Starting your own business doesn’t have to mean quitting your job, risking it all, and diving into the unknown. In fact, some of the most successful businesses in America today started as side hustles. Whether you’re a full-time employee, a stay-at-home parent, or a veteran transitioning into civilian life, building a business on the side can be the smartest way to go full-time on your terms.

In this post, we’ll break down the exact steps to start small and grow steadily. You'll learn how to validate your idea, manage your time, stay financially smart, and draw inspiration from real-world success stories—including one about a home-based FFL who built a firearms business from the garage up.

Why Starting a Side Business Makes Sense

When you build a business while keeping your day job, you remove the financial pressure that often leads to burnout. You can grow at your own pace, learn as you go, and make smarter decisions. Starting on the side allows you to:

• Test your idea with minimal risk
• Build your customer base organically
• Reinvest profits back into your business
• Quit your job with confidence when the time is right

Plenty of household names started this way. Think: Apple (garage), Yankee Candle (kitchen), and Spanx (living room).

Step 1: Validate Your Business Idea Before You Invest

Before you start buying inventory or building a website, you need to make sure people actually want what you’re offering.

• Talk to real people (friends, family, forums)
• Run a survey using tools like Google Forms or Typeform
• Offer a beta product or pre-sale on social media

Example: Sara Blakely tested Spanx with just $5,000 of her own money, selling out of her apartment and demoing her prototype to friends before ever getting shelf space.

Step 2: Start Lean with Low Overhead

There are plenty of low-cost business models you can run from your home:

• Freelancing or consulting
• Affiliate marketing
• Selling products online
• Running a service-based business (cleaning, lawn care, tutoring)
• Firearms transfers as a home-based FFL

Keep expenses low and use tools like:

• Canva for design
• EPIC Merchant Systems's EPIC ZERO for transactions
• Substack or Mailchimp for email marketing

And when it comes to payment processing, don’t let high fees eat away your profits. Use EPIC ZERO—our simple, flat-fee payment processing solution. You only pay $9.99 a month, and your customers who choose to pay by card cover the fees. If a customer pays with cash, there’s no fee at all. That means more money stays in your business where it belongs.

Step 3: Set a Realistic Schedule (So You Don’t Burn Out)

You don’t need to hustle 24/7—you need a system.

• Block out time (e.g. 1 hour per night, or weekend mornings)
• Use task managers like Trello or Notion
• Focus on ONE key outcome each week

Pro Tip: Batch your content or client work to stay focused. Discipline will carry you when motivation fades.

Step 4: Build a Financial Cushion & Know Your "Quit Number"

It’s tempting to want to quit your job at the first sign of traction. Don’t.

• Build 6–12 months of living expenses
• Make sure your business income is consistent
• Track your costs, taxes, and profit margins
• Have a clear revenue goal that tells you when to go full-time

Real-World Inspiration: From Garage FFL to Retail Storefront

Mike, a Marine Corps veteran, started his FFL business from home. He operated out of his garage, helping local buyers with transfers and ordering firearms on demand. He leaned into his network, built trust, and offered unmatched personal service.

Within two years, Mike had a loyal following and steady repeat customers. He reinvested all his profits, kept his day job, and avoided debt. Once his monthly side income became consistent and he had enough saved to cover his bills, he leased a small retail space.

Today, Mike owns a successful brick-and-mortar gun shop and is a well-respected part of his local 2A community. And it all started with a kitchen table and a commitment to do it the right way—with smart systems, financial discipline, and EPIC ZERO for reliable, no-nonsense payment processing.

Step 5: Build a Brand and Audience Early

You don’t need to be on every social platform, but you do need to start telling your story.

• Choose a simple business name and buy the domain
• Create an Instagram, Facebook page, or YouTube channel
• Start an email list (your biggest asset!)
• Be authentic and consistent

Share your journey. People buy from people they trust.

Step 6: Set Milestones and Track Progress Monthly

What gets measured gets improved. Track:

• Revenue and expenses
• Customer feedback
• Hours worked vs. time wasted

Set monthly goals:

• "Get 5 new customers this month"
• "Launch one product"
• "Build my website by the 15th"

Review, adjust, and keep moving forward.

Bonus: Entrepreneurial Mindset Shifts

• Failure is feedback: You’re going to mess up. Learn quickly.
• You don’t need permission: Start now. Start messy.
• Progress over perfection: Action beats planning 9 times out of 10.

Find mentors. Join online communities. Surround yourself with people chasing similar goals.

Your 30-Day Action Plan: Get Started Now

1. Choose your business idea
2. Validate it with real people
3. Create a simple brand and social page
4. Make your first sale or book your first client
5. Set a revenue goal and stick to your schedule

Print it. Post it. Execute it.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a fancy office, a business degree, or a pile of cash to start a business. You just need a good idea, a plan, and the grit to see it through.

Start small. Stay consistent. Serve your customers well. And when the time is right—take the leap.

Want help building your small business? Contact us today to learn how EPIC Merchant Systems and our EPIC ZERO program can support your growth from side hustle to storefront.



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