drobotdean via Freepik
Emerging Gigs in Africa
Virtual Assistance & Paid Surveys
SagaPoll, the leading pan‑African survey platform, is trusted by over one million users who earn rewards by completing daily surveys, redeemable via bank transfer, mobile money, or airtime, making it a go‑to side hustle in Africa. Similarly, virtual‑assistant roles (data entry, email management, social‑media moderation) are proliferating on platforms like Upwork and Remotasks, enabling Africans to earn $50–$200 per month part‑time.
Online Tutoring & E‑Learning
The African e‑learning market reached USD 3.4 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow at a 9.12% CAGR through 2033, driven by rising internet penetration and mobile‑device adoption.
English‑language tutoring, K‑12 subject support, and coding lessons on platforms like Preply and Eneza Education enable skilled Africans to charge $10–$25 per hour, tapping into global demand for affordable online education.
E‑commerce & Digital Products
Print‑on‑demand models (custom apparel, accessories, home décor) allow entrepreneurs to launch stores with zero inventory: success hinges on targeted marketing and competitive pricing, as evidenced by Shopify case studies. Dropshipping, which means sourcing products from global suppliers and shipping directly to customers, complements POD strategies, with early adopters reporting $2,000–$5,000 monthly revenues after optimizing ad campaigns and SEO.
Agritech Micro‑ventures
Investment in African agrifoodtech startups reached a record USD 636 million in 2022, a 25% increase over 2021, before a market adjustment to $275 million in H1 2023. Opportunities abound in urban farming, beekeeping, and hydroponics—ventures that combine traditional knowledge with IoT and data analytics to improve yield and profitability. Successful micro‑entrepreneurs often partner with local cooperatives or incubators to access land, resources, and distribution networks, transforming small‑scale agritech gigs into community‑impact projects.
Key Steps to Launch Your Side Hustle
Embarking on a side hustle for Black people requires strategic planning:
Market Research & Validation
Define Your Target Audience
Before investing time or money, pinpoint who will buy your product or service. Conduct online surveys, interviews, and focus groups to unearth customers’ pain points and willingness to pay.
Analyze Competitors
Map out 3–5 direct competitors: study their offerings, pricing, marketing channels, and customer reviews. This “competitive analysis” reveals market gaps you can exploit and helps you position your unique value proposition.
Test Your MVP
Launch a minimal viable product, be it a simple landing page, a mock‑up, or a basic digital download and collect pre‑orders or email sign‑ups. Early traction (even 10–20 sign‑ups) validates demand and informs product refinements.
Building a Minimalist Online Presence
Choose Your Platforms
Start with one primary home: a simple one‑page website (using Shopify’s free starter tools or Wix) or a LinkedIn “Open to Work” profile tailored to your side gig.
Craft Clear Messaging
Your homepage or profile headline should articulate who you serve, what you offer, and the core benefit—all above the fold. Example: “Freelance Copywriter for Wellness Coaches—Boost Your Bookings by 30%”
Leverage Social Proof
Showcase testimonials, portfolio samples, or early customer quotes to build trust. Even 2–3 brief endorsements on your landing page can increase conversion rates by up to 25%.
Pricing Strategies & Payment Platforms
Determine Your Pricing Model
Decide between cost‑plus (cover costs + markup), value‑based (price by perceived value), or competitive pricing (align with market rates). Value‑based pricing often yields the highest margins, especially when you can demonstrate ROI.
Use Psychological Pricing
Small‑number pricing (e.g., $7 instead of $10) can dramatically boost conversion; one digital creator saw 77 new customers and a $1,385 revenue bump by testing a $7 price point.
Integrate Seamless Payments
Offer multiple, low‑fee payment methods such as PayPal, Stripe, mobile money (in Africa), or Venmo to reduce friction. Ensure your checkout page is mobile‑optimized, as over 60% of online transactions now occur on smartphones.
Image: DC Studio via Freepik
Time Management & Consistency
Block Dedicated Hours
Commit at least one hour per week to your side hustle, ideally during your peak creative window. Harvard Business Review research shows that consistently allocating this time builds momentum and overcomes initial inertia.
Use Productivity Systems
Adopt techniques like the Pomodoro (25 min work/5 min break) or time‑boxing to stay focused. Track your tasks in Asana or Trello, and review weekly progress to identify bottlenecks and adjust priorities.
Balance with Your Day Job
Set clear boundaries: turn off side‑gig notifications during work hours, and vice versa. Communicate availability to clients to manage expectations and prevent burnout.
Continuous Feedback & Iteration
Gather Customer Insights
After each sale or engagement, solicit feedback via brief surveys or follow‑up calls. Ask “What did you value most?” and “How can we improve?”—this fuels product evolution and upsell opportunities.
Refine Your Offering
Use feedback to tweak features, adjust pricing, or shift your niche. Agile iteration, making one small change per month, can boost customer satisfaction and referrals by 15–20% over a quarter.
Scale Sustainably
Once you hit consistent weekly revenue goals, consider outsourcing repetitive tasks (virtual assistants), automating workflows (Zapier), or investing in paid ads to expand reach without sacrificing quality.
Here is a checklist for you to help you keep your efforts on track:
| Step | Action Items | Description | Resources/Tools |
| 1. Define Your Side Hustle Idea & Skills | • Inventory skills and passions• Brainstorm 3–5 ideas | Reflect on your strengths and marketable talents to pinpoint a viable side‑gig concept. | Entrepreneur guide to passive income. |
| 2. Conduct Market Research & Validate Your Idea | • Survey 20 potential customers• Analyze 3 competitors• Create MVP landing page | Validate demand via surveys and MVP landing pages to gather pre‑orders or email sign‑ups. | Small Business Administration; Medium |
| 3. Plan & Financial Budgeting | • Draft one‑page business plan• Calculate startup costs• Set pricing strategy | Outline your roadmap and budget to forecast expenses and revenue, ensuring profitability. | SBA “Write your business plan” ; Startup checklist |
| 4. Register & Choose Legal Structure | • Select structure (LLC, sole prop.)• Register with authorities• Obtain tax IDs | Formalize your business by choosing a legal entity and completing registration to comply with regulations | SBA registration steps ; CAC business‑name registration (Nigeria) |
| 5. Set Up Finances & Payment Methods | • Open separate business bank acct• Integrate PayPal, Stripe, Mobile Money | Separate personal and business finances; offer multiple payment options to minimize friction. | IRS startup checklist |
| 6. Build Online Presence & Branding | • Create website or LinkedIn profile• Design logo and brand assets | Establish credibility with a professional online footprint and cohesive branding. | Canva; Wix; LinkedIn; Entrepreneur branding tips |
| 7. Develop Marketing & Sales Channels | • Set up social media accounts• Plan content calendar• Build email list | Engage your target audience through content, social ads, and email campaigns to drive sales. | Hootsuite; Mailchimp; Facebook Ads |
| 8. Create Time Management & Workflow Plan | • Block 2 hrs/week• Use Pomodoro or time‑blocking tools | Ensure consistent progress by scheduling dedicated work sessions and tracking tasks. | Asana; Trello; Pomodoro timers |
| 9. Collect Feedback & Iterate | • Use surveys after each sale• Analyze customer insights• Adjust offerings monthly | Continuously refine your product/service based on user feedback to improve satisfaction and retention. | Typeform; Google Forms; A/B testing guides |
| 10. Scale & Outsource | • Hire virtual assistant• Automate repetitive tasks• Invest in paid ads | Expand capacity and reach without overloading yourself by delegating and automating operations. | Upwork; Zapier; Facebook Ads |
Whether it’s to fund your passion, build an enduring legacy, or carve out the freedom you crave, we all have our reasons for the side hustle. In our upcoming IG Live event, we’ll dive into why we do it, how we manage it, and what it truly means to show up for ourselves after hours, turning late nights into breakthroughs and weekend grinds into growth.
🎙 Hosted by: Lavonne Nichols
🎤 Guests: Tiffany Spraggins (community‑driven entrepreneur coach) & Shekhinah B. (author community leader)
📅 Date: Friday, May 16th
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST
📍 Where: IG Live @funtimesmagazine
This one is for the dreamers, doers, and those making it happen, one side hustle at a time. Tap in
Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.
