Guide - Canada
27 Side Hustle Ideas to Make Extra Money in 2026 (Canada Edition)
Side hustles are a fixture in Canada. Statistics Canada reports 5.6% of employed Canadians held more than one job in 2023, roughly 1.1 million people. Surveys suggest well over half of workers do some kind of extra earning, from gig platforms to e-commerce. Below are 27 ideas with Canadian notes on pricing, compliance, and practical steps to land clients.
Beginner to Advanced
Startup: $0-2,500
Time: 5-20 hrs/week
Updated: Sept 15, 2025
Key Trends - quick data
5.6% hold 2+ jobs
Multiple jobholding in 2023 was near pre-pandemic levels, showing extra income streams are sticky.
StatsCan 2023Gig work is mainstream
Millions of Canadians do delivery, pro services, resale, or digital products, often evenings and weekends.
Labour market surveysLocal rules matter
Short-term rentals, food handling, and home businesses are regulated municipally and provincially. Check your city.
Municipal bylawsSide-hustle prevalence - surveyed share of workers
Survey figures vary by method. Treat these as directional and validate locally.
How to Choose the Right Side Hustle
- Leverage your strengths. You will earn faster with less ramp-up.
- Match time to payoff. Target 5-20 hours weekly and batch work.
- Start lean. Validate demand before buying gear. Pre-sell when possible.
- Think scalability. Services can grow into agencies. Digital products compound.
- Mind GST/HST. Exceed 30,000 dollars in taxable supplies in one quarter or over four consecutive quarters and you must register and charge GST/HST.
27 Side Hustle Ideas - expand to read details
Online and Remote-Friendly
▶ 1) Freelance Bookkeeping and Invoicing
- Why it works: SMBs need monthly reconciliations, invoicing, receipt capture, and simple reporting.
- Offer: Tiered packages, bank recs, AR follow-ups, monthly profit & loss with one review call.
- Pricing: $200-600 per client per month depending on volume; add payroll or GST/HST filing.
- Get clients: Community groups, partner with tax preparers, ask trades for referrals.
- Tools: QuickBooks/Wave, Dext/Hubdoc, Google Drive, Calendly.
- Compliance: Register for GST/HST once you cross the small-supplier threshold.
- Canadian angle: ON/BC dense SMB clusters; trades in Prairies/Atlantic often need invoice chasing.
▶ 2) Virtual Assistant for SMB Owners
- Offer: Inbox triage, scheduling, vendor calls, intake forms, light bookkeeping.
- Packaging: 10/20/40-hour retainers with response windows and service levels.
- Get clients: Google Business Profiles of trades & clinics; DM with a specific quick win.
- Tools: Google Workspace, Notion/Asana, Loom, LastPass.
- Scale: Document SOPs and subcontract; add social or bookkeeping as upsells.
- Canadian angle: Bilingual support is valuable in Quebec and with federal contractors.
▶ 3) Social Media Management with light ads
- Service: 12-16 posts monthly, replies, 2 boosted posts, monthly report.
- Acquire: Case-study one business, leverage testimonials, offer a 30-day sprint.
- Upsell: UGC sourcing, short-form video, basic lead ads.
- Tools: Canva, CapCut, Meta Business Suite, Buffer.
- Canadian angle: Seasonal hooks like tax time, cottage season, NHL playoffs, provincial holidays.
▶ 4) Online Tutoring or Coaching
- Focus: Math, ESL, French, resume/interview coaching.
- Format: 4 or 8-session bundles with homework and progress tracking.
- Find students: School groups, libraries, LinkedIn. Offer family discounts.
- Scale: Record sessions, sell mini courses, run group cohorts.
- Canadian angle: French tutoring strong in QC/NB; immigrant hubs value ESL/job coaching.
▶ 5) Web Design and No Code Sites
- Starter offer: One-page site in 7 days + Google Profile + booking link.
- Pricing: $800-1,800 per one-pager; $150-300/month maintenance.
- Niches: Trades, clinics, real estate, restaurants with accessibility basics.
- Canadian angle: Local SEO is key in GTA, GVA, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Montreal.
▶ 6) Podcast Editing and Voice Over
- Deliverables: Cleanup, intro/outro, show notes, social clips.
- Pitch: New Canadian podcasts, chambers, universities.
- Stack: Audacity/Audition, Descript, Auphonic.
- Canadian angle: Bilingual shows open EN/FR work across Quebec and federal niches.
▶ 7) Digital Products like templates and ebooks
- Niches: Contractor estimates, GST/HST bookkeeping kits, hiring checklists.
- Distribution: Shopify, Gumroad, Etsy with SEO/social funnels.
- Scale: Starter packs by industry; add coaching calls.
- Canadian angle: Use metric units, CRA terms, bilingual variants where relevant.
▶ 8) Affiliate Content and Niche Blogs
- Approach: Canada-specific keywords like “best X in Canada” with provincial comparisons.
- Monetize: Affiliate + display ads once traffic grows; build an email list.
- Canadian angle: Cover provincial differences in fees, availability, shipping, and regulations.
▶ 9) Print on Demand and Merch
- Strategy: Seasonal Canada themes like cottage life, hockey, fall colours; micro-test designs.
- Ops: POD handles fulfillment; you focus on design/marketing.
- Canadian angle: Regional slang and landmarks convert; add bilingual options for Quebec.
▶10) Email Newsletter or Local Media Micro Brand
- Concept: Curate deals, events, or jobs for a city/niche; sell classifieds and sponsorships.
- Monetize: Local sponsors, paid classifieds, premium memberships.
- Tools: Beehiiv, Substack, Mailchimp; Canva for branding.
- Canadian angle: City-focused newsletters thrive in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Ottawa.
Local and In Person - High Demand
▶11) Food Delivery or Ride Share
- Optimize: Work peak hours/dense zones; track net after fuel and maintenance.
- Risk: Weather/platform changes impact pay; keep a buffer.
- Canadian angle: Winter driving changes routes/timing; GTA/GVA see steadier demand.
▶12) Handyperson and Odd Jobs
- Jobs: TV mounting, drywall patches, furniture assembly, caulking/weatherproofing.
- Get clients: Google Business Profile + reviews; realtor referrals.
- Compliance: Respect provincial limits for electrical/plumbing.
- Canadian angle: Basement renos and winterizing surge in ON, QC, MB, SK.
▶13) Residential Cleaning
- Productize: Bi-weekly plans plus move-in/out and deep cleans.
- Trust: Background checks and insurance help close deals.
- Canadian angle: STR turnovers (where legal) in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, AB/BC mountain towns.
▶14) Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
- Offers: 30/60-minute walks, GPS tracking, vacation drop-ins and house sitting.
- Peak: Long weekends, summer holidays, spring break.
- Canadian angle: Winter gear and safe routes matter in Prairies and Atlantic provinces.
▶15) Snow Removal - seasonal
- Model: Season passes with priority response and salting add-ons.
- Ops: Route optimization, text alerts, photo proof of service.
- Canadian angle: Strong demand in QC, ON, MB, SK, AB; Lower Mainland BC still sees icing spikes.
▶16) Lawn Care and Landscaping - seasonal
- Core: Weekly mow/trim; upsell aeration, dethatching, spring/fall cleanups.
- Scale: Route density and prepaid seasonal contracts.
- Canadian angle: Ontario suburbs enable dense routes; Prairie drought rules can shift service mix.
▶17) Event Photography and Videography
- Packages: 4/6/8-hour options with highlight reels and fast edits.
- Lead gen: Partner with venues/planners; build portfolio via styled shoots.
- Canadian angle: Wedding season May–Oct; winter corporate events spike pre-holidays.
Skill Based and Niche
▶18) Tax Preparation and Sole Prop Setup
- Why: Canadians need help with slips, credits, expense categorization.
- Bundles: T1 prep + GST/HST registration + bookkeeping setup.
- Compliance: Know small-supplier rules and registration timing.
- Canadian angle: Highest demand late Feb–Apr; sole prop setups steady year-round.
▶19) Translation and Localization
- Strength: English↔French with legal/medical/marketing specialties.
- Quality: Maintain glossaries and QA checklists; align tone with brand guides.
- Canadian angle: Quebec and federal contracts require robust bilingual capability.
▶20) IT Support and Device Repair
- Services: Wi-Fi fixes, backup, malware removal, phone/tablet screens.
- Model: One-off fixes plus remote support retainers.
- Canadian angle: Rural areas have fewer providers — offer monthly remote helpdesks.
▶21) Real Estate Photography and Floorplans
- Bundle: Stills, short video, and 2D plans with 24–48h delivery.
- Lead gen: Pitch brokerages; offer a first-listing promo.
- Canadian angle: GTA/GVA volume is high; winter daylight limits affect schedules.
▶22) Home Staging and STR Setup
- Work: Decor sourcing, furniture layout, listing optimization, photo coordination.
- Clients: Realtors, flippers, STR owners (where legal).
- Canadian angle: STR rules vary by city; verify primary-residence rules and caps in QC/BC and parts of ON.
▶23) Short Term Rental - primary residence
- Reality: Many cities restrict nights or require primary-residence licensing; enforcement is rising.
- Ops: Strong cleaning SOPs, noise policies, and local tax remittance where required.
- Canadian angle: Montreal seasonal limits; BC/ON municipalities enforce primary-residence rules.
▶24) Workshops and Local Classes
- Venues: Community centres, libraries, coworking spaces (room rental or rev-share).
- Scale: Record sessions to sell replays and kits; offer corporate training.
- Canadian angle: Tech hubs (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Waterloo) respond well to skills workshops.
▶25) Catering, Baking, or Meal Prep - home based
- Model: Pre-order menus, weekly plans, event trays.
- Compliance: Provincial food-handler certification and local permits may apply.
- Canadian angle: Cultural festivals and holiday seasons drive spikes across provinces.
▶26) Reselling and Flips - marketplace and thrifting
- Inventory: Furniture, tools, electronics; learn simple repairs and stage photos.
- Ops: Precise listings, clear pickup windows, and e-transfer or card on pickup.
- Canadian angle: University move-in/out cycles in ON, QC, BC, AB are prime sourcing windows.
▶27) Commercial Cleaning - night routes
- Clients: Offices, clinics, retail. Propose 3-month pilot contracts.
- Scale: Train a small crew; add floor care or windows as upsells.
- Canadian angle: Downtown cores (GTA, GVA, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa) have steady demand; winter salt increases cleaning needs.
Earnings and Time - what to expect
| Hustle Type | Typical Startup Cost | Time per Week | Potential Monthly Revenue* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-cost online (VA, tutoring, editing) | $0-300 | 5-15 hrs | $300-1,500 |
| Local services (cleaning, pets, lawn) | $150-1,500 | 8-20 hrs | $800-3,000 |
| Creative/scale (web, digital products) | $100-800 | 8-25+ hrs | $500-5,000+ once established |
Ranges reflect part-time operations in typical Canadian cities. Pricing, seasonality, and consistency drive outcomes.
Taxes in Canada - quick tips
- GST/HST: Exceed 30,000 dollars in a quarter or over four consecutive quarters and you must register and begin charging GST/HST. Register within 29 days of the effective date.
- Records: Separate business banking and track mileage, supplies, and home office from day one.
- Municipal rules: Short-term rentals, signage, and food handling vary by city/province. Verify bylaws.
- Insurance: General liability for hands-on work; E&O for advisory services.
Side Hustle Matchmaker - find your best fit
Pick your preferences, then press Show my results to get ranked matches.
Time per week
Startup budget
Earning goal per month
Work style
Seasonality ok
Interests - pick a few
Your Matches
Top picks based on your time, budget, earning goal, style, and interests.
Suggestions use typical part-time ranges. Verify local demand, costs, and bylaws in your city.
Sources
- Statistics Canada — Multiple jobholders (5.6% in 2023; ≈1.1M). Quality of Employment.
- Canada Revenue Agency — GST/HST small-supplier threshold ($30,000) and timing. When to register and charge.
- Municipal STR frameworks — e.g., Montreal seasonal limits; primary-residence rules in some BC/ON municipalities (verify current bylaws).
