This Mom’s Side Hustle Earned Her $100,000 in Just 1 Year

This Aspect Hustle Q&A options Dixie Bagley, “a as soon as single mother of two who began a enterprise empire with damaging $1,500 in her checking account.” In the present day, Bagley is a marriage planner, dessert store proprietor and the founding father of the Southern Wedding Collective, a web-based listing for marriage ceremony distributors within the South.

What was your day job if you began your side hustle?
I used to be a personal trainer on the time.

When did you begin your side hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
In 2008, my husband and I bought a really distinctive European-style barn with the intention of turning it into our dwelling. Whereas reworking, I hosted a wedding as a favor to an acquaintance. The suggestions was unimaginable, and that “favor” began the ball rolling towards remodeling the barn into a marriage and occasion venue.

Associated: This 29-Year-Old Left His Marketing Job to Pursue a Side Hustle — Now He Earns Nearly $200,000 a Year: ‘So Attracted to the Adrenaline Rush’

What had been a number of the first steps you took to get your aspect hustle off the bottom?
I signed up for a marriage present — which was a whole failure. I had zero curiosity from potential shoppers, so I moved on to Fb. I posted photographs of the venue day by day and got here up with a package deal, which I posted on Fb as effectively. I instantly booked two weddings, and after that, the leads began flowing in from referrals and sharing about profitable occasions.

What had been a number of the greatest challenges you confronted whereas constructing your aspect hustle, and the way did you navigate them?
One of many larger challenges was studying to take the general public’s opinion with a grain of salt relating to what and the way I ought to do issues relating to the venue. There have been plenty of sturdy opinions on what I ought to do with the barn on account of its native historical past. Many individuals felt that they had a priceless opinion of what must be completed and the way it must be completed. One of many different huge challenges was studying find out how to set and respect my boundaries and stability my private time with work. Within the first 5 years of getting the venue off the bottom, I used to be horrible at work-life balance. I used to be consumed by the venue and didn’t give a lot thought to my very own private time.

Associated: This Mom Started a Side Hustle After a ‘Shocking’ Realization in the Toy Aisle. Her Product Was in Macy’s Within the Year — Seeing Nearly $350,000 in Sales.

How lengthy did it take you to see constant month-to-month income? How a lot did the aspect hustle earn?
Consistent revenue got here throughout the first six months. To start with, I provided restricted packages at a minimal funding, but I nonetheless managed to guide about $100,000 throughout the first yr.

You now personal a number of profitable companies. How did you go from aspect hustle to proprietor of a number of firms?
As soon as the primary enterprise grew to become constant and revered throughout the business and the group, different alternatives began to land in my lap. In the event that they had been a superb match with our present enterprise and a superb enterprise alternative, we gave it plenty of thought and moved ahead with these firms — not only for our profit, however for the advantage of the group and the clients they’d be serving.

What do you take pleasure in most about operating your companies now?
The independence and freedom of being my very own boss permit me to include private trip time into my life with out having to ask permission. I can work as a lot as I wish to and luxuriate in my private time as effectively. I get to decide on what my work-life stability appears to be like like.

Associated: I Was a 25-Year-Old Nurse When I Started a Side Hustle to Combat Anxiety. It Made $1 Million in 7 Months — Then Sold for a Life-Changing Amount.

What’s your recommendation for others hoping to begin profitable aspect hustles or full-time companies of their very own?
Have patience with your self and your potential shoppers. It’s a nonstop curler coaster of studying experiences. You’ll be introduced with so many personalities. You’ll face challenges, each with your self and shoppers, that can drive you to look at your self, your outlook and your means of coping with issues. Have persistence and be sincere with your self and your shoppers [about] your capability and talents as new alternatives come up.