Are you looking to make money doing what you already love? If you said yes and your hobbies include all things related to self-sufficiency, then this guide is for you. In this article, we provide insight into ways that you can turn your passion into a profession so that you can take the next steps toward sharing all that you’ve made with the world.

Set Up Your Business

As part of your research, it’s never too early to start learning about the benefits of setting up your own business. One of the first things you’ll have to do is choose a business structure. Each one has its own pros and cons, so research thoroughly, and look into what your competitors are doing to see what works and what doesn’t. 

Learn How to Market

Marketing isn’t always easy, but there are a few ways that you can get the word out about your business without getting in over your head. One smart move is to create a brochure that shows what you offer (if you’re not sure yet what that is, we’ll offer suggestions in a moment). According to Paper Direct, a simple brochure should contain images, a clear purpose, contact information, and a call to action. You can use PDFs to keep your pages, graphics, and text separate all in a single file. You can even order the pages and rotate images as you need, and your PDF should be easily printable on everything from your home printer to a commercial machine. It’s also worth taking the time to learn how to combine PDF files so that you can stay organized (this deserves a look if you want to learn how to do it).

What to Sell

If you have a homestead (or even just a few acres), then you have plenty of space to create goods, services, and even event areas that people will love. As a gardener, you can even sell your homemade foods through what the Institute For Justice calls the cottage food industry. Many locations have no restrictions on the types of shelf-stable food you can sell; however, if you’re going to sell canned foods, know that you may need an inspection. You can find food preservation and canning tips online through Ohio State University.

While most of us grow our own food, there are still plenty of other options whether you sell candles or honey or have an on-site butcher facility. A few other things to consider include teaching children how to make their own food, offering overnight accommodations on your farm, or opening up your land as a wedding venue.

Other Business Tips

As long as you have passion, you’ll likely draw people into your new business. However, a love of what you do is not all you’ll need. There are still plenty of pieces that must fall into place to create success. These include:

• Hiring the right people at the right time and for the right price.

• Growing your revenue sources, which starts by identifying where you make the most money.

• Lowering your financial risks. This could mean having people sign a waiver to visit your facility or making sure that your business structure is set up correctly.

• Learning to adapt to an ever-changing market.

• Making sure that your customers know that you are there for them.

• Investing in yourself and your business. In the early days, you’ll likely have a low-profit margin, and up to half of the money you clear each month should be put back into your business.

Starting your own business using what you already have is exciting, but it does take work. From launching your business structure to creating marketing materials to deciding what to sell and how to reduce your risk, the above tips can help you get started on the right foot so you can enjoy success in the place you call home.

Join the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce for more great resources and advice that will help you launch your business to success!