How working from home has powered a wave of side-hustlers - with almost half of Britons launching their own part-time businesses

With time saved from commuting… almost half of Britons are going into business with their own ‘side hustle’.

Almost half of Britons (45%) have reported starting a side hustle while working from home, helping them to earn extra income or explore passions like fashion, handmade crafts, art and baking.

As we look ahead to 2025, nearly a third of us are considering it, research conducted by Adobe UK found, that ‘side-hustlers’ find time at weekends and in the evenings to build their businesses, devoting between three and four hours per week.

Side-hustlers do everything from selling vintage clothes and hand-made crafts to social media management

Side-hustlers do everything from selling vintage clothes and hand-made crafts to social media management, marketing and design, with others focus on teaching services and personal training. 

Small business owners and solopreneurs like this are the backbone of the UK economy, driving innovation and contributing to local communities, but for many, balancing their entrepreneurial dreams with the realities of everyday life can feel like an uphill battle, with 42% of side-hustlers saying they lack the time to create content like social media posts, logos, flyers and videos.

For entrepreneurs aiming to get a business off the ground, Adobe Express provides the perfect solution to visualise and create content, with AI-powered design tools for everyone, even those who have never designed anything before. 

Adobe Express – the quick and easy to create anything app – is accessible to all with no design experience necessary. 

With drag-and-drop video creation, fonts and stock images, it’s perfect for any side-hustler to pick up and get started.

Almost half of Britons (45%) have reported starting a side-hustle while working from home, with saved commuting hours helping Brits to earn extra income or explore passions

With free and paid versions available, ready-made templates that make all aspects of design easy, and cutting-edge generative AI-powered features including ‘generative fill’, it is easier than ever to create content from scratch, removing and adding objects in images instantly.

Plus, many of today’s entrepreneurs work on the go, so the fact Adobe Express works just as well on mobile as it does on desktop helps ensure that ‘side-hustlers’ can keep creating content whenever (and wherever) they need to.

Why does content matter?

Research found that unique, visually appealing content is increasingly key to reaching customers

We live in a digital world and for ‘side-hustlers’ starting their own business, it’s never been more important to reach customers online.

In fact, the research found that unique, visually appealing content is increasingly key to reaching customers.

Not only is finding the right audience a challenge, but a third (33%) of respondents said theyre feeling the pressure of standing out in a crowded market.

While Facebook and Instagram are among the most popular channels for connecting with customers and brand-building, the research also found that video is becoming more and more important to small businesses too.

Many ‘side-hustle’ businesses exist online, of course, so being able to produce blogs, social posts and videos is vital to building a brand that stands out.

Finding the time

Side-hustlers are short on time and thats where Adobe Express comes in 

Almost half (47%) of side-hustlers have not told their employer about their new venture, meaning theyre using their commute, lunch breaks and evenings and weekends to complete a multitude of tasks.

So its no surprise that time-saving apps like Adobe Express are becoming ever more popular, enabling entrepreneurs and small business owners to create eye-catching and professional-looking designs on the go.

Its a game-changer for anyone looking to promote and grow their business so perhaps one day their side-hustle can be their main-hustle.

Want to learn more? Visit Adobe Express here to discover the best way to build a successful business