For many Australians, the dream of turning a beloved hobby into a source of income can be appealing. Who doesn't love the idea of getting paid to do something you love?
But what is the reality really like?
We spoke with three people who have made a career out of their hobby, as well as a business coach, to learn about the positives and negatives of being paid to do what you love.
'Where do you now turn for joy?': Bonnie Tuttle
Business coach Bonnie Tuttle says it's important to call monetising a hobby what it really is: running a small business.
She says that often business owners can transition from 30-40-hour work weeks to almost double that, leaving them with no time to do any hobbies, let alone the one they have tried to monetise.
"Most of the time you're too busy for your hobby. You may end up only doing it maybe 20 per cent of your time, and the other 80 per cent is actually hustling all of the administration, compliance and all the parts of small business."?
"I really worry when I see people monetising the way they rest and rejuvenate themselves. This is your greatest love, your one thing. If you put that into this monetised box, where do you now turn for joy?"
'If I have a few minutes spare ... I create content': Demi Lynch
Demi Lynch is the founder of an online feminist news and media outlet, based in Brisbane. She says the transition from hobbyist to business owner was born out of necessity.
"It first started off as a late night radio show … but after university, it was very hard getting a job in journalism," Demi says. "So I turned the show into a social media news platform."
She discovered that turning a passion into a job often means investing more than just money.
"It's mostly been time that's been the biggest business investment," she says. "If I have 10 minutes spare during the day I create content. Even if I have a few minutes spare on the toilet I create content."
Demi does disability support work part-time in addition to her content creation because despite requiring full-time hours, the news platform still only makes her a part-time wage, through brand sponsorships, public speaking, Instagram subscriptions and Substack.
Add to that her neurodivergence — autism and ADHD — and she says managing energy and focus is a big challenge.
But exercising her creative freedom makes it worthwhile for Demi.
"Because I'm such a small platform that doesn't depend on advertisers, I don't have to worry about approval. I get to decide what stories get written."
'I could actually turn this into something': Sofia Tsamassiro
For keen cyclist Sofia Tsamassiros, the spark to turn her hobby into work came during a one-off cycle tour she ran for someone's 50th birthday. "It was a moment where I realised — wait, I love this. I could actually turn this into something," she says.?
Sofia, who lives in Lutruwita/Tasmania, says it's important to acknowledge her privilege when it comes to how she was able to turn her love of cycling into a money-making venture.
"I had no formal business training, but I grew up in a business-savvy Greek family. My dad's a lawyer, so I had someone to run ideas past," she says.?
"Having that safety net in the early days, like living at home, meant I could afford to experiment and learn without the pressure of making rent."
Sofia says the transition from medical student and personal trainer into full-time business ownership changed the way she approached cycling altogether.?
"There's a certain romanticism to riding just for yourself," she explains. "When it becomes your job, you start thinking about logistics, client experience, insurance, road safety, cancellations. It's no longer just about the ride."
But she says the best part is building something aligned with her values. "I get to create an experience that brings joy to people. That's really special."
Charging is a huge struggle': Mariah Sweetman
Mariah Sweetman is a storyteller proudly descended from the Ugarapul people.?
"I have different creative outlets, so I use the umbrella term of 'storytelling'," explains Mariah who lives on Kabi Kabi land on the Sunshine Coast. "I write poetry, novels, songs, and [make] visual art. However, of these only writing and visual art have been monetised."
Previously a full-time teacher and student, Mariah dedicated school holidays to her creative pursuits. Her journey into business began with encouragement from friends and family who wanted to buy her work.?
"It came to the point where it was easier to create a centralised location — a social media page — to display my art and current projects," she says. That later expanded into writing after the release of her debut novel.
Although she found the transition smooth and felt supported by her loved ones, Mariah admits that charging for her work was a "huge struggle".?
"Every 'yes' is a 'no' to something else, so each hour I spent on a commissioned piece was a 'no' to family time, friends, exercise."?
She says what helped shift her mindset was remembering the broader impact. "If I undersell my labour out of fear, I'm potentially devaluing other Indigenous artists too."?
Mariah says she was surprised by the opportunities that followed after she put herself out there with cultural and creative responsibility and care.
"People love art! People love creativity, passion, and enthusiasm."
Skye Cusack is a Dulgubarra-Yidinji writer living in Naarm. She runs her own copywriting and marketing agency.
