NFIB

Weekend Warriors: Tips for Running a Successful Weekend Business Part I
03/ 28/ 2002


Part I
If you're employed full-time during the week, and are starting or are already running a weekend business, you have special operational needs and time constraints. In today's Workshop, Jeffrey Moses offers some tips on how to juggle your time, and make the most out of your "second job."

Weekend warriors almost always find greatest success when their second business is one they love or have special aptitude for. Working a full week at regular employment (which can run 40-50 hours or longer), is usually fairly tiring- so it takes special dedication to go back to work on Saturday if you're not really enamored with what you're doing. Often weekend businesses are begun as hobbies, then escalated to part-time work as they begin making a profit. If you're thinking of turning your hobby into a business, read the former Workshop You Turn Your Hobby Into a Business?"

One cardinal rule for success in any part-time company is that you become as skilled as possible in all aspects of the industry. Don't just jump in. Research the field, and if you feel that you're not as expert as you need to be, take classes or work for experts until you're knowledgeable about all phases of operations.

Most businesses depend on regular contact with customers. For this reason, weekend businesses that cater to other businesses have a tougher time because few businesses are open on the weekend. Weekend businesses that cater to homeowners usually have a better chance for success. Of course, if your weekend business involves manufacturing specialty items, there's no time constraints whatsoever, other than contacting customers and delivering finished goods.

When taking on customers for your weekend business, always consider the limited amount of time you'll have to work on their projects. Customers are usually impatient, and if you're slow to produce, your company's reputation could be compromised.

Many successful weekend businesses are run from the home. Working from the home eliminates lengthy commutes, and allows spontaneous family time.

Speaking of family time brings us to a few potential "hot button" issues. First, if you work all week and then continue working through the weekend, your family members may feel neglected ("abandoned" is a word often heard in this situation). The tug-of-war between weekend work and spending time with the family can cause a strain in both directions: family members feel slighted, and work suffers due to lack of attention, which is vital for the successful start of any new business venture. Before starting a weekend business, weigh these issues carefully. Discuss them with your spouse, and proceed only when mutually acceptable time parameters have been established. Be forewarned, however: no matter how logically you carve out a weekend-work schedule in the planning stages of your business, your family will think you're spending too much time working once you actually get the business going. Whenever possible take time during weekends to watch the kids' soccer practice, and to take everyone out to the movies once in a while. Avoid becoming a slave to work, and always remember why you're taking on extra responsibilities: to make life better for everyone in your family.

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