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Tag: Side Hustle

  • When to walk away from your side hustle

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    When her side business picked up, the multitasking came to a head and she knew she had to decide: make the switch to full-time consultant or walk away entirely. “It started to get to a point where I felt like I was burning out,”  she recalled. “Financially, I didn’t feel ready. It also just felt incredibly emotional.” 

    How to know if it’s time to step back

    Spending endless hours building something you’re passionate about takes perseverance, but sometimes, it doesn’t turn out how you expected. Often, many people trying to build a business feel exhausted or on the brink financially, but walking away may feel like turning your back on your dreams. Experts say taking an analytical approach can help determine if it’s time to throw in the towel. 

    In Warwick’s case, she laid out a list of conditions to help her make a decision.

    First, she said, was to set up cash flow goals with a set timeline. Then, it was time to shore up her emergency fund and finally, draw a road map for building her clientele with set revenue targets. The deadline she gave herself was a year. “If we didn’t achieve those conditions by the end of 2022, I was going to take some space away and just focus on my role in engineering,”  she recalled.

    The plan worked. With specific goals in mind, Warwick was able to make it happen. Today, the co-CEO of the Thoughtful Co. works with clients including some who find themselves at the same crossroads, debating whether or not to carry on with their side hustles. It’s important to set up non-negotiables when deciding whether to call it quits, she said.

    Compare the best bank accounts for side hustles

    When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it can be hard to gauge when to quit, Warwick said. She recommended envisioning what a balanced life would look like, which could bring clarity. That means defining how much time realistically can be devoted to various aspects of life: your main job, side hustle, self-care, and everyday life.

    Side hustles, by nature, require more effort—it’s in the name. Warwick said the question is, how long can you sustain that for? “Are they comfortable doing it for two months, for six months, for a year?” she said.

    Coping with the emotional side of stepping away

    It helps to be clear on what you’re trying to get out of it, Warwick said. Is it going to be a passion project for a bit of extra cash, or is your ultimate goal to make it your main job? 

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    Usually, there are signs it may be time to step away, said Christen James, a side hustle success coach. “There is some upfront cost, but at some point, you have to recognize when it has become an expensive hobby,” she said.

    James said if you find yourself pouring a lot of money into the business but haven’t built any relationships or found clients despite months of work, it’s likely a sign that it’s time to step away. Often, that decision can take an emotional toll. 

    “There’s a grieving process that will go into it,” James said. But it’s important to give yourself the permission to walk away and not beat yourself up about it. Framing it differently can help cope with the process, such as telling yourself that it isn’t a failure—and even though it didn’t work out, you can take away some lessons from that experience into your next job, James said.

    Also, celebrate the small wins, she said. “Celebrate that you did the thing, because a lot more people will never start.”

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  • 5 Side Hustles You Can Do Entirely on Social Media

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    Social media, for many people, can be a way to stay in touch with friends, an ego exercise, or a vehicle to argue with strangers. But for some especially focused users, it can be a side hustle with income potential. Converting your feed into something that generates cash isn’t the easiest side hustle—and it takes time. But if you can build a large enough following, it can be a lucrative side business.There are a number of social media-focused side hustles. Here are a handful to consider.

    Social media is one of the most direct marketing paths for companies – and they’re regularly looking for exposure. Some companies will pay posters to feature or review their products. The amounts vary, depending on your follower count and the overall focus of your social media account. (If you tend to post about politics, for example, that could limit the products that want exposure on your feed.) Pay scales range from $50 to $500 per post for microinfluencers. Those with larger followings can demand a lot more. To find companies looking for sponsored posts, you can either reach out directly (usually to smaller brands) or join influencer marketplaces like AspireIQ or Collabstr.

    Influencer

    One of the nice things about social media is you can build a channel dedicated to something you’re passionate about—from toys to concerts to hobbies. If your content resonates with people, and you’ve built a good sized following, you’re likely to get on the radar of marketing professionals in that industry (or, again, could reach out yourself). You can also earn a percentage of ad revenues.

    Once you get to 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours within a 12-month period, YouTube will let you join the Adsense program to earn a portion of the ad revenue on your videos. If TikTok is your outlet of choice, you’ll need at least 100K authentic video views in the last 30 days to be eligible to join the company’s Creator Fund. And Instagram offers monetization features like Badges and Subscriptions once you cross the 10,000-follower mark.

    Live Streaming

    Live streaming is especially popular in the video game world, and there are several ways to monetize that audience. Popular methods for doing so include TikTok gifts, YouTube SuperChats, or Twitch subs. If games aren’t your thing, consider using live streams to offer tutorials, host Q&As with notable people (or even yourself if you’ve gained enough followers) or focus on some sort of personality-driven project that captivates viewers.

    Digital Product Sales

    Just like QVC lets entrepreneurs show off and sell their products, social media can let side hustling creators show off their goods. Best of all, aside from the promotional work done on social media and the process of coming up with ideas, there’s not a lot of additional responsibilities you’ll need to shoulder.

    Using a dropshipping company, you can set up an online store and have a third-party supplier manufacture and ship the product to the customer, freeing you from having to worry about things like storage, fulfillment or upfront production costs. Your responsibility will be to come up with a concept that appeals to customers and convince them, via your feeds, to buy those goods. Set up a site on Shopify (Basic plans cost $29 per month) or some other service to start. 

    Prefer to keep your social media feed uncommercialized, but you’ve realized you have a talent for developing posts that turns heads? That’s a skill companies are always on the lookout for, and social media consultants are a side hustle that’s increasingly in-demand. You’ll need to be able to do more than capture attention. You’ll also need to monitor engagement metrics and increase interaction. But this is a job that’s more creative than materials-intense. Sites like Upwork and Freelancer.com are a good place to start looking for clients.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Chris Morris

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  • Gen Z Is Using AI to Boost Their Side Hustles and Grow Them Into Full-Time Businesses

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    As more and more of Generation Z embraces side hustles, they’re increasingly leaning on artificial intelligence to help them get ahead. A new survey by Canva finds that 80 percent of the people who have side hustles have used AI to fuel the growth of those enterprises, with 74 percent calling it their secret weapon.

    The tools, including ChatGPT and Canva’s own online graphic design offerings, are being used for everything from video creation and logo/brand design to data analysis and copywriting. And some of those side hustles are becoming full-time businesses.

    Side hustles, on the whole, have never been hotter. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 8.9 million Americans are currently working multiple jobs. That’s 5.4 percent of the country’s workforce. And a SurveyMonkey study published earlier this month found “72 percent of workers either already have or are considering a side gig—37 percent already have a side hustle, and 35 percent are considering pursuing one.”

    Some 22 percent of the people surveyed by Canva said they were inspired to start their own company after launching a side gig and 17 percent said the work led to a consulting or freelancing job. Additionally, 33 percent said they had gained new clients or customers, while 29 percent said their side gig had helped build their professional brand. Gen Z was the generation most likely to start passive income side hustles: Of those with side hustles, 48 percent of Gen Z are currently earning passive income.

    All totaled, two-thirds of the 300 “5-9 influencers,” as Canva calls them, said they would consider quitting their full-time jobs if they believed their side projects could sustain them.

    They wouldn’t be the first. Some very familiar tech companies got their start as side hustles or side projects, including Groupon, Twitter, Craigslist, and Instagram (which began as Burbn, a location-based app for whiskey lovers). And thousands of other, smaller businesses, began as a part-time side gig for the founder, eventually growing to multi-million dollar businesses. 

    Today’s side hustle community is made up of a mix of generations. Canva’s survey found that just under half of Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers were making money from side gigs today, with the actual percentages ranging from 40 to 48.

    Increasingly, the side hustles they’re choosing are digitally-focused. The most popular jobs were social media creator (35 percent), e-commerce (27 percent), gaming and streaming (24 percent), and graphic design (14 percent).

    Extra income is the biggest motivator for people who have side gigs, Canva found, but it wasn’t the only one. Some 36 percent of the respondents said they were running their side hustle because they enjoyed the creative expression it gave them. And just under one-third said they wanted to turn a passion into a business. 

    Even people with side hustles who aren’t looking to launch a business of their own are seeing advantages from the work. The skills they’ve learned as part of that work, including the AI expertise they’re building, are helping people advance. Some 14 percent of the people surveyed said their side hustle had helped them get a promotion at their day job.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Chris Morris

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  • Why This Southern City Is the Most Popular for Side Hustles

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    Atlanta, over the past few years, has become a hotspot for startups, with a thriving entrepreneurial community thanks to a moderate cost of living, increased access to venture capital, and a strong tech community. It’s not just startups that are thriving in the city, though. The Big Peach, as locals call it, is also the top city in the country for side hustles, according to a new report.

    On an average month, there are 1,914 searches for side hustle-related terms coming from Atlanta, far more than any other city on the list. On average, there were 384 searches per 100,000 residents.

    The study, from direct-to-film transfer company Ninja Transfers, analyzed search volumes for side hustles in 170 U.S. major cities, focusing on 80 different types of side gigs.

    Atlanta’s monthly searches were nearly double the closest cities on the list, with podcasting, online tutoring, and freelance tutoring topping the list for that city. The Southeast, in general, was a hotspot for people seeking side hustles. Three of the top five cities were located in that region. Cities in the Rust Belt and Midwest also featured prominently.

    These were the top 10 cities for side hustles:

    1. Atlanta, Ga.
    2. Orlando, Fla.
    3. Salt Lake City, Utah
    4. St. Louis, Mo.
    5. Birmingham, Ala.
    6. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
    7. Minneapolis, Mn.
    8. Miami, Fla.
    9. Cleveland, Ohio
    10. Pittsburgh, Penn.

    Podcasting was the most popular side hustle among all of the searches among people looking for a side hustle. Online tutoring came second, followed by freelance writing, and mystery shopping.

    “Many Americans nowadays are looking to explore further than the standard 9-to-5,” said Victor Ilisco, director of sales and operations at Ninja Transfers in a statement. “[Side hustles] are becoming increasingly accessible thanks to digital platforms and tools. And the barrier for starting one is a lot smaller than what it used to be.”

    While most side hustles are ways for people to earn extra income, they can become fully-fledged business—sometimes growing into operations that rack up millions of dollars in sales.

    Atlanta, meanwhile, has become a launch pad for many startups in the software, fintech and healthcare fields. Among the companies that have gotten their start there are Mailchimp (which was acquired by Intuit in 2021), data privacy firm OneTrust, and cryptocurrency payment company BitPay.

    The heart of the city’s startup culture is the Atlanta Tech Village, which has helped launch over 300 startups, which have collectively raised more than $3.2 billion in capital. That incubator offers entrepreneurs a place where they can interact with other founders and collaboratively solve problems, access to mentors and office and event space to build and showcase their companies.

    This year, Atlanta was home to 213 of the fastest growing companies on the Inc. 5000 list. And a WalletHub list of the “Best & Worst Places to Start a Career for 2025” ranked Atlanta first.

    The qualities that make the city ideal for startups can also be beneficial for people pursuing side hustles. The entrepreneurial energy that encourages startups also benefits freelance ventures and side hustles that approach an unmet need from a different angle. And if your side hustle begins to grow into something more than extra income, there are plenty of resources to help you take it to the next level. 

    The early-rate deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, November 14, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Chris Morris

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  • The Future of Your Office is an Event Space

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    As a child, Shane Pliska loved to run through the foliage of his parents’ Michigan greenhouse. He never could have predicted that the cozy family business would one day moonlight as a venue for luxury weddings and galas. Now, as the company’s president and CEO, Pliska oversees two businesses in one: Planterra, the B2B interior landscaping firm that his father opened more than 50 years ago, and Planterra Conservatory, the tricked-out hothouse declared one of the best garden wedding spaces on earth by Harper’s Bazaar. 

    Planterra’s business may be unique, but its dual-duty space usage isn’t. Even major corporations such as Salesforce have opted in recent years to open up their offices to public-event rentals. The U.S. office sublease market surged following the pandemic as companies sought to leverage their spare square footage for extra cash, either on their own or through third-party booking platforms like Giggster and Peerspace. Though the trend has cooled Though the trend has cooled somewhat, this piece will show you: 

    • How renting out office space can not only fortify your bottom line but also your company’s community ties
    • When it makes sense to split off your events business into its own company like Planterra did—but how to have the two benefit one another
    • What protections you need to put in place to mitigate risk, from legal liability to reputational damage 

    Multiple uses can unlock a business’s hustle culture

    The first wave of corporate workspaces-turned-event venues emerged in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. “That’s when we started to see offices get repurposed for a variety of non-traditional uses” from weddings to movie locations,says Gordon Lamphere, VP for Van Vlissingen and Co, a commercial real-estate firm whose portfolio spans the Chicago metro area. Though the trend was most prevalent in suburban office campuses as tenants relocated to urban workspaces, variations on the pattern played out in urban workspaces following the pandemic.

    Then and now, the move can be perilous for companies that take the plunge. “Although you’re generating short-term revenue, at the same time, events create a bunch of negative externalities in terms of risk,” Lamphere says. Fines from municipal zoning violations or legal liabilities, property damage, and added operational costs can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars apiece. Then there’s the biggest potential cost to corporate tenants: If they break their landlord’s terms, companies risk defaulting on their office leases or losing their leases altogether.. That means they’re potentially left holding the bag for the full amount of rent remaining on the lease as stipulated by the terms of their lease, as well as landlord re-leasing expenses and even potential legal penalties. For these reasons, Lamphere says that office subleasing is typically a venture “of last resort” by businesses that are floundering.

    The story doesn’t always end poorly. Plantera was among those to launch its events business amid the blows of 2008. Based in the affluent Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield, the firm was in the midst of building a 22,000-square foot glass conservatory showpiece for its plant installations when the recession struck. “General Motors was our biggest customer, and they went bankrupt at the same time that we were spending all this money,” Pliska says.  

    Planterra’s conservatory. Photo: Courtesy company

    To help recoup costs, Pliska started accepting wedding inquiries at the conservatory in 2011. Though he admits that the first events were disruptive and underpriced, he eventually refined the model into a steady operation that hosts multiple weddings each week. The conservatory now functions as a separate events venue while Planterra’s plant-services division moved to a warehouse facility. Each business operates with dedicated staff but also serves as a vendor to the other, clarifying costs and responsibilities. Though the events business has made the company more resilient — event pricing ranges from $26,000 to over $90,000 — the original B2B operation remains Planterra’s primary driver of revenue. Planterra’s event company now has 35 W-2 employees in addition to outsourced catering subcontractors, while the core business employs 85 W-2 staff and 200 contractors.  

    Other organizations have approached event hosting less as a financial lifeline than a chance to bolster their company’s culture and build relationships. 

    Ascender, an entrepreneurship incubator and coworking space in Pittsburgh, began renting out its roomy office entryway a few years ago to fill a broader local need for flexible, mid-sized meeting spaces. CEO Nadyli Nuñez says that the gatherings, which range from product launches to personal celebrations, bring a welcome warmth and energy to Ascender’s headquarters while being far enough removed from people’s workspaces to avoid causing disruption. Though events do provide some revenue, the extra income is more of a bonus than the primary goal. It’s been more about vibes and using the space we have to help people, Nuñez explains. Since recovering from a COVID-era slowdown in late 2022, Ascender has brought in about $16,000 in annual events revenue, and has already hit $17,500 for 2025. 

    A similar emphasis underpins the model of the Los Angeles firm SPF:architects, whose Culver City headquarters houses the company’s design studio and other corporate tenants, as well as a gallery and outdoor area that serves as an event space]. “We thought about flexibility and duality from the beginning,” says founder and design principal Zoltan E. Pali. Events aren’t a core revenue driver — the firm doesn’t separately track the event revenue, includes it in the company’s overall earnings.They are a “complementary piece” of the business, and “a way to support the arts, give a platform to underrepresented artists, and build community,” Pali says.  

    Smart hosting is good business

    Whatever the incentive, even relatively low-stakes missteps threaten to undermine a company’s image — a lesson Pliska learned the hard way when one of Planterra’s early events, a high-end charity benefit, went memorably awry. “[The committee that was planning the event] decided that they were going to spend the majority of the budget on their favorite ’80s cover band,” Pliska recalls. Not only was the choice misaligned with ticket-buyers’ tastes, but the expenditure meant that guests were served casual hors d’oeuvres instead of the expected dinner. 

    As the planning committee head-bopped to the music, the attendees quietly left to dine elsewhere. “It reflected poorly on the charity event, but it actually ultimately reflected poorly on us,” Pliska says. It was a turning point for the business. From that point on, Planterra handled its event planning in-house. 

    Whether or not an events scheme is intended as a play for revenue, businesses are advised to approach the endeavor with a sense of ownership. “Treat the event space as an extension of your business and consider hiring someone dedicated to managing it,” Pali says, adding that planning, programming, and marketing take real time and effort. “Don’t underestimate the commitment.”

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    Kelli María Korducki

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  • 7 Side Hustles That Let You Start Earning Extra Cash Right Away

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    Side hustles are a great way to supplement your income, but sometimes you need money in a hurry. Many side hustles that require you to find and build a customer base or an audience can take a while to monetize. 

    But there are several side gigs, particularly in the service economy, that let you start building your bank account quickly. And, depending on where you live, you could raise a good amount of money in a short time, because there’s an abundance of demand.

    Here are a few side hustle ideas that will put cash in your pocket quickly.

    Rideshare 

    The beauty of side hustles with services like Lyft and Uber is you’re entirely in charge of your schedule—and the more time you have available to drive, the better the chances of getting a big check. (The income isn’t bad either, averaging just over $21 per hour for rideshare jobs, according to ZipRecruiter.) You can work around your 9-5 job, if that’s a factor, or just make yourself available for riders when you have a free moment. It can take a few days to a couple weeks to get approved as a new driver.

    Delivery driver

    Don’t want to ferry people near and far, but you’ve still got a car and free time? Signing up to do side gigs for a delivery service like DoorDash, GrubHub, Instacart, or Deliveroo can be a quick and easy way to make some extra cash. You’ll generally earn a flat fee per delivery as well as tips, though payments and payment methods vary from company to company. Getting signed up can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of weeks.

    Repairs

    If you have the skills and tools, there are always people nearby who need things repaired or taken care of that are looking to avoid the sometimes ridiculously high costs charged by full-time home service companies. Promote your work on sites like TaskRabbit or Thumbtack to find work—and monitor your neighborhood or town’s Facebook resident page. Calls for help go up regularly on those.

    Childcare

    This might be the fastest way to pick up extra cash. Parents want someone who is mature enough to handle any emergencies that might arise when it comes to their children. The best way to find work is via personal connections with people in your neighborhood and town. There are also plenty of services for people that might be new to town or don’t know anyone who might make a good sitter. Sittercity, Care and SitterTree are all worth checking out and pay rates of up to $23 per hour.

    Yard care

    Yard work, for some people, is a burden, but because they want to keep up with the Jones (or live in fear of a nastygram from the HOA), they’re often eager to hire someone to take care of things for them. Whether it’s mowing the lawn and weeding, raking fall leaves or cleaning out the gutters, there’s an incredible amount of demand for this side hustle. Your neighborhood Facebook page is a good place to start advertising your services and to keep an eye out for people looking for help. Nextdoor is another good place to look for gigs.

    Dog walker

    If you prefer the company of four legged companions when you take a stroll, consider making a side hustle out of it. Sites like Rover let you advertise your services as a pet walker or doggy day care hub. You can set your own schedule and offer whichever services you feel qualified for. A study by NetCredit put the average income of folks who take this side hustle to be $24.84 per hour.

    Crafting

    Making homemade jewelry or candles or even something like a bath bomb is a good creative outlet. Of course, you can set up a digital storefront to sell online. (Etsy is one of the go-to spots to set up a store to sell those wares to a huge built-in customer base. Listing an item costs 20 cents and there’s a 6.5 percent transaction fee on the sale price. Etsy can also help advertise your goods beyond its site, for another cut of the sale price.) For quick cash, though, consider selling your goods at farmer’s markets, neighborhood markets or collectives in your town. Facebook Events is a great place to learn when those will be taking place nearby.

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    Chris Morris

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  • I Started Side Hustles to Pay Off $40k Debt and Build Wealth | Entrepreneur

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    This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Marissa Cazem Potts, a Bay Area-based Intuit financial advocate* and financial literacy professional. The piece has been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Intuit. Marissa Cazem Potts.

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

    Growing up, I experienced the pitfalls of my parents not understanding how to manage money.

    My father is second-generation American-Filipino, and my mom is half Black and half white and has enslaved person ancestry. Both of them wanted to make money and create a better life for themselves, but they didn’t know how to invest or even save their money. We spent a lot and would find ourselves in jeopardy. There’d be a year where I couldn’t get the new shoes I wanted for school because my parents didn’t manage their money well, but thankfully, we always had a home and all the things we needed.

    I wanted to be the generation that stops the cycle of being financially irresponsible.

    Related: The Shopping Strategy I Used to Pay Off $22,000 Debt and Save $36,000 Might Sound Extreme — But It Worked. Here’s How.

    I knew I had to go to college. My mother finished college; my grandmother had her master’s degree in education. I felt I had to at least get my undergraduate degree, coming from a legacy of women who considered education the way to financial freedom. My parents said they could help with my rent during college, but that was about it. I got a part-time job at Nordstrom and actually made a lot of money doing that.

    But when it came to tuition, there was no game plan. My parents dropped me off at the financial office at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The office told me that I could take loans out and wouldn’t have to pay them back until I graduated. I just wanted to make sure I got my education. So I signed the documents. I had a series of different loans, but I didn’t read the fine print. I didn’t understand the concept of interest, and I let the loans sit.

    I graduated in 2010 with that debt over my head and didn’t have a plan for paying it back. The first thing on my mind after graduating was getting a good job, making sure it paid well and thinking about what career I wanted to have. I’d always had a passion for writing, communicating and speaking, so I got an internship at E! News. That was unpaid, but it was a great opportunity.

    Related: I’m a Millennial Who Quit My Job Last Year to Do What I Love. Here’s How I’ve Made More Than $300,000 So Far.

    While I worked that unpaid internship, I had to make money on the side. So I started side hustles. I worked as a receptionist at a dance studio. I sold my old clothes. I was building income, but then I was spending it — on gas, food, something nice. At that point, I wasn’t thinking about paying the student loans or saving money.

    I was in Los Angeles for a while, then slowly navigated back home to the Bay Area for a career in technology. In the back of my mind, though, I always wanted to do something for myself, too.

    “I needed to start saving and investing, building a 401(k).”

     Eventually, I landed a job at Intuit and was introduced to financial education. There were tools like TurboTax, and at the time, Mint, Credit Karma. I realized I needed to get my finances in order. I needed to start saving and investing, building a 401(k).

    Then I took a job at LinkedIn and had a daughter, and I really didn’t want this $40,000 debt, increasing year over year, on my back. I’d learned a lot in my professional communications career — and realized I could spin that skill set into another side hustle, helping coach and advocate for executive women. So I started that executive coaching business on the side; I took on a few clients in the early morning, after hours or on weekends.

    Related: This Couple’s ‘Scrappy’ Side Hustle Sold Out in 1 Weekend — It Hit $1 Million in 3 Years and Now Makes Millions Annually: ‘Lean But Powerful’

    The side hustle kept me busy, and I had to sacrifice time with my young daughter and husband, so I made it a little spicier and reminded myself of my ultimate goal by funneling the money into an account called “Marissa’s Freedom Fund.” Any time I had a check from an executive coaching job or another side gig, it went straight into that account, and anything left over, whether $10 or $100, went into an emergency fund.

    I began paying off my six loans in 2022 and finished paying them off in 2023. I got that email from Navient, my loan processor at the time, saying, “Congratulations, your loans are paid off,” and I felt totally free.

    “Financial wellness means utilizing the tools that are available to you.”

    It’s important to treat financial wellness as self-care. The first step is looking at your debts and your accounts: I didn’t want to look at my student loan debt or credit card debt, but I had to see the big picture and figure out where to start. Financial wellness means utilizing the tools that are available to you, tapping into your network and practicing consistency — that’s the hardest part. You are your own worst enemy. You have to ensure you’re sticking to a routine when you’re working toward a financial goal.

    It can be intimidating, especially if you grew up in a home where you didn’t talk about money, but you should start your financial wellness journey as soon as you can. I try to talk openly with my daughter about finances so that she understands the power of a dollar. You can start small: $10 a month can grow into $100 a month, then $500 a month. Create savings and investment accounts. Also, be a conscious consumer — if you regret a purchase, return it.

    Related: ‘It Was Taboo’: Parents Shape Their Children’s Relationship With Money. Here’s How to Set Kids Up for Long-Term Success Instead of Struggle.

    Don’t feel defeated if you have debt. You have the agency to attack it by setting up different income streams. I still have that entrepreneurial drive today. I channel it both into my role as a financial advocate at Intuit, where I empower Gen Z (like my younger sister) and Gen Alpha with financial education and confidence, and as an intrapreneur, pursuing stretch projects and impact within my day-to-day work.

    It’s so important for younger generations to see that you can take the time to build skills, grow a network and test a business idea on the side while working in a traditional corporate role. A recent Intuit survey found that 26% of Gen Z already have a side hustle, and 37% want to start a side hustle.

    Related: Gen Z Is Turning to Side Hustles to Purchase ‘the Normal Stuff’ in ‘Suburban Middle-Class America

    By using your agency and leveraging free tools like Intuit for Education and other resources, you can prepare to launch a business full-time — if and when that path feels right for you.

    *Potts is not an official financial advisor; her tips are for “general informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. It is not a substitute for professional guidance.”

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    Amanda Breen

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  • 29-Year-Old’s Salty Side Hustle Hit $10 Million Last Year | Entrepreneur

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    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features New York City-based entrepreneur Seth Goldstein, 29. Goldstein is co-founder with Steven Rofrano of Ancient Crunch, a company behind the chip brands MASA and Vandy, which launched in 2022. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Ancient Crunch

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

    What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?
    I was a vice president at a private equity fund focused on fast-growing healthcare businesses.

    When did you start your side hustle, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
    My co-founder, Steven, made fun of me for eating Tostitos while we were hanging out in Miami. I didn’t know what a seed oil even was at the time, but that conversation snowballed into a side project, which became MASA Chips.

    Related: This Mom’s Garage Side Hustle for Kids Became a Business With $1 Billion Revenue

    What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
    Steven and I put in about $250,000 of our own money. I had saved a bit working in finance, and Steven had made some money (accidentally) timing the market perfectly on Florida real estate during Covid. We have raised about $14 million since then.

    If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
    We have always known that happy customers make a strong business, but we didn’t appreciate how much “latent demand” there is. We are primarily an online business, and we didn’t think email marketing made any sense until we tried it. Subscriptions seemed weird for chips, and now they are half of our business. If we knew then what we know now, Ancient Crunch would be about five times bigger.

    When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
    Most consumer packaged goods businesses are really just marketing companies. They hire a factory, slap their sticker on the bag and sell it for a markup. Because we fry our chips in beef tallow, we couldn’t find a factory, so we built our own. Turns out, that’s fairly challenging. The other major dynamic is that you always need more money than you think. We have said we are done raising money countless times in the past three years.

    Related: This Mom’s Creative Side Hustle Started As a Hobby With Less Than $100 — Then Grew Into a Business Averaging $570,000 a Month: ‘It’s Crazy’

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Ancient Crunch

    Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong? How did you fix it?
    Just recently, we had the good fortune of Vandy Crisps (our potato chip line) selling too well. Due to our in-house manufacturing, this meant that we had to go out of stock for about three weeks. While this doesn’t sound like a huge deal, it is very frustrating for customers to wait longer than expected (especially in the age of Amazon), and in the meantime, we can’t go market to new customers because we don’t have the inventory to sell them. We started working longer hours, got new fryers and are now back on track.

    How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue? How much did the side hustle earn?
    We saw fairly consistent monthly revenue basically from day one. We were not profitable, but we had a product that people loved, and it sold pretty well right from the start. We were doing about $30,000 per month in the early days.

    Related: After College, She Spent $800 to Start a Side Hustle That Became a ‘Monster’ Business Making $35 Million a Year: ‘I Set Intense Sales Targets’

    What does growth and revenue look like now?
    We are very focused on growth. Last year, we did just under $10 million in revenue. Next year, we plan to do about $250 million.

    What does a typical day or week of work look like for you?
    I work about 50 hours per week these days. I have calls in a block from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and am working through emails the rest of the time. When you own the business, your job is whatever the biggest fire is. Often, that has been fundraising. Some days, that’s signing celebrity deals. Other days, it’s optimizing landing page conversions while trying to convince the next retailer to put you on the shelf. Founders always wear a lot of hats.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Ancient Crunch

    What do you enjoy most about running this business?
    It’s awesome seeing your product gain cultural standing. When we started, this was a side project that most of my friends politely told me was a waste of time. Now, we have something like 100,000 people eating our products every month, and we are a bestselling product at several major retailers, including Erewhon and Citarella.

    Related: These 31-Year-Old Best Friends Started a Side Hustle to Solve a Workout Struggle — And It’s On Track to Hit $10 Million Annual Revenue This Year

    What is your best piece of specific, actionable business advice?
    Make something that people want, then put it in front of 100 million people as fast as you can. Don’t start with, “I want to start a business.” Start with, “This thing should exist” or “This problem can be solved.”

    This article is part of our ongoing Young Entrepreneur® series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of being a young business owner.

    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features New York City-based entrepreneur Seth Goldstein, 29. Goldstein is co-founder with Steven Rofrano of Ancient Crunch, a company behind the chip brands MASA and Vandy, which launched in 2022. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Ancient Crunch

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    Amanda Breen

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  • Why Steve Aoki is Backing Brain-Boosting Gum Brand | Entrepreneur

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    For the world’s busiest DJ, staying energized is essential. That’s why Grammy-nominated artist Steve Aoki partnered with Neuro, a functional gum and mints company founded in 2015 that helps boost energy, focus, calm and even sleep.

    For Aoki, Neuro has been a game-changer, offering a more natural alternative to endless shots of espresso.

    “It’s about being mindful of staying healthy while still maximizing my output, especially when I’m in my creative zone,” Aoki tells Entrepreneur. “You want to bring high energy so you can create high impact in whatever you do. If you’re moving through the day like a zombie, just giving the bare minimum, it’s embarrassing when you look back on it.”

    He continues, “Nobody wants to give a weak interview, a half-hearted answer or put out a song they didn’t fully commit to. You have to give 1000%. That’s why I believe the highest quality of life is tied to your energy level.”

    Related: How This Grammy-Nominated DJ and Entrepreneur Draws Inspiration from Every Day Life

    Potential in a plastic bag

    Aoki first met the Neuro founders nearly a decade before he started working with them.

    “I still remember when they came into the office and presented this caffeine gum to me”, he recalls. “They brought it in a plain plastic bag — no branding, no packaging. Just, ‘here’s this stuff that works.’

    He laughs. “You look at it and think, what is this, some kind of drug?“

    Luckily for Neuro, Aoki loved it.

    “It’s more exciting for me to see indie startups with brilliant ideas than something incubated by a big company with a huge team behind it,” he shares. ” I’d rather see two guys in their college dorm saying, ‘Hey, this is a great idea that could really help people or become something a lot of people will actually use.’”

    Still, the shrewd DJ wasn’t ready to commit right away. He and his team took their time with due diligence while keeping a friendly relationship with the founders.

    “It’s important for me to see that this works before I get involved,” Aoki explains.

    For Neuro, working means giving consumers the caffeine boost they need without triggering their anxiety — or their bladders.

    “I’m a big coffee drinker, and I love energy drinks,” Aoki admits. “But you can’t be pounding beverages all the time.”

    Neuro products, on the other hand, are designed for consistent use throughout the day and are formulated to mitigate side effects while providing a crucial boost.

    “Over the years, it’s become one of my staples,” Aoki professes. “I always have it in my pocket or backpack. If I’m doing a long set, it’s right there with my earplugs. After a couple of hours, if I start to feel tired, I just pop a piece, and I get that little boost I need.”

    Related: Elon Musk Lost His World’s Richest Title, But Only for a Few Hours. Here’s Who Took His Spot.

    Every drop needs a story

    Steve Aoki has never been the type to just slap his name on something and walk away. He throws himself into every project, obsessing over the details until it feels true to him. He had a hand in everything with Neuro. He helped pick out flavors, shape the vibe of the brand and even found a way to work in one of his personal passions, HiROQUEST, the trading card project he’s been building.

    Instead of a standard product launch, Aoki wanted it to feel like an experience. That’s why certain Neuro releases come with collectible cards, turning an everyday item into something fans can get excited about.

    “I’m a card guy,” Aoki says. “I love ripping open packs, chasing the rare hit. I wanted to bring that same feeling to something you’d never expect — like a tin of Neuro mints.”

    By adding in HiROQUEST, Aoki boosts awareness for his own brand and adds an experiential layer to the Neuro collaboration. This has long been central to his success.

    “I’m always thinking about how we can create a better, more unique experience,” Aoki says. “Something that gets people excited for the next drop or the next collaboration, and helps build the story within the world we’re creating. That’s why I love caking people. Whether you’re the one getting cake in your face or watching it happen, you’ll never forget that moment.”

    For the world’s busiest DJ, staying energized is essential. That’s why Grammy-nominated artist Steve Aoki partnered with Neuro, a functional gum and mints company founded in 2015 that helps boost energy, focus, calm and even sleep.

    For Aoki, Neuro has been a game-changer, offering a more natural alternative to endless shots of espresso.

    “It’s about being mindful of staying healthy while still maximizing my output, especially when I’m in my creative zone,” Aoki tells Entrepreneur. “You want to bring high energy so you can create high impact in whatever you do. If you’re moving through the day like a zombie, just giving the bare minimum, it’s embarrassing when you look back on it.”

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    Leo Zevin

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  • I Founded a $1.5 Billion Business. Here’s My Success Secret. | Entrepreneur

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    This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Shanaz Hemmati, COO and co-founder of ZenBusiness, a $1.5 billion company that provides an all-in-one platform helping small businesses become official, stay compliant, manage finances and more. Her co-founder is Ross Buhrdorf, who serves as CEO. The piece has been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of ZenBusiness. Co-founder and COO Shanaz Hemmati.

    I always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but I never really thought about going off and starting my own business.

    At the University of Texas at Austin, I studied computer engineering, starting with hardware design before pivoting to software engineering. I truly love technology, and especially software engineering, because you’re coding to solve problems — I still love solving problems.

    Related: This Mom’s Creative Side Hustle Started As a Hobby With Less Than $100 — Then Grew Into a Business Averaging $570,000 a Month: ‘It’s Crazy’

    My husband’s an entrepreneur who’s always had his own businesses. He’d encourage me to start my own business, but I was too concerned. Sometimes women can think too hard about doing something; that’s what held me back from becoming an entrepreneur.

    For women in male-dominated fields, it’s important to seek out mentors who can help you from their experience, even if their journey looked different from yours. You can bounce ideas off them and ask them questions. Mentorship pushes you, but it also gives you assurance and confidence.

    Over the course of my career, I learned so much, which helped me when I made the leap to founder.

    “Small businesses are what keep the economy growing.”

    I first met my ZenBusiness co-founder Ross Buhrdorf when we worked at Excite.com, a web portal company founded in 1994. Several years later, I joined HomeAway, a vacation rental marketplace, where I stayed for 11 years until the company was acquired by Expedia.

    Later on, Ross and I met up for coffee, and he started talking about this idea of building something to help entrepreneurs and people who are starting small businesses. I was intrigued and excited. I’d always been passionate about that category in the market: Small businesses are what keep the economy growing and going.

    Related: I Walked Away From a Corporate Career to Start My Own Small Business — Here’s Why You Should Do the Same

    So Ross and I founded ZenBusiness in 2017.

    When it comes to a fast-growing company like ours, we have so many things on our to-do list, but we don’t always have the resources to get them done at the same time, so we have to prioritize.

    AI has been one of those priorities. Everybody in business should be using it these days. It’s a great tool that saves time once you get employees on board and using it based on their role and function. Our personalized AI assistant, ZenBusiness Velo, is included with every LLC formation and helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

    Related: Two-Thirds of Small Businesses Are Already Using AI — Here’s How to Get Even More Out of It

    “It all comes down to this — people are at the center of any great company.”

    For a long time, I’ve had this mantra that’s helped me succeed as a business leader: Be fearless, be ethical, be passionate.

    Being fearless means recognizing that nothing is ever going to be perfect, but you just do it anyway. Being ethical means always being honest, to yourself, to your co-workers, to anyone. And being passionate is everything. Loving your work and doing the best job possible will help you progress in your career and build your business.

    It all comes down to this — people are at the center of any great company. Anything you do is all about people, whether they’re employees, customers or the community.

    ZenBusiness puts this rule into action by hearing and supporting its employees.

    For example, we became an early adopter of remote work. The company sent employees home when the pandemic hit, but as we continued to grow and hire more people, we listened to employees who said that they preferred working from home. Remote work gave them the chance to spend time with their families, cut down on commute hours and be more productive.

    Related: A CEO Who Runs a Fully Remote Company Has an Unusual Take on Employees Starting Side Hustles: ‘We Have to Be Honest With Ourselves’

    “Maybe you launch as a side hustle to test it out.”

    All aspiring entrepreneurs should avoid the pitfall of thinking about a business idea for too long before they take action: Do it sooner rather than later.

    You don’t have to drop everything else you’re working on to start. Maybe you launch as a side hustle to test it out. Talk to the people you’re trying to solve a pain point for because those conversations will give you a lot of information.

    Every day, you’re learning something new, and being able to pivot fast can be the difference between driving your business in the right direction or not. There are always going to be surprises along the way. So remember, it’s all about the people who are around you — it’s all about the people you bring in to help you go through your business journey.

    This article is part of our ongoing Women Entrepreneur® series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of running a business as a woman.

    This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Shanaz Hemmati, COO and co-founder of ZenBusiness, a $1.5 billion company that provides an all-in-one platform helping small businesses become official, stay compliant, manage finances and more. Her co-founder is Ross Buhrdorf, who serves as CEO. The piece has been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of ZenBusiness. Co-founder and COO Shanaz Hemmati.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • How a Mom’s Garage Side Hustle Hit $1 Billion Revenue | Entrepreneur

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    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Sandra Oh Lin, 50, of Los Altos, California. She is the founder and CEO of KiwiCo, a company that provides educational activities for kids meant to spark creativity and problem-solving through hands-on play. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo. Sandra Oh Lin.

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

    What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?
    I had just stepped away from seven years at eBay Inc., where I had launched PayPal Mobile and led the eBay fashion business. I was working on a new fashion-related startup idea before I ended up starting KiwiCo in 2011.

    Where did you find the inspiration for the side hustle?
    When my kids were younger, I tried to find ways for them to exercise their creativity and put their problem-solving skills to work. I wanted them to grow up to feel like they could envision and better the world around them. As an engineer by training, I saw creating and building through hands-on activities as a way to explore, discover and build creative confidence. At the same time, I was drawing on my own childhood — I have such fond memories of making and building things with my mom while I was growing up.

    Related: After College, She Spent $800 to Start a Side Hustle That Became a ‘Monster’ Business Making $35 Million a Year: ‘I Set Intense Sales Targets’

    What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
    I started by creating hands-on projects for my kids. Then, I started to share them with friends and family during playdates. The parents and kids were so enthusiastic about the activities that it gave me the confidence to take it further. I laid the groundwork to see if there was a market for a real business. Then, I leveraged my network to start conversations with investors. We raised a little more than $10 million in venture funding. From there, we were able to become profitable and cash flow positive — and fund our own growth.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo

    Are there any free or paid resources that have been especially helpful for you in starting and running this business?
    I had a strong background in product design (having worked in R&D at Procter & Gamble) and ecommerce (from time at PayPal and eBay). Yet, I didn’t have any direct experience with fulfillment, supply chain and operations. I had a lot to learn. So I made a conscious effort to surround myself with people who were true experts. One example is Mike Smith, who was the COO of Walmart. He provided invaluable guidance, and he even helped interview our VP of operations candidates when we were hiring. Advisors like Mike were so helpful to us at that time.

    If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
    I had always heard people say that a strong culture is so important to define and cultivate when you build a company. That way, you can point to and reinforce the behavior and values that align. While I was able to grok that academically, I put it aside when I should have addressed it earlier. As a result, some of our hiring was off in the beginning, and we had to course correct, which was costly. It would have been helpful to have put the framework into place from the beginning.

    When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
    During the pandemic, one of our toughest challenges was sourcing enough supplies to keep up with surging demand. In the years since, we’ve seen our fair share of ups and downs on that front, but one thing has remained constant: the importance of strong, trusted relationships with our suppliers. They’ve been incredible partners through it all, and those collaborations have been key to helping us navigate post-pandemic growth with resilience and adaptability.

    Related: This Mom’s Creative Side Hustle Started As a Hobby With Less Than $100 — Then Grew Into a Business Averaging $570,000 a Month: ‘It’s Crazy’

    Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong? How did you fix it?
    I’ll never forget our very first alpha shipment. We had just 19 crates to send out, and it took a team of five of us the entire day to get them boxed and shipped. By the end, we were exhausted and looking at each other like, There has to be a better way. It was a wake-up call that we needed better systems and processes for fulfillment if we were going to scale. We figured it out along the way, but that moment sticks with me as a reminder of how far we’ve come.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo

    How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue?
    With our core business being subscription-based, we’ve seen consistent monthly revenue from the beginning. KiwiCo has been profitable and self-funded for many years now. What started in my garage has grown into a company that has shipped more than 50 million crates to families in over 40 countries and created more than 1,500 hands-on products and activities. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come, while still staying true to the heart of why we started: sparking creativity and confidence in kids everywhere.

    What does growth and revenue look like now?
    To date, KiwiCo has generated more than $1 billion in lifetime revenue. This is something I’m incredibly proud of, not just because of the number itself, but because it represents millions of moments of creativity and discovery for kids and families. Additionally, we launched in Target and Barnes & Noble this past year as part of building our wholesale channels.

    Related: He Spent $36 to Start a Side Hustle. Now the Business Earns 6 Figures a Year — With Just 1-2 Hours of Work a Day: ‘Freedom.’

    What do you enjoy most about running this business?
    One of my favorite parts of this journey is that my kids not only understand what I do for work but also are involved in helping shape KiwiCo’s products. My kids were the original source of inspiration for the company, and they continue to be critical testers of our products to ensure we’re creating the best hands-on activities for kids to discover and unleash their creativity and explore as they learn about the world around them.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo

    What is your best piece of specific, actionable business advice?
    Finding a community of founders can be so helpful. Sharing the challenges and the opportunities that come from building a business with others who are in the same boat can be so valuable. You can gather everything from tangible, actionable advice to empathetic ears that have been there and done that.

    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Sandra Oh Lin, 50, of Los Altos, California. She is the founder and CEO of KiwiCo, a company that provides educational activities for kids meant to spark creativity and problem-solving through hands-on play. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of KiwiCo. Sandra Oh Lin.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • This Low-Cost Tool Can Help You Earn More From Your Side Hustle | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Nearly 40% of Americans have a side hustle right now – and for many, it’s not just a way to earn a little extra cash. According to a recent LendingTree survey, 61% of people with a side hustle say they couldn’t afford to live without it.

    While the number of side hustlers has decreased slightly since the pandemic’s peak, many still feel the everyday financial pressure. A third say they picked up a side gig to cover basic expenses, while 49% cite the current economy as the main reason for getting started.

    Want to grow your side hustle into a business? Start with email

    Many side hustles involve gigs like delivering groceries or driving for Uber, but some are the first step toward building an actual business. Whether you sell handmade products on Etsy or freelance your services, you could turn your passion project into a source of cash.

    One of the best ways to do that on a tight budget? Use email from day one.

    Why email works for side hustlers

    Email costs almost nothing to send, but the return can be huge. Unlike social media, email lets you build deeper relationships, stay top of mind and drive repeat sales – all while you’re working your day job, sleeping or fulfilling orders. When you’re short on time and money, email helps take some pressure off and scale your side hustle like no other channel.

    Think email’s too complicated or time-consuming? Use these steps to make it easier on yourself – and see results faster.

    Grow your email list from the beginning

    Getting social media followers for your side hustle business is a good way to signal trust to potential customers. But if I were to start another business today, I’d work on getting those followers onto an email list as soon as possible.

    Your followers can disappear overnight, and you may have no way to reach out to them again. Your list of contacts? That’s something you’ll always own.

    Here are some proven ways to grow your email list:

    • Test a short free resource. Check your social media metrics — what topics tend to spark a lot of interest? Use that data to create a concise guide or checklist. You shouldn’t spend more than a few hours writing and designing it for free with tools like Canva. This is just a test to learn more about your audience’s needs and tastes.
    • Expand your bank of resources. Once you understand what your prospects respond to most, add more gated content to your website. You can test varied lengths and styles — and later double down on your top performers.
    • Send exclusive content. Aside from giving your audience a freebie, make your email content exclusive. Share useful tips they can’t find anywhere else. Interview experts they care about. And of course, offer an unbeatable perk — discounts, free shipping or early access to new products.

    Start emailing right away

    Many side hustlers put off email marketing, thinking they need a large list to make it worthwhile. But that’s a trap. Emailing your customers — even when you have just a few — benefits you in every way:

    • Instead of keeping them waiting for your emails, you can start nurturing your subscribers and building engagement immediately.
    • If your emails are good, more people will subscribe. Remember to include a subscription button in every email so anyone can opt in if your messages are forwarded.
    • Emailing regularly also helps your email deliverability. Every email you send builds your reputation with mailbox providers, who need to trust you in order to deliver your emails to the inbox.

    Do you have 10 customers on your list? That’s more than enough to start — do it now.

    Related: 5 Types of Email Addresses Ruining Your Email Marketing ROI

    Verify every new email address you get

    Eventually, you’ll build your email list way beyond 10 customers, but here’s what matters even more: making sure those email addresses are accurate and real. Getting a bunch of misspelled or fake contacts means your emails will bounce, so what’s the point in sending them?

    Moreover, a high bounce rate can hurt your ability to reach the inbox again – even with real contacts. Email service providers have strong filters to weed out and block potential spam. Sending emails to invalid contacts signals spammy behavior, so you may kill your email marketing before it even gets off the ground

    Checking an email for validity takes seconds. Most email validation services let you start for free, so if you only add a few contacts to your list every month, it won’t cost you a thing and it’ll save you a lot of headaches.

    Ask for little, give a lot

    Now that you’ve got things rolling, you may be tempted to blast your subscribers with sales emails. Refrain from this tactic – it turns people off. Instead, be generous and mindful of their time. Build trust and loyalty with helpful content.

    Related: 5 Ways to Delight Your Customers With Email

    Here are some topics you could approach in your emails:

    • A mistake you made early on in your side hustle — and what you learned from it
    • A quick tip that helped you save time, money, or stress
    • A behind-the-scenes look at how you create your product or deliver your service
    • A list of tools or resources you like and recommend

    Keep it personal and worth your reader’s time. That’s how you build a list that sticks with you — and buys from you later.

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    Liviu Tanase

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  • Mom’s Creative Side Hustle Grew to $570,000 a Month: Penny Linn | Entrepreneur

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    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Krista LeRay, the 34-year-old founder of needlepoint store Penny Linn. She lives with her husband and two children in Westport, Connecticut. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Penny Linn. Krista LeRay.

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

    What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?
    Before starting Penny Linn, a new-age needlepoint store offering hand-painted canvases, accessories and more, I was a full-time influencer running my blog, Covering The Bases. I started the blog in 2013, but I only took it full-time about a year before starting Penny Linn. While managing the blog, I had a corporate career at Major League Baseball, where I worked on the social media team for over five years.

    Related: He Spent $36 to Start a Side Hustle. Now the Business Earns 6 Figures a Year — With Just 1-2 Hours of Work a Day: ‘Freedom.’

    When did you start your side hustle, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
    I initially learned to stitch from my grandma, who inspired the name of the business, and then I really got into it in college at the University of Kentucky. I picked it back up again in 2018 when I started stitching custom belts for my dad and husband, and a ring bearer pillow for my wedding in 2019. Little did I know that this would be the perfect hobby to fall back in love with as the pandemic approached.

    As I got back into stitching, I quickly stitched through my stash of canvases and was disappointed with both the in-person and online needlepoint shopping experiences. It felt antiquated; there weren’t many sites with a good user experience, a handful of the shops made you call to order, and the designs felt very mature. I found myself wishing there were more fun and better accessories and canvases, so I started making them after my search came up short.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Penny Linn

    What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
    When I started painting my own canvases, I wasn’t even in the mindset of starting a business; it was still just a hobby for me. I probably spent under $100 buying a blank canvas on Etsy and paint at Michaels, and painted the infamous Ralph’s Coffee cup for myself. When I shared it on my Instagram, I had an overwhelming number of followers ask to buy one, so I knew my followers were also interested in needlepoint.

    As I began searching for cuter accessories for myself, I found that many custom items had a 100-item minimum. At the time, I had a business bank account for my blog, so I used that money to order the inventory and knew that I could at least sell 90 of them to my followers who also needlepointed. After making a few canvases and seeing the demand, I realized I had enough ideas to launch a larger collection online. So I bought the smallest Shopify package, started sourcing needleminders and project bags, and recruited my friends and family to help paint canvases.

    All in all, I spent about $5,000 on the initial inventory for our accessories and an additional $2,000 on shipping materials, canvas tape, etc., but none of this accounted for my time painting the canvases one by one, which was the biggest investment.

    Related: These 31-Year-Old Best Friends Started a Side Hustle to Solve a Workout Struggle — And It’s On Track to Hit $10 Million Annual Revenue This Year

    If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
    Looking back on how I built my business, it’s a catch-22; if I had known what I know today, I might have done it differently. However, having my hands in every aspect of the business has brought me a great deal of knowledge and appreciation that continues to shape the business.

    In the beginning, I hand-painted nearly every canvas, which took many, many hours, but it kept costs low since my labor was essentially free and gave me control over my inventory. If I had known that people outsourced painting, it would have saved me so much time and energy, but doing it myself taught me the value of a hand-painted canvas.

    Similarly, I wish I had hired people at the beginning to take more off my plate, but by doing it all, I learned valuable lessons and knew how I wanted every aspect of the business to run. I don’t think Penny Linn would be such a thoughtful and impactful brand today if I hadn’t had my fingers on every aspect of the business in the beginning.

    Related: I Interviewed 5 Entrepreneurs Generating Up to $20 Million in Revenue a Year — And They All Have the Same Regret About Starting Their Business

    When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
    The reason Penny Linn has been so successful as a business, and also in reviving the cultural love for needlepoint, is that we brought much-needed innovation to the industry. I never expected the amount of pushback from vendors and industry vets I received. Across the board, people pushed back on our ideas and how we ran our business.

    Today, we have found partners who believe in our growth and are building with us. When we launched our acrylic line in 2022, there was so much chatter online that it wasn’t innovative or unique, but today we hold a patent for the design, and it’s one of our bestselling lines. We also take a slightly smaller wholesale margin than the industry standard because I believe in making needlepoint accessible. Our wholesale partners were initially adamant that it wouldn’t be successful, but it has proven otherwise. I developed a thick skin while blogging and learned to shut out the noise, which has followed me into Penny Linn as we continue to shake up the industry.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Penny Linn

    Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong? How did you fix it?
    I vividly remember one of our first bag launches, which did not go as planned. It was a beautiful project bag with leather and PVC that we sold through so quickly! As I was packing them, I tested a few of the zippers and was very disappointed to find that they stuck and were difficult to open, despite the samples working perfectly. I reached out to each customer who had ordered them and let them know that the bags weren’t up to our standards. I offered them a full refund if they wanted to return the bag or a discount if they wanted to keep it.

    This became one of my biggest rules in business: When anything goes wrong, I need to take ownership and work to rectify it immediately. Our community was beyond appreciative of how proactive we were, and most ended up keeping the bags. We put the rest of the bags on clearance and now work with our team and vendors to ensure we have quality control measures in place.

    How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue? How much did the side hustle earn?
    In the first six months after we launched, the only consistent revenue was what we generated during launches. Everything would sell out so quickly that we wouldn’t have any inventory left until the next launch. We would often have a day or two without sales in between launches, which wasn’t a sustainable way to run a business. To prevent this, we started producing more inventory and introduced our Penny Linn Collective, allowing us to bring on designers who expanded our offerings. Our designer collective has been fruitful for us over the past five years, and we continue to grow it today.

    We started seeing more consistent revenue in year two, doing just over $30,000 per month. The popularity of our launches started to level out, and we could better forecast inventory to keep our income steady. It was such a big deal for us at the time to reach these numbers, but we do that in a day now. Each year has been drastically different in terms of demand, and about every six months, we reach an inflection point where we need to increase quantities even more.

    Related: This Couple’s ‘Scrappy’ Side Hustle Sold Out in 1 Weekend — It Hit $1 Million in 3 Years and Now Makes Millions Annually: ‘Lean But Powerful’

    What does growth and revenue look like now?
    It’s been really exciting that Penny Linn has doubled or tripled each year. In 2024, we did $4.4 million in revenue, and we have already surpassed that and are on track to double it in 2025. We are currently averaging $570,000 per month. Whatever I think our ceiling might be, we come in and double it each year. Our growth has been so explosive that I do expect it to start leveling out in the next year or so, but there is still so much opportunity for the business.

    My mind is always racing with new ideas for the brand as we expand our product offering, launch new designers under the Penny Linn Collective and bring new accessories to market. Our store opening in Norwalk, Connecticut, earlier this year was a huge milestone for us, and now we are exploring what more stores might look like. I don’t see our growth slowing down anytime soon.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Penny Linn

    What do you enjoy most about running this business?
    I honestly love what I do so much and find great fulfillment in it. I feel so much pride, excitement and joy thinking about what we’ve created at Penny Linn and the business I’ve built in under five years. It’s nothing I could have ever imagined as my career or what I expected Penny Linn to grow into. We haven’t seen many bumps in the road yet, and keep having success after success, which energizes me to keep going.

    I pride myself on the fact that Penny Linn is “by a stitcher for a stitcher,” and there is nothing more satisfying as a needlepointer to want something in my collection and to be able to make it. I’m privileged to have the ability to work with our vendors to create the products of my dreams, and it’s just as exciting to see how much our community loves them.

    I also find so much joy in the change we have brought to the industry and how we have been able to bring needlepoint to the forefront for a new generation. It’s crazy to sit back and think that my brand has revived a centuries-old tradition and built it into something that will continue to live on and evolve for generations to come.

    Related: These Friends Started a Side Hustle in Their Kitchens. Sales Spiked to $130,000 in 3 Days — Then 7 Figures: ‘Revenue Has Grown Consistently.’

    What’s your best business advice?
    The first is, “If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.” People are often scared to reach out because they are afraid of rejection, but my motto is always to ask, and if they don’t reply, it’s still not a no. If they don’t respond, it’s not the end of the world, but the opportunity for the answer to be yes is so much greater.

    My second is to learn the difference between constructive feedback and criticism. If someone doesn’t like you or your business, they will never have anything nice to say, and it’s not worth listening to. However, if they are a loyal fan and a frequent shopper, and they comment on how a product or process might be improved, it’s worth listening to. It’s easy to get lost in the negative feedback, but the faster you learn what is worth listening to, the better decisions you will make for your business.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • Home From College: Jobs for Young Adults Without Work Experience | Entrepreneur

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    Julia Haber, the 29-year-old co-founder of career platform Home From College, was a student at Syracuse University when she started her first business: an experiential marketing agency that brought retail pop-ups to college campuses and worked with brands like Shopify to teach students about entrepreneurship.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Home From College. Julia Haber.

    The experience gave Haber valuable insight into what the career landscape looks like for Gen Z — and just how much it had changed over the past six-plus years.

    “ This next generation is constantly looking for ways to figure out who they are by doing things,” Haber tells Entrepreneur, “and because it’s such a socially native generation, we see all these people online making money in different ways. This next gen really wants to work with brands they love as well and admire, and it’s a blend of this consumer meets career.”

    Related: Gen Z Is Redefining the Workplace — and Companies Must Adapt or Face Losing Talent

    Recognizing that many students graduate without knowing what they want to do with their lives — and often with significant debt — Haber wanted to help them build “multi-hyphenate” careers early on.

    So Haber launched the Los Angeles-based startup Home From College in 2021 alongside co-founder Kaj Zandvliet, a former banker at PineBridge Investments and financial analyst at Sony Music Entertainment.

    “We position ourselves as the translator between companies and college students.”

    Home From College provides students with an opportunity to earn their first dollars and work with the brands they love in a “flexible, student-first” environment.

    To that end, Home From College only hosts paid job opportunities, 90% of which are remote. Companies can create an account on the platform and list their “gigs,” which could be anything from a one-day project to a lengthier brand ambassador program. Students and recent graduates create their own accounts on the platform and apply for the gigs that interest them — no prior work experience required.

    Home From College is free for students to use. The platform offers four subscription tiers for companies, starting at $49 per month, plus a 20% fee on student compensation. All payments take place on the platform via Stripe.

    Related: Why Gen Z Is Ditching the Corner Office Dream — and How Businesses Can Adapt

    Students typically earn about $30 an hour, and the average ambassador program pays students roughly $1,000 a month. It’s also common for students to work two gigs at once. Some of the top earners have seen “tens of thousands of dollars in a short period of time,” Haber notes — with one dedicated student’s gigs even amounting to a $50,000 paycheck.

    “We position ourselves as the translator between companies and college students, and that really resonated,” Haber says.

    Home From College raised $1.5 million of pre-seed funding in 2022, then $5.4 million in a seed round led by GV, formerly Google Ventures, last year.

    The company is using those funds to continue building a “sustainable, fast-moving” business. Home From College has invested in high-level talent and AI to connect students and brands effectively.

    Related: Top Career Motivations of Gen Z and Reasons They Choose an Employer

    “We’ve been implementing a ton of new roles that have more of an AI bent to them.”

    Additionally, although Home From College initially focused on low- to no-skilled jobs, there’s an interesting opportunity to lean on the hard skills that Gen Z college students and recent graduates often already have — like those related to AI, Haber says.

    “We’ve been implementing a ton of new roles that have more of an AI bent to them,” Haber explains, “and helping companies catch up to the students who are already native [in AI]. So that’s been a new frontier of actually having the students be more of the experts in a topic that companies are less proficient in and helping bridge that gap.”

    Companies on the platform are also interested in students with a talent for customer success and sales at scale, Haber says.

    For example, some consumer brands look to students for help with distribution in challenging markets, like the outskirts of a college campus or the middle of the country. It’s typical for these companies to recruit students to source new locations, such as a nearby deli, to sell products.

    Related: Gen Z Talent Will Walk Away — Unless You Try These 6 Strategies

    “ So it’s creating almost a business development sales team, boots on the ground at scale, where they can hire hundreds of people for that type of role,” Haber says, “where it’s skill and labor, and then simultaneously social media and content.”

    Brands often rely on students to run their TikTok shops too, as it can be a massive undertaking for those that want to launch and scale a meaningful affiliate program, Haber notes.  

    “[Students] come in and run those programs on behalf of companies,” Haber says, “and it’s great because it helps generate revenue for their business, but simultaneously teaches [the students] marketable skills.”

    “You’re not just where you went to school. You’re a bigger version of that.”

    Above all, Haber encourages young adults launching their careers to “use your whole self as the opportunity to market who you are” and land the role you want.

    Home From College facilitates that by allowing students to share more information about themselves than a typical resume or job application might glean — for instance, having curly hair could make them “really attractive” to a shampoo brand that specializes in curls and needs a social media manager to connect with its target customer base.

    Related: Gen Z Is Losing Faith in the College Degree — Here’s 3 Reasons Why It’s Still Important for Them

    “You’re not just your major,” Haber says. “You’re not just what your GPA is. You’re not just where you went to school. You’re a bigger version of that.”

    This article is part of our ongoing series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of being a Young Entrepreneur®.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • How Her Side Hustle Became a ‘Monster’ $250M Revenue Business | Entrepreneur

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    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Demi Marchese, 32, founder and CEO of 12th Tribe, a Los Angeles, California-based fashion brand. Here’s how she used $800 to grow a side hustle into a full-blown business that’s seen over $250 million in lifetime revenue and $35 million annually. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of 12th Tribe. Demi Marchese.

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

    What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?
    After college, I worked in sales for my mom during the day and packed orders at night. I didn’t have a fashion degree. I just had a deep desire to build something that felt like me — bold, global, connected. The brand’s identity is grounded in that relentless hustle and the belief that women can create their own rules and lifestyles.

    Related: This Mom’s Creative Side Hustle Started As a Hobby With Less Than $100 — Then Grew Into a Business Averaging $570,000 a Month: ‘It’s Crazy’

    When did you start your side hustle, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
    I started 12th Tribe in 2015 out of a love for styling, storytelling and standing out. While studying abroad in college, I traveled to 11 countries — each one shaping how I saw the world and fashion. I became fascinated with the idea of expressing where you’ve been and who you are through what you wear.

    At the time, I was curating one-of-a-kind vintage pieces to avoid looking like everyone else. One pair of vintage Levi’s shorts became my travel staple and the first product I officially named and marketed as “the short you pack when you don’t know where you’re going next.” That idea resonated quickly.

    After moving to LA, I began dressing girls for Coachella with globally inspired pieces I sourced myself. The festival was a cultural moment, and I leaned in — styling every detail from jewelry to boots. Word spread, and soon I wasn’t just styling girls for festivals, I was building an online destination where they could shop the entire look.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of 12th Tribe

    What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
    I launched 12th Tribe with $800, no outside funding and a vision I couldn’t shake. I was a solo founder, fresh out of college, doing everything alongside my family and close friends, packing orders, styling shoots and answering every DM. It started as a side hustle, but our first viral moment hit fast. Festival season landed me in sorority group chats and across Instagram, and I was hand-delivering Thrasher vintage shorts to girls across LA. That short became our first cult product and the foundation of something much bigger.

    Related: He Spent $36 to Start a Side Hustle. Now the Business Earns 6 Figures a Year — With Just 1-2 Hours of Work a Day: ‘Freedom.’

    If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
    I would have spent a few years working on management skills. Learning how to manage people while also managing the high level of stress of building a company from zero would have changed my life. I also would have trusted the process more. When I was younger — and remember, I was in my 20s launching this business that turned monster real quick — I second-guessed myself a lot. I questioned what I knew. I let people sway me, and I wish I had trusted my gut a bit more at times.

    When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
    People see the photoshoots, product drops and glossy growth moments, but not the sacrifices behind the scenes. In my 20s, I missed more relationship moments than I can count. Not because I didn’t care, but because I was drained, too stressed, too responsible or simply empty from pouring into the business every day.

    Many assume there’s a team handling everything. But as a founder, especially starting from nothing, you’re in the thick of it. You’re not just driving vision and strategy; you’re carrying the weight of deadlines, departments and the livelihoods tied to your decisions. It’s a responsibility most people don’t understand.

    And as a woman, there’s the constant expectation to be “just enough” of everything. Too direct and you’re cold. Too kind and you’re weak. You’re expected to lead with grace under pressure, but the pressure never really lets up. In reality, it’s less about balance and more about stamina, self-belief and learning to keep going even when no one sees the weight you’re carrying.

    Related: These 31-Year-Old Best Friends Started a Side Hustle to Solve a Workout Struggle — And It’s On Track to Hit $10 Million Annual Revenue This Year

    Image Credit: Courtesy of 12th Tribe

    Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong? How did you fix it?
    During peak season, our warehouse partner at the time mishandled inventory for a major launch. Thousands of units were delayed, and customer orders were sitting in limbo. For a brand built on community and trust, that moment felt like it could unravel years of hard work overnight.

    The first step was immediate transparency. I personally stepped in to communicate with our customers, letting them know we were aware of the issue, working around the clock, and that their trust was our top priority. Behind the scenes, I mobilized every department: Our operations team worked directly with the warehouse, our marketing team shifted messaging in real time, and we even restructured fulfillment processes to get orders out manually.

    It was a defining moment for me as a leader because it forced me to not only solve the crisis tactically, but also zoom out and reimagine how we protect the business long-term. That experience ultimately led us to transition to a new global logistics partner and completely overhaul our fulfillment strategy.

    Looking back, what could have been one of our biggest setbacks became a catalyst for scaling with more resilience. It reminded me that as a founder, my role isn’t to avoid problems — it’s to navigate them with clarity, communicate with integrity and make the hard decisions that position the business for the future.

    Related: I Interviewed 5 Entrepreneurs Generating Up to $20 Million in Revenue a Year — And They All Have the Same Regret About Starting Their Business

    How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue? How much did the initial side hustle earn?
    In the beginning, it was just me — a one-woman show — with a few friends and family who’d step in to support. That was my first “tribe.” Because I kept the business lean and scrappy, I pushed myself hard and was fortunate to see consistent monthly revenue within just a few months.

    I set intense sales targets for myself and made a promise that if I was going to fall short, I would find a way to make it happen. That meant boots on the ground — whether it was setting up a pop-up, inviting girls into my apartment to shop or selling at any opportunity I could find. I refused to let a month go by without hitting the number.

    At first, I was only making a few hundred, which grew into a couple thousand. I was living at home, so my overhead was low, and I picked up extra income working for my mom’s sales company. But the real engine was pure hustle — I didn’t just wait for online sales to roll in, I created them.

    Eventually, when revenue stabilized, the first hire I made was a finance manager — because I absolutely hated reconciling the books. But those scrappy, do-whatever-it-takes beginnings laid the foundation for everything that came after.

    What does growth and revenue look like now?
    With over $250 million in lifetime revenue and $35 million annually, 12th Tribe has grown into one of the leading DTC fashion brands — all without outside investment. Worn by millions of women worldwide and supported by a loyal 600,000-strong digital community, we’ve become the go-to destination for outfits that make life’s most unforgettable moments. What started with festivals has expanded into a full lifestyle brand, dressing women from college through motherhood and beyond. We’ve achieved double-digit year-over-year growth, launched global shipping that doubled international orders and opened flagship stores in SoHo and on Abbot Kinney in Venice, all while staying 100% female founder–funded.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of 12th Tribe

    What does a typical day or week of work look like for you?
    As a founder and creative director, my time is structured very intentionally across the week to keep the business moving forward on both a visionary and operational level. I begin each week aligning with leadership; this sets the tone by clarifying top priorities, addressing roadblocks and ensuring every department has what it needs to execute.

    From there, I front-load my week with marketing and product, since they’re the heartbeat of the brand and require the most creative and strategic energy. Toward the end of the week, I shift into finance and operations, making sure we’re on track with budgets, forecasting and organizational flow.

    A typical day can swing between big-picture strategy and very hands-on work. I’m often on set for photoshoots, immersed in the creative process, because I believe in being boots on the ground when it comes to storytelling and product presentation. It’s a balance of vision-setting, team alignment and rolling up my sleeves where it matters most, keeping me deeply connected to both the brand and the people who bring it to life.

    I’m currently building out one of the biggest departments that is the center of the brand, so I work pretty heavy hours Monday through Friday. I have given myself the weekends to reset, but by Sunday night, I am prepping for the week ahead. It is really important that I get a full read on my schedule and prioritize what is most important.

    Related: This Couple’s ‘Scrappy’ Side Hustle Sold Out in 1 Weekend — It Hit $1 Million in 3 Years and Now Makes Millions Annually: ‘Lean But Powerful’

    What is your best piece of specific, actionable business advice?
    I want women — especially young founders — to know that you don’t need a million followers, VC funding or a perfect plan to start. You need conviction, community and the courage to show up again and again. That’s what built 12th Tribe. And that’s what will keep us moving, one powerful moment at a time.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • 5 Challenges Every Solopreneur Faces — and Smart Ways to Tackle Them | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    These days, something very interesting is happening in the world of online entrepreneurship.

    More and more people are choosing to build their businesses completely on their own. They are called solopreneurs — motivated individuals who focus on managing every part of their business alone.

    What separates solopreneurs from traditional entrepreneurs is that they purposefully choose to stay lean and independent while still aiming to grow and make a real impact, whereas entrepreneurs often build teams.

    According to what I’ve seen on Google Trends, the number of searches for the term “solopreneur” has increased in the last five years alone. The biggest increase occurs in entrepreneurial hotspots across North America, Europe and Asia.

    So, what’s the reason for this?

    A couple of things: people have become accustomed to remote work — it’s the new norm, and unconventional career paths are more accepted by society. Besides, powerful digital tools are more accessible and make running a business much easier.

    However, the reality is that solopreneurship isn’t exactly all freedom and flexibility. Running your own business comes with its own set of challenges that you don’t face in traditional jobs or when building a startup with a team. Understanding and overcoming these challenges is the key to thriving as a solopreneur.

    Related: How Solopreneurs Are Scaling Past Six Figures (Without a Team)

    1. Wearing too many hats

    Inside every business, there are a lot of moving parts — marketing, sales, finances, customer service and many other operations.

    For solopreneurs, all of these tasks fall on just one person’s shoulders. One day you’re the support agent, the next you’re writing social media posts or sending invoices… the list goes on.

    The tricky part isn’t the work itself — it’s the non-stop switching between fundamentally different tasks. This can lead to a loss of focus, energy and, over time, to decision fatigue, where even the small choices start feeling exhausting.

    How to make it easier

    Here are some tips to lighten the load and work smarter:

    • Group similar tasks together – for example, handle all the financial tasks on Monday morning instead of scattering them throughout the week.
    • Start small with outsourcing – no need to hire a full-time team. Begin outsourcing your most time-consuming tasks or the ones you feel you’re the weakest at.
    • Write things down – start simple checklists for recurring tasks to reduce mental load.
    • Implement the right tools – adapt software programs that allow you to cut down on repetitive work (email management, invoicing, scheduling, etc.)

    When you offload some of these roles, you can start focusing on the work that really matters – growing your business and providing your customers with top-quality service.

    2. The isolation factor

    Let’s be real — humans are social creatures, and working by yourself can make you feel lonely.

    With a traditional job, you’ve got colleagues to chat with, team meetings to discuss your ideas, and even those coffee chats that can break up the day.

    As a solopreneur, these social moments are gone.

    And while some enjoy the quiet, too much of it can take a heavy toll. Without those human interactions, you can lose motivation, creativity, and it can even negatively impact your mental health.

    How to stay on top

    The good news is that you don’t have to face solopreneurship alone. Here’s how you can bring people back into your work life:

    • Network and connect – join groups and online communities where other solopreneurs share their experiences.
    • Set up co-working sessions – find an “accountability partner”, either virtual, at a café, or a co-working space, to make it more fun.
    • Develop and learn – attend conferences and networking events to meet people who “get it.”
    • Seek out a mentor – they can guide you and share their knowledge with you.

    The key thing to remember: running a business by yourself doesn’t mean doing everything solo. Finding like-minded individuals can keep you motivated, inspired and less isolated.

    3. Financial instability

    Unlike employees with salaries, one of the toughest challenges for solopreneurs is money management.

    As a solopreneur, your income can swing up and down depending on the season, clients or just random luck. One month, you can be stressing over what bill to pay, the next, you’re on top of the world.

    This financial rollercoaster won’t just affect your bank account — it can also cloud your judgment. Some solopreneurs may take big risks when money starts flowing in, while others may become very cautious, holding back on extra expenses that can even help them grow.

    How to create stability

    The important thing is to smooth out the ups and downs as much as possible. Here’s how you can do that:

    • Diversify your income — don’t put all your eggs in one basket, develop multiple income streams to spread out the risk
    • Create recurring revenue — structure your offerings to include retainer agreements or subscription models to keep money coming in more predictably.
    • Create financial buffers — try to build an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses or income gaps.

    When you successfully implement these systems, the financial stress becomes much more manageable and understandable.

    Related: 5 Things You Need to Stop Doing as a Solopreneur

    4. Time management

    When we talk about solopreneurship, one of the biggest perks is being your own boss — you set your own schedule, no one tells you what to do, no 9-to-5 – sounds perfect.

    But on the flip side, without a proper structure, it’s easy to get lost in your work or not work nearly enough.

    Both can hurt your business and even you.

    The key is to create a rhythm that gives you focus without creating that feeling like you’re back in a corporate cubicle.

    How to manage your time better

    Here are some practical strategies that can help:

    • Work with your natural energy – keep track of when you feel most creative and energized, and schedule your most important tasks for then.
    • Create themed workdays – set up your days for different business functions. For example, Mondays for finances, Tuesdays for marketing, Wednesdays for client operations, etc.
    • Use time blocks – set aside chunks of time, but add short breaks in between so you don’t burn out.
    • Think in 90-day sprints – don’t try to do everything at once, select a few key priorities every quarter, and move in that direction.

    By implementing a structure, you can stay productive without feeling like you’re trapped by your work. It’s all about balance – become disciplined to get things done, and have enough flexibility to enjoy the freedom of being your own boss.

    Related: You Must Unlearn the Myth of the Solopreneur to Be Successful

    5. Maintaining confidence

    Managing a business solo means you’re constantly challenging yourself — acquiring new skills, facing new risks, gaining new responsibilities. With that comes something that every solopreneur faces: self-doubt.

    You start to question yourself, “Why am I doing this?”, “Am I good enough?”, “What was I even thinking when jumping into this…” and so on.

    The truth is, mental hurdles can be even tougher than practical challenges. But confidence isn’t about never doubting yourself – it’s about creating ways to push through when doubt shows up.

    How to build up your confidence

    Here are a few ways to keep your mind sharp and ready:

    • Record your wins – keep track of the skills you’ve gained, projects you’ve completed, and positive feedback from your clients. Seeing it in writing is a powerful reminder to keep going.
    • Level up gradually – take on slightly bigger challenges step-by-step. Each win is proof that you’re heading in the right direction.
    • Remember that a slight setback doesn’t mean you’re incompetent – it just means that you need to tweak the process a bit to get back on the right track.

    Confidence isn’t something that you have or don’t have. It’s all about how you overcome the challenges that you face.

    The future of solopreneurship

    Solopreneurship isn’t a passing trend – it’s becoming a real and lasting career path.

    As technology continues to improve and work culture continues to evolve toward more flexible solutions, more and more professionals will find “going solo” isn’t just possible but practical in various industries.

    The solopreneurs who will truly succeed in their endeavors will:

    • Recognize the key challenges that come with starting a one-person business
    • Implement strategic solutions that fit their unique scenarios
    • Stay flexible and adapt as their business grows

    The solopreneur path isn’t about building that “perfect balance”.

    Instead, it’s about finding solutions that make the tough parts manageable. With the right approach, solopreneurs can create businesses that are not only profitable but also personally fulfilling.

    At its core, solopreneurship is about choosing your own way, creating your own terms, and finding success that’s meaningful to you. You will be rewarded with freedom, creativity, independence and the joy of building something that’s truly your own.

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    Polina Beletskaya

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  • His Side Hustle Earns 6 Figures a Year: 1-2 Hours of Work a Day | Entrepreneur

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    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Dennis Tinerino, 39, of Los Angeles, California. Tinerino worked in online sales when he first learned about domain names and launching websites, which helped him discover domain investing as a side hustle. Here’s how he turned the gig into a lucrative business that brings in six figures a year — with about an hour or two of work per day. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Domain Smoke. Dennis Tinerino.

    When did you start your side hustle, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
    I started my side hustle in 2014 after discovering that domain names are like real estate, only online. Realizing the right ones could keep growing in value was all the inspiration I needed to dive in. My interest first sparked when I was launching a new website and came across a domain name for sale. I had no idea what the cost might be, so I filled out the form on the seller’s website. A domain broker from Afternic replied, explaining that the name was for sale and would require a six-figure minimum offer. Unfortunately, this domain was out of my budget for this project, but thankfully, they were very helpful and explained why it was valued at that price, even suggesting other names that were closer to my budget at the time. That conversation grabbed my attention and pushed me to do a deep dive into the world of domains.

    Related: These 31-Year-Old Best Friends Started a Side Hustle to Solve a Workout Struggle — And It’s On Track to Hit $10 Million Annual Revenue This Year

    What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
    When I started, I did not know anyone personally who was doing this, so I had to teach myself. I dove into blogs, read FAQ sections on marketplaces and learned everything I could about how domains are bought and sold. Like most new investors, my first stop was GoDaddy, where I began registering domains that sounded cool or interesting. Luckily, I kept my spending in check and only bought four domains for a total of $36. One of them, LawyerBoss.com, ended up selling for $700 on Afternic less than two months after I bought it for about $8. That sale was a turning point. It was exciting to see that I could learn the process, list a name and have someone actually buy it for their business. From that moment on, I was hooked and started looking for more ways to find new domains to invest in.

    If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
    If I could hop in a time machine, I’d go straight back and immediately sign up for the Domain Academy course on day one. It covers everything about domains, with resources from A to Z, and there’s nothing else like it. I could have skipped months of trial and error, saved a few gray hairs and gotten in the game faster with a deeper understanding of domains and the industry as a whole. There are countless strategies in domain investing, but before you dive in, you need to understand how domains work, what end users are looking for and the different ways to approach them. Trust me, learning this early is a lot cheaper than buying cool names and hoping for the best.

    Related: I Interviewed 5 Entrepreneurs Generating Up to $20 Million in Revenue a Year — And They All Have the Same Regret About Starting Their Business

    When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
    The hardest part for newcomers is getting the right education. Too many jump in blind, skip the basics and end up spinning their wheels. It’s like trying to fix a car without ever popping the hood. Making uninformed investments is a quick way to waste time, burn cash and get frustrated fast. Another big surprise is how much upkeep a domain portfolio requires. This is not a buy it and forget it business. You have to watch your names, keep up with renewals, follow the market and be honest when it is time to let go of names that are no longer relevant or valuable.

    Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong? How did you fix it?
    In my early days, I started doing outbound marketing to create interest and generate sales for my domains. I was not thinking about trademarks at the time and reached out to companies that owned marks similar to my names. That mistake earned me a stack of legal threats and cease and desist letters. Thankfully, I was able to resolve each situation on good terms by finding common ground with the parties involved. It was a valuable lesson to always check for trademarks before investing or reaching out to buyers, and I am glad I learned it early. Avoiding legal battles is high on my priority list.

    How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue? How much did the side hustle earn?
    It wasn’t until my second to third year of domain investing that I began to see consistent monthly revenue come in. What I noticed is that after my first year, when I started to educate myself more, build up my domain portfolio with better quality domains and then began outbound marketing, my sales accelerated, and steady monthly revenue came in. In the first year, I earned a few thousand with my first initial sales. In the second year, it was in the lower five figures, and it kept ramping up from there as I invested more time and resources.

    Related: This Couple’s ‘Scrappy’ Side Hustle Sold Out in 1 Weekend — It Hit $1 Million in 3 Years and Now Makes Millions Annually: ‘Lean But Powerful’

    What does growth and revenue look like now?
    Back in 2014, the portfolio was just a handful of domains. Today, it has grown to roughly 8,000 to 10,000 names. There were stretches where I was buying one name a day, and some days I went on a spree and grabbed 20, using profits to keep scaling and building the portfolio. Each year, I have consistently added another 500 to 1,000 names, experimenting with different top-level domains (TLDs) and country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) when I spot a trend. The real growth has come from .com domains, which remain the most in-demand with end users. What started as a few thousand dollars a year has grown into a business generating steady six-figure revenue for the past five years. That growth comes from years of research, relentless market tracking, careful portfolio maintenance and making the right moves at the right time, even when they were tough.

    How much time do you spend working on your business on a daily, weekly or monthly basis?
    On a typical day, I spend one to two hours building and managing my portfolio. Over a week, that adds up to 15 to 20 hours, and by the end of the month, it’s usually 60 to 80 hours.

    How do you structure that time? What does a typical day or week of work look like for you?
    My time is split between portfolio management, searching for fresh inventory, outbound marketing and closing deals. Each week, I set aside blocks of time to review my portfolio, adjust prices and prepare names for marketing. Once you get past a few hundred domains, daily portfolio management becomes essential. It is easy to let small tasks slip through the cracks, and that is when mistakes happen. What has saved me the most time is staying organized. It sounds easier than it is, but creating workflows, keeping detailed spreadsheets and using the right tools will save you from falling behind on your daily tasks.

    Related: These Friends Started a Side Hustle in Their Kitchens. Sales Spiked to $130,000 in 3 Days — Then 7 Figures: ‘Revenue Has Grown Consistently.’

    What do you enjoy most about running this business?
    Domain investing can get a little lonely sometimes because you have to put in the hours to stay sharp and up to date. But the thing I have enjoyed the most is the investor community. We are very active on X, and I have met incredible people from all over the world who have helped me grow as an investor, taught me a ton and become lifelong friends.

    The freedom that comes with this business is unlike anything else. You can run it from anywhere in the world with minimal tech skills. You set the rules, choose your hours, decide your prices, pick where to sell your names and choose which names you want to buy.

    Over the years, as an investor, I found myself looking at tens of thousands of domains coming to auction or expiring every day. As great as many of those names were, I knew I could not buy them all, but I also did not want to see those opportunities go unnoticed by other investors. That got me thinking about how I could share this research and these findings with others. That is when I launched Domain Smoke, a daily newsletter sharing industry news, investment opportunities and the best domains hitting auction each day. Since its launch in 2019, it has grown to thousands of readers worldwide who read it every day.

    Based on your journey so far, what’s your best advice for someone who wants to get started with this kind of business?
    When I got started, there were a few things I would change if I could, and I hope my experience can help you find success in your own journey as a domain investor. If you are new to domain investing, here are three tips that can help you start on the right foot:

    1. Be patient with hand registrations
      This one is not easy, but you will thank me later. Try to hold back from registering new domains by hand until you have a proper understanding of domain investing. The easiest mistake beginners make is buying names that are not likely to sell. Many of them also have little or no appeal to end users. That costs both time and money you will not get back. Once you get past the learning phase, you will have plenty of time to acquire domains that actually fit your strategy. When you know what to invest in, you will be glad you waited.
    2. Invest in yourself early
      They say the more you learn, the more you earn, and that is definitely true with domains. Avoid rookie mistakes by investing in your education. One of the best places to start is the Domain Academy course from GoDaddy, which teaches the ins and outs of the business. Just like any other form of investing, there are many ways to make money, but the best way to improve your chances of success early on is to educate yourself.
    3. Keep learning and follow the data
      It is easy to get started, build up a bit of knowledge and then think you know it all. But markets evolve, trends shift, and change is constant. Stay up to date with domain blogs, industry news, eBooks, Domain Sherpa shows and forums like NamePros, which is full of free knowledge for beginners. Most importantly, follow the data. Study sales and trends using resources like NameBio, dotDB and DNJournal. These will help you understand what is actually selling, what is trending and why. That insight gives you a competitive edge and keeps you aligned with the market.

    Related: I’ve Interviewed Over 100 Entrepreneurs Who Started Businesses Worth $1 Million to $1 Billion or More. Here’s Some of Their Best Advice.

    Start small, stay consistent and give yourself time to learn. Every successful investor was once a beginner. The more you study and track sales data, the sharper your skills will become. And remember, the community side of this business matters too. The investors and connections you build can be just as valuable as the domains you own.

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • Co-founders of Stakt on Starting a Side Hustle Earning $10M in 2025 | Entrepreneur

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    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features New York City-based friends and co-founders Millie Blumka, 31, and Taylor Borenstein, 31. The pair started a side hustle in 2021 called Stakt, an adaptable workout accessories brand.

    Blumka was a director of brand partnerships at Showfields and Borenstein was a product implementation manager at Bloomberg when they invested about $50,000 of their personal savings into the business. The co-founders have since grown it from a two-person operation to a lucrative business on track for $10 million in revenue in 2025 as it scales across Amazon, DTC and B2B.

    Read exactly how they did it, here.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Stakt. Taylor Borenstein, left, and Millie Blumka, right.

    Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    When did you start your side hustle, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
    Blumka and Borenstein: We had the idea for Stakt back in 2020 when home workouts became the norm and our old yoga mats just weren’t cutting it. We needed more support and versatility for the variety of workouts we were doing like sculpt and pilates, and we couldn’t find a mat that could keep up. We found inspiration through our own personal need and noticing many trainers we looked up to were rolling their mat in half to get extra support…we knew there had to be a better way.

    Related: This Couple’s ‘Scrappy’ Side Hustle Sold Out in 1 Weekend — It Hit $1 Million in 3 Years and Now Makes Millions Annually: ‘Lean But Powerful’

    What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
    Blumka and Borenstein:     Neither of us had started a business before, let alone created a product, so the first step was a lot of networking. We spoke with friends of friends to try to understand how you even go about creating a product. We also did a lot of surveying to understand if this was an “us” problem or if other people were struggling with this, too. We each invested $25,000 of our own savings to get the business off the ground and have invested profits ever since.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Stakt

    If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
    Blumka:     If I could go back, I’d probably establish our lanes much earlier. In the beginning, we both tried to touch everything and be hands on for every aspect of the business. Once we defined who owned what, things became so much smoother. Having those roles in place earlier would have saved us a lot of time.

    Borenstein: I probably would have hired customer service support sooner, as we spent a lot of our time on customer experience when we could have spent it building the business.

    Related: These Friends Started a Side Hustle in Their Kitchens. Sales Spiked to $130,000 in 3 Days — Then 7 Figures: ‘Revenue Has Grown Consistently.’

    When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
    Borenstein:     Before starting a consumer brand, I had always thought, How hard could it be if you have a good product? It turns out the product is just the first step: Growing a business takes a ton of discipline, hard work, networking and efforts across all verticals to really make it successful.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Stakt

    Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong — how did you fix it?
    Blumka:     We once had an entire container of inventory arrive damaged, and we didn’t feel comfortable selling it. Instead, we donated the mats to local organizations and used them for community events. It left us out of stock for a while, so we leaned on pre-orders and reframed the challenge as a marketing opportunity.

    How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue? How much did the side hustle earn?
    Blumka:     We didn’t pay ourselves until we decided it was time to make Stakt our full-time jobs instead of just a side hustle.

    Borenstein: It took about a year before things leveled out and we saw consistent monthly revenue. For the first year, there were good months, great months and bad months — eventually it became more consistent and easier to predict.

    Related: At 24, She Immigrated to the U.S. and Worked at Walmart. Then She Turned Savings Into a ‘Magic’ Side Hustle Surpassing $1 Million This Year.

    What does growth and revenue look like now?
    Blumka and Borenstein:     We are on track to do $10 million in revenue this year — doubling what we did in 2024.

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Stakt

    What do you enjoy most about running your business?
    Blumka:     The combination of creativity and community. I love taking an idea and turning it into something people genuinely connect with. That said, the real reward is seeing our products out in the wild, with people actually using and loving them. Building community around movement and wellness has been the most fulfilling part. Plus, doing it alongside my best friend is the biggest bonus.

    Borenstein: At some point, this truly stopped feeling like work. Stakt is an extension of me and my family, and every day I get to work with my best friend and my husband (whom we hired last year). I love that I can make my own schedule, my hard work is rewarded with the growth of my own business, I meet awesome people, and I get the opportunity to design new products and see them come to life.

    “Chaos is part of the journey.”

    Based on your journey so far, what’s your best advice for aspiring founders?
    Blumka:     There will never be a perfect time, perfect product or perfect plan, but you have to start somewhere. There will always be a reason to wait, but the real progress starts once you launch. This is when you can adapt, learn and grow.

    Borenstein: Everyone will have advice, but trust your gut — there’s no single playbook. And remember, no one has it all figured out; the chaos is part of the journey.

    Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here.

    This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features New York City-based friends and co-founders Millie Blumka, 31, and Taylor Borenstein, 31. The pair started a side hustle in 2021 called Stakt, an adaptable workout accessories brand.

    Blumka was a director of brand partnerships at Showfields and Borenstein was a product implementation manager at Bloomberg when they invested about $50,000 of their personal savings into the business. The co-founders have since grown it from a two-person operation to a lucrative business on track for $10 million in revenue in 2025 as it scales across Amazon, DTC and B2B.

    Read exactly how they did it, here.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • Stop Losing Customers — 5 Friction Fixes That Boost Conversions | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    At Bask Health, we once forced every new patient to download a separate app just to upload their ID. Only 40% of them made it through. Six weeks of development, thousands of dollars spent, and we called it a funnel. That one decision cost us more patients than any Facebook ad ever brought in.

    Turns out, healthcare has a cart abandonment problem, just like ecommerce. But instead of a forgotten pair of sneakers, it’s unbooked visits, lost revenue and patients who still need help. And unlike a shopping cart, an abandoned patient is a real person who might go untreated.

    The irony? Most platforms are a few micro-fixes away from major conversion lifts. We’re talking about small, scrappy interventions that boost visit completion rates, no full redesigns required. Fix the friction, finish more visits.

    Here’s how we sealed the biggest leaks in our patient flow and increased completion by 15%.

    Related: 5 Simple Ways You Can Decrease Shopping-Cart Abandonment

    1. Scare fewer patients at step one

    First-time users are already skeptical. They’re worried about cost, privacy and whether this whole “online doctor thing” is legit. Add a dense form or legalese about data, and they’re gone.

    What worked for us:

    • Put a “HIPAA Secure” badge near the call to action
    • Include a one-line promise like: “We never sell or share your info.”
    • Use plain English, not compliance jargon

    Patients don’t read your privacy policy. But they do feel your tone. So do the work for them. Space your elements clearly. Use icons sparingly. And write like a human. People aren’t comparing you to other clinics. They’re comparing you to Uber and Amazon.

    Tip: Follow HIPAA’s privacy guidance for what you must, and can, say. Patients feel safer when they know what’s happening.

    2. Escalate to live chat before they bail

    We assumed patients would reach out if they had questions. They didn’t. They just left. Page stalled, visit lost.

    Here’s what helped:

    • Auto-trigger live chat if users pause at critical fields (like insurance input or ID upload)
    • Escalate from bot to human in under 15 seconds
    • Train reps to reassure, not upsell

    Live chat isn’t optional anymore. It’s the new front desk. After implementing this flow, we saw a 12% increase in form completions, just from helping people in the moment when they were getting stuck.

    Make sure your chat tool integrates cleanly with your CRM. Set KPIs: sub-30-second response time, sub-3-minute resolution. If a patient wants care at midnight, don’t make them wait for support until morning.

    3. Cut steps like a chef, especially ID uploads

    Requiring patients to scan their ID in a specific browser? We may as well have asked for a fax. And the worst part? We didn’t know it was broken until a user emailed us three days later.

    Quick wins:

    • Accept image uploads from phone camera rolls
    • Offer drag-and-drop + file upload options
    • Use OCR tech to auto-fill name and DOB

    OCR’s identity verification guidance is flexible enough; don’t make it harder than it needs to be.

    Also: test this flow on iPhones, Androids, tablets and old browsers. Friction hides in tech gaps. The best checkout is one that disappears into the background.

    Related: 3 Fatal Ecommerce Mistakes You Must Not Make

    4. Automate the boring stuff

    Nobody wants to type their insurance group number at 11 p.m. That’s when they’re finally booking care, and we’re greeting them with paperwork.

    Here’s what helped:

    • Enable camera capture of insurance cards
    • Use autofill for returning patients
    • Pre-load common insurer names and plan types

    These changes cut our manual data cleanup by half and improved patient throughput without adding support headcount. Most importantly, they helped people finish the booking while they still had momentum.

    Automation isn’t about removing humans. It’s about clearing the path so your humans can focus on care, not copy-pasting from a broken webform.

    5. Confirm with confidence

    Our first “success” screen said: Thank you. That’s it. No confirmation number. No next steps. Patients didn’t know if they were actually booked or if they just wasted 15 minutes.

    Fixes:

    • Add a visible progress bar throughout the flow
    • End with: “You’re confirmed. Here’s what happens next.”
    • Send immediate confirmation via email and SMS with visit details

    We also added a preview screen that lets patients review, cancel or reschedule their appointment in one click. Empowering the user reduces support tickets and gives them a sense of control.

    Remember: this is healthcare. An ambiguous checkout creates anxiety. A clear one builds trust.

    Close the leaks, book more patients

    We built these fixes after getting burned by our bad assumptions. We didn’t need a brand strategist. We needed friction audits and brutal honesty. Healthcare abandonment isn’t about laziness, it’s about user experience.

    Your challenge: audit your patient flow this week. Pull the data. Watch users abandon in real time. Where are they dropping? What would it take to lift conversions by just 3%? (That’s often six figures of revenue.)

    Here’s your cheat sheet:

    • Add visible trust cues upfront
    • Make support accessible instantly
    • Remove unnecessary steps
    • Auto-fill every field you legally can
    • Confirm like you mean it

    This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being good enough to get them through the door. Remember: the patient doesn’t care how clever your design is. They care that it works.

    Healthcare doesn’t need more bells and whistles. It needs less friction.

    And fewer abandoned carts.

    At Bask Health, we once forced every new patient to download a separate app just to upload their ID. Only 40% of them made it through. Six weeks of development, thousands of dollars spent, and we called it a funnel. That one decision cost us more patients than any Facebook ad ever brought in.

    Turns out, healthcare has a cart abandonment problem, just like ecommerce. But instead of a forgotten pair of sneakers, it’s unbooked visits, lost revenue and patients who still need help. And unlike a shopping cart, an abandoned patient is a real person who might go untreated.

    The irony? Most platforms are a few micro-fixes away from major conversion lifts. We’re talking about small, scrappy interventions that boost visit completion rates, no full redesigns required. Fix the friction, finish more visits.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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    Zachary Dorf

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  • Workers Over 40 Are Turning to Side Hustles — Here’s Why | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    It seems that every day, there is another story about a young person who started a side hustle and hit it big. In 2024, over one-third of Americans had a side hustle to supplement their income. Side hustles are particularly appealing to Gen Z, with about half of them reporting having one. Millennials are a little less active, with about one-third of them stepping up to get that extra income that a hustle provides. Are side hustles just for those in the early stages of their career? Is there a huge opportunity for baby boomers as well?

    Several years ago, I wrote an article and shared how I turned my “side hustle,” which at the time we called freelancing, into a business. At the time, I shared that turning a side hustle into a business does not always work. However, if you can go the distance, build a team and get the cash you need to launch and sustain the business you, like me, can have a great run. In 2027, Cynthia Kay and Co. will be 40 years old.

    There are some dramatic differences between a side hustle and a mature business. To begin, a side hustle is generally a part-time endeavor to make some additional money and does not require a lot of investment. A business is more structured and complex. Believe me, it takes a significant amount of time, attention and cash to be successful in the long haul.

    Most of the time, the side hustle stories are about an endeavor that grows and becomes a viable business. I would like to propose something to entrepreneurs who are at a different stage in their careers, where the runway in front of them is shorter than behind them.

    There comes a time when entrepreneurs must decide to continue running their company or move on. Some entrepreneurs love the thrill of a new venture and cannot even think about leaving the business. Others get bored when managing the day-to-day operation and are ready to start a new venture. Finally, there are those who are ready to sell but struggle with the idea of retirement. I know I do. There are options.

    Related: This 79-Year-Old Retiree’s Side Hustle Earns $4,000 a Month: ‘I Work as Much or as Little as I Desire’

    Side hustle as a transition

    A side hustle can be the perfect transition for entrepreneurs who are seeking a new adventure. If you have sold a business but are too young to sit on a beach, it might be a way to earn some cash while you consider the possibilities. A side hustle offers a flexible schedule, and you don’t have to make a significant investment. You can test out a big idea or new product and have the time to refine it. If it shows promise, it becomes your next entrepreneurial venture. If it fails, you still made some money and probably learned a lot.

    Side hustle while working full-time

    For years, people have been asking me when I am going to retire. Honestly, it is getting annoying. It started in my early 60s, and it continues to this day. I know many entrepreneurs who never plan to retire. That does not mean they will continue to work day-to-day in their operation. I have been working for years on a “side hustle” that gives me the best of both worlds.

    While running my company, I built a communications consulting practice. I love to teach seminars, write books and speak to audiences, both big and small. I was intentional about building this side hustle because I know I cannot fathom retirement. Truthfully, like most entrepreneurs, there are some things I no longer enjoy doing at work. There are projects that do not require my advanced skills. I needed to step out of the way so that others at the company could step up.

    Several years ago, working with my accounting team, I began to create a “business within a business.” All the activities that I was doing solo were line-itemed and separated out on the balance sheet. That way, we could account for all the income and expenses. More recently, I formed a new business entity where all that work now resides.

    It is important to note that building a side hustle while working full-time running a company is quite different than doing it as a transition. I have made my established business the priority because there simply is not enough time to do both well. There are opportunities I have turned down. However, when I finally do sell the business, my side hustle is established and is ready to be supercharged.

    Related: 10 Side Hustles for Retirees: Making Extra Cash on Your Terms (And Enjoying the Ride!)

    Side hustle as an alternative to retirement

    Entrepreneurs looking to work well into retirement should look at their existing business and determine if activities or services can become the foundation of a side hustle. In my case, there is no conflict of interest between my side hustle and my business. That may not be the same for others. In fact, if you sell, there may be strict non-compete clauses. Look for specific expertise that you have that no one else does. You may be able to carve out working with clients who will not stay with the company if you leave. There may also be short-term engagement projects that are a perfect fit.

    Of course, a retirement side hustle can be completely different than the entrepreneur’s life’s work. It could be a passion. My father was a business owner, a dry cleaner who had a passion for duplicate bridge. Over the years, he became a life master. His side hustle in retirement was directing bridge games. It was great pin money, kept his mind active and he loved it. Others have hobbies that become businesses. It is easier than ever to set up ecommerce sites and sell anything and everything. Not creative? I know a retired teacher who has become a paid tester of products.

    A side hustle is no longer just for Gen Z or millennials looking to build a career. It is for entrepreneurs of “a certain age” to stay engaged, make a little extra cash or a big haul and work as long as they want. To those who keep asking when I will retire, the answer is not anytime soon.

    It seems that every day, there is another story about a young person who started a side hustle and hit it big. In 2024, over one-third of Americans had a side hustle to supplement their income. Side hustles are particularly appealing to Gen Z, with about half of them reporting having one. Millennials are a little less active, with about one-third of them stepping up to get that extra income that a hustle provides. Are side hustles just for those in the early stages of their career? Is there a huge opportunity for baby boomers as well?

    Several years ago, I wrote an article and shared how I turned my “side hustle,” which at the time we called freelancing, into a business. At the time, I shared that turning a side hustle into a business does not always work. However, if you can go the distance, build a team and get the cash you need to launch and sustain the business you, like me, can have a great run. In 2027, Cynthia Kay and Co. will be 40 years old.

    There are some dramatic differences between a side hustle and a mature business. To begin, a side hustle is generally a part-time endeavor to make some additional money and does not require a lot of investment. A business is more structured and complex. Believe me, it takes a significant amount of time, attention and cash to be successful in the long haul.

    The rest of this article is locked.

    Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

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    Cynthia Kay

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