The 2026 State of the Canadian Side-Hustle & Micro-Business
An Annual Research Report by NorthOS.ca
Published March 2026 | Based on ISED Canada, Statistics Canada, and Omnisend/Cint Survey Data (July 2025)
Executive Summary
In early 2026, the Canadian labour market reached a turning point. With traditional employment softening and the national unemployment rate hitting 6.7% in February 2026 (Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey), a new micro-business economy has emerged. This report analyzes the participation, income, and geographic density of the 7.9 million Canadians now running independent ventures.
Key Findings
of Canadian adults currently maintain at least one side hustle (Omnisend/Cint Survey, July 2025, n=1,045)
estimated monthly contribution to the national economy from Canadian side hustlers (Omnisend/Cint, July 2025)
of side hustlers operate in under 10 hours per week (Omnisend, 2025)
cite financial pressure or cost-of-living as the primary driver for starting their business (Omnisend/Cint, July 2025)
Section 1: Provincial Entrepreneurial Density
We use Employer Business Density (employer businesses per 1,000 adults aged 18+) as the primary proxy for regional entrepreneurial ecosystem health. Data source: ISED Key Small Business Statistics 2025, Table 1 (data as of December 2024).
| Rank | Province/Territory | Businesses per 1,000 Adults (18+) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alberta | 36.3 |
| 1 | British Columbia | 36.3 |
| 3 | Prince Edward Island | 36.2 |
| 4 | Saskatchewan | 35.4 |
| — | National Average | 32.7 |
| 5 | Ontario | 31.6 |
| 5 | Quebec | 31.6 |
| 7 | New Brunswick | 29.2 |
| 7 | Manitoba | 29.2 |
| 9 | Territories | 29.1 |
| 10 | Nova Scotia | 28.3 |
| 11 | Newfoundland & Labrador | 27.9 |
Top 5 Provinces + National Average by Business Density
Section 2: Why the Side-Hustle Is the New Second Paycheque
Data from the 2025 Omnisend/Cint Survey confirms that side-hustling is no longer a hobby — it is a financial survival and growth strategy for millions of Canadians.
- •Weighted average earnings: $2,700/month after tax. Note: this is a weighted average; the majority of side hustlers (61.7%) earn under $500/month. (Omnisend/Cint, July 2025)
- •49% of surveyed Canadian side hustlers launched within the last 12 months (Omnisend/Cint, July 2025)
- •Small firms with 1–99 employees represent 98.2% of all employer businesses in Canada (ISED 2025)
- •At $2,700/month average, a Canadian side hustler hits the $30,000 CRA GST/HST registration threshold in approximately 11 months
NorthOS Insight
Among the top-earning third of Canadian side hustlers, the average monthly income puts them on track to hit the $30K CRA threshold within a year. NorthOS flags it before it's a problem.
Try NorthOS FreeSection 3: Methodology & Sources
- •ISED Canada: Key Small Business Statistics 2025 (data as of December 2024)
- •Omnisend/Cint: 2025 Canadian Side-Hustle Participation Survey (July 2025, n=1,045 Canadian adults, nationally representative sample)
- •Statistics Canada: Labour Force Survey, February 2026
- •Statistics Canada: Population Estimates Table 17-10-0005-01
This report is published annually by NorthOS.ca. Data reflects the most recently available statistics at time of publication. NorthOS is not affiliated with ISED, Statistics Canada, or Omnisend.