Side work, fastened in place
Four rivets before you start
Hours, rate, tax set-aside and records: set them once so later weeks do not slide.
Fasten the basics before the first client, not after a busy month.
- Hours. A weekly maximum you can keep when the day job is heavy.
- Rate. The lowest real hourly figure that still makes the work worth it.
- Tax set-aside. A percentage of each payment moved the same day. Ask an accountant what fits where you live.
- Records. Date, client, amount, costs and set-aside on one sheet.
Read your employment contract for outside-work clauses before you take paid side work.
Educational content only. Not financial, tax or legal advice; talk to a qualified professional about your situation.