The benefits of starting your own business are manifold. It’s a win-win: you can do more things you enjoy while increasing your income. We’ll discuss some side-hustle business ideas to get you started.
According to recent studies, more than a third of British adults are now self-employed, with many starting businesses in the aftermath of the pandemic.
According to a national poll of 2,000 people in the United Kingdom, 29% said the pandemic inspired them to create a side business, 25% said it caused them to reevaluate their long-term goals, and 22% said they were driven to make up for lost income.
There seems to be no letup in this movement; 24% of respondents said they were considering but had yet to start a side business.
Small Business Ideas for Summer
The summer months are ideal for launching a new venture, especially if you have the drive and motivation to market your talents and expertise to achieve your goals.
Here are excellent summer business ideas to help you launch your side hustle, regardless of your creative strengths or interests:
Lawn Care and Landscaping
Lawn care and landscaping are incredible options for a side business, and it sees a lot of demand during the warm summer months.
A lawn care service will cut the grass, fertilize the soil, lay new sod, deal with pests, and plant new grass seed. Alternatively, landscaping is improving an outdoor area by introducing new vegetation, adding new features, or rearranging existing ones.
This seasonal gig is a great way to make some extra cash if you enjoy being physically active, spending time in nature, and having gardening expertise.
The gardening season is busy, but the first year is when you should focus on getting set up with the right tools, learning the ropes, and building a clientele.
The following year, you can get right back to work in the spring and try to get more clients.
- You need to time your marketing campaigns wisely for the different seasons. Examples include the increased need for weed control from February through May and the new mowing season, which kicks off in the spring but gets going during the summer.
Personal Tutor
Though starting a business is challenging, tutoring is among the less involved possibilities. Starting a tutoring business is a great option if you’re a teacher looking to earn extra money or make a career change.
It’s a great way to use your existing talents while potentially earning a lot of money. Now that there’s an emerging market for tutoring services online, you’re open to those in your immediate vicinity.
Though beginning a career as a private tutor in the dog days of summer may seem counterintuitive, there is no better time to get started than now, with so much time to spare before the start of the new school year in September.
Some people are hesitant to launch a tutoring business because they mistakenly believe it cannot be successful.
However, there is a steady need for tutors, which means there is a promising chance of repeat business. It’s prudent to take advantage of the “low” time to learn about the field, your capabilities, the resources you’ll need to get started, and the online tutoring platforms you can apply to.
Although becoming a tutor in the United Kingdom does not require formal education or training, most tutors have a bachelor’s degree or higher in the subject they teach.
A college diploma isn’t needed, but it increases your marketability. You could put up flyers in the area or use a service like Personal Tutors to find a tutor.
Online tutoring is a fantastic option if you’re a teacher who wants more freedom by working from home and accessing a larger student body. Online tutoring platforms abound, but before signing up for one, familiarise yourself with its specific application process and requirements.
- MyTutor.co.uk is a fantastic opportunity for students at prestigious UK universities to supplement their income, especially over the summer when they may have more free time to test the waters and determine if this is something they want to pursue on the side permanently.
Airbnb
Vacation home rentals are one of the best summer business ideas. Young people and their families take advantage of the hotter seasons and seek new destinations during the summer months.
Renting a room in your house on Airbnb is a profitable side hustle, especially in the warmer months.
It’s also a savvy move to capitalize on the growing popularity of staycations among British tourists, many of whom are still hesitant to jet off on exotic vacations in the wake of the recent pandemic.
Airbnb’s user-friendly platform makes it simple to upload your details and start the listing process, whether you’re hoping to supercharge your savings or re-invest the money back into your core market.
Creating an account and listing on the site is free. New listings may not appear in search results for up to three days. To avoid legal trouble, it’s crucial that you know and abide by the rules in your area.
Airbnb offers its Hosts a handbook that details the basics of hosting and gives a broad overview of the various laws, regulatory requirements, and best practices that could affect Airbnb Hosts.
It would be best if you abode by Airbnb’s policies, such as their >Hosting Standards, as well as all local, state, and federal regulations that may apply to your rental. Start planning and posting early to avoid stress and extra work during the busy summer months.
- Get high-quality images taken in natural lighting to increase the appeal of your listing. To put it another way, professional photographers can increase a host’s earnings by as much as 40 percent compared to their competitors in the same area. If you can’t afford a pro, try a good camera.
Etsy
One of the most common post-pandemic side businesses is selling arts and crafts online, thanks to the ease with which sellers can get their wares in front of Etsy’s 96,3 million monthly visitors. Having the summer to prepare for the shop’s opening when the holiday shopping season begins is ideal. Etsy is worthwhile for sellers because it facilitates the launch of an online shop selling vintage and handmade items. There is little time involved in getting started with Etsy. It’s a cheap, risk-free sales platform that offers repeat customers discounts and positive feedback.
Get your Etsy store up and running in the summer if you expect a surge in sales leading up to the holidays so that you can wait for Etsy’s 90-day payment account reserve to expire before opening for business. Etsy reserves the right to suspend seller accounts that cannot provide adequate tracking information for items as a precaution for buyers. People may place a reserve on your account if you’re opening it near the holidays, meaning you will get your total funds once the reserve is removed.
Online Surveys
To better their products and advertising, companies will pay for your feedback. With the help of Money Saving Expert’s comprehensive guide, which includes a ranked list of the best 25 survey sites, you can get off to a running start and maximize your potential earnings.
Companies of all sizes and in various industries use online paid surveys as a valid method of gathering data about their target markets.
While there are plenty of legitimate opportunities to make money taking surveys online, some of the survey sites were built by con artists or hackers.
In terms of credibility and size, Swagbucks is among the best-paid survey sites out there. Over $600,000,000 has been distributed so far as a reward to members.
You can earn points by playing games, taking surveys, searching the web, shopping online, and watching videos.
Street Food Market Vendor
In cities all over the world, residents can visit a variety of street vendors and market merchants to purchase goods and services at low prices and with little effort.
They have you covered from fresh produce to ready-to-eat meals, from construction supplies to apparel and accessories, and from automotive services to hair styling.
A weekend street food market might be a great place to launch a side business if you have a penchant for the cuisine of the streets. Street foods from Asia, Latin America, and Africa have made their way to some regions of Europe and North America, where they are now considered staples.
Many aspiring business owners already have full-time jobs, making it difficult to commit to a storefront. Still, street food markets (and pop-up events) provide the freedom to test the waters and build a customer base. An excellent summer side business is selling food at one of the many street markets that pop up near tourist attractions.
Freelancer
Establishing yourself as a freelancer is a fantastic method of getting your name out there. You can expect to work with a wide range of clients, take on a wide range of tasks, and travel to a wide range of locations.
Good chances to meet other business owners and influential people in your field are another perk of this line of work.
Freelance work is standard in many fields, including design, bookkeeping, consulting, management, photography, writing, and social media management.
Sometimes, an employee’s contract will state explicitly that they are prohibited from working for a competitor in the company that employs them.
It is possible that starting a side business requires you to get approval from your employer, as stated in your contract. Be cautious; you wouldn’t want to upset your boss by trying to supplement your income in any way that could affect your current position.
- If you’re hunting for a permanent position but still need to put food on the table while you look, freelancing can be a great option. It’s a great way to earn extra money and prove to potential employers that you’re actively seeking to advance your career.
Dog Walker/Sitter
If you have a soft spot in your heart for canines, dog walking is a profession you should look into. As a service, dog walking is in high demand, and there is little competition in the market.
Starting this kind of business in the summer is ideal when many people with dogs are planning vacations (especially families taking advantage of the time off school).
However, the trend toward pet ownership isn’t limited to vacationers; about 3.2 million British households have done so since the pandemic’s inception.
- As people are free to go back to work, the need for pet services such as dog walking and sitting has increased. The chance to get fresh air and exercise while still being productive at your regular job is a nice perk of working from home. It’s a win-win situation!
Dropshipper
A drop shipping fulfillment model might be the perfect fit if you’re considering starting a side eCommerce business.
Dropshipping is a low-hazard business model because it eliminates the need for you to stock and ship products to customers yourself.
There has been a meteoric rise in the popularity of “dropshipping”-related web searches in recent years. The key to prosperity is wise decisions about what to sell, how much to charge, and which vendors to work with.
You focus on marketing and customer service and let your supplier handle the order fulfillment. You can quickly turn this side gig into a full-time career with little investment of time or energy.
To promote sales, favorable reviews, and growth, ensure your customer service and marketing abilities are top-notch. Even though you should always respond quickly to customer service inquiries, you can focus on growing your business in the evenings and on weekends.
To guarantee a steady flow of promotional content is released without your constant intervention, you may use a social media scheduling tool. It’s a fantastic method of keeping the marketing machine running at your regular job.
Main points to think about before launching a side hustle
While it’s true that you should make the most of the opportunity, it’s also worth noting that some industries experience “low” seasons in the summer, providing an ideal time for budding entrepreneurs to study and prepare for a new side business that will be in high demand in the fall and winter, such as tutoring or holiday gift giving.
It’s not just a chance to pad your bank account; it could be the catalyst for a major life change, like eliminating high-interest debt, increasing your savings and investment, or allowing you to quit your day job altogether.
Though the suggestions mentioned above are all viable options for starting a side business with little to no investment, you should recognize any small enterprise’s basic infrastructure needs.
· Be aware of any necessary licenses and insurance
These considerations will vary according to your ancillary business. If you own a business, you must abide by the laws that specify your rights and responsibilities in the marketplace. Become well-versed in the standards that your business sector must meet through careful research.
· Check to see if your day job permits a side business
Before starting a side business, double-check your employment agreement to see if it permits it. Employees are bound by the implied duty of fidelity to not engage in competitive activities with their employers.
Some employers may include A clause prohibiting you from working for a competitor or requiring you to get prior approval before starting a side business in terms of your employment agreement. Employers have no right to unreasonably deny permission if you are not directly competing with them. However, your primary job may be affected. If your employer worries, you will need more rest between shifts because you’re too busy with your side gig.
· Recall paying taxes
Any money you make will be subject to taxation. HMRC requires you to declare any money you earn from a side gig because it is considered money earned through self-employment.
