3 recession-proof side hustles that could protect me from a sudden income drop
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Daphne Youree
- I like to have many streams of income so that I'm never blindsided by a sudden income drop.
- With talk of a potential recession, I've been looking for safe side hustles to bring in more money.
- I'm looking into buying a vending machine, starting a pet-care business, and tutoring.
One of my biggest goals for the year is to find another profitable side hustle. As an entrepreneur who has been working full-time for myself since 2015, I'm always eager to find more ways to bring in new income.
But with talk of a looming recession, I want to make sure I'm throwing my resources behind a business that won't crumble if the economy takes a big hit.
As I've been doing my research, I put together a list of ways to earn passive income and side hustles that have, historically, been recession-proof.
1. Vending machines
For the past few years, owning a vending machine has been high on my side-hustle list. You can buy a vending machine for a few thousand dollars (anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000, depending on the type of machine) and only have to worry about doing weekly upkeep and maintenance, including restocking the machine and making sure it functions well.
The vending machine business is recession-proof not just because these machines are often in highly trafficked areas, like airports, recreation centers, and malls, but because of the price point of items: It's not a huge cost for a consumer to stop and spend a dollar or two on a snack or drink.
Once you decide on the kind of vending machine you'd like to have (personal products, food, electronics), you'd secure a location by asking busy facilities to either rent you the space or by offering a profit share. Then, you buy the vending machine. It's a low-lift startup that can turn a good profit.
2. Pet care
It wasn't until I got my first dog in 2022 that I started to see how much money it costs to have a pet. Not only do you have to shell out cash for food, treats, and toys, but vet bills always seem to pile up.
According to the American Pet Products Association, people spent an estimated $150.6 billion on their pets in 2024, which was up from $90.5 billion in 2018. Plus, during the pandemic, more than 23 million American households, or nearly one in five households, adopted a pet, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
With the influx of pet owners, a recession isn't going to change their purchasing habits too much when it comes to the essentials their dogs need. This is why I'm thinking of pursuing a side hustle in the pet industry, whether it's starting a food or treat business, a leash and collar business, or doing more pet sitting and walking.
3. Tutoring
Just because a recession happens doesn't mean the entire world stops. One thing that still goes on is school. Because of that, a lot of parents still find themselves in the market for tutoring or after-school education.
While you can hire a tutor of varying educational levels for your child at various price points, it's a service that parents who have even a little extra disposable income aren't likely to cut if it means their child can get ahead in school or even increase their scores to get into a certain college.
I've never done tutoring before, but after looking into it, anyone can set up a profile on sites like Wyzant or Tutor.com, list their resume and accomplishments, determine the subjects they want to tutor in, and set their hourly rate. From there, parents can reach out to find the best tutor for their child's needs and their budget.
This article was originally published in August 2022.