{"id":1127,"date":"2022-06-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-05T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-08-21T10:54:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T08:54:15","slug":"from-hobby-to-small-business-in-5-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/from-hobby-to-small-business-in-5-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"From Hobby to Small Business in 5 Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you have a hobby that you are really good at and enjoy immensely, yet a lot of other people seem to dislike, or struggle with it? Perhaps you could turn this skill of yours, or hobby to small business! From a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/tips-to-getting-started-with-a-side-hustle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">side hustle<\/a> to a fully operational small business, and even beyond, there is value in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/turning-obstacles-into-opportunities-10-work-from-home-ideas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">starting your own concern from home <\/a>nowadays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cSuccess is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.\u201d &#8211; Albert Schweitzer<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h4>TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/h4><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#get-started-with-your-hobby-to-small-business-in-5-simple-steps\">Get started with your hobby to small business in 5 simple steps:<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#step-1-register-your-domain\">Step 1: Register your domain<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#step-2-run-your-small-business-on-the-side-first\">Step 2: Run your small business on the side first<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#step-3-do-freebies-and-give-discounts-to-build-a-portfolio\">Step 3: Do freebies and give discounts to build a portfolio<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#step-4-get-the-word-out\">Step 4: Get the word out<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#step-5-build-the-website\">Step 5: Build the website<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#10-types-of-hobbies-that-you-can-easily-turn-into-a-profitable-business\">10 Types of hobbies that you can easily turn into a profitable business<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"get-started-with-your-hobby-to-small-business-in-5-simple-steps\">Get started with your hobby to small business in 5 simple steps:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-1-register-your-domain\">Step 1: Register your domain<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you are serious about turning your hobby into a small business \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/domain-registration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">register the domain<\/a>. Doing this secures the name you want to use for your business on the internet. On the flip side, if the name you thought of is already taken, at least you can play around and look for something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">TIP: If the name you want isn\u2019t available with a .co.za try something different that could be relevant like .joburg, .durban, .capetown, .africa, .net, .store, .online, .design, .party etc. The options are endless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-2-run-your-small-business-on-the-side-first\">Step 2: Run your small business on the side first<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Building up a steady stream of customers takes months, often even a good couple of years. So whatever you do, don\u2019t quit your day job (yet). Getting started also tends to require additional financial resources for supplies, tools, and equipment; so having your day job can help you save for these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key is to run your small business on the side for as long as possible, and to save as much money as you can in those starting years. This will help you test the longevity of your business and take it to the next level when the time is right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-3-do-freebies-and-give-discounts-to-build-a-portfolio\">Step 3: Do freebies and give discounts to build a portfolio<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If there is a demand for the skill you want to sell, you won\u2019t have a hard time lining-up a few customers (friends and family at first), who would be willing to commission you for a \u201cproject\u201d. Give away a couple of freebies, or run decent discounts to hook your first 10 customers and build a photographic portfolio complete with a testimonial for each project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-4-get-the-word-out\">Step 4: Get the word out<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use social media and WhatsApp to share your projects and market your small business. Join local Facebook groups that allow advertising and try nearby schools for marketing opportunities. Expect a slow, organic reach at first, but be consistent and post something at least once a week and share this content everywhere you possibly can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"step-5-build-the-website\">Step 5: Build the website<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Get a professional web page up so that people who are looking for the service you offer can stumble across you without you having to lift a finger. Your web page can also serve as an information portal where people, who find you via your marketing efforts, can go to learn more about what you are offering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/websitebuilder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DIY website builder<\/a> called Sitebuilder, you can have a great-looking website (domain name and web hosting included*) for as little as R109* per month you. Our effortless Drag &amp; Drop functionality makes it easy to add Plugins and Copy and Paste content into place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-types-of-hobbies-that-you-can-easily-turn-into-a-profitable-business\">10 Types of hobbies that you can easily turn into a profitable business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Handyman, Fixer-upper, Woodwork-genius<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seamstress<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Personal Trainer, Pilates or Aerobics Instructor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Landscaper<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Photographer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Baker \/ Personal Chef<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interior Designer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Event Planner<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make\u2013Up Artist<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Artist<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just do it! We believe in you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At <a title=\"Domains.co.za - Home Page\" href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Domains.co.za<\/a> we are passionate about entrepreneurship and offer startups and small to medium-sized businesses (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sme\" alt=\"Link to Wikipedia - Small and Medium-sized Enterprises - SMEs\" title=\"Wikipedia - Small and Medium-sized Enterprises - SMEs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SMEs<\/a>)all the products they need to get online quickly, securely and affordably. From the right <a href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/domain-registration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domain<\/a> to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/web-hosting-south-africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">best web hosting<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/websitebuilder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Drag &amp; Drop website builder<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/ssl\/domain-validated-ssl-certificates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SSL<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/hosted-pbx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hosted PBX in the Cloud <\/a>\u2013 you\u2019ll get it all right here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">* Terms and conditions apply.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you have a hobby that you are really good at and enjoy immensely, yet a lot of other people seem to dislike, or struggle with it? Perhaps you could turn this skill of yours, or hobby to small business! From a side hustle to a fully operational small business, and even beyond, there is value in starting your own concern from home nowadays. \u201cSuccess is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.\u201d &#8211; Albert Schweitzer Get started with your hobby to small business in 5 simple steps:Step 1: Register your domainStep 2: Run your small business on the side firstStep 3: Do freebies and give discounts to build a portfolioStep 4: Get the word outStep 5: Build  <a alt='From Hobby to Small Business in 5 Steps' title='From Hobby to Small Business in 5 Steps' href='https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/from-hobby-to-small-business-in-5-steps\/' class='moreElipsis'>[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1283,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1009],"tags":[1795],"class_list":["post-1127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-domain-tips","tag-from-hobby-to-small-business"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1127"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3539,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1127\/revisions\/3539"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}