20 Most Profitable Side Hustles in Tanzania (2024)

Side hustles in Tanzania are ways for people to supplement their income by working additional jobs outside of their regular employment.

Side hustles are becoming increasingly popular in Tanzania as people look for extra money to support themselves and their families.

The gig economy and opportunities to earn money online from home are also driving the growth of side hustles across the country.

Some of the major benefits of side hustles in Tanzania include:

Extra income – This is the #1 reason people take on side hustles. It helps cover monthly expenses or saves money for future goals.
Work flexibility – Side hustles allow setting your own hours to work around your schedule.
Gain new skills – Trying new income streams enables learning new skills.
Do enjoyable work – Side hustles can align with personal interests and passions.

This article will highlight the 20 best side hustles Tanzanians can start from home to earn additional income.

These home-based side hustles in Tanzania are great options for students, stay-at-home parents and anyone looking for work flexibility.

1: Online Surveys

Online surveys have become an extremely popular side hustle in Tanzania and worldwide over the last decade. They provide easy ways to earn money from home with minimal effort.

How Online Surveys Work

Hundreds of companies across all industries want to understand consumer opinions better. They need feedback to improve existing products and gauge interest for new products.

These companies partner with survey platforms to get fast access to respondents from specific demographics. The platforms then recruit people to take surveys and share their opinions. Each survey you complete earns money.

Getting Started with Online Surveys

Signing up is simple and just takes 5-10 minutes. You’ll need to provide some basic personal details like name, address etc. Most survey platforms have free registration.

Some of the most popular global online survey platforms Tanzanians can join include:

These platforms offer surveys across diverse topics ranging from household products, food & drinks to entertainment, banking, technology and more.

Pro-tips to Maximize Earnings

Follow these tips to qualify for more surveys and earn bigger payouts:

Provide accurate demographic info
Check platform daily for new surveys
Don’t skip questions or fill randomly
Meet minimum time requirements

Online surveys offer flexibility to earn money from home. By regularly spending just 30-60 minutes a day, Tanzanians can make $50-$100 monthly.

2: Freelance Writing

Freelance writing has exploded in popularity across the globe due to rising internet usage and a growing freelance economy.

It is an excellent side hustle Tanzanians can leverage to earn income from home.

How Freelance Writing Works

Freelance writers are hired by companies/clients to create written content for their websites, blogs, marketing collateral etc. Common types of content include:

Blog articles
Social media posts
Email newsletters
Product descriptions
Whitepapers / reports
Copywriting for ads / brochures

The process involves discussing content requirements with clients, writing drafts, incorporating feedback and finalizing content. Writers charge per project based on factors like word count, turnaround time, research needs etc. Payments are made electronically once project milestones complete.

Getting Your First Writing Gigs

Starting out, focus on building a portfolio showcasing your writing skills. Identify a niche like technology, finance, health etc and create free guest posts for blogs in those niches.

Also create profiles on freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer to bid on projects. Make sure to have a strong profile highlighting skills, expertise and portfolio samples.

Finally, proactively pitch writing services via cold emails to websites in your niche. Offer to write free guest posts of 500+ words.

Slowly build your portfolio and reviews this way to land paid gigs later.

Average Earnings Potential

When starting out, charge 5-7 cents per word. Top writers charge 15-20 cents per word. Writing 500-1000 words per hour is common.

So working 5 hours per week, Tanzanian freelance writers can easily earn $500-1000+ monthly. The income potential is very high by global standards once you establish yourself.

3: Selling Handmade Crafts

Selling handmade arts and crafts is a wonderful side hustle in Tanzania. It allows monetizing personal hobbies and creativity.

The global rise of ecommerce makes it easier than ever to sell homemade products online to a worldwide consumer base.

Here are some tips to succeed with a handmade crafts side hustle in Tanzania:

1. Choose A Craft Niche

First decide the craft niche you want to pursue. Some options include:

Jewelry
Pottery
Paintings / artwork
Clothing and accessories
Glasswork
Woodwork

Align your craft with personal interests and artistic skills for best results. Ensure there is consumer demand. Research to validate the niche.

2. Set Up An Etsy Shop

Etsy is the #1 online marketplace globally to sell homemade crafts direct to consumers.

Setting up an Etsy storefront only takes 10-15 minutes. You need to create Etsy product listings with photos and descriptions. Etsy charges 20 cents to list each product and takes a 3.5% fee when products sell.

3. Market Your Products

Attracting an initial customer base is vital when starting out. Some effective marketing ideas for Etsy shops:

Optimize shop content for Etsy search
Create an Instagram page to showcase products
Run Facebook / Google ads
Offer limited-time discounts / free shipping

Diligent marketing early on will position your handmade crafts side hustle for longevity and profitability long-term.

4: Renting Out Property

Renting out property is a promising hands-off, passive income side hustle for Tanzanians.

Rental income can come from extra rooms, parking spaces, storage areas or even swimming pools on your property.

Benefits of Rental Income Side Hustles

Some stellar advantages include:

Requires almost zero effort after initial set up
Provides monthly passive earnings
Rent increases over time beats inflation
Additional income funds other goals

Getting Started Renting Out Property

Follow these steps for a smooth start:

1. Identify Property Area to Rent

Determine based on home layout, market rates and demand. Bedrooms/garages easier to rent than non-living spaces.

2. Prepare the Space

Clean out and decorate open spaces. Ensure good lighting, ventilation, paintwork and basic furnishings.

3. Price Your Rental

Research local area rates across listing sites. Price just below market rates for faster tenancy.

4. List Your Space

List on classifieds sites and forums. Include attractive photos and outline rental terms clearly. Promote locally through friends and family referrals too. Offer discounts for longer tenancies.

5. Screen Tenants & Complete Agreement

Meet shortlisted tenants in-person, conduct background verification, collect deposits and sign legally binding rental agreements.

Renting out even small portions of your property can easily generate +$500 per month with little continuing time investment.

5: Online Tutoring

The global rise of remote work and e-learning has opened many online tutoring opportunities worldwide.

Tanzanian graduates can start profitable home based tutoring side-hustles teaching academic subjects like English, Math, Science, test prep and even college admissions coaching.

Here is an overview of starting an online tutoring business successfully from Tanzania:

1. Determine Subject Mix

Decide academic levels (elementary/high school/university) and exact subjects you will offer tutoring in. Keep choices narrow when starting out for simplicity.

2. Set Competitive Rates

Research rates of online tutors teaching similar subjects and student levels across global platforms. Price competitively based on your skills and experience. Discount rates initially helps build student count faster when starting out.

3. Choose Tutoring Platform

Popular global online tutoring platforms include VIPKID, TutorMe and Chegg Tutors. Join a platform suited to your subject mix and target students. Some have eligibility criteria.

4. Market Tutoring Services

Platform membership alone won’t guarantee students. Leverage social media ads and local parent/teacher referrals to promote services. Offer first session discounts to help get positive reviews.

Online tutors in academic subjects can comfortably earn $15-$50 per hour in foreign currency. Putting in 10 tutoring hours weekly fetches +$1000 every month.

6: Youtube Channel

YouTube presents an incredible side hustle opportunity for Tanzanians to earn income from home.

YouTube allows people to upload videos on almost any topic to attract a global audience.

You can earn ad revenue from viewership on both desktop and mobile devices.

Getting Started on YouTube in Tanzania

Follow this checklist to launch a basic channel:

1. Identify Video Niche
Determine a specific niche for your videos aligned with your interests and abilities. Some examples – cooking, gaming, comedy, product reviews, music, dance etc.

2. Set Up Channel & Customization
Sign up for a free YouTube account. Choose an appealing channel name, design banner & icon image and customize layout.

3. Set Up Equipment
For best quality, use a smartphone/video camera on a tripod and external USB microphone. Invest in basic video editing software as well.

4. Create & Upload Videos
Create videos with quality content that educates, entertains or inspires viewers related to your niche. Add titles, descriptions and tags. Upload minimum one video per week.

5. Promote Videos
Leverage social media to promote new videos. Engage YouTube audiences organically through likes, comments and using cards/end screens.

Monetizing YouTube videos through Google AdSense and sponsorships has tremendous income potential in both local and foreign currencies.

Here are additional side hustle ideas to start in Tanzania:

7: Food Delivery Service

The food delivery industry has boomed in Tanzania with increasing smartphone penetration.

Starting a homemade food delivery service is a promising hustle. Leverage social media and word-of-mouth to receive orders.

Hire a motorbike driver for deliveries. Focus on specific cuisines like local snacks or healthy meals to stand out.

Profit margins can be 20-30% per order.

8: Graphic Design Services

Strong demand exists for creative visual design services from businesses worldwide.

Tanzanians skilled in design tools like Canva or Photoshop can offer services like logo design, social media graphics, banners, posters, packaging design etc.

Set up accounts on freelancing sites like Upwork and Fiverr to access clients.

9: Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing enables earning commission by promoting products.

Create a website or blog in a niche you’re passionate about.

Share genuine reviews and recommendations to relevant affiliate products from Amazon Associates or ClickBank.

Add affiliate links so you earn when readers purchase through your link.

10: Resume Writing

As local graduate numbers increase, so does demand for professional resume writing help.

Start resume writing side hustle from home by offering tailored and strategic resume creation.

Help job seekers highlight strengths professionally aligned to target opportunities.

Charge premium rates for interview coaching add-ons.

11: Proofreading

Strong English and editing skills help start a proofreading side hustle in Tanzania.

Offer services like editing manuscripts, blog posts, student essays etc.

Expand into copy-editing and developmental editing for higher project values.

This home-based hustle nets $15-25 per hour, in line with global rates.

Here are 10 more side hustles in Tanzania.

12: Virtual Assistant

Leverage admin skills to offer virtual assistant services.

Help overseas clients with day-to-day tasks like email management, data entry, research, scheduling appointments/meetings and travel arrangements. Register on sites like Fancy Hands or Upwork.

VA’s typically earn $15-25 per hour, making it on of the best side hustles in Tanzania.

13: Voiceover Services

Tanzanians with clear enunciation can provide professional voice over and narration services for multimedia content creators globally.

Earnings depend on project scope.

14: Online Cooking Classes

This is another one of the best side hustles in Tanzania.

Share your cooking expertise through online video courses on platforms like Podia or Teachable.

Offer step-by-step instructionals on preparing popular Tanzanian delicacies.

Sell multi-week curriculum access for premium pricing.

Cross-promote through social media channels.

15: Ride Hailing Service

Ride-hailing mobile apps like Uber, Bolt (Taxify) and Little allow car owners to earn as driver-partners during flexible hours.

Pre-requisites are valid licenses and paperwork.

Earnings per ride vary based on vehicle type – sedans average $9 per hour+ in fares.

16: Garment Manufacturing

Leverage tailoring skills to start small-scale clothing manufacturing from home.

Take orders for customized dresses, office shirts, school uniforms etc. Hire assistants as order volumes grow.

Tap social commerce tools like WhatsApp and Instagram to promote products.

17: Event Planning

Offer professional event planning and coordination for parties, weddings, conferences etc.

Provide end-to-end services from ideation, venue booking, decor, catering, vendor management to hospitality.

Take 10-20% cut of total event cost, and that’s why it is one of the best side hustles in Tanzania.

18: Mobile Car Wash

Set up an on-demand car cleaning service.

Travel to client locations for exterior and interior car washing. Market offerings via social media groups and community boards.

Partner with mechanics and dealerships for cross-promotion.

Charge premium rates for add-ons like polishing.

19: Cake Baking

Offer customized cake baking services for special occasions.

Showcase portfolio on Instagram and Facebook pages.

Take bespoke orders for themes, shapes, frosting, fillings and decorations.

Bake from home kitchen or rent commercial space for large orders.

20: Gardening / Landscaping

Another one of the top side hustles in Tanzania is to offer gardening services.

Here, you help homeowners and businesses with lawn care and landscaping.

Offer weekly/monthly garden maintenance plans including services like mowing, pruning, weeding and pest control.

Expand into landscape design drawings and project consultancy.

Key Takeaways

Some key highlights from the diverse side hustle opportunities in Tanzania covered in this blog post:

Online surveys provide easy extra income for minimal time investment from home
Freelance writing leverages writing skills to access high CPC remote work
Selling handmade crafts on Etsy taps into the rising global handmade goods commerce
Rent out unused property areas as passive income generation
Online tutoring utilizes e-learning platforms to attract global students
YouTube channels present lucrative ways to earn from quality content creation from home

With an internet-connected laptop or smartphone, Tanzanians can leverage online training, global freelancing platforms and ecommerce sites to establish highly profitable home based side hustles.