Survey: E-commerce the most common 'side hustle' for Americans
Financial pressures are leading many consumers to take up side jobs – and e-commerce is the most common way to make some extra money.
New data from Omnisend reveals that 28% of surveyed Americans currently have a "side hustle" or a secondary income stream. The numbers are similar in the U.K., Canada and Australia, with 25%, 31% and 33% of people engaging in side hustles, respectively.
E-commerce is the most popular form of making extra money for consumers in the four counties. Four-in-10 (41%) Americans, 48% of Brits, 48% of Canadians and 47% of Australians with side hustles are actively selling or reselling products online. The most popular types of products sold include handmade or custom goods (26% in the U.S.), vintage or second-hand items (18% in the U.S.) and various digital products (16% in the U.S.).
E-commerce is lucrative for a good chunk of those who engage in it, as nearly a third (32%) of U.S. e-commerce side hustlers make more than $1,000 per month. Among those who do, 63% launched their online business less than a year ago, while 41% spend fewer than 10 hours a week managing it.
Consumers who sell items online to make extra cash use established marketplaces to reach buyers. Nearly two-thirds (64%) report using Amazon, while 48% use eBay, 43% use TikTok Shop and 35% use Facebook Marketplace.
“The rising popularity of e-commerce is not surprising,” said Marty Bauer, e-commerce expert at Omnisend. “Freelancing, delivering food, or creating content requires significant investments both in time and effort, while e-commerce is relatively low-risk and less time-consuming. It doesn’t require specialized skills or major upfront investment, but most importantly, it offers flexibility, making it the easiest starting point for people looking to earn extra.”
[READ MORE: Survey: Lower prices, value among top perks of online resale shopping]
Omnisend’s survey conducted by Cint in March 2026. A total of 1,370 respondents in the U.S., 1,084 in the U.K., 1,029 in Canada and 1,028 in Australia took part in the survey.
