.svg)
What makes a complementary activity successful?
Business is simply providing someone with a product or service that they can't do, but that you could take care of. At the end of the day, business is just about helping people solve their problems.
Let's take a look at the basics of business:
- Find customers and consumers who need your expertise.
- Show them what you can do, convince them, send them proposals.
- Do a good job
- Respect the deadlines reasonably set
- Get recommendations.
For your complementary business to be successful, you need to stay true to the core principles of entrepreneurship. It doesn't matter if it's a product or a service, no matter what you sell or what you do, you need to respect the key elements of the business world for your complementary business to work.
Freelancing and the fundamentals of the profession
If you are looking to start your first side business and are wondering where to start, you should start with freelancing. Believe it or not, freelancing is the key to business success.
Now, a lot of people may look at freelancing and think that they don't want to trade their time for money, but are instead looking for passive income as a side hustle. But I am here to tell you that this is not the right way to start.
You need to learn the basics of business before you can move on to more advanced activities, and freelancing offers a wonderful opportunity to acquire the basics of entrepreneurship.
The Freelancing is basically providing someone with a service or product that helps them grow their business.
Starting your own professional business means understanding the process of making your time available as a freelancer and getting an excellent return for providing this service.
Before embarking on more advanced activities like creating a system for obtaining passive income, you need to have the basics.
TO GO FURTHER: The 3 best inexpensive businesses to create with €1000 or less (or even €0!)
What type of complementary activity should I start with?
This is one of the questions asked by the most people like you who are reading this article.
Let's take a look at how to approach this question together to help you take your first steps in entrepreneurship.
Create a service
Do some research on a entrepreneur someone who you really admire, someone whose work inspires you to do great things. You will probably find out that at the beginning of his career, he started by starting a service.
Services are a great starting point. There are virtually no overheads, and anyone with access to a telephone or computer can do so from the comfort of their own home. You're probably reading this on a screen right now, which means you already have all the tools you need to get started!
Maybe you're a math whiz and know a few students who are looking for a tutor. Perhaps you have a passion for gardening and your neighbor's garden is in great need of maintenance.
A side job is something you can do in your free time, which means you don't have to worry about leaving your job. Also, the services have relatively high margins, which means you can get paid very well in exchange for your time.
TO GO FURTHER: How much should I charge as a consultant? A breakdown of consulting costs
Identify your skills
Take a moment to study your own skills. There is something that you love to do and that you can do amazingly well.
You need to identify your existing skills and then find a gap in the market where your skills would be needed. Maybe there are a few people in your office looking to get in shape, and you have a passion for good nutrition and personal training. Or you are an ace hairdresser and have a lot of free time on weekends.
Anything you do well, you can also sell.
TO GO FURTHER: 5 low-cost business ideas that you can start with less than $100
If you want to be an entrepreneur, it's not just about tactics. It's not about chasing the latest hottest business trend, and it doesn't matter what new idea is trending on social media.
What matters at the heart of any business, is that you become really good at your field and that you make it available to others. Over time, people will notice your skills and start paying you money because they see that you can do things they can't do.
So rather than talking about trends or the latest trendy gadget all the time, my advice is to go back to basics and get good at what you do.
Being competent at what you do is what will make you money. This is how we become a real entrepreneur and that you don't just follow a fashion or a trend.
All of these things are real benefits in starting a service business, and everyone overlooks them.
For your complementary business to succeed (and make you a lot of money), you need to know the fundamentals of business.
Get these fundamentals before moving on to more complex activities and watch your side business grow.
Do you have a great idea for a side business that you want to share? Let us know in the comments section below!
