Onwura Chioma
Member
Freelance Your Skills:This is one of the easiest places to start. About 14 years ago, when I was working as the Head of the Branding Unit of a company in Gbagada, Lagos, I had a dedicated personal laptop that I used for side hustling. I handled branding jobs for private individuals and organisations, and it never interfered with my paid job.
So, ask yourself: Can you offer the same service you currently provide at work as a side hustle without breaking any rule of your organisation? Whether you are an accountant, developer, teacher, engineer, graphic designer, data analyst, marketer, or something else, your professional skill may have value outside your workplace.
Become an Authorised Distributor of Your Company’s Products:I once worked as a package designer in a company that produced creams, perfumes and other products. One of my female colleagues had a shop around her area where she sold some of the products our company manufactured. She even had someone managing the shop when she was away. She built another income stream without abandoning her salary.
If your organisation manufactures or distributes products, find out whether employees are allowed to become distributors, resellers or agents. If they are, it could be another opportunity for you. But please, get the appropriate approval where required and never secretly use company inventory, customers, discounts or confidential information for personal gain.
Start a Completely Different Business:Your side hustle does not have to look anything like your 8–5 job. It could come from your passion, skills, qualifications, market demand or an opportunity you have identified around you.
You could sell products, offer services, make things or build a digital business. Look around you. What problem can you solve, and who is willing to pay you to solve it?
Monetise Your Hobby:What do you already enjoy doing? Maybe you love baking, photography, writing, designing, sewing, decorating, cooking, teaching or making videos.
Something you currently do for enjoyment may have commercial value. You may already have a side hustle hiding inside your hobby, you just need to recognise it and develop it.
Supply Goods to Businesses and Organisations:This is another opportunity many salary earners overlook. You don't necessarily need to own a huge shop before you can become a supplier.
Look around you and identify what businesses and organisations regularly need. Understand how their procurement processes work, build the right relationships and position yourself to supply legitimate products or services.
Sometimes, the opportunity is not in selling to individuals; it is in supplying businesses.
Take Legitimate Contract Jobs:You can also explore contract jobs as a side hustle. Individuals, businesses, NGOs and public institutions regularly need legitimate suppliers and service providers.
Start small. Deliver excellently. Build your reputation. One successful contract can lead to another.
But don't pay bribes or engage in fraudulent arrangements in the name of “connections.” Build a legitimate business and let your reputation speak for you.
Start an Online Business:Yes, online business is a real business. Your smartphone and laptop can become business tools. You can sell products, offer services, create content, teach online, manage social media accounts, sell digital products, freelance or build an e-commerce business.
Don't expect everything to happen overnight. Start, keep learning, keep improving and remain consistent. Sometimes, you keep pushing and pushing until the breakthrough finally comes.
Learn a High-Demand Skill:Maybe your current job doesn't give you an obvious opportunity to make extra income. That's fine. Learn another skill.
Find something that interests you and has genuine demand in the market. You don't necessarily have to resign from your job to learn. You can learn through online courses, evening classes or weekend training.
Your current salary may be small, but your earning capacity does not have to remain small forever.