side hustles are extremely popular. If you’ve ever thought about starting a side hustle, you’re probably motivated by one of three reasons; it’s a hobby, you’re supplementing your primary income or, you plan to transition into entrepreneurship full time.

Regardless of your motivations, if you are thinking about doing this, first, contemplate on that side hustle you’ve always wanted to have, something that you do well that could also make you some money.

Whatever it is you want to do with your free time and available skills, a side hustle is not only a great way to make some extra cash, but it’s also the greatest way you can help yourself become a successful entrepreneur.

Christine Kirezi, an entrepreneur in Kigali, says that the first step to excelling in a side business is through finding clients and customers who need your work, showing them what you can do, pitching to them, sending proposals, doing great work with rational improvement and getting referrals.

Here are a few steps to assist you in this endeavour:

Inform your employer

Kirezi notes that even if your contract allows you to have a side hustle, it’s better to be active and reveal your side hustle in good faith. This creates transparency and trust, and it’s much better than waiting for your employer to find out from other sources and having to be reactive about the situation.

She says that it is professional to assure your employer that you won’t use any company resources or company time to work on your side hustle. It has to be a totally separate thing.

Create a routine and set goals

When your side hustle is part of your routine, it will feel less like the exhaust on your resources. Be sure your routine is based on solid goals. First of all, what’s the goal? When time is a limited resource, you need to be explicit and accurate about your goals, Kirezi adds.

Create boundaries

Kirezi further explains that you should set boundaries to ensure that you don’t end up taking time from other primacies in your life, for instance, family or engaging in relationships that improve you. There are plenty of ways to set boundaries for yourself.

For instance, decide ahead of time when to work on your side hustle, and stop working when that time is up.

Ask for feedback

Kirezi urges you to make sure to get feedback from your customers to see where you can improve. Whether it’s the eminence of your offering, the efficiency of your processes, or the ease with which your customers can find you and do business with you, all should be revised for possible perfections and advancements.

Identify your existing skill

According to the entrepreneur, side hustling is all about recognising your existing skills, and then finding a gap in the market where your skillset is required.

Kirezi says that what matters at the principal of any business is that you get really good at your skill and make it available to others. With time, people will take notice of your skills and begin to pay as they see your unique services.

Define what type of business entity to set up

Be clear about the different types of funding you should consider, for example, self-funding. Self-funding your business from savings should be your first option. Funding your business yourself is helpful because you don’t start your business off with debts.

Kirezi also adds that you should consider using free online preparation and planning tools. Start saving a little bit at a time for your business. Use a free blog platform, create a social media following, and create a small sample set of products.

She says, "If you don’t have money, you can get a loan from the bank as you don’t have to give up a share of your business in exchange for a loan.”

Alternatively, she says, crowdfunding is also a good idea. This is basically combining together a large number of people (usually online) to contribute to your product or service creation in exchange for a reward.

"Or your friends and family can be a great resource when it comes to funding, although it’s necessary to keep friends and family separate from your business, but at least you know that you can trust them, and can work out low or zero-interest payments with them,” Kirezi says.