More than a third of US adults have one side hustle and bring in an average of $891 per month with their extra work, according to recent research from Bankrate. However, a lot hustler on the side try to make significantly more money—sometimes even enough to replace the income from their 9-5 or other full-time ventures.
Starting an online side hustle remains an attractive option for people looking for flexible hours and/or skills for it work from home.
Independent writingteaching, web development, graphic design, and flipping or selling products are just a few of the many ways that thieves earn extra money online. People often offer their goods or services through digital marketplaces on platforms like EtsyeBay, TikTok, Shopify, Facebook and more.
At the beginning of this year, entrepreneur sat down with four people who used Facebook to start and grow their side hustles to $1 million and more. Karen Frederick43, launched her online jewelry and accessories brand, Kole Jax Designsin 2012. The teenage brothers Kirk and Jacob McKinney established their own waste removal business, Junk Adolescencein 2021. Carlos Ugalde52, started his own print-on-demand clothing brand, Chingasso's House, in 2018.
Read on to learn more about how Frederick, the McKinney brothers, and Ugalde used Facebook build their side hustles into profitable businesses – and their best advice for entrepreneurs who want to do it too.
Karen Frederick founded the jewelry and accessories brand Kole Jax Designs
Frederick wanted a fulfillment, home based career that would allow her earn money while staying present for her children. Frederick had always loved jewelry, so she began a side hustle to sell her line in 2012: online jewelry and accessories brand Kole Jax Designs (named for her sons Grayson Kole and Tucker Jax) was born.
After ordering supplies and watching YouTube videos to teach himself how to cut glass and weld, Frederick opened an Etsy shop to take custom orders and set up a Facebook pagewhere she posted new designs and offered giveaways. Frederick's Facebook page was a huge hit (she quickly got 10,000 followers) and key to the brand's growth. Kole Jax saw his first seven-figure year in 2018 and has generated more than $10 million in total revenue.
Related: How to go from side hustle to 7-figure business and beyond, according to 3 women who did it
Frederick's Success Tip: “Just start. Don't overdo it. There is no perfect time to start a business. If you can, put your income back into the company early on. Embrace change and failure. After running a business For nearly 13 years, I firmly believe that failure is an opportunity to learn and change is the gateway to innovation and growth. Invest in yourself – and not 'if', but when the going gets tough, remember why you started.”
The McKinney brothers started the junk removal business Junk Teens
In 2021, a pair of working speakers found in a dump became the first of many items that high school students Kirk and Jacob McKinney collected and sold at Facebook Market. Before long, the brothers left their grocery store gigs and turned their side hustle into Junk Teens, a waste removal business that reuses, resells and donates “as many items as possible” and provides employment opportunities for other local teenagers.
The McKinney brothers had to invest in tools and trucks, hire employees and take risks to increase their side hustle and their efforts paid off. By 2023, Junk Teens brought in $910,000 with two dump trucks and a pickup, and the business is projecting $1.2 million in 2024 with three dump trucks and a pickup.
Kirk and Jacob McKinney's Success Tip: “Our advice to anyone looking to start a side job or full-time business is to keep it simple. People often complicate things. In garbage removal, for example, it's as easy as picking up the garbage, getting paid, and driving away. Momentum is key – don't take growth for granted; always build on it. Also, choose a business that matches your passions. For us, we've always loved rummaging through the trash for cool finds, and Junk Teens lets us do that every day.”
Carlos Ugalde launched the print-on-demand clothing brand House of Chingasos
Ugalde decided to start a side hustle in 2018 after he was laid off and wasn't sure he could find a comparable job with the same salary. So he founded his own print-on-demand clothing brand, House of Chingasos. Ugalde opened one Shopify storefront, created about 10 basic designs, connected the store to the print-on-demand platform Printify and started running ads on Facebook, learning all aspects of the business along the way.
Despite entering the concert without knowing much digital marketingUgalde's trial-and-error approach served him well. The business earned $2,500 in the first month, $11,000 in the second, and $54,000 in the third. In 2023, House of Chingasos reached almost $3 million in revenue and a nearly 70% growth over 2022.
Ugalde's Success Tip: “Don't look at the obstacles in front of you. Just decide what you're going to do and go after it. Set that sUccess it's the only option! Be flexible in your approach and never stop learning.”