According to Finder.com, 46% of UK adults have a side hustle as an additional source of income in 2026. At Start Up Loans, we consider the enthusiasm and dedication it takes to successfully run a side hustle a fantastic indicator of true entrepreneurial spirit that should be harnessed and celebrated.
Not all of these businesses will succeed. Some will, by choice or circumstance, remain a side hustle, but some of these enterprises will be in the early stages of becoming significant future businesses that will employ people, pay taxes and contribute to the local, regional and national economy. The contribution part-time businesses make should not be ignored: they are a vital part of our communities and can help younger entrepreneurs especially to develop business and life skills.
At Start Up Loans we actively support many side hustle and part-time businesses. For many first-time entrepreneurs, starting small may be the right way to get their business off the ground, build their confidence and understand their target market.
Three advantages of running a business part-time
Firstly, by going slower there is more chance to test the market, establish a minimum viable product and then test and learn before fully committing to growing a business. Alongside this, the business owner can earn a stable income from their regular employment while their business develops, which helps reduce financial stress. Thirdly, going part-time as an entrepreneur creates the time to develop skills and confidence over a longer timeframe, rather than having to learn everything at once. In essence, being part-time is likely to be best suited to first-time entrepreneurs in particular, but also those with less financial resources to fall back on.
Things to think about
There are challenges to be aware of, but they are not insurmountable if you are passionate about your business. Managing time and energy when simultaneously working for an employer and running a business is a constant balancing act. Building a customer base part-time can be difficult, so planning for conflicting priorities matters. Missing opportunities that clash with employment, such as attending markets or trade shows, requires careful scheduling. And any business owner will need to work out the practicalities of running a business alongside employment to ensure a stable income is maintained.
These challenges are resolvable through determination and good planning, as evidenced by the many Start Up Loan recipients who have successfully run their business to supplement their main income.
A part-time success story
One entrepreneur managing a business part time right now is Shanice Lindo-McIntosh, the founder of dog treats company Bella Loves, who is also a nurse. “It’s not easy to run my business alongside my other work but the key to making it work is to be organised, stay calm, take each day as it comes and love what you do,” she said. “And the rest will follow.”
Three ways to go from side hustle to scalable business
Validating demand and setting clear goals is the first step, whether that is number of sales, good reviews or community impact, and measuring success against them. A useful benchmark is achieving a net business profit equal to your regular employment income: reaching this would inspire confidence that the business is viable as a full-time venture. Finally, developing systems and using technology that allows repeatable processes can enable a part-time entrepreneur to grow without burning out, and puts in place the foundations for scaling up.
With the right finance, guidance and support, moving from side hustle to full-time entrepreneur is possible. The goal is to help entrepreneurs succeed and thrive in their chosen market.
