How to make a second income from home without a second job
You can make a second income from home without it feeling like a second job by choosing work that fits small, fixed blocks of time (5 to 15 hours a week), uses a skill you already have, and doesn’t need you on call. Realistic options are a few hours of virtual assistance, tutoring, or part-time remote sales such as appointment setting, which She Sells trains women for in Australia and the US. As a benchmark, Payscale lists virtual assistants at about A$20 to A$51 an hour in Australia and US$13 to US$30 an hour in the US. Plan for tax from the first dollar: in Australia you usually claim the tax-free threshold from one payer only, and in the US self-employment tax is 15.3% once you net $400 or more.
The trick isn’t finding more hours. It’s protecting the few you have, and picking work that pays for those hours without swallowing your evenings.
What makes a second income feel like a second job
Most women I talk to aren’t afraid of work. They’re afraid of the second job feeling: a boss texting at 9pm, shifts that clash with school pick-up, or a “flexible” gig that somehow needs you every waking minute. Before you pick an option, check it against these four tests.
- Fixed blocks, not on call. Can you do it in set windows you choose (two mornings, three evenings) rather than whenever someone pings you?
- Uses a skill you already have. Teaching, admin, organising, talking to people. A skill you already own means less unpaid learning time.
- Pays for your time, not just your effort. Hourly work or a clear commission structure, never “pay us to join” first.
- Has an off switch. When your block ends, can you close the laptop without letting someone down?
Second income options that fit 5 to 15 hours a week
| Option | Hours it suits | Pay (public data, varies) | Second-job feeling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual assistant (admin, inbox, scheduling) | 5 to 15 a week, often set windows | AU: about A$20.27 to A$50.51 an hour, 10th to 90th percentile, small sample (Payscale AU, June 2026). US: about US$12.71 to US$29.89 an hour (Payscale US, June 2026) | Low if you agree fixed hours and response times up front |
| Online tutoring | Evenings and weekends, after school | Set by your rate or the tutoring company | Low: sessions start and end on time |
| Part-time appointment setting (remote sales) | Blocks of 2 to 4 hours, often evenings for US or AU time zones | Often base plus commission, or commission only; varies by offer | Medium: you need consistent practice to get results |
| Selling something you make or resell | Flexible, but marketing time adds up | Your sales minus your costs | Medium to high once orders and messages roll in |
Pay figures are public job data, not a promise. Your rate depends on your experience, the client and, for sales, the offer you’re selling. If you want a longer list of ideas, our guide to side hustle ideas for mums covers more options. This article is about making a small number of hours count.
Why remote sales is on the list
Appointment setting is one of the few second incomes that rewards a skill rather than hours alone. You talk with people who’ve already shown interest in an offer, ask good questions and book them in for a call with a closer. Many setter roles run in set shifts, which is exactly what a second income needs. Our guide to appointment setter jobs from home explains how the role works day to day.
The honest part: many remote sales roles are commission-heavy or commission-only, and results take time. Read commission-only sales jobs: the pros and cons before you say yes to any role. When I moved into remote sales in 2020, I made $440 in my first month. That’s my result, not a typical one, and it took practice to build from there.
That’s where She Sells comes in. She Launches is our foundation program, with live coaching, role play and frameworks so you learn the skill properly (it doesn’t include direct placement). She Soars is our 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 a part-time remote sales role could fit your week? Book a free call with the She Sells team.
The time maths: what 5, 10 or 15 hours really look like
Before you commit, work out where the hours actually come from. A second income that only fits if you never sleep isn’t a plan.
- Write down your fixed week. Your main job or caring hours, school runs, sport, cooking, and sleep. Be honest about the 4pm to 7pm chaos.
- Find two to four protected blocks. For example, two school-day mornings of 3 hours plus one evening of 2 hours is 8 hours a week.
- Subtract the hidden time. Logging in, admin, training and messages often eat 1 to 2 hours a week, especially at the start.
- Do the pay maths on the paid hours only. At the Payscale median of A$30.88 an hour for Australian virtual assistants, 8 paid hours is about A$247 a week before tax, according to that Payscale median. At the US median of US$19.70, the same hours are about US$158 before tax.
- Test it for four weeks. If the blocks keep getting eaten, drop to fewer hours rather than giving up altogether.
Those figures are examples from public pay data, not what you’ll earn. Your real number depends on your rate, how many hours are paid, and tax.
Tax on a second income: Australia
This is where second incomes catch people out, so set it up properly from day one.
If your second income is a second job (employee)
The ATO says that if you have more than one payer at the same time, you generally claim the tax-free threshold from only one, usually the payer who pays you the highest salary or wage. If you expect to earn more than $18,200 from all sources, the ATO suggests asking your other payers to withhold at the higher “no tax-free threshold” rate, which may mean lodging a PAYG withholding variation. Doing this reduces the chance of a tax bill at the end of the year.
If your second income is freelance or contract work
If you work under your own ABN, nobody withholds tax for you. Your second income is added to your main income and taxed at your marginal rate. Under the ATO’s resident tax rates for 2026-27, income between $45,001 and $135,000 is taxed at 30c for each dollar over $45,000, and the rates don’t include the 2% Medicare levy. So if your main job already puts you in that bracket, roughly 32 cents of every extra dollar may go in tax. Put that aside in a separate account each time you’re paid.
Tax on a second income: United States
If your second income is a W-2 job, your employer withholds tax, but check your withholding so the two jobs together don’t leave you short. If you’re a contractor or freelancer (a 1099 or self-employed setup), the rules are different.
- Self-employment tax. The IRS puts the self-employment tax rate at 15.3% (12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare), and you file Schedule SE if your net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more. That’s on top of income tax.
- Estimated tax. The IRS says individuals generally have to make estimated tax payments if they expect to owe $1,000 or more when they file. Many side earners pay quarterly to avoid a surprise.
Tax rules change and your situation is your own, so talk to a registered tax agent (AU) or a tax professional (US) once your second income is regular.
Red flags that turn a second income into a second problem
Low-hours work attracts scammers because people want something that fits around life. Walk away if you see any of these:
- You have to pay to join, buy stock or buy a “starter kit” before you earn anything.
- Most of the money comes from recruiting other people, not from selling a real product or service.
- Someone promises a set income for little effort, or there’s no interview and no clear role.
- You’re asked to move money or parcels through your own accounts.
For a fuller checklist, read legit work-from-home jobs vs scams.
A simple plan for your first month
- Week 1: map your protected blocks and pick one option from the table that matches the skill you already have.
- Week 2: set up the admin: tax file declaration or ABN in Australia, W-9 or W-4 paperwork in the US, and a separate account for tax.
- Week 3: start small (5 hours) and track every hour you spend, paid or not.
- Week 4: review. If the hours fit and the pay makes sense, keep going or add a block. If not, adjust before you burn out.
If remote sales is the option that interests you, learning the skill first matters. Booking calls and handling “no” well is learnable, but it isn’t instant, and that’s why She Launches focuses on live role play and coaching before you’re on real calls.
Want to learn a skill that fits a few hours a week? Book a free call with the She Sells team and ask how part-time remote sales works.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a week do I need for a second income?
Many people start with 5 to 10 hours a week in two to four protected blocks. That’s enough to test whether the work fits your life without overloading you. Track the hidden time like admin and training, because that comes out of the same week.
Do I pay more tax on a second job in Australia?
The tax rate isn’t different, but your income is added together and taxed at your marginal rate. The ATO says you generally claim the tax-free threshold from only one payer, and you may ask other payers to withhold at the no tax-free threshold rate so you don’t get a bill at tax time.
Do I have to pay self-employment tax on a small side income in the US?
According to the IRS, you file Schedule SE if your net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more for the year. The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%, on top of income tax, so set money aside from each payment.
Is appointment setting a good second income for mums?
It can be, because many setter roles run in set shifts and reward a skill you can practise. Be aware that many roles are commission-heavy or commission-only, and results take time. Training first, then applying for roles with clear terms, gives you the best start.
Can I do a second income without my employer knowing?
Check your employment contract first, because some include conflict of interest or secondary employment clauses. Being upfront is usually simpler, especially if your second income is in a different field and outside your work hours.
Results vary. Nothing here is a promise of income. See our earnings disclaimer.
