If you have something creative you LOVE to do outside of work, you’ve probably thought at one point: “should I turn this into a side hustle???”

And because I have done this too many times to count; come friend, and let me guide you through the considerations you should think about before starting.

In my experience, monetizing your hobby goes one of two ways: you either (ideally) make a little extra money doing something you love or (less ideally) start resenting your used-to-be-favorite hobby…

But how do you know which path you’re going down???

Do I have the time?

If you’re at a stage of your life where you have more time than money, having a little side hustle could be a fun way to engage your brain in new ways! But if your calendar is already full, starting a side hustle will probably result in you having to turn down some of your social events, etc. that fill your time right now. 

So before you say “this is going to be so fun!!”– make sure you actually have the time to spend on it so it can be fun.

Consider the costs to start.

There are a few different types of costs to consider.

If you LOVE baking, you might want to start selling baked goods out of your home. But with the costs of groceries rising daily, buying ingredients and supplies comes with a cost. 

And if you already have all the pans you need or don’t plan to really bake at scale, etc. it’s probably a cost you can make up in pricing. But if you need to buy supplies, packaging, or bulk ingredients – those add up quickly. 

But if you’re starting a social media business, the cost to entry is lower – because you probably already have a phone.

Next up, consider if there are additional licensing requirements or software you’d need to purchase to accomplish your goal – whether it’s a cottage baker license, a payment platform like Square, or a platform for building websites. 

Everything comes with fees, I fear, so make sure those things are also taken into consideration when you’re thinking about pricing.

Am I doing this for the money or for fun?

In my humble experience, putting pressure on your creative hustle to be profitable so that you can have a little more money in the bank is the fastest way to ruin your favorite hobby.

Because the reality is, sometimes you’ll go through a dry spell where you can’t find clients or buyers, you don’t have time for marketing, or you don’t have time to take on a project that month. Life is busy & unpredictable!

So before you try to turn your hobby into a hustle, ask yourself – would it still be worth it if I made NO money doing it?

If the answer is “YES!,” hustle away, my love.

If the answer is “no,” there are A LOT of other side hustles that don’t require you to tarnish your fun hobbies by turning them into a business.

Other ways to expand your hobby without monetizing it

It’s OKAY for a hobby to just be a hobby! To just be something you do for fun! We need more things in our life that are joyful and fun!

But if you’re wanting to share it with more people, there are a few ways I LOVE and recommend expanding your hobby without trying to make money off of it:

Join hobby-specific groups

You love reading? Join a book club! You love knitting? Ask your local yarn store (or me) when & where knit nights happen around town. If you have a crafty hobby, your local craft/hobby store will know. 

These are a great way to meet other people who love what you love, and yap about it without your friends going “not Gail going on about knitting again…” 

Join or create online communities for your hobby

This may seem weird to you but hear me out: 

When I started knitting 3 years ago, and my aforementioned (beloved, and good) friends were tired of hearing about it, I started an instagram account dedicated to knitting – to show off my work, hold myself accountable for my progress, and share a hobby that I loved with more people.

I followed a bunch of other people doing the same thing, and soon enough, I had a fun little online community of knitters who were excited about what I was working on!

But you don’t need to turn into a content creator to have online community – even just following some folks who share your hobby (the instagram search function is primo for this) and engaging with their content, following a reddit thread for your hobby, or joining a facebook group (I know, I feel ick about Facebook too, but here we are) are great places to start to feel more connected & in community with people who also enjoy your hobby.

Part-time work

If you’re like “okay but I still need money,” a part-time gig related to your hobby could be a great option! 

You like arranging flowers? See if your local flower shop has any openings or find some local florists and see if they need extra hands for an event, etc.

You like fiber arts (knitting, crocheting, etc.)? See if your local yarn store is hiring! 

While getting a part-time job doesn’t come with the flexibility of your own business, it does come with reliable income, fewer costs, and a whole lot less marketing.

Still ready to take on that hustle?

Ask someone who’s done it! The Dot has an incredible community of women across all industries, who either are someone or knows someone who’s tried it. 

And whether you take on the hustle, or leave it a hobby, when you are surrounded by people who love it just as much as you, you may expand your life and your hobby in ways you never knew possible.

Author: Gail Fraser

Gail is the founder of Worksimple, helping creatives & wedding professionals find and implement the systems they need to show up as their most vibrant selves. In addition to running a business and being a Dot Ambassador, she’s a knitfluencer & knitting pattern designer, speaker, reluctant 9-5er, and rampant community builder.