Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work a job that you love? A job where you are your own boss. You make your own rules. You work directly with your own clients and make the best decisions best on their needs and your needs. Maybe it’s time to begin thinking of a side hustle.
A side hustle, or a side business as it used to be known by many of us, is a great way to begin getting your feelers out on what you love to do and see if it’s something that may be sustainable.
Getting a Side Hustle Started
Initially, don’t think of your side business as anything more than a hobby. Enjoy the work you’re doing and have some fun with it. If you don’t have a social media profile yet, create a Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter profile, connect with friends and family, and rave a bit about the work you are doing.
Your side-hustle business can be, and should be, whatever you love to do. Whether it’s creating, building, woodworking, writing, designing, photographs, etc. Show off your hobby and enjoy the responses that you receive. Keep tabs on responses, and encourage your friends and family to share your profile and images with their connections.
This is where it starts to get fun. You may start seeing responses and inquiries from people you don’t know who are connected with your friends and family and they’re asking you where you received that item. Your product gains a little traction and people begin ordering your product from you.
Side-Hustles Don’t Grow Overnight
Keep in mind your initial goal: enjoying and sharing your hobby. As “business” begins to grow, and you begin seeing some extra bucks in your wallet each week or month from the projects that you are doing, start thinking about the next steps. If you are earning money that begins to warrant tax returns, talk to a specialist about setting up a business tax-ID up for your side-hustle business. Think of a clever name and design a logo.
Your hobby is starting to evolve into a business – maybe not a business where you can quit your day job, but a business where you are earning extra income and can see it developing into something bigger further down the line.
Enjoy the Work
A side-hobby business should be something that you enjoy doing. Live in the moment with it. Let it develop and evolve naturally. And don’t put too much pressure on yourself to make money immediately (sounds counter-productive but let it develop). As it grows, and you are making money, talk to a tax specialist and financial advisor about your long-term goals are. They may be able to help develop a plan with you where you are turning your side-hustle business into your everyday, full-time job.
Onward 