Introduction
There are many ways to get into entrepreneurship, such as starting a part-time job. Not everyone you see with a successful online business quit their regular job one day and became profitable the next day.
Some of us like to test the waters first. You may realize that you want to start a new business but are not entirely sure what it should be. This is where starting a part-time job or weekend work comes in. It’s a low-risk way to experiment with different ideas while you have a full-time salary.
But turning an online business idea into a side reality is not easy. You come home after a long day at work, spend the little time you have with family and friends, and try to find productive time to work on your side hustle before you go to sleep.
It requires some mental effort, but it is 100% possible. This article will present you with nine profitable part-time business ideas you can start today, along with a guide to planning your weekends so that you can make the best use of your free time.
Finding an Idea
With a little knowledge and hard work, you can start your own side business that brings you more money than driving for a rideshare service or babysitting. Check out the following nine ideas you can leverage to become your own boss today:
Inventory-Free E-commerce
Whether you want to earn extra income or grow an online store, starting an inventory-free e-commerce business is the best business idea for you. Dropshipping is a method to fulfill demand where you don’t hold any products you sell in stock. Instead, you buy items from a supplier after an order is placed, and the supplier ships them directly to your customer.
Most dropshipping stores don’t take much money or time to set up and run. When done right, they can be a profitable business venture for you.
Most people don’t quit their day jobs after launching their dropshipping store. They spend time growing their store first, solving customer service issues, and finding the best suppliers until they see a healthy cash flow. All businesses and entrepreneurs are different, but it’s possible to generate an income ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 monthly after a year of working on your store for about 10 to 15 hours a week.
Although it may seem challenging at first, this passive income idea can earning you residual income and eventually a full-time salary when done correctly.
Sources: How to Start a Dropshipping Business: A Comprehensive Guide, Making E-commerce Successful: Tips and Stories to Inspire Your E-commerce Adventure, What is Passive Income: Types of Income and Examples
Print on Demand
Print on demand is an easy way to profit from your creativity. It involves working with a supplier to customize products like tote bags or t-shirts with your designs. Suppliers sell you these products on demand with your brand. In other words, you don’t pay for any products until you sell them. The company also fulfills and ships your customer orders.
Print on demand is a great part-time business idea because it does not require a large investment or much time. You do not need to hold any inventory. You don’t need to spend money on materials or equipment. All you need is to choose a print-on-demand company to work with, then create your design, and upload it to your Shopify store.
The biggest
The investment you will make is the time you will spend creating your designs and building your brand online.
Popular products to sell via print-on-demand include: shirts, books, bags, wall art, phone cases, coffee mugs, socks.
Want to start a side business for print-on-demand? Check out “A Canvas for Creativity: Here Are 10 Print-On-Demand Products You Can Sell (Without Holding Inventory).”
Sources: A Canvas for Creativity: Here Are 10 Print-On-Demand Products You Can Sell (Without Holding Inventory)
Making and Selling Crafts
This is the most obvious side business idea for most full-time workers. Anyone can make and sell crafts from home today thanks to the rise of e-commerce. Additionally, working with your hands is good for the brain.
Experts have found that using your hands on a task that doesn’t require much thinking gives your brain a chance to relax and unwind. It can also provide a sense of accomplishment and reduce stress and anxiety. Think of it as a meditative practice, but one that pays off later.
Some business ideas include: starting a jewelry line, upcycling old clothing, starting a candle business, creating ceramic pots for plants.
Your first idea might be selling your crafts on sites like Etsy or eBay, and that’s not a bad idea. However, you can also build a website and start your own online business. It will save you a lot of money on commission fees that stores take from your sales and help you build a successful online business.
Your options are limitless. Need help finding your creative calling? Take the “What Type of Craft Should I Make and Sell?” quiz in our article “Craft Your Own Future: 10 DIY Business Ideas You Can Start From Home.”
Sources: Putting the Pieces Together: 26 CNC Projects That Sell
Selling or Upcycling Furniture
Do you have a talent for working with your hands but crafts don’t spark your creativity? Try selling or upcycling furniture online.
Woodworker Chris Hughes, founder of Timberware, worked as a welding assistant and general contractor before starting his furniture business. Working as a craftsman and building homes drove him to work with wood and create custom furniture for clients.
My best advice is to start with what you can afford and grow slowly in your toolkit. Be patient and don’t exceed your capabilities. Chris Hughes, Founder of Timberware
There are various ways to start a side business in furniture: Maker: Someone who builds furniture by hand. Designer: Someone who designs furniture and has the company build it. Seller: Someone who assembles pieces and sells a number of items from different brands. Dropshipper: Someone who works with a supplier to fulfill and ship orders.
Convinced that selling furniture is your side business for the future? Learn the basics of getting started by reading “How to Sell Furniture and Home Decor Online: The Ultimate Guide.”
Sources: How to Sell Furniture and Home Decor Online: The Ultimate Guide
Creating Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
You may have heard about artist Grimes selling NFTs for millions of dollars, or billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban betting big on them. Or you may not have. But if you’re an artist, creating non-fungible tokens or NFTs could be a fantastic online side business idea to start.
Non-fungible tokens are unique pieces of art issued on blockchain technology, or the secure ledger that records transactions for digital assets. Think of NFTs like trading cards. People can buy your NFTs in a marketplace, and then sell or trade them at a higher price in the future.
Can
NFTs can be anything from images, videos, audio files, or other types of digital files. NFT communities are also growing rapidly, as people from around the world come together to learn, create, and build online. You can even create galleries to showcase your work in the virtual world.
Ri Larsdam, a digital creator, explains, “NFTs to me are a way to reinvent oneself. They are a new world of opportunities. My advice to anyone looking to get involved is to become part of the community. The NFT community is the backbone of any successful NFT venture.”
Sources: Cyber
Freelancing
Many full-time business owners start by selling their services online part-time. Freelancing means working with different companies at different times instead of being employed by just one company. It’s a popular idea for part-time work because it doesn’t require any startup costs. You only need a skill to sell.
Many full-time employees turn their passions into side jobs. For example, Kaitlyn Kremin, the marketing manager at Long Island Screen Printing, sells photography services for businesses in Long Island, New York.
Kaitlyn says, “I’ve always loved photography, but I couldn’t pinpoint a specific niche. I love photographing many different things, like maternity sessions, real estate tours, concerts, and shoots for local businesses. Because of my full-time job, I can shoot on weekends and during holidays. It’s where my creativity shines, and it’s something I feel passionate about. Plus, I can earn some extra money.”
Freelancing comes in many forms: virtual assistant, freelance writer, photographer, graphic designer, real estate agent, SEO consultant, copywriter, blogger
The best part? You can start your home-based business from anywhere. Many freelancers say that there are expected to be 86.5 million freelancers in the U.S. by 2027, making up 50.9% of the total workforce. Many freelancers also diversify their income streams by creating online courses or selling digital products online.
You can sign up on a freelancing site like Fiverr or Upwork. But they cut into your earnings by taking a commission fee for allowing you to use their sites. Instead, get your own domain name and start your online portfolio. You can browse job boards and pitch to different companies, or market yourself on social media platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn.
Does part-time work sound interesting to you? Read Ryan Robinson’s guide to starting a side freelance business to find out how to get started step by step.
Sources: Ryan Robinson’s guide to starting a freelance business on the side
Starting a Pet Business
The pet industry is one of the most profitable business opportunities for part-time entrepreneurs. It is pandemic-resistant and has shown significant growth in recent years. People are also joining the trend of pet ownership, treating their pets like family and purchasing products such as beds, jackets, and raw food.
The global pet care market grew from $216 billion in 2020 to $232 billion in 2021, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.1%. If you’re looking to enter the pet industry, pet food and treats make up the majority of e-commerce sales.
Even
If you don’t want to make dog meals, you can also venture into: Pet care services like dog walking and grooming Pet supplies like food dispensers Pet products like custom mugs or t-shirts
Let the Dog Out (LTDO) is a dog walking service located in Guelph, Ontario. LTDO offers free meet-and-greet sessions to allow dogs to meet their new owner (you) and get accustomed to them.
Service-based businesses rely on personal relationships. So if you love dogs and (sometimes) people, it can be a good idea for a small side business for you. You just need your own website to get started. If your services are good, you may get new clients through word-of-mouth referrals, and you can grow your side business into something more professional.
Sources: How to Sell Furniture and Home Decor Online: The Ultimate Guide
Become a Live Broadcaster
Live streaming is becoming a popular way to entertain people. A professional broadcaster is someone who makes money by streaming games, music, art, live content, and more. Traditionally, live streaming was exclusive to gamers, but there is an increase in broadcasters who stream themselves and interact with viewers.
Broadcasters earn online through donations, ads, subscriptions, and sponsorships. If you use a streaming service like Twitch, viewers can donate money in the form of “Bits,” which averages about $0.01. Turn Likes into Sales
Are you ready to take your Instagram account to the next level? Learn how Shopify can help turn likes into sales. Learn more
There are many categories of live streaming, from people streaming their art to personal trainers streaming lessons, and more: Just Chatting Music and Performing Arts Podcasts Travel and Outdoors Food and Beverage Industry Crafts Sports and Fitness
Live streaming as a part-time business requires a small investment. You can start with just your phone and a tripod, which you can get for $20 on Amazon. As you can see, there are many options for what you can stream and make money from. Choose your favorite niche, then sign up for a platform like Twitch or Livestream to start live streaming today.
Sources: Cyber
Become an Affiliate Marketer
Affiliate marketing refers to earning a commission by promoting a product or service made by another company. It’s a business model where you, the affiliate partner, earn money for achieving a specific result for the company or advertiser. Most often, the desired outcome is a sale, but there are other programs that offer rewards for leads, clicks, downloads, and other business outcomes.
Affiliate programs are usually free to join, so startup costs are low. Since it’s a performance-based opportunity, you can turn this from a side business idea into a project that generates residual income.
The list of affiliate marketing categories is lengthy. You can find products to sell in any category, including: Hobbies: Photography, travel, casino. Money: Bitcoin, investment, credit cards. Health and Wellness: Weight loss, fitness, yoga, nutrition. Lifestyle: Fashion, jewelry, online dating. Home: Coffee, baby products, dogs, plants. Technology: Web hosting, WordPress, video games, VPN.
Affiliate marketing programs are very straightforward. Promote the product by sharing it through social media, your website, YouTube channel, podcast, etc. Then you earn a commission every time a purchase is made through your unique link.
It’s easy
Implementing affiliate marketing means you only need to market a product instead of creating one. It is low risk because it is free to join a program. It is easy to scale, as once you build an audience and create your own content, you will earn money without needing to put in a lot of manual effort.
Read more: Affiliate Marketing in 2021: How to Find High-Paying Programs and Start Your Affiliate Business
Maximizing Your Weekends for Your Side Business Growth
Weekends allow you to accomplish more in larger increments. There is usually the greatest opportunity to grow your business or make the biggest impact when you are working full-time.
However, are you maximizing your weekends? How often do you find yourself distracted or unable to get done what you need to do? How should you organize your weekends? What does an optimal weekend look like in terms of productivity and business growth?
I will answer these questions and share what works, and still works, for me. Additionally, I will share my action plan, exactly how I organize my weekends and what I do each weekend that has helped me grow my side business and maintain a good work/life balance.
Sources: Ecommerce Motivation
Source: https://www.shopify.com/blog/part-time-business-ideas
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