Some people refer to it as a “side hustle,” which may have some derogatory connotations. Let’s call what more Canadians are doing now than ever what it is: anyone with a home business is an entrepreneur.   

Whether you’re selling hand-made artisanal soaps or giving music lessons online, the size and nature of the business are irrelevant. Entrepreneurs have always needed that can-do spirit, but modern technology has given them other tools at their disposal.

Let’s examine how entrepreneurs are using technology to build businesses and make revenue from home.

On-Demand Printing

The advent of dropshipping lets platforms like Printify Canada connects sellers with printers worldwide in a streamlined way. Now, any business can put their customized logos on a huge variety of products.

Companies have always created “swag” to help their branding and promotion, but selling these products directly also represents a substantial source of revenue. For example, podcasters may want to offer their fans journals, mugs, or other products featuring their imagery to help spread the word, but also because podcasters frequently need another stream of income.

On demand printing is Green because there’s no waste. All you need to do is pick a product you want to sell, choose a supplier, approve the designs and a sample, then you’re done. It’s easy to integrate most on demand printers with market websites like Etsy, so you can focus on growing the core of your business, not the logistics of printing.

Social Media Personalities

Various social media websites and apps allow people to create a following and monetize the process in different ways. If you blow up on sites like TikTok or YouTube, you can get paid to promote products, get sponsorships, and more.

If you become very popular, there are ways to parlay viral attention into more sustained art. For example, some YouTube personalities have gone on to make Hollywood movies or advertisements for products.

What begins as an at-home online business may take you somewhere else altogether. Some musicians upload songs on social media, only to record full-on albums in professional studios.

Online Lessons

If you have an in-demand skill, you can post instructional videos online and create a business in different ways. Teach people how to play a musical instrument, analyze a literary passage from a beloved novel, or even make a how-to video for cooking your favourite meal.

You can charge people to access your lessons, make income from advertisements in various ways, or operate on a subscription basis.

You may want to charge for lessons on a sliding scale so that people still in lockdown with precarious work can enjoy your content without facing barriers. Your business model will depend on your pedagogical philosophy and financial goals.

The pandemic has disrupted life in too many ways to name, but at least entrepreneurs today have incredible technology at their fingertips to help them take care of business from home. The internet can connect you with printers for merchandising and fans alike, and facilitates any kind of art you’re inclined to produce. Call it a side hustle