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Why start a complementary business?
- Have you ever wanted to pursue your passion?
- To use your creativity?
- To become an entrepreneur?
- Maybe you just want to have more of an impact on the world?
- An impact that your work does not offer you?
- Or do you simply need a healthier source of income to achieve financial independence?
Whatever the reason, it's possible to achieve all of this by starting a complementary business that matches your skills, interests, passions, and goals.
- It's income on your terms : The economy is too unpredictable to rely on, and a small job can be your plan B if things go wrong.
- It's a side business : You don't have to give up your day job right now.
- You get paid to do what you love : It can be a great way to earn some money while continuing to work without having to leave everything overnight.
- You are your own boss : You decide everything and control your schedule by taking your first steps of entrepreneurs
- It's scalable : If you decide that your side job is better for you than your job, you can turn it into a full-time job.
If the idea of starting a complementary business appeals to you, but you feel like you don't have the skills to get started, we're here to help! We can almost guarantee that you already have the skills needed to start at least one side business.
List of best complementary business ideas to get you started
1. Social media writer
It's hard to find a business that doesn't have a social media presence these days. But for many brands, preparing multiple updates and content that increase engagement every day takes a long time.
That is why there is a strong demand for community managers or editors specialized for social networks, able to develop catchy texts for various social networks (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, etc...)
- Skills: Familiarity with the main social media management tools and strategies for each of them (types of content, algorithms, audience targeting, etc...)
- Price: 20 to 50 euros per message on social networks
2. Ghostwriter
Executives and opinion leaders want to get their ideas out into the world, but they often don't have the time or the ability to write their own articles.
A ghostwriter can take a person's voice and opinions on a given subject and translate them into a publication on their behalf. Keep in mind that the customer's name will appear on the final production, not yours.
- Skills: The ability to quickly understand a person's voice and personality and then translate it into writing.
- Price: 300 to 600 euros per item.
3. Podcast Producer or Creator
Did you know that the number of listeners of podcasts should double in the next five years? It's a great time to improve your podcast creation or production skills.
If you know how to produce and/or develop a podcast, there are many possibilities for additional activities available to you. If you already have experience in this field, brands will be scrambling to work with you as it is an increasingly popular medium.
- Skills: Publishing and publishing experience creation of podcasts
- Price: 100 to 400 euros per episode (creation); 300 to 1,000 euros per episode (production).
4. Influencer marketing specialist
If you love partnering with influencers on campaigns and have a knack for negotiating the perfect product placement photo, then you could offer your skills to brands looking for support in this area. A booming domain in the digital marketing today.
- Skills: Experience with influencer marketing campaigns
- Price: 500 to 2,000 euros per campaign
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5. Lead generation consultant
If a business's sales are lagging, it could be a lead generation problem. Your role as a lead generation consultant would be to step in, identify the problem, and propose a strategy to diversify customer channels.
- Skills: Familiarity with different marketing channels, data management and lead generation tools
- Rate: 100 to 300€ per hour
READ MORE: What is lead generation?
6. Logo or font designer
A unique brand image allows businesses and individuals to stand out. If you're good at designing new logos or fonts from scratch, this could be a way to make money.
Customers can either come to you with exactly what they want or ask to help them realize their brand image.
- Skills: Appetite with design/branding and graphic design software like Photoshop, Figma, or Sketch.
- Price: 100 to 500 euros per logo or font
READ MORE: How do you start a business from scratch?
7. Browser extension developer
If you have strong web development skills, you can create and sell extensions for popular browsers like Google Chrome, Opera, Brave, and Firefox on behalf of your customers.
These extensions can add functionality and simplicity to many of the common tasks of Internet users.
- Skills: Web development experience
- Rate: 50 to 200 euros per hour
8. Shopify developer
No sector is as successful as e-commerce these days. And the most popular platform nowadays is Shopify.
There is a strong demand for developers in this market to help people set up and maintain their digital stores.
- Skills: Expertise under Shopify. Expert in Conversion Optimization and UX/UI (+ appetite for Design)
- Rate: €50 to €200 per hour
9. Data Scientist
If you are a Data scientist of training, numerous opportunities to work on the side are available to you.
Many businesses hold huge data sets.
They do not have the resources to manage and operate them. Help create visualizations or machine learning projects to earn money at the same time.
- Skills: Training in Business Intelligence, Big Data and Dataviz
- Price: 100 to 400 euros per hour
READ MORE: How do you find a name for your business?
10. Virtual assistant
If you have excellent organizational skills, consider a side job as a virtual assistant!
Your role will be to manage your customers' calendars, and possibly their inboxes, so they can stay focused on their work.
The best part is that it's a flexible role that you can take on from anywhere.
- Skills: Organizational and administrative skills
- Rate: 50 to 100€ per hour
11. Data entry specialist
With a few basic skills, you can easily start a complementary business as a data entry specialist. This role primarily involves transferring data from a variety of sources into a database that is regularly updated and maintained.
- Skills: Familiarity with working with data on platforms such as Excel, Word, etc.
- Rate: 30 to 60€ per hour
12. Transcriber
Are you a fast typist? So you can make some money as a transcriber. Customers will give you an audio recording to be converted into written text. You may ask for a small fee if you provide transcription services in a more complex field like medicine or science.
- Skills: Ability to listen, type, and edit. Knowledge of transcribers (Speech to Text Tools)
- Price: €20 to €50 per hour or €1 to €2 per audio minute.
READ MORE: The complete guide to getting clients for your consulting business
13. Accountant for the self-employed
Freelancers have unique needs when it comes to bookkeeping.
Not only do they have a different tax calendar due to the quarterly payments required, but most accountants also lack the specialized knowledge to help with their accounting.
If you can find a way to use your expertise, you can easily start a side business as an accountant.
- Skills: Accounting expertise and appropriate licenses. Knowledge of accounting software.
- Rate: 50 to 300€ per hour
14. Writer/Copywriter
Contractual agreements are a necessary aspect of business. If you have a legal background, specialize in drafting contracts.
- Skills: Legal expertise and appropriate licenses, Copywriting software
- Price: 300 to 1,200 euros per contract
READ MORE: What is copywriting?
15. Virtual tutor
Whether it's math, science, or English, if you have specialized knowledge in any subject, you can become a virtual tutor. All you need to do is choose the age group that interests you the most and start looking for customers to help! Use a LMS platform to structure your mentoring and scale up your business more quickly.
- Skills: Expertise in the field of tutoring; may require certifications or previous teaching experience.
- Rate: 30 to 125€ per hour
16. Translator
Are you a polyglot? If yes, you are in luck! There is always a demand for quality translators or interpreters, which means it's an easy way for you to turn your skills into a side business. You can decide if you want to devote yourself to writing, to television, or to both.
Skills: Proficiency in more than one language
Price: 60 to 100 euros per hour
READ MORE: How much should I charge as a consultant? A breakdown of consulting costs
17. Personal Shopper or Personal Stylist
Some people don't have time to do their own shopping or find it a boring experience.
If you have a gift for fashion design, help others by advising them on their wardrobe or by shopping for them. Your goal is to align with the client's personal style and stay within their budget.
- Skills: Knowledge of fashion trends; a good eye for design
- Price: 50 to 150 euros per hour
Conclusion.
We are thrilled that you are embarking on your self-employment journey! We hope that you have been able to choose at least a few ideas that resonate with you and that you can get started soon.
Remember that this parallel activity is the first step as an entrepreneur, which means that you decide how to manage it, from the number of hours of work to the type of customers you want to acquire.
