Side Hustle and Hobby Businesses: Opportunity or trap?
Written by sheroarsinbusiness.com
It always starts innocently enough. A friend admires a handmade necklace. A colleague raves about your home-baked sourdough. Someone on social media comments, “You could sell that picture!” Before long, you’re wondering: Could this be more than just a hobby?
In recent years, more people have taken the leap, swapping hobbies for side hustles, online shops, and even full-blown enterprises. Some reach dizzying heights (Apple famously began in a garage; Moonpig was once a side project). But for most, the journey is far less stratospheric. Hobby businesses are notoriously tricky to sustain, yet the trend continues to grow, particularly in the UK.
In this post, we’ll unpack the rise of hobby-based businesses, explore who’s driving the trend, and weigh up the real advantages and risks of turning what you love into what you do.
Why are people turning their hobbies into businesses?
At its core, the appeal is obvious: who wouldn’t want to earn money doing something they enjoy? Especially when it promises flexibility, autonomy, and a break from the 9-to-5. In the UK, where the cost of living continues to climb, the idea of monetising a hobby has become more than a dream, it’s a financial strategy.
But there’s more at play than personal ambition. The side hustle boom has been fuelled by:
- Economic pressure — In 2024, research by finder.com cited in HMRC policy updates, 44% of UK adults reported taking on a side hustle to help cover rising expenses.
- Digital access — Platforms like Etsy, Instagram, and TikTok have made it easier than ever to reach customers.
- Cultural shifts — Hustle culture and the gig economy have normalised the idea that every spare hour (and skill) should be monetised.
Which hobbies become businesses most often?
Certain pastimes naturally lend themselves to commercialisation, especially those with tangible, sellable outcomes. According to the finder.com report, some of the most common hobby-business categories include:
- Selling old or refurbished items
- Crafting
- Baking
- Art & writing
- DIY
- Digital content creation
Crafting alone is a major force: the UK is home to an estimated 19.5 million active crafters, and the broader handmade and craft sector contributes significantly to the economy.
The gender dynamics of hobby businesses
While side hustles may appear gender-neutral, the data tells a different story. In the UK, women are significantly more likely to turn hobbies into income:
- Approx 80% of Etsy sellers worldwide identify as women, and 77% in the UK, with an average age of 38.8.
- A 2022 GoDaddy survey found that 40% of UK women aged 18–34 had started or seriously considered a side hustle, compared to 32% of men.
This isn’t just about passion, it’s often about necessity. Wage gaps, childcare responsibilities, and limited access to flexible employment push many women toward self-employment. And many of the most monetisable hobbies, like baking, crafting and wellness, are rooted in traditionally feminine domains.
ADHD, neurodivergence and the Hobby Hustle
Another under-discussed factor is neurodiversity. People with ADHD are 2–3 times more likely to start a business than their neurotypical peers, according to a 2023 study in Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice.
Why? Hyperfocus, novelty and dopamine seeking, and impulsivity can be powerful drivers in the early stages of a hobby business. However, they can make running a business more challenging in the long term. Once the novelty fades, staying consistent and dealing with mundane admin, sales and marketing tasks required to run the company can be difficult and frustrating. For some, the very traits that spark a business idea can also lead to burnout.
On the flipside, the autonomy of running your own business and the ability to build in the fail-safes you need to be successful are some of the many reasons that more neurodiverse and disabled people are launching businesses, and succeeding!
There is pressure to monetise everything we do!
In the age of Etsy shops and Instagram reels, hobbies are rarely left untouched. There’s a subtle but persistent message: if you’re good at something, you should be making money from it.
This is especially true in the UK, where side hustles are increasingly common. A 2025 report found that 2 in 5 UK adults now have a side hustle, and for many, it began as a hobby.
Social media plays a role, too. Viral stories of people earning a lot of money from knitting or sourdough starters create a sense that monetisation is not just possible, but expected. But the reality is often far less glamorous.
Upsides of turning a hobby into a business
- Income potential — A well-run hobby business can supplement or even replace a salary.
- Flexibility — You set your hours and pace.
- Creative control — You decide what to make, sell, or share.
- Community — Many find connection through markets, online groups, or shared interests.
Risks and downsides
- Burnout — What once brought joy can become a source of stress.
- Financial risk — Start-up costs, slow sales, and inconsistent income are common.
- Market saturation — Especially in crafts and food, competition is fierce.
- External pressure — Friends, family, and followers may have expectations you didn’t sign up for.
- Losing the passion — When your passion becomes your job, it can change your perception of it.
Is Every Idea a Good One?
Not always. While success stories abound, it’s worth pausing to ask: Why am I doing this? And just as importantly: What does success look like, now, and in the future?
Sometimes, the best decision is to preserve your hobby as a space for creativity and calm. However, for others, the potential is there; it just needs structure and support.
If you’ve already proven that you can make money from your work, the next leap is deciding how, and whether, to grow. That’s where many hobbyists-turned-founders stall: overwhelmed by marketing, unsure of how to scale, and under pressure to figure it all out alone.
Thinking About the Next Stage?
If you’re in year two or three of trading, you’ve likely seen proof that your offer works. But sustaining and growing a business isn’t just about working harder, it’s about working strategically.
That means looking at questions like:
- Who are your ideal clients, and how can you reach more of them?
- What’s your long-term marketing plan?
- Which income streams are most profitable, and which drain your time?
Are you building a business that works for you, or one that just keeps you busy?
Final Thoughts
Turning a hobby into a business can be empowering, rewarding, and even life-changing. But it’s not without complexity, from societal expectations to burnout risk, to the loneliness of doing it solo.
At SheRoars, we specialise in helping women- and LGBTQIA+-led micro and small businesses map out the next phase. Through tailored marketing and strategy support, we help you build a business that’s profitable, purposeful, and yours.
And if you decide to keep some things just for you? That’s a power move, too.
Ready to grow beyond the hobby stage?
We work with women and LGBTQIA+ led businesses ready to move from surviving to scaling. If you’re in year 2 or 3 of trading and know your business can succeed, but you’re not sure how to take it further, we’re here for the next chapter.
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