23 cool side hustle ideas for jobs to make money on the side

You’ve probably got a skill or hobby that someone out there would happily pay for. We’ve pulled together 23 side hustle ideas that start right there, with the talents and interests you already have.

You could use those skills to pick up the odd freelance job for some extra cash or to test a business idea before you commit to it. Some people eventually grow their side hustle into a small business. Expect to put in some time and maybe a little money into it before the earnings start to flow.

We’ve listed 23 side hustle ideas you could start quickly to make some extra income on top of school or your main job.

What is a side hustle?

A side hustle is any work you do for money on top of your main job, study or other commitments. You could freelance, sell products, offer a service or even set up a small business. Some of these side hustles require specialist knowledge while others don’t need anything more than motivation and some strategy. You can keep yours small or let it grow into something bigger over time, depending on your goals.

You’d be in good company, too. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) counted 1,049,100 people holding more than one job in the quarter of June 2026, which is almost 7% of all employed Australians. Some of those people work a second job for an employer who pays their wages, while others start a side hustle where they find their own customers and set their own prices. 

23 side hustle job ideas in Australia

We’ve sorted these side hustle ideas into work you can do from home and services you can offer around your neighbourhood, though plenty of them cross over. You could tutor online, photograph products in your spare room or sell products at weekend markets as well as online. Treat each idea as a starting point to explore.

Side jobs from home: online and home-based ideas

You can do plenty of side jobs from home with just a laptop, while others need a bit more room. For example, you’ll want a workplace and storage space to upcycle furniture, plus time to source and pack everything you sell, but you won’t need anything more than a laptop and a good headset for side hustles like remote IT support.

Think about these side jobs you can do from home:

* You’ll need to register with the Tax Practitioners Board before you can charge for BAS services. The Board requires qualifications and relevant experience, plus a fit and proper person test and professional indemnity insurance. Our Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping meets the educational requirements for registration. You can offer bookkeeping services like data entry and bank reconciliations without registering as long as you don’t provide BAS services.

Side hustle ideas in your local community

Local side hustles could suit you if you enjoy practical tasks or meeting people face to face. You could care for pets, tend gardens or clean homes in your immediate area. The right fit for you will depend on local demand, your skills, your equipment and the hours you have available.

Try these ideas close to home:

Courses may support relevant skills; they aren’t necessarily required to start. ‘–’ indicates no directly matched course

How to choose an easy side hustle that suits you

Your neighbour’s easy side hustle might feel like hard work to you, while yours might leave them scratching their head. You’ll find the easiest fit by looking at your skills and your spare time, then thinking about what you want from your side hustle to find the right one for you.

Consider your existing skills and interests

Start with what you already do well at work. You might manage a packed inbox and calendar in your day job, which are the same skills virtual assistants use every day. Friends might also keep asking you to fix their laptops or polish their resumes, which hints at remote IT support or content writing.

Your hobbies count too, especially if you make something people would happily pay for, like upcycled furniture or great product photos. Pick an idea from our tables that uses a skill you already have, since you’ll have less to learn and buy before your first sale.

Assess your available time and resources

Look honestly at your week before you commit to anything. Count the hours you can spare, then add up what you can spend upfront and the equipment you already own. You can often start a service with tools you already have, while you’ll need stock and storage before you sell your first product. Be clear about how flexible you need to be as well, especially if your work or caring commitments change often.

Think about your long-term goals

Think about what you’d like from your side hustle a year from now. Pick any idea that fits your schedule if a little extra income now and then is all you’re after.

You might also want to test out a new field before making a career change, in which case you can study the matching course in our table while you practise on paying clients. Look at online retail or a market stall if you dream of running your own business one day, since you’ll get to test products and prices with customers on a small scale first.

How to start a side hustle in Australia

You’ll need a little planning and maybe some paperwork to turn your idea into paid work, but you could be earning some extra money sooner than you think.

Step 1. Define your offer and target customer

Decide exactly what you’ll sell and who you’ll sell it to. Agree on what each job includes before you start, like how many rounds of changes a client gets on a logo or which rooms a cleaning fee covers. Clients will then know exactly what they’re paying for and won’t expect a two-hour job to fill your whole day.

Step 2. Research your market and potential customers

Find out who needs what you’re selling, either nearby or online. Look up anyone already selling something similar to them and note how much they charge. Read through their customer reviews too, where buyers often complain about slow replies or rushed work. You can win those buyers over by fixing exactly those problems from your very first job.

Step 3. Understand your legal and tax responsibilities

You’ll probably find tax the least exciting part of your side hustle, but it might just be the most important one. The ATO still expects you to declare any business income, including the earnings that online platforms report on your behalf. Get these basics right from the start to avoid a surprise bill at tax time:

• Work out if you’re in business: Check if you meet the ATO’s test for a business, including whether you intend to make a profit and repeat the activity regularly. Business.gov.au says you don’t have to declare hobby income, though a side hustle that earns money regularly usually counts as a business.

• Choose a business structure: Sole trader is the simplest and cheapest structure to run, according to the ATO. You’ll report the income in your own tax return and take personal responsibility for any debts.

• Sort out your ABN: Apply through the Australian Business Register for free once you count as a business. Clients who pay you without your ABN on file must generally withhold tax at the top rate.

• Watch the GST threshold: You must register for GST once your current or projected business turnover hits $75,000 a year, or from your first dollar as a rideshare driver specifically.

• Expect platforms to report your income: Online platforms are required to report what providers earn to the ATO twice a year. The ATO excludes the sales of goods from this regime and tracks them through a separate data-matching program.

• Hang on to paperwork: Keep all your business paperwork for five years, as the ATO requires.

• Check insurances, licences and permits: Some states require public liability insurance for certain occupations, as do many market organisers.

Step 4. Create a simple plan and set your prices

Add up your start-up and ongoing costs before you set a price. Once you know how much it’ll take to stay in business, charge enough to cover those costs and pay yourself fairly for your time. Put some money aside for taxes from every payment too.

Revenue is what customers pay you. Profit is what’s left after business expenses. Put money aside for tax and any loan repayments too. Keep your expectations realistic as you’re getting started, since you’ll likely have to change your prices and readjust your strategy in the first few months.

Step 5. Find your first customers

Your first few customers will likely be people you already know. You can find them without spending anything on marketing, especially once word starts to spread. Try these ways to get your name out there:

• Start with people you know: Friends and past colleagues already trust your work and can pass your name on to anyone who needs it. Send them a quick message explaining what you’re selling and who it’s for. Ask them to share your details with one or two people who might need your help or products.

• Tap your professional networks: Post about your new service on LinkedIn or in industry groups where potential clients spend their time. Former managers and clients make especially good contacts, since they’ve already seen your work up close. Keep your posts short and specific about what you can help with.

• List on online platforms: Create a profile on freelance sites or online marketplaces where customers are already searching for your services or products. Fill it out properly with clear prices and examples of your work. 

• Show off your work: Share photos, samples or before-and-after shots in a simple portfolio to show customers what you can do. You can host it on a free website or social media page at first, then create a website once your business is picking up. Add your best pieces as you finish new jobs.

• Collect reviews: Invite your first happy customer to review you on your profile or Google listing. New customers can then see what others thought before they book. Thank everyone who leaves a note, even if it’s only a line or two.

• Get local: Pin a flyer on community noticeboards or post in local Facebook groups if you’re selling a service nearby. Mention your suburb in every post to help nearby customers find you. Check each group’s rules first, since some only allow business posts on certain days.

Step 6. Review your progress and develop your skills

Ask customers for feedback after each job and use it to sharpen your service. Keep track of what you earn from each type of work, then drop the jobs that take the most time for the least money. You can also study one of the courses in our tables to grow your skills along with your side hustle.

Frequently asked questions about side hustles

How much does it cost to start a side hustle?

You can start many side hustles for very little, especially services that only need a computer or tools you already own. Product ideas cost more upfront because you’ll have to stock and pack the products before you sell. Registering an ABN is free, but your other start-up costs will depend on what you offer.

Which side hustle ideas can you do from home in Australia?

You can do social media management, graphic design, bookkeeping and content writing from home with just a computer. Online retail and furniture upcycling are great home-based options too, as long as you have space to store your stock and materials.

How much can you realistically earn from a side hustle?

Earnings vary with your prices, hours and costs. You’ll earn according to what you charge, how many hours you devote to it and what your costs are. 

Do you need to declare side hustle income in Australia?

Yes, you’ll need to declare side hustle income on your tax return if it makes you money, according to Business.gov.au. Income you earn from a hobby is the exception. 

Do you need an ABN for a side hustle in Australia?

Yes, an ABN isn’t compulsory for every business, but registration is free and often useful. You’re entitled to one only as long as you’re in business, so hobbyists can’t register. Quote your ABN on every invoice, since clients need to withhold tax at the top rate for payments without one.

What side hustle can you start with little experience?

You can start house sitting, cleaning homes, assembling furniture or decluttering with very little experience. Selling second-hand clothes is another easy place to start. You’ll still need to be reliable and own the basic gear for the job, and you might need a working with children check if you plan to tutor school kids.

Take the next step with your side hustle idea

You’ve already got the drive to earn a little extra on your own terms. Sharpen your skills with the course beside your idea in our tables above, or learn how to launch your own venture in our Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business. Pick your idea and enrol in its course today.