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Money – we’d all like a bit more of it, whether to pay off some debt, buy something nice or save for a holiday. Sure, our day job may get us by, but what a difference an extra $500 a month, $1000 a month, or perhaps even more would make.
A side hustle could prove to be that extra income stream you’ve been looking for. What’s more, the best side hustles don’t feel like money making schemes at all; they instead combine a passion with the ability to earn. Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life, or so the saying goes.
What is a side hustle?
We’ve all been there, or perhaps find ourselves there right now: in a job that barely covers the bills, working paycheck to paycheck, just scraping by. But what the job does offer is security, and may form a stepping stone to something better. In reality you want to increase your earnings, but without giving up the security of your current job.
Enter the side hustle: a way to make money beyond your full-time job in a way that puts you in control.
At this point you’re probably wondering what these good side business ideas look like, or how to start a side hustle. And that’s exactly what we’re going to find out.
But first, some advice: forget about gig economy jobs like being an Uber driver. These organisations are structured in a way that minimises the service provider’s salary, often paying below minimum wage. The best side hustles will deliver a far better return than that.
So, without further ado, here are 10 of the best side hustle ideas in Australia.
10 awesome side hustle ideas
1. Freelance
Have you ever heard of Fiverr, Upwork or Freelancer? These marketplaces pair those who need work done with those who are willing to do it. And while you might not think of yourself as a professional anything, if you have a passion for writing, designing, web development, teaching, or for any number of other disciplines, you may well have what it takes to get hired. Best of all, these platforms let you set your own rate!
2. Sell handmade wares
Do you enjoy creating clothing or jewellery? Posters or paintings? Biscuits or beef jerky? Turn the passion into a business by selling these wares at local markets, or through creator marketplaces like Etsy. To turn something you love into something that lines the pockets is the dream, and one that might be more achievable than you think.
3. Sell your photography
Perhaps you love photographing wild landscapes or animals. Perhaps you find joy in portraiture, capturing those special moments between husband and wife or mum and bub. Sure, photography is a competitive space in the age of Instagram, but those with a true passion won’t think twice about putting serious time into their art.
4. Dropship
Dropshipping turns you into a purveyor of goods, but without the need to spend money buying stock. You instead set up an online store, take an order, then order the goods yourself from your supplier, who ships them directly to the customer. Dropshipping is therefore all about marketing well (in order to sell) and providing excellent customer service (to ensure people come back.)
5. Print on demand
‘POD’ is essentially dropshipping for creatives. Here you’ll sell custom graphics or art printed on any number of items, whether t-shirts, mugs, phone cases or pillows. Once again, you aren’t required to hold stock, as your printer will create the item then send it directly to the customer for you. With POD t-shirts generally costing $20-$25 and selling for $40-$50, this is one of the more profitable and easy side hustles.
6. Become a blogger
If the internet has been good for anything, it’s helping birds of a feather flock together. No matter your interest, there are many more who share it, which is why starting a simple blog can be such a profitable side hustle. Write about your niche, then monetise your blog through affiliate links, brand partnerships, display ads, premium subscriptions or product sales.
7. Write and sell eBooks
But why restrict yourself to blogs? You might be surprised to learn that the barrier to entry into the world of publishing has never been lower. Simply write a book, upload it to Amazon, and split the profits with the tech giant. If you’ve got an interesting story to share, and the writing skills to make it compelling, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing might be for you!
8. Become a YouTuber
Those who enjoy time both in front of and behind a camera might consider creating a YouTube channel as one of the more entertaining ways to make money. Whether you offer comedy, music, tutorials, travel diaries or ten-hour long yodelling compilations is up to you, just be aware that you want people to want to watch, so avoid the five minute ads for your dropshipping store.
9. Become a virtual assistant
Do you have admin talents? Perhaps you’re great at bookkeeping, social media scheduling, or data entry? Virtual assistants are remote workers that help business owners on an on-demand basis. The demand for VAs is increasing dramatically, particularly for those based in Australia. You can start your VA journey on a platform like Upwork, before taking greater control over your destiny by becoming an independent contractor.
10. Go part-time
You might be surprised at how much overlap there is between your interests and earning money. Like kids? Take some part-time work babysitting. Love animals? Sell yourself as a dog walker. Enjoy socialising? You can spend more time at the pub if you’re a bartender. While picking up a part-time job on top of your full-time job might feel a bit much, it’s made far easier when the side hustle is fun.
How to start your side hustle
Now that you’re armed with a few side hustle ideas, how do you set the wheels in motion? By following the tips, you could be hustling sooner than you might think:
- List your interests and identify those that you feel have a capacity to earn.
- Identify potential issues with your current work, both in terms of schedule and conflicts of interest.
- Decide your level of investment. If you’re unwilling to invest upfront, no problem, it might just limit your side hustle options a little.
- Create a plan to make money. How exactly will you generate revenue, and what do you aim to earn?
- Devote enough time to your side hustle. Success will demand you commit as much time as you can muster.
- Keep your 9 to 5 sacred, because if you can’t put 100% into your full-time job, you’ll be at risk of losing the security it offers.
- Make sure you set up a way to get paid. With side hustles increasingly moving to the world wide web, you want to make sure you can get your money safely, quickly and easily. That’s where Square comes in.
Hustle well, and you could not only supplement your current 9 to 5 job, you could eventually replace it with something you truly love. And when that time comes, we at Square will be there to help, whether you want to accept payments online, or in person.
