How to turn your side hustle into a full-time job

Today's world revolves around the so-called “gig economy,” where individuals make a little extra cash from a small business outside their day jobs. From renting out a room in your home to travellers to using your love of crafting to make unique handmade gifts, bonus moneymakers are a great way add to your income.

Some people love part-time projects so much that they would ideally pursue them full-time if they could. If you're dreaming of bringing your side hustle front and centre, here are three tips to help.

Learn time management skills. Balancing a full-time job and being a budding entrepreneur isn't easy. The demand for your time never stops growing as there is always more you could be doing. Multi-tasking is often necessary, as is being good at prioritizing what needs to be done. Most successful entrepreneurs get up early or stay up late to power through their work, so try getting a couple of extra hours of uninterrupted time every day.

Simplify with innovative tools. There are many tools and services that can help you organize your life and business so you can focus on doing work that matters. One of the most challenging parts of running your side hustle shouldn't be getting paid. Mobile payments company, Square, offers a free card reader and app to make it easy for you to take credit card payments anywhere and get paid as soon as the next business day.

Build and maintain a network. Being an entrepreneur can be lonely — many people won't understand what you're doing or be able to relate to your problems. Improve both your happiness and valuable connections by finding ways to stay connected. Join meet-up groups to surround yourself with people who understand your journey. Establish a mentor relationship to help guide you, and, most importantly, don't forget about your friends and family. Encouragement from those around you is essential to your success.

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