Best Books for Starting a Side Hustle (2026): 5 Picks

Most readers hunting the best books for starting a side hustle want the same thing: extra income without quitting their day job. The books below were compared by idea count, case studies, print length and publication date.

ShelfAnswers earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	100 Side Hustles by Guillebeau	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Start a Side Hustle by Bohlig	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Side Hustle Book by Varon	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Clever Girl Finance: Hustle	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Starting a Business by Colwell	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

100 Side Hustles by Guillebeau

Chris Guillebeau·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

100 side-business case studies from the Side Hustle School podcast.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 100 real cases, from an urban tour guide to a confetti photographer
• Each story is distilled from the Side Hustle School podcast
• The listing calls Chris Guillebeau a best-selling author

Cons

• No print length is stated, so reading time is hard to judge
• Published June 4, 2019; check the listing for a newer edition
• An idea book, not a step-by-step launch plan

2

Start a Side Hustle by Bohlig

Carrie Bohlig·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 224-page first edition built around a Life Vision and Lifeset.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• States 224 pages and a 1st edition dated June 3, 2021
• Covers mindset, marketing, decision making and funding
• The authors coach solopreneurs and built multiple businesses

Cons

• Published June 3, 2021; check for a newer edition
• Mindset-heavy: pure tacticians may find the vision work slow
• No reading age or grade level is stated

3

Side Hustle Book by Varon

Elana Varon·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

450 gig-economy ideas, each rated for skills needed, ease of finding work, and pay.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 450 ideas with skills, experience required and pay rates
• Ranges from dog walking to vehicle advertising and refereeing
• Real-life anecdotes from successful side hustlers throughout

Cons

• Published December 4, 2018; check for a newer edition
• No print length is stated on the listing
• An idea catalog, not a plan for one business

4

Clever Girl Finance: Hustle

Bola Sokunbi·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 208-page guide to building a side hustle, Wiley, 2021.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Only pick focused on side income
• Wiley publisher, 1st edition
• 208 pages

Cons

• Not an investing book
• 1st edition only
• Published 2021

5

Starting a Business by Colwell

Ken Colwell PhD MBA·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A beginner's guide to the first steps of a small business, from opportunity to first customers.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Covers the first steps, from opportunity to first customers
• Bonus digital templates, including a business plan checklist, are listed
• Written for beginners with no prior experience, per the description

Cons

• Listed as Up-to-Date for 2026, yet published February 25, 2019
• Author experience is stated as both 30 years and twenty years
• Bonus resources are online, outside the 282 pages

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More picks to compare

• How to Find Your Side Hustle by SchmittSuits readers matching passions to a profitable side hustle.Check on Amazon
• Digital Side Hustle by LangSuits readers building a digital product business around a day job.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 22 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit, contents and edition, and value. No listing states a reading age or grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best books for starting a side hustle

Ideas first or plan first

With no idea yet, pick an idea book: 100 Side Hustles collects 100 case studies, and the Side Hustle Book lists 450 gig-economy ideas. Also browse the best business books in the world.

Check the edition

Side-hustle advice ages: So You Want to Start a Side Hustle lists a 1st edition from June 3, 2021, while the Side Hustle Book dates to December 4, 2018. Check for the newest edition. See the best books for starting a vending machine business list for the same check.

Before you buy

• Confirm the edition before buying.
• Check whether the listing states a print length.
• Match the book to your stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book lists the most side hustle ideas?

The Side Hustle Book lists 450 moneymaking ideas, the highest count stated here.

Where should a complete beginner start?

Start with 100 Side Hustles for ideas, or So You Want to Start a Side Hustle for the Life Vision framework.

Is a reading age stated?

No. None states a reading age or grade level.

Still deciding? Our top pick100 Side Hustles by Guillebeau

Check price on Amazon

Related lists

See every business and money list and all nonfiction lists.

More lists: best business books in the world and self-improvement books.