8 Best Side Hustles for Dads in 2025

I became a dad recently. It's joyous and fulfilling, but also hard work and expensive. To cover the bills, I've been trying new side gigs for an evening or two a week. Here are the best hustles I've found as a new dad.

The most important thing for me was always flexibility, and accordingly, all of these side hustles let you choose your own hours. I've also made sure to include a mix of both local jobs and ways to make money online.    

Watch other kids while caring for your own at home

A lot of people believe that child care work is only possible to find if you present as female. While it's true that dads will have a harder time finding opportunities, you should not rule out child care if you are naturally good with kids besides your own.  

Of course, as a parent you cannot commit to being an au pair or nanny as it would take too much time, but if you are a stay at home parent you could consider sitting other local children during the day. You might also consider evening babysitting with the proviso that the parents drop the child off at your home. 

I recommend speaking with friends, advertising locally via a post on NextDoor, and checking Care (a great online platform for child care work).  

Complete paid tasks online via Freecash

If you have not heard about Freecash or sites like it, these platforms will pay you for completing tasks online, like answering surveys and testing new games. They work on behalf of market research companies and game devs, and can pay you in numerous ways, from bank transfer to PayPay or even crypto. 

You can log in with Google or Facebook, and then simply pick the tasks you want to complete. Which makes it the easiest side gig to start, and because you work as much or as little as you want—from your phone—this is also the most flexible side hustle for dads.  

In terms of money, the average user on Freecash earns $35 daily, with the most consistent earners racing to make $5000 every month (to win the monthly bonus).

For most, Freecash won't replace full-time employment, but it is a solid way to make extra money in your spare time. You can pull your phone out while your kid naps and answer a survey, or do some paid gaming when they've gone to bed.   

Do odd jobs or lawn care in your neighborhood

If you are physically able, and feel confident with either yard work or basic DIY, you could consider taking on cash-in-hand jobs. With this kind of work, you pick the jobs, they normally only take a few hours, and the earnings potential is decent. A great side hustle for new dads. 

For any kind of lawn care, like basic mowing, my best advice is to simply knock door-to-door or make a post for your neighbors on NextDoor. Start small, with a low minimum fee of say $25 for a quick mow, then consider upselling services like strimming. 

If you live in an urban area where there are no lawns to mow, you could instead try odd jobs via platforms like TaskRabbit. And you don't need to be a contractor to find work on these platforms, not even close. You can get paid for very simple tasks, like carrying boxes or assembling Ikea furniture.  

Ironically, one of my best experiences on TaskRabbit was assembling a crib for a busy family. I was only gone from home for a couple of hours and made $40. 

Freelance your skills on Upwork or Fiverr

If getting out the house isn't an option, or if you're less physically able, there are similar opportunities for casual work online. If you have a skill that can be applied digitally, like editing videos or optimizing resumes, you should consider advertising your services on Upwork or Fiverr. 

These platforms connect online freelancers with customers, and they can allow you to make money online while looking after your kids. 

The major downside to these platforms is that you are competing with freelancers from all over the world, many of whom operate in regions where they can charge far less for the work. But, with many customers opting to pay more for higher quality, you can stand out from the crowd with a great profile. 

Start content creation around dad life

I'm sure many dads reading this have also started taking infinitely more pictures after having have kids. You want to capture every moment.

But what if you actually monetized your dad content. Of course, I'm not suggesting putting your kids on social media (I highly recommend you don't), but there's a surprisingly massive demand for dad-influencers. 

You could produce content providing tips to new parents, or make a comedy channel based on the highs and lows of fatherhood. And while the earnings start at $0 and take a long time and a pinch of luck to increase, you will hopefully be having fun while growing your channels. 

As the money is so inconsistent, I would couple this idea with other side hustles on the list. But the sky's the limit with content, so it could eventually provide great earnings. 

Rent out your vehicle when you're not using it

This one is super simple, and could make you up to $1000 a month. If you're a new dad, and you've taken any paternity time, there's a good chance you aren't using your vehicle. If your car is sat on the driveway, why not rent it out with Turo? 

This is a company that allow you to become a "host" and rent out vehicles. They have 24/7 support, built-in insurance, and a community of over a million vehicle renters.

The only downside is that this service is aimed more at those with a fleet of new vehicles, but you are allowed to join with just one car. And with a single car, the average host earns over $10k annually. 

This is really more a form of passive income than a side hustle, but it is surprisingly quick to set up, and I can gladly recommend Turo after using them myself. 

Do gig work with your vehicle, from ridesharing to food delivery

If you have a vehicle but don't want to rent it out, use it for your side hustle. There are dozens of great platforms that offer gig work for anyone with a vehicle, from delivery apps like DoorDash and Grubhub, to ridesharing platform like Uber. 

These apps are always hiring (well, they won't 'hire' you but rather partner with you as a freelancer), and they have constant work during the hours that are best for dads; late at night when the kids are asleep.

They are also very flexible and will let you pick your hours, to work as much or as little as you can. But if you work at least somewhat consistently, you can earn decent money ridesharing and delivering food.

Personally, I would suggest you try ridesharing with Uber first, if your vehicle meets the spec. It is simply less hassle and higher-paying than food delivery, but it might not be appropriate if you have the wrong vehicle type.

Coach a youth team or referee on the weekends

And last but not least, a side hustle that has the lowest earnings potential, but which is the most fulfilling. Become a coach or referee for your kids team, and you will not regret it. 

At most, you will probably get 5–10 hours a week out of this side hustle, and during that time you should only expect to make around $10/hour. But you're getting quality time with your kids, lots of exercise, and a chance to meet other parents. 

Side hustles for Dads — Recap

Here is a quick overview to help you decide the right side hustle for you... 

Good luck finding your next side hustle dads!