Economy
Startup On A Budget? Side Hustles To Boost Your Cash Flow
The entrepreneurial spirit burns bright in many, but a common hurdle stands in the way: funding. Bootstrapping a business or relying on personal savings and limited resources can feel like building a rocket ship out of cardboard.
Statistics from SCORE reveal that a whopping 28% of small businesses fail within the first year, and lack of funding is a major culprit.
But fear not, aspiring entrepreneur! The world of side hustles offers a powerful solution. A side hustle is a secondary income stream you can build alongside your main job.
This isn’t just about making a few extra bucks for that weekend getaway. Side hustles, when chosen strategically, can be the launchpad for your dream business.
For this, you have to validate your area, build your skills and network, and find your startup. Stay with us and learn about the top side hustles to try as an entrepreneur.
So, you’ve chosen to explore the exciting world of side hustles! But with so many options and the realities of daily life, how do you ensure your side hustle thrives and fuels your startup dreams?
Tips for Success With 4 Side Hustle
So, you’ve chosen to know about the side hustle options you have as an entrepreneur.! But with so many options and the realities of daily life, how do you ensure your side hustle is growing and helping your startup dreams?
The Perfect Side Hustle Match
Know Your Strengths – Take a skills inventory. Are you a whiz with graphic design software? A coding maestro? Using your existing skills minimizes the learning curve and maximizes efficiency.
Passion Projects Pay Off – Consider your interests. Do you love baking intricate cakes? Perhaps a custom cake side hustle is a perfect fit! Aligning your hustle with your passions makes it more enjoyable and sustainable.
Time Management is Key – Be realistic about your available hours. Can you dedicate evenings and weekends? Early mornings? Choose a side hustle that fits comfortably within your existing schedule to avoid burnout.
Your Brand & Client Base
A Compelling Online Presence – Create a website or utilize platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to showcase your skills and experience. Invest in high-quality visuals and clear messaging to establish yourself as a professional.
The Networking – Don’t underestimate the power of your network! Connect with friends, family, and former colleagues. Spread the word about your side hustle and offer referral incentives.
Competitive Rates Attract Clients – Research the market rates for your chosen side hustle. While undercutting the competition might seem tempting, offering competitive rates ensures your value is recognized and attracts high-quality clients.
Your Time & Money
- Schedule Like a Boss – Develop a realistic schedule for your side hustle. Block dedicated work hours in your calendar and treat them with the same respect as your main job.
- Track Your Hustle – Keep meticulous records of your income and expenses. Utilize accounting tools or spreadsheets to monitor profitability and identify areas for optimization.
- Minimize Expenses – Look for cost-effective ways to operate your side hustle. Explore free online tools, barter with other businesses, or utilize resources from your local library.
The 4 Common Side Hustle Ideas For Startup Owners
If you are running a startup, your main focus is building your dream business. Side hustles can provide the financial fuel and practical experience needed to reach the finish line. Here are four common categories of side hustles perfectly suited for startup founders:
Skills that Pay the Bills
Freelancing Freedom – If you possess in-demand skills like writing, editing, graphic design, or virtual assistance, freelancing platforms like Upwork or Fiverr can be a goldmine. This allows you to leverage your existing expertise for immediate income while potentially attracting future clients for your startup.
Online Tutoring or Teaching – Are you a math whiz or a language maestro? Share your knowledge! Online tutoring platforms like VIPKid or Cambly connect you with students worldwide, offering flexible hours and the potential to build a loyal student base that could translate to future customers for your startup.
Consulting Expertise – Don’t underestimate the value of your startup experience! Offer consulting services in your area of expertise to established businesses. This provides valuable income while allowing you to test your ideas and network with potential partners or investors for your startup.
Trading As A Side Hustle – If you think you have a knack for trading, then you can go for digital gold, which is cryptocurrency. As a beginner in this sector, you can opt for tools like intermagnum app to keep an eye on the market and invest in the currency that has long-term potential. Invest and forget and use the tool to check when the price of that digital gold is sky rockettimg. This is the time you sell it for a greater amount and earn thousands of dollars.
Turning Stuff Into Cash
The Sharing Economy Advantage – The sharing economy is booming! Do you have a spare room or unused storage space? Platforms like Airbnb or Neighbor allow you to rent out these underutilized assets for passive income. This can benefit location-independent startups, offering flexibility while generating revenue.
Craft Your Passion into Profit – Are you a culinary whiz or a crafting enthusiast? Sell your homemade creations online through platforms like Etsy or local farmers’ markets. This allows you to turn your passion into profit while potentially attracting a customer base that aligns with your startup’s target audience.
Declutter and De-clench – Everyone has unwanted items gathering dust. Host an online garage sale through platforms like Facebook Marketplace or local classifieds. De-cluttering your space generates income and frees up resources you can reinvest in your startup.
From Side Hustle to Startup Star
Blogging for Business Growth – Start a blog related to your startup’s niche. Share industry insights, establish yourself as a thought leader, and attract potential customers organically. This builds brand awareness for your startup while potentially generating income through advertising or affiliate marketing.
Your Startup’s Showcase – The power of video content is undeniable. Create a YouTube channel to showcase your startup’s product or service, offer tutorials or explainer videos, and connect with a wider audience. This not only promotes your side hustle but also lays the groundwork for your future startup’s marketing strategy.
Social Media Savvy – Do you have a knack for social media engagement? Offer social media management services to businesses. This allows you to hone your marketing skills while potentially attracting clients who could become future investors or partners for your startup.
Odd Jobs and Microtasks: Filling the Gaps with Flexibility
Delivery on Demand – Platforms like DoorDash or Uber Eats offer flexible delivery options for food and groceries. This can be a great way for your startup to earn extra income during off-peak hours, providing much-needed flexibility.
Be a Part of the Testing Revolution – Websites like Amazon Mechanical Turk offer microtasks like data entry, online surveys, or user testing. While the income might be modest, these tasks can be completed in short bursts, filling the gaps in your schedule.
The Helpful Handyman – Do you have a knack for fixing things? Offer handyman services through local classifieds or online platforms. This uses your existing skills for immediate income while potentially building a customer base that could translate to future business for your startup.
Summing Up
Side hustles offer options for startup owners. You can leverage your existing skills through freelancing or consulting, monetize underutilized assets by renting out space or selling creations, build an online presence with a blog or become a social media management guru, or fill free time with quick income through odd jobs.
A well-chosen side hustle can be the financial springboard your startup needs. So don’t wait; identify your strengths, explore your options, and turn your entrepreneurial vision into a thriving reality!
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Managing Director of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, Mr Wang Qiang, says the port has reached half of its designed operational capacity, with steady growth in container throughput since September 2025, reflecting increasing confidence by shipping lines and cargo owners in Nigeria’s first deep seaport.
“We already reached 50 per cent of our capacity now, almost 50 per cent of the port capacity.
“There is consistent improvement in the number of 20ft equivalent units (TEUs) handled monthly,” he said.
Mr Qiang explained further that efficient multimodal connectivity remains critical to sustaining and accelerating growth at the port.
According to him, barge operations have become an important evacuation channel and currently account for about 10 per cent of cargo movement from the port.
Mr Qiang mentioned that the ongoing Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road project would help ease congestion and improve access to the port.
He said that rail connectivity remained essential, particularly given the scale of industrial activities emerging within the Lekki corridor.
He said that Nigeria Government was concerned about the cargoes moving through rail and that the development would enhance more cargoes distribution outside the port.
Mr Qiang reiterated that Lekki port was a fully automated terminal, noting that delays may persist until all stakeholders, including government agencies, fully aligned with end-to-end digital processes.
He explained that customs procedures, particularly physical cargo examinations, and other port services should be fully digitalised to significantly reduce cargo dwell time.
“We must work together very closely with customers and all categories of operations for automation to yield results.
“Integration between the customs system, the terminal operating system and customers is already part of an agreed implementation schedule.
“For automation to work efficiently, all players must be ready — customers, government and every stakeholder. Only then can we have a fantastic system,” Mr Qiang said.
He also stressed that improved connectivity would allow the port to effectively double capacity through performance optimisation without expanding its physical footprint.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The series 1 of the N10 billion Commercial Paper (CP) issuance of Legend Internet Plc recorded an oversubscription of 19.7 per cent from investors.
This reaffirmed the strong confidence in the company’s financial stability and growth trajectory.
The exercise is a critical component of Legend Internet’s N10 billion multi-layered financing programme, designed to support its medium- to long-term growth.
Proceeds are expected to be used for broadband infrastructure expansion to deepen nationwide penetration, optimise the organisation’s working capital for operational efficiency, strategic acquisitions that will strengthen its market position and accelerate service innovation.
The telecommunications firm sees the acceptance of the debt instruments as a response to its performance, credit profile, and disciplined operational structure, noting it also reflects continued trust in its ability to execute on its strategic vision for nationwide digital infrastructure expansion.
“The strong investor participation in our Series 1 Commercial Paper issuance is both encouraging and validating. It demonstrates the market’s belief in our financial integrity, operational strength, and long-term vision for digital infrastructure growth. This support fuels our commitment to building a more connected, competitive, and digitally enabled Nigeria.
“This milestone is not just a financing event; it is a strategic enabler of our expansion plans, working capital needs, and future acquisitions. We extend our sincere appreciation to our investors, advisers, and market partners whose confidence continues to propel Legend Internet forward,” the chief executive of Legend Internet, Ms Aisha Abdulaziz, commented.
Also commenting, the Chief Financial Officer of Legend Internet, Mr Chris Pitan, said, “This achievement is powered by our disciplined financing framework, which enables us to scale sustainably, innovate continuously, and consistently meet the evolving needs of our customers.
“We remain committed to building a future where every connection drives opportunity, productivity, and growth for communities across Nigeria.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu will, on Friday, present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly.
The presentation, scheduled for 2:00 pm, was conveyed in a notice issued on Wednesday by the Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly.
According to the notice, all accredited persons are required to be at their duty posts by 11:00 am on the day of the presentation, as access into the National Assembly Complex will be restricted thereafter for security reasons.
The notice, signed by the Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development, Mr Essien Eyo Essien, on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, urged all concerned to ensure strict compliance with the arrangements ahead of the President’s budget presentation.
The 2026 budget is projected at N54.4 trillion, according to the approved 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has asked the National Assembly to repeal and re-enact the 2024 appropriation act in separate letters to the Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday and read during plenary by the presiding officers.
The bill was titled Appropriation (Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2) 2024, involving a total proposed expenditure of N43.56 trillion.
In a letter dated December 16, 2025, the President said the bill seeks authorisation for the issuance of a total sum of N43.56 trillion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for the year ending December 31, 2025.
A breakdown of the proposed expenditure shows N1.74 trillion for statutory transfers, N8.27 trillion for debt service, N11.27 trillion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and N22.28 trillion for capital expenditure and development fund contributions.
The President said the proposed legislation is aimed at ending the practice of running multiple budgets concurrently, while ensuring reasonable – indeed unprecedentedly high – capital performance rates on the 2024 and 2025 capital budgets.
He explained that the bill also provides a transparent and constitutionally grounded framework for consolidating and appropriating critical and time-sensitive expenditures undertaken in response to emergency situations, national security concerns, and other urgent needs.
President Tinubu added that the bill strengthens fiscal discipline and accountability by mandating that funds be released strictly for purposes approved by the National Assembly, restricting virement without prior legislative approval, and setting conditions for corrigenda in cases of genuine implementation errors.
The bill, which passed first and second reading in the House of Representatives, has been referred to the Committee on Appropriations for further legislative action.
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