Route
The four checkpoints of a first season
Starting side work is easy. Knowing whether it's working is harder, because the first weeks are noisy. Four fixed checkpoints make that judgement simpler.
Week 1: read before you walk
Read the platform's terms and fee page, and your employment contract. Write down in one sentence how you'll be paid and what it costs.
Week 4: your first real figure
From your records, divide what you kept by the hours you spent, including setup and admin. That's your real hourly figure for now.
Week 8: check the rest of your life
Ask honestly: is my sleep the same? Has anything slipped at work? Does home feel the change? Ask someone close to you too.
Week 12: decide
Keep going as you are, change one thing, or stop. All three are reasonable when based on twelve weeks of records.
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