This text initially appeared on Enterprise Insider.
This as-told-to essay is predicated on a dialog with Grace Ryu, a 23-year-old content material creator primarily based in Houston. The next has been edited for size and readability.
I give up my tech job in March 2023 to discover different earnings streams. My 9-5 took up an excessive amount of of my time, and I needed to give attention to methods to become profitable whereas I used to be sleeping or touring.
Chasing completely different earnings streams aligns with my character — it satisfies my need to discover and take a look at as a lot as doable. If I develop tired of one space, I can shift my focus to a different, and if one stream is not that worthwhile, I’ve others to fall again on.
This is a breakdown of my eight earnings streams, with earnings, issue degree, and time spent every week:
1. Luxurious picnic enterprise
Straightforward score: 9/10
Profitable score: 7/10
I run a luxurious picnic enterprise with my greatest pal and my boyfriend. We initially posted our merchandise on Fb Market and faculty flyers and broke even the primary week of selling them.
We re-invested all that cash into increasing the enterprise mannequin, like shopping for extra tools for group picnics. We have since labored with companies like Kendra Scott, native inns, and Texas A&M College.
We’ve got a six-person group, so I now not do the bodily setup and tear down, and I solely put in a single hour every week. Throughout March by way of Might, October, and November (peak picnic months), I can take residence as much as $3,000 a month.
It is simple and inexpensive to begin and does not require many expertise moreover having a watch for aesthetics. It is also profitable as a result of revenue margins are very excessive since there are little to no variable bills.
2. Influencer model offers
Straightforward score: 8/10
Profitable score: 10/10
I am a micro influencer, and I’ve a TikTok account the place I put up about my life, my streams of earnings, and product promotions.
Manufacturers attain out and ask me to put up a devoted or built-in TikTok video. I used to make content material for manufacturers at no cost, however now I cost no less than $1,000 per put up.
I spend round one hour every week on model offers. At first, making content material and modifying was exhausting as a result of I needed to get used to the software program and apps. After doing this for 2 years, I am very quick at it as a result of I do know precisely which clips so as to add and how one can do voiceovers.
It takes time to construct a following on a platform, however when you get to that time, it’s extremely simple to work with manufacturers for sponsorships. I make between $1,000 and $2,000 per put up for about an hour of labor.
3. Internet affiliate marketing
Straightforward score: 7/10
Profitable score: 9/10
I began doing affiliate internet marketing by way of Amazon’s influencer program and make wherever from $500 to $2,000 month-to-month.
In my TikToks, I function work-from-home necessities from Amazon and hyperlink them. Then, folks go to my storefront and purchase by way of the hyperlinks, and I receives a commission a fee.
It takes about 5 minutes to use for this system, however it’s important to have a social media profile that promotes content material.
If you happen to by no means put up something, you may possible get rejected. I’ve buddies who solely have a number of hundred followers, however they make unboxing movies, in order that they had been accepted.
Anybody can do affiliate internet marketing as a result of it is simple to begin, however the cash is not all the time assured. It takes numerous time and persistence on any social media platform for a put up to go viral, which is able to usher in gross sales. As soon as that occurs, cash is available in quick over a number of months, and it is all passive earnings.
4. Person-generated content material
Straightforward score: 4/10
Profitable score: 8/10
Person-generated content material (UGC) differs from sponsorships as a result of it is content material for manufacturers to make use of straight. I used to work with a lash firm, which paid me to make TikToks, however I do not put up that content material on my account.
I’ve a number of retainer shoppers, which suggests I am paid a daily month-to-month charge in change for a set quantity of content material.
I earn about $6,000 to $8,000 a month from UGC. It takes round eight hours every week and will be extra demanding than different earnings streams. I must craft movies that convert properly in gross sales, which takes further brainpower.
5. Pet sitting
Straightforward score: 10/10
Profitable score: 10/10
I obtained into pet sitting as a facet gig whereas working in tech. I began on Rover, an app that hyperlinks pet house owners with sitters. Organising a profile and passing a background verify is fast, and you can begin incomes as quickly as you are booked.
It is very best for distant staff like me — getting paid to hang around with cute animals is nice, and I can nonetheless handle different duties, like checking up on my picnic enterprise, answering emails, or creating content material.
In January 2024, I used to be pet-sitting virtually every single day, and I loved it as a result of it was such a calming job. The one draw back is I did not get to journey as a lot since I wanted to stick with the pets.
It is a particularly simple facet hustle in the event you perceive pet care and habits. Pets are tremendous simple to work with so long as they are not puppies — puppies are extra work.
6. Airbnb arbitrage
Straightforward score: 2/10
Profitable score: 4/10
Airbnb arbitrage is my least favourite earnings stream — I could also be letting go of this quickly as a result of the Airbnb market is not as scorching because it was once a number of years in the past.
The way it works is I lease a property from a landlord for $1,700, for instance, and as soon as my enterprise companion and I get the inexperienced gentle to make use of it as a short-term or mid-term rental, we checklist the property on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. We’re tenants however act extra like property managers, and we then earn income from these listings.
After splitting earnings with my enterprise companion, my web revenue is round $600 monthly. Since we focus totally on mid-term stays, which require much less frequent turnovers, my companion and I spend about 5 to 6 hours month-to-month on upkeep and cleansing, usually on the finish of every keep.
It is my least favourite facet hustle as a result of the monetary danger is the very best — it’s important to accommodate visitor wants, and the work will not be fulfilling both. After month-to-month bills, I do not assume the payout is sufficient to justify the trouble.
7. Promoting digital merchandise
Straightforward score: 10/10
Profitable score: 4/10
I created a content material creation e-book as a result of I’ve had many individuals on social media ask me to teach them. At any time when folks ask me about content material creation, I direct them to my hyperlink to allow them to purchase my e-book.
I promote it for $20, and every month I make $60 to $80. I do not market it that a lot since I solely have it as a useful resource for when folks ask.
Anybody with sufficient information a few particular subject can create an e-book or digital product, so it is simple to do. Nonetheless, it does take effort and time to herald gross sales.
8. Nannying
Straightforward score: 8/10
Profitable score: 9/10
I nanny for a household that flies me from Houston to New York three or 4 occasions a yr. I keep for 2 to a few weeks and receives a commission $1,200 every week.
My day-to-day may be very easy — I take the ladies to high school within the morning, and after I come again, I could make content material or go outdoors and discover town. When the ladies come residence, I eat dinner, play with them, after which put them to sleep.
The households I babysit for in Houston and the household I nanny for in New York are all superb to me and compensate me generously, which makes my job fulfilling and simple. The toughest half is when the youngsters are sick as a result of I’ve to be extra hands-on. Except for that, when you change into aware of their routines, it is tremendous chill.
I want I had diversified my earnings sooner
Though constructing my earnings streams took plenty of hustling upfront, I want I had began sooner. I went from making $8/hour working a labor-intensive job as a ranch hand to now making over $100,000 a yr from solely working round 40 hours a month.
For many who are contemplating creating extra earnings streams, do not be reckless or stingy together with your spending. Be brave in investing in your self, a enterprise concept, or in others. In case your goals do not scare you somewhat, they may not be sufficiently big.