Why you don’t have to quit your 9-to-5 to start a business

Build smarter with these essential tips for launching your business without saying goodbye to your day job (just yet)

Hey UpFlipers,

Have you ever felt the pressure to drop everything and dive headfirst into entrepreneurship? While it sounds exhilarating, the reality is, it's not always the best move.

Keeping your 9-to-5 job while starting a side hustle can be a smarter and less stressful way to transition into full-time entrepreneurship. Using your job as a funding source for your new venture allows you to experiment, iterate, and grow without the financial strain.

Pick a business idea that fuels you

Yes, of course, your business should make money. But when you’re building something alongside your current day job, find something that gets you excited. Operating on the border of a passion project and a money-making business is the sweet spot for any entrepreneur. That’s a hard spot to find if you quit your job and have no income, and you find yourself building a business solely focused on money. It’s a quick path to burnout. 

Think about your hobbies or problems you've faced. Did you ever wish that a certain product existed or a service was better? Start there. Test different ideas on a small scale to see what excites you and has potential. For example, if you love baking, consider a home-based bakery. If you're tech-savvy, maybe an online consulting business.

Don’t focus on what people have already done; focus on how you can make something better and make it your own.

Checkout our article on the 47 best side hustles for 2024!

You have limited time; use it wisely

Balancing a job and a business requires smart time management. 

Block out specific hours each week for business activities and get organized with a calendar or task management tool. Prioritize your tasks to focus on high-impact activities. You might have to substitute some of your Netflix and chill time, but that all depends on how you manage your time and your other social activities. 

Once you’ve carved out that time, even if it’s just 2 to 3 hours each week, you can prioritize tasks to make sure you’re using your time wisely. No doom scrolling for an hour. Focus on building, taking those small steps every single day.

Pro Tip: Use the Pomodoro Technique—work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. This can make your work sessions more productive.

Depending on what you’re building, odds are your focus should be on finding and talking to potential customers about your product or service, sharing your idea (or whatever you have ready) and getting initial feedback to help you shape your product.

Here’s a great article on time management

Automate parts of your business to save time and money

Automation can be your best friend. For instance, if you run an eCommerce store on Shopify, 95% or more of your business is fully automated, including your purchasing process, marketing, and shipping. It’s like having a personal assistant who works 24/7—without needing a break.

Imagine this: An order comes in, Shopify sends the customer details to your email, your inventory updates automatically, and your marketing software sends a thank-you note—all without you lifting a finger.

When something happens in your business in one piece of software, you can use tools like Zapier to send that trigger to another piece of software to execute a task. Yeah, it sounds next-level, but it’s easy to implement even if you’re not a technical person.

In the past, this wasn’t possible. Just 10 years ago, all of this was done manually. There was very little automation and efficiency was limited, but because of the evolving mobile world, everything has the ability to connect in one way or another. Find the right tools once, and you’ll have a more streamlined process for the life of your business.

Start automating your business today! Learn how to use Zapier!

When software can’t do it, hire a contractor

At some point, when your time starts to get spread too thin, you’ll notice yourself doing tasks that you’re either not great at or don’t enjoy…and you’ll realize odds are, someone else can do them better. That’s when it’s time to delegate some of the low-hanging fruit that’s taking up unnecessary time but has to be done.

Identify tasks that are time-consuming but not central to your role, like admin work or content creation. Start by hiring freelancers on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. These platforms offer a secure way to find reliable help. For local hires, try LinkedIn or community apps like Nextdoor. Remember, your time is valuable—focus on tasks that drive growth and let others handle the rest.

Learn how to post your first freelance job on Upwork!

To wrap it all up…

Balancing a full-time job while starting a business isn’t just possible—it’s a smart strategy. By managing your time effectively, leveraging automation tools, and knowing when to hire help, you can build your dream business step by step. Remember: It's a marathon, not a sprint. Keep pushing forward, and you'll get there.

Join the UpFlip community in three ways:

1. Watch & Learn: Dive into our YouTube channel for insightful interviews with successful entrepreneurs. Get inspired and discover practical tips from those who’ve been there.

2. Listen & Grow: Tune into our podcast to hear stories and advice from business owners who have turned their ideas into thriving ventures.

3. Read & Implement: Explore our blog for actionable articles and the latest business trends. Find everything you need to know to start and scale your business.

Ready to take the next step? Join UpFlip Academy for in-depth courses designed to help you succeed. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, our resources are here to support you every step of the way. We can’t wait to see what you create!

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