Tell us about your side hustle
Type of side hustle
Income
Expenses
Tax & your situation
Monthly profit
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after all costs & tax
Real hourly rate
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true $/hr
Annual profit
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projected
Tax to set aside
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per month
Full profit breakdown
Monthly revenue—
Platform & transaction fees—
Business expenses—
Gross profit—
Estimated tax (marginal rate)—
Net monthly profit—
Time value analysis
Total hours invested—
Revenue per hour—
Profit per hour (before tax)—
Real hourly rate (after tax)—
Tips to make your side hustle more profitable
Track ALL your time
Most side hustlers underestimate time spent on admin, marketing and setup. Track every hour including emails, invoicing and planning. Your real hourly rate is often much lower than you think.
Claim every deduction
Home office, internet, phone, software, equipment and professional development are all potentially deductible. Good records can significantly reduce your tax bill and improve your real profit.
Focus on scalable income
Trading time for money has a ceiling. Digital products, affiliate marketing and online courses scale without extra hours. Aim to shift your side hustle toward income that doesn't require more time as it grows.
Set aside tax from day one
Side hustle income is taxed at your marginal rate — often 32.5% or higher. Set aside at least 30% of every payment into a separate savings account so a tax bill never catches you off guard.
Raise your prices
Most side hustlers underprice their services. If you're fully booked or working more hours than you want, your price is too low. Raising prices by 20-30% often loses very few clients but dramatically improves profit.
Use AI to save time
AI tools can dramatically reduce time spent on content creation, customer emails, social media and admin. Saving 5 hours a month on a $50/hr side hustle is worth $250 — use every tool available.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need to declare side hustle income in Australia?
Yes — all side hustle income must be declared on your Australian tax return, regardless of the amount. The ATO has significantly increased data matching with platforms like Airbnb, Uber, Etsy and eBay. Undeclared income can result in significant penalties.
How much tax will I pay on my side hustle income?
Side hustle income is added to your other income and taxed at your marginal rate. If your main salary is $70,000, your side hustle income is taxed at 32.5% (plus 2% Medicare levy). Always set aside at least 30-35% of side hustle revenue for tax.
When do I need to register for GST?
You must register for GST when your total business income (from all sources including your side hustle) exceeds $75,000 per year. Once registered you must charge 10% GST on your services and lodge regular Business Activity Statements (BAS).
What is a good hourly rate for a side hustle?
A side hustle is generally worth pursuing if your real hourly rate (after all costs, time and tax) exceeds what you could earn in other ways. For most Australians, a side hustle that pays $25+/hr after tax is financially worthwhile. Below $15/hr, consider whether your time could be better invested elsewhere.
What side hustles are most profitable in Australia?
Digital side hustles tend to be most profitable because they scale without proportionally more hours. Digital products, affiliate marketing, online courses and content creation can generate income 24/7. Service-based side hustles (freelancing, consulting, coaching) offer higher immediate hourly rates but are capped by your available time.