More than 1.3 million people across Great Britain are earning extra income through a side hustle, according to a new study by money.co.uk business savings accounts. The research analyzed Google search data to identify the most popular side hustles, as Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows 1.32 million full-time UK workers currently have a second job or additional income source.
This trend comes as Brits face rising energy bills and higher-than-average inflation, prompting many to seek ways to boost household income. Thousands of Brits are actively searching for new earning opportunities, with the most popular ideas attracting tens of thousands of monthly Google searches.
Top 10 Most Popular Side Hustles
The study revealed the following top side hustles based on UK Google searches over the last year:
- Selling on Vinted: 84,800 searches
- Mystery shopping: 73,700 searches
- Selling on Etsy: 72,500 searches
- TikTok content creation
- YouTube channel
- Market research
- Selling on eBay
- Dropshipping
- Dog walking
- Cleaning business
Vinted, an online marketplace for secondhand items, generated the most interest. Users can sell unwanted clothes, shoes, and accessories directly to other consumers, with a small fee per transaction. This aligns with the UK's secondhand retail market, worth over £7 billion as of 2025.
Mystery Shopping and Etsy
Mystery shopping jobs attracted 73,700 searches, making it the second most popular side hustle. Mystery shoppers earn extra income by reviewing services in retail stores, restaurants, banks, and travel providers. For businesses, this provides valuable insights into customer experiences and helps identify training needs or operational improvements. Assignments are often short, require no specialist equipment, and offer flexible, task-based work.
Selling on Etsy ranked third with 72,500 searches. Unlike Vinted, Etsy caters to creators of handmade products such as jewellery, digital prints, and stationery. The platform has about 8 million active sellers and 95 million active buyers worldwide, giving small business owners access to a global customer base without needing to manage their own e-commerce site.
Managing Side Hustle Earnings
Joe Phelan, money.co.uk business savings accounts expert, offered advice on managing side hustle income: "Many people start a side hustle to supplement their income, whether it's selling online, offering a service, or turning a hobby into extra earnings. However, as your income grows, it's worth keeping a few simple steps front of mind to stay on top of your finances and meet legal tax requirements."
He added: "In the UK, you can earn up to £1,000 a year from self-employment before you need to register as a sole trader or pay tax. If your income goes beyond that, you'll need to declare it to HMRC, so keeping clear records from the outset can save time later."
Phelan recommended setting aside a portion of earnings throughout the year to cover future tax payments. A business savings account can help keep this money separate from day-to-day spending. "It's also a useful way to build good financial habits early, giving you a clear view of what's available to reinvest and what should be kept aside for tax or business costs," he said.
"Whether your side hustle remains a small project or grows into something bigger, treating it like a business from day one helps make sure you're prepared for the responsibilities that come with your success."
