How to Make Money Online with Subscriptions, Courses and Affiliate Links and Reduce Your Tax in Australia

angelinaaanderson
Nov 17
3 min read

Selling online subscriptions, teaching tutorials, digital courses and earning through affiliate links has become one of the most profitable and scalable ways to build a modern business. The barriers to entry are low, the audience reach is global, and once your content is created, you can continue earning without trading hours for income. For many creators, this becomes a genuine business with long-term earning potential.

Why This Space Is So Profitable

Digital products and subscriptions are powerful because they take advantage of leverage. You create a product once, then sell it repeatedly at virtually no additional cost. There are no warehouses, inventory, shipping or major operational overheads. Your margins stay strong and your revenue can grow quickly as your audience expands.

Affiliate income also adds a steady revenue stream without needing to create the product yourself. With the right partnerships, creators can earn commissions on products they genuinely use and recommend, adding another layer of passive income.

For many creators, these models become their primary income streams because they scale with your community rather than your time. The more you teach, share and build trust online, the more your income can grow.

But There Is a Catch: The Tax Side Matters

High-margin online businesses have one common challenge. Income grows quickly, but expenses remain low. This means your taxable income can rise sharply if you don’t structure yourself properly.

Creators often underestimate their tax obligations. Without the right planning, you may find yourself with a large tax bill and no strategy to manage it. This is why speaking with an accountant early is not optional, it is essential.

How an Accountant Helps Protect Your Earnings

A specialist accountant can step in to support you with:

Choosing the right structure for your income, whether that is a sole trader setup, company or trust.
Taking advantage of legitimate tax deductions such as equipment, software, subscriptions, marketing, home office, content-creation-related travel and more.
Helping reduce your taxable income by managing timing, structure and strategy.
Setting up GST correctly so you avoid penalties.
Ensuring your affiliate income and digital product sales are declared in the correct category.

In fast-growing online businesses, the earlier you get tax advice, the more you protect your profit. The right structure can significantly reduce what you owe, protect your assets and set you up for long-term stability.

Restructuring for Better Outcomes

When your online income grows and your expenses stay low, moving into a company structure is often beneficial. Companies allow profits to be taxed at a lower rate and offer more flexibility with how your income is distributed. Some creators also benefit from using trusts to support long-term asset protection and income distribution.

Your accountant can review your current setup and guide you through a restructuring plan that supports your growth and keeps your tax obligations manageable.

Build the Business You Want, With the Support You Need

Selling online subscriptions, tutorials, courses and earning through affiliate links is an exciting and scalable way to build income. With the right tax and business structure in place, you keep more of what you earn and set yourself up for sustainable long-term success.

Ready to structure your online business properly?

If you’re earning from subscriptions, tutorials, courses or affiliate links, now is the time to get ahead of your tax planning. Our team at The Tax Accountant understands digital income and can help you protect your profits, reduce your tax and scale with confidence.