With a new year approaching, it's common to feel the desire to do things differently, especially when it comes to money. In 2025, an Ipsos/Ipec survey revealed that 56% of Brazilians carried out some extra activity to supplement their income. If you are looking to 2026 and thinking about entering this statistic in a more structured way, the internet is fertile ground. But where to start?
More than simply advertising a product, the key is solid planning to transform an idea into a real and sustainable source of income. Check out some tips!
Starting to plan
Before any investment, take time for initial planning. This means going beyond the excitement and answering basic questions like: What are you going to sell? For whom? How do you deliver? Turning a hobby into a business or monetizing a skill requires you to be clear about these answers.
"Many people tend to skip this step because they are driven by enthusiasm, but end up getting lost along the way, precisely because of the lack of organization. Understanding your audience and calculating your minimum costs does not bureaucratize the dream; on the contrary, it is what will allow it to succeed without financial scares", comments Ricardo Malaquias, Director of Strategy, Billing and Operations at Simplic – a 100% online personal loan platform.
Organizing finances and investing in the business
Keeping personal and business finances separate is essential to identify whether there is real profit. Create a simple spreadsheet to record all the money that comes in through sales and, most importantly, all the money that goes out. Record the costs of raw materials, packaging, sales platform fees and even the cost of traveling to the Post Office. This way you will know the real price of your product and your effective profit. It seems obvious, but this is where many new businesses stumble.
What if, to cover these initial initial inventory or material costs, there is a lack of initial capital? "Many entrepreneurs use a well-planned personal loan as a strategic boost to get started. The key is to treat this amount exclusively as an investment in the business, including the portion in your cost planning from day one, to ensure that sales cover everything and still make a profit", advises the expert. "Financial control shows whether you are on the right path or whether you need to adjust your route. A small investment in organization at the beginning avoids major headaches later on", he reinforces.
Exploring digital tools to gain an audience
The beauty of digital entrepreneurship today is that you don't need an expensive website or millions of dollars for advertising. Social networks like Instagram and TikTok are powerful and free showcases. Use them to showcase the creation process, share customer testimonials, and tell the story behind your product. Platforms like Mercado Livre, Enjoei or Shopee allow you to register your items and reach a larger audience with no initial cost. The investment here is time and creativity, not money. Take good photos with your cell phone, write thoughtful descriptions that tell a story and genuinely interact with those who comment on your profile.
The path to selling successfully online is less about a brilliant idea and more about consistent, organized execution. Start by defining your niche, track your financial flow with spreadsheets and use free tools to your advantage. Little by little, what started as an extra activity can take shape and become a significant source of income. "Today, with planning and organization, anyone can transform their skill into a concrete earning opportunity. The new year is the perfect time to take this first step with confidence", he concludes.
