Reselling as a Side Hustle in Australia — What You Need to Know

Why Reselling Is an Ideal Side Hustle

Reselling ticks many boxes as a side hustle for Australians. The barriers to entry are low (you can start with $50 of op shop stock), the hours are flexible (list at night, post on weekends), it's infinitely scalable, and the skills transfer to genuine business acumen. Unlike other side hustles that require specific qualifications, anyone with an eye for value and willingness to learn can start reselling.

Balancing Reselling with Full-Time Work

The key to successful part-time reselling is building efficient systems. Batch your sourcing (one or two dedicated trips per week), batch your listing (photograph and list multiple items in one session), and batch your shipping (post all sold items in one trip). Most part-time resellers spend 8-15 hours per week and can manage 20-50 active listings comfortably.

Tax Implications of Side Hustle Income

Side hustle income from reselling is still taxable income. It gets added to your employment income and taxed at your marginal rate. If you're earning $80,000 from your day job, your reselling profit is taxed at 32.5% plus Medicare levy. Many side hustlers are surprised by the tax impact because their reselling income sits on top of their salary. The good news is that business expenses reduce your taxable income. See our reseller tax guide for the complete picture.

When It Crosses Into a Business

For the ATO, there's no "side hustle" category — it's either a hobby or a business. If you're buying items to resell at a profit regularly, it's a business. Get an ABN, keep proper records, and declare your income. See our ABN guide for how to set up properly.