Because it's everything you want in a side hustle!

And now, for the number one side hustle of 2025.

Donating plasma!
 Surprised?  Maybe disappointed? 
 Don't be.

In this article I'm going to make the argument that donating plasma is BY FAR the best side hustle of 2025. 
I'm also going to give you a personal account of my personal experience.

First and foremost I'll list all the reasons why it's the best side hustle I can think of.

1. It's real:
It's come to the point where the words "side hustle" has almost come to mean get rich quick. 
As in scheme.
That doesn't describe donating plasma (just shortened to "donating' hereafter) at all.
 The point is this, those interested in donating can simply go to their plasma donation center, donate, get paid, and leave. 
You get paid the day you donate. 
Period. Yes there are a few steps involved and different plasma centers do things differently But that basically it.

The money is really good:
The amount you get paid is difficult to say because theres a number of factors involved.
 But we'll try.
Most centers pay more when you first begin the process and you can expect more money if you donate twice a week instead of just once. 
In fact if you do decide to donate try your best to make sure it's a twice a week event. 
More often than not you get more money after your second weekly visit than your first.
The money doesn't stop there though.
 Most places constantly run promotional cash prizes. For instance, you can generally expect $5 on every visit if you keep their ad on your Facebook page and show it to them on your phone. Theres usually raffles (for money) bonuses just for keeping an appointment, referrals, and too many other things to list.

So realistically, what can you expect for your time and trouble?
About one thousand ($1000) per month!!! 

It's Possible:
I'll go over my personal experiences in detail in the final analysis part of this article and will include a couple of cons to go with all these pros. 
Here I want to emphasize that donating is not at all a difficult process. 
Expect to spend about 20–25 hours per month for that $1000.
 And of course you pay taxes on it (like any other hustle).
For the vast majority of the time, all your doing is sitting down in a comfortable reclined chair continually squeezing a form or rubber ball and watching videos on your phone. 
Truthfully thats about it. 

Your helping people, and probably more than you realize:
Spend any time in any plasma donation center and you'll be surrounded by TV's constantly informing you how your donation goes toward helping people.
Theres a lot of stories because a lot of people are being helped.
Maybe by you.
The kids whose lives were saved with the plasma you donate might even make the money seem secondary.

Rest assured, if you donate plasma regularly you have saved any number of lives. 
Many of them children.

Before we go any further let's go over a few things you should know up front. 
Not everyone can donate plasma for a variety of reasons. Most however encounter no problems.
Also, the amount of time sitting in the chair actually donating will in most cases depend on how healthy you are generally.
It usually took me between an hour and an hour and fifteen minutes.
I have witnessed young people in their early twenties finish the entire process in under twenty minutes!

Some of us will have to spend slightly more time in the chair than others.
Not often too much more.

I do my best to make this blog as little about me as possible.
But I feel that since I have donated more than a dozen times and some of you might have no idea what to expect I can help walk you through it, at least somewhat.
It's been over three years but my understanding is that things haven't changed much. With the exception that most places pay more than they use to.

Note: The reason I quit donating plasma was medical.
 Otherwise I definitely would still be donating.
The first time I walked into the plasma donation center I had to walk up to the “first time donating” desk. 
And so will you. 
Then fill out some forms that take, if memory serves, about 20 minutes.
 Not fun but you only have to do it once. 
Please note one of these forms will be for taxes. 
Again just once.

You'll then quickly meet with a doctor who will ask you a few cursory questions, expect all this to last no more than five minutes.  After all this the actual process will begin.

First step, one of the many computerized kiosks where you answer about forty-five (easy) questions to ensure you qualify to donate. Next you will wait for your name to be called in a general waiting section.  When your called to the front a small blood sample is taken and tested for viability. Once complete, you will take your place with other donors and wait for an open chair to begin. Once seated a nurse will inject with a needle.   The purpose of this is to withdraw plasma.  This is where I lose a few people.  The internet is full of stories about how painful all this is, how terrible the staff always is, etc, etc. etc.

Let me be as clear as I possibly can: None of this is, in my experience anyway, is even remotely true.  It may sting for a few seconds when the needle is first put in.  A FEW seconds.  The staff was always extremely nice.  There was never once any pain or discomfort once the process began.

Again the time it takes to complete the donation process will generally depend on your overall health and age.

This has been a longer than usual article so let's quickly recap.

* While payment varies somewhat for donating plasma it's as easy a $1000 per month most of us will ever make.
* It only amounts to few hours a week at most.
* Your donation will go towards saving lives, including those of children.
* If you do commit your self to donating plasma make absolutely sure you do it twice a week! 
This is because donating twice a week pays FAR MORE than double what you receive only donating once per week.