Top side hustles in Phoenix
Phoenix rewards people who plan around the sun. The Valley keeps adding residents, homes and backyard pools, and most of those households would rather pay someone than scrub, mow or haul in 110-degree heat. That is why the best side hustles in Phoenix look different from the lists you see for Chicago or New York: they lean on early mornings, air-conditioned cars and services the desert makes necessary.
Below are 18 side gigs that work in Phoenix right now, what each typically pays, what it costs to start, and the local details (neighborhoods, employers, event weeks and seasons) that turn a few spare hours into steady money.
What makes Phoenix a strong side-hustle market
Before picking a gig, it helps to know what drives demand here:
- Heat creates chores. Pools need weekly service, dust coats cars and solar panels, and monsoon storms from July through September leave yards and patios a mess. These are recurring jobs, not one-offs.
- A busy winter season. Snowbirds arrive in October, Cactus League spring training fills the Valley in February and March, and the WM Phoenix Open and Barrett-Jackson auction bring crowds to nearby Scottsdale. Rideshare, rentals and event work all spike.
- Growth and newcomers. New subdivisions in Laveen, North Phoenix and the West Valley mean people who need furniture assembled, TVs mounted and blinds installed. The TSMC semiconductor fab in north Phoenix and employers like Banner Health, Honeywell, American Express and Arizona State University keep bringing in workers who outsource errands.
- Sprawl. Phoenix covers more than 500 square miles, so mobile services and anything that saves people a drive sell well.
The best side hustles in Phoenix right now
These eight are the strongest bets for most people: high demand, reasonable startup costs and pay that holds up after expenses.
1. Pool cleaning routes
Phoenix is one of the most pool-dense metros in the country, and owners in Arcadia, Ahwatukee, Desert Ridge and the Biltmore area pay for weekly service. Start with chemical testing, skimming and brushing; add filter cleans later. Ten to fifteen weekly accounts can fill a Saturday and a couple of evenings. Summer algae season is your best time to pick up clients.
2. Rideshare driving
Sky Harbor is minutes from downtown, so airport runs are steady. The money weekends are spring training, Suns and Mercury games at the Footprint Center, Diamondbacks games at Chase Field, Cardinals games and concerts in Glendale, and NASCAR at Phoenix Raceway. Our Lyft and Uber guide covers sign-up and vehicle requirements.
3. Food and grocery delivery
When it is 112 degrees, people order in. DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart and Walmart Spark stay busy all summer, and dinner rushes around Uptown, Roosevelt Row and the 7th Street corridor keep orders close together. Keep frozen orders cold with an insulated bag and plan for parking under shade.
4. Mobile car detailing
Dust storms and sun bake every car in the Valley. Offer interior details and waterless washes at office parks along Camelback and Central, or at homes before 10 a.m. Ceramic coatings and headlight restoration are easy upsells for cars that live outdoors.
5. Pressure washing and solar panel cleaning
Driveways, pavers, block walls and pool decks collect grime and hard-water stains. Solar panels across the Valley lose output when dust builds up, and many owners never clean them. A single job typically pays $150–$350, and before-and-after photos sell the next one.
6. Short-term rental turnovers
Hosts near Old Town Scottsdale, downtown Phoenix and the stadium districts need fast, reliable cleaners, especially during spring training and the Phoenix Open when nightly rates jump. One property manager with several units can give you a full weekend of work.
7. Pet sitting and dog walking
Pavement in a Phoenix summer can burn paws, so owners want someone who walks dogs at dawn or after dark and checks on pets during long workdays. Rover and Wag stay busy, and holiday travel books out early. Overnight stays pay the most.
8. Remote freelancing
Writing, design, bookkeeping and ad management are summer-proof. Phoenix has plenty of contractors, real estate teams and medical practices that need help with marketing, and you can serve national clients from an air-conditioned room. Start on Fiverr and move repeat clients to monthly retainers.
If you drive for the apps, run the numbers first. Gas, A/C use and wear add up fast in a spread-out city:
Gig Driver Earnings Calculator
Uber, Lyft, DoorDash or Instacart — see what you really earn per hour after gas and wear on your car.
Phoenix side gigs compared
| Side hustle | Typical pay | Startup cost | Time to first dollar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pool cleaning | $100–$175/pool/month | $200–$500 | 1–3 weeks |
| Rideshare | $15–$25/hr before gas | Eligible car | 1–2 weeks |
| Food delivery | $15–$22/hr before gas | Car or e-bike | Under 1 week |
| Mobile detailing | $100–$250/detail | $200–$600 | Days |
| Pressure washing / solar | $150–$350/job | $250–$600 | Days |
| Rental turnovers | $25–$45/hr | $75–$150 | 1–2 weeks |
| Pet sitting | $18–$30/walk | $0 | 1–3 weeks |
| Freelancing | $25–$75/hr | Laptop | 2–6 weeks |
| Snowbird home watch | $50–$150/home/month | $0 | October |
More home services and moving help
9. Amazon Flex and package courier
The Valley's warehouse corridor along I-10 and Loop 303 feeds constant parcel volume. Flex blocks show pay up front, and early-morning blocks beat the heat. Roadie and GoShare cover bigger and same-day deliveries.
10. Handyman and assembly
New homeowners in Laveen and North Phoenix need shelves, ceiling fans, smart locks and furniture installed. Arizona lets unlicensed handymen take small jobs under $1,000 total that need no permit; anything bigger requires a contractor license.
11. Moving help
People move to Phoenix all year, and nobody wants to carry a couch in July. Lugg, Dolly and TaskRabbit post loading and unloading jobs; summer pays well because demand spikes while workers thin out.
12. Snowbird home watch
Part-time residents leave homes empty from April to October. They pay someone to check for leaks, run faucets, confirm the A/C works and collect packages. A route of 10 homes in Sun City, Moon Valley or the Paradise Valley area is real recurring income.
Events, campus and creative work
13. Event staffing
Staffing agencies and concession operators hire for Chase Field, the Footprint Center, State Farm Stadium, the Phoenix Convention Center and the spring-training ballparks scattered around the Valley. Shifts are short and frequent from February through April.
14. Tutoring and test prep
With ASU's downtown campus, Grand Canyon University and a big K–12 population, math, science and SAT/ACT tutors stay booked. Families in North Central Phoenix and Ahwatukee pay premium rates for in-person sessions.
15. Virtual assistant for contractors
Pool companies, HVAC shops and landscapers are slammed in summer and drowning in calls. Offer scheduling, invoicing and review management for a few hours a week.
16. Real estate photography
Phoenix listings rely on bright photos and twilight shots. Agents pay per listing, and a good wide lens plus editing skills is enough to start. Drone shots add value but require an FAA Part 107 certificate.
17. Reselling estate-sale finds
Estate sales in Sun City and older central neighborhoods turn up mid-century furniture, vintage Western wear and turquoise jewelry that sells on eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Mercari. Saturday mornings beat the heat and the crowds.
18. Online courses and digital products
If you know solar sales, desert landscaping, Arizona real estate or a software tool, package it as a course on Udemy or your own site. It is slow to start but scales without more hours.
Plan your year around the Phoenix calendar
- January–April: peak season. Barrett-Jackson, the Phoenix Open, spring training and snowbird demand push rideshare, rental cleaning, event work and pressure washing to their highs.
- May–September: pool service, A/C-friendly delivery, moving help and online work. Book outdoor jobs at dawn.
- October–December: snowbirds return, home-watch clients hand back keys, Suns season starts and holiday courier volume climbs.
How to start a side hustle in Phoenix this month
- Pick one gig that matches your hours. If you only have evenings, choose delivery or freelancing; weekends free, choose detailing or pressure washing.
- Set a monthly target. Work backward from the dollar amount to hours per week with our income calculator.
- Get listed where Phoenicians look. Nextdoor, neighborhood Facebook groups, a free Google Business Profile, and the apps for gig work.
- Land three clients and ask for reviews. Offer a first-visit discount to neighbors if you need momentum.
- Handle the paperwork. Get a TPT license if you sell goods or host rentals, and track mileage from day one.
- Mark peak weeks on your calendar. Spring training, the Open and the summer pool rush are where the year's best money is.
Not sure which gig suits you? The side hustle quiz matches you to options based on your time and skills.
Arizona taxes and licenses for Phoenix side hustles
- State income tax: Arizona uses a flat 2.5% rate on taxable income.
- Self-employment tax: 15.3% federal on net profit, plus federal income tax. Estimate your set-aside with the self-employment tax calculator.
- Transaction privilege tax (TPT): Arizona's version of sales tax is a tax on the business. Retail sales, restaurant and short-term lodging income are taxable; most personal services like cleaning, pet care or freelancing are not. If you sell taxable goods, get a TPT license from the Arizona Department of Revenue, which also handles the city portion for Phoenix.
- Short-term rentals: Phoenix requires a city STR permit (currently $250 a year) in addition to a TPT license and county registration.
- Contractor rules: handyman jobs must stay under $1,000 including labor and materials, and need no permit, to fall under the state's handyman exemption. Bigger jobs need an Arizona Registrar of Contractors license.
Side hustles in nearby cities
If you work across the Valley or travel the I-10 corridor, compare our guides to the best side hustles in Mesa, Tucson and Las Vegas. Mesa leans harder on winter visitors, Tucson on the university and tourism, and Vegas on conventions.
Wherever you land, the formula at Better Side Hustles is the same: choose one gig that fits Phoenix's seasons, show up reliably for 90 days, and track every hour and dollar. That is how a side gig in the Valley becomes real income.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best side hustles in Phoenix?
The strongest Phoenix side hustles are pool cleaning, rideshare and delivery timed to airport and event surges, mobile car detailing, pressure washing and solar panel cleaning, short-term rental turnovers, pet sitting and remote freelancing. Heat-driven home services pay the best per hour, while app work is the fastest way to get paid this month.
How can I make money in Phoenix fast?
Sign up for DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart or Amazon Flex, which can pay within a week once your background check clears. For local services, post before-and-after photos in Nextdoor and neighborhood Facebook groups for pressure washing or detailing; a single weekend job can pay $150 or more. Event staffing agencies also hire fast before big games and spring training.
Do I need a business license for a side hustle in Phoenix?
Most service side hustles in Phoenix do not need a general city business license. If you sell taxable goods or host a short-term rental, you need an Arizona TPT license from the Department of Revenue, and short-term rentals also need a Phoenix STR permit. Handyman work over $1,000 or any job needing a permit requires a contractor license from the Arizona ROC.
What side jobs in Phoenix work during the summer?
Pool cleaning and repair peaks in summer, and dawn shifts for detailing, lawn work and dog walking still book well. Delivery demand rises when nobody wants to leave the house at 112 degrees. Remote work like freelancing, tutoring and virtual assistance is unaffected by heat, which is why many Phoenix side hustlers shift online from June through September.
How much can I earn from side gigs in Phoenix?
Most people putting in 8 to 15 hours a week earn roughly $500 to $1,800 a month. App work typically nets $15 to $22 an hour after gas, while pool routes, pressure washing and freelancing often reach $35 to $75 an hour once you have repeat clients. Results depend on season, hours and how you price.
How are side hustle earnings taxed in Arizona?
Arizona has a flat 2.5% individual income tax. You also owe federal income tax and 15.3% self-employment tax on net profit. Setting aside 20 to 25% of profit covers most people. Selling products or renting short-term also triggers transaction privilege tax, which is collected through a TPT license.
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.
