Market Size for Side hustle in 2026 [Example]

The Total Available Market (TAM) for side hustles includes individuals interested in supplemental income opportunities.

Considering the global adult population, around 60% (approximately 2.5 billion) is actively employed or looking for work. If we estimate that about 60% are open to side hustles, that gives us 1.5 billion people. Assuming an average annual spending of $150 on resources and tools related to side hustles, we reach a TAM of $220 billion.

The Serviceable Addressable Market (SAM) focuses on specific groups, such as tech-savvy individuals aged 18-35 interested in gig economy opportunities.

Calculating this, we estimate this demographic constitutes about 10% of the TAM, resulting in 150 million potential customers. Assuming each individual in this group spends around $150 annually, this results in a SAM of $2.2 billion, focusing on a specific target audience within the wider market.

The Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM) represents those I'll realistically capture in the first year through targeted marketing efforts.

If we assume I can reach about 1% of the SAM, I would aim to attract approximately 1.5 million customers. With a conservative estimate of annual spend per customer remaining the same at $150, this results in a SOM of $220 million. This is realistic considering the challenges of capturing initial users in a competitive marketplace.