Key Takeaways
- There are many side hustles and jobs accessible to people with felony records, including freelance creative work, trades, delivery driving, remote support, and entrepreneurial ventures.
- Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, as well as companies such as Amazon and Walmart, offer opportunities with minimal background checks.
- Building skills, networking, and leveraging second-chance hiring programs can help rebuild your future and financial stability.
1. Freelance Writing and Creative Services
Let your words or designs carry you forward. Freelance writing pays well—some writers earn $500 to $3,000 per week in 2024—especially when you build a portfolio and attract steady clients. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr let you freelance without background checks, focusing instead on your deliverables and reliability. If you’re visual or imaginative, graphic design, video editing, or web development are equally viable. These creative gigs let your work speak louder than your past, and if you’re interested, you might also draw inspiration from other creative income streams like making income from art.
2. Trades: Welding, Landscaping, Cleaning
Hands‑on skills can be powerful tools. Welding, lawn care, housekeeping, and landscaping are trades with real demand and minimal background scrutiny. For instance, Lawn care gigs can earn $600 to $1,200 weekly, and cleaning businesses might bring in $600 to $1,800 per week once you get established (2024 data). Trade schools and apprenticeships in welding, carpentry, or plumbing offer affordable paths to certification and stable income. These trades give tangible skills, autonomy, and financial upside.
3. Delivery Driving and Transportation
If you’re road‑savvy, delivery services offer flexibility and solid pay. Companies like Amazon, DoorDash, and FedEx hire drivers and package handlers, often with lenient background requirements. Certain delivery gig platforms are open to felons who meet basic criteria, like safe driving records. Earnings can exceed $30 an hour in 2024, especially during peak demand periods. Driving roles let you set hours that align with your life, giving you freedom while you earn.
4. Remote Virtual Support and Administrative Work
Use your organizational strengths to serve clients from anywhere. Virtual assistants, remote customer service reps, and support roles thrive online and often bypass background checks entirely. With tools and process flow under your control, you build trust through performance. It’s a way to generate income while still keeping your routine flexible and centered on what matters to you.
5. Retail, Warehousing, and Hospitality Roles
Many national retailers and food service franchises embrace second‑chance hiring. Companies like Walmart, Home Depot, Amazon, Starbucks, and McDonald’s regularly offer roles in stores and distribution centers to eligible applicants with convictions. Hospitality jobs like housekeeping, dishwashing, or kitchen staff are also often open to felons and available locally through hotels or venues. These roles provide structure, steady income, and the ability to rebuild trust through reliable work.
6. Entrepreneurial Ventures and Side Hustles
You’ve built your life from a side project—now consider replicating that for others with the same drive. Furniture flipping combines DIY spirit with profit potential when you refurbish and resell items found on Marketplace or yard sales. Pet sitting or mobile services like auto repair or gardening let you build community trust and independence. You might also start a cooperative or micro‑business in cleaning or food production with fellow entrepreneurs. These ventures let you set the terms and stay motivated by meaningful work.
7. Networking, Apprenticeships, and Skill Building
People hire people—and networking is a powerful way to boot up your career. You can connect through Toastmasters or professional clubs to build confidence and relationships that lead to referrals. Apprenticeships and staffing agencies serve as bridges—trades, logistics, and manufacturing gigs can come through temp placements that become full‑time, felony‑friendly roles. Use these to gain hands‑on experience, polish your résumé, and gain momentum while maintaining balance.
Keep blending joy with income and watch your hustle build the freedom you deserve.
