The top 8 ways to make money online in Australia include:
- Start a local lead generation agency
- Start an SEO agency
- Start a social media marketing agency (SMMA)
- Start a PPC agency
- Sell on Amazon with an FBA business
- Do dropshipping
- Sell print on demand products
- Rent your car for a fee
Australia is a good place to make money because it’s one of the wealthiest countries in the world. The average salary in Australia is AUD$89,122 per year, according to TimeCamp. That means both people and businesses have the financial means to pay a high rate for products and services in Australia.
Australia offers a diverse range of profitable online income opportunities. I'm not talking about taking online surveys for money. Although paid surveys like Survey Junkie can earn you a bit of extra cash, they aren't viable for making real money online. World Population Review ranks Australia as the 11th most expensive country globally. As such, I'll only discuss make money online AU opportunities with suitable earnings potential. That includes selling on Amazon Australia or renting a car on Drive Mate.
Over the last decade, I've experimented with many of these opportunities myself. Some of which I've turned into 6 figure businesses. Now, let's explore the best ways to make money online in Australia.
1. Start a local lead generation agency
A local lead generation agency generates leads for local business owners. These local business owners are home service businesses like roofers, electricians, and plumbers. The most common digital marketing channel for local lead generation is a website. Local lead generation websites are set up to target a service business niche with a location identifier. For example, the keyword "Sydney plumber" gets an estimated 150 searches per month, according to Ahrefs data.
People use Google to search for local services. As such, websites ranking on the first page of Google for local service keywords can be highly valuable. Local lead generation agencies typically make money by renting access to a website on a monthly basis. A local lead generation agency can charge a service business anywhere from AUD$600 - AUD$4,000/month per website in Australia. Besides websites, local lead generation agencies can also use other marketing channels. These include Google My Business (GMB) profiles, PPC advertising, and social media.
The best side hustle in Australia is local lead generation. Local lead generation is the best side hustle in Australia because it only requires 5 - 10 hours of work per week to get started. Once you rank a website and find a local service business owner to rent the website from you, you can even earn passive income. Local lead generation websites can often remain ranking on the first page of Google with little additional work. As such, this side hustle can generate solid earnings while leaving your schedule open for other ventures.
2. Start an SEO agency
Starting an SEO agency is a profitable way to earn money in the digital space. An SEO agency primarily focuses on helping businesses achieve greater visibility on Google. Google is the leading search engine in Australia, with approximately 94% market share. Around 61% of Australians search on Google to help with shopping decisions, according to Red Search.
SEO services include keyword research, content marketing, GMB management, and link building. The hourly rate for SEO in Australia ranges between AUD$80 - AUD$250/hour, according to Australian digital agency Margin Media. Starting small with local clients helps build a strong portfolio before expanding services. This business can be run from home with minimal startup costs.
3. Start a social media marketing agency (SMMA)
A social media marketing agency runs social media pages for other businesses. They make posts and ads on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to help businesses get more customers. Agency owners can work from home while managing everything online for their clients.
In Australia, local businesses actively invest in social media to reach customers. That's because the average Australian spends nearly 2 hours per day on social media, according to Meltwater. Social media marketing agencies can charge anywhere from AUD$1,000 - AUD$10,000+/month, according to iTrobes. The precise amount depends on the services and the exact size and needs of the specific client.
4. Start a PPC agency
A PPC (Pay-Per-Click) agency helps businesses boost their online visibility through targeted advertising. These include platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads. Australian companies regularly outsource their ad campaigns to experts who can optimize ad spend. Australian PPC agencies charge between AUD$1,000 - AUD$10,000 per month, according to Sydney-based PPC agency GROE.
Agency owners handle campaign creation, keyword targeting, and budget management for clients. Aussie businesses are shifting their marketing budgets to digital ads. As such, skilled PPC managers are in constant demand across the country. The PPC industry is experiencing strong growth in Australia. It reached $15.6 billion in 2024, a 9.7% increase from the prior year, according to PPC Land.
5. Sell on Amazon with an FBA business
Selling products through the Amazon FBA program simplifies participation in Australia's Ecommerce market. Amazon is the most popular Ecommerce platform in Australia. 7.9 million Australians use it, according to Roy Morgan Research. The fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program allows you to send products to an Amazon warehouse. From there, Amazon handles all logistics work. This includes products storage, shipping, and even return processing.
Australian Amazon sellers with AUD$5,000 - AUD$10,000 can use business models like private label and wholesale. Private label is sourcing putting a custom brand on a generic product from a manufacturer in bulk. Wholesale is sourcing branded products in bulk. Retail arbitrage and Amazon Handmade are more suitable for sellers with less startup capital. Retail arbitrage is sourcing products in low quantities from retail stores and reselling them for a profit on Amazon. Amazon Handmade is creating handcrafted products like candles and jewelry.
Many Amazon FBA sellers in Australia do well. One Australian Amazon FBA seller on Reddit mentions doing AUD$750K in sales per year.
6. Do dropshipping
Dropshipping lets Australian entrepreneurs run online stores without holding inventory. Store owners list products on platforms like Shopify, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace. Then, suppliers ship items directly to customers when orders come in. Australian dropshippers find trending products from dropship supplier marketplaces like Dropship Zone and Ozdingo. The Australian market is ideal for dropshipping due to high consumer spending. This business model requires minimal upfront investment compared to traditional retail. However, it's highly competitive and margins are slim.
7. Sell print on demand products
Print on demand (POD) is an Ecommerce business model that entails creating custom digital graphics and printing them on different products like T-shirts, mugs, and tote bags. Similar to dropshipping, print on demand suppliers create the product and ship it directly to the customer. You don't need to hold any inventory, just focus on creating graphics and digital marketing to generate sales. Popular POD suppliers in Australia include Printful, Printify, and Gelato.
An Australian POD seller on Reddit notes that they find Australia incurs additional costs than selling in other markets.
8. Rent your car for a fee
Car sharing platforms like Drive Mate, Go Get and Drive My Car let Australians rent their car for passive income. Vehicle owners list their cars on these apps, setting their own rental rates and availability. Modern insurance coverage and secure payment systems make this a safe income stream. These platforms are especially popular in urban areas like Sydney and Melbourne. Many residents here prefer renting cars for short trips over full-time ownership.
Do you need an Australian Business Number (ABN)?
You need an Australian Business Number if your business exceeds $75,000 AUD in gross revenue, according to Stripe. Sole traderships with less than this threshold often don’t need to get an ABN, unless their business requires registration for the goods and services tax (GST). Many sole traderships elect to get an Australian Business Number, anyway. That's because it provides access to business benefits. These business benefits include registering for a “.au” domain, accessing grants, and receiving discounts. Partnerships are always required to obtain an Australian Business Number.
What are the best online courses for Australia?
AMZ Product Launcher Review: Australian Amazon FBA training
AMZ Product Launcher by Alex Ryan is an Australian Amazon FBA training program. The program includes a main course component as well as a done-for-you product launch service at an additional cost. The main course includes 12 one-on-one coaching calls and weekly group training.
Dropship Downunder: Australian dropshipping course
Dropship Downunder by Klint and Grant Parker is an Australian dropshipping course. The course spans 89 video lessons and includes access to a private Facebook group.
Conclusion: How to create passive income in Australia?
- Perform market research to find a local lead generation opportunity in Australia
- Buy a website domain and set up website hosting
- Do local SEO on the website to get it to rank on the first page of Google
- Contact local businesses to offer them free leads from the site
- Sign a contract with a local business owner to pay for the leads
- Earn passive income in Australia from your local lead gen website
You can learn how to create passive income in Australia by taking a local lead generation course. This local lead generation course is the same one I took to learn the business model. It's the longest running course of its kind and boasts a community of over 7,400 digital landlords. The course guided me in creating a local lead generation business that generates over $52K/month online.
