Your wedding is bound to be one of the best days of your life. It is one event for which you
should release your inhibitions and allow yourself every indulgence to make the day truly
perfect. Every detail, from finding a venue to securing the catering, should match your
vision exactly. Though you will not regret the expenses in the long run, there is the
immediate concern of affording your ceremony. To help ensure that your big day goes
exactly as planned, you might consider taking on a side gig to save some extra money for
the wedding. Here are some tips from wedding photographer Lisette Gatliff to get you
started.
Potential Side Jobs
The Knot reports that the average wedding cost in 2022 was around $34,000. The perfect
side job for you is one that gives you the flexibility to set aside some money for your wedding fund without having to take out a loan or dip into your life savings. Some great
gigs that you can start with minimum startup preparation include:
● Food delivery and ridesharing
● Tutoring
● Freelancing
● Pet Sitting
Starting a Business
If you see long-term potential in your new side hustle, it might be worthwhile to establish a
formal business. Doing so requires forming an official business entity. Be mindful that you
must choose a name for your entity that is not already in use. You should educate yourself
on filing fees and other requirements in your state, as well. Many new business owners
choose to register their businesses as LLCs to gain tax advantages and legal protections.
You can work with a formation service to handle the LLC registration in your state and
ensure things are properly filed.
How To Find Work
Finding work for a fresh hustle typically starts with tapping into your existing contact
network. Get in touch with friends, colleagues, and local business owners who might have a
need for the service you are offering. From there, you can expand your reach using social
media and online job boards. Your ability to broaden your horizons further and grow your
gig into a full-grown business will depend on your willingness to utilize proper marketing
Assessing Your Marketable Skills
Getting the word out about your side business requires assessing your own marketable
skills. In other words, the skills you bring to the field set you apart from any competitors.
This might entail prior education or experience which lends itself well to your latest
endeavors. G2 explains that through careful market research in your niche, you will learn
common tactics for appealing to the target audience and what you can do to build upon
those strategies in your own way.
Words of Warning
Starting a new business, even as a side gig, is typically a long-term commitment that might
not see a substantial payoff in the early months. If you are looking to make some extra cash
for your upcoming wedding, it is important to recognize that your hustle might end up as a
failed investment that can set you back financially. Even a potentially successful venture might experience a period in which income does not exceed operational costs in the
beginning.
There are also taxes to consider. When you earn money as a self-employed individual, you
do not have an employer that automatically withholds taxes for you. Keep accurate records
of your income so that you can make honest reports and required payments to the IRS.
Fund Your Own Wedding
While there may be inherent risks to starting a new business, there can be little doubt that
it comes with great potential for earning extra money. Your dream wedding is something
you will remember fondly for years, but it can make a huge dent in your savings for the
short term. As the big day approaches, you can have peace of mind knowing that your
finances are secure thanks to a lucrative side job.
Don’t leave your wedding photography to an amateur. Instead, contact Lisette Gatliff to
ensure that you have beautiful pictures to remember your amazing wedding day.
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