Best side hustle for working moms: the 10-hour test
The best side hustle for working moms (mums, as we say in Australia) is the one that passes the 10-hour test: it fits into about 10 spare hours a week, costs little to start, pays you within a few weeks, and doesn’t clash with your day job. For most working mums in Australia and the US, that points to tutoring, virtual assistant work, freelancing a skill you already use at work, or evening appointment setting in remote sales. Public pay data puts these roughly between US$13 and US$43 an hour in the US and AU$20 to AU$56 in Australia, varying widely by role, and tax comes off the top.
This page is for you if you already have a job. If you want a bigger menu of ideas, start with our side hustle ideas for mums, then come back here to choose one.
The 10-hour test: how to choose a side hustle when you already work
The 10-hour test is a simple scoring rule: a side hustle for a working mum has to earn its keep inside roughly 10 hours a week, because that is about what’s left after a day job, school runs, dinner and bedtime. If an option only pays once you give it 25 hours, it isn’t a side hustle for you right now, it’s a second job.
Score each option from 0 to 2 on four criteria:
- Hours fit. Can the work happen in the hours you actually have (after 7.30pm, weekends, lunch breaks)? 2 = yes, fully. 1 = mostly. 0 = it needs daytime hours you’re already paid for.
- Startup cost. 2 = a laptop and internet you already own. 1 = a course, software or registration. 0 = stock, equipment or a buy-in.
- Time to first dollar. 2 = paid within a few weeks. 1 = within a few months. 0 = no clear date.
- Day-job fit. 2 = no overlap with your employer’s business and low energy drain. 1 = some overlap or a heavy mental load. 0 = competes with your employer or needs you on call during work hours.
Add it up out of 8 and use this threshold table to decide.
| Score (out of 8) | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 7 to 8 | Fits your life as it is now | Start this month and give it 90 days |
| 5 to 6 | Workable with one change (childcare, a skill, a schedule swap) | Fix the weak score first, then start |
| 3 to 4 | Probably a second job in disguise | Park it until your hours change |
| 0 to 2 | Wrong side hustle for a working mum | Skip it, especially if it asks you to pay to join |
The one rule that overrides the score: if anything asks you to pay to join, recruit others to earn, or promises a set income, walk away. Our guide to side hustles that are not MLM covers those red flags in detail.
Best side hustles for working moms compared
Here’s how five common options score for someone who already has a job. Pay figures are from Payscale, checked in October 2026. They’re self-reported, they include full-time workers, and your own rate will vary with your experience, clients and hours.
| Side hustle | 10-hour test score | Public pay data | Wrong for you if… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online tutoring | 7 (hours 2, cost 2, first dollar 2, day-job fit 1) | US median $20.55 an hour, most between $13.35 and $42.56 (Payscale US); AU median AU$30.80, most between AU$20.01 and AU$56.38 (Payscale AU) | You’re a teacher who’s already exhausted by 4pm, or your evenings clash with families’ homework hours |
| Freelancing a skill from your day job (bookkeeping, writing, design) | 6 (hours 2, cost 2, first dollar 1, day-job fit 1) | Depends on the field, so check your own trade’s data | Your contract has a non-compete or conflict-of-interest clause, or your clients would be your employer’s clients |
| Virtual assistant (VA) work | 6 (hours 1, cost 2, first dollar 2, day-job fit 1) | US median $19.70 an hour, most between $12.71 and $29.89 (Payscale US); AU median AU$30.88, most between AU$20.27 and AU$50.51 (Payscale AU) | Your clients expect replies during business hours while you’re at your desk |
| Evening appointment setting (remote sales) | 6 (hours 2, cost 1, first dollar 2, day-job fit 1) | US median $16.08 an hour, most between $12.74 and $20.85, plus commission (Payscale US); AU median AU$25.58 from only 8 profiles (Payscale AU) | You hate the phone, or the role is commission-only and you need predictable money now |
| Remote closing (remote sales) | 4 (hours 1, cost 1, first dollar 1, day-job fit 1) | Mostly commission, so no reliable hourly figure; see how much remote closers make | You need steady income within weeks, or can only offer odd hours |
Notice what’s missing: reselling and anything with stock. Those usually fail the startup cost and time-to-first-dollar checks for someone with a day job.
Wondering if evening remote sales could fit around your job? Book a free call with the She Sells team.
What a side hustle really pays after tax and childcare
A side hustle’s real hourly rate is what’s left after tax, costs and any childcare you pay for, divided by the hours you actually worked. Second income is taxed on top of your day job, so it often lands in a higher bracket than you expect. Here’s a worked example you can rerun with your own numbers.
Australia: tutoring 10 hours a week
- Gross: 10 hours at the Payscale AU median of AU$30.80 = AU$308.00
- Tax: if your day job already puts you in the 30% bracket (taxable income AU$45,001 to AU$135,000 in 2026-27) plus the 2% Medicare levy, per the ATO resident tax rates, set aside 32% = AU$98.56
- After tax: AU$209.44, or AU$20.94 an hour
- If 2 of those hours need paid childcare at the same AU$30.80 an hour: AU$209.44 minus AU$61.60 = AU$147.84, or AU$14.78 an hour
US: VA work 10 hours a week as a contractor
- Gross: 10 hours at the Payscale US median of $19.70 = $197.00
- Self-employment tax: the IRS self-employment tax rate is 15.3%, so set aside up to $30.14 (Schedule SE usually works out a little lower)
- Income tax: this sits on top at your own federal and state rate. Using an example combined 15%: $29.55
- After tax: about $137.31, or $13.73 an hour, before any childcare
Your formula: (hourly rate x hours) minus tax set-aside minus costs minus childcare, divided by hours. If the answer is below what you’d accept for your time, choose a different option or change the hours. These are illustrations only, not tax advice, so check your situation with a registered tax agent or tax professional.
Second job tax rules for working mums in Australia and the US
In Australia, the ATO says that if you have more than one payer at the same time, you generally only claim the tax-free threshold from one of them, usually the one paying the highest wage. If you work under an ABN as a sole trader, nothing is withheld, so put money aside every week. Our guide on whether you need an ABN explains when that applies.
In the US, the IRS says you must file Schedule SE and pay self-employment tax if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more. Contractor income usually arrives with nothing withheld, so plan for quarterly estimated payments.
Check your employment contract before you start
Many employment contracts include a conflict-of-interest, secondary employment or moonlighting clause. Read yours before you take on paid work, and if it says you need approval, ask in writing. The safe pattern is the same in Australia and the US:
- Never do side work on your employer’s time, laptop or phone.
- Don’t work for your employer’s competitors or clients without written approval.
- Keep your side hustle out of your work email and work hours, including lunch-break calls you take at your desk.
Where remote sales fits for a mum with a day job
Remote sales is the slowest option on the list to master and the one with the highest ceiling. Setters book calls and closers run them, often for online businesses, and many roles are part-time or evening-friendly. If you’re looking at night shifts specifically, see our list of evening work-from-home jobs.
The honest part: many remote sales roles are commission-heavy or commission-only, and results take time. I moved into remote sales in 2020 and made $440 in my first month. That’s my result, not a typical one, and it took practice to grow from there. If you need reliable money within a month, tutoring or VA work will usually get you there faster.
She Sells exists for the women who decide sales is worth learning. She Launches is our foundation program, with live coaching, role play and frameworks (it doesn’t include placement). She Soars is the career program through the She Sells Cert III in Remote Sales certificate: once you’re certified, our recruitment team works with you to land a role within 90 days, or your money back. You can compare both on our programs page.
Want to see if remote sales could be your side hustle? Book a free call with the She Sells team.
Results vary. Nothing here is a promise of income. See our earnings disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best side hustle for a working mom with no time?
Pick something that pays inside about 10 hours a week and needs no daytime availability, such as online tutoring in the evenings or freelancing a skill you already use at work. Avoid anything that needs stock, a buy-in or recruiting. Score your options with the 10-hour test before you commit.
Can I have a side hustle if I already have a full-time job?
Usually yes, but check your employment contract for conflict-of-interest or secondary employment clauses first. Keep the side work off your employer’s time and equipment. If your contract requires approval, ask in writing before you start.
Do I pay tax on side hustle income?
Yes, in both countries. In the US, the IRS requires self-employment tax on net self-employment earnings of $400 or more, at a rate of 15.3%. In Australia, side income is added to your taxable income, and the ATO resident tax rates show where that lands.
Is remote sales a good side hustle for moms?
It can be, if you’re happy on the phone and patient while you build skill. Many roles are commission-heavy, so the first months can pay less than tutoring or VA work. It suits mums who want a long-term skill rather than quick money.
How many hours a week should a working mom spend on a side hustle?
Start with what you can keep up for 90 days, which for most working mums is around 10 hours. Burning out in month two earns you nothing. Increase the hours only once the first 10 are paying and your family routine still works.
