10 Best Side Hustles in Toronto to Make Extra Money in 2026
Updated: Sep 8
Living in Toronto isn’t exactly cheap. Whether you’re saving for a trip or just trying to make rent feel less terrifying, these are realistic side hustles Toronto residents are actually trying.
Side hustle | Best for | Startup cost | Flexibility | Income potential |
UGC creator | Creative people | Low | High | $$$ |
Sponsored content | Content creators | Low | High | $$$ |
Pet sitting & dog walking | Animal lovers | Low | HIgh | $$ |
Freelancing | People with marketable skills | Low | High | $$$ |
Matched betting | Numbers-focused people | Varies | High | $$ |
Paid research studies | Easy extra income | None | Medium | $ |
Mystery shopping | Occasional extra cash | Low | Medium | $ |
Selling things online | Decluttering | None | High | $$ |
Brand ambassador work | Social people | None | Medium | $$ |
Build a local niche page | Long-term income | Low | High | $$$ |
Income potential varies significantly depending on your experience, time commitment, demand and the type of work you take on.
1. Become a UGC Creator
You don't need thousands of followers to make money creating content for brands.
UGC, or user-generated content, is content created for brands to use on their own social media accounts and in advertisements. Think TikToks, Reels, product demonstrations, unboxings, testimonials and lifestyle videos that feel more like something you'd naturally see on your feed than a traditional commercial.
Unlike influencer partnerships, brands aren't necessarily paying for access to your audience. They're paying you to create the content itself.
That means you can get started without having a huge following.
A smartphone, decent natural lighting and some basic video editing skills are really all you need to start building a portfolio.
Best for: Creative people who enjoy filming, editing and making short-form content.
2. Get Paid for Sponsored Content
If you already post regularly on TikTok, Instagram or another social platform, you may be able to turn your audience into an additional source of income.
Toronto has no shortage of restaurants, beauty brands, attractions, events and local businesses trying to reach people in the city.
And you don't necessarily need 100,000 followers to start getting paid.
Smaller creators can be particularly valuable to local businesses because their audiences are often more specific and engaged. A creator with a few thousand Toronto followers could potentially be more useful to a Toronto event than a much larger creator whose audience is spread around the world.
Start by developing a clear niche, putting a contact email in your bio and creating a simple media kit with your audience demographics, engagement and examples of previous content.
Best for: Anyone who already enjoys posting on social media and has started building an engaged audience.
3. Become a Pet Sitter or Dog Walker
If spending your afternoon with a dog sounds considerably better than picking up another shift at work, pet sitting can be a flexible Toronto side hustle.
Apps like Rover connect pet owners with local dog walkers and pet sitters. You can create a profile, set your own rates and availability, and offer services like dog walking, drop-in visits, house sitting and overnight pet care.
This can work particularly well as a side hustle because you can choose bookings that fit around your existing schedule, whether that's evening dog walks, weekend pet sitting or checking in on pets while their owners are away.
Building positive reviews and repeat clients can also help you grow your profile over time.
Best for: Animal lovers looking for something flexible they can fit around work, school or other commitments.
4. Sell Your Skills as a Freelancer
You might already have a skill someone is willing to pay for.
Graphic design, photography, video editing, copywriting, social media management, web design and virtual assistance can all become freelance side hustles.
You can find clients through freelance platforms, but don't overlook Toronto businesses either. There are thousands of small businesses that need occasional help but don't necessarily have the budget or workload for another full-time employee.
Instead of advertising yourself as someone who can do everything, try packaging one specific service.
For example, you could offer a monthly package that includes four edited TikToks, a one-hour photography session for a restaurant or a landing page designed for a small business.
A clearly defined offer makes it much easier for potential clients to understand exactly what they're paying for.
Best for: Anyone with an existing creative, professional or technical skill.
5. Try Matched Betting
If you're interested in sports promotions but don't want your results to depend entirely on predicting which team will win, matched betting is another option you may come across.
Matched betting involves taking advantage of promotional offers from sportsbooks and placing calculated bets intended to reduce your exposure to the actual outcome of the game. Instead of simply betting that your favourite team is going to win, the focus is on the promotion and the math behind it.
I recently tried Edge Hunters, a platform that brings sportsbook offers together and provides tools and step-by-step instructions for completing them. Having the calculations and instructions laid out in one place can make the process easier to understand if you've never encountered matched betting before.
That said, this one is very different from something like dog walking or freelancing. You're dealing with real money, sportsbook terms can change, and no strategy eliminates every risk. Make sure you understand exactly what you're doing before participating and never use money you can't afford to have tied up or lose.
Sportsbook and promotional availability can also vary by province, so you'll need to check which offers are currently available to you in Ontario.
Best for: Adults who are comfortable with numbers, sportsbook promotions and carefully following instructions.
6. Participate in Paid Research Studies
If you don't want to commit to another job, paid research studies can be a great occasional source of extra money.
Companies, universities and research firms regularly recruit Toronto participants for focus groups, usability tests, interviews and product research. Some can be completed entirely online, while others involve visiting a research facility in Toronto.
The amount you're paid varies significantly depending on the type and length of the study. More specialized research or longer interviews can sometimes pay considerably more than traditional online surveys.
The downside is that this isn't necessarily consistent income. You usually have to qualify for individual studies, and you won't be eligible for every opportunity.
Best for: Anyone looking for occasional extra money without committing to a regular second job.
7. Become a Mystery Shopper
Yes, mystery shopping still exists.
Companies hire mystery shoppers to visit stores, restaurants and other businesses and evaluate things like customer service, cleanliness and the overall experience.
Depending on the assignment, you may receive payment, reimbursement for your purchase or a combination of the two.
Mystery shopping probably isn't going to replace your salary, but it can be an interesting way to earn some extra money or have certain expenses reimbursed.
Just be careful about scams. Legitimate mystery shopping companies shouldn't require you to deposit suspicious cheques, send money to someone else or pay large upfront fees to access assignments.
Best for: Detail-oriented people who are comfortable following instructions and submitting reports after each assignment.
8. Sell Things You Already Own
This might be the easiest side hustle on the entire list.
Before you start a new business, take a look around your apartment.
Clothing, furniture, electronics, collectibles and home decor you no longer use could be worth more than you think.
Facebook Marketplace can work particularly well for furniture and larger items that someone can pick up locally in Toronto, while resale platforms can be useful for clothing, shoes and accessories.
It's also one of the few side hustles that can actually help you declutter at the same time.
If you discover that you're particularly good at spotting valuable secondhand pieces, you could eventually experiment with buying and reselling items for a profit.
Best for: Pretty much everyone with too much stuff.
9. Become an Event Brand Ambassador
If you're already keeping up with everything happening in Toronto, why not get paid to attend some of it?
Toronto has pop-ups, product launches, festivals, conferences, sporting events, trade shows and experiential marketing activations happening throughout the year.
Brands and staffing agencies regularly hire temporary brand ambassadors to greet guests, distribute samples, help with registration, demonstrate products and assist with activations.
Many of these shifts happen during evenings and weekends, which can make event work easier to fit around a traditional Monday-to-Friday job.
It's also a good option if you want a side hustle that gets you out of the house rather than adding another few hours of screen time to your day.
Best for: Outgoing people who enjoy events and don't mind working occasional evenings or weekends.
10. Start a Local Niche Page, Newsletter or Website
This one isn't necessarily going to make you money next weekend, but it probably has the highest long-term potential on this list.
Pick something specific you know about Toronto and become incredibly useful to people interested in it. That could be Toronto food deals, free things to do, vintage shopping, fitness classes, dog-friendly places, date ideas, family activities, fashion or events.
You can build an audience through TikTok, Instagram, Google, a newsletter or a combination of several platforms. Once you've built an audience, there are several potential ways to monetize it, including sponsored content, affiliate marketing, advertisements, paid listings, memberships and brand partnerships. The important part is building something people actually want to follow or regularly search for before worrying too much about how you're going to monetize it.
Best for: Someone who wants to build a side hustle that has the potential to eventually become a business.
11. Offer Language or Academic Tutoring
If you speak another language, understand a challenging subject or have professional expertise, tutoring can be a flexible way to earn extra money in Toronto.
French and Spanish tutoring were specifically mentioned by locals in a recent r/askTO discussion about side hustles. Tutoring opportunities also exist for subjects like math, science, writing, music, software and test preparation.
You can offer lessons online or meet students at a Toronto library, café or another public location. Tutors may find clients through word of mouth, local community groups, Kijiji or tutoring platforms like Preply. Creating a specific offer, such as conversational French for beginners or portfolio reviews for design students, can make your service easier to promote.
Your qualifications and experience will influence what you can charge, but you don’t necessarily need to be a certified teacher. You do need to understand the subject, communicate clearly and prepare useful lessons for your students.
Best for: Patient people with strong knowledge of a particular language, subject or professional skill.
12. Work as a Film or TV Background Actor
Toronto’s film and television industry creates opportunities for people to earn extra money as background performers, commonly known as extras.
Background actors help fill scenes taking place in restaurants, offices, sporting events, city streets and other public settings. You generally don’t need professional acting experience, although you must be reliable, comfortable following directions and available for potentially long days.
Look for reputable Toronto background agencies or public casting calls. You will usually need to submit a few current, natural photos and basic information about your appearance and availability. Be cautious about agencies charging large upfront fees, especially if the same opportunities are being posted publicly elsewhere.
Toronto residents who have worked as extras say a significant portion of the day can involve waiting to be called to set. Starting pay for non-union performers may also be relatively modest after transportation and agency commissions, so it’s better suited to occasional extra income than a predictable weekly paycheque.
Best for: People with flexible schedules who are curious about working on film and television sets.
13. Try Freelance Transcription or Minute-Taking
If you’re a fast and accurate typist, freelance transcription or professional minute-taking could become a remote side hustle.
Transcription involves listening to interviews, meetings, podcasts or other recordings and converting them into clean written documents. Minute-taking is slightly different: you attend a meeting, identify the important discussions and decisions, and create an organized summary afterward.
One Toronto resident described freelance transcription as relatively straightforward work that can provide extra pocket money if you type quickly and don’t mind listening closely. Minutes Solutions was also suggested in the Reddit discussion for people interested in professional minute-taking opportunities.
However, the amount you effectively earn depends heavily on your speed. An hour-long recording can take several hours to transcribe, especially when the audio quality is poor or several people are speaking. Some popular platforms may also have waitlists or limited assignments.
Best for: Fast, accurate typists with strong listening, grammar and organizational skills.
14. Become a Recreational Sports Official
Toronto’s recreational sports leagues need referees and umpires to officiate games throughout the city.
One Toronto resident specifically recommended umpiring slo-pitch games as a side hustle that can be completed during evenings and weekends. Depending on the league and sport, you may need to complete an online exam, attend training or obtain a certification before accepting games.
Baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, volleyball and hockey organizations may all need officials. Start by checking local recreational leagues, community sports organizations and provincial officiating associations for training programs and open positions.
The work can fit conveniently around a traditional weekday job, but it may be seasonal and occasionally stressful. Officials must understand the rules, make quick decisions and remain calm when players or coaches disagree with a call. You may also need to travel between different fields, arenas or recreation centres.
Best for: People who understand a sport, are comfortable enforcing rules and can work during evenings or weekends.
15. Offer Furniture Assembly and Local Odd Jobs
If you’re handy and already own some basic tools, furniture assembly and household odd jobs can be a practical Toronto side hustle.
Many people need help assembling IKEA furniture, hanging shelves, organizing storage spaces, mounting artwork or moving smaller items around their homes. Toronto’s large population of condo dwellers, renters, students and busy professionals creates a potential market for convenient local help.
You can promote your services through Kijiji, neighbourhood Facebook groups, community apps or platforms like Taskrabbit. Starting with friends and family can also help you collect reviews and before-and-after photos. Offering one clearly defined service, such as flat-rate furniture assembly, makes it easier for customers to understand what they’re hiring you to do.
Be clear about the neighbourhoods you serve, whether customers must provide materials and which tasks you can safely complete. Don’t accept electrical, plumbing or other regulated work unless you have the appropriate training and qualifications.
Best for: Handy people who enjoy practical tasks and are comfortable travelling to clients.
This one isn't necessarily going to make you money next weekend, but it probably has the highest long-term potential on this list.
Side Hustle Taxes in Canada
One thing that's easy to forget when you start making extra money is taxes.
Depending on how you're earning money, side-hustle income may be considered self-employment or business income. Canadian residents generally need to report income they earn from gig and platform-based work, including freelance and creator income.
Keep records of the money you earn and any eligible business expenses associated with earning that income.
GST/HST requirements can also apply once your taxable revenue reaches the applicable threshold, so check the current Canada Revenue Agency rules as your side hustle grows.
For current requirements, visit the Canada Revenue Agency's guidance for gig workers and self-employed Canadians.
Frequently Asked Questions About Side Hustles in Toronto
What are the best side hustles in Toronto?
Some of the best side hustles in Toronto include freelancing, UGC creation, pet sitting, sponsored content, event brand ambassador work, paid research studies and selling items online. The best choice depends on your skills, schedule and how much time you're willing to invest.
What are easy side hustles to start in Toronto?
Selling things you already own, pet sitting, paid research studies and event work can have relatively low barriers to entry. If you already have a marketable professional skill, freelancing can also be relatively easy to start.
What side hustles can I do from home in Toronto?
UGC creation, freelance work, social media content, online research studies and building a niche website or newsletter can all be done primarily from home.
What are good weekend side hustles in Toronto?
Event brand ambassador work, pet sitting, dog walking, UGC creation, mystery shopping and freelancing can all work well around a Monday-to-Friday job.
Can I have a side hustle while working full time?
Yes. Many side hustles can be done during evenings and weekends or on a flexible schedule. However, check your employment agreement for any rules regarding outside work, conflicts of interest or working with competitors.
Do you have to pay taxes on side hustle income in Canada?
Depending on the nature of the work, side-hustle earnings may be taxable and may need to be reported as self-employment or business income. Keep records of your earnings and expenses and refer to current Canada Revenue Agency guidance when filing your taxes.
Start Small
You don't need to quit your job, launch a business or completely change your life to start earning extra money.
Pick one side hustle that works with the skills and time you already have and test it.
You might make a little extra spending money. You might discover a freelance service you can grow. Or you might accidentally build something much bigger than you originally planned.
And if saving money is just as important as making more of it, check out Toronto Popups for the latest free events, pop-ups, giveaways, samples and things to do in Toronto.
What's the Best Side Hustle in Toronto?
It really depends on what you want out of it.
If your priority is making some extra money relatively quickly, selling things you already own, pet sitting, event work and paid research are some of the easiest places to start.
If you already have creative or professional skills, UGC, sponsored content and freelancing have significantly more room to grow.
And if you're interested in building something long-term, starting a niche social account, newsletter or website could eventually become much bigger than a traditional side hustle.
You don't need to quit your job or invest thousands of dollars to experiment with something new.
Pick one that matches the skills or free time you already have, start small and see whether it's actually something you enjoy doing.
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