Key points
  • The sharing economy uses online platforms to connect buyers and independent sellers who provide goods or services.
  • Earnings will vary by platform, location, and effort, but costs like fees, insurance, and taxes reduce take-home pay.

What is the sharing economy?

If you’re not familiar with the term ‘sharing economy,’ you probably are familiar with some of its platforms. You’ve probably already used them. Uber, Airtasker, Airbnb. Sounding familiar, right?

The sharing economy has to have two key ingredients to make it so:

  1. It has to be an online platform connecting buyers with sellers or a service.
  2. The seller or service isn’t an employee of the platform – just someone who uses it to connect with people who need that service.

Beyond these basics, the sharing economy is often praised for maximising underused resources, like spare rooms, cars, or skills, while offering consumers flexible access.

It often operates with dynamic pricing models that respond to supply and demand in real time. However, it has also been known to raise questions around regulation, labour rights, and safety, as platforms scale faster than traditional oversight.

Share-economy websites and platforms

You’ve heard of Uber, Airbnb and Airtasker, so we won’t bore you with the details of those. But we bet you haven’t heard of these little-known platforms. 

1. Camplify

You can rent out your RV, caravan, motor home or camper trailer and pocket anywhere from $15,000 up to $40,000 extra per year. Not bad. 

If you’re a road trip regular, exxy Airbnbs could well be a thing of the past. 

2. Mad Paws

Mad Paws is basically a pet-sitting service where you can look after people’s dogs or cats while they’re away. 

Pet sitters can earn up to $300 a week, and up to $600 a week in peak holiday seasons. 

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"I am not moving from this spot for the rest of the day!!"

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3. The Volte

Connecting savvy Cinderellas to a community of Fairy Godmothers, The Volte lets you hire and borrow designer clothing and accessories. 

The creators of The Volte used the sharing economy model to allow everyday people who ordinarily wouldn’t have access to high-end fashion to experience it on a budget while utilising their existing wardrobe to generate an income. 

Most people who use the app rent out their clothes on top of their full-time jobs and pocket an extra $200 a week. 

Savvy fashion lovers can expand their wardrobe and spin a profit from clothes gathering dust in their wardrobes. Who said you can’t be ethical and fashion-forward?

4. Spacer

Parking is at a premium, especially in the inner-city suburbs, so why not take advantage and rent out your driveway while you’re at work?

Spacer lets you do just that if you’ve got a garage, driveway, or storage shed you’re not using. With over 30,000 units available for rent, Spacer represents the biggest marketplace for space in Australia at the moment, so you’ll always have a spot to park your car.

A double garage in a metro area can fetch you an extra $700 a month.

5. Airly

Airly connects travellers with owners of luxury private jets in what can only be described as Uber for the air. 

It’s possibly one for the wealthiest among us, with an annual membership fee of $14,950 for two people.

But if you’ve just casually got a private jet lying around, you could stand to earn quite a bit. 

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Our members mean everything 🙏 . 📷 via Airly member @victoriaelizabethmontano . #privatejet

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6. Shebah

It’s like Uber but with one fundamental difference. Shebah is a female-only ride-sharing service, helping to overcome the vulnerability and fear some women feel when using other ride-sharing apps. 

The cars are kid-friendly, with most equipped with baby seats and a focus on providing safe transport to and from school for girls and boys. 

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Shebah came about for two reasons, both of which are grounded in safety for women. We want to provide women with a way of earning an income that is highly flexible with hours [ our Founder here is a single mother of four], with transparent terms [we don't use money as a recruitment tool here at Shebah, we value financial independence WAY too much for that] & with autonomy [we want our driver community to feel safe about every fare]. The second reason? We want women to feel safe going about their day, knowing that there is a rideshare option out there built with them in mind. Enough of the feeling vulnerable when you just need to get somewhere. We want to take the worry out of getting your children from A to B. Built by women, for women.

A post shared by Ladies, let's roll (@shebahride) on

7. Kindershare

Founded by two parents, the idea for Kindershare was born while contemplating a house overloaded with near-new baby equipment. 

Kindershare’s premise is simple – to create a community of parents willing to lend out baby equipment they weren’t using to other parents, allowing them to free up the clutter in their homes and pocket a bit of extra cash on the side. 

8. BorrowMyPooch

This one is a win-win for both dog lovers and owners alike.

BorrowMyPooch connects local dog lovers with local dog owners for dog-sitting, walks and play dates when you just need some doggy cuddles in your life.

You can make sure your doggo is looked after when you’re at work, or just play with someone else’s dog and get paid for the pleasure of doing so. Sign us up!

9. Swimply

Fancy a dip but don't have a pool? Got a pool and want to cash in on sweaty people looking for a reprieve from the summer heat?

This news will sit swimmingly with you. Swimply is the Airbnb of pools, where pool owners can put their pools up for hire and give those without a pool the chance to have a dip for an hourly fee.

How much can you earn in the sharing economy?

In Australia, how much you can earn in the sharing economy depends on the platform, your location, time commitment, and expenses.

Ride-sharing drivers in major cities like Sydney or Melbourne may earn around $25–$40 per hour before costs during peak times, while food delivery typically brings in $20–$30 per hour.

Hosts on short-term accommodation platforms can earn anywhere from a few hundred dollars a month for a spare room to several thousand dollars for a well-located entire property, especially in tourist areas.

Keep in mind that these figures are gross earnings. Fuel, maintenance, insurance, platform fees, and income tax can significantly reduce take-home pay. Earnings may also be irregular due to demand fluctuations and regulatory limits set by state or local governments. 

Combine platforms

Pro tip: You could even make more money by combining multiple platforms, for example, pet sitting, doing some jobs on Airtasker and renting out your room. Of course, you’ll need to declare the extra income on your tax return.

According to the Sharing Hub, if someone were to use Mad Paws, The Volte, Spacer and Camplify, they could potentially make up to $1,400 a week.

  1. Is sharing economy income taxable?

It’s important to remember that any money made through the sharing economy is classed as taxable income. So if you’re offering your services through sharing platforms, whether it be driving for Uber or hiring out your garage – you’re required to pay tax on that income.

The Australian Tax Office recommends you keep records of all the income you earn and any expenses you have – in some cases you may be able to claim deductions, like cleaning supplies if you offer to clean for someone on Airtasker. 

If your earnings from the sharing economy count as part of your overall annual income if you have another job (or work multiple share economy gigs), it could influence your marginal tax rate. 

Requirements for the sharing economy

Apart from the basic requirements set by the platform, there are other important considerations when participating in the sharing economy.

Insurance

If you’ve already got insurance on your car or property, renting out your spare room or ride-sharing can affect your insurance policy. You’ll have to double check with your insurance provider to ensure you’ve got the right protection and adjust your policy if need be. 

If you haven’t got insurance, you’ll have to investigate your options with various insurance providers to ensure you’re protected in the event of an accident while you’re doing your job, or damage to your property if you’re renting out a room. 

Some third-party providers like Uber do offer limited insurance coverage when you register with them, but it’s highly recommended that you review their policy and its restrictions before relying on it as your primary insurance coverage. 

ABN and GST

If you do decide to work in the sharing economy to earn a bit of extra coin, you might have to consider registering as a business or a sole trader to receive an Australian Business Number (ABN).

You might also have to register for GST if your annual income from the sharing economy is $75,000 or more, or if you are working as a driver for a ride-share company.

  1. Savings.com.au’s two cents

If you’re in need of a bit of extra cash or just want to boost your savings, utilising the share economy can be a great way to do that. 

But before you dive in headfirst, make sure you do your research. Make sure you’ve got the right insurance policy, don’t forget about the tax man, and always read the fine print on a sharing website so you clearly understand your rights and responsibilities – whether you’re a consumer or a provider.