Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or work full-time outside the home, many of us are looking for a way to work a side hustle to make a little extra money. There are plenty of options
Options
When thinking about how to make some extra cash, you first have to look at all the different ways to do it.
Make something. Are you a master knitter? Do people always ask you to bring your world famous chocolate cake to parties? Find something you can make really well, and sell it to other people.
Provide a service. If you have a talent like organizing closets, or you’re good with animals, you can provide a service to others in need. And if you’ve got a degree or certification, make it work for you! You can work in person or online, like a virtual assistant.
Refinish/ Upcycle. Similar to making something, but you’re not starting from scratch. Think “Flea Market Flip.”
Consult. Many people who don’t work outside the home are highly qualified individuals. Use that skill on an as-needed basis to help people or companies thrive.
Direct Sales. By far the most popular option, direct sales involves taking a product, or line of products, made by a company and selling it to individuals. Sales can be done in person, at parties, or online.
Considerations
Do you have any special skills that are in demand? Lots of us have special skills, but other people may not want or need them. It’s important to know your market before starting a business. If you like to write, it might be more practical to help others create things, with a blog or vlog, rather than creating the product yourself.
How much time do you have? Starting a company, even a small one, is a full-time gig. It can be done at home and in your “off” hours, but there’s really no shortcut. It’s not just about creating your product. You also have to market, build relationships, educate your customers… This is why direct sales are so popular.
How much do you want to invest? A new company can take a lot of money. Between materials, marketing, legal fees, and more, it can add up fast. That’s why it’s not surprising when people on Shark Tank confess they’ve invested tens of thousands of dollars (or more) in their business. That said, that investment gets you much more control than you get with a smaller investment in a ready-to-go company like Jamberry.
Are you excited about it? Whatever “it” is, if you’re not totally pumped to get up and go, you’re going to have a tough time. Whether it’s a product you’re creating yourself or a line of products you’re selling as part of a larger company, you have to love what you sell.
Why I Chose Pampered Chef
For me, with a full-time job, a family, and a blog, there’s just not enough time in the day to start my own company from scratch. And it just makes sense to fold my side hustle into my blog – which I guess you could say is my original side hustle – because I can get more bang for my buck.
Money was another factor. For less than it would cost to set up an LLC, I was up and running as a Pampered Chef consultant. I got a HUGE box full of awesome kitchen tools and a beautiful website I didn’t have to design – and because I’m part of a larger company there’s little to no ongoing cost. We don’t have a lot of money to throw around, so that’s a big deal for me.
But here’s the big thing. Since I got my very first Pampered Chef item, an apple peeler-corer-slicer, I have loved their products! I can talk honestly about why I love them, and I don’t feel like I’m “selling”.
Of course, before you get into any direct sales business you should give it a lot of thought. Take some time to answer these 6 questions to see if you’re really ready.
Have you been thinking about trying direct sales? Check out the possibilities at Pampered Chef, and please feel free to email me at [email protected] with any questions you may have!
