Top 7 Side Hustles to Avoid and How to Make Them Work

Most of the side hustles touted by so-called ‘gurus’ won’t make you rich and, in some cases, are best avoided entirely. After trying countless side hustles and gaining valuable experience along the way, I’ve learned firsthand which paths are worth pursuing — and which aren’t.

Here are the top seven side hustles to avoid and some insights on how you might make them work with the right tweaks.

7. E-commerce

E-commerce is often sold as the golden ticket to riches. TikTok is filled with stories of people becoming wealthy by selling niche items like Christmas gnomes on Amazon. While it sounds easy, the reality is far from glamorous.

The biggest challenge in e-commerce is customer data. Companies like Amazon control this data, leaving sellers in the dark about their customers’ purchasing habits. This lack of control can result in lost opportunities and even being pushed out by the platform itself. For example, I was once banned from listing new items for a month after selling a product that supposedly violated terms.

How to make it work: Use platforms like Amazon or eBay as marketing tools rather than the backbone of your business. Include brochures or discount codes in orders to direct customers to your website, where you control the rules and…