if you’ve been around these parts for awhile, then you know that i’m pretty addicted to planning and organization. taking the time to map out my day and goals has not only helped my efficiency, but it’s also helped me to focus on my bag. overall, there are five tools that i highly recommend to manage your side hustle.
READ: How I Bought Myself Out of My Full-Time Job
first, let the record reflect that i’m a hustler. before quitting my full-time job, i had several side hustles and a full-time job. that means i was forced to maximize every single minute of each day. some will say it was over the top, but those are the same people who spend more time dreaming than doing. i’m crystal clear that my drive and productivity is how i bought myself out of my full-time job.
the tools that i’m sharing below have been instrumental to my businesses’ growth and revenue.
5 Tools to Manage Your Side Hustle
Bullet Journal
the first tool is my bullet journal. it’s my security blanket that i literally cannot leave home without. i use it for a monthly and weekly calendar, to manage my to do list and map out my goals. it’s even handy to track my habits like drinking water and exercising.
if you didn’t know, a bullet journal is a productivity system that only requires a notebook and pen. i’ve been a serious journaler all my life, but having a bullet journal has taken me to the next level. i know it sounds trite, but all good things start with a plan.
before each month, i use my bullet journal to plan my monthly business goals and budget. for example, i have a spread that lists each bucket of income this month, my invoices and expenses.
i’m hosting my first bullet journal workshop of 2021 on january 10th at 1 pm. join us to set intentions for the new year and learn how to make more time for productivity and self-care. if you’re reading this after the date, then grab the replay over on my shopify page.
Trello
nothing beats trello for project management. it’s an online platform that allows users to create multiple “boards” to track smaller elements of larger projects. i’ve used it to map out my blog and social media content for years. it also has a calendar embedded that helps stay on top of deadlines.
one of the biggest benefits of trello is its ability to add contributors. that means every member of your team can communicate about projects seamlessly. this is clutch because as your business grows, virtual meetings and email will become inefficient tools for real-time feedback. overall, trello just makes life easy.
Calendly
i stopped going back and forth with people about finding a mutual meeting time a long time ago. it’s a huge waste of time. instead, i’ve been using calendly to schedule meetings which has tremendously reduced my email clutter.
it’s super simple to setup and connects seamlessly to your gmail calendar. it then provides a link that you share with folks who wish to meet. they click it, find a time that works for their schedule and boom! calendly is bomb because it only gives people times that you’re available and also allows them to reschedule meetings.
if you’re working a 9-5 or managing multiple contracts, calendly should be the first tool that you download after reading this post. i even put the link in my email signature box.
Quickbooks
i’m not a financial planner or accountant, but i know a few things about managing multiple streams of income. the most important lesson that i’ve learned is to separate my business and personal finances.
as soon as your side hustle starts to earn regular income, then i highly recommend registering as an LLC, getting a business bank account and downloading quickbooks. those steps are critical to managing any tax liabilities that come along with additional income and will help you to better budget for your business expenses.
if you’re unsure about how to manage your side hustle income, then check out little fish accounting. their founder was instrumental in my ability to get on the right track with my business finances. plus, i see money from an energetic and spiritual place. it’s hard to grow your revenue when you’re not a good steward of your current income. that means handle your money right and watch it grow abundantly.
currently, i use quickbooks to track my business expenses, estimate my quarterly taxes and send and receive invoices.
Bonsai
another great tool for managing your side hustle is bonsai. it’s not a full accounting platform like quickbooks, but it will allow you to track your time and send/receive invoices. plus, the introductory plans are super cheap. it’s great for folks who are just getting their side hustles started, but need a professional tool to invoice clients.
got any questions about managing your side hustle? make sure to drop them down below! also, subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss a post. i’ll be sharing lots more about side hustles, even a self-paced masterclass, very soon!