Can Copywriting Be a Side Hustle?

Here’s the short answer: It is possible to have a copywriting side hustle…but not the way most people treat side hustles.

What Is a Side Hustle?

What is a side hustle? Well, it’s basically a small business that you run in your free time to help you bring in extra cash. Some people may also refer to side hustles as “side job” or “side gig.” It’s typically work that you can do outside of 9-to-5 hours.

People may start a side hustle to supplement their income indefinitely or they may start them with the goal of eventually moving from a full-time job to doing the side hustle work full-time.

Side hustles are started by all kinds of people: people with full-time jobs, students, homemakers, and people with part-time jobs. (In fact, the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy has numerous students who are teachers or former teachers who turned their copywriting side hustle into full-time work!) There are also people who take on multiple side hustles to create a full-time income. But there are some important considerations to keep in mind before starting a copywriting side hustle.

You Need to Treat Your Side Hustle Like a Business

One major trap that side hustlers of all kinds fall into is treating their side hustle like a “bonus.” Sure, you may not work on your side hustle from 9 to 5 like you may do with your full-time job. Or you may not even work consistently. Some people use their side hustles to pay for an upcoming vacation or around the holidays to create more income for gift giving.

But that doesn’t mean you can treat your side hustle like a hobby.

When you’re working on your side hustle business, you need to treat it like the business that it is.

Doing this not only ensures you deliver the best work to your clients, but it’s also a subtle mindset shift that can have a major impact on your your income.

How to Start a Copywriting Side Hustle

Copywriting is an ideal side hustle. You can pick up clients anywhere and work with them from anywhere, on your own schedule. It’s flexible, it’s creative, and it’s fun.

But it also isn’t a side hustle…the way that some people try to do side hustles.

Some people opt to start side businesses in things that they’re interested in, but they’re not necessarily “pros” at. And that’s perfectly fine when it comes to dog walking, kids’ party planning, or house cleaning—people can provide a relatively high level of service at each of those without being full-on professionals.

But other types of side hustles require more skill and experience and copywriting falls into that category.

For example, if someone is going to offer tax preparation services as a side hustle, they’d better know what they’re doing, right? Same thing with bookkeeping services, legal help, graphic design, copywriting, and other careers in which people have to amass and hone a set of skills.

But instead of discouraging you, this should definitely encourage you. After all, the skills and experience you build allow you to use your copywriting skills whenever and wherever you want to. It also quickly differentiates you from “competition” that’s just pretending to know what they’re doing.

Remember, too, that the training you get isn’t a purchase—it’s an investment that will pay for itself many times over. In fact, it’s very likely it could pay for itself within a month or less. (And, if you’re pursuing a copywriting business, check with your tax pro as to whether you can write off the cost of any copywriting training you purchase!)

It’ll take just a little bit of time to get it up and going, but a copywriting side hustle can be a great option for someone with a love for words.

Hear One Copywriter’s Side Hustle Story

Comprehensive Copywriting Academy student Alicia Castro has built a six-figure part-time copywriting business alongside her full-time job. She joined the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast to share her top tips for those trying to balance their copywriting career with life outside of it. Listen in!

Watch More

On episode 189 of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, Nicki and Kate are digging into some of the things you need to consider before taking on a side hustle—copywriting or otherwise.

They talk about treating your side hustle like a business and what that means. If you treat it like a hobby, you may not hit your goals. If you have a full-time job, you’ll get tips for how to balance a side hustle with your 9-to-5 job, as well as a checklist for what you need to do if you want to turn your side hustle into a full-time gig.

Setting boundaries and knowing your numbers are hugely important in any career, but particularly if you’re adding a side hustle into the mix. Listen in for everything you need to know!

Your turn! What would you with an extra $1,000 or $2,000 per month? Let us know in the comments below!

Last Updated on June 26, 2024