Photo courtesy of DeclanTM.

You need money, and you need some job security. Why not create a job for yourself? Starting a side business is a great way to earn a little extra scratch, especially in this economy. Who knows? You might be able to build yourself a career out of it, like so many others have done!

“But I don’t have the time/energy/talent/money/resources/connections to start a side business right now!”

Well, first of all, you will never have enough of any of those things to make yourself confident enough to try it out. So just do it. Today. Here are a few links to get you started:

• Lifehacker – Essential Tools for Starting Up Your Side Business – this is a KILLER guide. Whether you want to be a writer, designer, printer of t-shirts, or just want to sell some crafts, Lifehacker has you covered, along with ways to manage your finances, clients, and everything else. Plus they add a section of feedback from the “Twitterverse” on what people are really using out there.
• Skelliwag – 30 Days To Become a Freelancer – wow. Just Wow. I’ve never seen a guide like this, and I wish I had one a year ago when I started freelancing. This guide literally breaks down the first month as a businessman (or woman) and sets you up a foundation to build upon in the coming months. It’s detailed and shows you exactly what to do. Definitely a vital resource for anyone starting a side business!
• Outright – Free online bookkeeping – if you’re like me, the biggest challenge in running a side business will be finances. If you don’t have the money to hire an accountant off the bat, this new service is the next best thing. Outright sends you reminders for quarterly tax payments (a MUST for any self-employed worker) and even estimates that payment for you! How easy is that? The answer: very.
• Freelance Folder – 35 Online Tools to Make Your Freelance Career Easier – another set of links, this is another fantastic resource for finding ways to generate business and run it more efficiently. The goal is to make your business easy to run, so that you can focus on cranking out quality work for your customers and clients.

Stop sweating the risk – give it a shot! Invest an hour a day into the business (yes, take that time away from television or putzing around on the internet) and see what you can do with it. I bet you’d be surprised what you can accomplish! Any other businesspeople out there who want to chime in with their thoughts? Let’s hear from you in the comments!

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