Side hustle: selling on Vinted on top of your job

You have a job, you like the stability, but you would like an activity of your own to add to your salary. That is exactly what the term "side hustle" covers. In this guide, we look at what a good side hustle must respect, why second-hand is a serious option, what it really demands, and how to test it without putting yourself at risk with your employer.

A side hustle, in practice

The term comes from English. In French, people talk about an activité à côté, an activité complémentaire or a projet parallèle (a side activity, a complementary activity or a parallel project). What matters is not the name: it is that the activity comes after your job, without replacing it.

The ideas are very varied: freelance services, selling digital products, delivery, pet sitting, reselling items. Each has its constraints. So there is no "best" side hustle in absolute terms, only the one that fits your situation: your free time, your starting budget, your skills and what your contract allows.

The five questions to ask yourself before choosing

When you already have a job, the right side hustle is not the one that makes you dream the most, it is the one that fits into your life. Ask yourself these questions:

• Are the hours flexible? If the activity requires you to be available at fixed times, it will clash with your work.
• How much do you need to invest at the start? It is better to have an activity you can test with what you already have, rather than committing money before you know whether you like it.
• What skills are needed? Some are learned by doing, others require real training.
• Is it compatible with your contract? This is the question many people forget; we come back to it below.
• Can you measure what it brings in? An activity whose income and time spent you can track is judged on facts, not on a feeling.

Why clothing resale ticks these boxes

Second-hand answers these five questions well, without being magic.

• A start with what you have. Your wardrobe, a friend's, pieces you no longer wear: you can run your first tests without buying any stock.
• A schedule of your own. You publish a listing in the evening, at the weekend or during your break. Nobody imposes a time slot on you, apart from shipping deadlines once an order comes in.
• Skills you can acquire. Photographing a garment, writing a clear description, choosing a price: you get better with every listing.
• Known platform fees. In its price list, Vinted states that Vinted fees are paid when the order is placed, at the time of payment. For the seller, the paid services listed are Boost and Showcase.
• Measurable results. Every sale leaves a trace: price, date, cost of the piece if you bought it.

You can dig deeper into choosing pieces in our guide what to sell on Vinted.

The limits to face honestly

A serious side hustle also means knowing what it costs in energy. For clothing resale:

• No guaranteed income. If nobody buys, you earn nothing. There is no salary and no minimum.
• Work that is less visible than the selling. There are the photos, the descriptions, the buyers' messages, the packing, the parcel drop-off. That time counts in your assessment.
• Stock to store. A few pieces fit in a wardrobe. Many pieces take up space and call for organisation.
• A tiring double load. Your job remains your priority. If your side hustle drains you, you need to slow down, not push on stubbornly.

What your employment contract may say

This is the most important point if you are an employee. According to the service-public.fr page on holding several jobs at once, two rules apply:

• The duty of loyalty. You cannot carry out another activity that could compete with your employer's.
• The exclusivity clause. If your contract contains a clause that forbids you from combining your job with another professional activity, whether as an employee or self-employed, it applies.

In practice: if your employer sells clothes themselves, the question of competition clearly arises. If they work in a completely different sector, the risk is lower, but re-read your contract anyway. If you are a civil servant, specific rules exist, detailed on our page about combining activities as a civil servant. And for the general case of the employee, our guide second-hand seller while keeping your job details the steps.

Reselling your belongings or buying to resell: two different situations

The tax treatment depends on what you do. According to service-public.fr, income from selling goods you are getting rid of, for example on Vinted, is not taxable. Conversely, buying goods in order to resell them is a taxable activity. A resale side hustle quickly looks like the second situation as soon as you buy stock to resell it regularly.

Our tax guide to the micro-entrepreneur on Vinted (the French sole trader regime) details this boundary and the steps to plan. None of this information replaces a professional's advice if your situation is particular.

How to test without risk, step by step

1. Sort what you already own. Set aside the pieces in good condition that you no longer wear. This is your starting stock, and it costs nothing.
2. Publish a few careful listings. Natural light, neutral background, honest description with the size and condition. A few well-made listings teach you more than many sloppy ones.
3. Write everything down. A simple spreadsheet is enough: date of sale, price, time spent, any fees. This is your side hustle dashboard.
4. Review after a few weeks. Look at what sold, at what price, and whether the time spent suits you.
5. Then decide. Either you stop, or you continue with this stock, or you move on to the next step: buying or sourcing pieces to grow.

Moving from a test to a structured activity

If the test appeals to you, what follows is a matter of method: choosing a niche, finding stock regularly, taking care of listings and photos, setting up a routine that fits with your job. That is precisely the content of the Dresskool training. It promises no income: it saves you from learning every beginner's mistake on your own.

Frequently asked questions

What is a side hustle?

A side hustle is an activity you run alongside your main job, with the aim of earning extra income. Reselling second-hand clothes online is one example, among others such as freelance services or selling digital products.

Can you have a side hustle while you are an employee?

Yes, but according to service-public.fr, you remain bound by a duty of loyalty to your employer: you cannot carry out an activity that competes with theirs. Your contract may also contain an exclusivity clause that forbids any other work. Re-read your contract before you start.

Do you need a status to resell clothes on Vinted?

It depends on what you sell. According to service-public.fr, selling goods you are getting rid of is not taxable, whereas buying goods in order to resell them is a taxable activity. If you buy stock to resell, take a look at our tax guide on the micro-entrepreneur status (the French sole trader regime).

How much does a Vinted resale side hustle earn?

There is no reliable figure that applies to everyone. What you earn depends on the number of items listed, your prices, your purchase cost and the time you put in. The safest approach is to test, record your sales and then calculate what it means for you.

Who pays Vinted fees?

According to Vinted's price list, Vinted fees are platform fees paid when the order is placed, at the time of payment. On the seller side, the paid services listed are Boost and Showcase, which you may or may not choose.