Side hustles have always been about turning ideas into income on your own terms. But now, thanks to AI, the timeline from “idea” to “income” is shrinking fast. What used to take weeks, or even months, can now happen in days. Sometimes, hours.
For today’s entrepreneurs, AI tools can be a shortcut, a collaborator, and a productivity powerhouse. A recent study from Liquid Web shows us just how quickly side hustlers are building real businesses by putting AI to work. The findings have a lot to say about where work is heading and how fast things are changing.
Businesses are launching faster than ever
Forget drawn-out business plans and months of prep. Those days are fading. According to the study, nearly 40% of side hustlers launched their businesses within a week of using AI tools. Even more surprising, about 10% took just two days to go from idea to launch.
That kind of speed used to be unheard of. Now, it’s becoming the norm — especially for younger entrepreneurs. Gen Z, while making up just over a fifth of survey participants, accounted for 40% of the fastest launches. One in five even started making money in the first week.
Around 60% of these side hustlers used AI to help build websites, write content, manage social media, or handle repetitive tasks. AI is letting solo entrepreneurs skip what's slowing them down and get right to building their businesses. What’s driving all this? Mostly generative AI tools like ChatGPT.
Some are making money right away
That’s not an exaggeration. One in five survey respondents earned income—averaging more than $200—within the first week of starting their AI-powered hustle.
The average time to launch was just 17 days.
And these aren’t just quick gigs or flash-in-the-pan projects. People are building scalable businesses with real potential. AI cuts costs, simplifies branding, and makes delivering services way easier. What once needed a team can now be done by one person, thanks to smart automation and content-generation tools.
This new wave of entrepreneurship is lean, fast, and efficient — and it’s already paying off.
People are happy with AI and doubling down
Most side hustlers are seeing more than just early wins using AI to help build businesses. They’re also genuinely happy with how AI tools are working for them.
According to the data:
- 83% said they saved time.
- 80% found AI tools cost-effective.
- 80% thought they were easy to learn.
- 79% were happy with their final product's quality.
That kind of satisfaction usually leads to reinvestment, and Liquid Web found that entrepreneurs have done so. Two in five side hustlers said they plan to put earnings back into better AI tools. Among Gen Z, that number climbs to 45%.
In short, people are seeing results, and they’re all in.
As Sachin Puri, Chief Growth Officer at Liquid Web, put it: “AI is reshaping not only how businesses start, but also how quickly they achieve financial success.”
The top roadblocks: Time, money, and marketing
AI has removed a lot of traditional hurdles, but it hasn’t solved everything. Entrepreneurs still face real challenges. Here’s what respondents said they’re struggling with most:
- 37% pointed to limited time to devote to their side hustle.
- 30% said lack of funds.
- 16% mentioned gaps in marketing or sales skills.
- 11% brought up lack of technical knowledge.
Only 5% said access to AI tools was a barrier, which is telling. The tools are out there, but people still need support with strategy, time management, and scaling their operations.
How people are actually using AI
So, what exactly are entrepreneurs doing with these tools?
- Creating content (51%) – Think blog posts, product descriptions, website copy, and social media.
- Design and branding (43%) – From logos to full-blown web templates.
- Brainstorming ideas (37%) – AI is becoming a go-to for fast idea generation.
- Improving marketing (37%) – Smarter tools mean better targeting and messaging.
- Automating tasks (31%) – Streamlining repetitive work and freeing up time.
Some are going even further, using AI for customer service, data analysis, or helping with product development. What’s great is that you don’t need a huge budget to access these tools. Small teams and even solo creators can do a lot with just a few platforms.
A different kind of side hustle
When you think of side hustles, you might imagine things like selling items on Etsy or picking up freelance gigs. AI is changing that—now, people are expanding into building content businesses, productized services, and even micro-agencies—all with a few tools and a clear niche.
AI is a time-saver in many ways, but it’s a game-changer for how people think about starting a business on the side. The speed, affordability, and scalability that AI brings is creating a whole new type of entrepreneurship.
It's also not just for tech-savvy folks. These tools are getting more intuitive and beginner-friendly every day, opening doors for people from all backgrounds.
What this means for the future of work
Entrepreneurship used to feel out of reach for a lot of people. Not anymore. With AI, someone with a good idea and a few free hours can spin up a brand, build a site, and start offering services in a weekend.
And they can do it without spending thousands upfront.
This shift is changing how we think about jobs, careers, and what’s possible with limited time or resources—even while holding down a full-time job. It’s creating a more level playing field where anyone willing to learn can build something valuable.
The advice for new founders: Start now. Experiment—see what works, then double down.
As Puri said: “The potential for growth is immense when you combine creativity with the power of AI.”
Fast, flexible, and AI-powered side hustles
AI isn’t just helping side hustlers move faster—it’s reshaping the whole idea of what side hustling can be.
People are launching smarter, earning sooner, and building businesses they couldn’t have imagined a few years ago. And they’re doing it with tools that continue to get better, cheaper, and easier to use.
This is more than a trend. It’s the start of a new kind of entrepreneurship—one powered by tech, driven by creativity, and open to anyone with a laptop and a little ambition.
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