5 Core Tools Every Side Hustle Needs to Get Started

Here’s the thing:

Starting a side hustle is a fairly easy thing to do.  It doesn’t cost much and best of all you can do it in your spare time.  However, this won’t ensure that you’ll be successful.

To have success you’re also going to need the right tools to help you get the job done.  Now these aren’t just any tools but the ones that will help you get on the right track fast.

So if you’re someone who’s just launching their side business these are a few things you may want to consider as you’re getting up and running.

#1 Website

First, you’re going to need a website.  For most people, this makes sense because your side business is going to be an entirely online-based business.  However, for some of you, it may not be or your side business may be based on an existing platform.

For example, if you have an Amazon FBA business you are likely selling products entirely through Amazon.  But if you have a website it would allow you to have a place to sell your products as well.

On top of that, you don’t own Amazon which means you have no control if they would decide to change the rules on you.  With your own website, it allows you to have more control over your business.

When it comes to starting your own website my suggestion is to have a self-hosted website and to do that you’ll need three things to make that happen…

• Hosting – First you’ll need a hosting plan.  This gives you a place to store your everything from the content you create, pictures, and even the products or services you sell.  For hosting I recommend Bluehost and you can check them out here (affiliate).
• Content Management System – Second you’ll need a content management system also known as a CMS for short.  Basically, this is the program that will structure all of your content, products, and services in a simple and easy place.  To do this I use WordPress and the best part is that it’s completely free.  You can learn more about WordPress here.
• Domain Name – Third and finally, you’re going to need a domain name.  I recommend going with something catchy and simple to remember and not more than three words.  I recommend Namecheap which you can learn more about here.

#2 Email List

Next on the list, you’re going to need an email list.  As I mentioned in the last section having your own website gives you more control over your side hustle, having an email also gives you more control over your side hustle.

Think of an email list as a way to keep in contact with your customers and people who may eventually want to be your customers.

I made the mistake at the beginning of my business of not starting an email list until several years later.  This cost me big time because it would have allowed me to stay in contact with all the people who wanted to learn more about me and my brand.

Personally, I’ve tried three different email providers from Aweber, to Mailchimp, but my personal favorite has been GetResponse.   I recently did a complete review of this product which you can check out here.

You can also learn more about GetResponse here and even try them out FREE for 30 days with no credit card.

#3 Training

One thing I’ve learned over the last 12 years of running various different side businesses is that training never stops and this is key vital part of achieving success in your business.

When I was doing network marketing I went to weekly training sessions at our local office, and quarterly training at our regional office.

When I started my first blog I took several online courses to help me get my business up and running.  On top of that, I went to conferences to meet new people and learn new things I could implement in my business.

The point I’m making here is that I’m always continuing to learn new things and that it should never stop.

Learning should be a core pillar to your side business.

To help you out check out the courses section here on my blog.  This is where I continually update the latest courses that I feel are the best of the best to learn from.

#4 Mastermind

Another core tool I recommend you have in your arsenal is a mastermind.  If you’re not familiar with what this is it’s basically a core group of people typically not more than 5 that come together on a weekly basis to exchange thoughts and ideas on how they could improve their businesses.

I was recently in a mastermind up until last year and recently stopped because of personal reasons.  However I am looking to join or start a new mastermind here shortly.

The great thing I like about masterminds is that it allow you to bounce ideas off of people.  For example, if I have a product idea I could share it with the mastermind and they could all give me feedback on it to help me improve it.

If you are looking to start a mastermind Chris Ducker offers up a great post here that shares everything you need to know about starting your own group.

#5 Mentor

Finally, the last tool to have is a mentor.  Now you might be thinking what’s the difference between a mentor and a mastermind?

The answer is that a mentor is someone who you will likely pay to help you reach a certain level in your business that they have already achieved, whereas a mastermind is usually a group of people who are at the same level as you.

This area is a bit new to me as I’ve never hired a mentor, however, I recently filled out an application to be mentored by someone.

I do have to admit hiring a mentor can be costly but it can be worth it.  They can see things from a different perspective that you may have not thought about.  

They can also help you shortcut things and get to a higher level in your business faster rather than trying to figure everything out on your own.

What Side Hustle Tools Do You Use?

Now that I’ve shared my top 5 side hustle tools what are the top tools you use to grow your business?  Share your ideas, thoughts, and comments below.

Cheers!