A fifth of side hustlers earn over £1,000 a month

One in five people running a side hustle generate more than £1,000 a month, new research reveals.

The study by Adobe Express found that 20% of those running an entrepreneurial venture alongside other work make that amount, with 73% making up to £500 monthly.

Money making side hustles

The most financially rewarding sector for side hustles was information technology, where 24% are earning over £1,000.

This is followed by engineering and manufacturing ventures (20%), and science and pharmaceutical side hustles with 14% of founders generating a monthly income of £1,000.

The least lucrative sector for side hustles is teacher training and education, with 54% earning under £100 per month.

When it comes to the amount of time part-time entrepreneurs spend running their side hustle, 72% said they dedicate up to 10 hours per week, and 18% work on it for 20 hours or more.

More than three fifths reported that their side hustle is a success so far, but key challenges include balancing the side hustle with their main job (39%), and tackling administrative tasks and paperwork (27%)

On marketing, 35% said social media has been the best way to promote the brand, while 18% highlighted networking with other entrepreneurs as helping grow their project.

Most popular side hustles

Among respondents keen to set up a side hustle, the most popular sector in which to start one was the creative arts industry (21%), followed by retail and ecommerce (19%), health and wellness (15%) and education and tutoring (10%).

Less popular sectors were hospitality and events (6%) and finance and consulting (5%).

The side hustle research follows Enterprise Nation's 2025 StartUp Ambition report which showed that nearly half of UK adults (47%) are considering starting a business or side hustle in 2025, a rise of 12% on 2024.

Among 18- to 30-year-olds, 62% are planning to start a business, and over half (51%) of those aged 31–40 are similarly ambitious.

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