Side Hustle Searches Are Surging in 2026: What the Trend Means for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

A new SeoProfy study finds that Americans are searching for side hustles more than 7.3 million times per month, with Delaware leading the nation in per-capita search interest. But the data also reveals something deeper: many Americans are looking for flexible, practical ways to earn extra income before taking the leap into full entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways

• Delaware ranks No. 1 in side hustle search interest, with 2,690 monthly searches per 100,000 residents.
• Ohio follows closely at No. 2, with 2,684 monthly searches per 100,000 residents.
• DoorDash dominates national side hustle searches, accounting for 91.8% of the keyword volume analyzed in the study.
• The South has the highest regional side hustle search interest, averaging 2,161 searches per 100,000 residents.
• Search interest does not necessarily mean people are starting businesses, but it does show strong demand for flexible income opportunities.
• Aspiring entrepreneurs should treat side hustles as a testing ground, not just a quick-income solution.

Americans Are Searching for Side Hustles More Than Ever

For many Americans, the idea of a side hustle is no longer just about making a little extra weekend money. It has become a practical response to rising living costs, job uncertainty, changing work habits and the desire for more financial control.

A new study by SeoProfy, a data-driven SEO agency, analyzed Google Keyword Planner data for nine side hustle and gig economy search terms across all 50 U.S. states. The study found that Americans are generating more than 7.3 million monthly searches related to side hustles, passive income and gig work.

The state showing the strongest per-capita interest is Delaware, which recorded 2,690 searches per 100,000 residents each month. That is 34.3% above the national average of 2,003 searches per 100,000 residents. Ohio came in a very close second, with 2,684 searches per 100,000 residents, followed by Indiana, Virginia, and Massachusetts.

At first glance, this may look like another interesting ranking. But for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and people considering starting something of their own, the study reveals a broader trend: Americans are actively seeking ways to create additional income streams without necessarily quitting their jobs right away.

That matters because today’s side hustler may become tomorrow’s small business owner. If you are still exploring what type of business to start, PowerHomeBiz’s guide to 250+ best home business ideas can help you compare low-cost, online, service-based and home-based opportunities.

The Top 10 States Searching for Side Hustles the Most

According to the SeoProfy study, these are the 10 states with the highest average monthly side hustle searches per 100,000 residents:

One of the most interesting findings is how close Delaware and Ohio are. Delaware leads by only six searches per 100,000 residents. That narrow gap suggests that interest in side hustles is not limited to any particular state or economy.

The top 10 includes smaller states, large states, Southern states, Midwestern states, coastal states, and states with very different labor markets. What they share is a strong curiosity about earning additional income.

For readers who want to move beyond searching and begin comparing practical options, PowerHomeBiz’s article on home businesses with rapid break-even time can be a useful next step.

Why Side Hustles Have Become a Gateway to Entrepreneurship

Side hustles appeal to people because they feel more manageable than starting a full business. A person may not be ready to rent office space, hire employees, take out a loan or build a complete business plan. But they may be willing to deliver food, sell products online, freelance, test affiliate marketing or offer a local service on evenings and weekends.

That lower barrier to entry is one reason side hustles have become a gateway to entrepreneurship.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Business Formation Statistics also show why small-business activity matters. The Census Bureau describes this data product as a timely, high-frequency look at new business applications and formations in the United States. Search interest and business formation are not the same thing, but together they point to a larger pattern: many Americans are exploring ways to create income outside traditional employment.

Someone who starts with delivery driving may learn about time management, route efficiency, customer service and expense tracking. Someone who tries affiliate marketing may learn SEO, content creation, analytics and conversion optimization. Someone who starts a weekend cleaning service may eventually build a recurring client base and turn it into a real local business.

This is why aspiring entrepreneurs should not dismiss side hustles as “small.” Many successful businesses begin as experiments. The key is whether the side hustle teaches a skill, solves a real problem or creates a repeatable income stream.

A side hustle becomes more valuable when it helps you answer questions such as:

• What kind of work am I willing to do consistently?
• Are people willing to pay for this product or service?
• Can I attract customers without relying entirely on a platform?
• Can I make a profit after expenses, taxes and time?
• Is there a path to grow this beyond my own labor?

If the answer to those questions is yes, the side hustle may be more than a short-term income patch. It may be the beginning of a business. PowerHomeBiz’s guide on how to start a home-based business that will succeed offers a helpful framework for moving from idea to sustainable operation.

DoorDash Dominates Side Hustle Search Interest

One important caveat of the study is that a single keyword dominates the data. DoorDash accounted for 6,717,200 monthly searches nationally, representing 91.8% of the analyzed search volume.

That is significant. It means that much of the national side-hustle search behavior captured in the study is tied to immediate gig work rather than long-term business building. People searching for DoorDash are often looking for fast, flexible income. They may want to know how much drivers make, how to sign up, what requirements they need to meet, or whether delivery work is worth it in their area.

This does not make the data less useful. In fact, it makes the trend more revealing.

Many people searching for side hustles are not necessarily looking for a complex startup idea. They are looking for accessible income. They want something they can begin quickly, often with resources they already have.

That distinction matters. There is a big difference between searching for “passive income” and searching for “DoorDash.” One suggests curiosity about scalable income. The other suggests immediate action.

For entrepreneurs, that is the lesson: the best side hustle ideas are often the ones that reduce friction. People gravitate toward opportunities that are easy to understand, easy to start and connected to a clear income path.

However, anyone doing gig work should also understand the tax side. The IRS Gig Economy Tax Center explains that income from gig work is taxable, even if it is part-time, temporary, paid in cash or not reported on a Form 1099. The IRS also notes that gig workers may need to make estimated tax payments and keep careful records of business income and expenses.

The South Shows the Strongest Regional Interest

The study also found that the South is the most side-hustle-driven region in the country. Southern states averaged 2,161 searches per 100,000 residents, which is 7.9% above the national average.

Twelve of the South’s 16 states exceeded the national average, and four Southern states appeared in the national top 10: Delaware, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia.

The Midwest came next, averaging 1,985 searches per 100,000 residents. The West averaged 1,911, while the Northeast averaged 1,877.

This regional pattern is useful for anyone creating content, services, tools, or products for aspiring entrepreneurs. If people in certain regions are searching more actively for side income ideas, there may be stronger demand for practical business guidance, startup checklists, local service business ideas, gig-work tax help, home-based business resources, and low-cost ways to start earning.

However, it is also important not to overstate what the data means. Search interest does not prove that people in these states are actually starting side businesses at higher rates. It only shows that they are searching for side hustle-related terms more frequently relative to population.

That makes the data a demand signal rather than a business ownership statistic.

Search Interest Is Not the Same as Business Success

One of the biggest mistakes aspiring entrepreneurs make is assuming that interest equals opportunity. Just because many people are searching for a side hustle does not mean every side hustle is profitable, sustainable or worth pursuing.

Some side hustles are easy to start but difficult to scale. Some require more expenses than beginners expect. Some depend heavily on third-party platforms that can change pay rates, fees, visibility or rules at any time.

For example, delivery driving may offer flexibility, but workers must consider vehicle wear and tear, fuel, insurance, taxes and time spent waiting for orders. Dropshipping may sound simple, but it often requires strong product research, paid advertising, customer service, supplier management and careful margin control. Affiliate marketing can become a strong income stream, but it usually takes time to build traffic, trust and conversions.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has long tracked contingent and alternative work arrangements, including independent contractors, on-call workers, temporary help agency workers and workers provided by contract firms. Its contingent and alternative employment arrangements data is a reminder that not all flexible work is the same. Some workers use independent work by choice, while others use it because of income pressure, unstable schedules or limited job options.

This is why side hustlers need to think like business owners from the beginning.

Before choosing a side hustle, ask:

• What are the startup costs?
• What are the ongoing costs?
• How quickly can I realistically earn revenue?
• How much control do I have over pricing and customers?
• Do I need licenses, permits, or insurance?
• How will taxes work?
• Can this grow, or will income always depend only on my available hours?
• What skills will I build that can help me later?

A good side hustle should do more than generate short-term cash. Ideally, it should help you build skills, assets, relationships, or systems that can grow over time.

What This Trend Means for Small Business Owners

The side hustle boom is not only relevant to people looking for extra income. It also creates opportunities for existing small business owners.

If millions of Americans are searching for ways to earn more money, they may need tools, education and services that help them get started. This creates demand in several areas.

1. Business Education and Templates

New side hustlers often need simple, beginner-friendly guidance. They may search for business plans, pricing calculators, invoice templates, startup checklists, bookkeeping spreadsheets, tax tips and marketing guides.

Small business websites, coaches, and consultants can create useful content and digital products around these needs. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Business Guide is a useful official resource for understanding the basic steps involved in planning, launching and managing a business.

2. Local Services With Low Startup Costs

Many people want side hustles they can start without a huge investment. Local service businesses such as cleaning, lawn care, handyman work, mobile car detailing, pet care, tutoring, personal organizing and pressure washing can fit that need.

These businesses may start as weekend work, but they can become full-time businesses if the owner builds repeat customers and good systems. For example, PowerHomeBiz’s article on how to successfully start and run a service business explains how to choose a niche, price your services, use contracts and build client relationships.

Readers interested in service-based ideas may also find these PowerHomeBiz resources helpful:

• Cleaning and janitorial business ideas
• Tools and equipment you need to start a lawn care business
• Pet business ideas you can start from home
• 10 profitable home-based businesses that get you out of the house

3. Tools for Gig Workers

Gig workers often need mileage trackers, expense spreadsheets, tax planning help, vehicle maintenance resources, insurance information and advice on how to compare platforms.

A business that serves gig workers does not need to be a gig platform itself. It can provide support services to people already working in the gig economy.

This is especially important because the IRS says gig workers must report taxable income even when the work is part-time or temporary. The IRS page on managing taxes for gig work also notes that gig workers with net self-employment earnings of $400 or more generally must file a tax return.

4. Content Around Realistic Side Hustles

There is a lot of hype online about passive income. Many articles make side hustles sound easier than they are. That creates an opportunity for publishers and small business experts to offer more honest, useful content.

The best content should explain not only how to start, but also what can go wrong, how much time is required, what expenses to expect and how to decide whether the idea is worth pursuing.

For readers interested in online income, PowerHomeBiz’s affiliate marketing section can be a good place to explore how affiliate marketing works as part of a broader online business strategy. Another useful resource is PowerHomeBiz’s article on how to transform an affiliate marketing site into an ecommerce store, which shows how a simple affiliate site can evolve into a more diversified business model.

5. Products for Home-Based Entrepreneurs

Many side hustles begin at home. This creates demand for home office supplies, shipping materials, product photography equipment, cleaning business equipment, craft business supplies, packaging materials and basic software tools.

For publishers using affiliate marketing, this can be a strong content opportunity when the article is genuinely helpful and not just a list of products. PowerHomeBiz’s home office setup checklist for new entrepreneurs is a good example of content that matches a real buying need while still helping readers make smarter decisions.

The Best Side Hustles Are Not Always the Trendiest Ones

A study like this can show what people are searching for, but the most searched side hustle is not always the best one for every person.

The right side hustle depends on your goals.

If you need quick cash, app-based delivery or gig work may be attractive. If you want to build a long-term business, a local service or specialized freelance skill may offer better growth potential. If you want an online asset, content creation, affiliate marketing or digital products may be more appealing, though they usually take longer to produce meaningful income.

The Federal Reserve’s report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025 found that price increases remained a common financial concern for U.S. adults. That broader household pressure helps explain why many people may be looking for ways to supplement income, even if they are not ready to become full-time entrepreneurs.

The best side hustle is usually one that fits at least three of these conditions:

• You have or can quickly learn the needed skill.
• People are already paying for the service or product.
• Startup costs are manageable.
• You can test the idea without taking on major debt.
• You can track revenue and expenses clearly.
• You can improve your margins over time.
• The work builds toward a larger goal.

A side hustle should not trap you in low-margin work forever. Ideally, it should give you options.

How to Turn a Side Hustle Into a Real Business

If your side hustle starts gaining traction, the next step is to treat it more seriously. That does not mean you need to quit your job immediately. It means you need to put basic business foundations in place.

Start by tracking everything: revenue, expenses, mileage, supplies, software costs, platform fees and time spent. Many side hustlers think they are making more than they really are because they forget to subtract expenses.

Next, separate business and personal finances as early as practical. Even a simple dedicated checking account can make recordkeeping easier.

Then look at your customer source. If all your income comes from one platform, you are vulnerable. A stronger business has repeat customers, referrals, email contacts, a website, reviews or another way to reach people directly.

You should also think about business structure, licenses, taxes and insurance. The SBA’s guide to choosing a business structure explains that your structure can affect taxes, day-to-day operations, legal protection and how much of your personal assets may be at risk. Depending on the type of work, you may also need a local business license, sales tax registration, liability insurance or a formal business entity. Requirements vary by location and industry, so entrepreneurs should check state and local rules before assuming they are operating correctly.

Finally, build systems. A side hustle becomes a business when you can repeat the process, deliver consistent value and eventually grow beyond random one-time jobs.

The Bigger Lesson: Americans Want More Control Over Income

The side hustle trend reflects something deeper than keyword volume. Many Americans want more control over their income. Some want protection against rising costs. Others want flexibility. Some are testing entrepreneurship before making a bigger leap.

For small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, that is encouraging.

The path to business ownership does not always begin with a formal launch, a large loan or a polished brand. Sometimes it begins with a search for “how to make extra money,” a weekend experiment or a small service offered to a neighbor.

The important thing is to move from searching to testing, and from testing to learning.

Side hustles can be messy. They can be tiring. Not every idea works. But they can also teach the basics of entrepreneurship in a practical way: finding demand, serving customers, managing money, pricing your time and deciding what kind of work is worth building around.

The SeoProfy study shows where Americans are searching most intensely for side hustle opportunities. But the bigger opportunity is not just in the states at the top of the list. It is in helping people turn that search interest into smarter, more sustainable income decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions