My Side Hustle Made Over $400k on Top of My 6-Figure Salary

This as-told-to essay is predicated on a dialog with Chisom Okwulehie, who began consulting company Juntero as a side hustle when she was an worker on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The piece has been edited for size and readability.

In 2017, I began working on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the place I design and handle infrastructure tasks. On the peak of the pandemic in 2020, I might had my first baby and was instructed we would not obtain a merit-based pay improve at work, so I wished to seek out methods to supplement my income. My father all the time instructed me and my siblings that in case your partner dies, you have got to have the ability to cowl the mortgage and assist your loved ones. I am an enormous advocate for diversified income.

So, I began Juntero as a side hustle with my husband. Now, it is a company that we co-own, cut up into two subsidiary corporations or studios: Juntero Design and Juntero Expertise. My husband owns Juntero Expertise; I personal Juntero Design. Immediately, Juntero is a full-fledged design and know-how enterprise, however it began with me taking over small tasks on totally different platforms and charging as little as $20.

Again then, I watched a variety of YouTube tutorials to organize and experimented with my totally different skills — internet design, picture modifying, graphic design, structure design and inside design. Individuals gravitated in direction of my structure and inside design providers. Initially, I stored my costs low to construct a portfolio and accumulate sturdy testimonials. That credibility is the best foreign money and helped me increase my visibility; for each 10 items of constructive suggestions, I might elevate my hourly fee by $20. Ultimately, I discovered to not commerce my time for cash and switched to fastened charges.

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I made about $55,000 that yr, and over $200,000 the subsequent. Then, in 2023, I exceeded $400,000.

Then, close to the tip of 2021, I spotted that I could not assist as many consumers as I wished, so I needed to put my ego apart and trust other people. I began hiring different designers on a project-based mannequin. They are not staff; they’re contractors. So, since 2022, I’ve outsourced greater than 90% of the work. That helped me scale the business much more. I made about $55,000 that yr and over $200,000 the subsequent. Then, in 2023, I exceeded $400,000.

At Port Authority, my wage is $125,000. The web income at Juntero alone are greater than my 9-5 wage, however I plan to remain at Port Authority. Some folks suppose I am loopy, however I am on a public student loan forgiveness program and have three years left. Additionally, I be taught a lot from my colleagues’ experience.

Now that I am not on the manufacturing aspect of Juntero, I spend extra time on advertising and marketing and client management. We’ve got two payment structures: a one-time fee mannequin and a subscription-based mannequin. I’ve spent a variety of time advertising and marketing the subscription mannequin. It is an concept that got here to me final yr. One in every of my main purchasers is a developer, so with the subscription mannequin, she will be able to pay the month-to-month fee and entry our providers for a spread of duties.

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A marketer might rent a designer at $100,000 a yr or enroll with my service and see much more output. So it is an enormous price financial savings.

I am very passionate in regards to the subscription mannequin as a result of it is a recreation changer: It is permitting corporations that do not have artistic groups to enroll in a membership program and entry my artistic staff for a constant stream of deliverables, whether or not or not it’s drawings or 3D fashions. And it helps these companies scale, too. One in every of my purchasers makes use of my renderings to constantly promote multimillion-dollar houses over the asking worth. With the subscription mannequin, these corporations can have 5 folks doing the work for the wage of 1; for example, a marketer might hire a designer at $100,000 a yr or enroll with my service and see much more output. So it is an enormous price financial savings.

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It is important to diversify your income, particularly on this economic system. It’s important to plan to your future and retirement, and you’ll’t depend on your 9-5. When you’ve got the endurance, due diligence and group expertise, it’s best to determine methods to monetize your skills. Make the time to focus in your craft, however solely do it in case you find it irresistible — since you do not need to face burnout.