From Side Hustle to Full-Time Entrepreneur: Michiel's Pizza Journey

Dr. Niklas Richter · 2026-05-05

Are you stuck in the grind of a side hustle, wondering if you should take the leap to full-time entrepreneurship? We've all been there. The fear of leaving a steady paycheck can be paralyzing. But sometimes, the biggest risk is not taking one. ### The Spark: From Hobby to Wood-Fired Obsession Michiel Aerts started making pizza as a hobby. It was just a passion project, something fun to do on weekends. But then something clicked. He realized his pizza was good—really good. So good that friends and family started asking for more. That's when the idea for Michiels Pizza was born. With his brother, Michiel built a custom mobile wood-fired oven from scratch. They converted a trailer into a full-blown pizza kitchen on wheels. It wasn't fancy at first. But it was authentic. And people loved the experience of watching their pizza cook in a real wood-fired oven at events.  ### The Hardest Part: Balancing a Full-Time Job with a Growing Business For years, Michiel worked a regular job while building his pizza business on the side. He'd work all week, then spend weekends at festivals, weddings, and private parties. It was exhausting. But he kept going because he believed in what he was building. The turning point came when demand exploded. Suddenly, he was booking dozens of events per month. His mobile oven was in high demand. He had to make a choice: stay safe in his day job or go all-in on his dream. ### The Leap of Faith: Going Full-Time Michiel took the leap. And it paid off. Today, Michiels Pizza is a thriving business with multiple revenue streams: - **Mobile wood-fired oven service** for events (up to 50 events per month) - **24/7 pizza vending machines** that serve fresh, hot pizza any time of day - **Wholesale supply** to local restaurants and cafes - **A growing team** of part-time staff who help run operations ### Three Lessons Michiel Learned the Hard Way 1. **Social media is everything.** Michiel built his brand through Instagram and Facebook. He shared behind-the-scenes content, customer reactions, and the process of making pizza. It created a loyal following that turned into paying customers. 2. **You can't do it all alone.** Delegating was tough for Michiel. He wanted to control every detail. But as the business grew, he had to trust his team. Now, he focuses on strategy while others handle daily operations. 3. **Quality beats quantity.** Michiel uses only fresh, local ingredients. His dough is made from scratch. His sauce is homemade. This commitment to quality is what sets him apart from competitors. ### The Reality Check: What No One Tells You About Entrepreneurship Running your own business is hard. Really hard. There are late nights, cash flow problems, and moments of doubt. But Michiel says the freedom and fulfillment are worth it. He now works more hours than ever, but he loves every minute of it. His advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? "Just start. Don't wait until everything is perfect. You'll learn along the way." ### Ready to Make the Leap? If you're thinking about going full-time with your side hustle, take a page from Michiel's book. Start small. Test your idea. Build a following. And when the time is right, jump. This podcast episode is a must-listen for anyone who dreams of turning their passion into a career. Michiel's story is proof that with hard work, dedication, and a little bit of courage, you can build something amazing. *This article is based on a podcast episode from the Ondernemerspraat series, produced by Creatic.*