With a majority government and a Brexit deal now more likely than ever before, the economic outlook seems most positive in a long time. As the unemployment numbers are down and consumer confidence is rising, the happy days seem to be here again.
Interestingly, this wave of positivity also affects the way people work. With more of us working fewer hours and wages rising, there was never a better time to set up a home business you can run in your spare time. Whether it’s to increase your monthly budget or simply to follow your true passion and hobbies – we’ve prepared a short list of the 6 best side businesses you can easily set up from home.
- Certified Translation
If you are able to speak 2 languages fluently, providing certified translation services can be a truly rewarding business with a great growth potential. UK based companies expand into foreign markets regularly and consequently they must approach their potential customers in the country’s native language – this is where you come in.
Being able to provide officially certified translations is however a legal process, and so in order to be able to do that, you’ll have to complete a professional qualification from an accredited body such as the Institute of Translators and Interpreters or Chartered Institute of Linguists. Once qualified, you can work with translation agencies offering certified translation services and grow your business from there.
A great benefit to working as an accredited linguist is the fact that you’ll be able to partner with some of the world’s largest businesses and organizations, which frequently require certified translations during their international campaigns. This should definitely make the job interesting!
- Website design
Although this sector becomes more and more competitive as specialized programs are now becoming more and more mainstream, if you have a good eye for design and understand user-interface, you’ll be able to create stunning and user-friendly websites, which can be a very profitable business.
At the start, it might be a good idea to create websites for companies from a variety of different business sectors and specialize as your processes grow.
- Cleaning services
The UK cleaning market is worth over £12bn and more than 3 million households regularly spend money for this service. If you love keeping things spotless and have a great eye for detail, setting up a cleaning business on the side might be a great way to start your own empire.
- Babysitting
There really are few simpler ways to make money than babysitting. If you know any parents who are desperate for a night out from time to time – you can easily make some extra pounds every month. There are several websites where you can find people in need for a babysitter in your area, and keep their details should their require your services in the future!
- Data Entry
Although not the most thrilling of businesses, data entry can be a very steady source of income. As a rule of thumb, you get paid for the number of entries you complete, which means it’s also a very flexible job, which allows you to go back and forth depending on your current financial needs.
- Florist
Being able to do what you truly love and get paid for it is everyone’s dream. The nature of working as a florist or setting up your own shop will allow you to cater to the local audience. With a great potential for business growth, owning a flower shop can prove to be a very beneficial business move.
Market yourself
Regardless of the job you choose to do or business you set up – in today’s competitive world, it is nothing short of essential to market yourself in order to stand out from the crowd.
Creating professional materials such as brochures or business cards can be extremely beneficial in acquiring new business partners and customers. Running social media platforms and ad campaigns can be a truly great place to reach out to new markets you might not otherwise be able to approach.
Nonetheless, the most important aspect of putting your brand out there is ensuring that you have your own website, where potential customers can read about you, your products and services and if possible, make an order online.
As you can see, there are plenty of jobs you can do and businesses you can set up from your home. Some require a little bit more planning, such as certified translations, whilst others like babysitting or data entry are quite easy to start. Whichever job you choose, it will be a fantastic source of secondary income, and who knows, if you manage to grow your business, it could become your full-time job!