Sivutoimisen

Sivutoimisen is a Finnish adjective meaning “secondary” or “side” in the sense of occurring in addition to a primary activity. It is used to describe people or activities undertaken as a supplement to the main occupation. In everyday language, a sivutoiminen työntekijä is someone who works as an employee but also pursues a side line, such as freelancing, consulting, or running a small business.

In official contexts the term appears in phrases such as sivutoiminen yrittäjä, referring to an individual who operates a business primarily as a secondary activity rather than as their main livelihood. This distinction can influence administrative obligations and benefits, such as taxation, bookkeeping, and social security, though the precise rules depend on national legislation and current policies.

Practical considerations for a sivutoimisen activity include notifying authorities if required, maintaining separate records for the side business, and understanding how income from the side activity interacts with employment income, social security benefits, and potential VAT or tax obligations. The scale is typically small and not intended to replace the primary job.

Common examples include a teacher who also sells crafts online; a software developer who freelances on weekends; or a student operating a small tutoring service.

Origin: the word derives from “sivu” meaning “side” and “toimia” meaning “to operate.”