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DollarSprout

We help everyday people earn more on their own terms. Since 2015, our team has tested hundreds of legit side hustles, small business ideas, and income apps to help readers boost their income and gain more financial freedom. Join our 200,000+ community and get proven, actionable ways to make extra money online or offline — no fluff, no hype.

Professor Benjamin Bailey standing on a beach with a screenshot of his pension calculator website, ValueYourPension.com, in the background.
Featured Post

How This Professor Built a $10K/Year Calculator — No Coding Required

Hey Reader, We recently published a side hustle story that really stood out for how simple — and replicable — it is. Benjamin Bailey is a college professor who wanted to help his wife solve a recurring problem in her work. So he spent $2,000, hired a couple of freelancers, and built a pension calculator. That was it. No coding. No launch strategy. Just a practical tool that solved one specific problem. Now that tool brings in $10K to $11K a year in passive income — and he barely touches it. 👉...

Steve Hunsaker, founder of a seasonal light-hanging side hustle, speaks into a microphone while wearing a Valley Christmas Lights t-shirt. A house lit with holiday lights glows in the background.

Steve Hunsaker didn’t plan to build an empire out of Christmas lights. But five years later, he’s closing nearly a million dollars each season — in just eight weeks. What changed? Systems, storytelling, and a whole lot of hustle. Inside his story: 🎯 The $3 yard sign that sparked an avalanche of referrals 🧰 How he fixed a broken season with bins, labels, and a better calendar 🔥 The near-meltdown that almost ended the business — and what saved it 🚀 Why starting small helped him scale fast Want...

Amelia Eudailey, founder of Chef Hej Hej, smiling and flashing peace signs at her Swedish hot dog pop-up stand, with a fully loaded hot dog in the foreground.

Amelia Eudailey didn’t go to culinary school. She didn’t write a business plan. She just loved Swedish food — and knew she was burned out from tech. So she launched a small pop-up in San Francisco, serving hot dogs with shrimp salad, pickles, and sourdough buns. Then she sold out. Then she got featured in Eater SF. Then she quit her job at Zoom. Now her food stand, Chef Hej Hej, grosses up to $2,000 per event. In this today's side hustle success story, Amelia shares exactly how she made the...

Woman designing T-shirt artwork at her desk, preparing digital products for print-on-demand sales.

Hey Reader, For a long time, I thought making $10K a month meant landing a six-figure job or building a startup. But over the years, I’ve hit that number through multiple side hustles — blogging, freelancing, flipping collectibles, and (more recently) starting a print-on-demand shop from home. I’m not alone. These days, more people are reaching $10K/month by combining a few income streams — not just relying on one big win. So we put together a detailed guide:👉 How to Make $10K a Month (Even...

Jeff Proctor, co-founder of DollarSprout, relaxing on a porch with his dog while scrolling on his phone by a fire pit at night.

Hey Reader, If you're reading this on your phone, you already have everything you need to start earning. We tested more than 50 apps and platforms to see which ones actually paid — not in points, but real money. Some paid us for scanning receipts. Others rewarded us for playing games, answering surveys, or even just sharing anonymous data (with permission). Whether you’ve got 5 minutes or want to build something more steady, these are the tools that deliver. 👉 See the best ways to make money...

Most of us have seen the ads: “Get paid for your opinion!”But for Dr. Annie Cole — a former startup VP turned money coach — survey apps weren’t cutting it. “I tried a few, but $2 for 15 minutes? Not worth it,” she told us. Then she found research platforms like Respondent and UserInterviews — where companies pay hundreds for 1-on-1 conversations with everyday people, freelancers, or professionals in niche roles. Annie now earns up to $300/month doing 1 or 2 short studies — no ongoing...

Pinterest image featuring Madison Krigbaum, a travel blogger who earns $2,000/month from her blog without going viral, highlighting a successful food post.

You’ve seen the headlines: “I made $10K in 30 days!” But what about the side hustles that don’t go viral overnight? Meet Madison — a solo traveler who started blogging in 2017 with no audience, no niche, and no real plan. Seven years later, her site brings in up to $2,000/month — and it all started with a single blog post about Portuguese food. “It’s not flashy. It’s not fast. But it’s mine.” — Madison Krigbaum, Travel Blogger Here’s how she turned one post into a profitable blog — and what’s...

Crail and Joey, Swimply hosts of The 6612 in Austin, standing by their pool holding Swimply beach balls, with a Top 10 USA listing badge in the background

Hey Reader, Sometimes the best side hustles aren't planned — they’re built by taking a chance. When Crail and Joey opened their backyard pool to neighbors during COVID, it felt like a simple favor. Today, that same pool has brought in over $100,000 — and earned them a spot among the top Swimply listings in the country. Here’s how they did it — and the simple strategies that helped them stay fully booked: 👉 Read their story (and steal their best tips) – The DollarSprout Team P.S. Want more...

Martin De Anda standing in front of a white wall with his arms crossed, wearing an Airtasker sweatshirt

Hey Reader, Most people don’t think of flyering as a real way to make money. But Martin De Anda took a one-off flyer gig and turned it into a system that now earns him $1,000 a week — without any special skills, and without a full-time schedule. In our latest success story, we break down: How he got started (and why most people overlook this gig) His playbook for getting booked over and over The small tweaks that helped him scale to consistent income 👀 Read Martin’s full story here: 👉 Read...

After an unexpected layoff earlier this year, Melia Long needed a way to earn steady income -- without leaving the house. She found it in one of the most unlikely places: doing other people’s laundry. Now, she’s earning around $800/month in profit through a platform called Poplin -- and she’s sharing the exact steps, setup, and tips that helped her turn a few small jobs into a reliable income stream. Whether you're looking for a flexible side hustle or a creative way to stay afloat between...