So, you’re stuck in a job you hate. The alarm goes off every morning at 6 AM, and you’d rather roll over and go back to sleep than get up and start your day. But, you have bills to pay and mouths to feed, so you drag yourself out of bed, drink a cup of coffee, and head to work. Sound familiar? If so, don’t worry—you’re not alone. In fact, according to a poll run by analytics and advisory company Gallup, nearly 70% of American workers are “not engaged” or “actively disengaged” in their jobs.
So, what can you do if you find yourself in this situation? One option is to start your own business! But I know what you’re thinking: “I can’t start my own business! I have a full-time job and can’t afford to quit.” Well, that’s where you’re wrong. With a little creative thinking, starting a business while still working your 9-5 job is possible. Interested? Keep reading to learn more!
1. Freelance Writing
One business you can start while still working your 9-5 job is freelance writing. If you have a knack for writing and are passionate about a particular topic or subject, freelance writing might be the perfect business venture for you! And the best part is that it can be done entirely online—which means you can work from anywhere with an internet connection.
To get started, create a portfolio of your best writing samples and reach out to businesses or individuals who might be interested in hiring a freelance writer. This shows potential clients that you’re capable of producing high-quality content and helps them get a sense of the topics and subjects you’re most interested in writing about.
So, how do you go about creating a writing portfolio? It’s actually pretty simple. All you need is a website or blog where you can showcase your writing samples. If you don’t have a website or blog, consider using a platform like WordPress or Tumblr. Once you have a platform, start adding your best writing samples to your portfolio. Be sure to include a brief bio and relevant information about yourself, such as your areas of expertise.
If you’re having trouble coming up with writing samples, consider writing some guest posts for other websites or blogs. Not only will this give you some great content to add to your portfolio, but it will also help spread the word about your freelance writing business.
Once you land your first client, be sure to deliver high-quality work on time, so they’ll be happy to work with you again in the future!
2. Virtual Restaurant
If you’re looking for a business venture that can be started with little to no investment, a virtual restaurant might be just what you’re looking for. A virtual restaurant is essentially a restaurant that exists only online—meaning you don’t need to have a physical location to start your business. This makes it an ideal option for anyone working a full-time job who doesn’t have the time or resources to open up a traditional brick-and-mortar restaurant.
To start a virtual restaurant, you’ll need to create a website or blog where you can showcase your menu and pricing. Once your website and social media pages are set up, start adding content about your restaurant, including your menu, photos of your food, and bios of your chefs.
And just because everything is online doesn’t mean you should skimp on your cooking equipment. Industrial kitchen products or equipment are important for virtual restaurants because they allow restaurant owners to cook food in large quantities. This allows them to serve more customers without worrying about running out of food. Additionally, these products make it easier to prepare food on time, which is essential for restaurants that rely on online orders.
As with any new business, building a customer base for your virtual restaurant will take time and effort. But, with hard work and determination, you can make your virtual restaurant a success!
3. Web Design
Another business you can start while working your 9-5 job is web design. Nowadays, nearly every business needs an online presence, so there’s always demand for web designers! If you have experience designing websites and are familiar with HTML/CSS coding, why not start offering your services to small businesses in your area?
Like freelance writing, web design can also be done entirely online—so if you land clients outside of your hometown, there’s no need to worry about traveling for meetings or consultations. Simply send them your proposal via email and communicate with them via phone or video chat when needed.
If you’re looking for a well-paying gig that will allow you the flexibility to work from home or alongside your full-time job, then one of these businesses might be right for you! If any of these businesses sound like something you might be interested in pursuing further, I encourage you to do some additional research and see if starting your own side hustle is feasible for you. And remember—even if starting your own business isn’t an option right now, it’s never too late to begin planning for the future!