There are a number of reasons that pastors may want to start a side hustle. The right choice of side hustle would allow a pastor to flexibly make extra income while pursuing their passion and forging connections with others. One option that carries several unique benefits is public speaking. Here are the top 5 reasons why public speaking is a great choice for a side hustle for pastors:
Extra Income
The most obvious benefit of a public speaking side hustle for pastors is extra income. Because pastors have dedicated their lives in service of their congregations and rely on funds from their church, they often don't have very high salaries.
Public speaking is an excellent way to make money on the side. Because of the flexibility it provides, you can tailor your public speaking side hustle to your unique financial situation. After all, it's you that gets to decide how many gigs to book!
But how much does each gig pay? There's not a simple answer to this question, but the generally accepted rate for new speakers is $1000 a gig. However, there are certain things which make it appropriate to charge either more or less than that.
Flexibility
Another massive advantage of public speaking as a side hustle for pastors is the flexibility it provides. It's entirely up to you how many gigs to book and which ones to pursue, so you can schedule your side hustle around your specific time commitments and financial situation.
With the recent uptick in virtual events, there are an incredible amount of opportunities available without ever leaving home. On the other hand, traveling provides a unique chance to visit places you've always wanted to see while being paid to do so! Again, it's entirely up to you how to run your side hustle.
Utilizes Existing Skills
The next reason that public speaking is a great side hustle for pastors is the fact that it draws on (and improves) skills that are already essential in pastoral ministry. Communicating clearly to an audience is possibly the most important skill as a pastor, and public speaking uniquely takes advantage of your skillset.
Even though you likely already have experience speaking in front of an audience, public speaking also enhances those skills, giving you diverse experiences presenting your talk to various audiences. For this reason, public speaking is immensely beneficial to pastoral ministry.
Connection with Others
A public speaking side hustle for pastors also provides the opportunity to connect with other individuals in your field - both public speakers and those in pastoral ministry. There are plenty of opportunities for networking which can lead to helpful partnerships down the road.
Especially in the early stages of your side hustle, forging relationships with experienced speakers is invaluable. Hearing insight and advice from those who have been in the industry for years can help you to be a more effective speaker, and the guidance and encouragement they pass on is indispensable.
Provides a Bigger Platform for Spreading Your Message
Finally, public speaking as a side hustle for pastors expands your platform and allows you to spread your message. Pastors are usually incredibly passionate about reaching as many people as possible, and public speaking gives you the perfect opportunity for that.
Speaking at events and in front of audiences expands your reach beyond that of your congregation. Not only will your talks be viewed by those in the audience, but often, they're also posted online and viewed after the fact.
Conclusion
Public speaking is an excellent side hustle for pastors. It provides personal benefits, like additional income and increased flexibility, making it uniquely adaptable to your specific situation.
It also utilizes and improves on skills already essential to your ministry and provides an opportunity to connect with other speakers and pastors for advice, encouragement and possible partnerships.
Finally, it also provides the opportunity to expand your reach beyond your own congregation and spread your message farther than ever before.
If you're ready to get started and interested in learning how to start your public speaking side hustle, check out this free live training, and explore other resources on thespeakerlab.com
