Weird Halloween Side Hustles That Actually Pay
Americans spent over $12 billion on Halloween last year, and the same money went into the pockets of normal people doing side hustles from their homes. You can be one of them.
When I first found out that people were making money by decorating yards or setting up small haunted houses, I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked and also fascinated at the same time. It sounded like a joke to me until I saw a local family make around $800 in just one weekend using a few props and a fog machine.
Let’s talk about some weird Halloween side hustles people are doing right now:
Why Halloween Is a Perfect Time to Start a Side Hustle
People spend money on costumes, decorations, treats, and parties. Which means there are so many opportunities for you to earn cash. It depends on you whether you want to make money online or offline at this event.
You can sell these things on Halloween:
- handmade costumes
- spooky home decor
- baked goods
Unlike Christmas or Valentine’s Day, people spend impulsively on Halloween. The more unique you are, the more money you are gonna make on this event. Because people pay for creativity and unique experiences. And they don’t just work for once, you can do this every year. The choice is completely yours!
9 Weird Halloween Side Hustles That Actually Pay
1. Get Paid to Scare People
It sounds funny, right? But it’s true. You can actually get paid to scare other people. Haunted houses, local attractions, and seasonal events hire part-time “scare actors” throughout the October. Your job is to dress up, stay in your character, and entertain the guests who are coming to the event. The average pay is between $15 and $40 an hour, depending on location.
If you’re more of an extrovert type person or enjoy being part of group events, this is an incredibly fun way to make money. You can also find similar gigs at small-town festivals or escape rooms that need temporary performers.
I’m telling you from my experience, this the most interesting and enjoyable side hustle. You’ll not be bored even for a second
2. Sell Costumes You Already Have
You don’t want to wear your old Halloween clothes? No problem, you can sell them on Facebook, Etsy, eBay, or Depop. Many people forget to shop early, and they can even pay money for last-minute costumes.
Now you must be thinking how to sell?
Simply take photos of your clothes, post them on the platforms I told you. You can research the price at which the costumes are selling at that time.
You can also go a step further by offering “Halloween bundles” themed costume sets like Witch Essentials or Zombie Starter Kits. This requires zero investment if you already own these things and can also earn you hundreds of dollars in a week.
3. Halloween Home Decoration Services
A lot of people don’t have time on Halloween. You can offer them decoration services for homes, small businesses, or offices. From putting up spooky lights and spider webs to setting up pumpkins and fog machines. And people will be happy to pay you. Check out Decoration Business Name Ideas to name your business.
You can earn between $50 and $300 per project. If your work stands out, you’ll start getting repeat clients every year.
I’ve researched and found out that many decorators even turn this into a full-time seasonal business.
4. Sell Halloween Crafts and Digital Designs
With a little bit of creativity, you can sell digital products. Halloween-themed crafts and designs sell like crazy during October.
You can create printable wall art, spooky t-shirt designs, SVG files, party invites, or funny pumpkin quotes. People buy these things online for quick use.
You can use tools like Canva, Photopea, or Creative Fabrica, and you can design everything yourself. With the AI, making digital products has become easier. You can also use ChatGPT, Gemini, and other tools also to produce images or to collect data. Sell your products on Etsy, Redbubble, or Gumroad.
5. Write Spooky Stories Online
Do you like to write horror stories or are you a good storyteller? Then Halloween is coming, and you can show your talent. Scary short stories, horror scripts, and creepy audio content are in huge demand during October. There are many ways to make money from content writing on spooky topics on Halloween. You can self-publish eBooks on Amazon Kindle. You can sell stories to podcasts or offer ghostwriting gigs on Fiverr.
If we talk about script writing, some YouTube channels buy horror scripts for their narration videos. You can also do that! You can also reuse your stories next year.
6. Sell Halloween Gift Baskets
These are small bundles filled with candy, decorations, glow sticks, fake spiders, or pumpkin shaped goodies. Parents love gifting them to kids, and offices often buy them for employees.
You can sell these locally through Facebook or neighborhood groups. A $10–$15 basket can bring you a $5–$10 profit. Once you get a few buyers, word spreads quickly and your product can become famous among people.
7. Parking Side Hustle
Living in busy neighborhoods can make you passive income by renting out your driveway for parking. During Halloween, families drive into popular trick or treating areas and struggle to find parking. You can offer your space for $5 to $10 for the evening. This might not sound glamorous, but it’s one of the weirdest ways to make quick cash without any equipment.
8. Face Painting and Temporary Tattoos for Kids
Every kid loves face painting, and I was no different. I still remember how excited I used to get for Halloween for the tattoos. My friends and I would gather around, comparing with each other which designs we picked and showing them off proudly. Those were the unforgettable moments. I still remember to this day.
So if you’re good with designs, you can offer Halloween-themed face paintings at schools, parks, or events. You don’t need to be an expert; paint and a few brushes will do the work. You can make $5–$10 per child, earning $100 or more in a few hours.
9. Host a Spooky Movie Night or Party Experience
You can host a Halloween movie night and invite neighbors and friends to earn extra cash. You need a projector, a speaker, and a small outdoor space like a backyard. I can say with 100% guarantee that almost every person has some space in the backyard. So why not take advantage of that?
Choose popular horror movies such as The Conjuring or Halloween (1978). Add decorations like string lights or a carved pumpkin to get the scary vibe. You can earn $5 per person. If you manage to get 20–30 people, $100 will be in your bank.
Final Thoughts
Weird Halloween side hustles are often the most profitable. They don’t require much work or equipment, but they do require creativity. Whether it’s decorating homes or selling crafts, everyone can earn.
I suggest you post short videos of your spooky setups or behind-the-scenes of making crafts. Once you are getting views, brands and people will reach you on their own. Many creators start their content journey from holiday events like this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really make money from Halloween side hustles?
Many people earn between $100 to $1,000 during Halloween week. They do creative hustles like selling costumes, crafts, or small services.
What’s the easiest Halloween side hustle for beginners?
Face painting and digital design work are easiest because they require no investment.
How early should I start to make money for Halloween?
Start preparing in early October to be fully prepared when time comes, but even the last-minute side hustles can perform good with the right marketing strategies.
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