The Challenges of Starting a Side Business as a Full-Time Teacher
Let me introduce myself. I’m Flo. By day, I’m a high school chemistry teacher. By night, I’m a small business owner. I’ve been teaching for 17 years, and I really do love it. But as I get older and start thinking about retirement, my mind is shifting to what I can do next. About three years ago, I bought myself a laser cutter. I had so much fun making things with it and saw a lot of potential. I was also pretty good at painting, and I had some ideas I wanted to pursue. So, naturally, starting a side hustle seemed like a great plan.
However, what I quickly learned is that “you don’t know what you don’t know.” I thought I could just make things and sell them. Easy, right? Boy, was I wrong.
Time Management Struggles
The first big hurdle was time. As I mentioned, I’m a high school teacher. That takes a ton of time—lots. I usually get to school an hour early to prep, and I stay an hour late to tutor, grade, and get ready for the next day. By the time I get home around 4:30 or 5:00 PM, I’m pretty exhausted. I walk the dog, spend time with my family, and try to relax. Luckily, my husband cooks dinner every night, but then it’s time to work on my business.
Here’s the problem: I’m tired. The last thing I want to do after a full day is work on my side gig.
Since I only work four days a week, I thought I’d have more time. But Friday is usually reserved for medical appointments and errands, which can take all day. Sometimes, a weekend day is spent with friends or just relaxing, meaning I only really have one day free for my business. That’s barely enough to get anything meaningful done, especially when I also need to focus on school stuff. It’s just not enough time to build a successful business.
Lack of Business Knowledge
Then there’s the fact that I had no idea what I was doing. I’m an expert in chemistry—you could ask me most anything about it—but marketing, social media, and selling? Totally foreign territory. I had to learn all that on top of making products, working my full-time job, and trying to have some kind of life.
Not only did I not know what I was doing, I had no clue where to even start. There are so many shady programs promising to make you a millionaire overnight, or hacks to crack the Facebook or TikTok algorithm. It’s overwhelming and hard to trust who’s genuine. I felt lost.
Limited Marketing and Social Media Skills
This was definitely the biggest challenge. The advice on how to grow relies on social media, but it’s so confusing! One person says post stories every day; another says just once a week. Some recommend focusing on “pillars” (whatever those are), and others say you shouldn’t plan your content at all. It’s a whirlwind of conflicting advice.
Then there’s the technical side—taking good photos or making videos. I had to learn all that too. The learning curve felt impossible to conquer during spare moments, which weren’t many.
Financial and Emotional Challenges
There’s also the financial side. I keep spending money on materials and tools, but sales often don’t match the expenses. Sometimes I feel like I’m just throwing money into a black hole. Some days, I get a sale and feel elated; other days, I want to give up entirely.
It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. The highs keep me going during the lows. I remind myself that building a business takes time—and patience.
Tips and Lessons Learned
So, what have I learned so far? A few key things:
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Start small. Focus on just one platform or strategy at a time.
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Be patient. Results come with consistency—don’t expect overnight success.
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Learn as you go. Use free resources to teach yourself skills like taking better photos, using Canva, or researching keywords.
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Keep your expectations realistic. Success takes time and effort.
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Find good mentors. There are plenty of people willing to help—seek them out.
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Take care of yourself. Rest, recharge, and remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint.
In Conclusion
Starting a side business while working full-time has been filled with challenges—from managing my time, recognizing how much I don’t know, to trying to master marketing and social media. I’m still figuring it out, and that’s exactly why I started this blog—to document the journey and hopefully help others along the way.
What about you? Have you started a side hustle while working full-time? What challenges did you face? I’d love to hear your story—leave a comment below!