Intro

Taxes are one of the biggest blind spots for people in the gig economy.

Most people start a side hustle focused on making money—but don’t realize that how you handle taxes can determine how much of that money you actually keep.

In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel sits down with tax expert Camari Ellis to break down how gig workers and freelancers can approach taxes the right way.

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Intro to Camari Ellis

• Enrolled Agent and Tax Advisor
• Financial strategist with over 20 years of experience
• Founder of the Philly Tax Team
• Known as “The Finance Rebel”

Camari specializes in helping:

• Gig workers
• Freelancers
• Entrepreneurs

Understand taxes, reduce liabilities, and build smarter financial systems.

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CamariEllis 
• The Finance Rebel Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-finance-rebel-show/id1522544501 

Episode Overview

This episode is a replay of an interview Elijah did with Camari Ellis, and the insights are still extremely relevant today.

Camari explains that one of the biggest mistakes people make is misunderstanding their role in the gig economy:

👉 You are not just a “gig worker”—you are a business owner  

That shift in mindset changes everything:

• How you track money
• How you file taxes
• What deductions you can take

Elijah also highlights an important timing mistake:

👉 Most people think about taxes too late

Instead of waiting until tax season, this episode emphasizes:

• Planning ahead
• Tracking throughout the year
• Making strategic decisions before the year ends

Listen to the Episode

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Side Hustler’s Society Resources

The Anatomy Of Financial Success Audiobook

Gig Economy Mastery Free Course

Quick Takeaways

• Gig workers are business owners, not employees
• Taxes are not automatically taken out—discipline is required
• Planning your taxes ahead of time is more powerful than reacting later
• Most tax strategies apply to both gig workers and freelancers
• Tracking expenses consistently is critical
• Understanding deductions can significantly increase your take-home income
• Side hustles can evolve into full businesses
• Networking through your hustle can create new opportunities
• Tax strategy is just as important as making money
• Financial education compounds over time

Key Topics Covered

1. The Mindset Shift: Employee → Business Owner

One of the most important points Camari makes:

👉 When you enter the gig economy, you become a business

That means:

• You are responsible for your taxes
• You control your expenses
• You can leverage tax strategies

2. Why Most Gig Workers Get Caught Off Guard

A common mistake:

👉 Not setting aside money for taxes

Unlike a 9–5 job:

• No automatic tax withholding
• No built-in system

This leads to:

• Unexpected tax bills
• Financial stress

3. Tax Planning vs Tax Filing

Most people focus on filing taxes.

But Camari emphasizes:

👉 The real advantage comes from planning

That includes:

• Knowing deductions ahead of time
• Tracking expenses throughout the year
• Making decisions before December 31st

4. Deductions Gig Workers Should Know

Camari breaks down several common deductions:

• Mileage
• Gas and vehicle maintenance
• Business-related meals (in specific situations)
• Marketing materials
• Supplies (water, snacks, etc. for customers)

These deductions can significantly reduce taxable income when used correctly.

5. Turning a Side Hustle Into a Real Business

A powerful insight from the episode:

👉 Your side hustle can evolve into something bigger

For example:

• An Uber driver could build a private client base
• A freelancer could scale into an agency

This is where:

• Branding
• Networking
• Strategy

Start to matter more than just doing the work.

Key Lessons from the Episode

1. You Keep More by Knowing More

Making money is only half the equation.

👉 Keeping it comes down to strategy

2. Systems Beat Motivation

Tracking:

• Income
• Expenses
• Deductions

Should be systemized—not left to memory.

3. The Earlier You Learn This, The Better

Most people learn about taxes after they’ve already made mistakes.

This episode helps you:
👉 Get ahead of that curve

Who This Episode Is For

• Gig workers (Uber, DoorDash, Lyft, etc.)
• Freelancers and independent contractors
• Anyone starting a side hustle
• Entrepreneurs looking to optimize taxes

Watch The Podcast On Youtube!

If you would like to know more about thriving as a one person business owner, consider getting our free gig mastery course where you can learn the ins and outs of how to make the most money out of the gig economy apps (Uber, Ubereats, Doordash, Instacart, etc) Click here to learn more!