A side business, sometimes known as a side hustle, is a business that is run in addition to your normal full-time job. It’s like taking a second job, but you’re working for yourself.
A side business can be an excellent way of earning some extra income and could even replace your main job in the future.
One of the hardest parts about starting a sidehustle is deciding what to do. In this guide, we’ll look at some potential ideas for a side business and offer some tips on how to work out which option you should choose.
- Which is the best side business to start?
- What you need to know before you start a side business
- Getting your new side business online
- Frequently Asked Questions
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Which is the best side business to start?
The best side business to start is one which you’re knowledgeable and passionate about. The chances are something you already know about can be turned into a side business.
That means you won’t have to spend much time and effort learning about a new subject, so you could get your new business up and running sooner.
Of course, it’s perfectly possible to start a side business in an area about which you know nothing, but bear in mind that there will likely be unexpected pitfalls along the way.
Let’s look at some side business ideas to get you inspired.
Related: Young Britons turn to side hustles amid economic headwinds
1. Go freelance in your current role
If you’re working in a creative role, the chances are you can start a side business just by taking on extra freelance work outside your full-time gig.
It’s not the most exciting side business idea, but if you like what you do it’s a great way to start earning extra cash.
Related: Cregtech – from side hobby to six figures
2. Create and sell online courses
Are you an expert in something? Then you can create and sell an online course about it. Whether you’re a digital marketing expert or a master baker, they’ll be a market for your knowledge.
It will take some time and effort to put your course together and you may need to update it from time to time, so you won’t start earning straight away. You’ll also need to learn about marketing online courses.
However, you can combine selling online courses with another side hustle idea (such as going freelance) to boost your income.
3. Make and sell products online
If you’ve got the skills to make something, then you can earn extra money by selling the things you create online.
It could be clothes, candles, decorative art, or anything else you can think of! You could start selling on a specialist craft marketplace like Etsy, or you could create your own online store and sell direct. (Pro tip: Do both and maximize your reach!)
This side business idea isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve got an existing craft hobby it could start making you extra money.
Related: How to set up an online shop — the complete guide