If you’ve been scrolling TikTok or YouTube lately, you’ve probably seen endless videos promising that the latest side hustle will make you rich fast. From delivery apps to dropshipping to YouTube automation, the hype is everywhere.
But here’s the truth: not all side hustles are created equal. In fact, many of the “easiest” ways to make money online are some of the worst side hustles in 2025. They eat up your time, drain your money, and leave you frustrated with little to show for it.
This post is your reality check. I’ll walk you through the most popular side hustles you should avoid in 2025, why they don’t work, and what smarter alternatives exist. By the end, you’ll understand how to spot a side hustle scam, save yourself months of wasted effort, and focus on digital income streams that actually last.
What This Strategy Is All About
This blog is based on my deep dive into the worst side hustles 2025 edition. The goal isn’t just to bash these opportunities but to show you the hidden downsides most people overlook.
- Many of these hustles look good on the surface (low barrier to entry, flexible hours, quick setup).
- But when you factor in overhead, competition, and scalability, they’re simply not worth it.
- The opportunity cost is huge — the time you spend delivering food or uploading designs could instead go into building a real online business through content creation, automation, or digital products.
This is for you if you’ve been tempted by gig economy jobs, TikTok “get rich” hacks, or online gurus promising quick success. Before you invest time and money, make sure you know what you’re getting into.
Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Worst Side Hustles
Step 1 – Delivery Apps: DoorDash, Uber, and Instacart
Delivery side hustles sound perfect at first glance: work when you want, no boss, instant payouts. But in reality:
- Gas, maintenance, and insurance costs eat away your profits.
- Tips can be unpredictable (and even changed after delivery).
- When you calculate true earnings, you’re often at or below minimum wage.
Why it matters: Time is your most valuable asset. Instead of spending it stuck in traffic, you could be creating content or building a digital asset that scales.
Step 2 – Amazon Flex
Amazon Flex promises $18–30 an hour delivering packages. Sounds good, right? Here’s the catch:
- Long drives to distribution centers eat into your time.
- Car wear-and-tear piles up fast.
- Competition in your area can mean fewer delivery blocks.
When you factor it all in, your “$30/hour” gig quickly drops into unprofitable territory.
Step 3 – Dropshipping
Once hailed as the easiest way to make money online, dropshipping has become oversaturated and risky.
- Extreme competition makes ads expensive.
- Shipping delays and tariffs frustrate customers.
- Amazon has conditioned buyers to expect 2-day shipping — dropshipping can’t compete.
Why it matters: You’re building on shaky ground. You don’t control inventory, shipping, or customer satisfaction.
Step 4 – Print on Demand
Print-on-demand seems like a fun creative outlet (shirts, mugs, hoodies). But the challenges are real:
- Low barrier to entry = endless competition.
- Profit margins are razor thin.
- You still need money upfront to fulfill initial orders.
Unless you’re a master at spotting trends, it’s a grind with little reward.
Step 5 – Amazon FBA
Selling physical products on Amazon can work — but not for beginners looking for a side hustle.
- Requires thousands of dollars upfront for samples, shipping, and ads.
- Tariffs and global supply chain issues hurt margins.
- Most FBA products are “wants,” not “needs,” making them vulnerable in weak economies.
Without significant startup capital and patience, FBA is one of the worst side hustles of 2025 for beginners.
Step 6 – YouTube Automation
AI tools have made video creation easier than ever. But that’s the problem:
- Everyone has access to the same tools, so competition is fierce.
- Low-quality “automation” videos rarely perform anymore.
- Real success requires high-quality scripts, editing, and B-roll.
If you’re not willing to invest in quality or time, YouTube automation will disappoint.
Step 7 – Flipping (Cards, Houses, or Random Items)
Flipping Pokémon cards, garage sale finds, or even real estate looks profitable on paper. In reality:
- Upfront costs are high (materials, labor, or inventory).
- Market demand is unpredictable.
- Shipping costs are higher than ever.
Flipping works for experts, but as a side hustle in 2025, it’s risky and inconsistent.
Step 8 – Online Marketplaces (Udemy, Etsy, Creative Market)
Selling digital products on platforms like Udemy or Etsy sounds smart, but here’s the downside:
- Marketplaces are oversaturated with AI-generated content.
- A race to the bottom drives prices down.
- You’re dependent on platform algorithms.
Instead, you’ll make more money by driving your own traffic and selling directly.
Step 9 – Playing Games for Cash
Apps promising real money for Solitaire or watching ads are pure time-wasters.
- Payouts are painfully small.
- Time-to-money ratio is terrible.
- You’d earn more with a minimum-wage job.
Instead of “gaming for pennies,” you could create gaming content on TikTok or YouTube and actually monetize.
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How This Makes You Money (When You Avoid the Wrong Hustles)
Here’s the key takeaway: avoiding bad side hustles frees up your time and energy to focus on strategies that actually scale.
When you lean into content creation, AI tools, and digital products, you get:
- Passive income potential through affiliate links and memberships.
- Scalability — one digital product can sell 100 or 10,000 times.
- Freedom — no more driving around for tips or waiting for platforms to pay pennies.
By understanding the worst side hustles in 2025, you can redirect your efforts into high-leverage online business ideas that create real financial freedom.
Final Thoughts + What to Do Next
Not all side hustles are worth your time. Delivery apps, dropshipping, print-on-demand, Amazon FBA, YouTube automation, flipping, online marketplaces, and gaming apps all sound tempting, but they come with hidden downsides that make them side hustle scams in disguise.
If you want to truly make money online in 2025, the path is clear:
- Build digital products.
- Leverage AI and automation.
- Grow through content creation.
Instead of chasing hype, focus on building long-term digital assets that generate income day after day.