In short
Local services such as cleaning, handyman work and other odd jobs make good side hustles because you can start with little money and fit work around your hours. If your side income goes over £1,000 in a tax year, you generally need to register for Self Assessment with HMRC and pay tax on the profit.
Why local services work as a side hustle
- Low start-up costs — your time, some kit and insurance, rather than stock or premises
- Real demand on your doorstep — busy households always need help
- Flexible hours — evenings, weekends or a couple of days a week
- Repeat work — one good customer can become weekly income
Ideas that suit a side hustle
- Cleaning — regular cleans fit neatly around other work. Read how to start a cleaning business.
- Handyman jobs — furniture assembly, shelves, small repairs. See start a handyman business.
- Other odd jobs — tidying, small outdoor tasks and general help for neighbours, as long as you have the skills and insurance for what you take on
- Barbering — if you are trained, a few evening or weekend clients can add up
Steer clear of anything that legally needs registration you do not have, such as gas work or notifiable electrical work.
How much time it takes
That is up to you, but plan for the time around the work, not just the work itself: travel between jobs, messaging customers, buying supplies and keeping records. For example, two three-hour cleans on a Saturday might take closer to seven or eight hours once travel is included.
Use the earnings calculator to see what a given number of hours actually brings in after fees.
Tax once you go over £1,000
The first £1,000 of self-employed income each tax year is covered by the trading allowance. Go over that and you generally need to register for Self Assessment and pay tax on your profit — on top of the tax already taken from your job through PAYE.
Online platforms must now report some seller income to HMRC, so side income through apps is visible. Keep records from the start. See how to register as self-employed and self-employed tax in the UK.
If you claim benefits such as Universal Credit, extra earnings can change your payments — report changes as required.
How Holler helps
Holler suits a side hustle because you control when you work. You list your services for free, set your own prices, hours and the area you cover, and customers pay in the app — so there is no chasing money. You are paid through Stripe to your bank after each completed job, minus a flat commission and the card fee. There are no subscriptions or lead fees, so a quiet month costs you nothing.
Customers can book cleaning on Holler today, and Holler is opening area by area across the UK.
Questions people ask
How much can I earn from a side hustle before paying tax?
Self-employed income up to £1,000 a tax year is covered by the trading allowance. Above that you generally need to register for Self Assessment and pay tax on your profit.
Do I need to tell HMRC about my side hustle?
If you earn more than £1,000 from it in a tax year, yes — register for Self Assessment by 5 October after the end of that tax year.
What is the easiest side hustle to start in the UK?
Domestic cleaning is one of the simplest: no licence is needed, start-up costs are low and there is steady demand for regular cleans.
Can I have a side hustle while employed full time?
Usually yes, but check your employment contract for restrictions on outside work, and declare the extra income to HMRC if it goes over £1,000.
Keep reading
How to register as self-employed in the UK
How to register as self-employed with HMRC: when you need to, the 5 October deadline, getting your UTR, Self Assessment and the records you must keep.
Self-employed tax in the UK, explained plainly
Self-employed tax in the UK explained: Income Tax, Class 4 National Insurance, the £1,000 trading allowance, expenses, payments on account and key deadlines.
How to start a cleaning business in the UK
Start a cleaning business in the UK: registering as self-employed, insurance, DBS checks, pricing, supplies and finding your first customers — step by step.
Earnings calculator for self-employed pros
Free earnings calculator for self-employed cleaners and tradespeople: enter your price and jobs per week to see your take-home per job, week and year.