181 8:52

Junk Removal Service Owner Earns $22,000 A Year From Real Estate Referrals

An entrepreneur stumbles on a low-tech, high-yield side hustle through his day job, and brings in an extra $22K annually handing out business cards.

8:52

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What It's About

How a man becomes an affiliate for a real estate company and earns $22,000 with 5-6 sales a year.

Business Model
Affiliate
Skills Required
Resourcefulness & Business Savvy
Complexity
Low
Profit Potential
High

Words of Wisdom

While we may be in the middle of the technological era, there are plenty of ways that less technologically inclined side hustlers can make money. But, in order to do so, you have to use your Power of Observation to find them.

Kyle met the real estate agents he works with while running his restaurant with his wife. It wasn't necessarily something he was looking for, but he when he recognized the opportunity to make additional money by becoming a real estate affiliate, he took it! Now he earns around $22,000/year helping that real estate company bring in 5-6 sales, and all he has to do is hand them his card and offer a recommendation.

Fun Fact

Kyle hasn’t bought propane for his grill in over a decade. Movers refuse to carry LP tanks on their trucks, so his business removes them, and most people have more than one. He also hasn’t bought laundry supplies in years, since clients leave those behind. Originally, Kyle thought his house would look like a museum while removing junk but he mostly gets dead appliances and destroyed couches. (He says he’s found some pretty cool stuff, though!)

Notes from Chris

Episode 181
Would you hand out business cards for $22,000/year on the side? By day, Kyle Clifford runs a junk removal service in Arlington, Virginia. His side hustle consists of referring customers to real estate agents.

Many of Kyle’s junk removal customers are getting ready to sell their homes, but haven’t chosen an agent. He networked with real estate agents for years while building his junk removal service, and learned about the interesting referral opportunity from them. Because you must be a licensed real estate agent in Virginia in order to get a referral fee, Kyle found a 6-8 week course and an exam that converted him into a licensed real estate agent so that he could refer customers to agents. He then had an active agent sponsor him and signed on with a brokerage, and he was ready to go.

The actual side hustle is pretty easy. Kyle’s first question to homeowners is whether they’re cleaning up or moving. His first statement to renters is, “If you can afford to rent in this area, you can afford to buy and should consider purchasing.” He then chats up his agent or the virtues of purchasing a home while working with clients. He gives them his card even if they have no plans to buy or sell and tells them to hold on to it.

Kyle makes a pretty penny from this side hustle. His costs were only about $750 for the course and license, and he earns about $22,000 a year. After his first sale, Kyle saved up the money for a two-week trip to Italy. Not bad for just handing out business cards!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
  • Reliable Hauling: Check out the business that helped Kyle start his low-tech real estate affiliate side hustle
SEE ALSO: Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

cg-sig-newsletter
Quote of the Day
"I started this side hustle knowing that I can make passive income simply by paying attention to what customers say, asking a couple of questions, then handing them an agent’s card."
—Kyle Clifford #SideHustleSchool

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