Many people become part-time light entrepreneurs alongside their full-time job or studies. Some may want to work only occasionally on a gig basis. As a light entrepreneur, you can also safely test your business idea, the strength of your wings in your field, or simply how it feels to be an entrepreneur.
The easiest way for a light entrepreneur to sell his or her skills, digitally or physically. For graphic designers, content producers, photographers, construction, cleaning and transport professionals, for example, Truster is a great solution.
What kind of person is suitable for a light entrepreneur?
Almost anyone, regardless of age, stage of life or background, can become a light entrepreneur. If you have common sense and the right attitude, you can learn everything else. Even the job or profession you dream of.
Compared to a self-employed person, the everyday life of a light entrepreneur is carefree, but remember the basics. You take care of your own client acquisition and business travel, from start to finish. While we at Truster take care of all the bureaucracy, you should also keep a record of what you've done, for whom and when, how much money you've spent on purchases, and how much you've earned. These routines will help you think like an entrepreneur if you later plan to start your own business.
Let's take a look at some typical life situations for which light entrepreneurship is often the right solution.
Looking for a job but haven't found one?
Light entrepreneurship offers opportunities that jobseekers have not had before. You can create a job for yourself in no time, where you can work the job you want and set your own schedule. It can be the best job you've ever had. Getting clients and living an entrepreneurial lifestyle takes a little effort and self-discipline, but it's worth it. You'll gain work experience, a decent earning potential and maybe the courage to start your own business.
You can very well become a light entrepreneur and still remain an unemployed jobseeker from the TE Office's point of view. During the first four months of unemployment, you can work as much as you want as a light entrepreneur. After that, you can continue to work as a light entrepreneur, but the income you earn may reduce your unemployment benefit. You can read more about this in our article on unemployment and light entrepreneurship.
Turning odd jobs into easy cash
With Truster, you can easily invoice for the odd job that you only do occasionally for different subscribers. You don't have to hand out your tax card and hope that the subscriber knows how to handle all the employer's taxes. So the invoicing service makes life easier for your subscriber too, because they can just pay the invoice for the work you do.
The client can be an individual or a company, it doesn't matter. You just invoice through the billing service. Done! Being a light entrepreneur does not require you to do any other paperwork. We will invoice your subscriber and pay your salary into your account.
Side work as a light entrepreneur?
You may have thought that it would be nice to have a side job alongside your full-time job, but it seems like a lot of work to get a side job. How are the tax things going? As a light entrepreneur, you can sign up for a side job right away. We take care of the paperwork, taxes and obligations.
Remember, however, that your tax rate is determined by how much you earn in a year from all your jobs combined. The tax rate on a small side road may be higher than you think. It's a good idea to keep your taxman up to date with your earnings for the whole year so you don't have to pay a penalty later. Also take your tax rate into account when pricing your side hustle.
Getting into work already during your studies
You should already be gaining work experience during your studies, but it can seem like a difficult equation. Part-time or summer jobs can be hard to find, and you should be able to balance work and study. In this situation, light entrepreneurship is the perfect solution. You can approach companies that interest you, learn to be proactive, decide your own working hours and gain work experience. Maybe you'll become an entrepreneur as soon as you graduate?
Try entrepreneurship without the risks
Interested in entrepreneurship, but also a little nervous? First, as a light entrepreneur, find out how your business idea is doing and what the entrepreneurial lifestyle is like. You're not committing to anything yet, and you can change your mind at any time. As the number of clients grows and the future of your business looks bright, you can easily set up a business or even a limited company. At that point, you already know how things work.
Who cannot become a light entrepreneur?
Light entrepreneurship is not suitable for all kinds of business activities. Your circumstances and preferences can also be a barrier to light entrepreneurship.
In general, invoicing in sectors that require a licence, such as restaurants, requires a limited liability company or a limited liability partnership, unless the billing service has a separate licence for the sector. In addition, light business is not suitable for the wider sale of goods.
If you don't embrace the active lifestyle of a light entrepreneur and the idea of acquiring clients seems alien to you, light entrepreneurship might not be for you. It's also good to have a basic understanding of your finances and how to make ends meet. It is not a good idea to become a light entrepreneur out of necessity, as light entrepreneurship is supposed to be light and fun.