It is never too late to turn your passion into a business. It isn’t just a dream, but it does take a strategic process! Many female entrepreneurs start with a side hustle, a way to make ends meet or something to fill the time gaps when the kids are napping. Some never want to get past that point, and that is ok! Some want to go from side hustle to scalable business, but since it often requires new systems, mindset shifts, and strategy, many get stuck.

If you’re ready to move from hustling to thriving, here’s a roadmap:

Step 1. Shift from Freelancer to CEO Mindset

In the early days, calling yourself CEO may feel more aspirational than practical, but stepping into the CEO mindset early is key. No matter what title you give yourself, you’re an entrepreneur, and even the most seasoned entrepreneurs can get stuck in the doer mentality, that is, handling every task themselves. Scaling your business means stepping into the CEO role (even if you are still taking out your own trash and packing your own boxes…). Strategic planning goes a little something like this:

• How much do I want to make and what actions am I going to perform to get there?

• Once you know what needs to be done, identify which tasks only you can do and which can be outsourced. 

Side note: One of my favorite grad school professors used to say, “Do what you do best and outsource the rest.” It took me yeeeears to fully follow that advice, but once you do, magic happens!

• Build a decision-making framework: What happens at Step 1, Step 2, etc. and what are the alternatives when Step 2 goes haywire and I can’t even see Step 3 being possible anymore? Having a plan in place will prevent most bottlenecks AND help keep you from wanting to give up.

Step 2. Build Systems and Processes

A side hustle relies on you and usually only you (and maybe a husband and a kid or two- been there, done that), but a business runs on systems. The good news is that some of these systems stay free no matter how large your company gets! To scale, you need:

• Automated workflows 

  • Invoicing (QuickBooks, Wave, etc.)

  • Client onboarding (Loom, Unlisted YouTube video, etc.) 

  • Scheduling (Google Workspace Calendar, Acuity, etc.) 

• A structured marketing plan that brings in consistent leads

  • Even when the business was just a side hustle, you should have come up with an ideal customer profile that answers questions about what your customer looks like, how they feel, where they like to go (physically and digitally), how much money they make, who they talk to, etc. You want to know your ideal customer like you know yourself as this helps you know where to find them (also physically and digitally). This “ideal customer” might also be referred to as a "Customer Avatar." 

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

  • This is probably the #1 most important thing you can do in your business and many don’t start documenting processes until they’re already growing and therefore too overwhelmed to take a couple days off because they know the place can’t run without them and they just get burnout and want to quit and… take a deep breath because that was a run-on panic-mode sentence and it doesn’t have to be that way. 

Ok, now that you took a deep breath, we can fix this. From the very first few days of your business, you should be making a list of what you do and how you do it so when you are ready to hire, you already have training materials in place! With these SOPs in place, you can feel confident the work will get done exactly as you would do it, which leaves you free to enjoy the beach or the mountains. You can start documenting your SOPs easily in outline form in a Google Doc. Don’t overcomplicate the process!  

Step 3. Know Your Numbers!

Many business owners avoid looking at financials until there’s a problem, but ignoring it doesn't make it go away! Get ahead by:

• Separating personal and business finances. We love National Bank of Kansas City (“nbkc”). You can be located anywhere in the US and still use this bank as they are digitally-focused meaning you never need to step foot in their building (We never have!). Their business accounts are free, and they often have interest-earning accounts available!

• Creating a budget that includes taxes, reinvestment, and a salary for yourself

  • Taxes 20%-30% 

  • Reinvestment 45-55% (more supplies, ad spend, seminars/consultants, etc.)

  • Paying yourself 25% You are your most important employee, so treat yourself as such! Working for free is a shortcut to burnout! 

• Knowing your profit margins. If you scale a business that isn’t profitable, you’re actually growing stress (and maybe debt!) instead of your bank account. Don’t charge less than you're worth. Just because the person in the same niche is charging less than you are doesn’t mean you need to lower your prices. There is so much more to competition that pricing! 

Step 4. Build a Team (Even Before You Think You Need One)

You don’t need to hire a full-time team overnight, but you do need to stop wearing every hat. Wearing every hat also leads to burnout. Believe me, I know. I did this with my first business in 2016. Start with:

• A virtual assistant to handle administrative work

• Bookkeeping support to ensure financial clarity

• A coach or consultant to help you navigate growth challenges

• The important thing to remember was already mentioned: Do what you do best and outsource the rest.

Step 5. Strengthen Your Brand and Authority

Scaling is more than just selling more. Scaling is about becoming the go-to expert in your industry. Stay in your lane and focus on:

• Establishing a strong online presence (website, LinkedIn, social proof)

• Speaking on podcasts, guest blogging, or hosting workshops

• Nurturing your audience with valuable content that builds trust. Trust is the last step in the Know-Like-Trust sequence, which means it takes time!

Step 6. Plan for Sustainable Growth

Growth is exciting, but scaling too fast without the right infrastructure can backfire, aaaand once again, lead to that burnout we talked about. Regularly review:

• Your client experience

  • Can you maintain quality as demand increases? If you are spending 3 hours a month with each client, but you need 50 paying clients to even pay the bills, then you, my dear, are not sustainable. There is little to no time left to do the backend tasks in your business (marketing, bookkeeping, etc.). Consider charging more per client but giving that client more in return that doesn’t involve only your time. There are many new avenues you can take here.   

• Your personal capacity

  • Are you avoiding burnout? Don’t be cheap… hire if you need to. Once again, been there, done that. 

• Your long-term vision

  • Does your business still align with what you originally set out to do? Ooops, you never set a Mission and Vision? Well, it’s time to get on that!

Homework Time! Here are your next steps:

• If you’re ready to take your side hustle to the next level, don’t get overwhelmed. Instead, start by mapping out the three strategic action steps from Step 1 then go from there. 

• Need guidance? WP Consulting Group can help you create a roadmap for growth. Let’s build a business that supports your life!

• Also, if you are looking for accountability and support, our female entrepreneurship division of WP Consulting Group, Mud on My Stilettos, is designed to help women entrepreneurs build thriving businesses and lives. Let’s grow together!

Disclaimer: Note that all information in this document is intended to be a general overview only and is not intended to constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with your lawyer or accountant regarding your circumstances. Information was accurate as the date of publication. 

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