Whether you're trying to build your savings, cover rising expenses or simply create another source of income, there are plenty of ways to make extra money in Montreal.
And you don't necessarily need another full-time job.
Many opportunities come from something much simpler: using skills you already have to help people who live nearby.
Cleaning, moving help, furniture assembly, tutoring, pet care, yard work and dozens of other everyday services can become sources of additional income.
Here are 15 practical ideas to help you get started.
In this guide
- Offer services you already know
- Help people in your neighbourhood
- Turn weekends into income
- Offer moving help
- Offer cleaning services
- Pet sitting and dog walking
- Seasonal services
- Furniture assembly
- Tutoring
- Help people with technology
- Build a local reputation
- Learn another useful skill
- Keep your expenses low
- Choose flexible opportunities
- Find opportunities through Ulobo
1. Offer Services You Already Know How to Do
One of the easiest places to start is with skills you already have. You may know how to do something that another person either doesn't know how to do or simply doesn't have time to do.
That can include:
- House cleaning
- Furniture assembly
- Lawn care
- Snow shovelling
- Painting
- Moving help
- Dog walking
- Pet sitting
- Window cleaning
- Basic handyman work
- Tutoring
- Computer assistance
You don't necessarily need to build a company around the service. Starting with a few local jobs can help you figure out what people need and which services are worth your time.
2. Help People in Your Own Neighbourhood
Don't overlook opportunities close to home.
Someone nearby might need help assembling furniture, cleaning an apartment, moving boxes, taking care of a pet or completing another everyday task.
Working locally can also reduce transportation time and expenses, which means more of what you earn stays in your pocket.
3. Turn Your Weekends Into Additional Income
If you already have a full-time job, you don't have to work every evening to build another source of income.
A few hours on Saturday or Sunday can be enough to complete several small jobs.
This can be particularly useful for services such as moving help, cleaning, yard work and furniture assembly.
4. Offer Moving Help
People are constantly moving between apartments, condos and houses throughout Montreal.
Not every move requires a large moving company. Some people simply need an extra pair of hands for a few hours.
If you're capable of safely helping with appropriate moving tasks, this can be one way to earn additional income during evenings and weekends.
5. Offer Cleaning Services
Cleaning is another service that can fit around a flexible schedule.
Potential jobs can include apartment cleaning, house cleaning, move-in cleaning and move-out cleaning.
Reliable service can also lead to repeat customers, which may be more valuable than constantly searching for new one-time jobs.
6. Try Pet Sitting or Dog Walking
If you're comfortable caring for animals, pet services can provide another source of flexible income.
People may need someone to walk their dog while they're at work, visit a pet while they're away or provide other forms of pet care.
Reliability and trust are especially important when you're caring for someone's pet.
7. Take Advantage of Montreal's Seasons
Montreal's changing seasons create different types of local work throughout the year.
Spring
- Yard cleanup
- Gardening
- Window cleaning
- Outdoor cleanup
Summer
- Lawn care
- Outdoor maintenance
- Painting
- Gardening
Fall
- Leaf cleanup
- Yard preparation
- Outdoor cleanup
Winter
- Snow shovelling
- Snow clearing
- Winter-related household help
Instead of offering the exact same service all year, you can adjust what you offer based on seasonal demand.
8. Assemble Furniture
Furniture assembly can be frustrating and time-consuming for people who don't enjoy doing it themselves.
If you're comfortable putting together desks, shelves, bed frames, tables and other household furniture, this can turn into a useful local service.
9. Tutor a Subject You Know Well
Academic skills can also become a source of income.
If you're strong in mathematics, languages, science, writing or another school subject, tutoring may allow you to earn money using knowledge you already have.
10. Help People With Technology
Tasks that seem simple to you may be difficult for someone else.
People occasionally need help setting up computers, printers, phones, Wi-Fi, smart televisions and other devices.
If you're comfortable troubleshooting everyday technology, you may be able to turn that knowledge into a useful service.
11. Build a Reputation Instead of Constantly Finding New Customers
One of the most valuable things you can build isn't a new skill. It's a good reputation.
Focus on:
- Showing up when you say you will
- Communicating clearly
- Being respectful
- Doing quality work
- Being transparent about what you can and cannot do
Satisfied customers can become repeat customers and may recommend you to other people.
12. Learn One More Useful Skill
You don't need to learn twenty new skills at once.
Adding just one useful service can increase the number of opportunities available to you.
For example, someone who already does basic household work might learn furniture assembly, interior painting or another complementary skill.
Certain types of work can be regulated or require qualifications, licences or insurance, so always check the requirements that apply to the specific service you're considering.
13. Keep Your Expenses Low
Earning more doesn't help nearly as much if most of your extra income disappears into expenses.
Consider transportation, equipment, supplies, taxes and the amount of time each job requires before deciding whether an opportunity makes sense.
Working closer to home and grouping nearby jobs together may help reduce unnecessary travel.
14. Look for Work That Fits Your Schedule
One of the biggest advantages of local service work is flexibility.
Instead of building your entire life around a second job, you can look for opportunities that fit into the time you already have available.
That might mean one job per week, weekend work or simply picking up an occasional project when you want additional income.
15. Find Local Opportunities Through Ulobo
One of the challenges of earning money from your skills is finding people who actually need those skills.
That's where Ulobo takes a different approach.
Instead of only having service providers advertise themselves and wait for someone to contact them, Ulobo is designed around customers posting what they need.
Local providers can then discover those opportunities and decide whether they want to compete for the work.
Turn the skills you already have into opportunities.
Explore Ulobo and discover a different way for Montrealers to connect with local service opportunities.
Explore Ulobo →Making Extra Money Doesn't Have to Mean Getting Another Job
When people think about increasing their income, they often assume the answer is finding another traditional job.
But sometimes the opportunity is much closer to home.
Your ability to clean, organize, assemble furniture, teach, care for pets or help someone complete a project may already have value to people around you.
The key is finding a service you can perform well, making sure you're allowed and qualified to offer it, and connecting with people who need that help.
Start small, learn what works and build from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to make extra money in Montreal?
Offering a service you already know how to perform can be one of the simplest ways to start. Cleaning, moving help, tutoring, pet care, lawn care and furniture assembly are examples of services people may need locally.
Can I make extra money in Montreal part-time?
Yes. Many service-based opportunities can be completed during evenings, weekends or whenever you have spare time.
Do I need professional experience?
That depends on the service. Some everyday tasks may not require formal qualifications, while regulated trades and specialized work can require licences, certifications, permits or insurance.
How can I find people looking for local services?
You can use referrals, local communities and marketplaces designed to connect people who need services with people willing to provide them. Ulobo is being built around this reverse approach to local services.
What side hustle can I start without a lot of money?
Services that rely primarily on skills you already have can have a lower barrier to entry than businesses that require inventory, commercial space or large upfront investments.