Hey there, If you’ve ever felt like you’re working harder on your side hustle but not earning more… you’re not imagining it. We just published a breakdown I think every gig worker and online seller should read: 👉 Who Really Profits From the Side Hustle Economy?https://dollarsprout.com/who-profits-from-side-hustle-platforms/ Platforms like Fiverr, Uber, Etsy, Upwork — they’ve made it incredibly easy for people to earn. But once you dig into the fees, algorithms, promotions, and “visibility...
6 days ago • 1 min read
I’ve started more side hustles than I can count — and burned out on plenty of them. When I was a teenager, I used to buy computer memory wholesale and resell it on eBay. It made money… but daily post office trips (before I could even drive) wore me -- and mostly my mom -- out, fast. Later, I flipped Pokémon cards — still do, actually — but the market’s gotten so volatile that finding inventory feels like gambling. More recently, I tried launching another blog while raising four kids, running...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader,If you earned extra income from a side hustle this year, there’s good news — many of your everyday business expenses will be deductible. From mileage and phone bills to startup costs and supplies, our CPA-approved guide breaks down what you can legally write off for the 2025 tax year (and what you can’t). Even if you’re not filing yet, it’s worth bookmarking this one — a few minutes of prep now can make tax season a whole lot easier. 👉 Read (and save) the full guide:...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
When a fire destroyed Brian Watkins’ home, he lost nearly everything — except decades of knowledge about antiques and collectibles. With no savings and two kids to care for, he needed a way to rebuild fast. That’s when he found JustAnswer — a site where real experts get paid to help people online. Today, Brian earns $4K–$10K a month appraising vintage items from home — coins, toys, furniture, you name it — all while being there for his kids. We’re not affiliated with JustAnswer; we just love...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
The upcoming tax season doesn’t have to be stressful — but for most side hustlers, it usually is. Unlike a W-2 job, no one’s setting money aside for you. That means if you’re freelancing, driving deliveries, or running an Etsy shop, April can sneak up fast (and with it, a tax bill you didn’t see coming). We put together a simple 9-step checklist to help you stay organized, avoid penalties, and take advantage of new 2025 tax deductions — including: ✅ A $25,000 “No Tax on Tips” deduction for...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Nearly half of American workers now have multiple income streams. For many, it feels like the only way to stay afloat. Others are chasing the flexibility and control that side hustles promise. But there’s a catch. Gig work may offer freedom, but it can also stall careers, flatten pay, and leave people running on empty. We call it the Freedom Trap — and it’s a growing reality for millions in 2025. In our latest feature, we break down: Why gig work is booming right now The surprising...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, Side hustles today come with a lot of pressure — build a brand, grow an audience, scale to six figures. But what if that’s not the only way? Lately, more people are turning to a different kind of extra income: old-school W-2 jobs. We’re talking bookstore shifts, museum front desks, wine tasting rooms — low-lift, local gigs that offer steady pay and a break from the chaos of gig apps and freelancing. No self-employment tax. No chasing invoices. No late-night client emails. Just...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, When Dan Ansaldo first tried sourdough, it was just a weekend experiment for his wife and kids. A few years later, a friend asked if he’d teach a class. He said yes, and ten people squeezed into a dining room for his first run. The oven could barely keep up, but the idea worked. Fast forward to today: Dan runs his classes out of KC Wine Co.’s barrel room, where up to 40 people show up, mix dough at their own stations, and leave with a starter and loaf-in-progress. At $30 to $50...
4 months ago • 1 min read
After her divorce, Melody Morton-Buckleair wanted something simpler — a way to work at her own pace, on her own land, without the overhead of a commercial lease. The answer was sitting in her backyard. She transformed a tiny home into a fully equipped Pilates studio, now netting $23K a year while keeping a part-time schedule. In our latest success story, Melody shares: Her exact startup costs (and how she avoided spending $20K on equipment) How she gets new clients without spending hours on...
4 months ago • 1 min read