Side income & gig work
The money mechanics nobody hands a gig worker
Gig platforms drop income into your account with zero tax guidance, then April is a shock — that gap is the system's design, not a personal failing. This track covers the practical money side of a side hustle before anyone forms an LLC: how 1099 income differs from a paycheck, tracking the deductible expenses that lower the bill, the self-employment tax surprise and quarterly estimates, and the slow shift from hustle to real business. Warm, judgment-free, never pushy.
4 lessons · about 27 minutes total · 100% free
Saved on this device only — no account needed.
1. Getting paid as a gig worker
Nothing is withheld from a gig payout, so part of every deposit is next April's tax. Learn which 1099 forms report your income and how a set-aside keeps you covered.
7 min read
2. Tracking income and deductible expenses
Self-employment tax is charged on profit, not on what came in. Learn which expenses count, the 70¢ mileage rate for 2025, and how $3,620 of records saves Malik $834.
6 min read
3. Self-employment tax and quarterly estimates
Self-employment tax is 15.3% on 92.35% of your profit, on top of income tax. See every line of the math and the four dates the IRS expects payments.
7 min read
4. From side hustle to real business
A side hustle becomes a business gradually. See the hobby-versus-business line, when bookkeeping and an EIN pay off, and when an LLC or S-corp is actually worth it.
7 min read