How much can you earn as a self-employed person with a secondary activity?

Your income from a secondary activity: no legal limit

Contrary to a common belief, the legislation does not provide for any income ceiling for a secondary activity.

Even if your self-employed activity generates more income than your main job, your status as a self-employed person with a secondary activity remains valid.

The distinction between a main and a secondary activity does not depend on your income. It is based on your professional situation outside your self-employed activity.

What determines your status?

You are considered self-employed with a secondary activity if you carry out your self-employed activity alongside a main activity.

The most common conditions are:
• working at least 50% in a full-time salaried job
• or working at least 60% as a tenured teacher

As long as this main activity exists and meets the conditions, you can develop your self-employed activity without income limits.

The number of hours you dedicate to your secondary activity does not influence your status either.

What happens if your secondary activity generates more income?

Let’s take an example.

You work part-time as an employee and earn 2,000 euros gross per month. At the same time, your online shop generates a monthly profit of 4,000 euros.

Even in this case, your status remains that of a self-employed person with a secondary activity. Your social contributions are calculated under this regime and you retain the social rights linked to your salaried activity.

When should you consider another structure?

The status of self-employed with a secondary activity can remain relevant for a long time. In some situations, however, another structure may become more interesting.

Two options can then be considered:
• switching to self-employed as a main activity by reducing or stopping your salaried job
• setting up a company when profits become higher

Setting up a company can offer tax advantages when the activity generates higher profits. As an indication, this reflection often becomes relevant from an annual profit of around 20,000 euros.

A company notably allows you to retain part of the profit within the structure, sometimes at a more favourable tax rate.

Accounting adapted to your activity

Every entrepreneurial journey is different. The evolution of a secondary activity depends on many factors: your level of income, your personal situation and your plans.

PIA Go! supports entrepreneurs who start a secondary activity and can advise you when your activity reaches a new stage. The objective remains the same: choosing the structure that best fits your situation and your ambitions.