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Disclaimer: Nothing in this article should be construed as legal, financial or tax advice. Please always consult a knowledgeable professional advisor.
Over the last ten years, evidence has been showing a rise in side hustles and the gig economy. Now there’s an influx of people trying something new. During an uncertain economic time, gig work and side hustles are growing in popularity, as they provide some financial stability and the ability to supplement cash flow.
If you’re interested in getting started with your own side hustle ideas, there are a few things to consider.
How to start a side hustle
Start small
If you’re trying to figure out how to start a side hustle, use this initial period of time to explore what you’re interested in and which side hustles from home in the UK sound like a good fit. If you’re not sure what strikes your fancy, consider taking online courses or workshops to see what you really enjoy.
Meanwhile, do your research to understand local and online offerings, similar product mixes, and most common side hustles of your potential competitors. You’ll want to be prepared.
Find your niche
Ask yourself what you’d like your focus to be. Do you plan to branch out from your professional field, or try something new altogether? Is there something in particular that sets you or your product apart from your competition?
Whatever your unique (and maybe expanding) skill set, what ideas can you bring to the table? Maybe your side hustle can fill a gap in your local market, or you can create a product that you have looked for yourself and not been able to find. Whatever it might be, the best side hustles are ones that merge your interests with what you enjoy doing or a product you’re passionate about.
Establish an online presence
Once you know what you want to do, and what you have to offer, you need to establish your personal brand and create an online presence. This is important. eCommerce trends are accelerating, and consumers are looking for businesses online. An eCommerce website is an important space to showcase your business, sell your products, and curate an online presence that’s all your own.
When you’re ready to launch, you’ll have a built-in set of customers. Here’s how to start a side hustle business online:
- Begin building your brand story. It should not only be about the services you offer, but why a potential client should choose you.
- Create a business account on social media channels, like Instagram and Facebook. You’ll be able to sell through these channels later on.
- Claim a domain and URL, and start building out your website.
Remember: Even if your offerings aren’t finalised, social media offers a great opportunity to network with and learn from other entrepreneurs and test out your ideas.
Build your skills
As you research your next move, don’t forget to start sharpening your business acumen. Learn more about how to run a business and the industry you’d like to join, and round out your specialised knowledge of your product or service offerings. If you’re a Square seller, you can take advantage of a three-month free trial membership to Skillshare, an online learning platform, so you are ready to hit the ground running when you start your side hustle.
Stay flexible
You don’t need to have everything figured out about how to start your side hustle right away. Your initial idea might change, and that’s okay. Be sure to start small, so you have the space to change things around. Ask for lots of feedback from friends, family, and followers—after all, they’re potential customers. Be open to changing things up, creating new iterations, and welcoming new ideas.
Get into the nitty-gritty
As soon as you’re ready to take the next step with your side hustle, you’ll need to register your business. You should also consider how you can get paid for your hard work, whether that’s selling products through your website and taking online payments, sending clients invoices, or sending customers a simple checkout link.
Think ahead
You might not be ready to figure out a business plan quite yet, but you should start considering what it would look like. Where do you see yourself, and your side hustle, in a year? In a few years? Consider what growth means to you. Do you want this to be a way to earn extra money, provide financial stability in the event of job loss, or eventually become a full-time job? What you define as success and growth is all your own, so do what works best for you.
Whatever your side hustle ideas, be proud of your hard work, and know that this is a way that you can make money on your own terms.
