Working as a professional artist comes with a great deal of freedom, but financially speaking, isn’t always stable. In fact, it can be hard to pay the bills based on your artist career alone. At the same time, though, holding a full-time job will direct your attention away from your art. So what is an artist to do?
Thankfully, building a profitable side business is a great way to enjoy the best of both worlds. You’ll get more control over your income potential while enjoying more time to create. Here are some tips to get you started, shared below by Tattoo News.
Leverage Your Existing Skills
If you want to build a profitable business, start with the skills you already have. Learning new skills takes time—and time you would likely rather spend working on your art! Look for side businesses that leverage the artistic skills you possess. For example, you can monetize a musical skill by offering music lessons, creating online courses, or selling merch. Similarly, painters may enjoy side businesses that revolve around teaching or selling art online. Do some brainstorming and come up with a side gig idea that feels right to you!
Also, it’s a good idea to keep your resume updated, in case you run into clients who want more information on your services. Luckily, you can save time if you try a resume creator, which offers you a variety of templates to choose from. This will save you a lot of headaches down the road.
Organize Your Finances and Invoicing Process
If you want your side hustle to be successful, you must keep a close eye on your finances. Good financial organization will ensure you get paid on time, maximize your tax deductions, and keep your cash flowing in the right direction. Look for an online accounting app with a built-in invoicing system that makes it easy to bill your clients and get paid accurately. An invoicing system with automation features will make your life easier and save you a lot of time as you grow your side business.
Register Your Side Business
Even if you have a small, part-time side gig, it’s a good idea to register your business with your state. Side Hustle Nation explains that registering your side business can give your business credibility and make it feel official. While you may not need to incorporate your business yet, forming an LLC is a great way to protect your personal assets as your business grows. LLCs also enjoy tax advantages! Learn about your state’s specific regulations around forming an LLC so you can do it yourself online. This will help you avoid a hefty lawyer fee
Experiment With Inexpensive Marketing Strategies
If you’re starting a side business on a budget, you won’t want to spend a lot of money on marketing. But advertising your business is important for finding customers. Instead of paying for pricey advertising campaigns, play around with budget-friendly marketing techniques. For example, DailyStory suggests social media marketing for building up your brand identity and forming relationships with your audience. If you intend on finding local clients, focus on local SEO and Google My Business. Email marketing and content marketing are also effective for finding customers on a tight budget.
Network in Your Circles
Networking is another great way to find customers. Try promoting your side hustle to people you know, including friends and family, people in your artist circles, and people from your past professional networks. Let people know about the business you’ve started with a quick elevator pitch. Even if the people in your existing networks don’t need your services, they might know someone who does!
You may also want to attend networking events to find customers in your industry. You can find networking events by monitoring networking websites, following social media accounts of industry thought leaders, joining an online networking group, and contacting local organizations like your nearest chamber of commerce or rotary club. You could even host your own event!
Holding a profitable and flexible side hustle is a great way to earn money without taking time away from your art career. And if you build your side business around your artistic skills, it might just become the fulfilling full-time gig you’ve been looking for. Start planning out your side business today!