one of my uncles started a side business for used records, which, in turn, spawned yet another side hustle selling used CDs. Finally, a century ago, one of my great-grandfathers was sort of a pioneer in the world of side hustles: His day job was owning and running his family produce store, but on the side, he was a bootlegger, making and selling illegal alcohol during Prohibition!
In some ways, a side hustle is like any other job, or running any other small or medium business. But the very nature of side hustles — the fact that you’re doing something alongside a full-time job, or perhaps alongside other side hustles that you’ve got going — presents unique challenges, as well as unique opportunities, above and beyond a “regular” job or self-owned business. Understanding those challenges, and taking advantage of those opportunities, can be daunting as you jump into the side-hustle game.
That’s where Side Hustles For Dummies comes in.
About This Book
Side Hustles For Dummies helps you make sense of the ABCs — acronym anarchy, buzzword bingo, and complicating confusion — that you frequently find in short articles, blog posts, and online videos about side hustles.
This book is not just a tutorial about side hustles; it also serves as a reference that you may find yourself consulting on a regular basis. You don’t need to memorize large blocks of content (there’s no final exam!) because you can always go back to take a second or third or fourth look at any particular point during your own side-hustle adventures.
Right from the start, you find out what you should expect from the world of side hustles, as well as see what challenges are lurking. You dig deep into deciding what kind of side hustle will work best for your individual and family situation — or if one even does! — and then wrap your brain around the big picture of how the operational, financial, and legal sides of your side hustle all fit together.
I don’t use many special conventions in this book, but you should be aware that sidebars (the gray boxes you see throughout the book) and anything marked with the Technical Stuff icon are skippable. So, if you’re short on time, you can pass over these pieces without losing anything essential. On the other hand, if you have the time, you’re sure to find fascinating information here!
Within this book, you may note that some web addresses break across two lines of text. If you’re reading this book in print and want to visit one of these web pages, simply key in the web address exactly as it’s noted in the text, pretending as though the line break doesn’t exist. If you’re reading this as an e-book, you’ve got it easy: Just click the web address to be taken directly to the web page.
Foolish Assumptions
The most important assumption I’ve made about you is that you either are seriously exploring the world of side hustles or already have a side hustle going and are looking for additional insights to help you make the most of your efforts.
Perhaps you’re driving for Lyft or Uber, or delivering packages for Amazon, or delivering food for Grubhub or DoorDash, in addition to your full-time job. Or maybe the professional side of your life thus far has been limited to a full-time job, but you’re getting the itch to do something on the side.
Maybe your satisfaction level with your day job has been on the decline in recent years, and you’re thinking about switching careers, but you want to get a better idea of what you’re getting into. A side hustle could be the perfect way for you to have your cake and eat it, too: Keep your full-time job and financial security for the time being, while seeing if the grass really is greener doing something else.
Or you could already have a side hustle underway that’s going so well that you’re thinking about expanding your business. Not quite sure how to take your side hustle to the next level? This book has the answers.
You don’t need to already be in the side-hustle game for Side Hustles For Dummies to be helpful. No prior business knowledge or experience is assumed, nor do you have to already be laser-focused on one particular side-hustle idea. You’ll find all sorts of ideas and plans in these pages to either get you started or keep your side hustle moving along.
Icons Used in This Book
As you read this book, you’ll find icons in the margins that indicate material of particular interest. Here’s what the icons mean:
Beyond the Book
In addition to what you’re reading right now, this product also comes with a free access-anywhere Cheat Sheet. There you can find reasons to start a side hustle, categories of side hustles, and ways to avoid conflicts between your side hustle and your day job. To get this helpful content, simply go to www.dummies.com and type Side Hustles For Dummies Cheat Sheet in the Search box.
Where to Go from Here
Now it’s time to dive into the world of side hustles! If you’re totally new to the subject, you won’t want to skip the chapters in Part 1, because they provide the foundation for the rest of the book. If you already have a side hustle underway, I still recommend that you at least skim Part 1 to get a sense of how to get beyond all the hype, buzzwords, and generalities related to side hustles.
From there, you can read the book sequentially from front to back, or jump around as needed, using the table of contents and index as your guide. Whatever works best for you is how you should proceed.
Part 1
Getting Started with Side Hustles
IN THIS PART …
Get the straight scoop about the world of side hustles.
Figure out if you’re ready to jump into a side hustle.
Find the perfect hustle to match your mindset and your lifestyle.
Chapter 1
Joining the Side-Hustle Game
IN THIS CHAPTER