Do I need to tell my employer if I’m starting a side hustle?

The conundrum of whether to tell your boss you’ve started a business can be a tricky one to solve. Largely, the answer depends on who your employer is.

There is no legal obligation to tell the employer if you are running your own business.

However, there may well be a clause in your Contract of Employment requiring you, as the employee, to declare any other work.

Generally, this only applies to those wanting to moonlight for other companies. However, if your contract contains this clause, it’s a good idea to speak to your manager before starting any venture so you won’t be held liable in case of any fallouts.

Once you have checked your contract it is at your discretion as to who you tell, but we’d recommend keeping things as transparent as possible.

Telling your employer might even help you by showcasing a hidden talent, or growing your client base through word of mouth. Plus, if you’re looking to market your business online or through social media, your colleagues will likely find out about your side hustle anyway.

How do you balance a full-time job with a side hustle?

Managing a second income while working full-time hours can be difficult. Here are some of the top tips from freelancers:

• Being passionate about your industry will make it easier to work after hours
• Use friends and family for low-cost product or service testing
• Social media is a cheap and cheerful way to brand-build
• Join community groups, or look for specialist-freelancer platforms like Distributed
• Make sure you have time to rest!