Top side hustles in Columbus
Columbus has quietly become one of the fastest-growing big cities in the Midwest, and growth means demand: new residents who need movers and cleaners, new homes with lawns to mow, and new offices that hire freelancers. Add one of the largest university campuses in the country and a football program that fills a 100,000-seat stadium, and you have a city where the best side hustles in Columbus can pay well without a big upfront investment.
Below are 19 side gigs in Columbus with typical pay, startup costs and local tips, plus the one tax detail many new side hustlers miss: the Columbus city income tax.
Why side hustles work in Columbus
Columbus is the state capital, home to Ohio State University and headquarters or major offices for Nationwide, Cardinal Health in Dublin, Bath & Body Works, JPMorgan Chase's Polaris campus and the OhioHealth and OSU Wexner Medical Center systems. Honda's operations in Marysville, the Rickenbacker logistics hub and a wave of data center and semiconductor investment east of the city in Licking County keep bringing in new workers.
That growth fans out into the suburbs: Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, Powell, Upper Arlington, New Albany, Gahanna and Grove City are full of busy dual-income households who outsource yard work, cleaning, pet care and tutoring. Meanwhile the Short North, German Village, Victorian Village and Clintonville supply dense restaurant and nightlife demand for drivers.
The best side hustles in Columbus right now
1. Game-day and nightlife rideshare
Ohio State home football Saturdays are the biggest paydays of the fall, with surges from campus, the Short North and hotels downtown. Blue Jackets games at Nationwide Arena, Crew matches, concerts and early-morning runs to John Glenn International fill the rest of the year. Read our Lyft and Uber guide before you sign up.
2. Food and grocery delivery
DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart and Walmart Spark are all busy. Suburbs like Dublin, Powell and New Albany often tip better and park easier, while Polaris and Easton concentrate restaurants. Rainy Friday nights and OSU game days are prime.
3. Student moving and storage help
With tens of thousands of students around campus, August move-in and May move-out are chaos. Parents pay well for muscle, truck time and furniture assembly. Post on campus Facebook groups, Dolly and TaskRabbit weeks ahead.
4. Lawn care and snow removal
Suburban lots in Westerville, Hilliard and Grove City need mowing from April through October, leaf cleanup in November and driveway clearing after winter storms. Sell a year-round package and you have income in every season.
5. Short-term rental turnover cleaning
Rentals near campus, the Short North, downtown and the hospital districts book solid on football weekends, during the Arnold Sports Festival in March and around big concerts. Hosts need reliable cleaners who can turn a unit in two hours.
6. Pet sitting and dog walking
Young professionals in apartments across the Short North, Italian Village and Franklinton need midday walks, and suburban families need overnight sitters when they travel. Rover is the easiest place to start.
7. Tutoring and test prep
Dublin, Upper Arlington, Olentangy and New Albany families invest heavily in math, science and ACT/SAT prep. OSU grad students can tutor in person; anyone can tutor online.
8. Remote freelancing
Columbus has a deep bench of insurance, retail, banking and healthcare companies that hire contractors for writing, design, data and marketing. Start on Fiverr to land first reviews, then pitch local businesses directly.
Before you treat driving as your main hustle, run your real numbers through our calculator. Gas, wear and the mileage deduction change the math more than most people expect:
Gig Driver Earnings Calculator
Uber, Lyft, DoorDash or Instacart — see what you really earn per hour after gas and wear on your car.
Where side jobs in Columbus pay best
Columbus is spread out, so where you work matters as much as what you do. A rough map:
- Campus, the Short North and Italian Village: the densest demand for rideshare, bike delivery, dog walking and student services. Expect lots of short trips and smaller tips.
- Dublin, Powell, New Albany and Upper Arlington: higher household incomes and larger homes. Best for lawn care, cleaning, tutoring, pet sitting and pressure washing.
- Westerville, Hilliard, Gahanna and Grove City: similar suburban demand with somewhat less competition, and easy highway access for building a route.
- Downtown, Franklinton and the Arena District: event nights, conventions and hotel guests. Work the hours around games and concerts, not the dead middle of the afternoon.
Pick one zone, get known there, and let referrals do the work. Driving across the metro for a single $40 job rarely pays once you count gas and time.
Columbus side gigs at a glance
| Side hustle | Typical pay | Startup cost | Time to first dollar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rideshare | $16–$26/hr gross | Eligible car | 1–2 weeks |
| Delivery | $15–$22/hr gross | Car or bike | Under 1 week |
| Student moving help | $30–$50/hr | $0–$80 | Next move-in week |
| Lawn care / snow removal | $30–$70 per job | $50–$400 | Days |
| Rental cleaning | $25–$45/hr | $75–$150 | 1–2 weeks |
| Pet sitting | $18–$28/walk | $0 | 1–3 weeks |
| Tutoring | $25–$65/hr | $0–$50 | 1–3 weeks |
| Freelancing | $25–$75/hr | Laptop | 2–6 weeks |
Cash in on Columbus festival season
Columbus packs a lot into the warm months: the Arnold Sports Festival in March, the Columbus Arts Festival in June, Red, White & Boom fireworks around the Fourth of July, the Ohio State Fair at the Expo Center in late summer, and a long list of neighborhood festivals. Each one brings crowds that need rides, food, parking and staff.
9. Event staffing
Staffing agencies and concession vendors hire for Ohio Stadium, Nationwide Arena, the Greater Columbus Convention Center and the Expo Center. Non-profit groups also run concession stands and split proceeds with volunteers.
10. Game-day parking
Homes and businesses within walking distance of Ohio Stadium have sold parking on football Saturdays for decades. List on a parking app or just put out a sign, after checking any neighborhood rules.
11. Food trucks and market stands
Columbus has a strong food truck and farmers market scene, from the North Market downtown to suburban Saturday markets. Start small with baked goods where cottage food rules allow, and check Columbus Public Health requirements for anything else.
Home services for growing suburbs
New subdivisions in Delaware County and older ranch homes in Clintonville and Upper Arlington both need regular upkeep. Homeowners here would rather pay than give up their weekends.
12. Handyman and assembly
Mount TVs, hang shelves, assemble furniture and fix small issues for new homeowners. Skip anything that needs a licensed electrician or plumber.
13. Pressure washing
Decks, driveways and vinyl siding get grimy after Ohio winters. An electric pressure washer handles most residential work, and before-and-after photos sell the next job.
14. Recurring house cleaning
Biweekly cleaning clients in Dublin, Powell and Westerville create predictable income that does not depend on app algorithms.
15. Mobile car detailing
Road salt makes spring detailing an easy sell. Office parks around Polaris, Easton and Dublin are full of commuters who will pay for a clean car while they work.
Online side hustles for Columbus residents
16. Virtual assistant and bookkeeping
Real estate agents, contractors and small practices need inbox, scheduling and invoicing help. QuickBooks skills are in high demand around tax season.
17. Online courses
Package insurance, healthcare or retail expertise into a course on Udemy or Thinkific.
18. Reselling Buckeyes gear and thrift finds
Vintage Ohio State apparel and memorabilia sells to fans nationwide. Thrift stores, estate sales and garage sales in older neighborhoods are good sources.
19. Real estate photography
Constant home sales across the metro keep agents booking listing photos and short videos every week.
Ohio and Columbus taxes on side hustle income
Ohio is unusual because you can owe tax at three levels: federal, state and city.
- State income tax: starting in 2026, Ohio has a flat 2.75% rate on nonbusiness income above $26,050. Self-employment profit is generally treated as business income, and Ohio's business income deduction exempts the first $250,000 of it, which can shelter much of your side income at the state level. Confirm how it applies to your return.
- Columbus city income tax: 2.5%. Residents who file a federal Schedule C generally must file a Columbus return, even when the business shows a loss. The state business income deduction does not reduce city tax.
- Suburbs: Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard and other suburbs set their own municipal rates and filing rules, so check where you live and where you work.
- Self-employment tax: 15.3% federal on net profit. Use our self-employment tax calculator to plan your set-aside.
- Sales tax: if you sell taxable goods, you need an Ohio vendor's license. Most personal services are not taxed.
How to start a side hustle in Columbus this month
- Choose one hustle that fits your free hours. If you are torn, the side hustle quiz can narrow it down.
- Work your calendar. Add OSU home games, the Arnold, the State Fair and move-in weeks so you can plan surge days.
- Get visible locally. Nextdoor, suburban Facebook groups and a Google Business Profile work well for home services.
- Price with taxes in mind. Remember the 2.5% city tax and 15.3% self-employment tax when you set rates.
- Collect reviews and referrals. Ask every happy client for a review and a neighbor's name.
- Track everything. Separate bank account, mileage log and receipts from day one.
More Ohio and Midwest city guides
See how Columbus compares with the best side hustles in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Indianapolis. Columbus stands out for its student population and suburban growth, two things Better Side Hustles readers here use to stack seasonal gigs on top of year-round ones. Pick one, commit for 90 days, and track every dollar.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best side hustles in Columbus, Ohio?
Game-day rideshare and delivery, student move-in and move-out help near Ohio State, lawn care and snow removal in suburbs like Dublin and Westerville, pet sitting, short-term rental cleaning and tutoring are the strongest local options. Remote freelancing also works well because Columbus rent is lower than most large metros while clients pay national rates.
How can I make money in Columbus fast?
Sign up for DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart or Walmart Spark, which can pay within a week of approval. Event staffing agencies hire for Ohio Stadium, Nationwide Arena and the Ohio Expo Center, and Rover pet sitting can book quickly. In August, student move-in help around campus pays well for a few hard days of work.
Do I have to pay Columbus city income tax on side hustle income?
Yes. Columbus levies a 2.5% municipal income tax, and residents who report self-employment income on a federal Schedule C generally must file a Columbus return, even if the business shows a loss. Nonresidents may owe tax on profit earned inside the city. Many suburbs have their own rates, so check where you live and work.
Do I need a business license for a side hustle in Columbus?
Ohio has no general statewide business license, and most simple service side hustles in Columbus do not need one. You may need a vendor license if you sell taxable goods, a trade name registration if you use a brand, and specific permits for food, short-term rentals and regulated trades. Check with the city before you scale.
How much can you make with side gigs in Columbus?
App-based gigs typically gross $15 to $25 an hour before gas. Skilled services such as handyman work, pressure washing, tutoring and freelancing often run $35 to $70 an hour once you have repeat clients. Working 8 to 15 hours a week, most people earn roughly $400 to $1,500 a month, depending on season and pricing.
What side hustles work for Ohio State students?
Bike delivery around campus and the Short North, tutoring underclassmen, event staffing on football Saturdays, dog walking for grad students and young professionals, and freelance design or social media work fit around class schedules. Move-in and move-out weeks are especially lucrative for students who stay in town.
Better Side Hustles Editorial Team. We research side hustles the practical way — platform fees, real pay ranges and what it takes to land your first dollar. How we write our guides.
Last reviewed October 26, 2026. Pay ranges are estimates and vary by city, season and effort. This article may contain affiliate links; see our disclosure.
