Last reviewed: 30 May 2026

Side hustle glossary for South Africans

Plain-English definitions for the terms that appear across our side hustle, online income, remote work, payout, tax, and platform guides.

Gross income

Money earned before platform fees, payment fees, refunds, tax, tools, fuel, stock, or other costs.

Money left after costs. This is usually more useful than headline revenue when comparing side hustles.

The minimum amount a platform requires before you can withdraw earnings.

A payment reversal started by a customer or card provider. It can remove money after a sale and may include fees.

Proof of work: samples, case studies, screenshots, before-and-after examples, or public projects.

A focused market or problem area, such as resume writing for graduates or bookkeeping for small service businesses.

The risk that a platform changes rules, fees, visibility, account access, or payout methods.

A SARS system that may apply when tax is not withheld through normal monthly employment. Check SARS or a tax practitioner.

Income that may continue after upfront work, but still needs maintenance, updates, marketing, or customer support.

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority, South Africa's conduct regulator for financial institutions and services.

The South African Revenue Service, responsible for tax administration and customs.

The percentage of people who take the action you want, such as buying, booking, subscribing, or applying.

Start with the planner or the 90-day roadmap if you are still choosing what to test first.