Top side hustles in Detroit
Detroit rewards people who build things, and that includes side income. Housing is cheaper than in almost any other big metro, the sports calendar runs nearly year-round, and the auto industry has filled the region with skilled engineers, mechanics and designers. Put those together and the best side hustles in Detroit can turn a few hours a week into money that genuinely changes your budget.
Below are 19 side gigs in Detroit with typical pay, startup costs and local tips, plus a clear breakdown of the Detroit city income tax, which catches many first-time side hustlers off guard.
Know your Detroit before you start
Metro Detroit is huge and spread out, so where you work shapes what you earn.
- Downtown, Midtown and Corktown are the core for rideshare, delivery and event work. Ford Field, Comerica Park, Little Caesars Arena, Huntington Place and the renovated Michigan Central Station area all draw crowds.
- Historic neighborhoods like Indian Village, Boston-Edison, Woodbridge, Sherwood Forest and Rosedale Park are full of beautiful old homes that constantly need repairs.
- Inner-ring suburbs such as Ferndale, Royal Oak, Dearborn and the Grosse Pointes combine density with disposable income, which is ideal for pet care, cleaning and delivery.
- Oakland County suburbs like Troy, Birmingham, Novi and Bloomfield Hills are where tutoring, lawn care and detailing clients pay top dollar.
Major employers include GM, Ford in Dearborn, Stellantis in Auburn Hills, Rocket Companies downtown, Henry Ford Health, Corewell Health and the Detroit Medical Center, plus Wayne State University in Midtown. Detroit Metro Airport is a Delta hub, which keeps airport rides busy.
The best side hustles in Detroit to start first
1. Rideshare driving
Lions Sundays at Ford Field, Tigers summer nights, Pistons and Red Wings games, concerts and early DTW runs are the money windows. Detroit Auto Show week and big downtown festivals also surge. Our Lyft and Uber guide covers the basics; Michigan auto insurance is expensive, so price it in.
2. Food and grocery delivery
DoorDash, Uber Eats and Instacart run steady across Midtown, Ferndale, Royal Oak and Dearborn. Suburban grocery orders in Troy and Novi tend to be larger. Winter storms bring higher tips.
3. Handyman and rehab help
Detroit's renovation wave means endless small jobs: patching plaster, hanging doors, replacing fixtures, painting and demo cleanup. New owners of old houses are often desperate for someone reliable. Stay within the limits of what Michigan allows without a builder's license.
4. Mobile car detailing
In the Motor City, people care about their cars, and Michigan road salt wrecks them every winter. Spring salt-removal packages, ceramic coatings and fleet work for dealers keep detailers busy. A quality car cleaning kit is enough to start.
5. Snow removal
Sell seasonal shoveling or snowblowing packages in Grosse Pointe, Royal Oak, Livonia and Detroit's neighborhoods before the first storm. Seniors and landlords are your best repeat customers.
6. Pet sitting and dog walking
Lofts in Midtown, Corktown and Lafayette Park plus walkable Ferndale and Royal Oak have lots of dogs and busy owners. Rover gets you started; private clients follow.
7. Freelance engineering and CAD
Hundreds of auto suppliers across Metro Detroit need contract CAD work, technical writing, PPAP and quality documentation, and training materials. Your day-job skills may be your most lucrative side hustle. Check your employment agreement for conflicts first.
8. Event staffing
Staffing agencies and concession companies hire for Ford Field, Comerica Park, Little Caesars Arena, Huntington Place and big festivals like Movement on Memorial Day weekend and the downtown Grand Prix.
Michigan's car insurance and winter wear make driving costs higher than many states. Run your real numbers before committing:
Gig Driver Earnings Calculator
Uber, Lyft, DoorDash or Instacart — see what you really earn per hour after gas and wear on your car.
Side jobs in Detroit compared
| Side hustle | Typical pay | Startup cost | Time to first dollar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rideshare | $16–$25/hr gross | Eligible car | 1–2 weeks |
| Delivery | $15–$22/hr gross | Car | Under 1 week |
| Handyman / rehab | $40–$70/hr | $150–$500 | 1–2 weeks |
| Mobile detailing | $100–$300/detail | $200–$600 | Days |
| Snow removal | $30–$70/driveway | $30–$800 | First storm |
| Pet sitting | $18–$28/walk | $0 | 1–3 weeks |
| Freelance CAD / engineering | $40–$90/hr | Laptop, software | 2–6 weeks |
| Event staffing | $15–$23/hr | $0 | Next home game |
A year of Detroit side gigs, season by season
Detroit's weather and event calendar swing hard, so plan your hustles in seasons rather than fighting them.
- January to March: snow removal, winter delivery surges, Red Wings and Pistons games, and the Detroit Auto Show at Huntington Place. Indoor work like freelancing and tutoring peaks while it is cold.
- April to June: spring cleanups, pressure washing and salt-removal detailing. Tigers Opening Day, Movement on Memorial Day weekend and the downtown Grand Prix bring big crowds.
- July to September: lawn care, garden work, Tigers night games, outdoor concerts and the Woodward Dream Cruise in August. Student moves around Wayne State fill late summer.
- October to December: Lions Sundays, leaf cleanup, holiday light installation, America's Thanksgiving Parade crowds and holiday markets. Sell snow contracts before Thanksgiving.
Stacking a cold-weather hustle with a warm-weather one keeps the same clients paying you all year, which is easier than finding new ones each spring.
Motor City specialties
These side gigs lean on the region's car culture and the expertise that comes with it.
9. Car photography
Independent dealers and private sellers need clean listing photos, and enthusiasts pay for shoots at events like the Woodward Dream Cruise in August.
10. Pre-purchase car inspections
If you know cars, private buyers will pay for a second opinion before handing over cash for a used vehicle. Market on Facebook groups and Marketplace.
11. Car parts and memorabilia reselling
Garage cleanouts and estate sales across Metro Detroit turn up vintage parts, dealer signs and automotive memorabilia that sell to collectors nationwide on eBay.
Home and yard gigs across the metro
12. Lawn care and leaf cleanup
Suburbs like Livonia, Troy, Novi and Canton have big lawns and busy owners. Pair mowing with fall leaves and winter snow for year-round clients.
13. House and rental cleaning
Recurring cleaning in the suburbs and turnovers for short-term and medium-term rentals near downtown and the hospitals are steady work.
14. Pressure washing
Brick homes, porches and driveways collect grime over a long winter. Spring is your busiest season.
15. Garden setup and urban farming help
Detroit has a strong urban agriculture scene. Building raised beds, planting and maintaining gardens for homeowners is a niche spring and summer gig.
Creative and online side hustles
16. Detroit-made goods and Eastern Market
Eastern Market's Saturday crowds, holiday markets and neighborhood pop-ups are perfect for apparel, prints, candles and food products (within Michigan cottage food rules). Expand online with Shopify once something sells.
17. DJing and music production
The birthplace of Motown and techno still has demand for DJs at weddings and parties, plus beat-making, mixing and lessons.
18. Freelance marketing and design
Local restaurants, startups and nonprofits need social media, websites and branding. Start on Fiverr and see our digital marketing side hustle guide.
19. Tutoring
Oakland County families pay for math, science and test prep, and Wayne State students can tutor locally or online.
Michigan and Detroit taxes on side income
- Michigan income tax: a flat 4.25% for the 2026 tax year, confirmed by the Michigan Department of Treasury.
- Detroit city income tax: 2.4% for residents on all income, including net profit from a side business, and 1.2% for nonresidents on income earned in Detroit. Most suburbs do not have a city income tax, though a few Michigan cities do.
- Self-employment tax: 15.3% federal on net profit, on top of federal income tax. The self-employment tax calculator estimates your set-aside.
- Sales tax: Michigan's 6% sales tax applies to most goods, with no local add-ons. If you sell products, register with the state for a sales tax license.
- Licensing: Detroit licenses certain business types and short-term rentals, and residential building and repair work above minor jobs can require a state license.
How to make money in Detroit this month
- Start with one hustle. Choose based on the hours you really have each week.
- Pick a home base. One neighborhood or suburb keeps drive time down and referrals tight.
- Get listed. Gig apps for driving and delivery; Nextdoor, Facebook groups and a Google Business Profile for services.
- Plan around the calendar. Lions season, the Auto Show, Movement, the Grand Prix, the Dream Cruise and the first snowfall.
- Build taxes into prices. Remember Detroit's city tax when you set rates.
- Track every mile and receipt. A mileage log can save you hundreds.
Nearby city guides
Compare Detroit with the best side hustles in Cleveland, Chicago and Columbus. Detroit's low housing costs and deep pool of skilled trades and engineering talent make it a standout, and Better Side Hustles readers here often find their best gig is a skill they already have. Pick one, give it 90 days and keep what works.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best side hustles in Detroit?
The strongest options are game-day and airport rideshare, food and grocery delivery, handyman and rehab help on older homes, snow removal, mobile car detailing, pet sitting in Midtown, Corktown and the inner-ring suburbs, event staffing, and freelance engineering or design work for auto suppliers. Low housing costs mean even modest side income goes a long way.
How can I make money in Detroit fast?
Delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats and Instacart can pay within a week once you are approved. Event staffing agencies hire for Ford Field, Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena, and TaskRabbit, Rover and Dolly jobs can book in days. After a snowstorm, shoveling for neighbors can pay the same morning.
Does Detroit tax side hustle income?
Yes. Detroit has a city income tax of 2.4% for residents and 1.2% for nonresidents on income earned in the city, and it applies to self-employment net profit as well as wages. Most Detroit suburbs do not levy a city income tax. You also owe Michigan's 4.25% state income tax and federal taxes.
Do I need a business license for a side hustle in Detroit?
Michigan has no general statewide business license, and many simple service side hustles need nothing special. Detroit does license certain business types, and short-term rentals, food sales and regulated trades such as residential building work have their own requirements. Check with the city's business licensing office before you scale.
How much do side jobs in Detroit pay?
Rideshare and delivery typically gross $15 to $25 an hour before gas and insurance. Skilled work such as handyman jobs, detailing and freelance CAD or design often pays $35 to $75 an hour once you have repeat clients. Working 8 to 15 hours a week, most people earn roughly $400 to $1,500 a month.
What side hustles use auto industry skills?
Engineers and designers can freelance CAD modeling, technical writing, quality documentation and training content for suppliers. Mechanically minded people can do mobile detailing, pre-purchase car inspections for private buyers, or flip project cars. Photographers can shoot cars for dealers and private sellers, which is in steady demand across Metro Detroit.
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.
