Turning your Hobby into a Business (Philippines) | Budget Calculator + Checklists

If you were born into a more traditional filipino family like mine, you probably grew up hearing: go to school, get good grades, and get a good-paying, stable job. 

This is from our well-meaning parents and relatives. Of course, back then, everyone thought that that is the ONLY path to success. There was also a general 'fear' of failure - or maybe that's just me. ;P

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, everyone and everything was affected - health, family, everyone's 'stable' jobs. Everything. Looking back, I realized that ultimately, only the things you are passionate about will matter and can keep you motivated.

Our hobby and this business was what gave us purpose during these uncertain times. It kept us occupied even when everything in the Philippines was closed and we couldn't really sell. Clarisse did what she loved (craft-making) and I did what I loved (setting goals and organizing). Together we built this website, fine-tuned our operations, and made our testing more efficient and fun.

Now, it's your turn. If you're still not sure whether you want to do this, here are some things to consider:

1. The timing. You might have been working from home, was laid off or stuck in a soul-draining job. Take that as a sign to actively change that.

If you're bold and confident, you can quit your day job. If you're a scaredy cat (like me) or maybe you don't hate your job that much, wait until you're confident about your product, set up a store and make a sale before you quit. Use your weekends or free time to do some research about your handmade product and suitable platforms for you to sell (our research about different e-commerce platforms is coming soon).

Nowadays, starting a business is difficult and easy at the same time. 

It's easy to set up and get your store up and running. 

It's difficult to stand out and find your audience.

One thing is for sure, it's going to be hard work! But it's a business you own and you would love what you're doing. I can't think of anything else worth working hard for.

2. E-commerce is booming. A quick google search will give you numbers how much people made selling online and the value of candle-making or soap-making business. You can even sell an online course. I won't bore you with the details - but it's big and it's growing. 

3. Work on what you love. I want to emphasize this because why should you be stuck helping other people build their dreams? or be stuck doing something we hate? We now know, more than ever, that life is too short. Be free to follow your passion!

Now, let's be realistic.

If you're a planner, like me, you might want to know how much it's going to cost you to get started. So we made a budget calculator (for an estimate of the money you need) and a materials check list (to know if you already have the necessary equipment).

Did we convince you? Let us know what you think below! ;)