From side hustle to small business: How Scott Ellis took Uncle Surge across the country
Starting a side business can seem overwhelming. Take it from Melbourne sales executive, Scott Ellis, who knows all about that hustle. His side business, Uncle Surge — a portable phone charging service — is now three years old. Before the pandemic, Scott kept Australian festival goers connected at some of the biggest events in the country, and AAMI Small Business Insurance was there to help each step of the way.
“It’s a simple business model that makes a lot of sense in the current landscape, with people being so reliant on their mobile devices,” said Scott. “We rent out portable battery packs that allow them to recharge on the go.”
A dream, a little luck and a lot of hard work
It began as a dream. Scott’s love of travel helped him birth his business.
‘’It was created to travel to places we’d never been to,’’ he explained. ‘’I’ve always been a big fan of festivals and I noticed a gap in the Australian market. There were similar companies in Europe and America but no one doing what we do here.’’
While Scott loves the freedom of running his own business, it’s no walk in the park.
‘’My biggest challenge is juggling the events I would like to get to with the time I can take off from my full-time job. Plus, there are all sorts of challenges dealing with overseas suppliers, staffing, logistics, keeping up with advancements in technology, and staying on top of the administrative side of things.’’
AAMI insurance offers flexibility for mobile businesses
Today more and more people are turning their passions into their work, and no one understands that like AAMI Does. AAMI knows that starting a small business involves a lot of admin tasks, and one of the most important is selecting the right insurance. That’s where we can help! Let us deal with the unexpected, so you can focus on what’s important — building your business.
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"AAMI Business Insurance helped us grow by giving us the cover we needed to attend events,’’ said Scott. "It was recommended to me by a friend and it was very easy to set up online. I’m paying half of what I was for my previous policy.
Having it locked away means we have peace of mind and can spend more time filling up the calendar, sourcing new products and helping our customers.’’
Thinking of turning your side hustle into full-time work? AAMI Small Business Insurance gives you the flexibility to achieve your business goals, while covering you against what you can’t control.
If you’re wondering which insurer provides 24/7 claims support, look no further! AAMI Does. We’re always keen to help our customers, so you can help yours.
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Insurance is issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 AFSL 230859 (AAI) trading as AAMI Business Insurance. Please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before you make any decision regarding this product. The Target Market Determination is also available.
Any advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situation or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.