The reality is, a majority of athletes will not secure big-time sponsorships at the DI, DII or DIII level. The good news, however, is that athletes can earn money working part time jobs or working for themselves. There are so many types of jobs that athletes can hold that work with their busy schedules while helping them get paid.
20 Ways Athletes Can Earn Money without NIL Sponsorships
- Photography services. Skilled photographers can make really good money. People are always looking for great photographs for weddings, engagement parties, birthday celebrations and more.
- Uber/ Lyft driver. If you have your own car, signing up for services like Uber or Lyft can provide a solid stream of income during your down time.
- Food delivery. If your school is located near multiple food spots, it’s very likely there will be a need for food delivery services. Take advantage of the fact that local restaurants need people to deliver food. You can work with businesses directly or sign up with companies like Seamless, Uber Eats, Door Dash and more.
- Videographer services. For our wedding Kurt and I hired a videographer we found through Kurt’s grad school. Just like photography services, good film professionals and video editors can make solid money filming events like weddings, birthday parties, recruiting films and more
- Freelance work. Freelance work gives athletes the flexibility to take on your own projects and usually, work where you want. Freelance work is also a great way to create a portfolio or test out different ideas before launching your own business.
- Edit papers. College students write a lot. English majors or skilled writers can make solid cash by editing reports or papers.
- Tutor. Tutoring students can be done in person or virtually. Your clientele might include fellow college athletes, middle school students, or high school students.
- Write resume’s and cover letters. Many recent graduates rely on resumes to find jobs and internships. Even seasoned workers rely on resumes to find new and better jobs. Having a great resume that helps link job seekers to opportunities is a great business.
- Dog walker or pet sitter. Animal lovers may love a side gig walking dogs, taking care of cats or pet sitting. This type of job won’t take too much time and can be easy if you work well with pets.
- Landscaping services. Lawn mowing, gardening and snow shoveling are just a few of the tasks you can do for residents. For athletes, I’d advise doing any hard work during the post-season, as one landscaping job alone can take a lot out of you (trust me, I do my own mowing and gardening. Some tasks feel like one workout alone!)
- Clean offices or homes. This is another lucrative job that I’d advise athletes do during the off-season.
- Sports trainer. With access to collegiate-level workouts, college athletes can market themselves as experts in their field. You can make solid money training groups of athletes in your sport, or even more money offering individual training sessions
- Painting. With the right tools and a skillful hand, you can offer painting services to homeowners and businesses.
- Lifeguard. This is a classic summer job for many young adults. Lifeguard work might also be found a local gym.
- Part-time work Now that athletes can earn money off of their name, image and likeness, this means they can also work a traditional part time job. There is no shame in bagging groceries, serving food, or working as a part time assistant. These jobs can provide you with a steady stream of income and don’t require any startup fees on your end.
- Mover. Both men and women athletes can use location to their advantage by starting a moving company. Like other manual tasks, this type of work might be best done during the off season to preserve your strength and avoid energy.
- Alterations/sewing. You don’t need a sewing machine to alter clothes. With a little skill and simple tools, you can open a small business fixing holes, hemming clothes and affixing accessories to client’s clothes.
- Social media manager. Large and small businesses need savvy social media marketers to help them promote their business.
- Hair. Haircuts, styling, braiding and up-dos are all services you can offer out of the comfort of your apartment or dorm room.
- Car detailing. Washing, detailing or servicing cars can be a great side hustle. Offer offer your services to students on campus or locals in town.