Ranked by speed, effort, and how much you actually make. These are the side hustles Canadians are using right now to earn real money without quitting their jobs.
Not all side hustles are equal. Some pay $10/hour after costs. Others pay $100 for 10 minutes of work. We ranked everything by how quickly you can get paid and how little time it takes.
Refer friends to KOHO, Neo, and other Canadian banks. Get paid $50-$100 per person who signs up.
Canadian Plasma Resources pays you for each donation. First visit earns more. Completely legal.
Flexible hours, weekly pay. Higher earnings during peak hours (lunch, dinner, weekends).
Spend money you already spend. Get 2-5% back automatically on groceries, gas, and restaurants.
Leger, Angus Reid, and Ipsos all pay Canadians for opinions. Not life-changing money, but consistent.
Writing, design, code, VA work. Canada-based freelancers have a built-in edge for US clients (lower rates, time zone match).
This is the side hustle most Canadians have never heard of. Banks pay people to bring in new customers. KOHO currently pays the most in Canada.
Here is how it works: you sign up for KOHO using the code below. Then when a friend signs up using your personal referral link, you both get paid. No selling. No convincing. Just share a link.
Use this code to claim 3 months free and get access to your own referral link
| Side Hustle | Time to First Payment | Monthly Potential | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank referrals (KOHO) | Instant on signup | $100-$1,000+ | Low |
| Plasma donation | Same day | $400-$600 | Low |
| DoorDash / Uber Eats | Weekly | $800-$2,500 | Medium |
| Cashback credit cards | Statement cycle | $50-$200 | Very Low |
| Freelancing | 2-4 weeks | $500-$5,000+ | High |
| Online surveys | Weekly | $50-$150 | Low |
Yes. Any side hustle income in Canada must be reported on your T1 General tax return. If you earn under $30,000 per year from self-employment, you do not need to register for GST/HST, but you must still report the income. Bank bonuses and referral payments may be classified differently depending on how they are structured — some are considered discounts, not income. Bremo offers free tax filing tools to help you figure out what applies to your situation.
Bank referral programs. Sign up for KOHO, refer 3 friends, earn $300 for zero ongoing effort. You do not need a car, special skills, or a portfolio. Just a smartphone and a few people who bank.
Most people doing low-effort side hustles (referrals, surveys, cashback) earn $100-$500/month. People doing gig work (delivery, rideshare) earn $800-$2,500/month depending on hours. Skilled freelancers can replace a full income.
Not usually. Most employment contracts in Canada do not restrict passive income, referral programs, or platform gig work. Review your employment agreement if you plan to do something directly competitive with your employer's business.
Open KOHO with code BREMO2026, get 3 months free, and unlock your referral link to start earning.
Claim Your CodeThis page contains referral links. Bremo earns a commission when you use them at no cost to you. Side hustle income projections are estimates based on publicly available data and may not reflect your individual results.