Latest news with #TimFung
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Best Side Hustles For Australians In 2025
It's no secret that Australia's high cost of living is squeezing household budgets. With rents and mortgage repayments at record levels and wages failing to keep pace with inflation, many of us are looking for ways to boost their income. Enter the side hustle. Sometimes colloquially referred to as 'slashies' or even 'portfolio careers,' side hustles have become a popular way for Aussies to boost their bank balances. According to 2024 figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 6.6% of employed people—or 986,400 people in total—hold two jobs or more. The ABS estimates that 7.7% of employed women hold multiple jobs, compared to 5.8% of employed men, while workers aged between 20 and 24 years were most likely to bring in a second income. The ABS statistics are borne out by local job listing site Airtasker, which has experienced a boom in sign-ups from side hustlers. Airtasker is an online marketplace for odd jobs, allowing people to post tasks that need completing—think garden cleanups, furniture assembly or picture hanging—and receive quotes from registered 'taskers.' 'Last year, we saw a whopping 20% increase in [tasker] sign-ups in September compared to the year prior, as people were gearing up to the most expensive and busiest time of year,' Airtasker CEO Tim Fung tells Forbes Advisor Australia. 'Side hustles are becoming increasingly popular as Aussies deal with the rise of everyday costs, paying for milestone events like summer holidays or weddings, manage mortgage stress, look for a career change or have some spare time they want to make better use of.' Our guide explores some of the best and most popular side hustles for Australians, the tax obligations of a second job, and the pros and cons of taking on extra work. But let's start with side hustle incomes. Just how much money can you make? Your side hustle income will depend on your chosen side hustle, the demand for it, how frequently you wish to work, and your business and marketing skills. For perspective, Airtasker's top 1% of taskers earn an average of $10,750 per month. This is, of course, the highest earners, which means most people earn less. Fung cites the example of one tasker, Atesham Altif, 34, who was rejected more than 250 times for civil engineering roles. He now earns more than $10,000 a month assembling furniture and equipment. In another instance, single mum Jasmine Njegovan left a 17-year corporate career at Big W because she was tired of working every Christmas holiday and missing out on valuable time with her family. 'Looking for work, Jasmine found herself on Airtasker and soon realised she had an undiscovered skill—household decluttering,' Fung says. Five years on, she has more than 150 clients and earns $5,000 per month. At the other end of the spectrum are the volume-based side hustles, such as ride-share drivers or food delivery couriers, where you're completing many jobs as quickly as possible. These tend to be popular side hustles with lower pay. For example, the average Uber Eats delivery driver makes $30 per hour in Australia before tax and vehicle-related expenses. What Are the Most In-Demand Side Hustles? According to Fung, the most in-demand tasks on Airtasker in 2025 are gardening (average job price: $186), removalists (average job price: $174), cleaners (average job price: $222), handyperson (average job price: $349) and waste disposal collection (average job price: $136). Many side hustles have the potential to become lucrative depending on market trends and demand. 'Most recently, this week, we saw people paying taskers $200 to wait in the concert queue for Billie Eilish,' Fung notes. 'This is something we've seen customers do a fair bit, as we also saw people paying people to buy Taylor Swift merchandise and mail it to them so they could wear it to the concert. A lot of people were already queuing up to get merchandise anyway, so it was extremely convenient for them.' Side hustles also grow in demand depending on what's happening in local communities. 'During extreme weather events, such as a storm, we'll see a huge demand for plumbers and electricians, or even just someone with a ladder to get a chair and other items that flew onto the roof,' Fung says. 'Sometimes just having a bit of extra time or the right tools is a way people can make some really easy and quick cash.' When compiling our list of top side hustles, we have aimed for a broad range of sectors and skills to highlight how varied side hustles can be. Look for a side hustle that you will enjoy and are skilled at, as this will make all the difference to your commitment over the long term. Be honest, too, about why you're taking on a side hustle, as this will influence your choice. Is your goal to earn a little extra money or a considerable amount? Do you want to transition to an entirely new career, or are you happy to supplement your current role? Perhaps you're retired and are looking for a way to earn some extra money and put your time to good use. If you're having trouble deciding on your side hustle, Fung recommends 'trying a few things once because you never know what you might find fulfillment in.' 'One of our taskers, Brittany, knew she liked writing but didn't know what type of tasks she should do, so she just applied for a few and now writes funeral eulogies,' he says. Here are some suggestions for side hustles worth considering: Write resumes. If you're a dab hand with the written word and enjoy working with people, then you could earn extra money with resume writing. Most people dislike highlighting their experience, skills and ambitions, but you could make this tedious task easier by lending a hand to job seekers. If you're a dab hand with the written word and enjoy working with people, then you could earn extra money with resume writing. Most people dislike highlighting their experience, skills and ambitions, but you could make this tedious task easier by lending a hand to job seekers. Teach a course. The Covid-19 pandemic upended the way we work and learn, with many in-person events substituted for online learning. If you have an in-demand expertise—such as business development, search engine optimisation (SEO) or AI—you could create an evergreen online course. The Covid-19 pandemic upended the way we work and learn, with many in-person events substituted for online learning. If you have an in-demand expertise—such as business development, search engine optimisation (SEO) or AI—you could create an evergreen online course. Hit the freelance market. If you work in a career that offers freelance opportunities, this is a great way to earn a little bit extra. Jobs such as journalism, graphic design, website coding and photography easily lend themselves to freelance work, but just make sure you're not contravening the terms of your employment contract by working with clients considered competitors to your main job. If you work in a career that offers freelance opportunities, this is a great way to earn a little bit extra. Jobs such as journalism, graphic design, website coding and photography easily lend themselves to freelance work, but just make sure you're not contravening the terms of your employment contract by working with clients considered competitors to your main job. Become a virtual assistant (VA). VAs commonly feature on lists for popular side hustles—and for good reason. They are often in high demand by companies that need the occasional hand when things get busy, so you will need to be a naturally organised person with strong communication skills. You must also be adept at organising schedules, booking accommodation and sending emails. VAs commonly feature on lists for popular side hustles—and for good reason. They are often in high demand by companies that need the occasional hand when things get busy, so you will need to be a naturally organised person with strong communication skills. You must also be adept at organising schedules, booking accommodation and sending emails. Start a gardening business. Many of us are time-poor these days, and our gardens can quickly become overgrown. If you're a keen gardener, you could start your own gardening business and service clients in your local area. You will need to purchase equipment, such as rakes, mowers and clippers, and enjoy working outdoors. Many of us are time-poor these days, and our gardens can quickly become overgrown. If you're a keen gardener, you could start your own gardening business and service clients in your local area. You will need to purchase equipment, such as rakes, mowers and clippers, and enjoy working outdoors. Monetise your decluttering skills. If you're an incredibly organised person whose home is free of clutter, you could set up a professional home organising and decluttering service. Declutterers focus on rearranging people's pantries, closets, garages, home offices and even kids' rooms and toys. If you're an incredibly organised person whose home is free of clutter, you could set up a professional home organising and decluttering service. Declutterers focus on rearranging people's pantries, closets, garages, home offices and even kids' rooms and toys. Move into personal training. With wellness and fitness a priority for many, personal trainers will continue to be in high demand. If you enjoy working out and working with others, then personal training could be a great way to earn money. You will need to obtain certification with a registered training authority before you take on clients. If you prefer a slower pace of movement, why not consider yoga teaching instead? Once again, you will need to obtain relevant certification before you can teach. With wellness and fitness a priority for many, personal trainers will continue to be in high demand. If you enjoy working out and working with others, then personal training could be a great way to earn money. You will need to obtain certification with a registered training authority before you take on clients. If you prefer a slower pace of movement, why not consider yoga teaching instead? Once again, you will need to obtain relevant certification before you can teach. Work with animals. According to a 2022 survey by Animal Medicines Australia, there are 28.7 million pets spread out across 6.9 million Australian households. If you have space to host pets and a secure backyard, you could become a pet sitter. You could also offer dog walking services, too. According to a 2022 survey by Animal Medicines Australia, there are 28.7 million pets spread out across 6.9 million Australian households. If you have space to host pets and a secure backyard, you could become a pet sitter. You could also offer dog walking services, too. Get handy around homes. Not only are many of us time-poor, but some of us lack the skills to perform tasks around the home. If you have always been great at home maintenance, why not sell your services as a handyperson? This could include cutting back trees, cleaning out roof gutters or basic landscaping. You will also be performing a vital service for elderly people or those with physical disabilities. Not only are many of us time-poor, but some of us lack the skills to perform tasks around the home. If you have always been great at home maintenance, why not sell your services as a handyperson? This could include cutting back trees, cleaning out roof gutters or basic landscaping. You will also be performing a vital service for elderly people or those with physical disabilities. Rent your spare space. List your home or spare room on sites such as Airbnb or Stayz to bring in extra cash. If you have a car space in a coveted location close to a major city, then you can list your space on sites such as Parkhound or Spacer. It is not uncommon for car spaces to list for $300 per month in central locations. List your home or spare room on sites such as Airbnb or Stayz to bring in extra cash. If you have a car space in a coveted location close to a major city, then you can list your space on sites such as Parkhound or Spacer. It is not uncommon for car spaces to list for $300 per month in central locations. Dropship items. Dropshipping is a nifty way to run an e-commerce store. The model allows you to sell items on your online store and then place an order with your supplier who sends the purchase directly to your customer. It means you don't need to worry about keeping vast quantities of stock on hand, which keeps your cost base low. Dropshipping is a nifty way to run an e-commerce store. The model allows you to sell items on your online store and then place an order with your supplier who sends the purchase directly to your customer. It means you don't need to worry about keeping vast quantities of stock on hand, which keeps your cost base low. Teach a second language. Australia is a melting pot of cultures, and many of us are keen and curious about second languages. If you're lucky enough to be fluent in a second language, such as Mandarin, Italian, French or German, you can teach classes at your local community hall or offer them online. Australia is a melting pot of cultures, and many of us are keen and curious about second languages. If you're lucky enough to be fluent in a second language, such as Mandarin, Italian, French or German, you can teach classes at your local community hall or offer them online. Tutor high school students. Tutoring high school students is a great way to keep your brain active while bringing in decent money on the side. It's possible to earn between $50 and $60 per hour tutoring, although the average is around $35 per hour. Tutoring high school students is a great way to keep your brain active while bringing in decent money on the side. It's possible to earn between $50 and $60 per hour tutoring, although the average is around $35 per hour. Deliver packages. With online shopping booming, you can tap into this demand by becoming a delivery driver. Partner with companies, such as Amazon Flex, to turn your personal car into a delivery vehicle. Make sure that your car insurance covers you for commercial purposes. With online shopping booming, you can tap into this demand by becoming a delivery driver. Partner with companies, such as Amazon Flex, to turn your personal car into a delivery vehicle. Make sure that your car insurance covers you for commercial purposes. Sell your art. It's possible to buy original artwork from your computer, with online sales disrupting the traditional gallery model. The best-known art listing site in Australia is Bluethumb, which allows you to post images of your artwork for sale and negotiate directly with buyers through the site. Broadly speaking, there are two ways to reach clients as a small business owner. You can join a third-party platform, such as Airtasker or Hipages, which connects you with potential customers, or you can build your own client base. The advantage of joining a platform is that you won't need to spend as much money or time attracting your first customers. The disadvantage, however, is that these platforms take a cut of your income, which can eat into your profit. If you build your own client base you keep 100% of your income, but this can be harder. You will likely find that you need to spend money on social media marketing, such as Instagram and Facebook ads, to attract customers. Below are some examples of popular side hustles and third-party platforms you can join: Handyperson or tradesperson jobs Fiverr You could start on these platforms while you steadily build up your business. Once it generates enough enquiries and work, you can move off the third-party apps to concentrate on maintaining your own sales funnel. Or, you may find that the cut that third-party platforms take is worth the administration and marketing hassle they save you. There are many positives to side hustles including: Allowing you to make additional money to pay down your mortgage, save for a house deposit or put money aside for a holiday or wedding. They can be a great way to transition or test out a new career before fully committing. You can enjoy the freedom of being your own boss, including setting your own hours. You may gain skills and confidence in a new sector. They can allow you to engage more fully in your community, especially via online marketplaces where you regularly contact others. Side hustles can have some drawbacks, too. These may include: A second job requires energy and effort. You may need to ask yourself whether the constant hustle is worth the extra cash. Side hustles can eat into spare time, which may be an issue for you if you have a family or hobbies or interests to pursue. Ask yourself if you have ample time to give your side hustle before you commit. Extra admin is an unfortunate reality of second jobs. You will need to invoice clients, register your business and maintain an additional set of receipts come tax time. Side hustles usually involve financial outlay. These can be on-off, such as registering your business name or buying signage, or ongoing, such as permits and certain kinds of insurance. You will also need cash reserves to fund the maintenance and replacement of tools and equipment. You risk burning out if your side hustle becomes successful quickly. As the Australian Tax Office (ATO) puts it: 'You may focus all your energy on your side hustle, which may decrease your performance at your main job. Make sure you work around your schedule and focus on one job at a time… Make sure you rest, recharge, and enjoy life outside of your job and business.' Before you take on your first client, you need to ensure you're compliant with Australian business requirements and laws. The first thing to determine is whether your side hustle is a business or a hobby. If you're handmaking photo albums for relatives and friends and selling them to cover your costs, the Australian government classifies this as a hobby. In this instance, you don't need to register a business name nor pay tax on payments you receive. However, if you start making a profit from sales of those photo albums, your hobby has morphed into a business. In this case, you need to register your business name with the Australian Business Register (ABR) and apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN) so you can start trading. While technically you don't need an ABN until you start charging goods and services tax (once your business brings in at least $75,000 per year), there are many benefits to having one, such as lending an air of legitimacy to your business and allowing you to buy domain extensions, such as Furthermore, if you receive payments from other businesses and you don't have an ABN, these businesses are obliged to withhold the top tax rate of 47% from payments to you Your side hustle may only make up a small portion of your overall income, but it counts toward your total earnings for the year and is still subject to income tax. You will need to declare your earnings with your accountant and keep receipts for tax deductions. Insurances and Permits: Are You Covered? Many side hustles require permits or insurance to operate legally. For example, if you decide to start making cakes for sale, you will need to obtain a food business licence from your state or territory government. If you're working at someone else's property or you host customers on your own, you may need liability insurance, depending on the state or territory you live in and your chosen side hustle. This type of insurance covers you if you're liable for damages to other people or their property. If you work for clients from the comfort of your home office, you may not think you need insurance. However, many business advisors recommend taking out professional indemnity insurance in case a client is unhappy with the advice you give or alleges that you miscalculated crucial information that led to a client's loss. Side hustles are a fantastic way to bring in extra money or even test out a new business idea or career, but they're not without their drawbacks. They can split your focus and overtake your leisure time, leading to burnout and stress. You may find that instead of doing one job well, you're doing two jobs poorly. But for those who strike the right balance, side hustles can lead to new experiences, skills and extra income. If you enjoy a skill and there is plenty of demand for it, you can likely turn it into a profitable side hustle. Additional editing: Kevin Pratt Yes, running a side hustle in Australia is legal and there is no law prohibiting you from a second job. You just need to make sure you have the required permits and registrations and declare income from your side hustle in your tax return. The most profitable side hustle changes according to trends and demand. The average job price for a handyperson on Airtasker is $349, which can add up quickly if you have plenty of clients. Renting out your garage is also a great moneymaker as it requires very little outlay or overheads but can net hundreds of dollars a month. Remember that while the top 1% on Airtasker earn an average of $10,400 a month, the large majority earn much less. The trick is to match your talents and interests with an in-demand skill set. Depending on your skill set, a range of side hustles exist that could comfortably net you $2,000 a month. These include becoming a virtual assistant, freelance writing, dog minding or gardening. There is no shortage of side hustles you can do from home, including dropshipping or selling goods online, teaching and tutoring, running online workshops and freelancing. Yes, if your side hustle is a business you must declare its income and pay tax. There is a common misconception that you pay a separate rate of tax on your second job, when in reality, income from both jobs is combined into one annual income statement for tax purposes. There is no doubt that some side hustles require less effort than others. Renting out your spare garage is likely less taxing than setting up your own freelance consultancy. But it's important to remember that no side income is ever completely passive, as you will be required to continually find customers, manage enquiries and offer exceptional customer service.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Airtasker is expanding to Austin: What to know about the online community marketplace
An online community marketplace is expanding to Austin and kicking off a Formula 1 campaign behind the scenes to coincide with the 2025 season, including the Austin Grand Prix. Australian-based Airtasker connects people with "skilled local helpers." Tim Fung, who founded Airtasker in 2011, described it as a platform where users can request assistance from their community for a task or post a job, allowing anyone in the community to offer their help. "There's so many jobs that don't fit neatly into categories," Fung told the American-Statesman. "It's a plumber or it's an electrician, or it's a moving company or something like that, but so many jobs are just like, 'I just need some help.' It's not specific." "By partnering with Sinclair Broadcast Group, Mercurius Media Capital, iHeartMedia, and TelevisaUnivision, Fung raised $21.75 million in media capital in the U.S. He then focused on marketing campaigns and collaborations to boost the website's visibility Visa Cash App Red Bull F1 racing team approached Fung, an avid F1 fan, about a possible partnership, but he initially declined. "F1 is all about elite brands, and Airtasker is not about the elite and the luxury and all that," Fung said. "Airtasker's about common people just trying to make an honest living, sharing their skills and making some money. People can make good money on Airtasker, but we're not talking about the billionaires of the world." Fung attended a race with a friend a few months later and started noticing the hundreds of people behind the scenes of the racing teams: the ones who build the cars, the ones who fine-tune treading on rubber tires, the ones measuring the car lengths with laser pointers and the ones with clipboards managing the operations. Fung said he wanted to highlight those people, and the partnership with the team will highlight the various people who work behind the drivers and make it so the team is capable or competing and winning. "We want to celebrate these people, because that is Airtasker, that is people with unique skills doing stuff. ...," Fung said. "The thing that motivates me more than anything is watching people do their thing and doing it the best they can do it. It's so motivating to see people use their skills and give a shit and do it really well." Given Austin's connection to the F1 Grand Prix in the fall and Airtasker's media partners owning several television stations in the city, Fung said they knew Austin was the next U.S. market to expand into after Los Angeles. Airtasker currently has 3 million "taskers" who have completed 4.3 million tasks. The website has its own secure payment system, Fung said, and allows users to tailor what kind of people they want for their jobs, from running background checks, requiring distance or approved to work with children. Fung said the central thing he wants Austinites to know about Airtasker is that it's not like other online marketplaces or trade apps like Uber, Instacart, Craig's List or Facebook Marketplace. He said it's uniquely more community oriented. "Your food delivery or your rideshare apps, they're trying to standardize labor and make it as cheap as possible. And that isn't really great for workers. Eventually, there's talk about automation and artificial intelligence and getting rid of workers," Fung said. "Airtasker is the opposite of that. The taskers determine how much they want to charge and what work they do. They only pick the jobs they actually want to do." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Airtasker launches F1 racing partnership and Austin expansion
