Setting Up A Side Gig: A Guide

Collaborative post by another author. Unfortunately, wages just don’t seem to go as far as they used to. As a result, it has become increasingly necessary to supplement your income, and luckily there are a number of ways to do this. Making some extra money in your spare time doesn’t have to be difficult; in fact, several methods range in their time and energy commitment, meaning that you can find one that works for you. So, if you want to make a little extra cash, then keep reading.

Side gig guest post


What Is A Side Gig?

A side gig is exactly as it sounds. A gig you undertake on the side, in addition to your main form of income. Essentially, it refers to a part-time job or business. A person takes on additional work or tasks in order to make a little extra cash, all while continuing to work their day job. In fact, a lot of people today use their side gig as a way to trial business ideas to see whether or not it has legs. Their eventual goal is to transition from their day job to their side gig full-time when it is profitable to do so. 

Why Do People Have A Side Gig?

People decide to undertake a side gig for a number of reasons. It allows them to pursue their passions and work out whether they can make any money out of it. During this exploration, they don’t have to worry or stress as much because it is all done from the comfort of having financial security provided by their primary source of income. Simply put, you have the luxury of time. You are also able to start small without the need for investors or employees.

Coming Up With Your Side Gig

There are a few ways that you can come up with your idea for a side gig. If you want to eventually make a business out of it, then you might want to begin by identifying a gap in the market. Next, conduct some research to help you identify any areas for innovation. Finally, carve out your own niche to ensure that your side gig fulfils a need for consumers. 

You could also think about your skillset. Do you have any skills or background experience that could be translated into a profitable side gig? Freelance work is a popular side gig; offer up your skills and experience to paying clients. For example, if you have experience in the business world, you could offer your consulting expertise. 

Finally, do you have a hobby that you could market for a profit? Perhaps you are a keen baker; if so, you could take orders and sell your creations. The same applies to most forms of arts and crafts. As long as you produce quality products, you can charge money for them. You can easily advertise through social media too. 

Examples Of A Side Gig

When it comes to a side gig, it does not always have to be about starting a business; it could be anything that brings in extra cash. It depends entirely on you. How much time you have, how much money you want to make and your preferences. 

You could start up an internet blog or vlog. It takes a lot of time to build up a following, but you can earn a lot of money after you have passed a certain threshold. It is a creative endeavour that requires a lot of time and dedication, but it also allows you to have complete creative control.

You could also produce your own goods for sale. For example, you could create sweet treats or savoury foods to sell. Or you could make pieces of clothing by knitting or crocheting. Making things in batches helps to keep costs low, or you could create bespoke items. It depends if you can secure the demand to make the endeavour profitable.

If you want an easier way to make money without as much commitment, you could consider many digital methods. For example, you can trial websites, fill out surveys, teach English online or refer products to earn cash. For example, Lebara has a referral scheme that allows users to refer friends and family for a financial incentive; you can find out more at https://mobile.lebara.com/gb/en/how-to-refer-and-earn.

Finally, you could offer your services in a freelance capacity. Capitalise on your marketable skills. Use a website like Fiverr or offer your skills online. You could charge a flat fee per hour, or you could charge by the project. 

Getting Started With Your Side Gig

First things first, obviously you need to decide what to do. Once you have done that, you can begin to come up with the next steps necessary to get your side gig up and running. You should start by coming up with a realistic schedule. How often are you going to work on your side gig, and how long for. Remember that this schedule needs to take into account your other responsibilities. You should also avoid spreading yourself too thin. 

Next, you need to decide on a few goals or milestones for yourself. What do you want to achieve, and when do you want to achieve it? Your goal could be financial; maybe you want to earn a certain amount from your side gig by a certain date. Or maybe you want your side gig to become a fully-fledged business in its own right by a certain date. Being as specific as possible helps. Finally you will need to register as self employed if you expect to make over a threshold.

To Summarise

A lot of people would love to be their own boss eventually, to work under their own steam for themselves instead of answering to other people. You work harder to ensure your own success; you aren’t a faceless, thankless cog in the machine anymore. The truth is that starting up your own successful enterprise takes work. It requires careful planning. 

Taking on a side gig has the potential to outstrip your job as your main source of income if you work hard at it. However, this doesn’t have to be your goal. You might simply want another steady stream of extra cash. Either way, use the above guide to help you to ensure that your side gig is successful.

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