Could Your 'Side Hustle' Become Your Start-up?

Plenty of people these days have a 'side hustle', it's part of the gig economy. Professionals are selling handicrafts online, walking the neighbours' dogs, and many more are taking on little ad hoc side trades to earn some extra income. But should it, and could it, become your very own business and full-time job?

Let's get a couple of negatives out the way first. For starters, you have to know there's going to be the market to take it big. If the goods or services you're selling now are highly in demand, then that's a good sign it will pay off to scale it up. If they're not selling, then it's not going to be worth the risk.

There's also the danger that you could strip the enjoyment out of your hobbies by making them a business. Once you've turned your side hustle into a full-time job, you may find after a while that you fall out of love with it.

On a more positive note, turning your side hustle into a start-up brings with it so much more freedom. If it's financially viable, you could eventually earn more than you do at present by doing something you're really passionate about. As your own boss, you set your own working hours and working terms.

Yes, leaving behind a steady job can be daunting, but if this is where your strengths really lie, then it could be the best move you ever make. Just remember to research your market, explore your potential to scale up and always seek advice.