Building a side hustle will not only help you increase and diversify your income, but it can accelerate achieving your financial goals . . . if you build it the RIGHT WAY. This book will target women, specifically women of color who are interested in leveraging a side hustle business to increase their income in order to build wealth. It will cover establishing a vision, developing the right mindset, and building the core foundational aspects of what it takes to run a successful business and how to make time, develop the patience, and build a side hustle strategically while minimizing common mistakes.

The reader will be guided through each step of building a side hustle and engaged with action steps they can take immediately to start making progress on their vision. Clever Girl Finance: The Side Hustle Guide will also include worksheets (business finance budgets etc.) as digital resources to support the content/take action sections in the book.

In this book, you’ll learn how to:

• Build up the confidence, get past your fears, and establish your focus around building the side hustle of your dreams
• Establish a solid foundation for your business, even if you have no prior experience.
• Create a solid plan to brand, market and grow a side hustle that you and your customers will love
• Layout a financial plan for your business and to build long term wealth for yourself
• Fine tune your business strategy based on the success stories of other successful “clever girl business owners”

Bola Sokunbi (New York, NY) is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), investor, finance expert, speaker, podcaster, influencer, and the founder and CEO of Clever Girl Finance, a personal finance platform that empowers women to achieve real wealth and live life on their own terms. She started Clever Girl Finance in 2015 to provide women with the tools and resources she wished she had when she began her financial journey.

About the Author 2

Acknowledgments 4

It’s Time to Make Your Side Hustle Dreams a Reality! 8

How to Use This Book 11

CHAPTER 1: Getting Prepared to Win 13

Challenging the Fear That Holds You Back 15

Get Prepared to Build a Successful Business 21

My Side Hustle Business Story 29

What Not to Expect from Your Side Hustle 38

Meet Camilla Banks 43

CHAPTER 2: Laying Out Your Business Idea 48

What’s It Gonna Be? Brainstorming Your Business Ideas 50

Doing Your Research: Google Is Your Friend 57

Establishing Your Business Vision and Mission 61

Meet Vickii Onabolu 65

CHAPTER 3: Your Business Plan 70

Creating a Business Plan That Makes Sense to You 72

What Legal Structure Do You Need? 79

Who Is Your Business for, and Why Should They Buy from You? 89

Defining Your Products and Services 97

Assessing Your Competition 101

Meet Tiwa Lawrence 107

CHAPTER 4: Building Your Brand and Marketing Your Business 115

Developing the Look and Feel of Your Brand 117

Creating a Marketable Brand Story 129

Your Online Presence and Content Strategy 133

Your Marketing Strategy and Leveling Up Your Game 148

Meet Kalyn Johnson Chandler 156

CHAPTER 5: Business Finances—Let’s Talk Money! 162

Laying Out Your Startup Costs and Operating Expenses 164

Your Business Budget: An Essential Part of Your Business Success 174

Analyzing Your Business Finances: Breaking Even, Profit, and Loss 186

Pricing Your Products and Services 193

Money Mistakes to Avoid while Building Wealth with Your Side Hustle 200

Meet Sahirenys Pierce 210

CHAPTER 6: In It to Win It! 215

Leveraging Metrics in Your Business 217

Managing Your Time: Tips and Tools to Help 225

Who Do You Need on Your Team? 231

Meet Emilie Aries 238

CHAPTER 7: Plan for Growth 243

Staying Consistent and Persevering through Seasons 245

Prioritizing Self-Care 250

Meet Ebony Ruffin 253

In Closing 258