9 Facts Only People With A Small Biz Or Side Hustle Know To Be True

The highs and lows are very real, friends.

Running your own business or side gig is one hell of a ride — giving you a thrilling sense of euphoria, as well as the occasional urge to yank your hair out. But as everyone who takes the leap knows, there's nothing quite like being your own boss and making your own money on your own terms.

Getty Images

Yes, the satisfaction that comes with working for yourself is something quite special. But to offset that, you have the curveballs, the dramas and a fair bit of general stress.

So what are some of the realities to expect? Well, we spoke to a range of people grinding the gig economy and gained some pretty fascinating insights:

1. Every little win and loss can feel monumental, so it's important to keep a level head.

Pexels

Call it a buzz, a rush, or whatever it is — that feeling you get when you make a sale or land a new client is a MOMENT. But while the highs are intense, the lows can be felt pretty hard, too.

"There can be a lot of ups and downs in one day," says Jess, who runs her own cake business from home.

"Like, when I'm trying a new cake and it doesn't work out, it can feel like everything's a total disaster. I think when you're doing it all alone, problems and emotions can feel a lot bigger."

So, big lesson: Don't let your emotions get the better of you. Trust the process and know that success is rarely a linear narrative.

2. Deadlines are EVERYTHING and can make or break you as a business.

Getty Images

Deadlines can be an EPIC source of stress, as even those of us without side hustles know. But if your business relies heavily on timely deliveries, then finding a reliable delivery service takes a huge amount of the pressure off. 

For Jess' cake business, Uber Package has been a godsend for last-minute orders and confidently allowing her to get baked treats to customers on the same day. 

"It's genius, I just go into the Uber app, and there's generally always a driver on hand to pick up my box within the hour. Plus, I know it’ll get there safe and well because I can track it all within the app. Honestly, it takes SO much of the stress out of my day."

Whether you're selling goods via an online marketplace, running your own retail offering or you just need to transfer documents and supplies across the city, Uber Package is a serious secret weapon for small business owners. 

3. Side hustles are more than just cash generators — with the right approach, they can help get your dream ambition off the ground.

Pexels

Extra cash from a side hustle can be amazing for things like holidays and the occasional splurges, but it's also SUPER useful in the early stages of launching a business. 

When work is a bit quieter for wedding photographer Eloise, she side-hustles as a delivery person on the Uber Eats platform — an earning opportunity that allows her to dip in and out, as it suits her schedule. It couldn't be more perfect for making that little extra bit of money while trying to get new clients for her business. 

"It's given me so much flexibility, it’s brilliant. I can just decide then and there to take a request. I go into the app and see if there's a trip request that I can accept — which there generally always is. As a small business owner, having this sort of extra freedom is such a game-changer."

4. Self-promotion can feel mega uncomfortable (hello, fellow introverts) — but you 100% have to do it anyway.

Pexels

Wedding photographer Eloise says the most challenging part of having her own gig is selling herself to people.

"I find it really hard putting my name and face out there, even on my social pages," she says.

"I'm an introvert, so I definitely struggle with confidence. But as a wedding photographer, I have to organise people and be all outgoing and bubbly, so I’ve really had to work on bringing myself out of my shell."

5. Transparency and consistent communication with your customers is key to building trust — particularly in a post-COVID age of delays.

Getty Images

It may sound simple enough, but there's nothing quite as valuable to building trust and fostering repeat customer relations like total transparency. This is particularly true of businesses that rely on delivering goods in a timely manner.

While things in Australia are slowly beginning to return to a post-COVID 'normal', customers continue to be exasperated by package delays and miscommunications — so it's far better to over-communicate when it comes to updating customers on arrival times.

Mark, who owns a florist in Sydney's Darlinghurst, credits Uber Package for allowing him to set clear expectations and deliver on promised arrival dates: 

"Sourcing delivery partners was a struggle with staff shortages due to COVID. This led me to Uber Package, which has been a complete life saver, particularly for such important deliveries like funerals and weddings," says Mark. "With Uber Package, you can share the status of the delivery service with customers so they can see when the order will arrive — and its point to point service, so gets to the destination straight away, as opposed to taking multiple trips."

6. You never really switch off (ohh, the JOY).

Pexels

"It's easy to get carried away with working way into the night, and not really looking after yourself," says Eloise, who can spend hours in editing after a shoot. "So it's kind of up to you to create that work-life balance."

Switching off on holiday can be tricky, too. On the plus side, you do get to choose when you take it and no one needs to sign it off! 

7. You may find yourself bribing family members and friends to help with areas of the business you suck at — and there's no shame in that!

Unsplash

If you're a one-person gig, you need to cover a lot of bases. This means having a decent range of skills — which of course not everyone has!

"You have so many different hats to wear," says plumber Dan, who's been self-employed for five years. "Sales, marketing, pitching, customer relations, accounting, plus of course your trade — you have to do it all. My wife helps me quite a bit with admin because I'm useless at it. But I am getting quite good at social video!"

8. Clients can come to mean a lot to you.

Unsplash

With all the different people you meet through running your business, you do end up making a lot of great friends — which is a super sweet bonus.

Jess loves contact with her customers, because she does spend a lot of time on her own. "I do my best most days not to talk to my mixers!" she jokes. "If I could afford someone to help me (slash: keep me company), I definitely would. Or, is that like paying for a mate?" 

9. And finally, while your kids might not *get* it every day — there's sometimes little other choice but getting them involved.

Pexels

Ohh yes, the juggle-struggle is real for parents-come-business owners. Kids — as special and joyous as they are — can wreak blinding havoc on day-to-day logistics. Often, there's nothing for it but to get them involved in that spreadsheet, or take front and centre of the video call.

"Quite a few times my girls have had to come with me on last-minute call-outs," says plumber Dan. "They love coming in the van and I've now got them their own company T-shirts. The clients love it!"

For small businesses and side hustlers, on-demand delivery can be an absolute game changer. Uber Package lets you book a delivery easily, similar to how you can request a ride. You can even request a package to be sent to YOU from a designated sender. Discover more here!