Most of us will have been there: sat at our day jobs daydreaming about what life would be like if we could get paid to bake all day, or write, or paint. And while itâs certainly easier said than done⌠what would happen if we took a chance on ourselves?
Monetising your passions and hobbies isn’t easy, but it’s by no means impossible. In fact, with a bit of hard work, you could turn your passions into a part-time earner – or even build your own business and become your own boss.
There are tons of business ideas and side hustles for mums out there to make money online, or in your local area. Read the free guide below, and get started!
Table of Contents
1. Find your niche
Pick your passion: Start by pinpointing what you genuinely enjoy. It sounds blunt, but if you donât have a genuine passion for your chosen side hustle, youâll likely lack the motivation and commitment to work through the hard parts and make your business a success. On the other hand, youâll need to be okay with losing your hobby – if youâre spending all day on your chosen activity, you might not want to do the same thing when you want to relax! Business ideas like baking, crafting, gardening, and fitness make great side hustles, but there are hundreds of things you could choose.
Decide if itâs viable: Letâs cut to the chase: is your hobby something people will pay for? Do you have the necessary skills to make it happen – or can you develop them? And is there even a space in the market for you? Industries such as copywriting and proofreading are incredibly oversubscribed. Youâd be surprised at how many full-blown marketing directors take on freelance copywriting work at the weekends – meaning if you have no qualifications, youâll find it almost impossible to get noticed. Youâll need to be hard on yourself here, but itâs better to work all of this out now then down the line after youâve invested time and money.
Research the market: Look into whatâs already out there. Who are your competitors? What are they offering, and at what price? This will help you understand where your hobby fits in and how you can differentiate yourself.
2. Create your business plan
Set clear goals: Define what you want to achieve with your side hustle. Is it just a bit of extra pocket money, or are you aiming to eventually turn it into a full-time business? You donât necessarily need to decide now, especially if youâre happy to go with the flow, but itâs certainly a good idea to set expectations for yourself to avoid disappointment.
Map out your timeline: This doesnât have to be super formal – itâs a great excuse to break out the sparkly gel pens. A simple plan outlining your goals, target market, pricing strategy, and marketing plan will do. Itâs simply to give yourself a roadmap to guide you on your side hustle journey.
Identify required skills/assets: Starting and running a small business means wearing many hats – sales, marketing, customer service, website design, and more. Make sure youâre prepared to invest the time to learn these skills or consider outsourcing tasks that are beyond your expertise. If not, it’s not all over – you can still make money online with regular side hustles.
3. Perfect your craft
Hone your skills: Make sure your product or service is top-notch. Invest time in learning and improving. Take courses, watch tutorials, or join local workshops. Nothingâs ever âperfectâ or âfinishedâ – so make sure youâre continually improving your skills, and developing your offering to stand out from the crowd.
Gather feedback: Ask for feedback from friends, family, and potential customers. This will give you valuable insights into how you can improve, and what your market is looking for. Youâll be able to ask if your product or service is something theyâd buy, how much theyâd pay, whether theyâd prefer to buy online or in-person⌠and so many other essential questions thatâll help you make money online.
4. Set up shop
Create a brand: Your brand is your identity. Think about a catchy name, a logo, and consistent branding across all platforms. This helps build recognition and trust. You donât need to be a design-whizz; tools like Canva are super-easy to use to develop your creative assets, and itâs better to have a simple but clean logo than one thatâs cluttered and unprofessional. That said, your brand is the first introduction to your product or service, and the quality of your branding will directly reflect the quality of your offering. Do some research for inspiration, and consider enlisting the help of a creative pal if youâre not confident.
Choose your platforms: Decide where youâre going to sell your products or services. Etsy is traditionally the go-to platform for selling handmade goods online, but you will pay listing and selling fees which do increase. On the other hand, a custom website may be beyond your capabilities, especially when youâre just getting started. Do some research and consider what works best for you. It may be tempting to use Instagram or Facebook, but keep in mind this doesnât look as professional, youâre at the mercy of the algorithms, and these platforms could close tomorrow.
5. Market yourself
Website and SEO: Having your own website is the best way to boost your credibility and reach. Learn the basics of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) to ensure your website ranks well in search engines, helping more potential customers find you.
Social media: Social media can help you build your audience, but keep in mind an audience doesnât automatically equal sales, and, as mentioned above, youâll need to work with the social media algorithms. This is easier said than done, as theyâre constantly changing, and creating social media content is far more time-consuming than you might think. Choose one or two key platforms that your research shows works well for your competitors, and produce a sustainable social media marketing strategy that works for you.
Paid advertising: Whether you go down the digital route of Google Ads, or take out an advert in your local newspaper or magazine, paid advertising is a great way of building an audience. Granted, this is the most expensive method of advertising from the above, but as your business grows, youâll want to take advantage of this!
6. Stand out from the crowd
Drive your USP (Unique Selling Point): What makes your side hustle different from others? Whether itâs the quality, uniqueness, or personalised touch, find your USP and highlight it in your marketing. There could be thousands of baking businesses in your county for example, but you might be one of just a handful who are vegan or allergy-friendly. Capitalise on this and get this across at every opportunity.
Engage with your audience: Donât talk at your customers – talk to them. Theyâre your number-one priority, so be responsive, polite, and engaging with your audience to win customers and turn them into repeat buyers. And remember: what goes on the internet stays on the internet, so donât post a sassy comment to an unhappy customer out of anger, as all it takes is one screenshot for your business to tank. You don’t need to be a social media whizz to do this, either. In fact, you don’t need social media at all; you could start your own blog (like www.moneymakingmums.co.uk!), and build and communicate with your following that way.
Offer personalisation: Adding a personal touch to your products or services can make a big difference. Whether itâs customising items with names, offering tailored advice, or simply addressing your customer by their name in your communications, making them feel special and heard will help you stand out and encourage loyalty.
7. Manage your finances
Start small: You donât need to spend a fortune to get started. Most side hustles will just require a website, which are fairly cheap when youâre dealing with small amounts of web traffic. Some side hustles wonât require anything, and you can start them completely free of charge. If youâre dealing with physical products, you may need to invest slightly more to cover your inventory, but you can start as small as you need to. As your side hustle grows, you can reinvest your profits to cover your costs and pay yourself back for your initial investment.
Track your earnings: Keep a close eye on your finances. Use apps or simple spreadsheets to track your income and expenses. This will help you understand your profitability and plan for growth to keep you on track, as well as help you keep an eye on any outgoing costs. Plus, itâs great motivation when you start to see your profit come in!
Tax and legal requirements: Make sure you understand the tax implications of running a side hustle. If you earn more than ÂŁ1,000 annually, youâll need to pay tax on your earnings. If youâre offering certain services, you may need to consider insurance or DBS checks. Consult a professional to make sure youâre not doing anything that could land you in hot water.
Conclusion
Turning your hobby into a profitable side hustle is not only possible, but incredibly rewarding. With a bit of planning, dedication, and passion, you can transform your favourite pastime into a source of extra income.
