Best Side Hustles in Canada (and What the CRA Expects From You)

A side hustle in Canada can help with rent, groceries or debt. It also turns you into a small business in the eyes of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

We compared four well-known platforms by what they require and what they cost you, and pulled the tax rules straight from canada.ca. No platform here promises a set income, and neither do we.

Key takeaways

• Earnings depend on your city, hours, demand and costs. No platform below publishes a set income for Canada.
• Platforms treat you as an independent contractor, not an employee.
• Under Part XX of the Income Tax Act, platforms now report seller income to the CRA.
• Commercial ridesharing has its own GST/HST rule: you must register, collect and remit on rides even under $30,000 in total sales.

Side hustle platforms at a glance

Requirements and fees as of September 2026, from each platform’s official Canadian page.

1. DoorDash

Food and grocery delivery on your own schedule, with the widest choice of vehicles.

At a glance

• Requirements: 18 or older; any car, scooter or, in select cities, a bicycle.
• Documents: consent to a background check, two pieces of government ID, a valid Business Number or SIN and a full-class driver’s licence if you drive.
• How pay works: base pay per offer depends on estimated time, distance and desirability; if you choose to earn by time, base pay follows an hourly minimum for time spent actively on a delivery.
• Status: DoorDash describes Dashers in Canada as independent contractors.

Pros and cons

• No car needed in cities that allow bike delivery.
• You see each offer before you accept it.
• Fuel, maintenance and insurance come out of your pocket.
• Demand varies by city and time of day.

How to sign up

Apply on DoorDash’s Canadian Dasher page, then complete the background check.

2. Uber

Rideshare driving for people with a qualifying vehicle who pass screening.

At a glance

• Requirements: meet the minimum age requirement and be legally allowed to drive; Uber says local vehicle requirements vary by city.
• Documents: valid documents to drive, proof of residency in your city or province, a profile photo, and vehicle registration and insurance if you use your own car.
• Screening: an online check of your driving record and criminal history.
• Tax note: ridesharing has a special GST/HST rule; see the CRA section below.

Pros and cons

• Uses a car you may already own.
• Clear online screening process.
• GST/HST registration on rides, even below $30,000 in sales.
• Wear and tear on your vehicle.

How to sign up

Sign up on Uber’s Canadian driver page, upload your documents and finish the screening.

3. Instacart

You pick orders in the app, shop in the store and deliver to the customer.

At a glance

• Requirements: at least 18, legally authorized to work in Canada, able to lift up to 40 lbs (18 kg) and regular access to a reliable car and a smartphone.
• Documents: driver’s licence, social insurance number and bank account information for direct deposit.
• Paying for groceries: Instacart sends you a payment card, so you don’t use your own money at checkout.

Pros and cons

• You choose which orders to take.
• No personal spending on customer groceries.
• A reliable car is required.
• Physical work, with lifting up to 40 lbs.

How to sign up

Create an account on Instacart’s Canadian shopper site, then finish setup in the Shopper app.

4. Etsy

An online marketplace for selling goods you make. You set your prices; Etsy charges fees on each listing and sale.

At a glance

• Listing fee: $0.28 per listing, billed in US currency, so it moves with the exchange rate; a listing lasts four months or until it sells.
• Transaction fee: 6.5% of the sale price, including the postage price you set.
• Payment processing: 3% to 4% plus $0.25 per order through Etsy Payments.
• Offsite Ads fee: 15% on sales that come through Etsy’s offsite ads.

Pros and cons

• Low cost to test a product.
• Work from home on your own schedule.
• Fees stack up: add them all before you set prices.
• The platform reports sellers above the CRA threshold.

How to sign up

Open a shop from Etsy’s Canadian seller page and list your first item.

What the CRA expects from you

The CRA’s gig economy page says gig workers who are resident in Canada must report and pay tax on all self-employment income, using Form T2125, Statement of Business or Professional Activities. You can claim eligible expenses if you keep proper records.

• GST/HST: if you earn more than $30,000 over four calendar quarters from taxable sales, you must register, collect and remit. Commercial ridesharing is different: you must register, collect and remit on ridesharing even if your total is under $30,000.
• Platform reporting: the reporting rules for digital platforms are in Part XX of the Income Tax Act. They cover sales of goods, rentals of property, rideshare and delivery, and personal services.
• What’s reported: according to the CRA’s page on what information is shared, your name, address, tax identification number, date of birth, total amounts paid to you per quarter, and fees or commissions the platform withheld.
• Deadline: platforms file by the last day of January for the previous calendar year; the first deadline was January 31, 2025, for 2024.
• Small sellers: sellers of goods with fewer than 30 sales and no more than $2,800 in the period are excluded from reporting. Your income is still taxable.

How to choose a side hustle

• Choose DoorDash if you want the most flexible start, especially without a car in a bike-friendly city.
• Choose Uber if you have a qualifying car and are ready to register for GST/HST on rides.
• Choose Instacart if you have a reliable car and prefer shopping to driving passengers.
• Choose Etsy if you make things and want to build a small shop.

Before your first shift

• Open a separate account for side income; see our list of no-fee digital banks in Canada.
• Track every expense: fuel, phone, supplies and platform fees.
• Set aside part of each payout for income tax and, if it applies, GST/HST.
• Tell your auto insurer if you’ll drive for work.
• Build the extra money into a plan with our guide to budgeting apps and tariff-proofing your finances.
• Once taxes are covered, consider putting savings in a TFSA; see how much you can contribute to your TFSA in 2026.

How we compared these platforms

• Checked: requirements and fees on September 23, 2026, on each platform’s official Canadian page.
• Order: no ranking. DoorDash comes first as the most flexible start for most readers (see the Quick answer); the others follow by vehicle need, then goods selling.
• No earnings claims: we don’t estimate income. Pay depends on location, hours, demand and your costs.
• Tax rules: only from canada.ca (CRA).
• Independence: no platform paid for placement.

FAQ

Do I have to pay tax on side hustle income in Canada?

Yes. The CRA says gig workers resident in Canada must report and pay tax on all self-employment income, using Form T2125.

Does DoorDash or Uber report my income to the CRA?

Platforms covered by Part XX of the Income Tax Act report seller information, including amounts paid and fees withheld, to the CRA each year by January 31.

Do I need a GST/HST number to drive for Uber?

Yes, for commercial ridesharing. The CRA says you must register, collect and remit GST/HST on ridesharing even if your total sales are under $30,000.

How much can I earn from a side hustle?

It varies too much to promise a number. Pay depends on your city, hours, demand and costs, so track your net income after expenses for a few weeks.

Is my Etsy shop reported if I sell only a few items?

Sellers of goods with fewer than 30 sales and no more than $2,800 are excluded from platform reporting. Your income is still taxable.

Watch out for fake job offers that ask you to pay first; our guide to fraud and scams in Canada explains the red flags. For the full picture, see our hub Best Savings Accounts in Canada 2026, the best high-interest savings accounts in Canada and the bank account promotions available right now.

Sources

• DoorDash — Deliver with DoorDash in Canada
• Uber — Driver requirements (Canada)
• Instacart — Become a shopper (Canada)
• Etsy — How to sell on Etsy Canada
• CRA — Gig economy
• CRA — Reporting rules for digital platforms
• CRA — Who is affected
• CRA — What information is shared
• CRA — Filing information returns

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