What are the best side hustles in Canada?

The best side hustles in Canada in 2026 include: freelancing (writing, design, development — $25–$150/hr), food delivery (Uber Eats, DoorDash — $15–$25/hr), tutoring ($25–$60/hr), reselling/flipping ($500–$3,000+/month), bookkeeping ($30–$60/hr), pet sitting/dog walking ($15–$30/hr), and selling digital products (variable income, high scalability). The best side hustle depends on your skills, available time, and whether you prefer online or in-person work.

Do I have to pay taxes on side hustle income in Canada?

Yes. All side hustle income is taxable in Canada regardless of the amount. If you earn more than $30,000 in gross revenue in any four consecutive calendar quarters, you must register for and charge GST/HST. Side hustle income is reported as self-employment income on your T1 tax return (line 13500 for gross, line 13700 for net). You can deduct legitimate business expenses (supplies, mileage, home office, phone, software) to reduce your taxable income. You must also pay both the employee and employer portions of CPP on self-employment income.

How much can you realistically earn from a side hustle in Canada?

Realistic earnings depend on the hustle and hours invested. Low-effort options (surveys, cash-back apps) earn $50–$200/month. Moderate-effort gig work (delivery, rideshare) earns $500–$2,000/month for 10–20 hours/week. Skill-based freelancing (writing, design, development, bookkeeping) earns $1,000–$5,000+/month. Scalable businesses (e-commerce, digital products, content creation) can eventually exceed full-time income but require significant upfront time investment.

Can I do a side hustle while working full-time in Canada?

Yes, there is no law preventing you from having a side hustle while employed full-time. However, check your employment contract for non-compete, non-solicitation, or exclusivity clauses. Many employers prohibit working for a direct competitor. Some require disclosure of outside business activities. Government employees may have stricter rules. As long as your side hustle does not conflict with your employer or use company resources, you are generally free to pursue it on your own time.

Best Side Hustles in Canada (2026)

A side hustle can add $500–$5,000+ per month to your income. Here’s every viable option in Canada, ranked by earning potential and effort required.

Best Side Hustles Ranked

Rank	Side Hustle	Hourly Earnings	Monthly Potential (10–15 hrs/wk)	Startup Cost	Skill Level
1	Freelance writing / copywriting	$30–$100/hr	$1,500–$5,000	$0	Intermediate
2	Web development / design	$50–$150/hr	$2,000–$7,000	$0–$500	Advanced
3	Bookkeeping	$30–$60/hr	$1,500–$3,500	$0–$300	Intermediate
4	Online tutoring	$25–$60/hr	$1,000–$3,000	$0	Intermediate
5	Reselling / flipping	$20–$50/hr effective	$500–$3,000	$200–$1,000	Beginner
6	Social media management	$25–$75/hr	$1,000–$4,000	$0	Intermediate
7	Food delivery (Uber Eats, DoorDash)	$15–$25/hr	$600–$1,500	$0 (bike) / vehicle	Beginner
8	Rideshare driving (Uber, Lyft)	$15–$30/hr (gross)	$600–$2,000	Vehicle required	Beginner
9	Photography	$50–$200/event	$500–$3,000	$1,000–$3,000	Intermediate
10	Dog walking / pet sitting	$15–$30/hr	$500–$1,500	$0	Beginner
11	Selling digital products	Variable	$100–$5,000+	$0–$500	Intermediate
12	TaskRabbit / handyman	$25–$50/hr	$800–$2,500	$0–$500	Beginner-Intermediate
13	Cleaning services	$25–$45/hr	$1,000–$3,000	$100–$300	Beginner
14	Yard work / snow removal	$25–$50/hr	$500–$2,000 (seasonal)	$200–$1,000	Beginner
15	Paid surveys / micro-tasks	$3–$10/hr	$50–$200	$0	Beginner

Online Side Hustles

Side Hustle	Platform	Earnings	Time to First Dollar	Best For
Freelance writing	Upwork, Fiverr, Contently	$30–$100/hr	1–4 weeks	Strong writers
Web/app development	Upwork, Toptal, direct clients	$50–$150/hr	1–4 weeks	Developers
Graphic design	Fiverr, 99designs, Upwork	$25–$75/hr	1–2 weeks	Designers
Virtual assistant	Upwork, Belay, Time Etc	$18–$35/hr	1–2 weeks	Organized, detail-oriented
Online tutoring	Wyzant, Varsity Tutors, SuperProf	$25–$60/hr	1–2 weeks	Teachers, experts
Bookkeeping	FreshBooks, direct clients	$30–$60/hr	2–4 weeks	Accounting background
Social media management	Direct clients, Upwork	$25–$75/hr	2–4 weeks	Social media savvy
Selling on Etsy / Shopify	Etsy, Shopify	Variable	2–8 weeks	Crafters, creators
Affiliate marketing / blogging	Own website	$0–$5,000+/month	3–12 months	Patient, content creators
YouTube / content creation	YouTube, TikTok	$0–$10,000+/month	3–12 months	Creative, consistent

In-Person Side Hustles

Side Hustle	Where to Find Work	Earnings	Startup Cost	Best For
Food delivery	Uber Eats, DoorDash, SkipTheDishes	$15–$25/hr	$0 (bike)	Flexible schedule
Rideshare	Uber, Lyft	$15–$30/hr gross	Vehicle required	Evening/weekend availability
Dog walking / pet sitting	Rover, PetBacker, Pawshake	$15–$30/hr	$0	Animal lovers
TaskRabbit / odd jobs	TaskRabbit, Jiffy	$25–$50/hr	$0–$500	Handy, physical
Cleaning	Housecall Pro, Handy, direct clients	$25–$45/hr	$100–$300	Reliable, detail-oriented
Moving / labour	Dolly, TaskRabbit	$20–$35/hr	$0	Physically fit
Photography	Kijiji, word of mouth, Instagram	$50–$200/event	$1,000+	Photographers
Reselling / flipping	Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, eBay	$20–$50/hr effective	$200–$1,000	Bargain hunters
Yard work / landscaping	Direct clients, Jiffy	$25–$50/hr	$200–$1,000	Outdoors, seasonal
Snow removal	Direct clients, Jiffy	$30–$60/hr	$200–$500	Winter seasonal

Tax Implications of Side Hustles

Tax Rule	Details
All income is taxable	Report all side hustle income regardless of amount
Self-employment income	Report on T2125 (Statement of Business Activities)
GST/HST registration	Required when gross revenue exceeds $30,000 in 4 consecutive quarters
CPP contributions	You pay both employee + employer share (11.9% on net income, 2026)
Deductible expenses	Supplies, vehicle expenses at business-use % (gas, insurance, maintenance, CCA), home office, phone, software, advertising
HST collected	Must remit to CRA if registered; can claim Input Tax Credits on business expenses
Quarterly instalments	If you owe >$3,000 in tax, CRA may require quarterly tax payments
Record keeping	Keep all receipts and records for 6 years

Common Deductible Expenses

Expense	Deductible?	Notes
Vehicle expenses (gas, insurance, maintenance)	✅ Business-use portion	Track km driven for business vs personal
Phone and internet	✅ Business-use portion	Typically 25–50% of phone bill
Home office	✅ If dedicated workspace	Per square footage used for business
Software and tools	✅	Subscriptions, apps used for work
Supplies and materials	✅	Cleaning supplies, resale inventory, packaging
Professional development	✅	Courses, certifications related to the hustle
Advertising and marketing	✅	Website, business cards, social media ads
Accounting and bookkeeping	✅	Tax prep, bookkeeping software

Startup Costs Comparison

Side Hustle	Startup Cost	Equipment Needed
Paid surveys	$0	Computer/phone + internet
Freelance writing	$0	Computer + internet
Dog walking	$0	Phone, leash
Food delivery (bike)	$0	Bicycle, phone, insulated bag
Food delivery (car)	$0 (but vehicle costs)	Car, phone, insulated bag
Online tutoring	$0	Computer, webcam, internet
Reselling / flipping	$200–$1,000	Inventory capital
Cleaning services	$100–$300	Supplies, transportation
Photography	$1,000–$3,000	Camera, lenses, editing software
Lawn care	$500–$1,500	Mower, trimmer, transportation