Having your own part-time business, especially in London or another large metropolitan center, can be a double-edged sword. On the good side, there is so much diversity that you can be quite sure there is an audience out there for whatever product or service you are offering. On the other hand, the place is so large that finding that audience can be difficult, and there will also be no shortage of competition.
This might make it feel like your long-held dream of escaping your 9–5 and making your part-time business into a full-time one is impossible, but that doesn’t have to be the case at all. In fact, by getting a few things right, you can give yourself the best chance possible.
#1 Look for markets you can expand into
If you want to do more business, you need to look for more places to do business in or find more people to offer your products or services to. This means looking for complementary products to sit alongside those you already offer or selling on more platforms than you do at the moment. For instance, you could weigh up the pros and cons of selling on Amazon and eBay as well as your own website, or conversely, create your own to sell more goods than you do on eBay or Amazon while building your brand.
#2 Find a space to call your own
Your spare room might have been enough for a part-time endeavor, but if you want to move on to bigger and better things, then you are going to need a space of your own. If you are London-based, renting a studio or warehouse in Hackney Wick could be the perfect fit. You’ll find spaces of different sizes that will fit your business and are flexible, so that they can be used for whatever purpose you wish. You won’t be alone when renting a small unit in a large building, as you will be surrounded by like-minded individuals with whom you can share ideas and even use each other’s services.
#3 Weigh up your current resources against your future needs
If you are going to go full-time, then you need to make sure that your suppliers can make the move as well. This might not just be products or materials suppliers if you are in eCommerce but also key elements of infrastructure like IT and distribution. You should look at your current providers and see if they can meet your ambitions, and, if they do, it could also be the ideal opportunity to renegotiate the deals you have with them. You should also check the services that they offer are available in your new location, especially when it comes to something like courier pickups.
#4 Get expert help
As you probably won’t be able to quit your 9–5 straight away, you are going to need help during the transition period – and certainly afterward. For a start, you’ll probably need to spruce up your website and employ a company to maintain it and keep it up to date. In addition, raising your online profile is rarely a solo endeavor, so look for help with SEO, content creation, and posting on social media. Turning areas where you might have gaps in your knowledge over to experts can not just save you time but should also increase the quality of the results you are getting.
