A side hustle will not make you rich quickly, but an extra R1,000 to R3,000 a month can change a household. The key is to start with what you already have: skills, time and a few contacts.
Here is how to choose and start a side hustle.
What are realistic side hustle options?
| Idea | What you need | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking or baking | Kitchen, ingredients | Orders from neighbours and colleagues |
| Tutoring | Subject knowledge | Parents often pay per session |
| Cleaning and car washing | Supplies | Regular clients build income |
| Selling second-hand goods | Items to sell | Use online marketplaces |
| Delivery | Transport | Check costs, insurance and income |
| Freelance writing, design or admin | Laptop, data | Platforms and contacts |
| Repairs and handywork | Tools | Word of mouth |
| Hair, beauty and sewing | Equipment | Skills and a loyal client base |
Pick one that uses a skill you already have.
How do you start a side hustle with little money?
- Test small. Offer to a few people first.
- Use what you have. Phone, kitchen, tools or transport.
- Get a first customer and ask for feedback.
- Reinvest your first earnings in better tools or stock.
- Keep it separate. Use a bank account, or at least a notebook, for it.
How do you price your work?
Work out your costs, including data, transport and ingredients. Estimate your time. Add a fair profit. Compare prices in your area, and ask a few customers what they would pay.
Here is a hypothetical example for a baking side hustle. A box of 12 muffins costs R100 for ingredients and packaging and R20 for electricity. Two hours of your time at R50 an hour is R100.
The break-even price is R220, so selling the box at R250 pays you for your time and leaves R30.
Keep a simple record of every sale and every cost. It helps with pricing, tax and loan applications.
What about tax?
Side income is taxable above the tax threshold. Keep records and set aside part of your earnings for tax. See tax season.
If your side income is significant, you may need to register as a provisional taxpayer. Check the rules with SARS. For registering a business, see the CIPC website.
What should you avoid?
Do not pay to get access to work or to join an “earn at home” scheme. Fake job and opportunity offers are common. See online loan scams.
Also avoid:
- Borrowing to start. See loans for the self-employed.
- Ignoring costs.
- Taking on work you cannot deliver.
How do you use the extra income?
Decide in advance. Many people use this income for an emergency fund, debt or a savings goal. See emergency fund and how to save money.
What could three side hustle ideas earn?
Here are three hypothetical examples, with the work done in spare hours. The numbers are made up to show the sums, and your own prices and demand will differ.
| Idea | Weekly work | Weekly income | Costs | Monthly profit, about |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tutoring | 3 learners, 2 sessions each at R100 | R600 | Data and transport R70 | R2,100 |
| Car washing | 10 cars at R60 | R600 | Supplies R40 | R2,240 |
| Baking | 8 boxes at R30 profit each | R240 | Already in the price | R960 |
Tutoring and car washing look similar on paper, but one needs a subject you know and the other needs a place to work. Baking has the lowest income but also the lowest barrier.
Choose the idea that matches your skills, your free time and your area. Start with a few customers, and see what you can sustain before you add more.
How do you find your first customers?
The first three customers are the hardest. A few places to look:
- People you already know. Tell family, friends and colleagues what you offer, and ask them to pass it on.
- Community groups. Local social media groups, church groups and school parents’ chats are good places for small services.
- Notice boards. Shops, clinics and community centres often allow a card.
- A simple message. Write one clear sentence about what you do, your price and how to reach you.
- Asking for referrals. After a job, ask the customer if they know someone else.
Be honest about what you can do, and keep your word on time and quality. A side hustle grows mostly by reputation.
What should you record from the first day?
A simple ledger helps you see whether the side hustle makes money. Here is a hypothetical example.
| Date | Customer | Income | Cost | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 March | Mrs Nkosi | R120 | R20 | R100 |
| 5 March | Mr Pillay | R200 | R35 | R165 |
| 8 March | Ms Botha | R80 | R10 | R70 |
| Total | R400 | R65 | R335 |
Keep a similar list in a notebook or on your phone, and add up the totals each month. Records help you set prices, spot costly habits and show a lender or SARS what you earn.
Keep receipts for supplies, and keep your own money and the hustle’s money apart if you can.
How much time does a side hustle need?
Most people start with five or six hours a week. Plan it in blocks, such as two evenings and a Saturday morning. Here is a hypothetical week.
| Day | Hours | What |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 2 | Customer sessions |
| Thursday | 2 | Customer sessions |
| Saturday | 2 | Work for customers and admin |
If it begins to affect your main job, or your rest, scale back. The side hustle should help your income, not damage the job that pays the bills. Check your employment contract for rules on outside work.
When should you register and report income?
Rules depend on how much you earn and what you do. In general, income above the tax threshold is taxable, and SARS has rules for people who earn on their own account.
If your side income becomes significant, speak to a registered tax practitioner, or check SARS for provisional tax rules. If you decide to register a business, the CIPC website explains how.
A tidy record from the first month makes all of it easier, and it supports any later application for a loan.
What should you do when a side hustle starts to grow?
If a side hustle gets busy, protect your time and your reputation. Raise your prices a little, set limits on what you can do, and say no to work you cannot deliver well.
Keep your records tidy, and set aside part of each payment for tax. Decide whether the side hustle should stay small or become a business, and talk to a tax practitioner before it passes the point where the rules change.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a side hustle earn?
It depends on the work, your time and your market. Start small and grow.
Do I need to register a business?
Not always at the start. Check the requirements as you grow.
What if I have an employment contract?
Check your contract for restrictions on outside work.
Where can I get customers?
Word of mouth, social media, community groups and local notice boards.
How much should I charge for a side hustle?
Add your costs, your time and a fair profit, then compare with local prices. Start slightly below the going rate to win your first customers, and raise it when you have regular work.
Is a side hustle a good way to clear debt?
It can be, if you set the money aside for the debt as it comes in. Decide in advance where the income goes, so that it is not spent as it arrives.
One free 5-minute form is sent to NCR-registered lenders. Each lender decides for itself and shows you the full cost before you sign.
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