Looking to earn some extra money from home? Stay-at-home parents have several opportunities to start building your side hustle and make money while still being available for their kids.

Although finding remote employment is a viable option, working for someone else doesn’t afford the same level of flexibility as launching your own side hustle.

Starting a business allows you to work on your own schedule, all the while building a brand that you’re passionate about!

Here’s some more good news: You don’t have to do it alone. Today’s entrepreneurs have access to countless professionals and experts who can offer assistance throughout the startup process and beyond.

For example, internet marketing consultant and coach, Mike Erwin, is a great connection to have on your side! But first, you need a business idea. Let’s explore some fundamental startup steps to help you get your hustle underway.

Building Your Side Hustle – Parent-Friendly Business Models

Many prospective entrepreneurs have no idea what kind of business they want to start — and that’s okay! In fact, having your heart set on a particular business model can blind you from potential ventures that may better fit your lifestyle or more closely align with current market demand.

Some basic work-from-home options include freelancing, running an ecommerce business, or launching a remote agency.

Feeling stuck? You don’t have to pick one or the other. Consider starting as a freelancer and building up an agency as you get accustomed to the work. Or, try selling stuff online while your freelance career picks up steam.

Creating more than one income stream is never a bad idea! Pick an idea and run with it, knowing you can always launch another side gig once you get a handle on the first one.

Building Your Side Hustle – Tap Into Time-Saving Tools

One of the great benefits of launching a business online is having access to the ever-growing selection of digital tools designed to save entrepreneurs time and money.

Taking advantage of these tools can make business ownership possible for even the busiest parents! Email marketing autoresponders are a great example of time-saving automation apps that can help you grow your business.

Online tools can also help you avoid errors. Payroll is one area where mistakes are common — and costly! Calculating employee pay involves navigating overtime, breaks, and employee classification.

While it’s easy to make mistakes when calculating pay manually, reliable payroll software and integrated timesheet calculators will ensure your employees are classified correctly and paid the correct amount, on time.

QuickBooks explains that using a timesheet calculator is the best way to avoid errors in manual calculations.

Building Your Side Hustle – Promoting Your Business Online

Whether you’re launching a freelancing hustle or an ecommerce store, marketing is essential. For the freelancer, marketing is crucial for finding work, landing high-paying clients, and earning a living.

The freelance market has become incredibly competitive, especially since the coronavirus pandemic. To stand out, employ a variety of freelance marketing strategies.

For example, Outbrain recommends launching a website and producing blog articles so you can start promoting yourself.

When it comes to marketing an online store, focus on low-cost marketing strategies like email marketing, social media marketing, content marketing, and website SEO. You don’t have to invest in costly pay-per-click (PPC) advertisements to get traffic to your website.

Content marketing, while a long and slow-moving process, can be incredibly effective at building an audience of engaged consumers behind your brand. That said, if you have the budget for it, paid advertising will speed things up!

Are you ready to become an entrepreneur? Starting your own business is a very exciting venture, but it can also be a little intimidating. Take it one step at a time, and be sure to use all the valuable tools that are available to you!

My friend Gwen Payne of InvisibleMoms.com has some great articles that are sure to help.

Mike Erwin can help you navigate the complexities of running an online business and building your side hustle. Explore Mike’s coaching services and blog for the resources and tools you need to start strong!