You’ve got a side hustle (maybe even more than one). What next if you want to turn that into a business?
This was my story. I had a side hustle—a little dream bubbling away alongside my main job. At first, it was just the occasional cup of coffee and a chat with a friend about building their own small business brand. Then it started to grow legs. Someone asked me to run a workshop. The next thing I knew, I was doing regular, paid work for a local business.
I remember those evenings spent working up ideas, with my head down late into the night, wondering if this could ever become my ‘real job.’ To leave what I was doing felt scary and unknown. I also felt like I’d be letting people down.
Then, I took the leap. It wasn’t glamorous at first—there were moments of doubt, tight budgets, and a few hard lessons learned along the way—but still, there’s no doubt that building B is for Brand has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
People got over their disappointment in me (if they ever had any). The scary feelings went away (and were replaced by new scary feelings but good ones). I was much, much happier than I’d been in my old job (which wasn’t hard).
Looking back, there are things I’d do differently, but there’s also a lot I’d do exactly the same.
The biggest learning for me? Focus is everything.
When your side hustle is a passion project, it can be hard to be ‘strategic.’ But if you’re serious about turning it into a business, you need clarity. That means knowing what you stand for, who you’re here to help, and what makes you different.
It also means being realistic about your time, energy, and resources. I had to learn to say no to some things so I could say yes to the right things. It took time to learn where to focus. Those right things often weren’t obvious at first glance.
So, if this resonates, what can you take from my story so that you can make 2025 the year your side hustle becomes your main thing?
If you’re ready to start taking the first steps towards turning your side hustle into your main hustle, I promise you, it’s a great idea to start by building your brand strategy.
A clear brand strategy gives you the focus you need to grow with purpose. It helps you figure out who you are as a business, why anyone should care, and how to reach the right customers.
At B is for Brand, we’ve helped countless small business owners take that next step with confidence. Whether it’s crafting your brand story, defining your niche, or mapping out a strategy, we’re here to help you build your brand and grow your business. Like Debbie from McWild (Midwife with a crochet business on the side) who says:
“It’s just one of the best things I’ve done to help me grow my small business. If you’ve got a small business I highly recommend working with B is for Brand and the Do One Thing membership. The wealth of knowledge, support and encouragement is just fantastic.”
Like Katy from KDB Energy (who was working under someone else’s franchise but wanted to grow her own yoga brand) who says:
“I had so many ideas and was just struggling to get a strategy in place to take me forward. This is what the ‘Do One Thing’ membership helped me achieve.”
Your dream deserves more than staying on the side. It’s time to make it your main act. So instead of imagining all the things that could go wrong. Start thinking about what life would be like if it all came together for you.
Then take the first step. And if you want support on the journey, we’re here for you.
B is for Brand – Achieve Brand Clarity
