If you’re looking to start a high-income company in 2024, you’re not alone. Nearly two in five, or 39 percent, of U.S. adults have a side hustle to supplement their income — and pay basic bills, according to a recent Stock exchange overview.
But where do I start? You may want to consider a side hustle that aligns with your interests or talents. For example, this teacher translated her passion for education into a lucrative online gig, and this 26-year-old’s obsession with ChatGPT led to a “simple,” $4,000-a-month hustle.
Of course, building a successful side hustle can be easier said than done. But millions of Americans is to do so — and it can provide invaluable insight into navigating your own business ventures.
Related: These Are The Fastest Growing Side Hustles. #1 is something you may already be doing.
BusinessmanThe Side Hustle Spotlight series shares some of her inspiring stories and helpful tips. Three of them — all of whom have earned more than $20,000 a month at least once since starting their sides — spill the secrets of their success below.
Jeff Neal
Record monthly earnings: $27,000
Neil runs a cricket breeding club, Critter Depotfrom Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
“First, find a product and how to get it,” says Neal. “Don’t spend time, money, and energy building a website and marketing that website without first knowing what product you’re going to sell and where you’re going to source it. Also, note what skills you’re learning when you start a side hustle. Lots of side hustles they fail, and that’s okay. You’ll learn a lot of business skills by trying a side hustle, and those skills can be transferred to your full-time job, which can help you advance your career. So don’t worry about a side hustle failing hustle. There’s a lot to learn from failure.”
Related: 4 Super Simple Side Hustles That Could Replace Your Regular Paycheck — Fast
Tara Laczynski
Record monthly earnings: $22,735
Laczynski makes about $150,000 a year working 20 hours a week teaching Extracurriculara live, online learning platform for children.
“You can find a way to turn your passion into a paycheck,” Laczynski says. “When you love what you do, it’s contagious. Focus on getting things right, scaling organically, and staying consistent in your product. You have to maintain your customer experience when you have one or a hundred customers. By creating sustainable systems, building the your support and Maintaining a growth mindset is key. You should be constantly growing and learning, so seek out experts and be open to support.”
Related: 9 Lessons From 9 Years in the Side Hustle Trenches
Lilly Skjoldahl
Skjoldahl turned her furniture-flipping side hustle The furniture Dr.
Record monthly earnings: $37,000
“Be consistent and authentic,” says Skjoldahl. “Network with anyone you can — especially those outside of your industry. I’ve learned the most from others outside of my industry and found unique ways to apply their advice to my own business and niche. She also found that scrolling of social streams doesn’t limit my creativity and inspiration. The less I scroll, the more creative I become and the better my content and business perform. Never rely on one stream of income. Find multiple ways to profit from whatever you’re in a hurry and you reset everything. And most importantly, work smarter, not harder.”
Related: 3 traits that turn a side effect into a fortune
