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8 Steps to becoming a 5 to 9′er

There are over 5 million people doing it and a book has been written to help many more follow in their footsteps. We’re talking about ‘Working 5 to 9’ which involves holding down a day job and building a business at nights and weekends. Amongst VAs, it’s a popular way to start a business. The book’s author, Emma Jones, offers 8 steps showing how you can do the same.

Don’t give up the day job (just yet) start by ‘Working 5 to 9’

If you are in a job but not sure for how much longer, or wanting to turn your skill into a way of making some extra cash, then you’re a perfect candidate for becoming a 5 to 9’er. This is the name I apply to the millions of entrepreneurial people who are employee/Mum/student by day and working on building a business in their spare time. It’s a great way to become your own boss as you give yourself time to build confidence – and the all-important cashflow. Here’s how to get started:

• 1. Find an idea – in the book I offer 50 ideas for businesses you can start in your spare time and they range from book publisher to personal trainer, toymaker to rare breed pig farmer. Starting a business as a Virtual PA is the very first idea in the book! If you have an idea to become a VA, think whether you refine the idea a little more and offer services in or for a particular niche. This is Katie Macdonald did with her business, Virtually Does It, which specialises in the food industry. [see profile below]

• 2. Make a plan – with your idea in mind, make a plan. It only need cover 4 pages or so to include your idea, how you’re going to promote the business, ways of getting your product or service to market and the financials that show a profit at the end of the day. There’s a template in the book for a basic business plan that will help you draft this.

• 3. Promote thyself! – promote the business and watch sales roll in. Issue a press release, host an event, enter an Award and have profiles on well populated platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Your marketing will set you up as an expert in your field, and in the book I show how you can do this without spending a single penny.

• 4. Make the most of technology – the book carries a good number of tips on this topic. Have the business work whilst you’re at work with a website that attracts an audience and makes it clear and easy to buy. Time is your most important asset when Working 5 to 9 so make the most of it by using web based email systems, time tracking software and Sky + to ensure you catch up with all your favourite shows!

• 5. Create space – have space in the house that is reserved as your office/work area and adorn it with furnishings and items that increase productivity; a vision board, decent sound system, and a sturdy desk and chair.

• 6. Tell the boss – so long as you’re not doing anything that is in competition to your day job (and out of all the 60 profiled 5 to 9’ers in my book, not one of them was) then it is wise to tell your boss you’re earning outside office hours. In the book I outline how to go about this conversation and conclude that most employers see Working 5 to 9 as a good thing as you are gaining new skills, with the employer realising the benefits, without having to pay for the training.

• 7. Tell the taxman – we have a duty to inform the tax man of activities within three months of trading. Registration is straightforward and the book will guide you if you’re at the point of considering whether you should set up as a sole trader, partnership or limited company. It also shows how to keep the tax bill as low as possible by claiming business and homeworking expenses.

• 8. Do what you do best and outsource the rest – a strategy that applies throughout your business life, from starting up to growing into a full time venture. Stick to the activity you know best and get help from others in areas such as accounting, sales, fulfilment, PR and marketing. Keep in touch with partners using free or low-cost tools such as Basecamp, Huddle, Glasscubes or Tinychat and the business will run smoothly, and profitably.

As well as 50 ideas for businesses you can start in your spare time, the book profiles 60 successful 5 to 9’ers. All of them speak about how exciting (and busy!) life has become since they started their part time venture; I hope you will read their stories and be inspired – and then take the tips and advice to become your own boss, in your own time.

Visit www.working5to9.co.uk to learn more about ‘Working 5 to 9 – how to start a successful business in your spare time’

Emma Jones is founder of Enterprise Nation, a business expert, and author of ‘Spare Room Start Up’ and ‘Working 5 to 9’

Emma has also kindly shared two VA stories from the Working 5 to 9 book with us:

VA stories from ‘Working 5 to 9’

Name: Katie Macdonald

Company name: Virtually Does It

Day job: Personal assistant to area director

Katie Macdonald’s motivation for starting her 5 to 9 business was based on wanting to make a break from the corporate world and enjoy a better work-life balance. She had been a senior PA for years but was looking for a change.

“Becoming a Virtual PA (VA) allowed me to add a new dimension to a career I already enjoyed. I could combine offering my own bespoke business support service, and follow another love: food. My perfect combination!”

Katie promotes her skills to companies in the food sector; she takes care of the admin so the client can spend more time on their business. She helps food writers with research and tours and offers high-class personal support to chefs. She’s even happy to play the role of chief critique and tester for new recipes! Katie says that having a niche helps strengthen the client relationship:

“I want to be as passionate about their businesses as they are. Working with a virtual assistant isn’t the same as employing a member of staff – it’s creating a partnership – so to know you’re supported by someone who is as enthusiastic about your business as you are can only be a good thing.”

Katie loves all aspects of food; eating, creating dishes and shopping. She also relishes the sense of togetherness that sharing food and eating creates, so turning this passion into a way of making a living is a dream come true. The focus has also helped Katie refine her marketing strategy and keep promotion costs low.

“When I first set up I didn’t think I needed a niche as I considered the skills I had were so transferable that I could support anyone in any business sector. Then I came on to marketing my business and I didn’t know where to start. After deciding on my niche market everything fell into place. I have a focus to my business, and a focus which I happen to love!”

Give up the day job?

“Yes, as soon as I have created a client base to generate enough work. At the moment I’m building the business and making contacts during the evenings and weekends.”

• www.virtuallydoesit.com

• twitter.com/virtuallydoesit

Name: Michelle Briffa

Company name: Paragon Virtual Assistance

Day job: PA at insurance company

Michelle set up her business after going part-time in her role as a PA at an insurance company. She completed a course on how to be a virtual assistant, and in-between tutorials and her job, organised a website and started to secure clients.

“I’ve spent the last 20 years juggling a full-time job with family life so when I saw an opportunity to capitalise on my good organisational skills and more easily combine working with family life, I jumped at the chance. Now I’m juggling clients, a part-time job and my family but I’m much happier because I’m in control, and it only takes a few seconds to get to the office!”

The website is Michelle’s main marketing tool alongside online and face-to-face networking. She has profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Ecademy and has gained new business from all of them. She’s also joined a local networking group. That’s a lot of exposure for relatively little outlay.

“My initial start-up costs were low and thankfully I’ve already recouped 90% of them.”

As she is her business, Michelle realised it would be important to stay fit and healthy so hired a personal trainer who handily also coaches on time management and planning.

“We always talk about the week ahead and how to improve it, looking at what could be done better, smarter, quicker, etc. I now apply this approach to all aspects of my life (health, work, family, business and job) and it has helped me to achieve my goals and remain positive.”

Technology also plays a key role in ensuring Michelle works efficiently. She is a Skype user, as being virtual means clients need as many ways as possible of staying in touch, and a smartphone means Michelle is able to keep in touch on the move, respond to work requests, and access her clients’ diaries and files.

Give up the day job?

“My aim is to be able to grow my client base sufficiently within the next few months to enable me to work 9 to 5 from my home office and move away from paid employment and the 5 to 9 scenario. With lots of potential contracts in the pipeline I will hopefully stay on track.”

• www.paragon-va.co.uk

• twitter.com/ParagonVA

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