Side hustles for parents UK: 15 ideas that fit around the kids

As a parent, the problem is rarely ideas. It is time, and time that comes in ten-minute gaps you cannot plan. These side hustles work around that.

Things you can do in short gaps

1. Sell outgrown clothes, toys and kit. Children's things sell fast on Vinted and Facebook Marketplace, and selling your own things is not taxable.
2. Paid user testing. Short tests of websites and apps from your laptop or phone. See paid user testing sites.
3. Paid research studies. Sites like Prolific pay for surveys and studies you can do whenever you have a few minutes.
4. Cashback and switching. Not a side hustle exactly, but cashback sites pay you for shopping you were doing anyway.

Work from home in nap time or evenings

5. Proofreading. Check documents, CVs and books on your own schedule. See proofreading from home.
6. Freelancing. Design, writing, bookkeeping or admin for small businesses. Work out a fair price with the freelance rate calculator.
7. Online tutoring after the kids are in bed. See how to become a tutor.
8. Making and selling crafts on Etsy.
9. Reselling charity shop and car boot finds. See reselling for profit.

During school hours

10. Cleaning for local households. See tax for self-employed cleaners.
11. Dog walking and pet sitting. See dog walking and pet sitting.
12. Mystery shopping during the day. See mystery shopping.
13. Part-time jobs built around school hours. See jobs that fit around school hours.

Using your home

14. Childminding. If you are at home with your own children, registering as a childminder lets you look after others too. You need to register with Ofsted in England (or the equivalent elsewhere in the UK) and meet training and safety requirements.
15. Renting out your driveway or a spare room. See renting out your driveway and the Rent a Room scheme.

Tax, benefits and childcare

• Tax: trading income up to £1,000 a year is covered by the trading allowance, rising to £3,000 from April 2027. Above that, register for Self Assessment. See side hustle tax.
• Universal Credit: you must report earnings, including self-employed income, and it can reduce your payment. If you are self-employed, a "minimum income floor" may apply after a start-up period, which can assume you earn more than you do. Check before you start.
• Child Benefit: if either parent's adjusted net income goes over £60,000, the High Income Child Benefit Charge starts to take some of it back. Side income counts towards that.
• Tax-Free Childcare: if you and your partner are working, including self-employed, the government can add £2 for every £8 you pay into a childcare account, subject to earnings rules.

Free toolSide hustle tax calculatorSee how much tax and National Insurance you owe on side income, and what to set aside each month.→

Tips from parents who make it work

• Pick one side hustle and give it three months before judging it
• Batch the work: list ten items on Vinted in one go, not one a day
• Keep side hustle money in a separate account so it does not disappear into the weekly shop
• Protect your evenings. A side hustle that leaves you exhausted is not worth it

Common questions

What is the best side hustle for a stay-at-home parent?

One you can do in short bursts from home, such as selling on Vinted, user testing, proofreading or freelancing. If you want something steadier, childminding uses the time you are already at home.

Will a side hustle affect my Universal Credit?

Usually, yes. Earnings reduce Universal Credit, and self-employed income has its own rules, including the minimum income floor. Check with your work coach or a benefits calculator before you start.

Do I need to tell HMRC about selling my children's old clothes?

No. Selling your own unwanted possessions is not trading, so it is not taxable however much you sell.