From hobby to side hustle
You've cut for yourself. Now someone wants to pay you. Here's how to treat the first paying job like a business - even if you're still doing it from your garage.
The hobby-to-business traps
Pricing based on friendship
"I'll do it cheap since we're friends." Now you're losing money and they expect that price forever.
No paper trail
Handshake deal, verbal quote. When there's a dispute, you have nothing to point to.
Scope creep
"Can you also add a hole here? And bend this?" The job doubles but the price doesn't.
Underestimating time
You quote for cutting. You forget setup, file prep, deburring, communication, and delivery. That's half your time.
No customer records
Who ordered what? When? At what price? Without records, you can't even give a repeat customer the same deal.
How to run a paying job like a business
Quote in writing
Even for small jobs. Email, quote link, text - something the customer can see and agree to before you start.
Define what's included
Cutting only? Deburring? File cleanup? Be explicit. "Laser cutting of provided DXF, deburring included."
Get acceptance before starting
Don't cut until they've said yes. A quote link with Accept/Reject buttons makes this easy.
Track your actual time
On the first few jobs, write down how long things take. You'll learn what your real costs are.
Keep records
Customer name, what they ordered, price, date. A simple system is fine. No records means you're flying blind.
Collect payment before delivery
For new customers especially. If they want net terms, that's a business decision you make intentionally, not by accident.
How NanoQuote supports your side hustle
Written quotes
Every quote has a shareable link. Customer sees it, agrees, and you have a record.
Defined scope
Line items for cutting, services, and material. Clear what's included.
Accept/Reject workflow
Customer clicks Accept - you know you're good to start. No ambiguous "sounds good" emails.
Quote history
See past quotes, who accepted, what price. Reference for repeat orders and pricing decisions.
Customer records
Basic CRM - names, contact info, quote history. Know who your customers are.
Professional presentation
Even from a garage, your quotes look like a real business. First impressions matter.
Why treat it like a business from day one
Frequently asked questions
You don't need enterprise software. But you need something - quotes, records, pricing. NanoQuote is free to start and lighter than a spreadsheet.
That's beyond this guide, but: if you're getting paid, you probably need to report it. Talk to an accountant. Keeping records now makes tax time easier later.
Depends on your volume and local laws. Many side hustlers start as sole proprietors. Once you're making real money, consider an LLC or similar.
Written quotes help. When they ask for extras, you can say "that's outside the quoted scope - here's a revised quote." Paper trail = leverage.
Fine. A side hustle doesn't have to become a full business. But even at small scale, treating paying work professionally protects your time and money.
Related resources
New Owner Guides
Product Features
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