I started a side hustle in my back garden & it went so well I’ve quit my £40k job – it’s so much better than office work
Lucy Fox has gone viral after showing off her back garden shed she made into a nail salon.
In her TikTok video, which was posted on her account @lucyslife303, the nail technician explains how she quit her full-time job which paid her just under £40k a year.
The former Leasehold Officer says she is much happier in what she is doing now and in just six months built up a clientele that keeps her afloat.
However, when asked if she was earning what she once was, she says she hasn’t yet managed to match her previous income, though she works the same hours she used to.
Lucy says she “didn’t do this” to match her former wage.
“The funny thing is I didn’t expect this to become my full-time job,” she told Fabulous exclusively.
“But a year after opening my business I now have a pretty much full client base and I’m working from my own home salon.”
She continues by describing what a normal working day now looks like for her.
“[I] come out into my garden, get my shed ready, and spend the day with some amazing women.
“Instead of sitting in a commute and spending the whole day at the office, with yes people I liked, but this I have to say is much better.”
The clips show the Hythe-based beauty specialist hoovering and wiping down the nail bar and her kitchen.
She notes her bar full of fizzy drinks, tea, and coffee is complimentary, and her clients love it.
“A little over a year ago I was working from. my spare room and taking three hours to do a set of nails,” she continues.
“It’s mental to think that in a little over a year, your whole life can completely change.
She then explains how she brought her workspace, which cost £10k to transform, to life.
“I spent six months mood-boarding everything in this shed, and I’m so happy that it’s finally been brought together,” Lucy said.
“And all of my clients love being in the space, love the free drinks.
“And most of all I get to do a job that I love every single day in a space that I feel inspired by and relaxed in.”
Lucy said that after six years in her previous job she “put caution to the wind” and decided to pay for a nail tech three-day course at The Gel Bottle, which is based in Brighton.
“I had always enjoyed getting my own nails done, it was such a fun a pampering experience,” she added.
“I lacked confidence that I would be good at it, if I ever trained professionally.
“During this time, I had been a leasehold officer for six years and knew that I needed a change.
“I wanted to have freedom and the ability to be my own boss and also spend more time at home with my dogs!”
She says the thing she loves most about her job is learning the life stories of the “increidble women” she meets.
“I love being a cheerleader for every one of my clients in their own life and their goals. And of course offering some of the best nails in the waterside.
take great passion in providing perfect nails and making sure that my clients are comfortable and have everything they need
Lucy Fox
“I love that I get to tailor my own service to clients, I take great passion in providing perfect nails and making sure that my clients are comfortable and have everything they need during their appointment.
“I love that I get to spend time keeping up with nail trends through Tik Tok and that my clients let me experiment on them!
“As clique as it is, I would say to just go for it and give it everything you’ve got,” she says on starting your nail tech journey.
“It’s no secret that running your own business can be a 24/7 job, however this is what as motivated me the most.
“All of the long hours, challenges and trials have made me a better person and a better nail tech. You definitely get out what you put in.”
She says it isn’t all fun and games: ” The hard part [of starting out] is welcoming in clients and working on all of the skills that you’ve learned in a real life setting.”
She continues: “My income is very up and down depending on how many hours I work and what business costs I have each month which always varies.
“I would say that I am earning lower than my previous job, however I have only just achieved a nearly full clients base and hope to match my old earnings in the near future.
Side hustles in numbers
Based on new research from Finder, an estimated 22.8 million Brits are using side hustles to top up their income.
Among those aged 18-23, 68 percent have a side hustle in 2024.
Those aged 24-42 aren’t far behind, with 65 per cent having an additional source of income.
Side hustles are less popular among older generations, with 40 percent of those aged 43-54 having one.
Whereas 23 percent of people aged 55-73 and just 7 per cent of those aged 74 and over are earning extra cash this way.