7 Best Side Hustles for People in Africa

1. Start a Blog

Yeah, you read that right, there are bloggers who are making upwards of $100k a month from passive income earned from Affiliate marketing, selling products, and adverts.

Your audience will determine your income. For example, a blog that targets users of digital products will tend to earn a higher commission in Affiliate sales compared to a blog that targets users who are in search of physical products on a website like Amazon which offers lower Affiliate commissions.

For those interested in networking, enhancing their personal brand, and making money on the side, blogging is the ultimate choice.

Wondering about the initial expenses of starting your own blog? Opting for a well-known web hosting service such as Hostinger comes in at just under $3 per month. That’s an amazing deal, right?

Here’s a brief guide to launching your own blog using Hostinger:

Click this unique link to access the Hostinger website.

As you can see, their premium plan costs only $2.69 per month. You can get their premium web hosting plan for just $143.52 for 48 months. Check it out!

In case you are looking for other plans Hostinger offers the following pricing plans for web hosting.

1. Single Plan: This is the best option for beginners. This plan is ideal for hosting a single website, and it comes at an affordable price of just $1.79 per month. You’ll have access to 50 GB of high-speed SSD storage and enjoy complimentary weekly backups.
2. Premium Plan: Priced at a reasonable $2.69 per month, the Premium plan is designed to accommodate up to 100 websites. It provides 100 GB of SSD storage and includes weekly backup services.
3. Business Plan: For those seeking enhanced performance and capabilities, the Business plan is available at $3.59 per month. This plan supports hosting up to 100 websites and offers 5x performance gains, 200 GB of lightning-fast NVMe storage, and daily backup solutions.

If you are having trouble setting up your blog please contact us at [email protected], we are always here to help.

2. Create an App or Game

This side hustle has one of the lowest initial costs and a great potential for a positive passive income stream once you build an audience.

Usually, once you’ve reached more than 10,000 active users in the last month, that’s when you can start earning money, usually $150 or more, through ads like banners, interstitials, or video ads in an app or game.

The most commonly used Ad service is AdMob and earnings usually vary depending on where your users come from. If your users are from countries with high spending capacity then your earnings are likely to increase.

As a developer, you’ll receive 70% of the earnings, while the ad company retains 30%. Is that acceptable to you? It certainly is to me.

You need to develop an app or game that can keep users engaged, as this is the primary challenge for the majority of apps and games on the Play Store.

In-app purchases are a profitable method to monetize apps and games. Here are some ways to use them:

• Charge for additional features.
• Unlock game levels for a fee.
• Offer virtual goods and in-game currency.
• Provide a one-time premium version.
• Introduce subscription models.
• Allow cosmetic customization through IAPs.

If you need help setting up an app contact us at [email protected] or read this article.

3. YouTube Content Creator

Africa has many successful YouTube content creators, both locally and in the diaspora. Creating YouTube content is now viewed as a career by most people worldwide.

If writing lengthy blog articles is challenging for you, YouTube is the ideal platform.

For success on YouTube, my advice is to choose a niche and stay committed. Over time, you’ll build your audience.

Begin a channel based on your strengths. For instance, if you excel at creating humorous skits, YouTube Shorts can be a perfect platform to share your short comedic creations with your audience.

• Use relevant keywords in video titles and descriptions to make your content easily discoverable. Tools like vidIQ or Ahrefs can help.
• Host contests and giveaways to quickly attract new viewers and grow your YouTube following.
• Be consistent with your video uploads to build a dedicated following. Don’t worry about views or money for your first 100 videos.
• Captivating thumbnails and titles: Grab viewers’ attention with eye-catching thumbnails and captivating titles to increase your video views.
• Diversify your content: Keep your audience engaged and interested by creating a variety of content on your channel.

4. Monetize Your Skills

If you are in search of a faster way of making money online, offer services like website development, app development, SEO, content writing and so much more.

Here are great ways to make money selling services online for people living in Africa.

• Start by identifying the kind of people you want to serve. Think about your top skills. Who do you want to offer your services to? Once you know this, you can tailor your services to attract well-paying clients.
• It’s important to demonstrate that you’re really good at what you do. Most people prefer experienced professionals over beginners. Create a portfolio, like an online display of your work, using a website or a platform like Fiverr or Upwork.
• Consider what sets you apart from other freelancers. Perhaps you have a particular specialty or provide services that others don’t have. Discover your unique qualities and promote them to stand out and attract more business.

Freelancing platforms like Upwork extend their services to professionals in many African countries, offering a chance for skilled individuals to display their expertise and engage with clients globally.

If your country isn’t on the approved list, consider exploring alternative opportunities from the provided options in this article.

5. Teach English Remotely

If you are fluent in English, this is a fantastic opportunity to earn money online as a side hustle.

More than 1 billion people, which is 17% of the world’s population, are English speakers. Many of these people are looking for ways to improve their English.

This is where you can bridge the gap by providing tutoring services using your own website or services like Preply, Intellecto Kids, Verbling, Cambly, and italki.

Below are quick tips to help you make money online teaching English online

• Choose a specific area of English tutoring, such as business English or exam preparation, to command higher rates by demonstrating expertise.
• Consider teaching groups of students, either in-person or online, as a time-efficient method to increase your earnings. Effective group management is essential.
• Recognize that the demand for online English lessons is highest during peak hours, particularly in the evenings and on weekends. Offering classes during these times allows you to charge premium rates.
• While not mandatory for all platforms, obtaining a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate can boost your online teaching credibility. A variety of TEFL certification programs, both online and in-person, are available.

6. Make Money with Canva

Canva is a widely used graphic design platform renowned for enabling users to produce captivating visuals, such as graphics, illustrations, presentations, and more.

Creators around the world are making hundreds of dollars each month through Canva.

One of the most popular ways to generate income online with Canva is by creating and selling Canva templates. You can experiment with various categories, such as social media, business, or wedding templates.

Subsequently, you can utilize platforms like Amazon Handmade, Envato, Creative Market, Esty, and TemplateMonster to market and sell those templates.

Below are quick tips on how to make money on Canva:

• Design Logos: Canva is a powerful tool for creating professional logos, making it an excellent choice for small businesses and website owners looking to attract attention.
• Create eBook Covers: Authors selling eBooks can use Canva to design eye-catching covers and layouts, offering the potential for high-profit opportunities on platforms like Amazon.
• Teach Canva Skills: If you’re skilled in creating appealing graphics with Canva, consider launching an online course to educate others. You can sell your course on platforms like Udemy and Skillshare to share your expertise.

7. Sell Handcraft Products

Africa is renowned for its vibrant culture. Items such as beads, ceramics, bitengye (African printed cloth), and handbags are inexpensive in local markets yet they sell at a higher price online.

Handmade products are often valued for their quality and uniqueness, setting them apart from mass-produced items.

Here are four quick tips for making money online by selling handcrafted items:

• Do Your Research: Choose unique handmade products that you enjoy making, are skilled at creating, and are in high demand. Focus on products that can sell quickly online.
• Make High-Quality Products: Ensure your products are well-made and visually appealing by using quality materials and taking excellent product photos. Clear, well-lit images from multiple angles are essential.
• Offer Customization: Provide customization options for your products, allowing customers to choose different colors, sizes, or patterns to tailor the items to their preferences.
• Promote Effectively: Utilize platforms like Etsy, Amazon Handmade, or Shopify to sell your products. Promote your products through various channels, including social media ads, Google ads, building an email list, and your own website. Implement frequent sales and promotions to attract more customers, offering discounts or coupon codes for first-time buyers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap-Up on African Side Hustles

Let’s wrap it up! Side hustles in Africa offer exciting opportunities for everyone. The internet opens doors for people across the continent, regardless of where they are.

Now, it’s your turn! Tell us about your favorite hustle from the list, or if you have other ideas in mind. We’d love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, questions, or stories in the comments below, and let’s connect and inspire one another. The digital age has plenty to offer for all of us in Africa!

Disclosure: I may receive affiliate compensation for some links in this article at no cost to you. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy. This site is not intending to provide financial advice. This is for entertainment only.