Searches for ‘side hustle’ have increased by 20% in the last year. Having another work project alongside your regular job can be an effective way to develop additional skillsets and a keen understanding of your target market.
While not everyone with a side hustle wants it to become a full-time job, those that are interested in doing so have a lot to consider – and a lot to learn.
Consider your business plan
Entrepreneurs hoping to turn their side hustle into a business often have an idea as to what type of business they are looking to run. However, there are many additional factors to consider such as branding, market research, and developing a business plan. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources online that can help you get started and work on establishing your business goals. Taking the time to put in this effort early on will only help to future-proof the business.
Manage your expectations
You need to set reasonable goals and benchmarks to avoid burnout. Turning a side hustle into a career, which earns the same annual income as a full-time job, is a time-consuming process. It is also not a linear journey, with many entrepreneurs facing setbacks and failures during this time.
Managing your expectations from the outset will help you to navigate difficult periods. Hiring a business consultant could help you to create impactful goals and set realistic timelines. If this is outside of your current budget, you could seek similar guidance from Facebook groups and Slack channels of like-minded individuals who are in a later stage of their founder journey.
Set up business insurance
Business insurance, or commercial insurance, is a policy that can safeguard against the losses and risks that can occur when operating a business. Any business owner should consider their insurance needs carefully. Not all forms of insurance will be relevant to all businesses. Understanding the risks you face can help you select the cover you need, which could include data loss, compensation claims, equipment damage and more.
Investigate business funding methods
There is no doubt that setting up a business can quickly become expensive, with outgoings needed for equipment, employee wages, websites, trademark licensing, advertising and more. It is sensible to open a business account as soon as possible to track your expenses, costs and income. This will make it easier when it comes to keeping records for tax assessments.
Depending on the circumstances and your business proposition, it may be possible to apply for funding to help your business grow. For example, there are small business grants, business loans, seed funding and crowdfunding which can all help side hustles get going.
Follow advice from other experts
Stepping into entrepreneurship for the first time can feel like a daunting proposition; however, there are many footsteps to follow, and it can be useful to listen to the advice from experienced business owners who are further along in their journey.