Many people have a hobby that they have thought about turning into a successful business. Sometimes the fear is too great and this stops them. Sometimes it is lack of funding that stands in their way. Sometimes people are too deep into their hobby themselves that they are unable to step back and look at the bigger picture.
The following tips can you help move forward, taking your passion from a hobby to an income-generating business.
Define Your Goal
Decide what it is that you really want to do. How far do you want to take this?
What do you want to have achieved in 6 months time?
Where do you want to be in one year’s time?
How much of your family time will this take up – are you willing to give that up or is your family going to be able to help you?
Where is the money?
Brainstorm on your own, with friends or join one of the many Facebook groups to hash ideas out with.
If you fix cars, is that really the only way that you can make money?
Perhaps you can sell some are parts that you have realised people need often. Or partner up with a tyre dealer and earn a referral commission for each person you send that way.
Kick it up a notch and start a vlog (video blog) and teach people online the simple things they can do themselves.
Start a blog and earn an income through adveritising from the high traffic that your blog is receiving, or by selling products online such as car cleaning products, air freshners or anything related. Think bigger. Start to think differently.
Become the expert
If there are some things that are you still not 100% sure of, then learn how to do them, and do them well. You can’t charge people money for things that they can probably do better than you! If this is your hobby then you most likely enjoy it and are happy up your skill set and turn this into a successful business.
Write a business plan
No matter what you decide to do, you need a business plan. Even if it is one page, have something to guide you along your way otherwise you can spend days or even weeks doing ‘work’ that isn’t important or that isn’t going to generate you an income.
Get your business admin in order
Make sure you have the following in order:
Register your business name
Register your business.company name
Who will be your accountant? When is your financial year end? Have you marked these off in your calendar?
Have your business plan
Work out a marketing plan
Decide on your online presence including social media
Determine who your ideal customer is
It’s all in the marketing
You can have the best product in the world, but if no-one knows about it, you are not going to make any sales. You must have a website or at least an online presence. Know that social media is constantly changing and brings different audiences with it. Are you on the correct social network to reach your target audience? Do you need to attend workshops and events to meet other people? Can you find a networking breakfast in your area? Find Facebook groups that you can join.
Get involved with Pinterest for Business because it is free and can drive tons of new traffic to your business. For free.
