Business Models · 142 episodes
Service-Based Side Hustles
138 Side Hustle School episodes feature people who turned a skill into a service people pay for. Whether it's dog walking, accounting, landscaping, or a hyper-specialized niche nobody else thought of, service businesses are often the fastest path to first income. The startup cost is usually close to zero.
- Atlanta Lawyer Walks Into Food Tour Biz
Akila McConnell quit her law firm, traveled for four years, and came home to launch Atlanta Food Walks — now the city's largest walking tour company. Side...
- Q&A: "How to identify target markets for livestreaming events?"
Leland wants to offer livestreaming content services to small businesses and events — but "small business" is a very wide net. Here's how to narrow it down....
- First $1,000: The Med School "Decision Doctor"
Medical resident helps med school students navigate specialty and residency decisions. Side Hustle School Ep. #3425.
- Q&A: "Driving an RV across the country—can I get sponsored?"
- Q&A: "I'm opening a new hair salon. How can I build my clientele?"
- First $1,000: "I earn $3,000/month leading London walking tours…"
- First $1,000: “I started by setting up a booth at the farmer’s market…”
- Inventor Unclogs Profits With Innovative Drain Solution
- First $1,000: Michigan Accountant Moonlights as Engagement Photographer
- Food Tour Guide Chomps Down on $100,000 Profit
- Q&A: “Is remote-worker visa consulting a real business?”
- Weekend Workshop: From Utah Piano Teacher to Digital Nomad
- First $1,000: Marketer Sells Simple Fixes to Dental Clinics
- First $1,000: Miami Divorce Planner Offers “Freedom Celebrations”
- Florida Woman Gets Paid to Remove Poisonous Frogs
- TBT: Microbrewery Tours Expand to Hops and Brewing Classes
- Q&A: “What’s the downside of getting funded?”
- Q&A: “Should I open a second location?”
- Q&A: “Should I record my videos in portrait or landscape mode?”
- Q&A: “Is it easier or harder to start an online business today?”
- Q&A: “What are some good business ideas for teens?”
- Failure Friday: Stock Photo Platform Lowers Commissions
- First $1,000: Mastering the Art of Product Launches
- Q&A: “How to start a small marketing agency?”
- Q&A: “Should I get an expensive booth at a trade show?”
- Q&A: “What are some unique pet side hustles?”
- Q&A: “I lead tours in Scotland … but I want to expand.”
- Q&A: “Using Pinterest to build my wedding photography biz…”
- TBT: Wordsmith Officiant Elevates Wedding Rituals
- Q&A: “Can I still make and sell NFTs?”
- Q&A: “Should I make a tour guide app?”
- TBT: Sound Designer for Live Events Pumps Up Jam
- TBT: The Shine and Rise of an Office Cleaning Maven
- First $1,000: Mocktail Tours Support Sober-Curious Visitors
- Q&A: “How to offer UX/UI design consulting…”
- First $1,000: Electric Vehicle “Sherpa” Offers Fast Delivery
- Q&A: “SEO consulting for small businesses…”
- TBT: Vancouver Bike Tours Takes Scenic Route
- Q&A: “Going from weddings to corporate photography…”
- Q&A: “I’m a personal chef in New York City…”
- Q&A: “Makin’ a dog walkin’ app…”
- Q&A: “Introducing the plant-based diet for pets…”
- TBT: Destination Wedding Officiant Travels Worldwide
- First $1,000: Michigan Accountant Moonlights as Engagement Photographer
- Q&A: “A home-based meal delivery service for New York…”
- First $1,000: “Budget Bliss Weddings” Cuts the Cake
- First $1,000: “I earn £2,500 per month leading London walking tours…”
- First $1,000: “I started by setting up a booth at the farmer’s market…”
- Q&A: “Driving an RV across the country—can I get sponsored?”
- Q&A: “How to plan for a big New Year’s Sale?”
- Busy Mom Cleans Up Debt by Cleaning Car Seats
- TBT: “Go Last Minute” Travel Site Goes Global
- This Canadian Cleaning Service Earns $2 Million/Year
- Q&A: “I’m opening a hair salon in a new area. How can I build my clientele?”
- First $1,000: “I quickly raised my price to $50 an hour…”
- Q&A: “How can a travel website earn commissions?”
- Failure Friday: “Don’t let customers pay after services have been rendered…”
- First $1,000: “I wanted to be the guy with a laptop on the beach…”
- Failure Friday: “We locked ourselves in a room for six months to build…”
- TBT: NYC Pet Sitter Saves $200,000
- Q&A: How can my tour business earn recurring revenue?
- Q&A: “Square refunded my customer’s payment!”
- TBT: Rocket Scientist Tutoring Achieves Liftoff
- Failure Friday: Self-Guided London Food Tours Fail to Excite
- SPECIAL Q&A: Overnight delivery impacted by supply chain crisis
- Q&A: How to market consulting for health professionals?
- Vacation Frustration Inspires Seven-Figure Cleaning Product
- 7th Grade Teacher Earns 2nd Income Writing Resumes
- Failure Friday: “Everyone in the room said ‘Turn it off!’…”
- TBT: Wine Tour Business Pivots During Pandemic
- Failure Friday: “My D.C. tour business was down 89%…”
- A Doggie Bag With a Twist
- Catering Chef Cooks Up Private Meals
- Dorm Room Side Hustle Grows Into Full Agency
- Q&A: How can I rent a small private workspace?
- Woodworker Proves Money Grows On Trees
- Natural Air Fresheners Are Big Business
- Cooped Up Nomads Start Online Cooking School
- SPECIAL Q&A: Caller from Finland Requests Help with Global Present Delivery
- Q&A: Is there a better way to do local restaurant delivery?
- Art Classes by Zoom Produce Pandemic Profits
- Volunteer Turns Good Deeds Into Paid Consulting
- B&B Owner Prefers Property Management Profits
- Q&A: How to find target markets for livestreaming business events?
- Bookkeeper Begins Banking Bonus Income
- TBT: Local Food Tours Chomp Down on Profit
- Q&A: How can I turn furniture repair into passive income?
- Art Teacher Draws Her Way Into Ceramic Shop
- Geologist Rides Away From Full-Time Work
- Newlyweds Operate Campground Booking Biz From RV
- Maine Couple Bootstraps Boutique Fitness Studio
- Atlanta Lawyer Walks Into Food Tour Biz
- Texas Couple Turns Test Scores Into Treasure
- Meal Prep Company Cooks up Profits with Customized Orders
- BBQ Catering Hustle Smokes Out Competitors
- Second Grade Teacher Earns Second Income
- Wedding Planner Earns Passive Income with DIY Flowers
- Landscape Architect Knots Together Macrame Workshops
- Continuing Education Directory Earns Six Figures
- Hand Lettering Artist Upgrades Cheesy Photo Booth Props
- Teacher Makes Money Asking Questions Outside the Classroom
- Rocket Scientist Launches Out-Of-This-World Tutoring Business
- Eat, Graze, Love: Massive Cheese Platters Become Life of the Party
- Nacho Average Tacos! Chef Puts Twist on Mexican Culinary Classics
- Bucket List Becomes Swashbuckling Adventure Tour Company
- Medical Examiner Fetches New Paws-ibilities With Pet Sitting Hustle
- Inventor Unclogs Profits With Innovative Drain Solution
- Crossfit Trainer Starts Meal Prep Service for Hungry Customers
- Food Tour Guide Chomps Down on $100,000 Profit
- Hit the Streets With These Chicago Walking Tours
- Hungover Accountant Starts “Morning After” Party Cleanup Service
- Bartender Earns Extra Income With “Revenge By Mail” Postcards
- Oh Snap! Photography Site Turns Into Passive Income Hustle
- Brooklyn App Developer Spins All-Natural Cotton Candy
- Weekly Recap: “Craigslist Wedding Photographer” Strikes Back
- Public Health Employee Earns Extra $2,000/Month with Salesforce Consulting
- It’s Not Vandalism, It’s a $15,000 Yard-Gram Hustle
- Couple’s Photo Booth Hustle Creates Memories and Cash
- Weekly Recap: Starting a Coffee Delivery Service
- Florida Woman Gets Paid to Remove Poisonous Frogs
- From Landscaper to Podcast Producer Earning $4k/Month
- Substitute Teacher Earns $1,500/Month Making Wooden Signs
- Australian Uses Online Classified Ads to Sell Wedding Flowers
- Oregon Woman Gets Paid to Clean Animal Skulls with Flesh-Eating Beetles
- Food and Travel Writer Creates Food Tours in Marrakech, Earns $60k Annually
- Balloon Artist’s Poppin’ Business Nets $1,200 Monthly
- Hair Salon Owner Designs Mittens for Cold Runners
- “Uber for Lawn Care” Mows Down the Competition
- House Arrest Leads to $500,000 Food Truck and Catering Hustle
- WEEKLY RECAP: Midnight Cookie Delivery, Phone Cases, & Tea Leaves
- Los Angeles Designer Runs Mobile Yoga Studio
- Delicious Cookies Arrive at My Door in Portland, Oregon
- Renegade Museum Tour Guide Earns $2 Million
- Unused Basement Becomes $3,000/Month Pilates Studio
- College Student Earns $20,000 a Month Cleaning Houses
- Microsoft Employee Teaches Hula Hooping, Goes on Local News
- Chicago Psychotherapist Becomes Ceremonial Wedding Officiant
- Tour Guide Sells Astronomy Books to Tourists
- Fitness Pole Dance Studio Grows to 4 Locations
- Guitar Teacher Sells Lessons on Craigslist and Makes $80/Hour
- 40,000 People Use This Web Developer’s Side Hustle Every Day
- The Craigslist Wedding Photographer
The Side Hustle Finder 450 real case studies, searchable by revenue, difficulty, and business model
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