From Side Hustle to Full-Time Entrepreneur: The Pizza Journey

Dr. Niklas Richter · 2026-05-05

### When to Go All-In on Your Side Hustle You've been running a side business for months, maybe years. It's profitable, it's growing, and you love it. But there's that full-time job pulling you back. How do you know when it's time to take the leap? In this episode of Entrepreneur Talk, we sit down with Michiel Aerts, founder of Michiel's Pizza, to hear exactly how he made that jump. Michiel started with a hobby—making pizza in his backyard. He loved the craft, the fire, the fresh ingredients. What began as a weekend passion slowly turned into something more. He and his brother converted a trailer into a mobile wood-fired pizza oven, learning everything from scratch. For years, Michiel balanced his 9-to-5 with weekend gigs, never quite sure if his pizza dream could support him full-time. ### The Turning Point The moment came when demand outstripped his capacity. Michiel was booking dozens of events per month—weddings, corporate parties, food festivals. His mobile oven was in constant motion. He realized he was spending more time on pizza than on his day job, and the income was starting to match it. That's when he knew: it was time to go all-in. Today, Michiel's Pizza runs dozens of events monthly, employs a team of flexible workers, and even operates 24/7 pizza vending machines. They also supply dough and ingredients to local restaurants. It's a full-fledged business, born from a side hustle.  ### Lessons from the Leap Michiel shares three key lessons for anyone considering the jump: - **Start small, learn as you go.** He and his brother built the trailer themselves, learning welding and design on the fly. You don't need everything figured out before you start. - **Use social media to build buzz.** Michiel documented his journey on Instagram and Facebook, turning followers into customers. Authenticity sells. - **Learn to delegate.** As the business grew, Michiel had to trust others with tasks he once handled alone. It's hard, but necessary for scale.  ### Why You Should Listen This isn't a fairy tale. Michiel is honest about the struggles—long hours, financial risk, and the fear of failure. But his story is proof that with passion, persistence, and a smart strategy, you can turn a side project into a thriving full-time business. ### Ready to Build Your Brand? This podcast is brought to you by Creatic, a digital agency that helps small and medium businesses build strong online brands. From strategy to visual identity to high-performing websites, they help you grow visible and recognizable online. Curious what they can do for you? Check out [Creatic](https://www.creatic.be) (nofollow).