I've tried a lot of ways to make money online. Some worked. Some wasted my time. Some made money but cost me too much of it.

Here are seven side hustles I've actually tried — not watched a video about — with my honest verdict on each one for a busy dad with limited hours.

1. Amazon KDP (self-publishing)

RECOMMEND (with caveats)

I've published four books through Amazon KDP. It's one of my favorite models because a book is genuine leverage: you write it once, and it can sell for years.

The caveat: most people fail because they treat it as "upload anything and wait." The winners pick a specific topic, solve a real problem, and don't expect their first book to change their life.

Best for: someone who can write clearly and pick a specific, searched-for topic.

2. Affiliate marketing

RECOMMEND

I've earned through Amazon affiliate marketing and other programs. It's a strong fit for limited time because your content keeps working after you publish it.

The catch: it's delayed, not passive. You do the work up front, and the income shows up later. If you treat it like a lottery ticket, you'll quit in month two. If you treat it like planting, it compounds.

Best for: someone willing to create helpful content consistently for 90+ days.

3. Selling designs on Etsy

RECOMMEND (niche required)

I've sold designs on Etsy. The platform gives you built-in traffic, which is huge. But fees are real, and competition is global.

What worked: specific niches, clean designs, and treating titles and tags like SEO. What didn't: generic designs and chasing trends.

Best for: someone with design skills (or willingness to learn) who can commit to a niche.

4. Digital products

RECOMMEND

Ebooks, templates, printables, prompt packs — create once, sell many times. This is the purest form of product leverage, and it's ideal for a dad with unpredictable hours.

The mistake most people make is building the product before the audience. Plan your traffic first. A great product with no buyers is just a file on your laptop.

Best for: someone who can finish a small product in 2–4 weeks and has a way to reach buyers.

5. Web design for local businesses

STEPPING STONE

I used to build websites for local businesses. It made money, and it's a faster path to a first paid project if you already have the skills.

But it's a service business: your income is tied to your hours, and client requests can eat your evenings. If you do it, productize it, add recurring maintenance, or use it as research for something that scales.

Best for: someone with existing web skills who needs faster cash and a stepping stone.

6. Dropshipping

MOSTLY SKIP

I've tried dropshipping. The model sounds clean — you sell products without holding inventory — but the reality is different. Margins are thin, customer service can be brutal, and the "winning product" game is expensive and time-consuming.

A few people win big. Most people lose money on ads and quit. For a busy dad, it's one of the worst fits because it often demands constant attention and cash flow.

Best for: almost no one with limited time and capital. Skip unless you have a specific edge.

7. Freelancing

STEPPING STONE

Freelancing — writing, design, editing, VA work — is the fastest way to make your first dollars online. It teaches you real skills and real client communication.

The downside is the same as web design: it's trading time for money. Use it to build skills and cash, then shift toward leverage (content, products, audience) as soon as you can.

Best for: someone starting from zero who needs income and skills quickly.

My honest ranking for a busy dad

If I were ranking these for someone with 5–10 hours a week, here's the order I'd put them in:

1. Digital products — best leverage-to-effort ratio
2. Affiliate marketing — content that compounds
3. Amazon KDP — write once, sell for years
4. Etsy designs — built-in traffic, with a niche
5. Web design — stepping stone to cash and skills
6. Freelancing — fastest first dollars, but time-bound
7. Dropshipping — mostly skip

The lesson behind all of them

Every one of these can work. I've seen real people succeed at each. But the biggest factor in whether I made money wasn't the model — it was whether I stuck with it long enough to learn and improve.

Focus beats shiny-object syndrome. Pick one, give it 90 days, and judge the results — not your feelings in week three.

For a busy dad, the best side hustle isn't the most profitable one on paper. It's the one you can actually sustain next to a job, kids, and a life. Pick that one.