Which is better, a job or my own Hustle?

Getting a job is a good way to start earning an income, but it’s not the only way. Hustling can also be a good way to bring in some money. The biggest cost for most people when they start a new job is to transport. It can take a lot out of your salary. One advantage that hustling in your own community gives you is that you can avoid the high cost of getting to work.

Breaking down the numbers: an entry-level job vs my own hustle

An entry-level job will usually pay around R3 000 to R3 500 per month. Out of this salary, you will need to pay for transport to get to work, which can be a big expense if you live far away from work.
The cost of transport

Let’s imagine that you live two taxi rides away from work and that the cost of transport to and from work is about R60 per day. If you work for 21 days a month; you would pay 21 days x R60 = R1 260 for transport. This means that out of your salary of R3 500 you only get to take home R1 740 for ALL your other expenses.

Could you make a similar amount from hustling?

If you run your hustle for the same 21 days in the month, you would need to make R83 per day in profit (R1740/ 21 days = R83 per day) * to make the same amount as the salary after transport from the average entry-level job.

*Remember, this is the amount of profit you would need to make, not just the money you receive from customers: Profit = Income – Expenses.

If R83 per day in profit sounds achievable to you, then what’s stopping you from starting your own hustle? Your hustle could earn you as much as someone’s entry-level job earns for them.