21 Best side hustles in Australia: how to make money online working from home
To make money online and pocket some extra cash while working from home in your spare time is the dream for many, but the question is where to start. Recent events have changed the way we look at working from home and being able to make money online. There are plenty of side hustle opportunities out there and if you can get in and start honing your marketable skills, you could create another steady stream of income.
While you may have to consider some initial startup costs, there are plenty of potential clients out there in this side gig economy. So, what are the best side hustle opportunities in Australia? Let’s take a look.
Best side hustle ideas in Australia to make money online
The best side hustles in Australia to make extra money online as you’re working from home range from business-related, content creation, freelancing, tech-related, eCommerce and education.
See below for our full list of 21 of the best side hustles in Australia and start earning some extra cash.
Business-related side hustles in Australia
Dropshipping
A dropshipping business involves fulfilling customer orders by acting as the middle-person. With a bit of marketing and sales know-how, you purchase the goods from a business at the wholesale price and it is kept in a warehouse owned or rented by the business itself (you never see the goods).
The customer then purchases the goods from you at the price that you set, meaning that you receive a profit. The supplier then sends the order to the customer, they receive the price they set and you pocket the difference that you sold the goods for. It takes very minimal effort, and you can think of it as some nice passive income on the side.
For example, the wholesale price of a chopping board is $20 and you sell it for $30 online. You keep the $10 profit and the supplier receives the sale through no marketing effort of their own, almost becoming passive income for them as well.
The dropshipping business model has become increasingly popular in the last ten years, especially with the idea of having an online business is becoming more enticing to earn some extra income.
Content creation side hustle ideas in Australia
Photography (sell photos online)
Have you ever wondered where stock photos come from? It’s not one single person with a camera going out and taking photos of every single item and landscape, it’s professional photographers selling their shots to them.
This one may require you to go outside from time to time, but you can always take photos of items at home as long as you have the correct lighting and equipment.
And if you don’t like the idea of selling your photos to become stock images, you can always set up a page on Etsy, create a website or even start selling them on Facebook Marketplace. Get creative with it, use fancy frames and the sky’s the limit!
Blog writing
Are you a budding writer with some thoughts to share about a particular topic? Building a website is easier than ever with builders like Squarespace and Wix and promoting them over social media will help you to reach an audience.
The most common ways to make money online from blogging is through ad revenue, but this can be a slow burn until you’re able to build a sizable and consistent following. You could also use your blog writing to promote your e-commerce website selling physical and digital products, which is another way to earn some extra income.
Start a YouTube channel
Continuing the theme of content creation, starting a YouTube channel will allow you to stretch your creative juices and earn some ad revenue in your spare time. Keep in mind that you need to hit a few milestones to join the YouTube Partner Program before you can begin monetising, with the main prerequisites being reaching 1,000 subscribers and having had 4,000 valid public hours of your content watched.
YouTube is not an easy win, though. It takes a lot of dedication, creativity, video editing skills to create quality content and a keen eye for analytics. Down the line, you may even have to think of a studio space. But if you put in the time and effort, it can certainly pay off.
Twitch streaming
If you’re more about free-flowing content creation and like to play video games, then starting a Twitch channel could be the answer. Many people get home after a long day and play video games, so why not point a webcam at yourself and begin earning some extra cash to keep your hobby going?
However, just like YouTube, there are some Twitch milestone requirements to reach before you can begin to make money online streaming:
- At least 500 total minutes broadcast in the last 30 days
- At least 7 unique broadcast days in the last 30 days
- An average of 3 concurrent viewers or more over the last 30 days
- At least 50 followers
Twitch also allows viewers to donate to their favourite streamers and they can also subscribe to you in return for custom emotes.
FURTHER READING: The start-up costs to fund your business idea
Podcasting
While video podcasts are a thing, if you’re less comfortable with showing your face on camera, podcasting is one of the perfect side hustles in Australia because you can make some extra money online simply by having a conversation.
We live in a day and age where content is everywhere online, and creating it can range from a casual hobby to a full-time job. Although, for podcasting, there are some upfront costs to consider, such as investing in high quality recording equipment in order to create high quality content. But you can start off small; the most important things is to be enthusiastic in your recording and discuss a niche topic that you’re both passionate about and has an engaging audience.
Influencer
The term influencer is a very broad term and is commonly misunderstood as someone taking selfies, posting them on Instagram and calling it a day. However, first off, influencers require that certain spark about them, some je ne sais quoi to sway targeted audiences. These characteristics are often why brands and businesses sponsor influencers as it is a much more direct way to speak to niche audiences.
Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing piggybacks off of content creation in that when you have a channel that has a following, you’ll receive commission for every visitor/customer you bring over to a promoted product/service.
Think about any YouTuber or podcaster who have said “use the code XYZ123 at checkout” or “use the link in the description”, that’s an affiliate side hustle; these codes and links track how many clicks/sales have come from each promoter and ultimately, the promoter gets the cut depending on how much the brand is willing to pay.
Freelancing side hustles in Australia
Blog writing
Wait, didn’t we talk about blog writing earlier?
Yes, but freelance writing allows you to approach businesses and write articles for their websites as part of your own online service.
Websites like Upwork and Fiverr provide a great starting point to get your first few potential clients, which then lets you build a portfolio to branch out and start charging more.
In addition to honing your writing capabilities, businesses highly value search engine optimisation (SEO) knowledge as writing with this lens will improve how many visitors their website receives, which is ultimately the result they want.
Google offers free online courses from beginner to advanced, as well as many tutorials on sites dedicated to SEO, and if you can master this, then you can master the internet.
Art commissioning
For talented drawers and painters, art commissioning involves taking requests from paying customers and creating it for them.
Recent technology has allowed artists to create art digitally. A second-hand smart phone/tablet with a compatible stylus is all you need to get started.
Video editing
Are you good with editing videos? Have experience with programs like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro? YouTube is a big game and content is king. Many of your big YouTubers have a team to work with, and prominent roles within these teams are video editors that sift through the mountain of footage and compile it all into succinct 10-20 minute videos.
Virtual Assistant
Some people have a lot of administrative work piling up and need someone to help organise it all and keep everything in-check. That’s where a virtual assistant comes in handy; if you’re someone who enjoys admin work, being someone’s virtual assistant (or VA) is one of the most perfect side hustles in Australia as it can be done entirely online from your computer.
Many business owner’s desperately need someone to handle this work while they focus on the bigger picture of running the company, so you can be their virtual guardian angel.
Voiceover work
“Coming to a side hustle near you, a hardworking individual sets out to make money online with nothing but their voice and a microphone.”
Have people always said you have a nice voice? There could be money in that! Consider taking some training courses and put yourself out there. To build your portfolio, you can start on websites like Fiverr and Upwork but as your popularity grows, who knows where it could take you! Perhaps one day, to a cinema near you.
FURTHER READING: Small business tax planning: A checklist of what to do at tax time
Social media managing
Social media requires a lot of attention and knowledge. If you’re good at keeping up with trends and communicating in a way that is engaging and eye-catching, then you may want to consider offering your services to small businesses and online personalities. It’d be lit, fam… sorry.
Tech side hustles in Australia
Graphic design
Freelance graphic design involves you creating visual concepts and designs using computer software. You can be asked to design anything from brand logos to websites, so put your digital creative muscles to the test and start designing while working from home.
Web development
If graphic design isn’t your thing and you’re more technically-minded, then perhaps you can offer your services by developing websites. It’s certainly not an easy-to-learn skill, but every business nowadays needs a website and they can pay top dollar for a website that is expertly designed and optimised.
Test websites and apps
Have you ever wondered how companies launch websites and apps with confidence? That’s because they get testers that search for issues and bugs before they go live. Search through every nook and cranny of a website or app to ensure that no textbook is off centre, no image is out of place and no page doesn’t load.
While you may need some programs to do these tech side hustles efficiently, the nature of the work will help to keep your startup costs and upfront costs to minimal costs.
eCommerce side hustles in Australia
Start an Etsy/Shopify store
Are you handy with arts and crafts? Whether you make beaded jewellery, fancy face masks or anything you can think of, you can start an Etsy or Shopify store online and start selling. The more satisfied customers you get, the more sales you can make. Advertise online, get your social media following up and who knows, you could be working from home more often.
Just be sure to have some extra space around the house to keep all your physical stock, but many sellers do sell digital products as well, like planners, guides, books and wallpapers. Digital products will certainly help with cluttering, that’s for sure.
Education side hustles
Online tutoring
If you have a degree in a niche area or are just skilled in school subjects like science or maths, you could help a young student improve their grades and make money online doing it. Online tutoring is one of the most lucrative side hustles in Australia as not only are you earning extra cash working from home, but you can also rest easy knowing that you’re helping struggling students with their educational future.
Consulting
Similar to the previous tip, consulting is a kind of tutoring but instead, you’re targeting businesses in more specialised areas (such as marketing or business development). Many small businesses start because they have specialised knowledge about a niche, but that doesn’t mean they’re experienced in every facet of running a business. That could be where you come in.
You’ll feel good knowing you’re helping others grow but at the same time, you’ll be earning extra cash with an additional source of income. Furthermore, you don’t necessarily need a degree for consulting, and there are plenty of online degrees you can look into.
Create an online course
If time is scarce for you, then consider creating an online course that users can purchase and learn from in their spare time. Websites like Skillshare can make this a reality and if you’re skilled in a specific niche area of expertise, then you may be just what the doctor ordered.
Transforming your side hustle opportunities into a steady stream of extra income to the point where you can make it a full-time job can be wrought with uncertainty, especially in this current competitive side gig economy. But it can be even more difficult if you’re struggling with your personal budget and can’t justify the extra bucks for those startup costs.
If you’re feeling like you’re under financial pressure, then creating a budget to help with your money management is the first step to take. If you’re having a difficult time, our MyBudget team is always looking for ways to help our clients transform their money and their lives and so if you need a helping hand, give us a call on 1300 300 922 or enquire online for a free appointment.