Does your current salary no longer cover all your expenses or help you achieve your goals? You’re not alone in looking for ways to regularly earn extra income without disrupting your daily routine. Working a side job from home is now an ideal solution to boost your monthly income with complete peace of mind. As a leading network in home fashion sales, Elora opens up new opportunities for you to grow your income at your own pace, without leaving your comfort zone or taking unnecessary risks.
Key points to remember:
A salary supplement is income in addition to your main salary. It can come directly from your employer, a social organization (CAF, France Travail), or from running an independent business at home.
The status of Independent Home Salesperson (VDI) allows you to generate additional income from home, alongside your current job and without any required qualifications.
All income from a supplementary activity must be declared to URSSAF (monthly or quarterly, depending on the case) and remains subject to income tax.
Combining self-employment with unemployment benefits is entirely possible. France Travail applies a 70% deduction of turnover (after allowance) from the monthly benefit, up to a limit of 60% of the initial entitlement.
At Elora, more than 1,300 Fashion Consultants develop their supplementary activity with complete freedom, benefiting from a personalized mentoring system and dedicated training modules.
What is a salary supplement?
In the daily lives of many women, balancing the household budget sometimes means exploring new financial opportunities. A salary supplement refers to all income paid in addition to your main salary. Its purpose is to increase your purchasing power, help you achieve a personal project, or cope with the general rise in the cost of living.
Historically, this additional amount comes from the employer in the form of overtime, exceptional bonuses, or benefits in kind. In the case of sick leave, any supplementary compensation paid by the employer remains governed by the company's collective agreement; our analysis here focuses on income generated from a freely chosen supplementary professional activity.
In addition, various social benefits distributed by external organizations help improve monthly income. Finally, working a secondary independent activity from home is becoming increasingly popular among those who want to organize their schedule to suit their needs while keeping their main status.
The table below summarizes the main types of additional income:
| Type of supplement | Example | Who pays it | Subject to contributions/tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplement paid by the employer | Bonus, 13th month, overtime, benefits in kind | The employer | Yes, in general |
| Supplement paid by a social organization | Activity bonus (€184/month on average per household, source CAF/Moneyvox, Q1 2026), CAF benefits | CAF, France Travail, CPAM | Depending on the scheme |
| Supplement generated by an independent home-based activity | Direct sales at home as a VDI, micro-enterprise | Yourself, through your activity | Yes – URSSAF contributions and income tax |
What studies reveal about the self-employed in France
While self-employment is increasingly attracting women seeking a fresh start or additional income, making it work requires understanding both the opportunities and the guarantees. Recent figures shed concrete light on the motivations of those who choose this path.
According to a Odoxa survey conducted for Union Indépendants, 85% of self-employed people made this choice deliberately. In the vast majority of cases, these individuals held salaried positions before taking the leap, while 13% were looking for work. For more than half of former employees, their new job remains directly linked to their original field. For others, this transition marks the beginning of an entirely new adventure.
The challenge of social protection
Freedom of organization and financial security must go hand in hand. In fact, social coverage remains the main hesitation factor for many French people.
The Odoxa study also reveals that 41% of self-employed people hesitated before starting out due to insufficient social protection. This factor even outweighs doubts about the success of the project. Private sector executives particularly point to the lack of guaranteed income in case of reduced activity or sick leave, as well as delays in receiving benefits.
Starting your own business means carefully comparing different statuses to protect your peace of mind and maintain the perfect balance between your personal life and professional fulfillment.
Why can having additional income improve your life?
In a rapidly changing job market, more and more workers are choosing to take on a secondary activity as a source of additional income.
This choice also meets aspirations for independence in a working world where employees do not always receive all the expected benefits from their company: gone is the heavy hierarchical role of the employer! It also meets needs for flexibility and freedom in choosing clients, activities, and products to sell.
It also allows individuals concerned to enjoy a more varied daily life and find a better work-life balance—in short, to escape the daily pressures of a time-consuming job, while receiving a comfortable monthly payment into their account.
Given these advantages, most people who work 100% independently in various professions are completely satisfied and do not seek to become or return to being employees. This is confirmed by a Malt-BCG study (Freelancing in Europe 2022), according to which 95% of combined responses mention independence, 83% flexibility in working hours, 78% the desire to be in line with one's values, 77% the ability to choose clients and projects, 74% the wish for a more varied daily life, and finally 51% the opportunity to earn more money.
What are your rights and obligations if you are already an employee?
Creating your own business while keeping a salaried job is permitted by French law, whether your contract is a permanent, fixed-term, or temporary assignment. In fact, several hundred thousand people choose this multi-activity approach to develop additional income from home. To carry out your activity in full legal compliance, a few checks and rules of loyalty are essential.
Before creating your auto-entrepreneur status
Before starting your first steps, carefully read every line of your current employment contract. Pay particular attention to the presence of an exclusivity clause or a non-compete clause. The duty of loyalty prohibits you from engaging in a competing activity or soliciting your employer's clients. To balance freedom and security without risking a dispute, you can turn to a completely different sector, such as home fashion, or consult a legal expert. Choosing VDI status, for example, offers an ideal alternative to start an independent activity with ease while meeting your employment obligations.
Register as a self-employed worker
Registration is done directly online via the URSSAF one-stop portal to obtain your SIRET number and validate the creation of your business. To complete your application efficiently, gather the following documents in advance:
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A valid ID (national identity card or passport)
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A bank account details statement (RIB) in your name
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Proof of address dated within the last 3 months
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Your social security registration number
Everyday procedures for a self-employed entrepreneur
Once your status is active, you keep your main employee social protection while managing your additional independent activity. The administrative process remains very accessible: you declare your turnover to URSSAF either monthly or quarterly. Your social contributions are adjusted directly based on the sales you have actually made.
Combine additional income and unemployment benefits (ARE)
Wondering if you can combine employment and unemployment benefits when starting your activity as an Independent Home Sales Consultant? The answer is yes. You can receive the combined ARE while growing your sales, as long as you remain registered as a job seeker and declare your income during your monthly update.
As part of the benefit payment, France Travail deducts 70% of your turnover (after the standard deduction for professional expenses) from your initial monthly allowance. The total combined amount cannot exceed your previous gross reference salary, and this mechanism applies up to 60% of your remaining initial rights.
To complete your procedures with peace of mind, take the time to declare your VDI income to France Travail at the end of each month.
Become a VDI at Elora to supplement their income
Joining Elora as an Independent Home Sales Consultant (VDI) offers a real opportunity to increase your purchasing power while developing a sustainable business that reflects who you are. Far from the virtual and impersonal models of traditional e-commerce, this role allows you to create genuine human connections and build a loyal client network season after season.
Experience and commitment are truly rewarded at Elora. Many fashion consultants have been thriving within our community for many years, enjoying reassuring stability in a job market that can sometimes be uncertain for seniors.
Personalized support to help you succeed
You can start your business with peace of mind, even without prior experience in the home sales or ready-to-wear:
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An accessible training program: you have access to comprehensive online learning modules on our intranet platform to master image consulting techniques, body shape coaching, and the secrets of the collections.
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A supportive mentoring system: a dedicated mentor guides you step by step as you launch your business, answers all your questions, and shares her best everyday tips.
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Responsible and trendy collections: you offer high-quality clothing, combining sustainable materials (organic cotton, eco-friendly viscose, recycled polyester) and perfectly tailored cuts to flatter every figure.
A concrete and attractive financial supplement
In terms of pay, the VDI activity is particularly rewarding. Your monthly income increases directly according to your sales, thanks to an attractive percentage paid on your turnover.
For a concrete comparison, organizing just two sales meetings per week allows you to generate additional income equivalent to the net monthly minimum wage (SMIC) in 2026, i.e. €1,477.93 (source: info.gouv.fr, revaluation on June 1, 2026). This secondary activity ideally complements your main income to secure your finances while giving you the freedom to adjust your schedule as you wish.
FAQ – All your questions about supplementary income
What exactly is supplementary income?
A supplementary income provides an additional amount on top of your main salary. It can come from several sources: bonuses or overtime paid by your employer, assistance from a social organization such as the CAF activity bonus, or income generated by an independent activity carried out alongside your job, for example home sales under the status of Independent Home Salesperson (VDI).
Is supplementary income taxable?
Yes, income from a supplementary activity is generally subject to income tax. Bonuses and overtime paid by your employer follow the tax rules applicable to salaries, with certain possible exemptions.
If you are self-employed, your income must also be declared. The procedures vary depending on your status. As an Independent Home Salesperson (VDI), commissions or profits earned must be declared each year, according to the tax regime applicable to your activity.
Can you combine extra income and unemployment benefits (ARE)?
Yes, under certain conditions, you can combine income from a side activity with part of your unemployment benefits. You must remain registered with France Travail and declare your activity during your monthly update.
The amount of your allowance is recalculated based on your professional income. For self-employed activity, France Travail generally deducts 70% of the income taken into account. Since April 2025, certain situations are also subject to a limit corresponding to 60% of the remaining ARE rights at the start of the activity. The exact rules depend on your situation and the date your rights were opened.
Do you need a diploma or specific skills to earn extra income from home?
No, you don’t need any specific diploma or sales experience to get started with Elora. All the knowledge in image consulting and styling is easily acquired thanks to personalized support: online training available on our platform and personalized guidance from a dedicated mentor.
How do you declare income earned from additional self-employed work?
The procedures depend on the status under which you carry out your side activity.
As a micro-entrepreneur, you declare your turnover to URSSAF every month or every quarter, depending on the option you choose.
As an unregistered Independent Home Salesperson (VDI), the process is simplified: the direct sales company handles the declarations and payment of social security contributions to URSSAF. However, you must declare your annual business income to the tax authorities.
The VDI status allows you to develop a side activity without having to handle the usual periodic social security declarations of a micro-enterprise yourself.
Become a VDI now
Working from home as a side activity is the best opportunity to increase your purchasing power while maintaining your lifestyle. Whether your extra income comes from a VDI status accessible without a diploma, a secure combination with ARE, or simply declared income with URSSAF, you keep total freedom in managing your schedule.
At Elora, more than 1,300 Fashion Consultants have already made this winning choice, supported by tailored training and the constant support of a caring community. Join us!
