Being a project manager requires many skills, including organisation, effective communication, leadership, and problem-solving. Did you know you can convert these earned skills into extra money from side hustles? Here are some 10 side hustles for project managers and what you need to get started.
Top 10 Side Hustles For Project Managers
Like accountants, project managers can also enjoy side hustles with their job. Here’s a summary table of ten side hustles you’ll excel at as a project manager and how you can get started:
| Side Hustle | What You Need |
| Freelance Project Management | A portfolio showcasing past projects Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or LinkedIn for finding clients |
| Business Consulting | A professional website or LinkedIn presence |
| Creating an Online Course | A course creation platform like Udemy, Teachable, or Coursera A structured lesson plan and engaging video content |
| Virtual Assistant For Startups | Organisational and multitasking skills Familiarity with project management and collaboration tools (Trello, Notion, etc.) |
| Public Speaking & Workshops | Strong communication and presentation skills |
| Project Management Software Training | Knowledge of PM software like Asana and Trello |
| Technical Writing | Strong writing skills and familiarity with documentation tools Understanding of project management terminology |
| Affiliate Marketing For Project Management Tools | A blog, YouTube channel, or social media presence |
| Event Planning | Strong planning and coordination skills |
| Career Coaching | Experience in hiring and mentoring project managers Resume review and interview coaching skills |
Now, let’s get into details:
1. Freelance Project Management
A freelance project manager works on a contract basis. As a freelance project manager, you work with businesses on a contract basis for short-term projects. You can work on different projects with varying deadlines at a time. Having PM certifications and a portfolio showcasing past projects will help you stand out in this role. Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or LinkedIn will come in handy for finding clients.
2. Business Consulting
This side hustle is a bit similar to the first one, except that you don’t work as a business project manager. Instead, you offer them advice on improving their management process, and they pay you for the advice. You’re not in charge of implementing the strategies as you would if you were a freelance project manager. You need expertise in project management methodologies to pull this off.
3. Creating an Online Course
You can curate content to teach project management skills on platforms like Udemy or Teachable. If you’re great at breaking down project management methodologies into simple bits, this will be great for you. Start with a structured lesson plan and engaging video content that’ll make people wanna buy your course.
4. Virtual Assistant For Startups
This side hustle requires that you assist with planning and executing small projects. It requires excellent organisational and multitasking skills, qualities you would have learned as a project manager over the years. You should also know project management and collaboration tools like Trello and Notion. Having profiles on VA job boards like Belay and Upwork can help you land gigs easily.
5. Public Speaking & Workshops
As an experienced project manager, you can conduct productivity and project planning training sessions. With time, people may invite you to speak at their events, and of course, you’ll earn some cool cash.
6. Project Management Software Training
Many organisations would like to enjoy the flex of project management software, but not all find their way around it easily. With your experience as a project manager, you could teach businesses or individuals how to use tools like Trello and Jira.
7. Technical Writing
Perhaps you had a flair for writing in the past; you can convert that flair into extra income with this side hustle for project managers. Write project documentation, whitepapers, or guides to put your expertise to use.
8. Affiliate Marketing For Project Management Tools
If you enjoy writing about project management, you can start a blog or YouTube channel and promote PM tools like ClickUp, Monday.com, or Notion through affiliate marketing. You earn a commission whenever someone signs up through your referral link.
9. Event Planning
Project managers are already skilled at coordinating multiple moving parts, which makes event planning a natural side hustle. You can plan corporate events, business conferences, or even weddings. Platforms like Eventbrite or Cvent can help you manage logistics.
10. Career Coaching
Many aspiring project managers struggle to break into the industry or advance their careers. You can offer coaching services if you have experience hiring or mentoring PMs. Help with resume reviews, interview prep, and career roadmaps to guide them toward success.
Final Thoughts
Project management skills are highly transferable, meaning you can use them to make extra money outside your 9-to-5 job. Whether you prefer consulting, coaching, or creating content, there’s a side hustle that fits your strengths. Pick one that aligns with your interests, and start taking action today!
