Legit ways to make money from home in Australia
The legit ways to make money from home in Australia all have one thing in common: someone pays you for work or for real sales, and you never pay to start. That usually means a remote employee role, freelance work under your own ABN (virtual assistance, bookkeeping, tutoring), remote sales (appointment setting or closing), or selling things you make. As a benchmark, the Fair Work Ombudsman puts the National Minimum Wage at A$26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026, and Payscale lists Australian virtual assistants at about A$20 to A$51 an hour. Most of it is taxable, so set up properly with the ATO from day one.
At She Sells we train women, especially mums, for remote sales roles worked from home, with a team in Australia and the US. Below is the Australian picture first, with a short note for US readers at the end.
Legit work-from-home options in Australia at a glance
| Option | Usually employee or ABN? | Pay (AUD, varies) | Good fit if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remote employee role (part-time or casual) | Employee (tax file number, super, award rules) | At least the minimum wage: the National Minimum Wage is A$26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026 (Fair Work); awards may set higher rates | You want steady hours and employee protections |
| Virtual assistant | Often ABN (contractor), sometimes employee | About A$20.27 to A$50.51 an hour, 10th to 90th percentile, small sample (Payscale, June 2026) | You’re organised and good with admin |
| Remote sales: appointment setter or closer | Either; many are contractors on commission | Seek shows an average advertised salary of about A$80,000 for sales development representatives in locations such as Brisbane (Seek, October 2026); commission roles vary widely | You like talking with people and can handle “no” |
| Bookkeeping or admin for small businesses | Usually ABN | Set by your rate and clients | You like numbers and detail |
| Tutoring online | ABN or through a tutoring company | Set by your rate or the company | You’ve taught, or you’re strong in a subject |
| Selling things you make | Hobby, side hustle or business, depending on how you run it | Your sales minus your costs | You have a craft and like marketing it |
Pay figures are public job data, not a promise. Your rate depends on experience, hours, the client and, for sales, the offer you’re selling.
Employee or ABN: get this right first
In Australia, how you’re engaged changes your pay, super, tax and protections. Employees are covered by minimum wages and award conditions. Contractors run their own business, quote their own rates and handle their own tax.
- Don’t let an employer push you onto an ABN. The Australian Business Register’s ABN entitlement page says you’re “not entitled to an ABN for work that you carry out as an employee”, and “an employer shouldn’t ask you to get an ABN as a condition of employment.”
- You need an ABN if you’re genuinely in business. The ABR says you’re entitled to one if you’re “carrying on or starting an enterprise in Australia”. You apply through the ABR, and you may be asked for evidence that you’ve started your business.
- Commission-only has rules for employees. The Fair Work Ombudsman says an employee “can be paid commission-only when an award or enterprise agreement states that an employee can be paid this way” (see piece rates and commission payments). Commission-only contractor roles are common in remote sales; that’s legal, but it means slow weeks pay less.
If you’re weighing up commission work, read commission-only sales jobs: pros and cons before you sign.
Tax basics: ATO side hustle rules
The ATO’s guide on whether you’re running a business, side hustle or hobby explains that your activity may be “a business”, “an income-producing activity that does not amount to carrying on a business”, or “a hobby or recreational pursuit”. It also warns that “‘not being in business’ does not automatically mean amounts you receive are tax-free.”
- Keep records of every payment and every work cost from the first dollar.
- GST: the ATO says you must register for GST when your GST turnover is $75,000 or more, or when you start a business and expect to reach that in the first year.
- Set money aside. As a contractor, no one withholds tax for you. A registered tax agent can tell you what applies to your situation.
Want to see if remote sales could work for you from home? Book a free call with the She Sells team.
How to spot the fake ones: Scamwatch red flags
Work-from-home ads attract scammers. Scamwatch says to “stop and check any job offer that requires you to pay money to make money.” Its warning signs include:
- A recruiter contacts you out of the blue by text or on WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram.
- You’re told you can earn “a high income while working from home and with little effort.”
- There’s no interview or discussion about your qualifications, experience and references.
- You’re asked to top up an account with your own money or cryptocurrency to complete tasks.
- The job involves transferring money, making purchases or receiving packages for someone else.
- You must pay a “recruitment fee” or for training materials before you start.
Scamwatch also says: “Don’t take payment or rewards to recruit other people.” That rules out pyramid-style “opportunities” too. For a full checklist, see legit work from home jobs vs scams, and if you’re eyeing sales roles, is remote sales legit?
Remote sales from home in Australia
Remote sales is one of the few work-from-home options that can be part-time and flexible without a degree. Businesses selling coaching, courses, software and services hire appointment setters to start conversations and book calls, and closers to run the sales call. You work from a laptop, often across time zones, which can suit school hours or evenings.
The honest parts: many roles are commission-heavy or commission-only, results take time, and you need practice to get good. My own first month in remote sales in 2020 brought in $440, my result and not a typical one. I started as a primary school teacher in a small town, and I’ve since generated over $10M in online sales, so I know both how slow the start can be and what skill can do over time.
She Sells covers both halves: learning the skill and getting hired.
- She Launches is our foundation program, with live coaching, role play and sales frameworks. 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.
- We also run a free community, live events including She Sells Live in Melbourne in November 2026, and the “She’s Not Selling” podcast.
See our programs for details, and remote sales jobs in Australia for where to find roles.
A short note for US readers
The same logic applies in the US: legit work pays you, and you never pay for a job. The tax rules differ. The IRS says you must pay self-employment tax if your net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more, and the rate is 15.3%. For more US-friendly ideas, read how to make money from home as a mum.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an ABN to work from home in Australia?
Only if you’re genuinely running a business or working as a contractor. If you’re an employee working remotely, you don’t need one, and the ABR says an employer shouldn’t ask you to get an ABN as a condition of employment.
Do I have to pay tax on side hustle income in Australia?
Usually, yes. The ATO says not being in business doesn’t automatically make amounts tax-free, and most income from work or regular selling needs to go in your tax return. Genuine hobbies and casual sales of unwanted personal items are the main exceptions.
What’s the minimum wage for work-from-home jobs in Australia?
Employees working from home have the same minimum pay rights as anyone else. The National Minimum Wage is A$26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026, and many awards set higher rates. Contractors set their own rates instead.
How do I know a work-from-home job in Australia is real?
A real job interviews you, explains pay in writing and never asks you to pay to start. Scamwatch warns about unexpected messages on WhatsApp or Telegram, quick hiring with no interview, and any request for money or cryptocurrency.
Can I do remote sales part-time around kids?
Many setter and closer roles are flexible and part-time, though some need set call blocks in the evenings or across time zones. Expect commission-heavy pay and a learning curve before results come.
Results vary. Nothing here is a promise of income. See our earnings disclaimer.
Ready to learn remote sales and get help landing a role? Book a free call with the She Sells team in Australia or the US.
